The Magic of Oz
Page 19
A Remarkable Journey
CHAPTER 17
"You see," explained the Glass Cat, "that Magic Isle where Trot andCap'n Bill are stuck is also in this Gillikin country--over at the eastside of it, and it's no farther to go across-lots from here than it isfrom here to the Emerald City. So we'll save time by cutting across themountains."
"Are you sure you know the way?" asked Dorothy.
"I know all the Land of Oz better than any other living creature knowsit," asserted the Glass Cat.
"Go ahead, then, and guide us," said the Wizard. "We've left our poorfriends helpless too long already, and the sooner we rescue them thehappier they'll be."
"Are you sure you can get 'em out of their fix?" the little girlinquired.
"I've no doubt of it," the Wizard assured her. "But I can't tell whatsort of magic I must use until I get to the place and discover just howthey are enchanted."
"I've heard of that Magic Isle where the Wonderful Flower grows,"remarked the Cowardly Lion. "Long ago, when I used to live in theforests, the beasts told stories about the Isle and how the Magic Flowerwas placed there to entrap strangers--men or beasts."
"Is the Flower really wonderful?" questioned Dorothy.
"I have heard it is the most beautiful plant in the world," answered theLion. "I have never seen it myself, but friendly beasts have told methat they have stood on the shore of the river and looked across at theplant in the gold flowerpot and seen hundreds of flowers, of all sortsand sizes, blossom upon it in quick succession. It is said that if onepicks the flowers while they are in bloom they will remain perfect for along time, but if they are not picked they soon disappear and arereplaced by other flowers. That, in my opinion, makes the magic plantthe most wonderful in existence."
"But these are only stories," said the girl. "Has any of your friendsever picked a flower from the wonderful plant?"
"No," admitted the Cowardly Lion, "for if any living thing ventures uponthe Magic Isle, where the golden flowerpot stands, that man or beasttakes root in the soil and cannot get away again."
"What happens to them, then?" asked Dorothy.
"They grow smaller, hour by hour and day by day, and finally disappearentirely."
"Then," said the girl anxiously, "we must hurry up, or Cap'n Bill an'Trot will get too small to be comf'table."
They were proceeding at a rapid pace during this conversation, for theHungry Tiger and the Cowardly Lion were obliged to move swiftly in orderto keep pace with the Glass Cat. After leaving the Forest of Gugu theycrossed a mountain range, and then a broad plain, after which theyreached another forest, much smaller than that where Gugu ruled.
"The Magic Isle is in this forest," said the Glass Cat, "but the riveris at the other side of the forest. There is no path through the trees,but if we keep going east, we will find the river, and then it will beeasy to find the Magic Isle."
"Have you ever traveled this way before?" inquired the Wizard.
"Not exactly," admitted the Cat, "but I know we shall reach the river ifwe go east through the forest."
"Lead on, then," said the Wizard.
The Glass Cat started away, and at first it was easy to pass between thetrees; but before long the underbrush and vines became thick andtangled, and after pushing their way through these obstacles for a time,our travelers came to a place where even the Glass Cat could not pushthrough.
"We'd better go back and find a path," suggested the Hungry Tiger.
"I'm s'prised at you," said Dorothy, eyeing the Glass Cat severely.
"I'm surprised, myself," replied the Cat. "But it's a long way aroundthe forest to where the river enters it, and I thought we could savetime by going straight through."
"No one can blame you," said the Wizard, "and I think, instead ofturning back, I can make a path that will allow us to proceed."
He opened his black bag and after searching among his magic tools drewout a small axe, made of some metal so highly polished that it glitteredbrightly even in the dark forest. The Wizard laid the little axe on theground and said in a commanding voice:
"Chop, Little Axe, chop clean and true; A path for our feet you must quickly hew. Chop till this tangle of jungle is passed; Chop to the east, Little Axe--chop fast!"
Then the little axe began to move and flashed its bright blade right andleft, clearing a way through vine and brush and scattering the tangledbarrier so quickly that the Lion and the Tiger, carrying Dorothy and theWizard and the cage of monkeys on their backs, were able to stridethrough the forest at a fast walk. The brush seemed to melt away beforethem and the little axe chopped so fast that their eyes only saw atwinkling of the blade. Then, suddenly, the forest was open again, andthe little axe, having obeyed its orders, lay still upon the ground.
The Wizard picked up the magic axe and after carefully wiping it withhis silk handkerchief put it away in his black bag. Then they went onand in a short time reached the river.
"Let me see," said the Glass Cat, looking up and down the stream, "Ithink we are below the Magic Isle; so we must go up the stream until wecome to it."
