Tik-Tok of Oz

Tumble Th

r the Rainbow's Daughter was a fairy and as Oogaboo is a part of the Land of Oz its inhabitants cannot easily be deceived by such common magic as the Nome King could command. But no one sus

ll of them likewise disappeared-one after another. Queen Ann was rather surprised

rd and talking to Shaggy and Polychrome, who were just behind. Suddenly Hank pitched forward and began falling and Bets

oofs were resting upon some smooth substance over which he slid with the swiftness of the wind. Once Betsy's heels flew up an

Hank only uttered a plaintive "Hee-haw!

time a most curious picture would have resulted. There was Tik-Tok, flat upon his back and sliding headforemost down the incline. And there were the Officers of the Army of Oogaboo, all tangled up in a confused crowd, flapping their arms and trying to shield their faces from the clanking swords, which swung back and forth during the swift journey and pommeled everyone within their

ng one, because the cavity led straight through the earth to a place just opposite the Nome King

a loud voice, and Queen Ann heard her

hen she's going about sixty miles a minute?" Then, after a pause,

aggy, who was not too far away to overhear

said

" replied Shaggy, and then he yelled "Ouch!" for Polych

us was this joyous laugh that Betsy echoed it and Hank

hen we'll arrive, just the sa

this an odd experience? Here am I, whose home is in the skies, making a

f the earth?" asked Betsy, her voice t

agician who was a great traveler. He thought it would save him the bother of going around the earth's surface, but he

ded?" asked Bet

agician hit

of the Magician?"

red Polychrome. "But I don

lso hit the stars when we come o

the Magician was going the other way, and pr

ly removing Polychrome's heel from his left eye. "Co

ughed the Rain

s you may imagine when you read their words. But although they were so helpless and altogether in t

her, and the young fellow bravely strove to reassure the Princess, al

ir fearful journey. Then, just as they began to fear the Tube would never end, Tik-Tok popped out into broa

n, tumbling heels over head and striking

Peculiar Person who was hoeing pink viole

s high as the treetops, and alighted squarely on top of the Peculiar Person'

nd when she looked around her she saw the Queen and the Peculiar Person struggling together upon the ground, where the man was trying to choke Ann and she had both hands in his bushy hair and was pull

m the place where they had fallen into the Tube. It was a lovely place, indeed, and seemed to be the garden of some great Prince, for through the vistas of trees and shrubbery could be seen the towers of an immense c

his and when the man was free and could see again

imed. "Where did you come fr

r him, for Queen Ann

don't know the name of the place," said the girl, "

med the Peculiar Person in an irritated tone of

asked

But this Tube is private property and

and Polychrome added: "I am quite sure that Rug

y Ruggedo?" cried the ma

lieve she is right. We were on our way to conquer

of Ruggedo?" inquire

question, "'cause we don't know him at all; but we started

and then he turned his head over his shoulder and said: "Never mind the fire and pinc

deep and powerful, that seemed to come out

e draperies fluttered like a banner in a breeze. Shaggy shook his head and sighed;

son. As he was a type of all the inhabitants of this extraordinary la

with his appearance. He wore a robe of scarlet, which did not cover his arms and extended no lower than his bare knees. On the bosom of the robe was embroidered a terrible dragon's head, as horrible to look at as the man was beautiful. H

dyes or the natural tints of the skin, but while she was t

the Residenc

Here's another of them, Tubekins,

sy; "it must be Tik-T

rted for the fountain. But before they could reach it, invisible hands raised Tik-Tok from the ma

d together and he could say no more. He next made an attempt to walk

new arrivals in this strange land found it very uncomfortable to realize that the

asked Betsy, feeling

is wound; but he needs

tried to oil Tik-Tok's joints. As if to assist him, a strong current of warm air was directed against the copper ma

urning his back upon them he walk

tated received several energetic kicks, but could not see who delivered them; therefore they also decided-very wisely-to go. The others followed willingly enough, for u