THE MARRIAGE OF MARYGOLDEN

The Wizard of Oz, as you have probably surmised, had finally perfected his searchlight. First it had discovered the magic picture stuck behind some books in Ozma's library. Sir Hokus himself had hidden the picture before he started on his quest, for he knew if it was in its place he would soon be found and followed. Then the searchlight, shot from the top of the castle tower, had flashed back with the whereabouts of the Comfortable Camel and Sir Hokus. No sooner had Ozma discovered that they were in Corabia than she clasped on her magic belt and transported herself and Dorothy to that Kingdom.

"Here's Camy!" gasped Dorothy, somewhat breathlessly returning the bows of their Majesties. "But I don't see Sir Hokus. Well, anyway, the searchlight has found Camy."

"Found us both," corrected the Camel grandly. "There stands Sir Hokus of Pokes, really the Yellow Knight and Prince of Corumbia, with his bride, the Princess of Corabia. These, your Highness," Camy jerked his head respectfully in the direction of the Kings and Queens, "are the Sovereigns of Corumbia and Corabia and this boy, this excellent, courageous and adventurous American boy, is called Speedy, and in him you see the restorer of two kingdoms and a Prince, and the discoverer of a Princess!"

"How about me?" coughed Confido sharply. "I guess I'm as important as he is!"

"The Imperial Peke of Samandra, now official pet of Princess Marygolden," added Camy, with a broad wink at Peter Pun. Ozma smiled and nodded at each introduction but was so stunned and dazzled by the change in Sir Hokus of Pokes that she could for several moments find no words to express her astonishment.

"Is it really you?" she begged finally, standing on tiptoe to put her hands on the Knight's shoulder. "Yes, I can tell by the eyes. The eyes are the same. But wherever have you been and why did you go off without us? We have been so anxious and worried."

Sir Hokus blushed and looked uncomfortable.

"Because a Knight must go questing alone!" explained Camy, coming valiantly to the rescue. "And has it not been worth some worry, to have everything turn out so happily? Wait, just wait till you have heard our story!"

"Why wait?" cried the King of Corabia, who was consumed with curiosity to discover how Speedy had come to have the magic dates. "Why wait? Let us hear everything now."

"A story! A story! Enchantments and glory! Ye Knights and ye Ladies, give ear-- Attend and turn pale, as ye list to the tale Of Sir Hokus and Speedy. Hear! Hear!"

roared Peter Pun, shaking his belled stick hilariously. Ozma and Dorothy were only too anxious to hear, and when silver chairs had been brought for them by the footmen, the Yellow Knight and Speedy told the story of their exciting experiences from beginning to end. Ozma, like Speedy, could not help feeling a little sad to lose Sir Hokus. The Good Knight of Oz would be sadly missed at the castle. But she knew it would be selfish to wish for her old friend instead of this young and shining Knight, so happy in his release and future. As she sat musing over the whole strange story, Dorothy jumped up and impulsively kissed both the Knight and his bride.

"I understand everything," cried Dorothy, flinging out her arms, "everything except how Sir Hokus got to Pokes and Marygolden to Subterranea. How do you suppose they did, Ozma?"

"That," said Ozma, her lovely face suddenly growing grave, "we shall soon discover!" And touching her magic belt she spoke seven words under her breath. Speedy, who had dropped on a cushion beside Peter Pun, bounded up with a cry of alarm. The Yellow Knight jerked out his sword, and little gasps of dismay and curiosity burst from the lips of the onlookers. There, before Queen Ozma, stood the Sultan of Samandra, brought by the magic belt to answer for his crimes. At the moment of his summons, the fat and furious monarch had been riding at the head of his camel corps to attack the King of Corumbia. In his hand he still brandished a large, gleaming scimiter, and his face, distorted with rage, astonishment, and disappointment, was not pleasant to gaze upon.

"Drop that weapon," commanded Ozma sternly, and after one quick glance the Sultan, recognizing the Ruler of all Oz, sulkily did as he was told.

"Now," continued Ozma severely, "will you kindly explain why you stole the treasures of your two good neighbors and enchanted and transformed them and their children for five hundred years?"

"If the children of these two monarchs married, as they fully intended to do, the two Kings would have combined to crush me," whined the Sultan, shifting from one foot to the other.

"Nonsense!" blustered the King of Corumbia. "You know I had always the kindliest feelings toward you, nor ever suspected such base treachery at your hands."

"Were you the Black Knight who challenged Sir Hokus to combat the day he rode out to win the Princess of Corabia?" asked Ozma. Without meeting her eye, the Sultan nodded.

"And did you, by yellow and forbidden magic, send Sir Hokus to Pokes and change Marygolden to a statue and give her into the keeping of the Shah of Subterranea?" Again the Sultan nodded, and suddenly catching sight of Confido nestling in the Princess' arms, gave a shriek of rage and jealousy.

