Chapter Twelve
Pumperdink, the Prince stretched himself out on the sands.
"Now," puffed the Elegant Elephant ceremoniously, "if you think you've had quite enough, I'll snatch a few bites myself." Chuckling softly he made his way back to some young trees, and dined luxuriously off their tops.
When he returned to the beach, Pompa was fast asleep, and for a few moments Kabumpo was inclined to sleep himself. "But then," he reflected, "Ozma may require a lot of coaxing before she consents to marry Pompa, and two of our precious seven days are gone. It is plainly my duty to save Pumperdink. Besides, when Pompa is married he will be King of Oz! Then I, the Elegant Elephant, will be the biggest figure at Court."
Kabumpo threw up his trunk and trumpeted softly to the stars. Then, giving himself a big shake and a little stretch, he lifted the sleeping Prince to his back and started on again. In about two hours he had circled the Soup Sea and, guiding himself by a particularly bright and twinkling star, ran swiftly and steadily toward the South.
As the first streaks of dawn appeared in the sky, Kabumpo passed through a quaint little Gilliken vil-
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