"Well, some steps must be taken," honked Pajuka angrily. "Are we to put up with this treachery forever?"
"No, just until she restores the King," answered Tora mildly.
"Then I shall step on her," promised Kabumpo, giving Mombi another shake.
"That's right," said Dorothy, glad to have the dreadful business delayed. "Mombi must first restore the King."
"I'll not do it without a reward," screamed the witch defiantly. "Do I get a reward or not?"
The others were silent but Humpy, again extending his fingers, announced grandly, "You shall be rewarded as you deserve!" He winked at Pajuka as he said this, but Mombi apparently was satisfied and stopped squirming.
"Well, I can't do it here," she muttered sulkily. "The transformation was made near the Emerald City and the enchantment cannot be broken until we reach the green country."
"Then let's go on to the Emerald City," proposed Dorothy eagerly. Once there, reflected the little girl, Ozma herself could settle the whole troublesome business. Somehow Dorothy could not imagine Oz without the little fairy as its Queen, and while she was glad indeed to have found the lost King, she could not get used to the idea of Humpy on the throne and administering affairs in Oz.
Humpy, himself, was enjoying it all tremendously. He remembered nothing of his past, it is true, but the present was sufficiently interesting and exciting to make up for everything.
"On to the Emerald City!" he commanded, pompously waving his arms.