AKidnappedSantaClaus***L.FrankBaumepubBTableofContentsTitlePageepubBooksInformation{chapter-1)TableofContentsStrictlyNotforCommercialUse.ThisEPUBeBookisreleasedunderaCreativeCommons(BY-NC-ND/3.0)Licence,(http:〃/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/)SourcetextandimagestakenfromthePublicDomain.epubBooksThiseBookisprovidedforfreebywww.epubbooks,comSupportepubBooksandmakeadonationbyvisiting:www.epubbooks,com/donatioes.SantaClauslivesintheLaughingValley,wherestandsthebig,ramblingcastleinwhichhistoysaremanufactured.Uisworkmen,selectedfromtheryls,knocks,pixiesandfairies,livewithhim,andeveryoneisasbusyascanbefromoneyear'sendtoanother.ItiscalledtheLaughingValleybecauseeverythingthereishappyandgay.Thebrookchucklestoitselfasitleapsrollickingbetweenitsgreenbanks;thewindwhistlesmerrilyinthetrees;thesunbeamsdancelightlyoverthesoftgrass,andthevioletsandwildflowerslooksmilinglyupfromtheirgreennests.Tolaughoneneedstobehappy;tobehappyoneneedstobecontent.AndthroughouttheLaughingValleyofSantaClauscontentmentreignssupreme.OnonesideisthemightyForestofBurzee.AttheothersidestandsthehugemountainthatcontainstheCavesoftheDaemons.AndbetweenthemtheValleyliessmilingandpeaceful.Onewou1dthingthatourgoodoldSantaClaus,whodevoteshisdaystomakingchildrenhappy,wou1dhavenoenemiesonalltheearth;and,asamatteroffact,foralongperiodoftimeheencounterednothingbutlovewhereverhemightgo.ButtheDaemonswholiveinthemountaincavesgrewtohateSantaClausverymuch,andallforthesimplereasonthathemadechildrenhappy.TheCavesoftheDaemonsarefiveinnumber.Abroadpathwayleadsuptothefirstcave,whichisafinelyarchedcavernatthefootofthemountain,theentrancebeingbeautifullycarvedanddecorated.InitresidestheDaemonofSelfishness.BackofthisisanothercaverninhabitedbytheDaemonofEnvy.ThecaveoftheDaemonofHatredisnextinorder,andthroughthisonepassestothehomeoftheDaemonofMalice一situatedinadarkandfearfulcaveintheveryheartofthemountain.Idonotknowwhatliesbeyondthis.Somesaythereareterriblepitfallsleadingtodeathanddestruction,andthismayverywellbetrue.However,fromeachoneofthefourcavesmentionedthereisasmall,narrowtunnelleadingtothefifthcave—acozylittleroomoccupiedbytheDaemonofRepentance.Andastherockyfloorsofthesepassagesarewellwornbythetrackofpassingfeet,IjudgethatmanywanderersintheCavesoftheDaemonshaveescapedthroughthetunnelstotheabodeoftheDaemonofRepentance,whoissaidtobeapleasantsortoffellowwhogladlyopensforonealittledooradmittingyouintofreshairandsunshineagain.Well,theseDaemonsoftheCaves,thinkingtheyhadgreatcausetodislikeoldSantaClaus,heldameetingonedaytodiscussthematter."I'mreallygettinglonesome,，zsaidtheDaemonofSelfishness."ForSantaClausdistributessomanyprettyChristmasgiftstoallthechildrenthattheybecomehappyandgenerous,throughhisexample,andkeepawayfrommycave.〃"I'mhavingthesametrouble,“rejoinedtheDaemonofEnvy."The1ittleonesseemquitecontentwithSantaClaus,andtherearefew,indeed,thatIcancoaxtobe?〃comeenvious.“Andthatmakesitbadforme!”declaredtheDaemonofHatred."ForifnochildrenpassthroughtheCavesofSelfishnessandEnvy,nonecangettoMYcavern./z〃0rtomine,〃addedtheDaemonofMalice.“Formypart,“saidtheDaemonofRepentance,〃itiseasilyseenthatifchildrendonotvisityourcavestheyhavenoneedtovisitmine;sothatIamquiteasneglectedasyouare.