22. The Queen of Plenta

The Enchanted Island of Yew

by L. Frank Baum

The soldiers of Kwytoffle wanted to hang their old master at
once, for he had won their enmity by abusing them in many ways; but
Prince Marvel would not let them do this. However, they tied the
false sorcerer to a post, and the captain gave him a good
whipping--one lash for each letter in the words "grasshopper" and
"June-bug." Kwytoffle howled loudly for mercy, but no one was at all
sorry for him.

Wul-Takim tied a rope around the impostor's neck, and when the
party left the castle they journeyed all through the kingdom of
Auriel, and at every town or city they came to the reformed thief
would cry out to the populace:

"Here is the terrible sorcerer Kwytoffle, who threatened to
change you into grasshoppers and june-bugs. But you may see that he
is a very common man, with no powers of sorcery whatever!"

And then the people would laugh and pelt mud at their former
tyrant, and thank Prince Marvel for haying exposed the false and
wicked creature.

And they called the son of their old king back to his lawful
throne, where he ruled wisely and well; and the hoarded wealth of
Kwytoffle was divided among the people again, and soon the country
became prosperous once more.

This adventure was very amusing to the pretty High Ki of Twi.
It afforded them laughter for many days, and none of the party ever
saw a grasshopper or a june-bug afterward without thinking of the
terrible sorcerer Kwytoffle.

They left that disgraced person grooming horses for his board in
the stables of the new king, and proceeded upon their journey.

Without further event they reached the splendid southern Kingdom
of Plenta, which was the most delightfully situated of any dominion
in the Enchanted Island of Yew. It was ruled by a good and generous
queen, who welcomed the strangers to her palace and gave a series of
gay entertainments in their honor.

King Terribus was especially an object of interest, for every
one had heard his name and feared him and his fierce people. But
when they beheld his pleasant countenance and listened to his gentle
voice they began to regard him with much love and respect; and really
Terribus was worthy of their friendship since he had changed from a
deformed monster into an ordinary man, and had forbidden his people
ever again to rob and plunder their weaker neighbors.

But the most popular personages visiting at the court of the
Queen of Plenta were the lovely High Ki of Twi. Although beautiful
girls abounded in this kingdom, none could compare with the royal
twins, and their peculiar condition only served to render them the
more interesting.

Two youths would approach the High Ki at the same time and
invite them to dance, and in united voices they would accept the
invitation and go whirling around the room with exactly the same
steps, laughing at the same instant and enjoying the dance equally.
But if one youth asked his partner a question, both the twins would
make answer, and that was sure to confuse and embarrass the youth.
Still, the maids managed very well to adapt themselves to the ways of
people who were singular, although they sometimes became a little
homesick for Twi, where they were like all the other people.

The bald-headed Ki kept watchful eyes on their youthful rulers,
and served them very cheerfully. But with all their travels and
experiences, the old men could never be convinced it was better to be
singular than double.

Prince Marvel was the real hero of the party, and Nerle received
much attention on account of his master's popularity. He did not
seem as unhappy as usual, and when the prince inquired the reason,
his esquire answered that he believed the excitement of their
adventures was fast curing him of his longing for something he could
not have. As for the pleasure of suffering, he had had some
experience of that, too, and it was not nearly so delightful as he
had expected.

Wul-Takim was not a society man, so he stayed around the royal
stables and made friends with the grooms, and traded his big black
horse for two bay ones and a gold neck-chain, and was fairly content
with his lot.

And so the party enjoyed several happy weeks at the court of the
good Queen of Plenta, until one day the terrible news arrived that
carried them once more into exciting adventures.