"Wretch!" shrilled the Sultan. "Perfidious puppy, you have betrayed me!" Then, realizing he was in the power of a Fairy powerful enough to destroy him utterly, he grew still and rigid and gazed unhappily at the floor.

"What shall be done to this wicked person?" sighed Ozma, looking thoughtfully at the rulers of Corumbia and Corabia. "You who have suffered through his treachery shall pronounce his sentence." At this the Sultan trembled so violently that his heavy gold necklaces and anklets rattled like a prisoner's chains.

"Humph!" exclaimed the Corabian monarch, looking over at the King of Corumbia. "What say you, neighbor?"

"Well," puffed the King of Corumbia, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "this villain has robbed us of five hundred years, but, on the other hand, doubtless saved us from that many toothaches and hair-cuts. Suppose we ask Queen Ozma to take away all his magic powers and appliances, force him to return all that he has stolen, and for five hundred years to stay within the boundaries of his own country?"

"Good enough," agreed the King of Corabia, and while Speedy and Peter Pun and some of the others who thought the Sultan had got off far too easily looked a bit disappointed, Ozma with a few magic passes rendered all of the Sultan's spells and wizardry useless. Then, as his presence spoiled the view and good spirits of an otherwise cheerful and charming company, she instantly transported him back to Samandra where he is doubtless complaining to Tuzzle or bullying the Grand Bozzywoz at this very moment. Confido and Camy without a quiver saw their former master vanish away. Then, with a satisfied sniff, Confido dozed off in the lap of the Princess, dreaming of all the gold bowls and collars he should require of the two Kings as a reward.

At high noon the marriage of Marygolden was solemnized with much merriment and magnificence. Speedy, in a suit of silver satin, with knee breeches and silver buckles on his shoes, looked, if not as tall, quite as fine as the bridegroom himself. Stampedro and Camy were decked out in enormous collars of roses in honor of the bride, and with so many Royalties present it was an affair long talked of and remembered by those lucky enough to be present. Sir Hokus, recalling his threatened wedding in Marshland, smiled with satisfaction and happiness, for here, surely, was all the music, gaiety, beauty, and pomp a Knight could ask for, and a bride so fair and lovely that he wished himself a thousand times braver and more handsome than he was. Ozma and Dorothy, cheered by the prospect of an early visit from the royal couple, found themselves growing as fond of the Yellow Knight as they had ever been of Sir Hokus; for in spite of his youth and gaiety he was really the same gentle, thoughtful, delightful person he had been always.

Speedy, looking down the long table lined with fine, friendly faces, realized that it was going to be hard to say good-bye. The boy from America had been knighted by both Kings and each had earnestly begged him to live always in the Land of Oz, but when the last song had been sung and the last toast to the bride had been given, Speedy leaned over and spoke a few words to Ozma. He found he could not say good-bye at all and wanted to slip away unnoticed and remember the bluff, merry company just as it was now.

"Tell them I'll come back," he whispered to Ozma. "Be sure to tell them that, but now I must be going home." Ozma, with an understanding nod, touched her magic belt. One by one, like figures in a dream, the courtly company faded out and next thing Speedy knew he was curled up on the old leather sofa in Uncle Billy's workshop.

"Why, hello!" said the inventor, looking up from a smoking test tube. "So there you are! I thought you'd be back soon. I knew nothing serious could happen to a nephew of mine."

"Did you, Uncle Billy, now, did you?" Vastly complimented, Speedy jumped up and gave him a regular bear hug. "But listen," he crowed excitedly. "Nothing serious did happen, but _boy_ haven't I had neat fun?" And with the words tumbling out faster than water from a sieve, Speedy recounted the whole thrilling story of his adventures in the Skyrocket and afterward.

At each astounding happening, Uncle Billy, who had dropped into an old leather rocker, edged closer, so that by the time Speedy finished they were knee to knee, staring tensely into each other's faces.

"I'm building another torpedo ship," declared Uncle Billy, feeling around in his pocket for his pipe. "I was going down to rescue you, but since you are here, we can go to Mars or any other place you say when the new ship is finished." Speedy, his arm on the edge of the sofa and his chin resting in the palm of his hand, looked dreamily through the smoke of Uncle Billy's pipe.

"Well?" questioned the inventor, puffing away vigorously. "A penny for your thoughts, my boy!"

"I was thinking," sighed Speedy slowly and thoughtfully, "I was thinking that Mars would seem sorta dull after Oz."

"Ho! In that case," chuckled the inventor, who had been thinking the same thing himself, "perhaps we'd better go to OZ!" And someway, sometime, somehow, I believe they will, boys and girls, don't you?