<h2 id="c17"><span class="smaller">Chapter 17</span> <br/>Meeting The Runaway Country</h2>
<p>Everything was mixed up, indeed. Moving
toward the little party of rescuers was a huge
jagged piece of land, running along on ten tremendous
feet and feeling its way with its long wiggly peninsula.
The feet raised it several yards above the ground.</p>
<p>“If we crouch down maybe it will run over us,”
panted Pompa, sliding down Kabumpo’s trunk.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_227">227</div>
<p>“I don’t want to be run over,” shrilled Wag, beginning
to hop in a frenzied circle.</p>
<p>“Stop!” cried the Land in a loud voice, as Wag and
Kabumpo started to run.</p>
<p>“Better stop,” puffed Kabumpo, his eyes rolling
wildly, “or it’ll probably fall on us.” Trembling in
spite of themselves, they stood still and waited for the
Land to approach.</p>
<div class="fig"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_239.jpg" alt="(unlabelled)" width-obs="600" height-obs="404" /></div>
<p>“I’ve often heard of sailors hailing land with joy,”
gulped Wag, “but this—well, how did it get this
way?”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_228">228</div>
<p>As the Runaway Country drew nearer, its peninsula
fairly quivered with excitement and as it reached
them it pulled up its front feet and tilted forward to
get a better view. Its eyes were two small blue lakes
and its mouth a broad bubbling river.</p>
<p>“I claim you by right of discovery,” cried the Land
in its loud, river voice and before they could make any
objection it scooped them up neatly and tossed them
on a little hill.</p>
<p>“This is outrageous,” spluttered the Elegant Elephant,
picking Peg out of some bushes. “We’ve been
kidnapped!”</p>
<p>“Let’s jump off!” cried Wag, beginning to hop toward
the edge.</p>
<p>“I wouldn’t do that,” said the Land calmly, “because
I’d only run after you again. You might as well
settle down and grow up with me. I’m not such a bad
little Country,” it added quietly, “just a bit rough
and uncultivated.”</p>
<p>“Well, what’s that got to do with us,” demanded
Kabumpo, staring the Country right in its lake-eyes.
“We’re on an important mission and we haven’t time
for this sort of thing at all.”</p>
<p>“It’s a matter of saving a Princess,” cried Pompa
impulsively. “Couldn’t you, please—”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_229">229</div>
<p>“Let someone else save her,” said the Country indifferently,
beginning to move off sideways like a
crab. “You’re the first savages I’ve found and I’m
going to keep you. Not that you’re what I’d pick out,”
it continued ungraciously. “That wooden girl looks
uncommonly odd and you two beasts are even queerer.
But I’m liberal, I am, and the boy looks all right so
far as I can see.”</p>
<p>“But, look here,” panted Wag, twitching his nose
very fast, “this is all wrong. Land is supposed to
stand still, isn’t it? You’ve no right to discover us.
We don’t want to be discovered. Put us off at once—do
you hear?”</p>
<p>“Yes, I hear,” said the Runaway Country gruffly.
“And I’ve heard about enough. Don’t anger me,” it
shrilled warningly. “Remember, I’m a wild, rough
Country.”</p>
<p>“You’re the wildest Country I ever saw,” groaned
the Elegant Elephant, falling up against a tree. “And
of all ridiculous happenings this is the worst!”</p>
<p>“Never mind,” whispered Peg Amy, standing on her
tip toes to whisper in Kabumpo’s huge ear, “it’s taking
us in the right direction, and maybe, if we were
very polite—?”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_230">230</div>
<p>“Go ahead and try it,” wheezed Kabumpo, rolling
his eyes. “I’m too upset.” He hugged the tree again.</p>
<p>So Peg climbed to the top of the little hill and,
waving her wooden arms to attract the Country’s attention,
called cheerfully:</p>
<p>“Yoho, Mr. Land! Where are you going?”</p>
<div class="fig"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_242.jpg" alt="(unlabelled)" width-obs="600" height-obs="424" /></div>
<p>At first the Land only blinked his blue lake-eyes
sulkily but, as Peg paid no attention to his ill temper
and began making him pretty compliments on his
mountains and trees, he gradually cheered up.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_231">231</div>
<p>“I’m going to be an island,” he announced finally.
“That’s where I’m going. I’m tired of being a hot,
dry old undiscovered plateau and I don’t intend to
stop till I come to the Nonestic Ocean.”</p>
<p>“Oh!” groaned Wag, falling over backwards.
“We’re going to be cast away on a desert island.”</p>
<p>Peg held up a warning finger. “What made you
want to run away and be an island?” she asked faintly
for, even to Peg, things looked serious.</p>
<p>“Well,” began the Land, giving itself a hitch, “I lay
patiently for years and years waiting to be discovered.
