Living being in The Oz Series
Zeb
Also known as Zebediah, Zeb of Hugson's Ranch.
A cheerful, hardworking California ranch boy who drove the buggy to fetch Dorothy; having left Oz, he has returned home to Hugson's Ranch and reunited with his uncle.
Appears in 18 chapters, first in chapter 70, last in chapter 89.
This encyclopedia covers chapters 1 to 100 of the story and shows the world as it stands at chapter 100, so it contains spoilers up to that point. To read it spoiler free, one chapter at a time, open the interactive codex.
What the story establishes
| Affiliation | Works for his uncle, Bill Hugson, on Hugson's Ranch; second cousin to Dorothy through the Hugson-Henry family connection. (as of ch. 70) |
| Age | A boy, old enough to work for wages on his uncle's ranch but young enough to still be called 'the boy'. (as of ch. 70) |
| Appearance | A boy with tousled hair and blinking gray eyes. (as of ch. 70) |
| Being nature | An ordinary human boy. |
| Body conditions | Pale and shaken, nervous and worried from the ordeal of the fall. |
| Conflict | No longer stranded in Oz; his ordeal is resolved as Ozma's magic returns him safely home to Hugson's Ranch. (as of ch. 89) |
| Current goal | Achieved his goal of going home; reunited with Uncle Hugson at the ranch. (as of ch. 89) |
| Dialogue style | Casual, cheerful, and teasing; speaks in short colloquial lines, laughs easily, and jokes about himself being half-asleep or a splendid worker. (as of ch. 70) |
| Equipment | A buggy and a whip used to drive his horse Jim. (as of ch. 70) |
| Gender identity | man (as of ch. 70) |
| Health condition | Physically sound and vigorous, no longer shaken from the fall; he wrestles and boxes energetically at the games. (as of ch. 86) |
| Is alive | yes (as of ch. 70) |
| Maturation stage | Boy |
| Motive | Longed to leave fairyland and return to his own home; now safely back at Hugson's Ranch, reunited with his uncle. (as of ch. 89) |
| Personality | Cheerful, easygoing, and good-humored, quick to laugh, but shows genuine courage and composure when frightened rather than panicking. (as of ch. 70) |
| Quirks | Jokes about himself being lazy even while boasting of skill; when frightened, stammers and hesitates before summoning courage to act, as when he trembled before stepping off the roof into the air. (as of ch. 71) |
| Referential profile | masculine (as of ch. 70) |
| Sex profile | male (as of ch. 70) |
| Skills | Handles a horse and buggy competently as part of his ranch work. (as of ch. 70) |
| Social status | A hired ranch hand earning six dollars a month plus board, working for his uncle. (as of ch. 70) |
| Special capabilities | Able to walk on the air above street level, following the other Mangaboos, though hesitant and fearful at first. |
| Status | Returned from Oz to Hugson's Ranch, greeted in amazement by his uncle who asks where he has been. (as of ch. 89) |
Relationships
- located in → Hugson's Ranch ch. 89Zeb is returned to Hugson's Ranch in California, arriving at its gates by buggy.
- provides service → Dorothy ch. 70After the buggy falls through the earthquake crack into the glass city, Zeb drives the buggy (with Jim pulling) as the man with the star leads them through the streets toward the House of the Sorcerer.
- provides service ← Jim ch. 70Jim is Zeb's ranch horse, pulling his buggy and obeying him despite being stubborn and frightened by the earthquakes.
- possesses → the buggy ch. 71Zeb drives the buggy that carries him, Dorothy, and Eureka down through the earthquake crack and into the glass city, later ordering Jim onward from his seat in it.
- subordinate to → Uncle Bill Hugson ch. 70Zeb works for his uncle Bill Hugson on Hugson's Ranch, earning six dollars a month plus board.
- rescues ← Dorothy (ended) ch. 83Dorothy promises Zeb that she will use the Magic Belt to wish him safely into the royal palace once she reaches Oz.
- located in → the glass city (ended) ch. 71–73Zeb lands with Dorothy and Jim on a rooftop in the glass city and travels with them through its streets.
- accuses ← the man with the star (ended) ch. 71The man with the star confronts Zeb, demanding to know if he caused the 'Rain of Stones' that damaged the glass city, and later declares the strangers responsible for the damage unless they can prove their innocence.
