Смарагдове місто країни Оз
8. How the Grand Gallipoot Joined The Nomes
WewillnotsaythatweintendtoconquertheNomesafterwehaveconqueredOz,butwewilldoso,justthesame."
Thisplanbeingagreedupon,theyallwenthometodinner,leavingGeneralGuphstillinprison.TheNomehadnoideathathehadsucceededinhismission,forfindinghimselfinprisonhefearedtheGrowleywogsintendedtoputhimtodeath.
BythistimethejailerhadtiredofstickingpinsintheGeneral,andwasamusinghimselfbycarefullypullingtheNome’swhiskersoutbytheroots,oneatatime.ThisenjoymentwasinterruptedbytheGrandGallipootsendingfortheprisoner.
"Waitafewhours,"beggedthejailer."Ihaven’tpulledoutaquarterofhiswhiskersyet."
"IfyoukeeptheGrandGallipootwaiting,he’llbreakyourback,"declaredthemessenger.
"Perhapsyou’reright,"sighedthejailer."Taketheprisoneraway,ifyouwill,butIadviseyoutokickhimateverystephetakes.Itwillbegoodfun,forheisassoftasaripepeach."
SoGuphwasledawaytotheroyalcastle,wheretheGrandGallipoottoldhimthattheGrowleywogshaddecidedtoassisttheNomesinconqueringtheLandofOz.
"Wheneveryouareready,"headded,"sendmewordandIwillmarchwitheighteenthousandofmymostpowerfulwarriorstoyouraid."
Guphwassodelightedthatheforgotallthesmartingcausedbythepinsandthepullingofwhiskers.Hedidnotevencomplainofthetreatmenthehadreceived,butthankedtheGrandGallipootandhurriedawayuponhisjourney.
HehadnowsecuredtheassistanceoftheWhimsiesandtheGrowleywogs;buthissuccessmadehimlongforstillmoreallies
