Meantime Quox had managed to back out of the rocky corridor and so regain3 the open air and his old station on the mountain-side, and there he lay upon the rocks, sound asleep, until the next day. The others of the party were all given as good rooms as the caverns5 of the nomes afforded, for King Kaliko felt that he was indebted to them for his promotion6 and was anxious to be as hospitable7 as he could.
Much wonderment had been caused by the absolute disappearance8 of the sixteen officers of Oogaboo and their Queen. Not a nome had seen them, nor were they discovered during the search for the passages leading to the Metal Forest. Perhaps no one was unhappy over their loss, but all were curious to know what had become of them.
On the next day, when our friends went to visit the dragon, Quox said to them: "I must now bid you good-bye, for my mission here is finished and I must depart for the other side of the world, where I belong."
"Will you go through the Tube again?" asked Betsy.
"To be sure. But it will be a lonely trip this time, with no one to talk to, and I cannot invite any of you to go with me. Therefore, as soon as I slide into the hole I shall go to sleep, and when I pop out at the other end I will wake up at home."
They thanked the dragon for befriending them and wished him a pleasant journey. Also they sent their thanks to the great Jinjin, whose just condemnation9 of Ruggedo had served their interests so well. Then Quox yawned and stretched himself and ambled10 over to the Tube, into which he slid headforemost and disappeared.
They really felt as if they had lost a friend, for the dragon had been both kind and sociable11 during their brief acquaintance with him; but they knew it was his duty to return to his own country. So they went back to the caverns to renew the search for the hidden passages that led to the forest, but for three days all efforts to find them proved in vain.
It was Polychrome's custom to go every day to the mountain and watch for her father, the Rainbow, for she was growing tired with wandering upon the earth and longed to rejoin her sisters in their sky palaces. And on the third day, while she sat motionless upon a point of rock, whom should she see slyly creeping up the mountain but Ruggedo!
The former King looked very forlorn. His clothes were soiled and torn and he had no sandals upon his feet or hat upon his head. Having left his crown and sceptre behind when he fled, the old nome no longer seemed kingly, but more like a beggerman.
Several times had Ruggedo crept up to the mouth of the caverns, only to find the six eggs still on guard. He knew quite well that he must accept his fate and become a homeless wanderer, but his chief regret now was that he had neglected to fill his pockets with gold and jewels. He was aware that a wanderer with wealth at his command would fare much better than one who was a pauper12, so he still loitered around the caverns wherein he knew so much treasure was stored, hoping for a chance to fill his pockets.
"Aha!" said he to himself, "I alone know the way to that Forest, and once there I can fill my pockets with the finest jewels in all the world."
He glanced at his pockets and was grieved to find them so small. Perhaps they might be enlarged, so that they would hold more. He knew of a poor woman who lived in a cottage at the foot of the mountain, so he went to her and begged her to sew pockets all over his robe, paying her with the gift of a diamond ring which he had worn upon his finger. The woman was delighted to possess so valuable a ring and she sewed as many pockets on Ruggedo's robe as she possibly could.
Then he returned up the mountain and, after gazing cautiously around to make sure he was not observed, he touched a spring in a rock and it swung slowly backward, disclosing a broad passageway. This he entered, swinging the rock in place behind him.
However, Ruggedo had failed to look as carefully as he might have done, for Polychrome was seated only a little distance off and her clear eyes marked exactly the manner in which Ruggedo had released the hidden spring. So she rose and hurried into the cavern4, where she told Kaliko and her friends of her discovery.
"I've no doubt that that is a way to the Metal Forest," exclaimed Shaggy. "Come, let us follow Ruggedo at once and rescue my poor brother!"
They agreed to this and King Kaliko called together a band of nomes to assist them by carrying torches to light their way.
"The Metal Forest has a brilliant light of its own," said he, "but the passage across the valley is likely to be dark."
Polychrome easily found the rock and touched the spring, so in less than an hour after Ruggedo had entered they were all in the passage and following swiftly after the former King.
