Kabanata Kabanata 1 · The Call to Duty

. The Call to Duty

Glinda, the good Sorceress of Oz, sat in the grand court of her palace,

surrounded by her maids of honor--a hundred of the most beautiful girls

of the Fairyland of Oz. The palace court was built of rare marbles,

exquisitely polished. Fountains tinkled musically here and there; the

vast colonnade, open to the south, allowed the maidens, as they raised

their heads from their embroideries, to gaze upon a vista of rose-hued

fields and groves of trees bearing fruits or laden with sweet-scented

flowers. At times one of the girls would start a song, the others

joining in the chorus, or one would rise and dance, gracefully swaying

to the music of a harp played by a companion. And then Glinda smiled,

glad to see her maids mixing play with work.

Presently among the fields an object was seen moving, threading the

broad path that led to the castle gate. Some of the girls looked upon

this object enviously; the Sorceress merely gave it a glance and nodded

her stately head as if pleased, for it meant the coming of her friend

and mistress--the only one in all the land that Glinda bowed to.

Then up the path trotted a wooden animal attached to a red wagon, and

as the quaint steed halted at the gate there descended from the wagon

two young girls, Ozma, Ruler of Oz, and her companion, Princess

Dorothy. Both were dressed in simple white muslin gowns, and as they

ran up the marble steps of the palace they laughed and chatted as gaily

as if they were not the most important persons in the world's loveliest

fairyland.

The maids of honor had risen and stood with bowed heads to greet the

royal Ozma, while Glinda came forward with outstretched arms to greet

her guests.

"We've just come on a visit, you know," said Ozma. "Both Dorothy and I

were wondering how we should pass the day when we happened to think

we'd not been to your Quadling Country for weeks, so we took the

Sawhorse and rode straight here."

"And we came so fast," added Dorothy, "that our hair is blown all

fuzzy, for the Sawhorse makes a wind of his own. Usually it's a day's

journey from the Em'rald City, but I don't s'pose we were two hours on

the way."

"You are most welcome," said Glinda the Sorceress, and led them through

the court to her magnificent reception hall. Ozma took the arm of her

hostess, but Dorothy lagged behind, kissing some of the maids she knew

best, talking with others, and making them all feel that she was their

friend. When at last she joined Glinda and Ozma in the reception hall,

she found them talking earnestly about the condition of the people, and

how to make them more happy and contented--although they were already

the happiest and most contented folks in all the world.

This interested Ozma, of course, but it didn't interest Dorothy very

much, so the little girl ran over to a big table on which was lying

open Glinda's Great Book of Records.

This Book is one of the greatest treasures in Oz, and the Sorceress

prizes it more highly than any of her magical possessions. That is the

reason it is firmly attached to the big marble table by means of golden

chains, and whenever Glinda leaves home she locks the Great Book

together with five jeweled padlocks, and carries the keys safely hidden

in her bosom.

I do not suppose there is any magical thing in any fairyland to compare

with the Record Book, on the pages of which are constantly being

printed a record of every event that happens in any part of the world,

at exactly the moment it happens. And the records are always truthful,

although sometimes they do not give as many details as one could wish.

But then, lots of things happen, and so the records have to be brief or

even Glinda's Great Book could not hold them all.

Glinda looked at the records several times each day, and Dorothy,

whenever she visited the Sorceress, loved to look in the Book and see

what was happening everywhere. Not much was recorded about the Land of

Oz, which is usually peaceful and uneventful, but today Dorothy found

something which interested her. Indeed, the printed letters were

appearing on the page even while she looked.

"This is funny!" she exclaimed. "Did you know, Ozma, that there were

people in your Land of Oz called Skeezers?"

"Yes," replied Ozma, coming to her side, "I know that on Professor

Wogglebug's Map of the Land of Oz there is a place marked 'Skeezer,'

but what the Skeezers are like I do not know. No one I know has ever

seen them or heard of them. The Skeezer Country is 'way at the upper

edge of the Gillikin Country, with the sandy, impassable desert on one

side and the mountains of Oogaboo on another side. That is a part of

the Land of Oz of which I know very little."

"I guess no one else knows much about it either, unless it's the

Skeezers themselves," remarked Dorothy. "But the Book says: 'The

Skeezers of Oz have declared war on the Flatheads of Oz, and there is

likely to be fighting and much trouble as the result.'"

"Is that all the Book says?" asked Ozma.

"Every word," said Dorothy, and Ozma and Glinda both looked at the

Record and seemed surprised and perplexed.

"Tell me, Glinda," said Ozma, "who are the Flatheads?"

"I cannot, your Majesty," confessed the Sorceress. "Until now I never

have heard of them, nor have I ever heard the Skeezers mentioned. In

the faraway corners of Oz are hidden many curious tribes of people, and

those who never leave their own countries and never are visited by

those from our favored part of Oz, naturally are unknown to me.

However, if you so desire, I can learn through my arts of sorcery

something of the Skeezers and the Flatheads."

