Baum, L Frank - Oz 27 by Baum L Frank

Author:Baum, L Frank
Language: eng
Format: epub

CHAPTER 10

The Long-Armed Reacher

"HE'LL come right away all righty," whispered the Dick with the queer collar, nudging Dorothy. "He's the Dic's Right Hand Man, he is!"

"Right Hand Man! Right Hand Man!" twittered

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a couple of Dickey Birds hanging in a cage over his Excellency's divan.

"Well, now we've done it,,, worried Scraps, clasping her arms around the Cowardly Lion's neck. The lion's knees were trembling violently, but moving closer to little Dorothy he prepared to make a stand against all comers. A clatter of hoofs made him prick up his ears and Dorothy gave a little scream of alarm as Dickus, mounted on a great white horse, charged through the curtains at the back of the throne. Easily leaping the throne itself the royal charger came to an abrupt halt before the three adventurers, and with a nerve-shattering neigh began to paw the stone floor with his left fore foot. At the same time a tall fellow, wearing an immense cloak and sugar-loaf hat, stepped through the curtains and solemnly took his place at the horse's head, regarding the visitors with stern and watchful eyes.

"Here they are!" cried the Dictator, dropping the reins and folding his arms dramatically on his chest.

"Do you still defy me?" he asked, thrusting one hand into his doublet and puffing out his cheeks.

"Yes!" Dorothy spoke up boldly. "You see---"

"Even on my white horse?" went on the Dictator, incredulously. "You defy me even on my white horse, in my best uniform and three-cornered hat

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with the gold feather? And these others, do they defy me, too?"

"Yes," rumbled the Cowardly Lion, beginning to enjoy himself thoroughly. "Since it gives your Excellency such pleasure. We all defy you, now, later and forever after. We cannot obey the dictates of your office, for we are already loyal subjects of Ozma of Oz and at present seeking far and near for a boy named Ojo who was carried off by gypsies."

"But stay long enough to arrange a little uprising," begged the Dictator, in a pleading voice. "I've never been defied before and I assure you I find it most refreshing. How can I prove I'm a real Dictator unless I quell an uprising or put down a revolt?

The trouble here is that no one ever revolts."

"How revolting," murmured Scraps, ruffling up the Cowardly Lion's mane.

"But why pick US to revolute?

we neither bite nor fight nor shoot!"

"The lion could bite," said Dickus, pulling in the white horse, who was making playful snatches at Scraps', yarn hair.

"Well, I won't bite this time." The lion waved his tail gently from left to right. "But thanks for asking me."

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"Oh, that's all right" Sliding wearily down from his white charger, the Dictator waved it wearily out of the room and sank back on his divan.

"Do you want me to handle matters from now on?" questioned Reachard, bending almost double to whisper in the little ruler's ear. Dickus nodded, looking at the same time so dreadfully disappointed that Dorothy felt sorry for him.

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