Chapter Nine
the ornaments in the room skipped as if alive. The rabbit whirled 'round in a hurry.
"It means I'm leaving you for good, you wicked little monster!" shrilled Wag, his whiskers trembling with agitation and his ears sticking straight out behind. "Leaving-do you hear?"
Then he snatched Peg Amy in one paw and his treasures in the other and tried to brush past Ruggedo. But the gnome was too quick for him. Springing out of the room, he slammed the door and locked it. Wag could hear him rolling up rocks for further security.
"Thought you'd steal a march on old Ruggedo; thought you'd tell Ozma all his plans and get a nice little reward! Well, think again!" shouted the gnome through the keyhole.
Wag had plenty of time to think, for Ruggedo never came near the rabbit's room all day. At every sound poor Wag leaped into the air, for he felt sure each blow could only mean the opening of the dreaded magic box. To reassure himself he held long conversations with the wooden doll and Peg's calm cheerfulness steadied him a lot.
"I might dig my way out but it would take so long! My ear tips! How provoking it is!" exclaimed Wag.
"But perhaps he'll relent by nightfall!" Slowly the
117
