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diff --git a/old/51263-0.txt b/old/51263-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index ec893fb..0000000 --- a/old/51263-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6237 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Scarecrow of Oz, by L. Frank Baum - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Scarecrow of Oz - -Author: L. Frank Baum - -Release Date: February 21, 2016 [eBook #51263] -[Most recently updated: February 7, 2021] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: David Edwards, Tom Cosmas, OZClub.org and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SCARECROW OF OZ *** - - - - -Transcriber Notes - -Text emphasis id denoted as _Italics_ and =Bold=. - - - - - +--------------------------------------------------------------+ - | | - | The | - | | - | Scarecrow of Oz | - | | - | | - | | - | by | - | | - | L. Frank Baum | - | | - +--------------------------------------------------------------+ - - -[Illustration] - -===== The Famous Oz Books ===== - -Since 1900, when L. Frank Baum introduced to the children of America -THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ and all the other exciting characters who -inhabit the land of Oz, these delightful fairy tales have stimulated the -imagination of millions of young readers. - -These are stories which are genuine fantasy creative, funny, tender, -exciting and surprising. Filled with the rarest and most absurd -creatures, each of the 14 volumes which now comprise the series, has been -eagerly sought out by generation after generation until to-day they are -known to all except the very young or those who were never young at all. - -When, in a recent survey, The =New York Times= polled a group of teen agers -on the books they liked best when they were young, the Oz books topped -the list. - - - THE FAMOUS OZ BOOKS - ------------------- - - By L. Frank Baum: - - THE WIZARD OF OZ - THE LAND OF OZ - OZMA OF OZ - DOROTHY AND THE WIZARD IN OZ - THE ROAD TO OZ - THE EMERALD CITY OF OZ - THE PATCHWORK GIRL OF OZ - TIK-TOK OF OZ - THE SCARECROW OF OZ - RINKITINK IN OZ - THE LOST PRINCESS OF OZ - THE TIN WOODMAN OF OZ - THE MAGIC OF OZ - GLINDA OF OZ - - Chicago THE REILLY & LEE CO. _Publishers_ - - -[Illustration: THE SCARECROW _OF_ OZ] - -Dedicated to - -"The Uplifters" of Los Angeles, California, in grateful appreciation -of the pleasure I have derived from association with them, and in -recognition of their sincere endeavor to uplift humanity through -kindness, consideration and good-fellowship. They are big men all of them -and all with the generous hearts of little children. - -L. Frank Baum - - -[Illustration] - - - +--------------------------------------------------------------+ - | | - | THE | - | | - | =SCARECROW OF OZ= | - | | - | | - | BY | - | | - | L. FRANK BAUM | - | | - | AUTHOR OF | - | | - | THE ROAD TO OZ, DOROTHY AND THE WIZARD IN OZ, THE EMERALD | - | CITY OF OZ, THE LAND OF OZ, OZMA OF OZ. THE PATCHWORK GIRL | - | OF OZ, TIK-TOK OF OZ | - | | - | | - | | - | [Illustration] | - | | - | | - | | - | ILLUSTRATED BY | - | JOHN R. NEILL | - | | - | | - | =The Reilly & Lee Co= | - | Chicago | - | | - +--------------------------------------------------------------+ - - - +--------------------------------------------------------------+ - | | - | COPYRIGHT | - | | - | 1915 BY | - | | - | L Frank Baum | - | | - | ALL | - | | - | RIGHTS RESERVED | - | | - +--------------------------------------------------------------+ - - -[Illustration] - -'TWIXT YOU AND ME - -The Army of Children which besieged the Postoffice, conquered the Postmen -and delivered to me its imperious Commands, insisted that Trot and Cap'n -Bill be admitted to the Land of Oz, where Trot could enjoy the society -of Dorothy, Betsy Bobbin and Ozma, while the one-legged sailor-man might -become a comrade of the Tin Woodman, the Shaggy Man, Tik-Tok and all the -other quaint people who inhabit this wonderful fairyland. - -It was no easy task to obey this order and land Trot and Cap'n Bill -safely in Oz, as you will discover by reading this book. Indeed, it -required the best efforts of our dear old friend, the Scarecrow, to save -them from a dreadful fate on the journey; but the story leaves them -happily located in Ozma's splendid palace and Dorothy has promised me -that Button-Bright and the three girls are sure to encounter, in the near -future, some marvelous adventures in the Land of Oz, which