Printed in the United States of America
Copyright, 1922
By
The Reilly & Lee Co.

Dear Children:

Do you like Elephants? Do you believe in Giants? And do you love all the jolly people of the Wonderful Land of Oz?

Well, then you’ll want to hear about the latest happenings in that delightful Kingdom. All are set forth in true Oz fashion in “Kabumpo in Oz,” the fifteenth Oz book.

Kabumpo is an Elegant Elephant. He is very old and wise, and has a kindly heart, as have all the Oz folks. In the new book you’ll meet Prince Pompa, and Peg Amy, a charming Wooden Doll. There are new countries, strange adventures and the most surprising Box of Magic you have ever heard of. Ruggedo, the wicked old Gnome King, does a lot of mischief with this before Princess Ozma can stop him.

Of course Dorothy, the Scarecrow, Scraps, Glinda the Good, Tik-Tok, and other old friends all are alive and busy in the new book. I am just back from the Emerald City with the best of Oz wishes for everybody, but especially for you.

Ruth Plumly Thompson.

This book is dedicated with
all of my heart
To Janet
My littlest sister but biggest assistor
Ruth Plumly Thompson

LIST OF CHAPTERS

Page

1 The Exploding Birthday Cake 15

2 Picking a Proper Princess 30

3 Kabumpo and Pompa Disappear 44

4 The Curious Cottabus Appears 50

5 In the City of The Figure Heads 62

6 Ruggedo’s History In Six Rocks 78

7 Sir Hokus And The Giants 95

8 Woe in the Emerald City 105

9 Mixed Magic Makes Mischief 114

10 Peg and Wag to the Rescue 132

11 The King of the Illumi Nation 145

12 The Delicious Sea of Soup 160

13 On the Road to Ev 174

14 Terror in Ozma’s Palace 188

15 The Sand Man Takes a Hand 205

16 Kabumpo Vanquishes The Twigs 211

17 Meeting the Runaway Country 226

18 Prince Pompadore Proposes 240

19 Ozma Takes Things in Hand 255

20 The Proper Princess is Found 267

21 How It All Came About 281

22 Ruggedo’s Last Rock 292

Chapter 1
The Exploding Birthday Cake

“The cake, you chattering Chittimong! Where is the cake? Stirem, Friem, Hashem, where is the cake?” cried Eejabo, chief footman in the palace of Pumperdink, bouncing into the royal pantry.

The three cooks, too astonished for speech, and with staring eyes, pointed to the center table. The great, gorgeous birthday cake was gone, though not two seconds before it had been placed on the table by Hashem himself.

“It was my m-m-asterpiece,” sobbed Hashem, tearing off his cap and throwing his apron over his head.

“Help! Robbers! Thieves!” cried Stirem and Friem, running to the window.

Here was a howdedo. The trumpets blowing for the celebration to begin and the best part of the celebration gone!

“We’ll all be dipped for this!” wailed Eejabo, flinging open the second best china closet so violently that three silver cups and a pewter mug tumbled out. Just then there was a scream from Hashem, who had removed the apron from his head. “Look!” he shrieked. “There it is!”

Back to the table rushed the other three, Stirem and Friem rubbing their eyes and Eejabo his head where the cups had bumped him severely. Upon the table stood the royal cake, as pink and perfect as ever.

“It was there all the time, mince my eyebrows!” spluttered Hashem in an injured voice. “Called me a Chittimong, did you?” Grasping a big wooden spoon he ran angrily at Eejabo.

“Was it gone or wasn’t it?” cried Eejabo, appealing to the others and hastily catching up a bread knife to defend himself. Instantly there arose a babble.

“It was!”

“It wasn’t!”

“Was!” Rap, bang, clatter. In a minute they were in a furious argument, not only with words but with spoons, forks and bowls. And dear knows what would have become of the cake had not a bell rung loudly and the second footman poked his head through the door.

“The cake! Where is the cake?” he wheezed importantly.

So Eejabo, dodging three cups and a salt cellar, seized the great silver platter and dashed into the great banquet hall. One pink coat tail was missing and his wig was somewhat elevated over the left ear from the lump raised by the pewter mug, but he summoned what dignity he could and joined the grand procession of footmen who were bearing gold and silver dishes filled with goodies for the birthday feast of Prince Pompadore of Pumperdink.

The royal guests were already assembled and just as Eejabo entered, the pages blew a shrill blast upon their silver trumpets and the Prime Pumper stepped forward to announce their Majesties.

“Oyez! Oyez!” shouted the Prime Pumper, pounding on the floor with his silver staff, while the guests politely inclined their heads just as if they had not heard the same announcement dozens of times before:

“Oyez! Oyez!