Baum, L Frank Oz 30 Captain Salt in Oz

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clever at governing and her subjects all so happy and prosperous, the more
people who come under her rule the better!"
"Aye! Aye!" agreed Roger, peering with deep interest at the map. Small
wonder the Read Bird was interested, for Oz is one of the most exciting and
enchanting countries ever discovered. There are four large Kingdoms in
Ozma's realm, the Northern Land of the Gillikens, the Eastern Empire of the
Winkies, the Southern Country of the Quadlings, and the Western domain of
the Munchkins. Each forms a triangle in the oblong of Oz. The Emerald City,
which is the capital, is in the exact center where all these triangles
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meet. Each of these Kingdoms has its own ruler, but all four are under the
sovereign rule and control of Ozma, the small but powerful fairy who lives
in the Emerald City.
On all sides, Oz is surrounded by a deadly desert, and beyond the desert lie
the independent Kingdoms of No-Land, Low Land, Ix, Play, Ev, the Dominions
of the Gnome King, and many other strange and important Principalities.
These countries form a narrow rim around the desert, and beyond this rim
lies the Nonestic Ocean itself, stretching in all directions and to no one
knows what far and undiscovered shores.20
Each of the four Kingdoms in Oz shown on Samuel's map was so dotted with
smaller Kingdoms, cities, towns, villages and the holdings of ancient
Knights and Barons, there was scarcely room for another castle. With young
Princes growing up on every hand, Roger could well sympathize with the need
of Ozma for more territory.
"Won't the Ozians have too long a way to come before they reach these new
islands and countries we discover?" inquired the Read Bird after staring at
the map for some moments in silence.
"Not a bit of it!" Samuel dismissed Roger's objection with a snap of his
fingers. "I hear the Wizard of Oz is working on a new fleet of airships
that will make crossing the desert and Nonestic a real lark and enable new
settlers to reach these outlying islands in a day or less. So all we have
to do is to proceed with our discovering. Ozma will attend to the rest.
This volcanic island may not be as useful as some of the others, but one
can never tell. How about picking up a few islands for you, Ato, as we ride
along?" The former pirate dropped his arm affectionately round the
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shoulders of his Royal Cook.
"No, thanks," grunted Ato, rolling cheerfully to his feet. "One's enough.
What would I want with any more islands? Why, I'd never get off on a
voyage. But pick yourself a couple, Sammy, why don't you?"
"Who, ME?" Samuel Salt shook his head emphatically. "A ship's all I can
handle, and I wouldn't trade you two buckets of sea water for all the
islands in the Nonestic. One ship and one crew's enough for me, and since
you're my crew, you'd better turn inFF20C4 we've had a hard day and
another one coming. I'll take first watch; Cooky, here, shall have middle;
and you, Roger, can be the early bird on morning watch."
"Ho hum! I'm right sleepy at that," admitted Ato, starting to heap up
plates. "Give me a lift with the dishes, Roger, will you?"
"Oh, throw 'em overboard," directed Samuel Salt recklessly. "There's plenty
more in the hold, and I'm agin all extry labor."
"Hurray!" screamed Roger, seizing the coffee pot and winging merrily through
an open port.
"Avast! Avast there! Not my coffee pot!" pleaded Ato, making after the Read
Bird with surprising speed considering his tonnage. "Stop, you great
Gossoon! How many times must I tell you I'm boss of the galley?" Catching
Roger by the leg just as he reached the rail, Ato snatched back his
precious coffee pot and hugged it protectively to his bosom. "Why, I've
just got this contraption broken in proper," he panted indignantly. "A
coffee pot's like a pipe: it's got to be sweetened and seasoned. Heave over
the plates and cups if you like," he went on, relenting a bit as he noted
the keen disappointment on Roger's face, "but save the soup tureen. I'll [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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