"Say--thanks!" sputtered Tompy accepting the load with a broad grin. With an answering grin, the boy winked and ran back into the castle. Dried and dressed in record time, Tompy slipped into his halter, tilted his cap at a dashing angle, and, feeling ready for almost anything, marched through the swinging glass doors and into the Red Jinn's elegant throne room. In fact, he felt so refreshed and great that he ra-a-ta-tatted his way between the long line of red vases and right up to the throne itself. Instead of Jinnicky, a small dainty figure perched on the throne's very edge.
"Why, it's the princess, the lost princess," breathed Tompy. In the confusion of the last few hours, he had almost forgotten that Jack-a-lack's Aunt Doffi would be waiting for them in the castle. Even though she was dressed in a ruby studded sari, provided by Alibabble, the upswept cloud of hair caught back by a jeweled band identified her at once as a native of Wackajammy. Doffi's hair was not gold, but siEver, falling like a misty fountain almost to her knees. In a face unlined and rosy, the blue eyes of the little princess sparkled with fun and good humor. She was so cute, so unlike the grim rolling pin swinging aunty he and Yankee had pictured that Tompy bowed three times and once more for good measure. "Fairy Godmother type," he concluded with another admiring look.
"Well, if it isn't the boy with the big umbrella!" smiled the princess, extending both hands. "My other rescuer, no less!"
"Oh, pshaw, that was nothing," mumbled Tompy uncomfortably. "Yankee and Jinnicky deserve most of the credit."
"You all were amazing! Come, sit up here beside me," she invited. "There's plenty of room and you'll be out of the way."
Aunt Doffi was quite right. The throne room was full of hurrying figures carrying baskets, jugs, bottles, and jars. In the middle of the floor, the Red Jinn was sorting them and putting some aside, discarding others, busily helped by the bull terrier, who was quite good at toting away rejected baskets and rolling unwanted jugs and jars off with his nose. The Grand Advizier was everywhere at once, wagging his turbanned head, ordering Jinnicky and his cheerful helpers about, poking his long nose into each basket or jug Jinnicky selected. Sitting beside the pretty princess, Tompy watched with growing interest the preparations for the return journey to Upandup Mountain. And while he watched, Aunt Doffi told him how Badmannah's drag net had swept her up a week ago, just as she was returning to the castle from the royal bakery. "Pretty humiliating to cook and clean for one despicable wizard, after managing a whole kingdom!" Aunt Doffi said. After the luxury of the yellow castle, sleeping on an old mat on the cave floor had not been easy either. But, realizing she was at the mercy of a ruthless robber, she had cleverly proceeded to win him over by preparing elegant meals and entertaining him with amusing Wackajammy folk tales. Quite sure she could not leave or escape, Badmannah left her alone most of the time, only appearing for meals. Each morning he set off for his second cavern, to gloat over treasures he had dredged up from kingdoms below, and to plan new thieveries.
"But how does he find them? How did he find you?" asked Tompy.
"With his magic magnifying glass," explained the princess. "One turn of the handle sends it shooting out over the mountain edge. When he pulls it back, there pictured on the glass is whatever lay directly below. If it is a castle, each precious object shows up distinctly, so he can pick and choose before he casts his drag net."
"Bee-ruther, what a racket!" mused Tompy. "Why this fellow makes Captain Kidd, Robin Hood, and Jesse James look like two bit hi-jackers."
"I was hiding behind a rock the day the glass showed Ozma's emerald studded palace and knew from his wicked laughter he meant to cast his net for Ozma herself. I had no idea it was powerful enough to drag up the castle, too, as Jinnicky told me it did. When you all dropped down on the mountain top, Badmannah was furious, for he did not wish any interference during his biggest haul! About all I could do was run out and warn you," sighed the little princess. "The rest you know, for you were there."
"Sure was," said Tompy squirming at the mere memory of those awful moments.
"I suppose that magic glass showed him you in the bakery turning out all those fabulous cakes, cookies, and pies, and then he decided to snare the best cook and prettiest princess in Oz for his cave keeper?"
"Oh, no--not the prettiest!" Aunt Doffi positively blushed at such flattery. "Let's just say he needed a cave keeper and chose me. But how in Oz did you and that wonderful Yankee dog ever persuade Jinnicky to come find me? You, yourseEves, are not Ozians. I can tell."