"I wish you would," answered Ozma seriously. "You see, Glinda, if these

are Oz people they are my subjects and I cannot allow any wars or

troubles in the Land I rule, if I can possibly help it."

"Very well, your Majesty," said the Sorceress, "I will try to get some

information to guide you. Please excuse me for a time, while I retire

to my Room of Magic and Sorcery."

"May I go with you?" asked Dorothy, eagerly.

"No, Princess," was the reply. "It would spoil the charm to have anyone

present."

So Glinda locked herself in her own Room of Magic and Dorothy and Ozma

waited patiently for her to come out again.

In about an hour Glinda appeared, looking grave and thoughtful.

"Your Majesty," she said to Ozma, "the Skeezers live on a Magic Isle in

a great lake. For that reason--because the Skeezers deal in magic--I

can learn little about them."

"Why, I didn't know there was a lake in that part of Oz," exclaimed

Ozma. "The map shows a river running through the Skeezer Country, but

no lake."

"That is because the person who made the map never had visited that

part of the country," explained the Sorceress. "The lake surely is

there, and in the lake is an island--a Magic Isle--and on that island

live the people called the Skeezers."

"What are they like?" inquired the Ruler of Oz.

"My magic cannot tell me that," confessed Glinda, "for the magic of the

Skeezers prevents anyone outside of their domain knowing anything about

them."

"The Flatheads must know, if they're going to fight the Skeezers,"

suggested Dorothy.

"Perhaps so," Glinda replied, "but I can get little information

concerning the Flatheads, either. They are people who inhabit a

mountain just south of the Lake of the Skeezers. The mountain has steep

sides and a broad, hollow top, like a basin, and in this basin the

Flatheads have their dwellings. They also are magic-workers and usually

keep to themselves and allow no one from outside to visit them. I have

learned that the Flatheads number about one hundred people--men, women

and children--while the Skeezers number just one hundred and one."

"What did they quarrel about, and why do they wish to fight one

another?" was Ozma's next question.

"I cannot tell your Majesty that," said Glinda.

"But see here!" cried Dorothy, "it's against the law for anyone but

Glinda and the Wizard to work magic in the Land of Oz, so if these two

strange people are magic-makers they are breaking the law and ought to

be punished!" Ozma smiled upon her little friend.

"Those who do not know me or my laws," she said, "cannot be expected to

obey my laws. If we know nothing of the Skeezers or the Flatheads, it

is likely that they know nothing of us."

"But they ought to know, Ozma, and we ought to know. Who's going to

tell them, and how are we going to make them behave?"

"That," returned Ozma, "is what I am now considering. What would you

advise, Glinda?"

The Sorceress took a little time to consider this question, before she

made reply. Then she said: "Had you not learned of the existence of the

Flatheads and the Skeezers, through my Book of Records, you would never

have worried about them or their quarrels. So, if you pay no attention

to these peoples, you may never hear of them again."

"But that wouldn't be right," declared Ozma. "I am Ruler of all the

Land of Oz, which includes the Gillikin Country, the Quadling Country,

the Winkie Country and the Munchkin Country, as well as the Emerald

City, and being the Princess of this fairyland it is my duty to make

all my people--wherever they may be--happy and content and to settle

their disputes and keep them from quarreling. So, while the Skeezers

and Flatheads may not know me or that I am their lawful Ruler, I now

know that they inhabit my kingdom and are my subjects, so I would not

be doing my duty if I kept away from them and allowed them to fight."

"That's a fact, Ozma," commented Dorothy. "You've got to go up to

the Gillikin Country and make these people behave themselves and make

up their quarrels. But how are you going to do it?"

"That is what is puzzling me also, your Majesty," said the Sorceress.

"It may be dangerous for you to go into those strange countries, where

the people are possibly fierce and warlike."

"I am not afraid," said Ozma, with a smile.

"'Tisn't a question of being 'fraid," argued Dorothy. "Of course we

know you're a fairy, and can't be killed or hurt, and we know you've a

lot of magic of your own to help you. But, Ozma dear, in spite of all

this you've been in trouble before, on account of wicked enemies, and

it isn't right for the Ruler of all Oz to put herself in danger."

"Perhaps I shall be in no danger at all," returned Ozma, with a little

laugh. "You mustn't imagine danger, Dorothy, for one should only

imagine nice things, and we do not know that the Skeezers and Flatheads

are wicked people or my enemies. Perhaps they would be good and listen

to reason."

"Dorothy is right, your Majesty," asserted the Sorceress. "It is true

we know nothing of these faraway subjects, except that they intend to

fight one another, and have a certain amount of magic power at their

command. Such folks do not like to submit to interference and they are

more likely to resent your coming among them than to receive you kindly

and graciously, as is your due."

"If you had an army to take with you," added Dorothy, "it wouldn't be

so bad; but there isn't such a thing as an army in all Oz."

"I have one soldier," said Ozma.

"Yes, the soldier with the green whiskers; but he's dreadful 'fraid of

his gun and never loads it. I'm sure he'd run rather than fight. And

one soldier, even if he were brave, couldn't do much against two

hundred and one Flatheads and Skeezers."

