L.Frank Baum. The marvelous land of Oz -
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He found some crusts of bread; but he had to look into Mombi's basket
to find the cheese she had brought from the village. While turning over
the contents of the basket he came upon the pepper-box which contained the
"Powder of Life."
"I may as well take this with me," he thought, "or Mombi'll be using
it to make more mischief with." So he put the box in his pocket, together
with the bread and cheese.
Then he cautiously left the house and latched the door behind him.
Outside both moon and stars shone brightly, and the night seemed peaceful
and inviting after the close and ill-smelling kitchen.
"I'll be glad to get away," said Tip, softly; "for I never did like
that old woman. I wonder how I ever came to live with her."
He was walking slowly toward the road when a thought made him pause.
"I don't like to leave Jack Pumpkinhead to the tender mercies of old
Mombi," he muttered. "And Jack belongs to me, for I made him even if the
old witch did bring him to life."
He retraced his steps to the cow-stable and opened the door of the
stall where the pumpkin-headed man had been left.
Jack was standing in the middle of the stall, and by the moonlight
Tip could see he was smiling just as jovially as ever.
"Come on!" said the boy, beckoning."
"Where to?" asked Jack.
"You'll know as soon as I do," answered Tip, smiling sympathetically
into the pumpkin face.
"All we've got to do now is to tramp."
"Very well," returned Jack, and walked awkwardly out of the stable
and into the moonlight.
Tip turned toward the road and the man followed him. Jack walked with
a sort of limp, and occasionally one of the joints of his legs would turn
backward, instead of frontwise, almost causing him to tumble. But the