Yankee in Oz Read online

  "There's noboby here, but I smell PEOPLE!" he announced, looking over his shoulder at the Red Jinn. With nose still lifted, he made a dog line for the larger chest. "In here!" insisted Yankee, trying to push up the lid with his head.

  "Oh stop! Oh, do be careful!" cried Tompy rushing over to grab his harness, but the space dog already had bumped up the lid, and resting his paws on the edge was staring down into the dusty interior.

  "But it's perfectly empty," muttered Jinnicky who had come up behind him. "Anybody can see that!"

  "I tell you there are people in there!" squealed Yankee and wriggling out of Tompy's grasp, he jumped recklessly down into the chest.

  "Take your foot out of my eye!" roared an angry voice.

  "Stop shoving!" complained another. "It's crowded enough in here without YOU!"

  "Yankee! Yankee, where are you? Come out! Come out!" begged Tompy feeling frantically around in the empty chest. But no voice answered or came to reassure him. The chest was now silent and empty as it had been before.

  "So that's where he's put them," groaned the Red Jinn, slamming the lid and jerking Tompy backward. "QUICK!" he panted, trying to drag Tompy along with him. "We must leave this cave at once. At once, do you hear!" The little Jinn was strong and determined, but Tompy was stronger and also determined. Resisting every inch of the way, he finally tore loose from Jinnicky's hold on his coat tail.

  "If you think I'll leave Yankee in that awful chest, you're crazy!" he yelled, his voice fairly cracking with indignation. "I won't stir a step without my dog!"

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  Chapter 15: Yankee to the Rescue

  STAMPING his foot in exasperation, the Red Jinn padded over to the table and lifted t he crystal ball from his basket. Then clapping the stopper on the yellow vase, he dropped it into the basket, put the basket on his arm, and started on a run for the entrance of the cave. As he ran, he tossed the ball from hand to hand, muttering strange words in a strange language under his breath. Frantic between loyalty and desperation, Tompy watched him go. Without Jinnicky's help, how could he hope to release Yankee from the hateful chest? As he took an uncertain step forward, the unbelievable happened. Up flew the lid of the chest and out bounced the outraged bull terrier. With a strangled cough he dropped the musket he had in his mouth and stared groggily around. Before he could make a single move, Tompy, with a little cry of joy, seized his harness and raced him across the cave. The Red Jinn already was standing before the rocky barrier. Without even looking up he snatched the drum sticks from Tompy's belt and clumsily but accurately beat out the exact number of taps Tompy had rattled off when they gained entrance to the cave. As it had done before, the smooth slab of stone swung outward, and the three prisoners dashed through the opening. They were so relieved and happy to be out of the cave, none of them spoke for a whole minute. Then Yankee, after giving himself a good shake, sat down to pant a little.

  "Never in my life have I been caught in such a crowd," he wheezed plaintively. "Must be fifty or sixty people and animals in that chest."

  "And quite invisible," groaned Jinnicky mopping his forehead with his red silk kerchief.

  "Mean to say you didn't see them?" quavered the space dog looking from one to the other. "There were two pretty girls with crowns, a lion, a tiger, a silly glass cat, a metal man ticking like a bomb, and dozens more. Big old soldier with green whiskers started to poke me with his gun so I took it away from him."

  "And we couldn't see you either. After you jumped in that chest you vanished, just like that," said Tompy snapping his fingers.

  "I DID!" squealed Yankee. "Come to think of it, I did feel funny--kind of weightless like when I was in my capsule. SO," the terrier looked reproachfully over at Jinnicky, "your red pill didn't work, after all."

  "To be rendered invisible and to be transformed are not the same, and require different treatment. I did get you out of the chest!" Jinnicky reminded him in an injured voice.

  "You certainly did!" exclaimed Tompy, thumping the little wizard on the back. "Man, we can never thank you enough. But how in blazes did you happen to remember the right number of taps to open that awful door?"

  "I've not studied red magic for two hundred years for nothing," sniffed Jinnicky smiling slyly. "Once I have heard a signal or incantation, it registers indelibly on my mind."

  "Like a tape recorder," marveled Tompy. As for Yankee, he was so overcome by such cleverness, his tongue hung out at least a foot.

