Kabumpo in Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson (elon musk reading list .txt) 📖
- Author: Ruth Plumly Thompson
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“Because!” screeched the wicked magician, advancing toward the little party with crooked finger, “when that meddling old sailor touched Peg with his knife I lost all power over her; because my Question Box told me that Pompadore of Pumperdink could bring about her disenchantment and he has. I made it interesting for you, didn’t I? There isn’t another magician in Oz can put scrolls up in cakes and roasts like I can nor mix magic like mine. Ha! Ha!” Glegg threw back his head and rocked with enjoyment. “You have had all the trouble and I shall have all the reward!”
Everyone was so stunned by this terrible interruption that no one made a move as Glegg sprang toward Peg Amy. But before he had reached the Princess there was a queer sulphurous explosion and the magician disappeared in a cloud of green smoke. They rubbed their eyes and as the smoke cleared they saw Trot, the little girl who had played with Peg Amy when she was a Wooden Doll.
“Ozma,” explained Trot breathlessly, for she had come on a fast wish.
After following the adventures of Pompa and Peg in the Magic Mirror, and as the magician had tried to snatch the Princess, Ozma had transported him by means of her Magic Belt to the Emerald City, and sent Trot to bring her best wishes the whole party.
“I’m sorry I didn’t make you a prettier dress when you were my doll,” said Trot, seizing Peg Amy’s hand impulsively, “but you see I didn’t know you were a Princess.”
“But you guessed my name,” said Peg softly.
There were so many explanations to be made and so many things to wonder over and exclaim about, that it seemed as if they could never stop talking.
Uncle Tozzyfog rang all the bells in the castle tower and stepping out on a balcony told the people of Sun Top Mountain of the return of Princess Peg Amy. Then the servants were summoned and such a feast as only an Oz cook can prepare was started in the castle kitchen. The Courtiers came hurrying back, for during Peg’s absence Uncle Tozzyfog had lived alone in the castle. Yes, the Courtiers came back and the people of Sun Top Mountain poured into the castle in throngs and nearly overwhelmed the rescuers by the enthusiasm of their thanks.
Kabumpo had never been so admired and complimented in his whole elegant life. As for Wag, his speech grew more mixed up every minute. At last, when the Courtiers and Uncle Tozzyfog had run off to dress for the grand banquet, and after Trot had been magically recalled by Ozma to the Emerald City, the four who had gone through so many adventures together were left alone.
“Well, how about Pumperdink, my boy?” chuckled Kabumpo, with a wave of his trunk. “Are we going to let the old Kingdom disappear or not?”
“It is my duty to save my country,” said Pompa loftily. Then, with a mischievous smile at Peg Amy, “Don’t you think so, Princess?” Peg Amy looked merrily at the Elegant Elephant and then took Pompa’s hand.
“Yes, I do,” said the Princess of Sun Top Mountain.
“Then, you will marry me?” asked Pompa, looking every inch a Prince in spite of his singed head and torn clothes.
“We must save Pumperdink, you know,” sighed Peg softly.
“Three cheers for the Princess of Pumperdink! May she be as happy as the day is short!” cried Wag in his impulsive way.
Uncle Tozzyfog was as pleased as Wag when he heard the news, and Pompa, attired in a royal gold embroidered robe, was married to Peg Amy upon the spot, with much pomp and magnificence.
Never before was there such rejoicing-a merrier company or a happier bride. Kabumpo, arrayed in two gold curtains borrowed for the happy occasion, had never appeared more elegant and Wag was everywhere at once and simply overwhelmed with attention.
That same night a messenger was dispatched to Pumperdink to carry the good news and the next morning Pompa and Peg set out for the Emerald City, the Princess riding proudly on Wag and Pompadore on Kabumpo. Knowing the whole four as you now do, you will believe me when I say that their journey was the merriest and most delightful ever recorded in the merry Kingdom of Oz.
After a short visit with Ozma and another to the King and Queen of Pumperdink they all returned to Sun Top Mountain, where they are living happily at this very minute.
There are only a few more mysteries to clear up before we leave for a time the jolly Kingdom of Oz. Ruggedo, much shaken by his terrible experiences with Glegg’s magic, confessed everything to Ozma on her return to the Emerald City You can imagine the surprise of the little Fairy Ruler on learning how her palace had come to be impaled upon the spikes of the wicked old gnome’s gray head.
“He will never re-form,” said Tik Tok mournfully, as Ruggedo finished his recital. The bad little gnome assured Ozma that he had reformed and begged for another chance, but this time Ozma knew better, and putting on her Magic Belt she whispered a few secret words. Then they all hurried over to the Magic Picture, for they knew that Ruggedo had been transported to a safe place at last. The picture showed the Runaway Country rushing along faster than an express train and dancing up and down on its highest hill was the furious old King of the Gnomes. They watched until the Country plunged joyfully into the Nonestic Ocean and, when it was almost in the middle, Ozma stopped it by the magic spinning process and it became Ruggedo’s Island.
“Well,” sighed Dorothy as they turned from the picture, “I guess that will be Ruggedo’s last rock!”
“He’s rocked in the cradle of the deep now, chuckled the Scarecrow. “And I hope it quiets him down. They ought to make a good pair-that bad little Island and that bad little King,” he added reflectively.
Then Ozma proposed that they follow the adventures of Peg and Pompa, having so satisfactorily disposed of Ruggedo. How she transported Glegg just in time to save the Princess you already know. But what happened to Glegg himself is interesting. When the old magician had asked his Question Box how to regain control over Peg again it had directed him to bury his Mixed Magic under the Emerald City and in two years to send the scroll to Pumperdink. So Glegg had tunneled out the cave under Ozma’s palace and left his magic in what he supposed was a very safe place. It had been a great hardship to do without it for two years, but he wanted Peg so badly that he actually did this, never dreaming that Ruggedo had moved in and discovered his treasures. The Question Box had told the exact day Peg would be disenchanted and all that long two years Glegg had waited, hidden in a forest near Sun Top Mountain.
As he knew nothing of the discovery of his magic box, no one was more surprised than he to find himself, just as he was on the point of seizing Peg, transported to the Emerald City.
While Sir Hokus of Pokes held the struggling Glegg, Ozma asked the Question Box how to deal with him. Everybody crowded around the little Fairy Ruler to hear what the wicked old magician’s fate was to be.
“Give him a taste of his own magic,” directed the Question Box. “Make him drink a cup of his Triple Trick Tea.” This Ozma did, although it took fourteen people to get Glegg to drink it. But, stars! No sooner had the liquid touched his lips than the miserable old magician went off with a loud explosion!
The box of Mixed Magic was carefully put away in Ozma’s gold safe and then the whole company-Ozma, Dorothy, Sir Hokus, the Scarecrow and all the celebrities devoted themselves to setting the topsy turvy palace to rights, for they knew by the Magic picture that Pompa and Peg Amy were coming to visit them.
“Glegg, Glegg,
shake a leg
And never more, Sir,
bother Peg!”
shouted Scraps, as she swept up the black soot Glegg had left when he exploded. And he never did.
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