I hope to be -permitted to relate to you in the next Oz Book. - -Meantime, I am deeply grateful to my little readers for their continued -enthusiasm over the Oz stories, as evinced in the many letters they send -me, all of which are lovingly cherished. It takes more and more Oz Books -every year to satisfy the demands of old and new readers, and there -have been formed many "Oz Reading Societies," where the Oz Books owned -by different members are read aloud. All this is very gratifying to me -and encourages me to write more Oz stories. When the children have had -enough of them, I hope they will let me know, and then I'll try to write -something different. - - L. Frank Baum - "Royal Historian of Oz." - - "OZCOT" - at HOLLYWOOD - in CALIFORNIA, - 1915. - - - -[Illustration] - -LIST OF CHAPTERS - - 1 The Great Whirlpool 18 - 2 Cavern Under the Sea 22 - 3 The Ork 33 - 4 Daylight at Last! 52 - 5 The Little Old Man of the Island 62 - 6 The Flight of the Midgets 82 - 7 The Bumpy Man 89 - 8 Button-Bright is Lost, and Found Again 101 - 9 The Kingdom of Jinxland 119 - 10 Pon, the Gardener's Boy 131 - 11 The Wicked King and Googly-Goo 138 - 12 The Wooden-Legged Grasshopper 151 - 13 Glinda the Good and the Scarecrow of Oz 167 - 14 The Frozen Heart 178 - 15 Trot Meets the Scarecrow 195 - 16 Pon Summons the King to Surrender 204 - 17 The Ork Rescues Button-Bright 213 - 18 The Scarecrow Meets an Enemy 220 - 19 The Conquest of the Witch 230 - 20 Queen Gloria 241 - 21 Dorothy, Betsy and Ozma 255 - 22 The Waterfall 264 - 23 The Land of Oz 273 - 24 The Royal Reception 278 - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - - - - - -[Illustration: Cap'n Bill] - - -CHAPTER 1 - -The Great Whirlpool - - -"Seems to me," said Cap'n Bill, as he sat beside Trot under the big -acacia tree, looking out over the blue ocean, "seems to me, Trot, as how -the more we know, the more we find we don't know." - -"I can't quite make that out, Cap'n Bill," answered the little girl in a -serious voice, after a moment's thought, during which her eyes followed -those of the old sailor-man across the glassy surface of the sea. "Seems -to me that all we learn is jus' so much gained." - -"I know; it looks that way at first sight," said the sailor, nodding his -head; "but those as knows the least have a habit of thinkin' they know -all there is to know, while them as knows the most admits what a turr'ble -big world this is. It's the knowing ones that realize one lifetime ain't -long enough to git more'n a few dips o' the oars of knowledge." - -Trot didn't answer. She was a very little girl, with big, solemn eyes and -an earnest, simple manner. Cap'n Bill had been her faithful companion for -years and had taught her almost everything she knew. - -He was a wonderful man, this Cap'n Bill. Not so very old, although his -hair was grizzled--what there was of it. Most of his head was bald as -an egg and as shiny as oilcloth, and this made his big ears stick out -in a funny way. His eyes had a gentle look and were pale blue in color, -and his round face was rugged and bronzed. Cap'n Bill's left leg was -missing, from the knee down, and that was why the sailor no longer sailed -the seas. The wooden leg he wore was good enough to stump around with on -land, or even to take Trot out for a row or a sail on the ocean, but when -it came to "runnin' up aloft" or performing active duties on shipboard, -the old sailor was not equal to the task. The loss of his leg had ruined -his career and the old sailor found comfort in devoting himself to the -education and companionship of the little girl. - -[Illustration: The old sailor devoted himself to the Education of the -little girl.] - -The accident to Cap'n Bill's leg had happened at about the time Trot was -born, and ever since that he had lived with Trot's mother as "a star -boarder," having enough money saved up to pay for his weekly "keep." He -loved the baby and often held her on his lap; her first ride was on Cap'n -Bill's shoulders, for she had no baby-carriage; and when she began to -toddle around, the child and the sailor became close comrades and enjoyed -many strange adventures together. It is said the fairies had been present -at Trot's birth and had marked her forehead with their invisible mystic -signs, so that she was able to see and do many wonderful things. - -The acacia tree was on top of a high bluff, but a path ran down the bank -in a zigzag way to the water's edge, where Cap'n Bill's boat was moored -to a rock by means of a stout cable. It had been a hot, sultry afternoon, -with scarcely a breath of air stirring, so Cap'n Bill and Trot had been -quietly sitting beneath the shade of the tree, waiting for the sun to get -low enough for them to take a row. - -They had decided to visit one of the great caves which the waves had -washed out of the rocky coast during many years of steady effort. The -caves were a source of continual delight to both the girl and the -sailor, who loved to explore their awesome depths. - -"I b'lieve, Cap'n," remarked Trot, at last, "that it's time for us to -start." - -The old man cast a shrewd glance at the sky, the sea and the motionless -boat. Then he shook his head. - -"Mebbe it's time, Trot," he answered, "but I don't jes' like the looks o' -things this afternoon." - -"What's wrong?" she asked wonderingly. - -"Can't say as to that. Things is too quiet to suit me, that's all. No -breeze, not a ripple a-top the water, nary a gull a-flyin' anywhere, an' -the end o' the hottest day o' the year. I ain't no weather-prophet, Trot, -but any sailor would know the signs is ominous." - -"There's nothing wrong that I can see," said Trot. "If there was a cloud -in the sky even as big as my thumb, we might worry about it; but--look, -Cap'n!--the sky is as clear as can be." - -He looked again and nodded. - -"P'r'aps we can make the cave, all right," he agreed, not wishing to -disappoint her. "It's only a little way out, an' we'll be on the watch; -so come along, Trot." - -Together they descended the winding path to the beach. It was no trouble -for the girl to keep her footing on the steep way, but Cap'n Bill, -because of his wooden leg, had to hold on to rocks and roots now and -then to save himself from tumbling. On a level path he was as spry as -anyone, but to climb up hill or down required some care. - -They reached the boat safely and while Trot was untying the rope Cap'n -Bill reached into a crevice of the rock and drew out several tallow -candles and a box of wax matches, which he thrust into the capacious -pockets of his "sou'wester." This sou'wester was a short coat of oilskin -which the old sailor wore on all occasions--when he wore a coat at -all--and the pockets always contained a variety of objects, useful and -ornamental, which made even Trot wonder where they all came from and why -Cap'n Bill should treasure them. The jackknives--a big one and a little -one--the bits of cord, the fishhooks, the nails: these were handy to -have on certain occasions. But bits of shell, and tin boxes with unknown -contents, buttons, pincers, bottles of curious stones and the like, -seemed quite unnecessary to carry around. That was Cap'n Bill's business, -however, and now that he added the candles and the matches to his -collection Trot made no comment, for she knew these last were to light -their way through the caves. - -The sailor always rowed the boat, for he handled the oars with strength -and skill. Trot sat in the stern and steered. The place where they -embarked was a little bight or circular bay, and the boat cut across a -much larger bay toward a distant headland where the caves were located, -right at the water's edge. They were nearly a mile from shore and about -half-way across the bay when Trot suddenly sat up straight and exclaimed: -"What's that, Cap'n?" - -He stopped rowing and turned half around to look. - -[Illustration] - -"That, Trot," he slowly replied, "looks to me mighty like a whirlpool." - -"What makes it, Cap'n?" - -"A whirl in the air makes the whirl in the water. I was afraid as we'd -meet with trouble, Trot. Things didn't look right. The air was too still." - -"It's coming closer," said the girl. - -The old man grabbed the oars and began rowing with all his strength. - -"'Tain't comin' closer to us, Trot," he gasped; "it's we that are comin' -closer to the whirlpool. The thing is drawin' us to it like a magnet!" - -Trot's sun-bronzed face was a little paler as she grasped the tiller -firmly and tried to steer the boat away; but she said not a word to -indicate fear. - -The swirl of the water as they came nearer made a roaring sound that -was fearful to listen to. So fierce and powerful was the whirlpool that -it drew the surface of the sea into the form of a great basin, slanting -downward toward the center, where a big hole had been made in the -ocean--a hole with walls of water that were kept in place by the rapid -whirling of the air. - -The boat in which Trot and Cap'n