"No," admitted Tompy quickly, "we are not...." Then, briefly as he could, he explained how Yankee, after a rocket ride around the moon, had fallen into the Yellow Lake, how he had been blown by hurricane to the same spot, how they traveled together till they came to Wackajammy, how they were made welcome, and how the Chief Counselor had prophesied that they would rescue the lost princess of the realm. He hurried over the part where Jammer had thrown him into the jail house, how Yankee had rescued him and also stolen the Chief Councelor's Mind Reader--anxious to get on to their meeting with the Red Jinn on Upandup Mountain, and the way Jinnicky had taken the two refugees from America under his wing from that time on.
"None of us knew you were prisoner on the mountain top," went on Tompy earnestly. "But when Badmannah tossed those rocks down, it made the Red Jinn mad, so mad he flew up to have a go at him, And were we ever surprised to find and be able to rescue you! So now, I suppose you will be hurrying back home. Boy, you should see those lazy loafers. They're just standing around like big nothings doing nix and how they DO need you!" Tompy shook his head and rolled up his eyes.
"Oh, I couldn't leave now," answered Aunt Doffi in a shocked voice. "Not while Ozma is on that miserable mountain."
"Neither can I," said Tompy shoving back his cap. "It's all so exciting, just like being in the middle of an Alfred Hitchcock mystery. Do you think Jinnicky really can settle Badmannah this time?" he asked with an interested glance around the bustling throne room.
"Oh, yes, certainly yes!" answered the little princess with a reassuring nod. "He has done very well so far, sending me off here--with the bell boy and dropping the glass bubble over Ozma and her castle. I do worry about all her friends and courtiers in that awful cave, though."
"Aren't you worried about Jack-a-lack and the people back in Wackajammy? Things must be in an awful state by now," finished Tompy.
"They'll get hungry after a while and go to work" sniffed Aunt Doffi wrinkling up her small nose. "What does worry me is that Jack-a-lack will discover how much fun it is to run the kingdom and bakery and decide to manage them both, himself.!"
"Ha, ha, I wouldn't worry about that," roared Tompy recalling the lazy young king.
"One thing I do intend to do." All at once Aunt Doffi looked quite stern. "For his rude treatment of you and Yankee, I shall demote Yammer Jammer for a year. I'll set him to kneeding bread. That's what!"
"Do him good," said Tompy sliding off the throne, for the Red Jinn, having assembled all the magic paraphernalia he needed, showed unmistakable signs of departing, only held back by the firm grip Alibabble had on his arm.
"Surely, oh surely, your Majesty is not going to visit her Royal Highness Ozma of Oz looking like that!" gasped Alibabble, as Doffi and Tompy joined the group in the room's center. "May I remind you that your face is dirty, your hair needs cutting, and in that cracked jug you are a perfect disgrace!"
"Disgrace?" howled Jinnicky, glaring up at his Grand Advizier. "This is not a royal visit, this is a war. I'll probably have a dozen more cracks in my jug before it's over. Out of my way, you old Snockerwock!" Dodging left and right as Alibabble tried to dab at his cheeks with a red sponge, the Red Jinn backed off, til Yankee with one well-aimed pounce bowled the Grand Advizier over like a ten pin.
"Come on, Juggins, now's your chance," growled Yankee. And Jinnicky made haste to take it, too. Followed by three black boys carrying jugs and baskets he pelted for the door and was out before Alibabble regained his footing. Scrambling into his jinrikisha, Jinnic
ky waved impatiently for Tompy and the space dog to hurry. Yankee was already in his place on the floor when Tompy with more haste than grace climbed aboard.
"Goodbye, you brave people." Standing on tip toe, Princess Doffi reached up to pat the bull terrier on the head.
"Oh, aren't you coming?" asked Tompy in dismay.
"No room!" snapped Jinnicky sharply. "No place for a pretty lady, that mountain. Think you can amuse yourself, my dear, until we return?"
"Oh, yes--yes! I have plans," confided the little princess, clasping her small hands. "I shall prepare a grand feast for the conquerors' return! It will be ready and waiting for you, Red Jinn, dear."
"Make mine spare ribs and plenty of 'em," gurgled Yankee leaning forward to lick Doffi on the chin. Before she could promise, Jinnicky, catching a glimpse of Alibabble pushing through the door, sent his magic chariot spinning up, off, and away for their second encounter with Badmannah, the terrible.