- threatens ← the Royal Princess (ended) ch. 75The Princess declares that Zeb, along with Dorothy and the Wizard, must be destroyed by being thrown into the Garden of the Clinging Vines.
- steals → the wooden wings (ended) ch. 81Zeb climbed down a rope of buckled harness straps, crept with Eureka into a neighboring house while the Gargoyles slept, and took eight of the detached wooden wings, hauling them back up to the prison platform.
- includes ← underground_traveling_party (ended) ch. 71–89Zeb, the ranch boy driving the buggy, is a member of the stranded fellowship.
- accuses ← Gwig (ended) ch. 72Gwig accuses the group, including Zeb, of wickedly and viciously causing the Rain of Stones that damaged the Mangaboos' houses.
- imprisoned by → Mangaboos (ended) ch. 76[CASCADE] Created by CAPTURES(mangaboos→zeb)
- captures ← Mangaboos (ended) ch. 76The Mangaboos resealed the Black Pit entrance with glass rocks after Zeb fled inside to escape their thorns, trapping him within the mountain.
- member of → underground_traveling_party (ended) ch. 89Zeb of Hugson's Ranch is a member of the traveling party; feeling that he and Jim do not belong in fairyland, he leaves it and is returned by Ozma's magic to Hugson's Ranch in California, contributing to the party's dissolution.
- located in → Valley of Voe (ended) ch. 77–79Zeb arrives in the Valley of Voe with the group, admires its beauty, and is startled when an invisible resident speaks close beside him.
- communicates with → Dorothy (ended) ch. 70Zeb meets Dorothy at Hugson's Siding and they talk during the buggy ride about the train, the cat Eureka, family connections, Australia, and the ongoing earthquakes, until fright silences them.
- communicates with → dragonettes (ended) ch. 82Zeb asks the dragonette how old it is, staring fascinated at its yellow eyes as it answers.
- captures → Gargoyles (ended) ch. 80Zeb picks up a crown-headed Gargoyle downed by the Wizard's shot, winds a strap around its body to pin its wings and arms before it can recover, buckles it fast, and tosses the bound prisoner into the buggy.
- injures → Gargoyles (ended) ch. 81Wielding the captured Gargoyle king as a club, Zeb knocked down dozens of attacking Gargoyles before being overwhelmed and pinned by their numbers.
- imprisoned by ← Gargoyles (ended) ch. 80–81[CASCADE] Created by CAPTURES(zeb→gargoyles)
- communicates with ← Jim (ended) ch. 71Jim grumbles to Zeb about not having had breakfast and the danger of going hungry, resenting Zeb's suggestion that he eats enough to be fat.
- injures ← Mangaboos (ended) ch. 76The Mangaboos thrust their sharp thorns at Zeb, wounding him slightly before he retreated into the cave; he was later seen rubbing his wounds.
- warns ← Oz (ended) ch. 77The Wizard warns Zeb that they must not eat the dama-fruit, since eating it made the piglets invisible and could cause them to lose each other.
- uses → the buggy (ended) ch. 76Zeb harnessed Jim to the buggy and drove it through the tunnel in the glass mountain, with Dorothy and the Wizard riding along holding lanterns.
- located in → the House of the Sorcerer (ended) ch. 74–76Zeb settles into the House of the Sorcerer with Dorothy and the Wizard, unharnessing Jim before retiring to an upper room to sleep.
- uses → the king (ended) ch. 81Zeb pulled the bound Gargoyle king from the buggy and, grasping its far-extending wrists, swung it like a club to knock down dozens of attacking Gargoyles.
- uses → the two lanterns (ended) ch. 76Zeb carried the two lanterns and oil can to the rescue, lit one to explore the dark cavern tunnel, and later put them out once white light appeared ahead to save oil.
- communicates with ← Dorothy (ended) ch. 76Dorothy woke Zeb after learning from Eureka that Jim and the piglets had been captured, and together they prepared to go to the rescue.
- communicates with ← Eureka (ended) ch. 71Eureka responds to Zeb's remark about her walking on air, telling him it doesn't matter that it's strange because it's fun.
- scries → Hugson's Ranch (ended) ch. 89Zeb looks into the enchanted picture and sees Hugson's Ranch, which makes him long to return home.
