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8. How the Grand Gallipoot Joined The Nomes
After leaving the Whimsies, Guph continued on his journey and
penetrated far into the Northwest. He wanted to get to the Country of the
Growleywogs, and in order to do that he must cross the Ripple Land,
which was a hard thing to do. For the Ripple Land was a succession of
hills and valleys, all very steep and rocky, and they changed places
constantly by rippling. While Guph was climbing a hill it sank down
under him and became a valley, and while he was descending into a
valley it rose up and carried him to the top of a hill. This was very
perplexing to the traveler, and a stranger might have thought he could
never cross the Ripple Land at all. But Guph knew that if he kept
steadily on he would get to the end at last; so he paid no attention to the
changing hills and valleys and plodded along as calmly as if walking
upon the level ground.
The result of this wise persistence was that the General finally reached
firmer soil and, after penetrating a dense forest, came to the Dominion of
the Growleywogs.
No sooner had he crossed the border of this domain when two guards
seized him and carried him before the Grand Gallipoot of the
Growleywogs, who scowled upon him ferociously and asked him why he
dared intrude upon his territory.
"
I'm the Lord High General of the Invincible Army of the Nomes, and my
name is Guph," was the reply. "All the world trembles when that name is
mentioned."
The Growleywogs gave a shout of jeering laughter at this, and one of
them caught the Nome in his strong arms and tossed him high into the
air. Guph was considerably shaken when he fell upon the hard ground,
but he appeared to take no notice of the impertinence and composed
himself to speak again to the Grand Gallipoot.
"
My master, King Roquat the Red, has sent me here to confer with you.
He wishes your assistance to conquer the Land of Oz."
Here the General paused, and the Grand Gallipoot scowled upon him
more terribly than ever and said:
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