Tik-Tok of Oz

age is Rash

hat seemed aimless. But always it drew nearer to a range of low mountains and Files said more than

rock, the walls and roof of which glittered with thousands of magnificent jewels. Here, on a throne of virgin gol

one might think, considering his enormous wealth, that he ought to be happy; but this was not the case. The Metal Monarch was surly and cross because mortals had dug so much treasure out of the earth and kept it above ground, where all the power of Ruggedo and

en suddenly he sat upright, uttered a roar of rage and

s, hammering out gold and silver and other metals, or melting ores in great furnaces, or polishing glittering gems. The nomes trembled at the

pushed aside and Kaliko, the King's Hig

he asked, with a wide yaw

iciously. "Those foolish mortals are up,

e?" inqui

es

ontinued the Chamber

h-crawlers draw near to my Kingdom. I am positive, Kaliko, that mortals are this ver

o be done?" dem

, and see where the invader

avern up to the side of the mountain and turned several curves and corners, but as it was a

he. "I see 'em,

ook like?" inqu

I never yet beheld," replied the nome. "However, such a collection of cur

'm not afraid of him. Why, only the other da

ed him out again," said Kalik

d Ruggedo, jump

e several girls, of various sizes; but

claimed the King,

had his eye t

all officers and carry swords. And there is a Shaggy Man-

corn. "I've no fear of such a mob as that. A doz

destroy, and I believe the Rose Princess is a fairy. As for Polychrome, y

she among them?"

e just reco

red Ruggedo, scowling fiercely. "In fact, no one ever comes here

ue," sai

hese people from reaching my

rossing the Rubber C

gnetic rubber wire

s it your Royal Will that we hav

"I want to teach them a les

rything around them was of a dull gray color and that the path upon which they walked was soft and springy, y

tween high rocks far down the mountain-side. Across the brook were stepping-stones, so placed that tr

d Hank, Polychrome and Shaggy, and last of all the Rose Princess with Files. The Clockwork Man saw

rebounded and sent Tik-Tok soaring high in the air, where he turned a successi

s was connected with Kaliko's magnetic rubber wire) and instantly shot upward like an arrow. General Cone came next and met with a li

nother direction, his three-cornered hat jammed over his eyes and his long sword thumping him upon the arms and head as it swung this way and that. And there, also,

eing the chief officers of the Army of Oogaboo bounding around in so undignified a manner. She shouted to them to stop, but they were unable to obe

" demanded Ann, who s

are rubber; therefore they are not stones. Those rocks around us are rubber, and therefore they are not rocks. Even this path is not a pa

o she began dancing. Every step sent her higher and higher into the air, so that she resembled a big butterfly fluttering l

them. "Suppose you all try to bound over the

on and began jumping up and down until she found herself bounding almost as high as Polychrome had done. Then she suddenly l

d to bound pretty high but when he tried to bound across the stream he mi

rushed forward to help him out, but when the mule stood sa

er hand into the stream and showing how the

d Betsy, "they can all

vice, avoiding the rubber stepping stones, and made the crossing with ease. This encouraged the entire party to wade through the dry w

ked through his magic

ve passed the Rubber Country and now are fas

as he strode up and down his jeweled cavern, he paused to kick Kaliko upon his shin

must drop these audacious in

this, and looked at h

ty," he said, "you will mak

iti-Hoochoo lives on the other side of th

ed and uttered

e warned you, the last time you slid people through the Hollow T

ked up and down in si

wise to choose the least. What d

Hearer listen to the

once!" commanded

the cavern a nome with enormous ea

h to know their errand. Listen carefully to their tal

back and forth. For half an hour he stood silent, in an attitude of listening, while b

re to rescue his brother

ve his ugly brother, for all I care. He's too lazy to work and

soner you commanded me to send him to the Metal F

or half the time I can't find it myself. Yet I created the forest and made every tree, out of gold and silver, so as to keep

to capture all the rich metals and rare jewels in your kingdom, and the off

arms furiously. Then, in an ecstasy of anger he seized the long ears of the Hearer and pulled and twisted them cruelly; but Kaliko grabbed up the

ape, and after the King had tired himself out chasing Kaliko he threw himself into

nemy," suggested Kaliko. "There will be a terri

oughing and panting. "I'll drop 'em down the Holl

iti-Hoochoo?"

turn the path toward the Hollow Tube, and to make the t

t mistake. He found the Magician and had the path twisted so that it led di

his private room and began to write letters of recommendation of himse

ertain that Ruggedo has ruined himself by this reckless defiance of the mighty Tititi