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an unruly ocean. When the waves broke, which they frequently did, sticks, stones, pebbles and dust
showered over their heads. In fact, a more miserable mode of travel cannot be imagined.
"Let us fly," choked the frightened airman, clutching Ozma's hand. "Say the word little
Princess, and I'll kick off my boots and carry you up to safety."
"No! No! Not that!" coughed Ozma in a panic. "Wait Atmos, something will turn up!"
CHAPTER 16
Reddy and the Giants
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WHILE Carter and Betsy waited so impa-tiently outside the walls, the little Prince of Rash
was having an amazing day with the Giants. After a dizzy flight through the air, the great pigeon, attracted
by a bit of stale cake on the ledge of a high window, had dropped him carelessly on the sill. Fortunately
for Reddy, the window was open and, squirming through, he lay panting and pale, waiting for the bird to
snap him up again. But the space was too narrow, and after a few angry pecks at the pane, the pigeon
flew away.
With a gulp of relief, the Prince rolled over and sat up. A delicious smell of coffee, bacon and
rolls came floating upward and, glancing over the edge of the sill, Reddy saw that he was in an enormous
dining hall. Far below the window stood the giant sideboard, covered with serving dishes the size of bath
tubs, and seated at a huge table in the center of the room, two Giants were eating porridge with spoons
as large as snow shovels. They had golden crowns upon their heads, and from the richness of their robes
and the elegance of the whole apartment, Reddy guessed, and quite rightly, that he was in the castle of
Immense City itself.
Waiting upon their Majesties, were four monstrous footmen, and all of the Giants wore huge
white wigs, the curls of which bounced and bobbed when they walked in a truly comical fashion.
Crouching in a corner of the sill, and trusting that none of the Giants would notice him, the hungry little
boy watched the King and Queen toss off huge basins of coffee, devour biscuits as big as boulders and
pan cakes broad enough to cover an ordinary sized table. In these immense surroundings, Reddy felt so
little, lost and lonely that all thought of finding and rescuing the Hungry Tiger seemed hopeless. How was
he even to reach the floor, without breaking himself to bits? Therefore he listened listlessly to the booming
voices of the Big Wigs, and fervently wished himself back with the Vegetable Man and Betsy Bobbin.
But a cross remark of the Giant King suddenly caught his attention and made him prick up his ears.
"That kitten," growled the Big Wig in a fierce voice, frowning across the table at the Queen,
"that kitten must go! It kept me awake the entire night with its miserable meowing."
"But what will Elma do," murmured the Queen gently. "Our daughter dotes on the little
creature."
"Let her find something else to dote on, puffed his Majesty indignantly. "My castle is no place
for stray cats. If it's here to-morrow," continued the Giant, blowing his cheeks in and out threateningly,
"I'll throw it in the pond!" Snatching up his paper, the King strode from the room, every curl in his wig
expressing wrath and determination.
"Stray kitten!" gasped Reddy in relief, remembering the little Giant girl's words. "Why, that
must be the Hungry Tiger!" The knowledge that his old friend was still safe and close at hand was so
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encouraging, the little Prince cheered up at once, for after all Reddy was a Prince and naturally brave and
resourceful. If the Hungry Tiger were still in the castle, he should certainly be able to find him, and
together they would devise some way of escape. The Queen, still arguing about her daughter's kitten, had
waddled after her husband, and while the Big Wig footmen cleared away the breakfast dishes, Reddy
tried to think of some plan to reach the floor in safety. He put his hands in his pockets, stared nervously
over the edge of the sill, then gave an exclamation of glee. For his fingers had closed over the Rash
rubies. The rubies! Why had he not thought of them before? If one of them had carried him safely down
the furious fire-fall, why would it not help him now?
Without disturbing the dishes on the side table, the footmen had gone to the kitchen. So,
closing both eyes and gritting his teeth, Reddy jumped boldly off the window ledge. He landed with a
crash, splash and splutter and, opening his eyes, found himself looking through the glass sides of the
Giant's water pitcher. The water was over his head, but he felt no discomfort, except a slight chill from
the ice, for in his pocket was the ruby protecting him from all danger by water.
Disturbed because he had not looked more carefully before he jumped, but elated over the
way the rubies were working, the little Prince rose to the top of the pitcher. Luckily for him the water [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]