OJO BREAKS THE LAW
CHAP. 14
"What a queer man," remarked the Munchkin boy, when the party hadresumed its journey.
"And so nice and polite," added Scraps, bobbing her head. "I think he isthe handsomest man I've seen since I came to life."
"Handsome is as handsome does," quoted the Shaggy Man; "but we mustadmit that no living scarecrow is handsomer. The chief merit of myfriend is that he is a great thinker, and in Oz it is considered goodpolicy to follow his advice."
"I didn't notice any brains in his head," observed the Glass Cat.
"You can't see 'em work, but they're there, all right," declared theShaggy Man. "I hadn't much confidence in his brains myself, when firstI came to Oz, for a humbug Wizard gave them to him; but I was soonconvinced that the Scarecrow is really wise; and, unless his brains makehim so, such wisdom is unaccountable."
"Is the Wizard of Oz a humbug?" asked Ojo.
"Not now. He was once, but he has reformed and now assists Glinda theGood, who is the Royal Sorceress of Oz and the only one licensed topractice magic or sorcery. Glinda has taught our old Wizard a good manyclever things, so he is no longer a humbug."
They walked a little while in silence and then Ojo said:
"If Ozma forbids the Crooked Magician to restore Unc Nunkie to life,what shall I do?"
The Shaggy Man shook his head.
"In that case you can't do anything," he said. "But don't be discouragedyet. We will go to Princess Dorothy and tell her your troubles, and thenwe will let her talk to Ozma. Dorothy has the kindest little heart inthe world, and she has been through so many troubles herself that she issure to sympathize with you."
"Is Dorothy the little girl who came here from Kansas?" asked the boy.
"Yes. In Kansas she was Dorothy Gale. I used to know her there, and shebrought me to the Land of Oz. But now Ozma has made her a Princess, andDorothy's Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are here, too." Here the Shaggy Manuttered a long sigh, and then he continued: "It's a queer country, thisLand of Oz; but I like it, nevertheless."
"What is queer about it?" asked Scraps.
"You, for instance," said he.
"Did you see no girls as beautiful as I am in your own country?" sheinquired.
"None with the same gorgeous, variegated beauty," he confessed. "InAmerica a girl stuffed with cotton wouldn't be alive, nor would anyonethink of making a girl out of a patchwork quilt."
"What a queer country America must be!" she exclaimed in great surprise."The Scarecrow, whom you say is wise, told me I am the most beautifulcreature he has ever seen."
"I know; and perhaps you are--from a scarecrow point of view," repliedthe Shaggy Man; but why he smiled as he said it Scraps could notimagine.
As they drew nearer to the Emerald City the travelers were filled withadmiration for the splendid scenery they beheld. Handsome houses stoodon both sides of the road and each had a green lawn before it as well asa pretty flower garden.
"In another hour," said the Shaggy Man, "we shall come in sight of thewalls of the Royal City."
He was walking ahead, with Scraps, and behind them came the Woozy andthe Glass Cat. Ojo had lagged behind, for in spite of the warnings hehad received the boy's eyes were fastened on the clover that borderedthe road of yellow bricks and he was eager to discover if such a thingas a six-leaved clover really existed.
Suddenly he stopped short and bent over to examine the ground moreclosely. Yes; here at last was a clover with six spreading leaves. Hecounted them carefully, to make sure. In an instant his heart leapedwith joy, for this was one of the important things he had come for--oneof the things that would restore dear Unc Nunkie to life.
He glanced ahead and saw that none of his companions was looking back.Neither were any other people about, for it was midway between twohouses. The temptation was too strong to be resisted.
"I might search for weeks and weeks, and never find another six-leavedclover," he told himself, and quickly plucking the stem from the planthe placed the prized clover in his basket, covering it with the otherthings he carried there. Then, trying to look as if nothing hadhappened, he hurried forward and overtook his comrades.
The Emerald City, which is the most splendid as well as the mostbeautiful city in any fairyland, is surrounded by a high, thick wall ofgreen marble, polished smooth and set with glistening emeralds. Thereare four gates, one facing the Munchkin Country, one facing the Countryof the Winkies, one facing the Country of the Quadlings and one facingthe Country of the Gillikins. The Emerald City lies directly in thecenter of these four important countries of Oz. The gates had bars ofpure gold, and on either side of each gateway were built high towers,from which floated gay banners. Other towers were set at distances alongthe walls, which were broad enough for four people to walk abreast upon.
This enclosure, all green and gold and glittering with precious gems,was indeed a wonderful sight to greet our travelers, who first observedit from the top of a little hill; but beyond the wall was the vast cityit surrounded, and hundreds of jeweled spires, domes and minarets,flaunting flags and banners, reared their crests far above the towers ofthe gateways. In the center of the city our friends could see the topsof many magnificent trees, some nearly as tall as the spires of thebuildings, and the Shaggy Man told them that these trees were in theroyal gardens of Princess Ozma.
They stood a long time on the hilltop, feasting their eyes on thesplendor of the Emerald City.
"Whee!" exclaimed Scraps, clasping her padded hands in ecstacy, "that'lldo for me to live in, all right. No more of the Munchkin Country forthese patches--and no more of the Crooked Magician!"
