The Silver Princess in Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson

Author:Ruth Plumly Thompson [Thompson, Ruth Plumly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Speculative Fiction
ISBN: 9780929605562
Publisher: Wonder Publishing
Published: 1938-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

NIGHT IN THE FOREST

All afternoon the four travelers moved through the Ixian forest, Planetty

exclaiming over the flowers, ferns and bright birds that flitted from

tree

to tree, Thun sending up frequent high-flown sentences, Kabumpo and

Randy

looking rather anxiously for some landmark that would prove they were on

the road to Ev. As it grew darker, the Elegant Elephant wisely decided

to

make camp, stopping in a small, tidy clearing for that purpose. As

Kabumpo

swung to an impressive halt, Randy slid to the ground, pulling the net

bags

with him, and began to sort out boxes containing food. Then he quickly

gathered some faggots for a fire, as the night was raw and chilly, and

had

Planetty signal Thun to breathe on the wood. Thun, only too happy to be

of

some use, quickly lighted the campfire, and he and the little Princess

watched curiously while Randy prepared his own and Kabumpo's supper,

making

coffee in a tin box with some water Kabumpo had fetched in his

collapsible

canvas bucket. The Elegant Elephant did rather well with the contents of

seven cake boxes and four bread and cereal containers, and Randy found

so

many good things to eat among Chillywalla's presents he felt sorry not

to

be able to share them with Planetty or Thun.

"It would be more fun if you ate, too," he observed, looking down sideways

at the little Princess, who was sitting on a boulder, hands clasped

about

her knees, while she gazed contentedly up at the stars.

"Would it?" Planetty smiled faintly, tapping her silver heels against the rock. "This seems nite enough," she sighed, stretching up her arms luxuriantly, "but now it is time to ret." Slipping off her metal cape, the

Princess of Anuther Planet tossed one end against a white birch and the

other to a tall pine. To Randy's surprise, the ends of the cape

instantly

attached themselves to the trees, making a soft, flexible hammock. Into

this Planetty climbed with utmost ease and satisfaction. "Good net,

Randy

and Big Bumpo, dear," she called softly. "Take care of Thun. I've told him

to stay where he is till the earling, and he will, he will."

With a smile, Planetty closed her bright eyes, and the wind swaying her

silver hammock soon rocked her to sleep. It had been a long day, and

Randy

felt very drowsy himself. Walking over to the Thunder Colt, he turned

his

head so that his fiery breath would fall harmlessly on a cluster of damp

rocks. He was pleased to find this steed from another planet so obedient

and gentle. Though formed of some live and lively black metal, Thun was

soft and satiny to the touch and seemed to enjoy having his back rubbed

as

much as an ordinary horse.

"Tap me twice on the shoulder if aught occurs, Slandy," he signalled, blowing the words out lazily between Randy's pats. "And good net to you, my

Nozzies! Good net!"

"That language is just full of foolishness," sniffed Kabumpo, spreading a blanket on the ground for Randy and then stretching himself full length

beneath a beech tree. "Put out the fire, Nozzy, my lad, the creature's breath makes light enough to frighten off any wild men or monsters."

"Oh, I don't believe there are any wild beasts or savages in this

forest,"

Randy said, stamping out the embers of the campfire.

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