11. How the General Met the First and Foremost

           OnleavingtheGrowleywogsGeneralGuphhadtorecrosstheRippleLands,andhedidnotfinditapleasantthingtodo.Perhapshavinghiswhiskerspulledoutonebyoneandbeingusedasapin-cushionfortheinnocentamusementofagoodnaturedjailerhadnotimprovedthequalityofGuph’stemper,fortheoldNomeravedandragedattherecollectionofthewrongshehadsuffered,andvowedtotakevengeanceupontheGrowleywogsafterhehadusedthemforhispurposesandOzhadbeenconquered.HewentoninthisfuriouswayuntilhewashalfacrosstheRippleLand.Thenhebecameseasick,andtherestofthewaythisnaughtyNomewasalmostasmiserableashedeservedtobe.

           Butwhenhereachedtheplainsagainandthegroundwasfirmunderhisfeethebegantofeelbetter,andinsteadofgoingbackhomeheturneddirectlywest.Asquirrel,perchedinatree,sawhimtakethisroadandcalledtohimwarningly:"Lookout!"Buthepaidnoattention.Aneaglepausedinitsflightthroughtheairtolookathimwonderinglyandsay:"Lookout!"Butonhewent.

           NoonecansaythatGuphwasnotbrave,forhehaddeterminedtovisitthosedangerouscreaturesthePhanfasms,whoresidedupontheverytopofthedreadMountainofPhantastico.ThePhanfasmswereErbs,andsodreadedbymortalsandimmortalsalikethatnoonehadbeenneartheirmountainhomeforseveralthousandyears.YetGeneralGuphhopedtoinducethemtojoininhisproposedwarfareagainstthegoodandhappyOzpeople.