"What then, my friends, would you suggest?" inquired Ozma.

"I advise you to send the Wizard of Oz to them, and let him inform them

that it is against the laws of Oz to fight, and that you command them

to settle their differences and become friends," proposed Glinda. "Let

the Wizard tell them they will be punished if they refuse to obey the

commands of the Princess of all the Land of Oz."

Ozma shook her head, to indicate that the advice was not to her

satisfaction.

"If they refuse, what then?" she asked. "I should be obliged to carry

out my threat and punish them, and that would be an unpleasant and

difficult thing to do. I am sure it would be better for me to go

peacefully, without an army and armed only with my authority as Ruler,

and plead with them to obey me. Then, if they prove obstinate I could

resort to other means to win their obedience."

"It's a ticklish thing, anyhow you look at it," sighed Dorothy. "I'm

sorry now that I noticed the Record in the Great Book."

"But can't you realize, my dear, that I must do my duty, now that I am

aware of this trouble?" asked Ozma. "I am fully determined to go at

once to the Magic Isle of the Skeezers and to the enchanted mountain of

the Flatheads, and prevent war and strife between their inhabitants.

The only question to decide is whether it is better for me to go alone,

or to assemble a party of my friends and loyal supporters to accompany

me."

"If you go I want to go, too," declared Dorothy. "Whatever happens it's

going to be fun--'cause all excitement is fun--and I wouldn't miss it

for the world!"

Neither Ozma nor Glinda paid any attention to this statement, for they

were gravely considering the serious aspect of this proposed adventure.

"There are plenty of friends who would like to go with you," said the

Sorceress, "but none of them would afford your Majesty any protection

in case you were in danger. You are yourself the most powerful fairy in

Oz, although both I and the Wizard have more varied arts of magic at

our command. However, you have one art that no other in all the world

can equal--the art of winning hearts and making people love to bow to

your gracious presence. For that reason I believe you can accomplish

more good alone than with a large number of subjects in your train."

"I believe that also," agreed the Princess. "I shall be quite able to

take care of myself, you know, but might not be able to protect others

so well. I do not look for opposition, however. I shall speak to these

people in kindly words and settle their dispute--whatever it may be--in

a just manner."

"Aren't you going to take me?" pleaded Dorothy. "You'll need some

companion, Ozma."

The Princess smiled upon her little friend.

"I see no reason why you should not accompany me," was her reply. "Two

girls are not very warlike and they will not suspect us of being on any

errand but a kindly and peaceful one. But, in order to prevent war and

strife between these angry peoples, we must go to them at once. Let us

return immediately to the Emerald City and prepare to start on our

journey early tomorrow morning."

Glinda was not quite satisfied with this plan, but could not think of

any better way to meet the problem. She knew that Ozma, with all her

gentleness and sweet disposition, was accustomed to abide by any

decision she had made and could not easily be turned from her purpose.

Moreover she could see no great danger to the fairy Ruler of Oz in the

undertaking, even though the unknown people she was to visit proved

obstinate. But Dorothy was not a fairy; she was a little girl who had

come from Kansas to live in the Land of Oz. Dorothy might encounter

dangers that to Ozma would be as nothing but to an "Earth child" would

be very serious.

The very fact that Dorothy lived in Oz, and had been made a Princess by

her friend Ozma, prevented her from being killed or suffering any great

bodily pain as long as she lived in that fairyland. She could not grow

big, either, and would always remain the same little girl who had come

to Oz, unless in some way she left that fairyland or was spirited away

from it. But Dorothy was a mortal, nevertheless, and might possibly be

destroyed, or hidden where none of her friends could ever find her. She

could, for instance be cut into pieces, and the pieces, while still

alive and free from pain, could be widely scattered; or she might be

buried deep underground or "destroyed" in other ways by evil magicians,

were she not properly protected. These facts Glinda was considering

while she paced with stately tread her marble hall.

Finally the good Sorceress paused and drew a ring from her finger,

handing it to Dorothy.

"Wear this ring constantly until your return," she said to the girl.

"If serious danger threatens you, turn the ring around on your finger

once to the right and another turn to the left. That will ring the

alarm bell in my palace and I will at once come to your rescue. But do

not use the ring unless you are actually in danger of destruction.

While you remain with Princess Ozma I believe she will be able to

protect you from all lesser ills."

"Thank you, Glinda," responded Dorothy gratefully, as she placed the

ring on her finger. "I'm going to wear my Magic Belt which I took from

the Nome King, too, so I guess I'll be safe from anything the Skeezers

and Flatheads try to do to me."

Ozma had many arrangements to make before she could leave her throne

and her palace in the Emerald City, even for a trip of a few days, so

she bade goodbye to Glinda and with Dorothy climbed into the Red Wagon.

A word to the wooden Sawhorse started that astonishing creature on the

return journey, and so swiftly did he run that Dorothy was unable to

talk or do anything but hold tight to her seat all the way back to the

Emerald City.