Baum, L Frank Oz 34 The Wonder City of Oz

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"Will you help me to my feet?"
"If you want my help, dragon, just blow your
breath the other way," said the father. "This is my
new suit of clothes." He pinched out a few burning
spots in his sleeves. Then he helped the dragon to
its feet, saying, "Go and lie under a tree."
"I tried that," said the dragon. "But the trees and
bushes stuck twigs and briars into my tender skin.
I'll just limp along after you."
The dragon and the bull were now following Num-
ber Nine and his father. His father's four blue
mules were straying about. Seeing this small pro-
cession, they joined it. Other animals slipped into
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line. A catnip wildcat with saucy eyes stood in the
middle of the road, blocking the way.
"Will you please step aside?" said Number Nine's
father.
"Why should I?" retorted the snippy wildcat, her
hair bristling.
"Can't you see you're in the way?" the father
replied patiently.
"Let me join your parade," said the wildcat.
The father looked around and was surprised to see
a string of animals two blocks long following him.
"Well, if this keeps on, I'll have all the animals
with me, and I can take them to the enclosure," he
said.
Number Nine felt important at the head of this
parade. "I wish Jenny could see me," he thought.
The bull was walking directly behind Number
Nine's father. It rubbed its nose on his neck and
asked, "Where can I get two or three buckets of
water to drink?"
"We'll stop at the elephant fountain and water all
the animals," said the father.
They marched to the corner of Pancake Park,
where an enormous statue of an elephant sprayed
green water out of its stone trunk into a basin. The
animals crowded around the basin and began drink-
ing. Other animals kept coming from other parts
of the city.
Many hours had passed since the ozlection. A
green dawn was beginning to show in the east.
"Here are the blue-blooded horses I've been look-
ing for!" exclaimed the father. Number Nine looked
across the park and saw, in the first rays of morning,
four blue horses trotting abreast. They came close
to the bull and stood whispering to it. Then they
turned and trotted up to the father.
"The bull says that you are the animals' friend.
We want to come with you," said one of the horses.
"That will be fine. I have a snug, clean barn on
my farm in the Munchkin country," said the father.
"I have been hunting for you many days."
When the animals had drunk all they wanted, they
formed in a procession. Just as the farmer was go-
ing to lead them off, up came a large girl dressed
in a suit of brilliant green spangles, with a belt of
gold and a bright gold sword hanging jauntily at
her side.
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She marched up to the farmer and saluted. "I am
General Jinjur," she announced.
"What I need is not a general, but a Field Mar-
shal, to marshal these animals back to their field,"
said the father.
General Jinjur gave him a haughty stare and
replied, "In private life, I, too, am a farmer. I can
handle animals very well."
"Good!" said Number Nine's father. "You can lead
these back to the enclosure and see that they are
safely locked up. I'll take my four blue-blooded
horses and this bull that wants me for a friend. I'll
gather my family and start back for the Munchkin
country. We've had lots of fun and excitement on
our vacation in the Emerald City. But it's time we
all got back to the farm."
Number Nine looked sorry to hear his father's
words. He said, "Then I must say goodbye, father.
For I must find Jenny Jump and return with her to
the Style Shop."
Number Nine and General Jinjur started toward
the animal-plant enclosure. General Jinjur walked
with a spunky strut.
The animals paraded after them, and in the grow-
mg daylight the remaining ones who had been
loosened by Jenny the night before came from the
houses and other hiding-places and joined the parade.
The animals quickly went to their places in the
enclosure. Some lay rubbing their bumps and cuts
where they had been hit by the houses.
"Poor animals," said Number Nine, "they need a
doctor."
"That looks like one coming," said General Jinjur.
Looking toward the gate, Number Nine saw a [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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