  "But what about the others? We're not going to leave them in that miserable chest, are we?" Tompy glanced fearfully over his shoulder."For the present, yes. So long as Badmannah is lurking about, they are safer in the chest. So would YOU have been," sighed Jinnicky with a rueful glance at Yankee. "Where IS that big Gom anyway?"

  As if in answer to his question, a muffled screech made all three leap up like deer at the sound of gun fire. It was Badmannah--Badmannah himself. Crouching at the entrance of the cave, he had been caught and swept violently backward as the rock door swung open. And there he was, pinned flat against the wall of the cave. Only his feet and one arm could be seen. But clutched in the hand of that arm was the dreaded drag net that had caused so much grief and trouble.

  "Oh, my, ME, MERCY MUSTARD!" Jinnicky took one horrified look, then promptly disappeared into his jug.

  "A fine time to stop and think," growled Yankee, every hair standing on end from fright and shock.

  "Do you think that door'll hold him?" shuddered Tompy, as the howls of the robber caveman grew higher and longer.

  "Not too long," predicted Yankee backing off a few steps. "Soon as he realizes he has one free hand, he'll tap on the door and swing it outward."

  "But he would have to drop his net to do that." Tompy leaned down to whisper this information in the terrier's ear.

  "DRAG NET!" snarled Yankee. "Oh boy! This is our chance!" With a spring that sent Tompy sprawling, Yankee launched himself at the screaming caveman.

  "I told you he'd be safer in that chest!" sputtered Jinnicky popping up out of his jug so fast the lid spun. Pulling Tompy to his feet, the Red Jinn started running faster than he had done in his whole two hundred years, dragging the loudly protesting boy along.

  Yankee, intent on one thing and one thing only, did not even see them leave. Reaching the rocky door in less than the count of two, he closed his teeth on the great hand holding the net--and hung on. Hung on, till Badmannah, letting out the loudest screech of all, dropped the net. Without thought of the terrible danger or risk he was taking, the bull terrier seized the net by its loosely tied cords and sped after his two comrades. Only one jump behind them and with the net still clamped in his teeth, he leaped into the jinrikisha and took his old place on the floor. Without a word, Jinnicky twisted the arm of his flying go cart and hoisted them high above the mountain. And just in time, too, for Badmannah, finally collecting his wits, had swung the door aside and came roaring after them.

  As the jinrikisha shot upward, the drag net billowed out with such force that it almost lifted Yankee in the air. Both Tompy and the Red Jinn had to hold him down to keep him from hurtling overboard. Gamely, though his jaws ached from the strain the space dog hung on. As they now were fifty feet above ground, and realizing he must act quickly, Jinnicky stopped the jinrikisha in mid air. Then Tompy took a firm grip on the cords at the rim of the net, and the Red Jinn grabbed those dangling from Yankee's mouth and tied them fast to the handle of the Jinrikisha. Then, and then only, did the stubborn bull terrier unclamp his teeth. As soon as they had stopped the net had collapsed, lessening the strain of holding it steady.

  "Well, Juggins," panted Yankee, "you said we must have that net and now we have it!" Resting his chin on the front bar, the exhausted space dog closed his eyes.

  "Yes," puffed Jinnicky falling back among his cushions. "So we have!"

  Tompy, his heart almost bursting with pride at Yankee's heroic action, gave him such a hug he let out a squeal of prot
est.

  "My jaw's about broken, don't crack my ribs, too," he wheezed Secretly he was delighted by this display of approval and admiration. For the present, the three were out of danger, but the problem of rescuing Ozma, her friends, and courtiers was as far from a solution as ever. Hoping Jinnicky would not again duck into his jug, Tompy looked at him questiomngly

  "There!" panted Jinnicky, adding a few Ev hitches to the net cords. "That will hold it till we decide what to do. And what in peppers and pickles ARE we to do!" he muttered clasping and unclasping his fat hands. "If it were only three o'clock, I could use my petrifying powder. That would keep Badmannah quiet until we released Ozma and everyone else and got ourseEves and her castle safely off this mountain. But the dinged powder only works after three o'clock." Pulling the fat watch from his sock, Jinnicky stared at it dismally. "It's not even two."

