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.Jack was so confounded by hissudden arrival in this strange place that for several moments he was scarcelyaware that the slave of the bell was addressing him."Be pleased to enter the castle of the Red Jinn," murmuredthe little black boy politely, repeating the words till Jack at last did hearhim."Is the owner of this palace also the owner of the magicdinner bell?" asked Jack uneasily.The slave nodded brightly and after aninquisitive glance at Jack's broken leg which he still carried under his arm,he offered his shoulder to Jack.With his assistance, Jack began hoppingdoubtfully upward.There were nearly a hundred steps, and moving up and downwas a vast and colorful company of turbaned gentlemen, who might have steppeddirectly from the Arabian Nights.As each one passed he took off his slipperand tapped Jack smartly on the head."What, what have I done?" stuttered Jack, trying to protecthis head with his arm."Why do they strike me and why do they smile as they doit?""It is the custom in this country to take off the rightshoe and tap a visitor upon the head as a polite method of salutation andgreeting," explained the slave calmly."Greeting," groaned Jack, ducking back to avoid anotherslipper waver, "well, if we meet many more of your countrymen my head will bea squash instead of a pumpkin.Why can't they shake hands, like we do in Oz?""Every country has its own customs," answered the slavestiffly."Why do you wear such a soft head, pray?""Because I'm accustomed to it," replied Jack a littlesulkily."It's the kind of head that goes with my kind of person."A turban would help," observed the slave as anothercitizen greeted Jack boisterously with his slipper."I don't need a turban," said Jack, hopping desperately upthe last step."But I do need help.My friends have disappeared into anenchanted sack and my country is in danger of destruction.I must have help.Page 56ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlDo you think your master is powerful enough to help me?""It depends on how you strike him," murmured the slaveindifferently."There he is now.You might ask him." The glass doors of thepalace were wide open, and Jack looked anxiously into the great red glassthrone room.The doorways and arches were hung with strands of strung glasstriangles and the musical tinkle of these strange curtains was both pleasantand delicate.All of the furnishings were of sparkling red glass and a doubleline of tall vases led directly to the throne.A strange drowsy incense rosein pink clouds to the ceiling.At first Jack thought the Jinn was merelyanother vase, but as with the black boy's aid he hopped nearer, he saw thatthe vase-like figure on the throne had legs crossed on the spun glass cushionsand hands clasped round his fat and shiny middle.No head was visible; nothingbut a lid with a round knob on the top.A sleepy black wielded a great fandrowsily over this portly person, and Jack after pausing uncertainly took theleg he still carried under his arm and tapped the Jinn sharply on the lid.Instantly it raised up and from the vase-like interior of this strangesovereign rose an enormous red head with an exceedingly pleasant, round face.He blinked curiously at Jack and then turning to the slave wheezed goodnaturedly, "Well, well! Ginger, my boy, what have you brought me this time? Iam delighted that our bell was stolen.It keeps us in touch with the outsideworld and has already got us two extra slaves.But this one is the best yet."He looked Jack up and then down."I haven't been so amused in a thousandyears."Don't you want the bell back?" asked Jack, holding it outuneasily.He had expected the Jinn to be very angry at the holder of his magictreasure."No! No! Keep it and welcome! Just to look at you is wortha hundred dinner bells," said the Jinn, smothering a chuckle behind his fathand."An odd enough appearing gentleman, Ginger, is he not? And so polite!Where we but remove the slipper he has taken off the entire leg to do ushonor.Tell me, who and what are you, most curious sir?""You struck him exactly right," whispered the slaveencouragingly."Speak up and he may help you.""I am Jack Pumpkinhead, your Majesty," said Jack, balancinghimself with great difficulty, "and a simple citizen of Oz [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]