The Marvelous Land of Oz
Page 4
So he did the only sensible thing he could do. He sat down and took a goodrest, and afterward began walking along the road.
"Some time I will surely overtake them," he reflected; "for the road willend at the gates of the Emerald City, and they can go no further than that."
Meantime Jack was holding fast to the post and the Saw-Horse was tearingalong the road like a racer. Neither of them knew Tip was left behind, forthe Pumpkinhead did not look around and the Saw-Horse couldn't.
As he rode, Jack noticed that the grass and trees
65had become a bright emerald-green in color, so he guessed they were nearingthe Emerald City even before the tall spires and domes came into sight.
At length a high wall of green stone, studded thick with emeralds, loomed upbefore them; and fearing the Saw-Horse would not know enough to stop and somight smash them both against this wall, Jack ventured to cry "Whoa!" asloud as he could.
So suddenly did the horse obey that had it not been for his post Jack wouldhave been pitched off head foremost, and his beautiful face ruined.
"That was a fast ride, dear father!" he exclaimed; and then, hearing noreply, he turned around and discovered for the first time that Tip was notthere.
This apparent desertion puzzled the Pumpkinhead, and made him uneasy. Andwhile he was wondering what had become of the boy, and what he ought to donext under such trying circumstances, the gateway in the green wall openedand a man came out.
This man was short and round, with a fat face that seemed remarkably good-natured. He was clothed all in green and wore a high, peaked green hat uponhis head and green spectacles over his eyes. Bowing before the Pumpkinheadhe said:
"I am the Guardian of the Gates of the Emerald
66City. May I inquire who you are, and what is your business?"
"My name is Jack Pumpkinhead," returned the other, smilingly; "but as to mybusiness, I haven't the least idea in the world what it is."
The Guardian of the Gates looked surprised, and shook his head as ifdissatisfied with the reply.
"What are you, a man or a pumpkin?" he asked, politely.
"Both, if you please," answered Jack.
"And this wooden horse--is it alive?" questioned the Guardian.
The horse rolled one knotty eye upward and winked at Jack. Then it gave aprance and brought one leg down on the Guardian's toes.
"Ouch!" cried the man; "I'm sorry I asked that question. But the answer ismost convincing. Have you any errand, sir, in the Emerald City?"
"It seems to me that I have," replied the Pumpkinhead, seriously; "but Icannot think what it is. My father knows all about it, but he is not here."
"This is a strange affair very strange!" declared the Guardian. "But youseem harmless. Folks do not smile so delightfully when they mean mischief."
"As for that," said Jack, "I cannot help my smile, for it is carved on myface with a jack-knife."
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"Well, come with me into my room," resumed the Guardian, "and I will seewhat can be done for you."
So Jack rode the Saw-Horse through the gateway into a little room built intothe wall. The Guardian pulled a bell-cord, and presently a very tallsoldier--clothed in a green uniform--entered from the opposite door. Thissoldier carried a long green gun over his shoulder and had lovely greenwhiskers that fell quite to his knees. The Guardian at once addressed him,saying:
"Here is a strange gentleman who doesn't know why he has come to the EmeraldCity, or what he wants. Tell me, what shall we do with him?"
The Soldier with the Green Whiskers looked at Jack with much care andcuriosity. Finally he shook his head so positively that little waves rippleddown his whiskers, and then he said:
"I must take him to His Majesty, the Scarecrow."
But what will His Majesty, the Scarecrow, do with him?" asked the Guardianof the Gates.
"That is His Majesty's business," returned the soldier. "I have troublesenough of my own. All outside troubles must be turned over to His Majesty.So put the spectacles on this fellow, and I'll take him to the royalpalace."
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So the Guardian opened a big box of spectacles and tried to fit a pair toJack's great round eyes.
"I haven't a pair in stock that will really cover those eyes up," said thelittle man, with a sigh; "and your head is so big that I shall be obliged totie the spectacles on."
"But why need I wear spectacles?" asked Jack.
"It's the fashion here," said the Soldier, "and they will keep you frombeing blinded by the glitter and glare of the gorgeous Emerald City."
"Oh!" exclaimed Jack. "Tie them on, by all means. I don't wish to beblinded."
"Nor I!" broke in the Saw-Horse; so a pair of green spectacles was quicklyfastened over the bulging knots that served it for eyes.
Then the Soldier with the Green Whiskers led them through the inner gate andthey at once found themselves in the main street of the magnificent EmeraldCity.
Sparkling green gems ornamented the fronts of the beautiful houses and thetowers and turrets were all faced with emeralds. Even the green marblepavement glittered with precious stones, and it was indeed a grand andmarvelous sight to one who beheld it for the first time.
However, the Pumpkinhead and the Saw-Horse,
69knowing nothing of wealth and beauty, paid little attention to the wonderfulsights they saw through their green spectacles. They calmly followed afterthe green soldier and scarcely noticed the crowds of green people who staredat them in surprise. When a green dog ran out and barked at them the Saw-Horse promptly kicked at it with its wooden leg and sent the little animalhowling into one of the houses; but nothing more serious than this happenedto interrupt their progress to the royal palace.