"Why, you belong to Dr. Pipt," replied Ojo, looking at her in amazement."You were made for a servant, Scraps, so you are personal property andnot your own mistress."
"Bother Dr. Pipt! If he wants me, let him come here and get me. I'll notgo back to his den of my own accord; that's certain. Only one place inthe Land of Oz is fit to live in, and that's the Emerald City. It'slovely! It's almost as beautiful as I am, Ojo."
"In this country," remarked the Shaggy Man, "people live wherever ourRuler tells them to. It wouldn't do to have everyone live in the EmeraldCity, you know, for some must plow the land and raise grains and fruitsand vegetables, while others chop wood in the forests, or fish in therivers, or herd the sheep and the cattle."
"Poor things!" said Scraps.
"I'm not sure they are not happier than the city people," replied theShaggy Man. "There's a freedom and independence in country life that noteven the Emerald City can give one. I know that lots of the city peoplewould like to get back to the land. The Scarecrow lives in the country,and so do the Tin Woodman and Jack Pumpkinhead; yet all three would bewelcome to live in Ozma's palace if they cared to. Too much splendorbecomes tiresome, you know. But, if we're to reach the Emerald Citybefore sundown, we must hurry, for it is yet a long way off."
The entrancing sight of the city had put new energy into them all andthey hurried forward with lighter steps than before. There was much tointerest them along the roadway, for the houses were now set moreclosely together and they met a good many people who were coming orgoing from one place or another. All these seemed happy-faced, pleasantpeople, who nodded graciously to the strangers as they passed, andexchanged words of greeting.
At last they reached the great gateway, just as the sun was setting andadding its red glow to the glitter of the emeralds on the green wallsand spires. Somewhere inside the city a band could be heard playingsweet music; a soft, subdued hum, as of many voices, reached their ears;from the neighboring yards came the low mooing of cows waiting to bemilked.
They were almost at the gate when the golden bars slid back and a tallsoldier stepped out and faced them. Ojo thought he had never seen sotall a man before. The soldier wore a handsome green and gold uniform,with a tall hat in which was a waving plume, and he had a belt thicklyencrusted with jewels. But the most peculiar thing about him was hislong green beard, which fell far below his waist an
d perhaps made himseem taller than he really was.
"Halt!" said the Soldier with the Green Whiskers, not in a stern voicebut rather in a friendly tone.
They halted before he spoke and stood looking at him.
"Good evening, Colonel," said the Shaggy Man. "What's the news since Ileft? Anything important?"
"Billina has hatched out thirteen new chickens," replied the Soldierwith the Green Whiskers, "and they're the cutest little fluffy yellowballs you ever saw. The Yellow Hen is mighty proud of those children, Ican tell you."
"She has a right to be," agreed the Shaggy Man. "Let me see; that'sabout seven thousand chicks she has hatched out; isn't it, General?"
"That, at least," was the reply. "You will have to visit Billina andcongratulate her."
"It will give me pleasure to do that," said the Shaggy Man. "But youwill observe that I have brought some strangers home with me. I am goingto take them to see Dorothy."
"One moment, please," said the soldier, barring their way as theystarted to enter the gate. "I am on duty, and I have orders to execute.Is anyone in your party named Ojo the Unlucky?"
"Why, that's me!" cried Ojo, astonished at hearing his name on the lipsof a stranger.
The Soldier with the Green Whiskers nodded. "I thought so," said he,"and I am sorry to announce that it is my painful duty to arrest you."
"Arrest me!" exclaimed the boy. "What for?"
"I haven't looked to see," answered the soldier. Then he drew a paperfrom his breast pocket and glanced at it. "Oh, yes; you are to bearrested for wilfully breaking one of the Laws of Oz."
"Breaking a law!" said Scraps. "Nonsense, Soldier; you're joking."
"Not this time," returned the soldier, with a sigh. "My dear child--whatare you, a rummage sale or a guess-me-quick?--in me you behold theBody-Guard of our gracious Ruler, Princess Ozma, as well as the RoyalArmy of Oz and the Police Force of the Emerald City."
"And only one man!" exclaimed the Patchwork Girl.
"Only one, and plenty enough. In my official positions I've had nothingto do for a good many years--so long that I began to fear I wasabsolutely useless--until to-day. An hour ago I was called to thepresence of her Highness, Ozma of Oz, and told to arrest a boy named Ojothe Unlucky, who was journeying from the Munchkin Country to the EmeraldCity and would arrive in a short time. This command so astonished methat I nearly fainted, for it is the first time anyone has meritedarrest since I can remember. You are rightly named Ojo the Unlucky, mypoor boy, since you have broken a Law of Oz."
"But you are wrong," said Scraps. "Ozma is wrong--you are all wrong--forOjo has broken no Law."
"Then he will soon be free again," replied the Soldier with the GreenWhiskers. "Anyone accused of crime is given a fair trial by our Rulerand has every chance to prove his innocence. But just now Ozma's ordersmust be obeyed."
With this he took from his pocket a pair of handcuffs made of gold andset with rubies and diamonds, and these he snapped over Ojo's wrists.
The Patchwork Girl of Oz Page 15