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Chapter 14: The Magic Chest
THE Red Jinn, as usual during flights, had disappeared into his jug. Fervently hoping he was thinking as fast as they were traveling, Tompy eyed the baskets swinging from the handles of the Jinriskisha, wondering which jar held the magic to subdue the wily wizard of Upandup Mountain.
"Seems-to-me--," bawled Yankee, his flags and ears streaming backward in the wind, we-are-al-ways-sky-boot-ing-through-the-air."
"You're a space dog, aren't you?" shouted Tompy, holding his drum down with both hands to keep it from lifting him off the seat. "But-let's-stick-to-gether-no-matter-what!"
"Like-glue-oooh-ooh OOh!" yodeled the terrier, ducking down as they whizzed over the Deadly Desert. For some reason, the journey back seemed shorter than their flight to Ev. Having already witnessed the terrific power of Badmannah's magic, Tompy's feelings as they again approached the mountain top were about evenly divided between fright and curiosity. With his usual skill, Jinnicky set his red chariot down right beside the blue glass bubble enclosing Ozma's castle.
"Well, here we are--Har de Har!" he piped, nervously sticking up his head. "And at least Badmannah has not found a way to break in."
"But everything is so quiet," shuddered Tompy. "Oh, look, fellows, he has blocked up the entrance of his cave."
"Want me to nose around a bit?" volunteered Yankee, who was panting to get "operation rescue" underway.
"No, NO!" whispered Jinnicky putting out a restraining hand. "We'll wait for him to make the first move."
"I still can't figure why Ozma hasn't used her famous belt, or the Wizard some of his green magic," said Tompy.
"Because the Wizard and Ozma have undoubtedly been transformed," announced Jinnicky calmly. "Soon as he entered the castle, Badmannah took that precaution, you may be sure. Here, have one of these." Nipping a small bottle from the nearest basket, the Red Jinn took out three red pills. Swallowing one, he handed another to Tompy and popped the third into Yankee's open mouth. "Preventive magic!" he explained, "to offset any tricks that big bazoola may try."
"Well, I must say," with a little grimace Tompy downed the red pill, "though I've taken shots for polio, typhoid, flu, and what not, I've never before taken a pill to prevent transformation."
"Surprises you, eh?" sniffed Jinnicky, diving into another of his baskets and coming up with a glittering crystal ball.
"Certainly did," admitted Tompy, "but not so much as Princess Doffi. Yankee and I sorta figured the king's aunt would be big and bossy and a really grim dame. Instead, she is a regular stunner!"
"A doll!" drooled Yankee, resting his chin on the front bar of the jinrikisha. He had often heard the men around the base refer to pretty office workers and nurses as dolls, and somehow it seemed the exactly right word to describe the little princess.
"Why not?" argued the Red Jinn, staring fixedly at the crystal ball. "Useful objects often come in beautiful boxes. Wonder if I could coax her to run my kingdom and ruby mines. She'd be a pleasant change from Alibabble, though I must say the old botherskite does rather well. Anyway," he concluded, starting to toss the ball from hand to hand, "I shall ask her when we get back to Ev."
"Back!" snorted Yankee. "How are we to get anywhere sitting here on our tails?"
"Try standing on your head," advised Jinnicky, intent upon his juggling. "I suppose you both realize that we're in deadly danger and must proceed with extreme care and caution."
"Why not break into the castle, untransform Ozma and the Wizard, and let them decide what to do," suggested Tompy reasonably.
"If we break in," answered Jinnicky, "so can Badmannah."
"Then restore them without breaking in," proposed the space dog wagging his head.
"Too risky," said the Red Jin pursing up his lips. "That buzzard is around here somewhere just waiting for a chance to cast his net. So long as the castle is enclosed in that blue bubble, it cannot be budged or moved to some distant dreadful spot."
"What about us?" demanded Yankee glaring around in all directions. "Suppose he tosses his blinking net over this go cart and--drops us all to the bottom of nowhere?"
"That is what I am trying to prevent," grunted the Red Jinn, shuttling the crystal ball back and forth faster and faster. "Badmannah may be quite near, but INVISIBLE," he added, lowering his voice to a mere whisper.
"Invisible!" shuddered the space dog, pressing hard against Tompy's knee. "Gee-whiskers, this mountain really spooks me. A fellow'd be safer rocketing 'round the moon." Clutching Yankee's harness, Tompy could not have agreed more.