  "Well, of course," observed Yankee, opening one eye, "you're a wizard and I am only a dog, but why not drop this net over the big bully and catch him in his own booby trap. Then you could send him to the bottom of the sea.

  "Gee wholloppers, Yank, what a crackerjack of an idea!" exclaimed Tompy.

  "Ho, me, my, what a muddle head. Now, why didn't I think of that m'self?" Thumping the space dog on the head, the Red Jinn jumped up with a wild whoop and waved his lid. "But who will cast the net?" he demanded, stopping short in the middle of a spin.

  "Not YOU." stated Yankee. "Your arms are too short. Tompy is strong and clever. Tompy shall cast the net."

  "ME!" gasped the leader of the Pennwood Band, both thrilled and terrified at the thought of such a dangerous undertaking.

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  Chapter 16: In the Palace of Ozma of Oz

  WELL, boy, what do you say? Think you can swing it?" asked Jinnicky glancing nervously from the dangling net to Tompy.

  "Sure!" answered Tompy with more confidence then he felt. "Anyway, I can try," he added, flexing his right arm to show his muscle."Trouble is, though," went on Jinnicky pushing back his lid, "none of us knows how the blinking net works, nor the proper incantation to set it in motion."

  "Oh, foof!" sniffed Yankee. "You're as good a wizard as he is. Just tell it what to do and where to take Badmannah and bet you a bone it will take him there!"

  "Are you sure he's a dog?" Jerking a thumb at Yankee, the Red Jinn grinned over at Tompy.

  "Grrr-oogh-ough-OUCH! WOWO!" barked the impatient terrier. "Let's get on with the launching."

  Shaking his head and still unconvinced, Jinnicky twisted the arm of his red chariot and slowly and steadily it began to move downward. "Tell me when we're close enough for the haul," he said anxiously.

  "Now, stop right now!" directed Tompy when they were about forty feet from the mountain top.

  "Well, I see he's still there," observed the space dog peering over the front of the jinrikisha. "There, on that boulder and blubbering like a big baby. Quick with the net, Tompy, before he looks up and sees us."

  And quick they were, I can tell you. With nimble, though slightly shaking fingers, Jinnicky untied the many knots in the cords. Then Tompy, bracing his feet, and without losing a second grabbed the cords in both hands and hauled up the drag net. It was lighter than he had expected and now, with the Red Jinn's arms clasped around his waist, he swung the drag net three times around his head, then sent it flying downward.

  "Carry your master to the bottom of the Nonestic Ocean!" yelled Jinnicky in a voice that rattled every jug and jar in the baskets. "And KEEP him there," he bellowed fiercely.

  Breathless with suspense, the three watched as the net belled out, swooped down, and neatly scooped up the startled cave man. Then drawing its own cords it whistled upward and went sailing over the mountain. As it flashed by, they could see Badmannah desperately clutching the webbing and already making faces like a fish too long out of water.

  "We did it! We did it!" yelped Yankee licking first Jinnicky and then Tompy on the ear. "Ki-Yi and YIPPETTY!"

  Pleased and excited as the space dog, the Red Jinn and Tompy plumped down on the seat to recover from the awful strain of the last few moments.

  "Well, that's the end of Badmannah!" sighed Yankee leaning back against Tompy's knee.

  "Not necessarily," said Jinnicky pursing up his lips. "You can't put an end to Oz folks, y' know. But it WILL keep him out of mischief til Ozma decides what to do with him."

  "You mean he won't drown?" gasped Yankee, his eyes growing rounder and rounder.

  "But why did you send him to the bottom of the Nonestic Ocean?" asked Tompy, wondering how Jinnicky had thought of it so quickly.

  "Because it's the farthest place from here!" he roared, tilting his lid over one eye. "By the way, how do I look?" he asked suddenly. "Is my face really dirty?"

  "Well," considered Tompy, more than surprised at the question, "there are a couple of smudges on your cheek and one on your nose, but why bother? We must all look a sight."

  "Why bother?" squeaked Jinnicky, fumbling in his nearest basket. "we are about to enter the castle of the ruler of this entire country. When the famous Wizard of Ev meets the famous Princess of Oz, do you suppose he wishes to look like a tramp? A cracked jug is bad enough, but a dirty face would be inexcusable." Pouring water on his red handkerchief from a bottle he had pulled out of a basket, Jinnicky began to scrub his round face with a thoroughness that would have delighted Alibabble.