Bill were riding was just on the outer -edge of this saucer-like slant, and the old sailor knew very well that -unless he could quickly force the little craft away from the rushing -current they would soon be drawn into the great black hole that yawned in -the middle. So he exerted all his might and pulled as he had never pulled -before. He pulled so hard that the left oar snapped in two and sent Cap'n -Bill sprawling upon the bottom of the boat. - -He scrambled up quickly enough and glanced over the side. Then he looked -at Trot, who sat quite still, with a serious, far-away look in her sweet -eyes. The boat was now speeding swiftly of its own accord, following -the line of the circular basin round and round and gradually drawing -nearer to the great hole in the center. Any further effort to escape the -whirlpool was useless, and realizing this fact Cap'n Bill turned toward -Trot and put an arm around her, as if to shield her from the awful fate -before them. He did not try to speak, because the roar of the waters -would have drowned the sound of his voice. - -These two faithful comrades had faced dangers before, but nothing to -equal that which now faced them. Yet Cap'n Bill, noting the look in -Trot's eyes and remembering how often she had been protected by unseen -powers, did not quite give way to despair. - -The great hole in the dark water--now growing nearer and nearer--looked -very terrifying; but they were both brave enough to face it and await the -result of the adventure. - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 2 - -The Cavern Under the Sea - - -The circles were so much smaller at the bottom of the basin, and the boat -moved so much more swiftly, that Trot was beginning to get dizzy with -the motion, when suddenly the boat made a leap and dived headlong into -the murky depths of the hole. Whirling like tops, but still clinging -together, the sailor and the girl were separated from their boat and -plunged down--down--down--into the farthermost recesses of the great -ocean. - -At first their fall was swift as an arrow, but presently they seemed to -be going more moderately and Trot was almost sure that unseen arms were -about her, supporting her and protecting her. She could see nothing, -because the water filled her eyes and blurred her vision, but she clung -fast to Cap'n Bill's sou'wester, while other arms clung fast to her, and -so they gradually sank down and down until a full stop was made, when -they began to ascend again. - -But it seemed to Trot that they were not rising straight to the surface -from where they had come. The water was no longer whirling them and they -seemed to be drawn in a slanting direction through still, cool ocean -depths. And then--in much quicker time than I have told it--up they -popped to the surface and were cast at full length upon a sandy beach, -where they lay choking and gasping for breath and wondering what had -happened to them. - -Trot was the first to recover. Disengaging herself from Cap'n Bill's -wet embrace and sitting up, she rubbed the water from her eyes and -then looked around her. A soft, bluish-green glow lighted the place, -which seemed to be a sort of cavern, for above and on either side of -her were rugged rocks. They had been cast upon a beach of clear sand, -which slanted upward from the pool of water at their feet--a pool which -doubtless led into the big ocean that fed it. Above the reach of the -waves of the pool were more rocks, and still more and more, into the dim -windings and recesses of which the glowing light from the water did not -penetrate. - -The place looked grim and lonely, but Trot was thankful that she was -still alive and had suffered no severe injury during her trying adventure -under water. At her side Cap'n Bill was sputtering and coughing, trying -to get rid of the water he had swallowed. Both of them were soaked -through, yet the cavern was warm and comfortable and a wetting did not -dismay the little girl in the least. - -She crawled up the slant of sand and gathered in her hand a bunch of -dried seaweed, with which she mopped the face of Cap'n Bill and cleared -the water from his eyes and ears. Presently the old man sat up and stared -at her intently. Then he nodded his bald head three times and said in a -gurgling voice: - -"Mighty good, Trot; mighty good! We didn't reach Davy Jones's locker that -time, did we? Though why we didn't, an' why we're here, is more'n I kin -make out." - -"Take it easy, Cap'n," she