So up the stream they traveled, walking comfortably on the river bank,and after a while the water broadened and a sharp bend appeared in theriver, hiding all below from their view. They walked briskly along,however, and had nearly reached the bend when a voice cried warningly:"Look out!"
The travelers halted abruptly and the Wizard said: "Look out for what?"
"You almost stepped on my Diamond Palace," replied the voice, and a duckwith gorgeously colored feathers appeared before them. "Beasts and menare terribly clumsy," continued the Duck in an irritated tone, "andyou've no business on this side of the river, anyway. What are you doinghere?"
"We've come to rescue some friends of ours who are stuck fast on theMagic Isle in this river," explained Dorothy.
"I know 'em," said the Duck. "I've been to see 'em, and they're stuckfast, all right. You may as well go back home, for no power can savethem."
"This is the Wonderful Wizard of Oz," said Dorothy, pointing to thelittle man.
"Well, I'm the Lonesome Duck," was the reply, as the fowl strutted upand down to show its feathers to best advantage. "I'm the great ForestMagician, as any beast can tell you, but even I have no power to destroythe dreadful charm of the Magic Isle."
"Are you lonesome because you're a magician?" inquired Dorothy.
"No; I'm lonesome because I have no family and no friends. But I like tobe lonesome, so please don't offer to be friendly with me. Go away, andtry not to step on my Diamond Palace."
"Where is it?" asked the girl.
"Behind this bush."
Dorothy hopped off the lion's back and ran around the bush to see theDiamond Palace of the Lonesome Duck, although the gaudy fowl protestedin a series of low quacks. The girl found, indeed, a glistening domeformed of clearest diamonds, neatly cemented together, with a doorway atthe side just big enough to admit the duck.
"Where did you find so many diamonds?" asked Dorothy, wonderingly.
"I know a place in the mountains where they are thick as pebbles," saidthe Lonesome Duck, "and I brought them here in my bill, one by one andput them in the river and let the water run over them until they werebrightly polished. Then I built this palace, and I'm positive it's theonly Diamond Palace in all the world."
"It's the only one I know of," said the little girl; "but if you live init all alone, I don't see why it's any better than a wooden palace, orone of bricks or cobble-stones."
"You're not supposed to understand that," retorted the Lonesome Duck."But I might tell you, as a matter of education, that a home of any sortshould be beautiful to those who live in it, and should not be intendedto please strangers. The Diamond Palace is my home, and I like it. So Idon't care a quack whether _you_ like it or not."
"Oh, but I do!" exclaimed Dorothy. "It's lovely on the out
side, but--"Then she stopped speaking, for the Lonesome Duck had entered his palacethrough the little door without even saying good-bye. So Dorothyreturned to her friends and they resumed their journey.
"Do you think, Wizard, the Duck was right in saying no magic can rescueTrot and Cap'n Bill?" asked the girl in a worried tone of voice.
"No, I don't think the Lonesome Duck was right in saying that," answeredthe Wizard, gravely, "but it is possible that their enchantment will beharder to overcome than I expected. I'll do my best, of course, and noone can do more than his best."
That didn't entirely relieve Dorothy's anxiety, but she said nothingmore, and soon, on turning the bend in the river, they came in sight ofthe Magic Isle.
"There they are!" exclaimed Dorothy eagerly.
"Yes, I see them," replied the Wizard, nodding. "They are sitting on twobig toadstools."
"That's queer," remarked the Glass Cat. "There were no toadstools therewhen I left them."
"What a lovely flower!" cried Dorothy in rapture, as her gaze fell onthe Magic Plant.
"Never mind the Flower, just now," advised the Wizard. "The mostimportant thing is to rescue our friends."
By this time they had arrived at a place just opposite the Magic Isle,and now both Trot and Cap'n Bill saw the arrival of their friends andcalled to them for help.
"How are you?" shouted the Wizard, putting his hands to his mouth sothey could hear him better across the water.
"We're in hard luck," shouted Cap'n Bill, in reply. "We're anchored hereand can't move till you find a way to cut the hawser."
"What does he mean by that?" asked Dorothy.
"We can't move our feet a bit!" called Trot, speaking as loud as shecould.
"Why not?" inquired Dorothy.
"They've got roots on 'em," explained Trot.
It was hard to talk from so great a distance, so the Wizard said to theGlass Cat:
"Go to the island and tell our friends to be patient, for we have cometo save them. It may take a little time to release them, for the Magicof the Isle is new to me and I shall have to experiment. But tell themI'll hurry as fast as I can."
So the Glass Cat walked across the river under the water to tell Trotand Cap'n Bill not to worry, and the Wizard at once opened his black bagand began to make his preparations.