  "Save some for me," begged Tompy, holding out his handkerchief.

  "This bottle stays full no matter how much we use," chuckled the Red Jinn handing Tompy the bottle. So Tompy proceeded to soak his handkerchief and wash his face. Then, as Yankee had no handkerchief he poured a goodly measure over his head.

  "Thanks!" gurgled the space dog, shooting his tongue in and out and drinking up most of the downfall. "Brush me off, somebody."

  Without pausing in his face scrub, Jinnicky took a red hair brush from the basket and tossed it to Tompy. Removing his cap, Tompy first brushed his own hair, then worked on Yankee till his coat shown. Next the little wizard took off his lid and applied the brush vigorously to his unruly mop and then to his whiskers, not minding at all that Yankee's white hairs were mingling with his red ones.

  "All spruced up?" he demanded, dropping the brush back in the basket.

  "Almost," said Tompy who was straightening the American flags on Yankee's harness. Now he gave a quick nod, well satisfied with his efforts.

  "Har de har and ho de ho!

  Strike up the band, Tomp, here we go!" shouted Jinnicky.

  "Tah tah-te TAH! Tah tah-te TAH!" went Tompy's drum sticks and lightly as a bird on a bough, the Jinrikisha touched down beside the impressive residence of Princess Ozma of Oz. Sure that the worst of their troubles were over, the three swarmed out and hurried up to the entrance. As Tompy was wondering how the Red Jinn would remove the great transparent bubble, Jinnicky tossed up his lid and, muttering under his breath the proper red magic words, stood back. As he cleverly caught his lid and clapped it on, the glass bubble encasing the castle burst like a punctured balloon. Clouds of blue vapor spiraled upward filling the air with a pungent fragrance. Plunging through the smoky mist the three rescuers rushed joyfully inside. Having already visited the Yellow Palace of Jack-a-lack and the glittering red castle of the Red Jinn, Yankee and Tompy were not too impressed by Ozma's many towered, emerald studded dwelling. By this time castles were no novelty. But glancing about as they hurried toward the throne room, Tompy had to admit that for comfort and elegance Ozma's royal residence surpassed all the others. Jinnicky, who preferred his own palace to any in Oz or elsewhere, ignored the emerald trimmed furnishings and rushed right up to the throne itself.

  "Your Highness! Your Majesty!" panted the little Jinn, bowing as low as his jug permitted. "We are here to inform you that--"

  "Hold it! Hold it!'--barked Yankee tugging at Jinnicky's sleeve. "There's no one here, Juggins, no one at all."

  Which, of course, was true. The throne
was empty and the little princess and her famous Wizard were nowhere in sight. In his eagerness to explain how they had disposed of the wicked caveman, Jinnicky had completely forgotten that Ozma and the Wizard had been transformed.

  "Don't you care," comforted Yankee, as Jinnicky threw his lid on the floor and slumped dejectedly down on the steps leading to the throne. "She probably heard you and must be around here somewhere."

  "Jing ding it! How could I have been so stupid," fumed the Red Jinn, turning red as his cracked jug.

  "I forgot, too," confessed Tompy with a sheepish grin. "If she is transformed, we still have to find her and the Wizard, but where shall we look first?"

  "And what shall we look for?" asked Yankee practically. "Lamps, pictures, books, ornaments?"

  With a huge sigh, Jinnicky rolled to his feet, picked up his lid, and set it firmly on his head. "They can be most anything," he murmured dubiously. "That bowl of flowers might be Ozma, that paper cutter, the Wizard, but until we locate the exact objects to which they have been transformed, I cannot restore them to their proper seEves. But soon as I touch the right one, I shall know," he added more cheerfully. "And chances are, they are right in this room."

  "My nose is not magic, but it works rather well," announced Yankee, recalling how it had guided him to the invisible people in the chest. "So you start touching and I'll start sniffing and see who finds them first."

  "What can I do?" asked Tompy, burning to share in this odd game of hide and seek.

  "You may carry my green restorative powder. Here," puffed the little Jinn taking what appeared to be a large salt shaker from his basket and handing it to Tompy. "With both hands free I can start touching things with both hands. Hah!"