〃“AndallbecauseofthispersontheycallSantaClaus!”exclaimedtheDaemonofEnvy.〃Heissimplyruiningourbusiness,andsomethingmustbedoneatonce.〃Tothistheyreadilyagreed;butwhattodowasanotherandmoredifficultmattertosettle.TheyknewthatSantaClausworkedallthroughtheyearathiscastleintheLaughingValley,preparingthegiftshewastodistributeonChristmasEve;andatfirsttheyresolvedtotrytotempthimintotheircaves,thattheymight1eadhimontotheterriblepitfallsthatendedindestruction.Sotheverynextday,whileSantaClauswasbusilyatwork,surroundedbyhislittlebandofassistants,theDaemonofSelfishnesscametohimandsaid:“Thesetoysarewonderfullybrightandpretty.Whydoyounotkeepthemforyourself?It'sapitytogivethemtothosenoisyboysandfretfulgirls,whobreakanddestroythemsoquickly.〃“Nonsense!”criedtheoldgraybeard,hisbrighteyestwinklingmerrilyasheturnedtowardthetemptingDaemon."Theboysandgirlsareneversonoisyandfretfulafterreceivingmypresents,andifIcanmakethemhappyforonedayintheyearIamquitecontent./zSotheDaemonwentbacktotheothers,whoawaitedhimintheircaves,andsaid:〃Ihavefailed,forSantaClausisnotatallselfish./zThefollowingdaytheDaemonofEnvyvisitedSantaClaus.Saidhe:"Thetoyshopsarefullofplaythingsquiteasprettyasthoseyouaremaking.Whatashameitisthattheyshouldinterferewithyourbusiness!Theymaketoysbymachinerymuchquickerthanyoucanmakethembyhand;andtheysellthemformoney,whileyougetnothingatallforyourwork.”ButSantaClausrefusedtobeenviousofthetoyshops.〃Icansupplythelittleonesbutonceayear一onChristmasEve,〃heanswered;〃forthechildrenaremany,andIambutone.AndasmyworkisoneofloveandkindnessIwouldbeashamedtoreceivemoneyformylittlegifts.Butthroughoutalltheyearthechildrenmustbeamusedinsomeway,andsothetoyshopsareabletobringmuchhappinesstomylittlefriends.Ilikethetoyshops,andamgladtoseethemprosper.z/Inspiteofthesecondrebuff,theDaemonofHatredthoughthewouldtrytoinfluenceSantaClaus.Sothenextdayheenteredthebusyworkshopandsaid:“Goodmorning,Santa!Ihavebadnewsforyou.〃“Thenrunaway,likeagoodfellow,answeredSantaClaus."Badnewsissomethingthatshouldbekeptsecretandnevertold.〃“Youcannotescapethis,however,/zdeclaredtheDaemon;"forintheworldareagoodmanywhodonotbelieveinSantaClaus,andtheseyouareboundtohatebitterly,sincetheyhavesowrongedyou.〃“Stuffandrubbish!z/criedSanta.“Andthereareotherswhoresentyourmakingchildrenhappyandwhosneeratyouandcallyouafoolisholdrattlepate!Youarequiterighttohatesuchbaseslanderers,andyououghttoberevengeduponthemfortheirevilwords.〃“ButIdon'thate'em!”exclaimedSantaClauspositively."Suchpeopledomenorealharm,butmerelyrenderthemselvesandtheirchildrenunhappy.Poorthings!I'dmuchratherhelpthemanydaythaninjurethem.〃Indeed,theDaemonscouldnottemptoldSantaClausinanyway.Onthecontrary,hewasshrewdenoughtoseethattheirobjectinvisitinghimwastomakemischiefandtrouble,andhischeerylaughterdisconcertedtheevilonesandshowedtothemthefollyofsuchanundertaking.Sotheyabandonedhoneyedwordsanddeterminedtouseforce.ItwaswellknownthatnoharmcancometoSantaClauswhileheisintheLaughingValley,forthefairies,andryls,andknocksallprotecthim.ButonChristmasEvehedriveshisreindeeroutintothebigworld,carryingasleighloadoftoysandprettygiftstothechildren;andthiswasthetimeandtheoccasionwhenhisenemieshadthebestchancetoinjurehim.SotheDaemonslaidtheirplansandawaitedthearrivalofChristmasEve.Themoonshonebigandwhiteinthesky,andthesnowlaycrispandsparklingonthegroundasSantaClauscrackedhiswhipandspedawayoutoftheValleyintothegreatworldbeyond.Theroomysleighwaspackedfullwithhugesacksoftoys,andasthereindeerdashedonwardourjollyoldSantalaughedandwhistledandsangforveryjoy.Forinallhismerrylifethiswastheonedayintheyearwhenhewashappiest一thedayhelovinglybestowedthetreasuresofhisworkshopuponthe1ittlechildren.Itwouldbeabusynightforhim,hewellknew.Ashewhistledandshoutedandcrackedhiswhipagain,hereviewedinmindallthetownsandcitiesandfarmhouseswherehewasexpected,andfiguredthathehadjustenoughpresentstogoaroundandmakeeverychildhappy.Thereindeerknewexactlywhatwasexpectedofthem,anddashedalongsoswiftlythattheirfeetscarcelyseemedtotouchthesnow-coveredground.Suddenlyastrangethinghappened:aropeshotthroughthemoonlightandabignoosethatwasintheendofitsettledoverthearmsandbodyofSantaClausanddrewtight.Beforehecouldresistorevencryouthewasjerkedfromtheseatofthesleighandtumbledheadforemostintoasnowbank,whilethereindeerrushedonwardwiththeloadoftoysandcarrieditquicklyoutofsightandsound.SuchasurprisingexperienceconfusedoldSantaforamoment,andwhenhehadcollectedhissenseshefoundthatthewickedDaemonshadpulledhimfromthesnowdriftandboundhimtightlywithmanycoilsofthestoutrope.AndthentheycarriedthekidnappedSantaCiausawaytotheirmountain,wheretheythrusttheprisonerintoasecretcaveandchainedhimtotherockywallsothathecouldnotescape.〃Ha,ha!〃laughedtheDaemons,rubbingtheirhandstogetherwithcruelglee.〃Whatwillthechildrendonow?HowtheywillcryandscoldandstormwhentheyfindtherearenotoysintheirstockingsandnogiftsontheirChristmastrees!Andwhatalotofpunishmenttheywillreceivefromtheirparents,andhowtheywillflocktoourCavesofSelfishness,andEnvy,andHatred,andMalice!Wehavedoneamightycleverthing,weDaemonsoftheCaves!”NowitsochancedthatonthisChristmasEvethegoodSantaClaushadtakenwithhiminhissleighNutertheRyl,PetertheKnook,KilterthePixie,andasmallfairynamedWisk一hisfourfavoriteassistants.Theselittlepeoplehehadoftenfoundveryusefulinhelpinghimtodistributehisgiftstothechildren,andwhentheirmasterwassosuddenlydraggedfromthesleightheywereallsnuglytuckedunderneaththeseat,wherethesharpwindcouldnotreachthem.ThetinyimmortalsknewnothingofthecaptureofSantaClausunti1sometimeafterhehaddisappeared.Butfinallytheymissedhischeeryvoice,andastheirmasteralwayssangorwhistledonhisjourneys,thesilencewarnedthemthatsomethingwaswrong.LittleWiskstuckouthisheadfromunderneaththeseatandfoundSantaClausgoneandnoonetodirecttheflightofthereindeer.〃Whoa!〃hecalledout,andthedeerobedientlyslackenedspeedandcametoahalt.PeterandNuterandKilteralljumpedupontheseatandlookedbackoverthetrackmadebythesleigh.ButSantaClaushadbeenleftmilesandmilesbehind.z，Whatshallwedo?〃askedWiskanxiously,allthemirthandmischiefbanishedfromhisweefacebythisgreatcalamity.〃Wemustgobackatonceandfindourmaster,zzsaidNutertheRyl,whothoughtandspokewithmuchdeliberation.〃No,no!