The Purple Prince Of Oz by L Frank Baum

Author:L Frank Baum [Baum, L Frank]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

The Grand Advizier Advises

THEY found Kabumpo under a ginger tree in

the garden and when Jinnicky clapped him

briskly on the trunk and told him he had decided to help him, the Elegant Elephant was so embarrassed that he could do nothing but grunt and

splutter. Taking these dubious sounds for appreciation and thanks, the Jinn announced that they were leaving for Pumperdink at once, and motioning for Kabumpo to follow pattered determinedly back to the palace.

“There are always three things to decide about a journey,” panted Jinnicky, dropping down on his cushions and clasping his hands round his shiny middle. “Where to go, what to take and how to travel. The first we know, the second we shall leave to my Grand Advizier, the third we must decide for ourselves. Now then, my lads, how shall we travel to Pumperdink?”

“Where’s the Post Man?” demanded Kabumpo, looking around sharply. He had not enjoyed the dash through the air with their singular guide, but he had rather counted on going back the same way.

“Where is that surly offspring of a tree stump?”

“Gone,” answered Jinnicky, calmly rocking back and forth. “So we cannot go by post. My magic jinrikisha might carry Randy and me but it would never hold an elephant, so we cannot go by

jinrikisha.”

“I should not care to ride in a jinrikisha anyway,”

sniffed Kabumpo loftily. “I’ve never ridden in such a contrivance, and I don’t intend to begin now.”

“Then it looks as though we would have to go afoot,” mused Jinnicky, taking off his lid and scratching his red head reflectively. “Mercy me!” He looked ruefully at his small, fat slippered feet and sighed.

“Oh, you can ride on my back, I suppose,” remarked Kabumpo carelessly. He had no great liking

for the saucy little Jinn, but felt he must put up with some inconveniences if he was to get him to Pumperdink and save the kingdom from Kettywig.

“Of course, if you fall off and jar yourself, you cannot hold me responsible,” he added in a severe tone.

“And if that does happen,” thought Kabumpo spitefully to himself, “I shall just take his magic and

disenchant their Majesties without his help.”

Randy looked distressed at Kabumpo’s rude speech, but the Jinn, who loved a joke, even on himself, laughed uproariously.

“You cannot jar a fellow who is already jarred,”

puffed Jinnicky, wiping the tears of merriment from his fat cheeks. “I’ve been jarred all my life and never been broken yet” The Jinn winked a glass eye at Kabumpo, and the Elegant Elephant was so upset to have the Jinn read his thoughts that he immediately lapsed into an uneasy silence.

“But how about the Deadly Desert?” asked Randy, sitting down on the steps of Jinnicky’s throne and looking up eagerly into his face.

“Oh-that!” Jinnicky snapped his fingers unconcernedly.

“Wait till we come to it, my boy.” Taking

up his red umbrella he pounded vigorously on the arm of his ruby throne. In answer to this strange summons, a tall, turbaned and exceedingly dignified gentleman stalked into his presence. He was tastefully

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