The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-16
Copyright, 1901. bv L. rrdnk Baum.
cuNriNUED.
Under LAND AND WATER.

child, looking him over carefully Tour
coat tails are gone now.
YES" said the gingerbread man,
macaw ate them a few minutes ago nut
thero will be even less OF me in another
minute. Have you a knife, Chick
"What are you going TO do?' asked the
Cherub, with sudden interest.
I'm going to save the Princess before
I'm zone entirely, said John. with decision.
Not that l have overcome my dislike 10
beina eaten. YOU understand, but il a black
Misket and a foolish bird find il so easy to
feast upon nv person Ali Dubh is sure 10
get me in time, and before that happens
j want to do one good deed and. help the
little girl to regain her health
Good" exclaimed Chick, ~approvingly.
You re all right John Dough, even II It DID
takoyou a long time to make up your mind.
But we haven't any knife"
what shall we do?' John asked anx-
fously.
cant we break OF a chunk OF you're the
Cherub inquired.
MOI replied John with a shudder.
Wait a minute!" cried Chick, I've an
idea"
Away trotted the chubby legs, and pres
entity the child returned with a long, slender
leaf, plucked from one Of the strange forest
plants.
-Thisn saw gingerbread, all right.
Hold out your hand, John Dough-
John turned away his head, and held out
his left hand-the one from which Black
Ooboo had eaten the fingers.
There! It's all over. Did It hurtP'
asked Chick.
"No." John looked at the arm where his
hand had been.
TT isn't much worse han it was before
said the child. You'll never miss it in the
world. Now wait here while l go to the
Princess"
After Chick had vanished into the girls
dwelling the gingerbread man gave a sigh
of relief.
1T wasn't as bad as I feared, = he said to
himself; "but I'm glad the ordeal is over.
\ II 1 take good care of myself hereafter
and manage to escape from Ali Dubh I can
get along very well without the ginger
bread / have lost"
The Princess slept sweetly that night,
after her supper Of gingerbread, and the
next morning was so fresh and bright and
had so pretty a color to her cheeks that
Chick Rugged her delightfully."-, and John
Dough was proud and glad TO think his
small sacrifice had wrought such good
results.
Together they strolled into the forest
along the banks Of the stream, and presently
met Pittypat.
BE careful where you GO" said the
rabbit, in a worried tone. THE Arab IL
after John Dough, and ! hear Black Ooboo
has Determines to destroy the little man
with the red whiskers and the fat woman
with the corkscrew curls, who are the father
and mother of our Princess"
Are you sure?" asked the girl, clasping
her hands In real terror.
There's no doubt of il" Pittypat replied
"Ahd I'm not sure but the Princess will
share their fate. These are ~troublous
times, since the Arab arrived and Black
Ooboo became king"
There's the boat" said Chick. turning
10 the girl; cant your parents escape in
that?"
"They nave always aid they would use
the boat to leave the island, if there waf
any danger" answered the Princess. But
the ocean is so big and the boat so very
little that they did not like to make such q
voyage unless il became necessary
We'll, il seems to be necessary now,
said John. But what will become of tn,
rest Of US? The boat will only hold two"
1T might hold me as well as my parents
n the water was calm. " said the girl; -bu'
/ will not escape and leave you and Chicl
20 your fate. Unless we can find ON,
way TO save us all I will let my parents
escape alone in the boat"
that's foolish" said Chick You q
IN the boat, John Dough and l will get along
all right"
But this the Princess refused to do, anC
- A. -oll.gA LII
70 90 and consult a gray owl which wa
renowned for its wisdom. The other
walked up to Para Bruins cave, and tn
FIRST thing the bear said was:
Look out for yourselves. Black Oobo,
has ordered all the humans on this islam
ITO be killed, and the Mifkets are arminI
tfhemselves with long sticks, to which the
have bound sharp thorns torn from a ire
in the forest. The gingerbread man is .
be eaten, / understand; so there's likel
to be an end of all OF you very soon
rs there no escape?" asked John.
None that l can think of, " said the bear
sBut you can depend upon my assistance
n there is anything 1 can do. How we
the Princess ooks to-day"
yes" answered John, proudly; she
been eating some Of my gingerbread
Hearing this. Para Bruin gave John
grateful hug; and then he Rugged the Prin
cess and even Chick. so happy did the bes
feel at the girls recovery.
Then he. bounced for them several time'
rolling himself down hill against the fla
rock, and then bounding high into tn
air. But the little Princess was wOrrie
and anxious 10 hear about her parents
20 the party soon babe good-by to Par
Bruin and started TO return.
The forest seemed very quiet and peace
full as they walked along, and they ha
almost forgotten their fears. when jus
as they reached the banks OF the broo
sudden sound OF shouting fell upon the
ears, mingled with human voices.
-Oh, dearl' cried the little Princes
wringing her hands in great fear; 9Th
Mifkets have attacked my dear parent
am sure, and they will be killed."
John Etrove to comfort her, but he SUI
pected that the Princess had guessed trul
and that her parents were in great DANCE
They dared not return to the seashor
for that would mean their own destru,
~. -