The Pumpkinhead wanted to ride up the green marble steps and straight intothe Scarecrow's presence; but the soldier would not permit that. So Jackdismounted, with much difficulty, and a servant led the Saw-Horse around tothe rear while the Soldier with the Green Whiskers escorted the Pumpkinheadinto the palace, by the front entrance.
The stranger was left in a handsomely furnished waiting room while thesoldier went to announce him. It so happened that at this hour His Majestywas at leisure and greatly bored for want of something to do, so he orderedhis visitor to be shown at once into his throne room.
Jack felt no fear or embarrassment at meeting the ruler of this magnificentcity, for he was entirely ignorant of all worldly customs. But when he en-
70tered the room and saw for the first time His Majesty the Scarecrow seatedupon his glittering throne, he stopped short in amazement.
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71 His Majesty the Scarecrow
I suppose every reader of this book knows what a scarecrow is; but JackPumpkinhead, never having seen such a creation, was more surprised atmeeting the remarkable King of the Emerald City than by any other oneexperience of his brief life.
His Majesty the Scarecrow was dressed in a suit of faded blue clothes, andhis head was merely a small sack stuffed with straw, upon which eyes, ears,a nose and a mouth had been rudely painted to represent a face. The clotheswere also stuffed with straw, and that so unevenly or carelessly that hisMajesty's legs and arms seemed more bumpy than was necessary. Upon his handswere gloves with long fingers, and these were padded with cotton. Wisps ofstraw stuck out from the monarch's
72coat and also from his neck and boot-tops. Upon his head he wore a heavygolden crown set thick with sparkling jewels, and the weight of this crowncaused his brow to sag in wrinkles, giving a thoughtful expression to thepainted face. Indeed, the crown alone betokened majesty; in all else theScarecrow King was but a simple scarecrow--flimsy, awkward, andunsubstantial.
But if the strange appearance of his Majesty the Scarecrow seemed startlingto Jack, no less wonderful was the form of the Pumpkinhead to the Scarecrow.The purple trousers and pink waistcoat and red shirt hung loosely over thewooden joints Tip had manufactured, and the carved face on the pumpkingrinned perpetually, a
s if its wearer considered life the jolliest thingimaginable.
At first, indeed, His Majesty thought his queer visitor was laughing at him,and was inclined to resent such a liberty; but it was not without reasonthat the Scarecrow had attained the reputation of being the wisest personagein the Land of Oz. He made a more careful examination of his visitor, andsoon discovered that Jack's features were carved into a smile and that hecould not look grave if he wished to.
The King was the first to speak. After regarding
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Jack for some minutes he said, in a tone of wonder:
"Where on earth did you come from, and how do you happen to be alive?"
"I beg your Majesty's pardon," returned the Pumpkinhead; "but I do notunderstand you."
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"What don't you understand?" asked the Scarecrow.
"Why, I don't understand your language. You see, I came from the Country ofthe Gillikins, so that I am a foreigner."
"Ah, to be sure!" exclaimed the Scarecrow. "I myself speak the language ofthe Munchkins, which is also the language of the Emerald City. But you, Isuppose, speak the language of the Pumpkinheads?"
"Exactly so, your Majesty" replied the other, bowing; "so it will beimpossible for us to understand one another."
"That is unfortunate, certainly," said the Scarecrow, thoughtfully. "We musthave an interpreter."
"What is an interpreter?" asked Jack.
"A person who understands both my language and your own. When I sayanything, the interpreter can tell you what I mean; and when you sayanything the interpreter can tell me what you mean. For the interpreter canspeak both languages as well as understand them."
"That is certainly clever," said Jack, greatly pleased at finding so simplea way out of the difficulty.
So the Scarecrow commanded the Soldier with the Green Whiskers to searchamong his people
75until he found one who understood the language of the Gillikins as well asthe language of the Emerald City, and to bring that person to him at once.
When the Soldier had departed the Scarecrow said:
"Won't you take a chair while we are waiting?"
"Your Majesty forgets that I cannot understand you," replied thePumpkinhead. "If you wish me to sit down you must make a sign for me to doso." The Scarecrow came down from his throne and rolled an armchair to aposition behind the Pumpkinhead. Then he gave Jack a sudden push that senthim sprawling upon the cushions in so awkward a fashion that he doubled uplike a jackknife, and had hard work to untangle himself.
"Did you understand that sign?" asked His Majesty, politely.
"Perfectly," declared Jack, reaching up his arms to turn his head to thefront, the pumpkin having twisted around upon the stick that supported it.
"You seem hastily made," remarked the Scarecrow, watching Jack's efforts tostraighten himself.
"Not more so than your Majesty," was the frank reply.
"There is this difference between us," said the Scarecrow, "that whereas Iwill bend, but not break, you will break, but not bend."
