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.Dorothy, terribly alarmed at theserious turn the quarrel had taken, rushed hurriedly forward.Now that Ruggedohad gone, the whole thing seemed silly and ridiculous."Let's make up," begged Dorothy, helping Sir Hokus to hisfeet."I'm sure it's all a mistake."Page 89ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"Well, it was a great mistake to pull my tail," rumbled theCowardly Lion, coming out very slowly and majestically, "but I'll overlook itthis once." He blinked suspiciously at the Scarecrow, but the Scarecrow washelping Sir Hokus with his helmet and did not even notice."Who thumpst me again-" panted the Knight, pointing hisforefinger furiously down-ward-"who thumpst me again - d-ies!""But nobody will!" Dorothy hastened to assure him.She lookedpleadingly at the Scarecrow, who she felt must be responsible."Let's forgetall about it and think about the party," she proposed brightly."Now, who'llmake the speech of welcome?""Let Scraps do it," muttered the Cowardly Lion, licking hispaws sulkily."She's clever at speeches and makes short ones, too.I'll gofind her," he offered in a little more cheerful voice."Haven't seen her sinceyesterday, but I s'pose she's around somewhere.""All right," smiled Dorothy, as the Cowardly Lion thuddedacross the porch."Now, who'll help me decorate the banquet hall?" Sir Hokushad taken off his helmet and was rubbing his head wrathfully.At Dorothy'swords he glanced across at the Scarecrow, but the straw man's painted eyes methis so frankly and innocently that he impulsively put out his hand.Certainlythe Scarecrow's flimsy arm could never have dealt him such a blow."We'll help you," said the Knight, taking the Scarecrow's arm." 'Twas that villain lion who thumped me," he whispered as they started forthe banquet hall."Here come Betsy and Trot," cried Dorothy, forgetting allabout the quarrel."Maybe they will pick some flowers for the table!"Betsy and Trot, as many of you already know, are two littlemortals like Dorothy, who have been invited by Ozma to live in the royalpalace.Both reached Oz after ship-wrecks and many trying adventures and theyfound life in the capital so exciting and gay that they have never wished toreturn to the United States.They were delighted at the prospect of a party,and so was the Hungry Tiger, who had come up just behind them.Putting a hugeflower basket on his back; the two little girls ran gaily down the palacesteps."I'll have a strawberry sandwich," purred the tiger, lookingover his shoulder at Dorothy."Be sure to have strawberry sandwiches!"Page 90ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"I never heard of a strawberry sandwich," laughed the littlegirl, shaking her head dubiously."Well, there always has to be a first," chuckled the tiger,trotting after Betsy.Dorothy, looking a little puzzled, waved after him and, wellpleased with her plans, ran into the castle to ask the Wizard of Oz to thinkup some new tricks to entertain the guests, and to confer with the cook aboutrefreshment.Soon the palace began to hum with activity.The banquet hall,under the skillful hands of the Scarecrow and Sir Hokus took on a trulyfestive air.Messengers and pages ran hither and thither with invitations,while the Royal band, tuning up on the castle lawn, added its strains to thegeneral gaiety.Indeed, from the preparations for her return, one would havethought Ozma had been gone a year instead of a day, and Ruggedo, flutteringhere and there in his invisible robe, chuckled with amusement and malice."Work away," muttered the Gnome King darkly."At three o'clockI shall send you all to the bottom of the Nonestic Ocean, transport my gnomeshere and enjoy this party my own self." At first, Ruggedo had continued hispinchings and punchings and hair pullings but, at last, fearing detection, hehad stopped his mischievous teasing and seated himself calmly in Ozma's chairat the head of the banquet table.In this position it would be a simple matterto unclasp his magic belt as soon as the little fairy made ready to take herplace.The patch, which was the only visible thing about Ruggedo, was now onthe seat of the chair, so did not show and, quite unconscious of theirdreadful peril, Dorothy and her friends went on with their preparations forthe party, while Ruggedo, fidgeting with impatience, kept his eyes fastenedupon the emerald clock.Twenty minutes of three! Twenty minutes, and then-! The littlegnome fairly hugged himself with wicked anticipation.Ten minutes of three andnow everything was in readiness.Dorothy and Betsy, giggling together, wereputting the finishing touches to the table.The Scarecrow and Sir Hokus,between them, were composing a speech of welcome, for, of course, the CowardlyLion had not been able to find the Patchwork Girl.Ranged about the walls inpleasant anticipation stood the courtiers and dear old celebrities of Oz.NickChopper, the Tin Woodman, summoned from his palace by the Wizard's magic,stood conversing in a low tone with Pastoria, Ozma's Royal Father, about hiscrop of tin cans, which were larger this year than ever before.The littleWizard of Oz, himself, was whispering to Tik Tok, the machine man, some of thetricks he was planning for the company's amusement and the metal man waschuckling with mechanical mirth.Hank, Betsy's mule, Toto, Dorothy's littledog, the Saw Horse, Ozma's Royal Steed, and all of the other palace pets weresitting expectantly at their own special table."Now then!" exclaimed the Scarecrow, having finished thespeech of welcome to his own and the Knight's satisfaction, "as soon as I havePage 91ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlfinished this address, I shall extend a hand of welcome to our little ruler,lead her triumphantly to the head of the table and-""Look!" rasped the Tin Woodman, who stood nearest the door."Look! Look up! Look out!" Following the direction of Nick Chopper's tinfinger everyone did look and, next minute, in fright and bewilderment, huddledtogether for protection, for over the heads flashed the hand of Kuma Party."The welcoming hand!" gasped the Scare-crow, clutching SirHokus."But whose? Everybody count his hands," mumbled the Scarecrow, lookinganxiously at his own."The hand that smote me," roared the Knight, making a lunge atthe hand with his sword.Everyone else ducked, dodged and shuddered as the armsailed hither and thither over their heads."It's a trick of the Wizard's," faltered Dorothy, lookinghopefully at the little man.But the Wizard, peering palely from behind a hugegreen chair, shook his head positively."I had no hand in this," muttered the Wizard, mopping his baldhead with his best hanky.Now, Kuma's hand could unfortunately carry out onlythe instructions given it by its owner.The note of warning for Ozma wastightly clasped in its fingers, but as Ozma was not present, it presumed shewas to be found in another part of the palace and immediately flashed up thegolden stairway in search of her and the invisible gnome.But Ruggedo was nowmore invisible than ever, having crawled under the table at the first sight ofthe flying arm.As the arm disappeared, everyone heaved a sigh of relief."Come! Come!" wheezed the Wizard, step-ping out nervously frombehind the green chair,"we must not let a little thing like this spoil theparty.""Why, it's three o'clock now!""And here's Ozma!" cried Dorothy.And there, indeed, was Ozma,standing with a quiet smile in the doorway.At once the Scarecrow burst intohis speech:"Welcome Ozma, beauteous Queen Sovereign of this City Green,Illustrious ruler-"Page 92ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]