〃exclaimedPetertheKnook,who,crossandcrabbedthoughhewas,mightalwaysbedependeduponinanemergency.wedelay,orgoback,therewillnotbetimetogetthetoystothechildrenbeforemorning;andthatwouldgrieveSantaClausmorethananythingelse.〃〃Itiscertainthatsomewickedcreatureshavecapturedhim,〃addedKilterthoughtfully,“andtheirobjectmustbetomakethechildrenunhappy.SoourfirstdutyistogetthetoysdistributedascarefullyasifSantaClauswerehimselfpresent.Afterwardwecansearchforourmasterandeasilysecurehisfreedom./zThisseemedsuchgoodandsensibleadvicethattheothersatonceresolvedtoadoptit.SoPetertheKnookcalledtothereindeer,andthefaithfulanimalsagainsprangforwardanddashedoverhillandvalley,throughforestandplain,untiltheycametothehouseswhereinchildrenlaysleepinganddreamingoftheprettygiftstheywouldfindonChristmasmorning.Thelittleimmortalshadsetthemselvesadifficulttask;foralthoughtheyhadassistedSantaClausonmanyofhisjourneys,theirmasterhadalwaysdirectedandguidedthemandtoldthemexactlywhathewishedthemtodo.Butnowtheyhadtodistributethetoysaccordingtotheirownjudgment,andtheydidnotunderstandchildrenaswellasdidoldSanta.Soitisnowondertheymadesomelaughableerrors.MamieBrown,whowantedadoll,gotadruminstead;andadrumisofnousetoagirlwholovesdolls.AndCharlieSmith,whodelightstorompandplayoutofdoors,andwhowantedsomenewrubberbootstokeephisfeetdry,receivedasewingboxfilledwithcoloredworstedsandthreadsandneedles,whichmadehimsoprovokedthathethoughtlesslycalledourdearSantaClausafraud.HadtherebeenmanysuchmistakestheDaemonswou1dhaveaccomplishedtheirevilpurposeandmadethechildrenunhappy.ButthelittlefriendsoftheabsentSantaClauslaboredfaithfullyandintelligentlytocarryouttheirmaster'sideas,andtheymadefewererrorsthanmightbeexpectedundersuchunusualcircumstances.And,althoughtheyworkedasswiftlyaspossible,dayhadbeguntobreakbeforethetoysandotherpresentswerealldistributed;soforthefirsttimeinmanyyearsthereindeertrottedintotheLaughingValley,ontheirreturn,inbroaddaylight,withthebrilliantsunpeepingovertheedgeoftheforesttoprovetheywerefarbehindtheiraccustomedhours.Havingputthedeerinthestable,thelittlefolkbegantowonderhowtheymightrescuetheirmaster;andtheyrealizedtheymustdiscover,firstofall,whathadhappenedtohimandwherehewas.SoWisktheFairytransportedhimselftotheboweroftheFairyQueen,whichwaslocateddeepintheheartoftheForestofBurzee;andoncethere,itdidnottakehimlongtofindoutallaboutthenaughtyDaemonsandhowtheyhadkidnappedthegoodSantaClaustopreventhismakingchildrenhappy.TheFairyQueenalsopromisedherassistance,andthen,fortifiedbythispowerfulsupport,WiskflewbacktowhereNuterandPeterandKilterawaitedhim,andthefourcounseledtogetherandlaidplanstorescuetheirmasterfromhisenemies.ItispossiblethatSantaClauswasnotasmerryasusualduringthenightthatsucceededhiscapture.Foralthoughhehadfaithinthejudgmentofhislittlefriendshecouldnotavoidacertainamountofworry,andananxiouslookwouldcreepattimesintohiskindoldeyesashethoughtofthedisappointmentthatmightawaithisdearlittlechildren.AndtheDaemons,whoguardedhimbyturns,oneafteranother,didnotneglecttotaunthimwithcontemptuouswordsinhishelplesscondition.WhenChristmasDaydawnedtheDaemonofMalicewasguardingtheprisoner,andhistonguewassharperthanthatofanyoftheothers.“Thechildrenarewakingup,Santa!