13. How the General Talked to the King

           WhenGeneralGuphreturnedtothecavernoftheNomeKinghisMajestyasked:

           "Well,whatluck?WilltheWhimsiesjoinus?"

           "Theywill,"answeredtheGeneral."Theywillfightforuswithalltheirstrengthandcunning."

           "Good!"exclaimedtheKing."Whatrewarddidyoupromisethem?"

           "YourMajestyistousetheMagicBelttogiveeachWhimsiealarge,finehead,inplaceofthesmalloneheisnowobligedtowear."

           "Iagreetothat,"saidtheKing."Thisisgoodnews,Guph,anditmakesmefeelmorecertainoftheconquestofOz."

           "ButIhaveothernewsforyou,"announcedtheGeneral.

           "Goodorbad?"

           "Good,yourMajesty."

           "ThenIwillhearit,"saidtheKing,withinterest.

           "TheGrowleywogswilljoinus."

           "No!"criedtheastonishedKing.

           "Yes,indeed,"saidtheGeneral."Ihavetheirpromise."

           "Butwhatrewarddotheydemand?"inquiredtheKing,suspiciously,forheknewhowgreedytheGrowleywogswere.

           "TheyaretotakeafewoftheOzpeoplefortheirslaves,"repliedGuph.HedidnotthinkitnecessarytotellRoquatthattheGrowleywogsdemandedtwentythousandslaves.ItwouldbetimeenoughforthatwhenOzwasconquered.

           "Averyreasonablerequest,I’msure,"remarkedtheKing."Imustcongratulateyou,Guph,uponthewonderfulsuccessofyourjourney."

           "Butthatisnotall,"saidtheGeneral,proudly.

           TheKingseemedastonished."Speakout,sir!"hecommanded.

           "IhaveseentheFirstandForemostPhanfasmoftheMountainofPhantastico,andhewillbringhispeopletoassistus."

           "What!"criedtheKing."ThePhanfasms!Youdon’tmeanit,Guph!"

           "Itistrue,"declaredtheGeneral,proudly.