"He means to rob the Forest, I'm sure," said Kaliko; "but he will find he is no longer of any account in this Kingdom and I will have my nomes throw him out."
"Then please throw him as hard as you can," said Betsy, "for he deserves it. I don't mind an honest, out-an'-out enemy, who fights square; but changing girls into fiddles14 and ordering 'em put into Slimy Caves is mean and tricky15, and Ruggedo doesn't deserve any sympathy. But you'll have to let him take as much treasure as he can get in his pockets, Kaliko."
"Yes, the Jinjin said so; but we won't miss it much. There is more treasure in the Metal Forest than a million nomes could carry in their pockets."
It was not difficult to walk through this passage, especially when the torches lighted the way, so they made good progress. But it proved to be a long distance and Betsy had tired herself with walking and was seated upon the back of the mule16 when the passage made a sharp turn and a wonderful and glorious light burst upon them. The next moment they were all standing17 upon the edge of the marvelous Metal Forest.
It lay under another mountain and occupied a great domed18 cavern, the roof of which was higher than a church steeple. In this space the industrious19 nomes had built, during many years of labor20, the most beautiful forest in the world. The trees—trunks, branches and leaves—were all of solid gold, while the bushes and underbrush were formed of filigree21 silver, virgin22 pure. The trees towered as high as natural live oaks do and were of exquisite23 workmanship.
On the ground were thickly strewn precious gems24 of every hue25 and size, while here and there among the trees were paths pebbled26 with cut diamonds of the clearest water. Taken all together, more treasure was gathered in this Metal Forest than is contained in all the rest of the world—if we except the land of Oz, where perhaps its value is equalled in the famous Emerald City.
Our friends were so amazed at the sight that for a while they stood gazing in silent wonder. Then Shaggy exclaimed.
"My brother! My dear lost brother! Is he indeed a prisoner in this place?"
"Yes," replied Kaliko. "The Ugly One has been here for two or three years, to my positive knowledge."
"But what could he find to eat?" inquired Betsy. "It's an awfully27 swell28 place to live in, but one can't breakfast on rubies29 and di'monds, or even gold."
"One doesn't need to, my dear," Kaliko assured her. "The Metal Forest does not fill all of this great cavern, by any means. Beyond these gold and silver trees are other trees of the real sort, which bear foods very nice to eat. Let us walk in that direction, for I am quite sure we will find Shaggy's brother in that part of the cavern, rather than in this."
So they began to tramp over the diamond-pebbled paths, and at every step they were more and more bewildered by the wondrous30 beauty of the golden trees with their glittering foliage31.
Suddenly they heard a scream. Jewels scattered32 in every direction as some one hidden among the bushes scampered33 away before them. Then a loud voice cried: "Halt!" and there was the sound of a struggle.
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1
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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3
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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7
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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8
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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condemnation
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| n.谴责; 定罪 | |
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ambled
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| v.（马）缓行( amble的过去式和过去分词 )；从容地走，漫步 | |
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sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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pauper
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| n.贫民，被救济者，穷人 | |
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recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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fiddles
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| n.小提琴( fiddle的名词复数 )；欺诈；（需要运用手指功夫的）细巧活动；当第二把手v.伪造( fiddle的第三人称单数 )；篡改；骗取；修理或稍作改动 | |
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15
tricky
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| adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的 | |
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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18
domed
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| adj. 圆屋顶的, 半球形的, 拱曲的 动词dome的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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industrious
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| adj.勤劳的，刻苦的，奋发的 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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21
filigree
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| n.金银丝做的工艺品；v.用金银细丝饰品装饰；用华而不实的饰品装饰；adj.金银细丝工艺的 | |
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virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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23
exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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pebbled
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| 用卵石铺（pebble的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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29
rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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30
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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31
foliage
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| n.叶子，树叶，簇叶 | |
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32
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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33
scampered
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| v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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