Nobody came—not even one little missionary. I kept
getting lonelier and lonelier. You see how broken up
I am!”</p>
<p>“Yes, we can see that, all right,” sniffed Kabumpo.</p>
<p>“And I’m ambitious,” continued the Country
huskily. “I want to be cultivated and built up like
other Kingdoms. So, one day I made up my mind I
wouldn’t wait any longer but would run off myself
and discover some settlers. As I have ten mountains
and each has a foot there seemed to be no reason why
I shouldn’t run away, so I <i>did</i>—and I <i>have</i>!”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_232">232</div>
<p>The Country rolled its lakes triumphantly at the
little party on the hill. “I have found some settlers
and I’m looking to you to develop me into a good,
modern, up-to-Oz Kingdom. I’m a progressive Country
and I expect you to improve and make something
out of me,” it continued earnestly. “There’s gold to be
dug out of my mountains, plenty of good farm land to
be planted and cities to be built, and—”</p>
<p>“What do you think we are?” exploded Kabumpo
indignantly. “Slaves?”</p>
<p>“He’ll get used to it in time,” said the Runaway
Country, paying no attention to Kabumpo, “and he’ll
be useful for drawing logs. Now you,” he turned his
watery eyes full on Peg Amy, “you seem to be the
most sensible one in the party, so I think I shall
bestow myself upon you. Of course you’re not at all
handsome nor regular, but from now on you may consider
yourself a Princess and <i>me</i> as your Kingdom.”</p>
<p>“Thank you! Thank you very much!” said Peg
Amy, hardly knowing what else to say.</p>
<p>“Hurrah for the Princess of Runaway Island!”
cried Wag, standing on his head. “I always knew you
were a Princess, Peg my dear.”</p>
<p>“Oh, hush!” whispered Pompa. “Can’t you see it’s
getting more reasonable? Maybe Peg can persuade
it to stop.”</p>
<p>“If it doesn’t stop soon I’ll tear all its trees out by
the roots,” grumbled Kabumpo under his breath.
“Logging, indeed! Great Grump! Here’s the Deadly
Desert!”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_233">233</div>
<p>The air was now so hot and choking that Pompa
flung himself face down on the cool grass. The Runaway
Country did not seem to notice the burning sands
and pattered smoothly along on its ten mountain feet.</p>
<div class="fig"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_247.jpg" alt="(unlabelled)" width-obs="600" height-obs="399" /></div>
<p>“Something has to be done, quick,” breathed Peg,
clasping her hands, “for soon we’ll be in Ev.”</p>
<p>Pompa, holding his silk handkerchief before his
face, had come up beside her and they both looked
anxiously for the first signs of the country that held
Ruggedo and the giant who had run off with Ozma’s
palace.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_234">234</div>
<p>“Oh, Mr. Land,” called Peg suddenly.</p>
<p>“Yes, Princess,” answered the Country, without
slackening its speed.</p>
<p>“Have you thought about feeding us?” asked the
Wooden Doll gently. “I don’t see any fruit trees or
vegetables or chickens and settlers must eat, you
know. We ought to have some seeds to plant and
some building materials, oughtn’t we, if we’re going
to make you into an up-to-Oz Country?”</p>
<p>“Pshaw!” said the Runaway Country, stopping
with a jolt, “I never thought of that. Can’t you eat
grass and fish? There’s fine fish in my lakes.”</p>
<p>“Well, I don’t eat at all,” explained Peg pleasantly,
“but Pompa is a Prince and a Prince has to
have meat and vegetables and puddings on Sunday—”</p>
<p>“And I have to have lettuce and carrots and cabbages,
or I won’t work!” cried Wag, thumping with
his hind feet and winking at Kabumpo. “I’ll not dig
a single mountain!”</p>
<p>“And I’ve got to have my ton of hay a day, too!”
trumpeted the Elegant Elephant, “or I’ll not lug a
single log. Pretty poor sort of a Country you are,
expecting us to live on grass as if we were donkeys
and goats.”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_235">235</div>
<p>The Runaway Country rolled its lakes helplessly
from one to the other. “I thought settlers always
managed to get a living off the land,” it murmured in
a troubled voice.</p>
<p>“Not us!” rumbled Kabumpo. “Not enough pie in
pioneer to suit this party!”</p>
<p>“Has your Highness anything to suggest?” asked
the Country, looking anxiously at Peg.</p>
<p>“Well,” said the Wooden Doll slowly, “suppose we
stop at the first country we come to and stock up.
We could get a few chickens and seeds and saws and
hammers and things.”</p>
<p>“You’d run away,” said the Runaway Country suspiciously.
