...chapter eleven of Rinkitink in Oz...previous...next...
The forest in which Nikobob lived with his wife and daughter stood
between the mountains and the City of Regos, and a well-beaten path wound
among the trees, leading from the city to the mines. This path was used by
the King's messengers, and captured prisoners were also sent by this way
from Regos to work in the underground caverns.
Nikobob had built his cabin more than a mile away from this path, that he
might not be molested by the wild and lawless soldiers of King Gos, but the
family of the charcoal-burner was surrounded by many creatures scarcely less
dangerous to encounter, and often in the night they could hear savage
animals growling and prowling about the cabin. Because Nikobob minded his own business and never hunted the wild creatures to
injure them, the beasts had come to regard him as one of the natural
dwellers in the forest and did not molest him or his family. Still Zella
and her mother seldom wandered far from home, except on such errands as
carrying honey to Coregos, and at these times Nikobob cautioned them to be
very careful.
So when Zella set out on her journey to Queen Cor, with the two pails of
honey in her hands, she was undertaking a dangerous adventure and there was
no certainty that she would return safely to her loving parents. But they
were poor, and Queen Cor's money, which they expected to receive for the
honey, would enable them to purchase many things that were needed; so it was
deemed best that Zella should go. She was a brave
little girl and poor people are often obliged to take chances that rich
ones are spared.
A passing woodchopper had brought news to Nikobob's cabin that Queen
Cor had made a prisoner of the conquering Prince of Pingaree and that Gos
and his warriors were again back in their city of Regos; but these struggles
and conquests were matters which, however interesting, did not concern the
poor charcoal-burner or his family. They were more anxious over the report
that the warriors had become more reckless than ever before, and delighted
in annoying all the common people; so Zella was told to keep away from the
beaten path as much as possible, that she might not encounter any of the
King's soldiers.
"When it is necessary to choose between the warriors and the wild
beasts," said Nikobob, "the beasts will be found the more merciful."
The little girl had put on her best attire for the journey and her mother
threw a blue silk shawl over her head and shoulders. Upon her feet were the
pretty red shoes her father had brought her from Regos. Thus prepared, she
kissed her parents good-bye and started out with a light heart, carrying the
pails of honey in either hand.
It was necessary for Zella to cross the path that led from the mines to
the city, but once on the other side she was not likely to meet with anyone,
for she had resolved to cut through the forest and so reach the bridge of
boats without entering the City of Regos, where she might be interrupted.
For an hour or two she found the walking easy enough, but then the forest,
which in this part was unknown to her, became badly tangled. The trees
were thicker and creeping vines intertwined between them. She had to turn
this way and that to get through at all, and finally she came to a place
where a network of vines and branches effectually barred her farther
progress.
Zella was dismayed, at first, when she encountered this obstacle, but
setting down her pails she made an endeavor to push the branches aside. At
her touch they parted as if by magic, breaking asunder like dried twigs,
and she found she could pass freely. At another place a great log had fallen
across her way, but the little girl lifted it easily and cast it aside,
although six ordinary men could scarcely have moved it.
The child was somewhat worried at this evidence of a strength she had
heretofore been ignorant that she possessed. In order to satisfy herself
that it was no delusion, she tested her new-found power in many ways,
finding that nothing was too big nor too heavy for her to lift. And,
naturally enough, the girl gained courage from these experiments and became
confident that she could protect herself in any emergency. When, presently,
a wild boar ran toward her, grunting horribly and threatening her with its
great tusks, she did not climb a tree to escape, as she had always done
before on meeting such creatures, but stood still and faced the boar. When
it had come quite close and Zella saw that it could not injure her -- a fact
that astonished both the beast and the girl -- she suddenly reached down and
seizing it by one ear threw the great beast far off amongst the trees, where
it fell headlong to the earth, grunting louder than ever with surprise and
fear.
The girl laughed merrily at this incident and, picking up her pails,
resumed her journey through the forest. It is not recorded whether the wild
boar told his adventure to the other beasts or they had happened to witness
his defeat, but certain it is that Zella was not again molested. A brown
bear watched her pass without making any movement in her direction and a
great puma -- a beast much dreaded by all men -- crept out of her path as
she approached, and disappeared among the trees.
Thus everything favored the girl's journey and she made such good speed
that by noon she emerged from the forest's edge and found she was quite near
to the bridge of boats that led to Coregos. This she crossed safely and
without meeting any of the rude warriors she so greatly feared, and five
minutes later the daughter of the charcoal-burner was seeking admittance at
the back door of Queen Cor's palace.
...chapter eleven of Rinkitink in Oz...previous...next...