，zhecried."Theyarewakinguptofindtheirstockingsempty!Ho,ho!Howtheywillquarrel,andwail,andstamptheirfeetinanger!Ourcaveswillbefulltoday,oldSanta!Ourcavesaresuretobefull!，zButtothis,astootherliketaunts,SantaClausanswerednothing.Hewasmuchgrievedbyhiscapture,itistrue;buthiscouragedidnotforsakehim.And,findingthattheprisonerwouldnotreplytohisjeers,theDaemonofMalicepresentlywentaway,andsenttheDaemonofRepentancetotakehisplace.Thislastpersonagewasnotsodisagreeableastheothers.Hehadgentleandrefinedfeatures,andhisvoicewassoftandpleasantintone.〃MybrotherDaemonsdonottrustmeovermuch,z/saidhe,asheenteredthecavern;“butitismorning,now,andthemischiefisdone.Youcannotvisitthechildrenagainforanotheryear.〃“Thatistrue,“answeredSantaClaus,almostcheerfully;“ChristmasEveispast,andforthefirsttimeincenturiesIhavenotvisitedmychildren./z“Thelittleoneswillbegreatlydisappointed,z/murmuredtheDaemonofRepentance,almostregretfully;"butthatcannotbehelpednow.Theirgriefislikelytomakethechildrenselfishandenviousandhateful,andiftheycometotheCavesoftheDaemonstodayIshallgetachancetoleadsomeofthemtomyCaveofRepentan〃ce.〃Doyouneverrepent,yourself?”askedSantaClaus,curiously.〃0h,yes,indeed,〃answeredtheDaemon.〃IamevennowrepentingthatIassistedinyourcapture.Ofcourseitistoolatetoremedytheevilthathasbeendone;butrepentance,youknow,cancomeonlyafteranevilthoughtordeed,forinthebeginningthereisnothingtorepentof.〃〃SoIunderstand,z/saidSantaClaus."Thosewhoavoidevilneednevervisityourcave.〃〃Asarule,thatistrue,“repliedtheDaemon;〃yetyou,whohavedonenoevil,areabouttovisitmycaveatonce;fortoprovethatIsincerelyregretmyshareinyourcaptureIamgoingtopermityoutoescape.〃Thisspeechgreatlysurprisedtheprisoner,untilhereflectedthatitwasjustwhatmightbeexpectedoftheDaemonofRepentance.ThefellowatoncebusiedhimselfuntyingtheknotsthatboundSantaClausandunlockingthechainsthatfastenedhimtothewall.ThenheledthewaythroughalongtunneluntiltheybothemergedintheCaveofRepentance.〃Ihopeyouwillforgiveme,〃saidtheDaemonpleadingly.〃Iamnotreallyabadperson,youknow;andIbelieveIaccomplishagreatdealofgoodintheworld.〃Withthisheopenedabackdoorthatletinafloodofsunshine,andSantaClaussniffedthefreshairgratefully.〃Ibearnomalice,z/saidhetotheDaemon,inagentlevoice;"andIamsuretheworldwouldbeadrearyplacewithoutyou.So,goodmorning,andaMerryChristmastoyou!”Withthesewordshesteppedouttogreetthebrightmorning,andamomentlaterhewastrudgingalong,whistlingsoftlytohimself,onhiswaytohishomeintheLaughingValley.Marchingoverthesnowtowardthemountainwasavastarmy,madeupofthemostcuriouscreaturesimaginable.Therewerenumberlessknocksfromtheforest,asroughandcrookedinappearanceasthegnarledbranchesofthetreestheyministeredto.Andthereweredaintyrylsfromthefields,eachonebearingtheemblemoftheflowerorplantitguarded.Behindtheseweremanyranksofpixies,gnomesandnymphs,andintherearathousandbeautifulfairiesfloatedalongingorgeousarray.ThiswonderfularmywasledbyWisk,Peter,Nuter,andKilter,whohadassembledittorescueSantaClausfromcaptivityandtopunishtheDaemonswhohaddaredtotakehimawayfromhisbelovedchildren.And,althoughtheylookedsobrightandpeaceful,thelittleimmortalswerearmedwithpowersthatwouldbeveryterribletothosewhohadincurredtheiranger.WoetotheDaemonsoftheCavesifth