L.Frank Baum. The marvelous land of Oz -
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threatened by rebels. Speaking pleasantly to the girls, he said:
"Good morning, my dears! What can I do for you?"
"Surrender instantly!" answered General Jinjur, standing before him
and frowning as terribly as her pretty face would allow her to.
"Surrender!" echoed the man, astounded. "Why, it's impossible. It's
against the law! I never heard of such a thing in my life."
"Still, you must surrender!" exclaimed the General, fiercely. "We are
revolting!"
"You don't look it," said the Guardian, gazing from one to another,
admiringly.
"But we are!" cried Jinjur, stamping her foot, impatiently; "and we
mean to conquer the Emerald City!"
"Good gracious!" returned the surprised Guardian of the Gates; "what
a nonsensical idea! Go home to your mothers, my good girls, and milk the
cows and bake the bread. Don't you know it's a dangerous thing to conquer
a city?"
"We are not afraid!" responded the General; and she looked so
determined that it made the Guardian uneasy.
So he rang the bell for the Soldier with the Green Whiskers, and the
next minute was sorry he had done so. For immediately he was surrounded by
a crowd of girls who drew the knitting-needles from their hair and began
Jabbing them at the Guardian with the sharp points dangerously near his
fat cheeks and blinking eyes.
The poor man howled loudly for mercy and made no resistance when
Jinjur drew the bunch of keys from around his neck.
Followed by her Army the General now rushed to the gateway, where she
was confronted by the Royal Army of Oz - which was the other name for the
Soldier with the Green Whiskers.
"Halt!" he cried, and pointed his long gun full in the face of the
leader.
Some of the girls screamed and ran back, but General Jinjur bravely