- located in → Hugson's Siding (ended) ch. 70–71Zeb waits at Hugson's Siding for five hours, asleep in the buggy, until Dorothy's train arrives.
- uses → Jim (ended) ch. 70Zeb drives and urges on his horse Jim with reins and whip to pull the buggy toward Hugson's Ranch despite the earthquakes.
- uses → Jim (ended) ch. 76Zeb harnessed Jim to the buggy and drove him through the dark tunnel of the glass mountain toward the far side.
- warns → Jim (ended) ch. 86Zeb warns Jim that unless he controls his temper in future he will probably be torn to pieces by the beasts.
- communicates with → Oz (ended) ch. 74Zeb questions the Wizard about the piglet trick and the fairy nature of the land, and the Wizard explains both to him.
- communicates with → Oz (ended) ch. 75The Wizard tells Zeb to fetch his satchel, two lanterns, and a can of kerosene oil from the balloon's basket-car since the balloon itself is of no further use.
- commands ← Ozma (ended) ch. 87Ozma, decreeing the composition of the jury for Eureka's murder trial, appoints Zeb of Hugson's Ranch as one of the nine required jurors to hear the testimony.
- communicates with → Ozma (ended) ch. 84Zeb is introduced to Princess Ozma and dines with her; overcoming his initial shyness, he speaks up in defense of the Wizard's tricks, saying Oz can do good tricks whether humbug or not.
- shows respect → Ozma (ended) ch. 89Zeb thanks Ozma with gratitude and deference for her kindness, for saving his life, and for sending him home.
- located in → Palace of Oz (ended) ch. 83–89Zeb, riding in the buggy with Jim, arrives at the jeweled gates of the royal palace in the Emerald City at the chapter's end.
- communicates with ← the braided man (ended) ch. 79The braided man tells Zeb they are only about half way up Pyramid Mountain, to the boy's discouragement.
- witnesses ← the glass people (ended) ch. 71The glass city people stare at Zeb along with the other newcomers, forming a procession behind the buggy as it is led through the streets.
- communicates with ← the man with the star (ended) ch. 73The Prince explains to Zeb how the Mangaboos grow on bushes and sometimes must be planted if they sprout, and answers Zeb's question about the Royal Bush's location.
- communicates with ← Uncle Bill Hugson (ended) ch. 89Uncle Hugson greets Zeb in astonishment upon his sudden return, exclaiming and asking where he has been.
- witnesses → Garden of the Clinging Vines (ended) ch. 75Zeb looks down upon the mass of writhing, crushing vines in the Garden of the Clinging Vines and feels thankful to have escaped being cast among them.
- uses → Jim (ended) ch. 86Zeb drives Jim the cab-horse (drawing the buggy) in the procession while the Wizard stands on the seat acknowledging the crowd.
- commands ← Oz (ended) ch. 75The Wizard instructs Zeb to fetch his satchel, two lanterns, and a can of kerosene oil from the balloon's basket-car, and Zeb goes willingly.
- communicates with → Oz (ended) ch. 73Zeb converses with the Wizard about the Mangaboos' vegetable nature, asking whether potatoes-like sprouting applies to people, and mentions finding strawberries and melons for food.
- witnesses → the Cloud Fairies (ended) ch. 79Zeb sees the Cloud Fairies on the cloud banks near the landing, asks Dorothy in awe if they are real, and remarks that they look like open-work that would vanish if squeezed.
From the text
He laughed at that, and his laugh was merry and frank.Chapter 70
"I—I don't s-s-see any-thing funny—'bout it!" he stammered.Chapter 71
Zeb hesitated. He was still pale and frightened, for this dreadful adventure had upset him and made him nervous and worried. But he did not wish the little girl to think him a coward, so he advanced slowly to the edge of the roof.Chapter 71
"I'm hungry myself," said Zeb. "But I noticed some strawberries growing in one of the gardens, and some melons in another place. These people don't eat such things, so perhaps on our way back they will let us get them."Chapter 73
So the boy went willingly upon the errand, and by the time he had returned Dorothy was awake.Chapter 75
"That's the way I feel about it," remarked Zeb, rubbing his wounds. "I've had enough of the Mangaboos."Chapter 76