“Not but what I trust you, Princess,” he
added hastily, “but them.” He scowled darkly at
Kabumpo and Wag. “I’ll not let them out of my
sight.”</p>
<p>“How our little floating island loves us,” chuckled
Wag, nudging the Elegant Elephant.</p>
<p>“They won’t run away,” said Peg softly. “And if
they did you could easily catch them again.”</p>
<p>“That’s so; I’ll stop wherever you say,” sighed the
Country, starting on again.</p>
<p>“What are you going to do?” whispered Pompa,
catching Peg’s arm.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_236">236</div>
<p>“I don’t know,” said Peg honestly, “but perhaps if
we can make it stop something will turn up. We’re
almost across the desert now and that’s a big help.”</p>
<p>“You’re wonderful!” cried Pompa, eying Peg
gratefully. “How can I ever thank you?”</p>
<p>“Better get your sword ready,” said Peg practically,
“for we may run into that giant any minute now.”
Even Kabumpo and Wag had stopped making jokes
and were straining their eyes toward Ev.</p>
<p>“Let’s all stand together!” gasped Wag breathlessly.
Before Peg or Pompa had time to plan, or
Kabumpo to reply, the Runaway Country stepped off
the desert and swept over the border and into the
Kingdom of Ev, making straight for a tall purple
mountain.</p>
<p>“Do you see anything that looks like a giant, or a
palace?” asked Peg, leaning forward.</p>
<p>“Oh, help!” screamed Wag just then, while Kabumpo
gave an earsplitting trumpet. Peg grasped
Pompa and Pompa clutched Peg and no wonder!
Directly in front of them were the legs and feet of the
most terrible and tremendous giant they had ever
imagined. He was sitting on the mountain itself and
only a part of him was visible, for his head and shoulders
were lost in the clouds.</p>
<div class="fig"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_248.jpg" alt="Kabumpo gave an ear-splitting trumpet" width-obs="590" height-obs="800" /> <p class="caption"><span class="sc">Kabumpo gave an ear-splitting trumpet</span></p> </div>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_237">237</div>
<p>“What’s the matter? What’s the matter?” rumbled
the Runaway Country, tilting forward slightly so it
could see. One look was enough. With a frightened
jump, that sent the four travelers hurtling through
the air, it began running backwards and in a moment
was out of sight.</p>
<p>Peg was the first to recover her senses. Being
wood, bumps didn’t bother her. She rose stiffly and
gazed around her. Pompa’s feet were waving feebly
from a small clump of bushes. Kabumpo stood swaying
near by, while Wag lay over on his side with closed
eyes.</p>
<p>“Oh, you poor dears!” murmured Peg, and running
over to the bushes she pulled out the Prince of Pumperdink
and settled him with his back against a tree.
He was much shaken by his high dive from the island,
but pulled himself together and patted Peg’s wooden
hand kindly. By this time Kabumpo had gotten his
bearings and came wabbling over.</p>
<p>“You’ve got a black eye, I see,” wheezed the Elegant
Elephant bitterly.</p>
<p>“Not so very black,” said Peg cheerfully. “Are
you hurt, Kabumpo?”</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_238">238</div>
<p>The Elegant Elephant felt himself all over with his
trunk. “Well, I’m not used to being flung about like
a bean bag,” he said irritably. Then he lowered his
voice hastily, as he caught another glimpse of those
dreadful giant feet. “I’ll go help Wag,” he whispered,
backing away quickly.</p>
<p>It took some time to rouse the giant rabbit, but
finally he opened his eyes. “I shought I thaw a
giant,” he muttered thickly. “Hush!” warned Kabumpo.
“He’s over there.” He waved his trunk in
the direction of the mountain and began dragging
Wag firmly away.</p>
<p>“C’mon over here,” he called in a loud whisper to
Peg and Pompa. Leaning heavily on Peg Amy the
Prince came. Then he gave a cry of distress. “My
sword!” he gasped, staring around a bit wildly.</p>
<p>“I’ll find it,” said Peg obligingly. “You sit still
and rest.”</p>
<p>“Where’s the Magic Box?” coughed Kabumpo, with
an uneasy glance in the giant’s direction.</p>
<p>Now that they were actually in Ev, the Elegant
Elephant began to doubt the wisdom of his plan for
killing the monster.</p>
<p>“Gone!” wailed Pompa, feeling in his pocket. “I
dropped it when I fell off the Land. What shall we
do, Kabumpo?”</p>
<p>“Don’t be a Gooch,” gulped the Elegant Elephant,
but he said it without spirit.</p>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_239">239</div>
<p>“It’s probably around here somewhere.” Moving
quietly, Kabumpo began to poke about with his trunk.</p>
<p>Just then Peg Amy came flying toward them, her
ragged dress fluttering in the breeze.</p>
<p>“Look!” whispered the Wooden Doll, dropping on
her knees before them.</p>
<p>In her hands was Glegg’s Box of Mixed Magic and
<i>it was open</i>!</p>
<div class="fig"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_253.jpg" alt="(unlabelled)" width-obs="600" height-obs="350" /></div>
<div class="pagenum" id="Page_240">240</div>
<div class="fig"> <ANTIMG src="images/i_254.jpg" alt="(unlabelled)" width-obs="500" height-obs="470" /></div>
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