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"HE GAVE JACK A SUDDEN PUSH"
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At this moment the soldier returned leading a young girl by the hand. Sheseemed very sweet and modest, having a pretty face and beautiful green eyesand hair. A dainty green silk skirt reached to her knees, showing silkstockings embroidered with pea-pods, and green satin slippers with bunchesof lettuce for decorations instead of bows or buckles. Upon her silken waistclover leaves were embroidered, and she wore a jaunty little jacket trimmedwith sparkling emeralds of a uniform size.
"Why, it's little Jellia Jamb!" exclaimed the Scarecrow, as the green maidenbowed her pretty head before him. "Do you understand the language of theGillikins, my dear?"
"Yes, your Majesty," she answered, "for I was born in the North Country."
"Then you shall be our interpreter," said the Scarecrow, "and explain tothis Pumpkinhead all that I say, and also explain to me all that he says. Isthis arrangement satisfactory?" he asked, turning toward his guest.
"Very satisfactory indeed," was the reply.
"Then ask him, to begin with," resumed the Scarecrow, turning to Jellia,"what brought him to the Emerald City."
But instead of this the girl, who had been staring at Jack, said to him:
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"You are certainly a wonderful creature. Who made you?"
"A boy named Tip," answered Jack.
"What does he say?" inquired the Scarecrow. "My ears must have deceived me.What did he say?"
"He says that your Majesty's brains seem to have come loose," replied thegirl, demurely.
The Scarecrow moved uneasily upon his throne, and felt of his head with hisleft hand.
"What a fine thing it is to understand two different languages," he said,with a perplexed sigh. "Ask him, my dear, if he has any objection to beingput in jail for insulting the ruler of the Emerald City."
"I didn't insult you!" protested Jack, indignantly.
"Tut--tut!" cautioned the Scarecrow "wait, until Jellia translates myspeech. What have we got an interpreter for, if you break out in this rashway?"
"All right, I'll wait," replied the Pumpkinhead, in a surly tone--althoughhis face smiled as genially as ever. "Translate the speech, young woman."
"His Majesty inquires if you are hungry, said Jellia.
"Oh, not at all!" answered Jack, more pleasantly, "for it is impossible forme to eat."
"It's the same way with me," remarked the Scarecrow. "What did he say,Jellia, my dear?"
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"He asked if you were aware that one of your eyes is painted larger than theother," said the girl, mischievously.
"Don't you believe her, your Majesty, cried Jack.
"Oh, I don't," answered the Scarecrow, calmly. Then, casting a sharp look atthe girl, he asked:
"Are you quite certain you understand the languages of both the Gillikinsand the Munchkins?"
"Quite certain, your Majesty," said Jellia Jamb, trying hard not to laugh inthe face of royalty.
"Then how is it that I seem to understand them myself?" inquired theScarecrow.
"Because they are one and the same!" declared the girl, now laughingmerrily. "Does not your Majesty know that in all the land of Oz but onelanguage is spoken?"
"Is it indeed so?" cried the Scarecrow, much relieved to hear this; "then Imight easily have been my own interpreter!"
"It was all my fault, your Majesty," said Jack, looking rather foolish, "Ithought we must surely speak different languages, since we came fromdifferent countries."
"This should be a warning to you never to think," returned the Scarecrow,severely. "For
80unless one can think wisely it is better to remain a dummy--which you mostcertainly are."
"I am!--I surely am!" agreed the Pumpkinhead.
"It seems to me," continued the Scarecrow, more mildly, "that yourmanufacturer spoiled some good pies to create an indifferent man."
"I assure your Majesty that I did not ask to be created," answered Jack.
"Ah! It was the same in my case," said the King, pleasantly. "And so, as wediffer from all ordinary people, let us become friends."
"With all my heart!" exclaimed Jack.
"What! Have you a heart?" asked the Scarecrow, surprised.
"No; that was only imaginative--I might say, a figure of speech," said theother.
"Well, your most prominent figure seems to be a figure of wood; so I mustbeg you to restrain an imagination which, having no brains, you have noright to exercise," suggested the Scarecrow, warningly.
"To be sure!" said Jack, without in the least comprehending.
His Majesty then dismissed Jellia Jamb and the Soldier with the GreenWhiskers, and when they were gone he took his new friend by the arm and ledhim into the courtyard to play a game of quoits.
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83 Gen. Jinjur's Army of Revolt
Tip was so anxious to rejoin his man Jack and the Saw-Horse that he walked afull half the distance to the Emerald City without stopping to rest. Then hediscovered that he was hungry and the crackers and cheese he had providedfor the Journey had all been eaten.
While wondering what he should do in this emergency he came upon a girlsitting by the roadside. She wore a costume that struck the boy as beingremarkably brilliant: her silken waist being of emerald green and her skirtof four distinct colors--blue in front, yellow at the left side, red atthe back and purple at the right side. Fastening
84the waist in front were four buttons--the top one blue, the next yellow, athird red and the last purple.
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The splendor of this dress was almost barbaric; so Tip was fully justifiedin staring at the gown for some moments before his eyes were attracted bythe
85pretty face above it. Yes, the face was pretty enough, he decided; but itwore an expression of discontent coupled to a shade of defiance or audacity.