"Well," said Jinnicky, dropping the crystal ball back into the basket, "the big bazoola is NOT invisible."
"Good!" growled Yankee. "My nose might lead me to him in time, but biting an invisible villain would give me no pleasure at all!"
"Come along," said the Red Jinn, rolling off the seat. "We'll try one of the caves." Clutching one of his numerous baskets, he trudged determinedly toward the robber's hideout.
"I hope you have your cave opener with you," sniffed Yankee trotting along at his side. The main cave when they did come to it was sealed off by a smooth slab of rock which exactly fitted the opening.
"Some trick to it," mumbled Jinnicky putting his ear to the stone.
"Open sesame!" directed Tompy, suddenly remembering his Arabian Nights. Naturally, nothing at all happened. Then, as Yankee and the Red Jinn, who never had read the Arabian Nights, looked on in astonishment, Tompy tapped out a brisk ra ta ta ta ta too! on the provoking door. Slowly and noiselessly the slab of rock swung inward. By sheer luck, Tompy had hit upon the exact number of taps to gain entrance. Without waiting to find out how he had accomplished this extraordinary feat, the space dog and Jinnicky rushed inside. Tompy, still stunned by the success of his drum taps, followed more slowly. The main chamber was deserted. Not a trace of Ozma, her friends, or of Badmannah himself.
"Poor little Doffi," mourned the Red Jinn, looking around at the sparsely furnished room in disgust, "having to put up with a place like this. You'd think with all the stuff he has stolen he'd have fixed up a comfortable home."
Rough straw mats were strewn around the uneven stone floor. A rickety stove stood off in one corner, on which the little princess must have had no end of trouble cooking her famous cakes and pies. Except for a table, two benches, some sheEves for dishes and pans, and two handsome carved chests, there was no other furniture.
"Even a hedge hog would have a better hole," sneered Yankee, going over to sniff at the larger chest. "Come along, perhaps the Oz folks are in one of these corridors branching off back there."
"For the present, we'll all stay right here," announced the little Jinn. Leaning down, he pulled a fat gold watch from his left sock and gazed at it intently. "One o'clock and half past my usual lunch time," he sputtered and hurrying over to the table he climbed up on one of the benches. "Come on, boys," he urged, plumping his basket down in front of him. "Time to eat." Yankee, who always was hungry, needed no second invitation and
sprang joyfully up beside him.
"Shouldn't we look for the Ozians first?" asked Tompy, glancing around uneasily, "and wouldn't it be safer outside?" At this moment with a resounding BOOMP the cave's rocky door slammed shut.
"Trapped!" squealed Yankee, leaping off the bench.
"Oh, nonsense!" said Jinnicky, though there was a slight quaver in his voice. "Tompy drummed us in and can easily drum us out when we are ready to leave. Since that rascal thinks he has us safely out of the way for a while, he'll probably leave us in peace. Big battle ahead, boys, and 'never fight on an empty stomach!' that's my motto."
Taking the siEver dinner bell from his basket, the Red Jinn rang it three times and then sat back waiting for his lunch to appear. A little light sifted down from cracks in the rock overhead, but not enough to suit him, so he fished a yellow jug from his seemingly bottomless basket and set it in the middle of the table. Without wick or bulb it cast a cheery radiance around the dismal cave. As Tompy rather doubtfully seated himself opposite Jinnicky, a tinkle of breaking glass sounded from a back corridor. It was Ginger. Finding the cave closed he had flown over the top and jumped through a huge skylight with the Jinn's lunch, returning the same way with two more for the others.
As the Red Jinn seemed completely unconcerned about everything, Tompy, too, stopped worrying long enough to eat two turkey sandwiches, an apple, a big piece of sponge cake, plus a glass of chocolate milk. Ginger had thoughtfully supplied the terrier with a heaping bowl of chopped beef and liver. Then, looking around with deep disapproval, the bell boy took himself Evward. Rather wishing he could go along, Tompy tried to recall the exact number of taps he had used to open the cave. Yankee, after his splendid lunch of liver and beef, quenched his thirst in a small spring bubbling up in the floor, then set off to explore the cave. After darting here and there, he came to a sudden stop, his nose pointed straight upward.
Yankee in Oz Page 9