replied. "We're safe enough, I guess, at least -for the time being." - -He squeezed the water out of the bottoms of his loose trousers and felt -of his wooden leg and arms and head, and finding he had brought all -of his person with him he gathered courage to examine closely their -surroundings. - -"Where d'ye think we are, Trot?" he presently asked. - -"Can't say, Cap'n. P'r'aps in one of our caves." - -He shook his head. "No," said he, "I don't think that, at all. The -distance we came up didn't seem half as far as the distance we went -down; an' you'll notice there ain't any outside entrance to this cavern -whatever. It's a reg'lar dome over this pool o' water, and unless there's -some passage at the back, up yonder, we're fast pris'ners." - -Trot looked thoughtfully over her shoulder. - -"When we're rested," she said, "we will crawl up there and see if there's -a way to get out." - -Cap'n Bill reached in the pocket of his oilskin coat and took out his -pipe. It was still dry, for he kept it in an oilskin pouch with his -tobacco. His matches were in a tight tin box, so in a few moments the old -sailor was smoking contentedly. Trot knew it helped him to think when -he was in any difficulty. Also, the pipe did much to restore the old -sailor's composure, after his long ducking and his terrible fright--a -fright that was more on Trot's account than his own. - -The sand was dry where they sat, and soaked up the water that dripped -from their clothing. When Trot had squeezed the wet out of her hair she -began to feel much like her old self again. By and by they got upon their -feet and crept up the incline to the scattered boulders above. Some of -these were of huge size, but by passing between some and around others, -they were able to reach the extreme rear of the cavern. - -"Yes," said Trot, with interest, "here's a round hole." - -"And it's black as night inside it," remarked Cap'n Bill. - -"Just the same," answered the girl, "we ought to explore it, and see -where it goes, 'cause it's the only poss'ble way we can get out of this -place." - -Cap'n Bill eyed the hole doubtfully. - -"It may be a way out o' here, Trot," he said, "but it may be a way into -a far worse place than this. I'm not sure but our best plan is to stay -right here." - -Trot wasn't sure, either, when she thought of it in that light.. After -awhile she made her way back to the sands again, and Cap'n Bill followed -her. As they sat down, the child looked thoughtfully at the sailor's -bulging pockets. - -[Illustration: Trot] - -"How much food have we got, Cap'n?" she asked. - -"Half a dozen ship's biscuits an' a hunk o' cheese," he replied. "Want -some now, Trot?" - -She shook her head, saying: - -"That ought to keep us alive 'bout three days if we're careful of it." - -"Longer'n that, Trot," said Cap'n Bill, but his voice was a little -troubled and unsteady. - -"But if we stay here we're bound to starve in time," continued the girl, -"while if we go into the dark hole--" - -"Some things are more hard to face than starvation," said the sailor-man, -gravely. "We don't know what's inside that dark hole. Trot, nor where it -might lead us to." - -"There's a way to find that out," she persisted. - -Instead of replying, Cap'n Bill began searching in his pockets. He soon -drew out a little package of fishhooks and a long line. Trot watched him -join them together. Then he crept a little way up the slope and turned -over a big rock. Two or three small crabs began scurrying away over the -sands and the old sailor caught them and put one on his hook and the -others in his pocket. Coming back to the pool he swung the hook over -his shoulder and circled it around his head and cast it nearly into -the center of the water, where he allowed it to sink gradually, paying -out the line as far as it would go. When the end was reached, he began -drawing it in again, until the crab bait was floating on the surface. - -Trot watched him cast the line a second time, and a third. She decided -that either there were no fishes in the pool or they would not bite -the crab bait. But Cap'n Bill was an old fisherman and not easily -discouraged. When the crab got away he put another on the hook. When the -crabs were all gone he climbed up the rocks and found some more. - -Meantime Trot tired of watching him and lay down upon the sands, where -she fell fast asleep. During the next two hours her clothing dried -completely, as did that of the old sailor. They were both so used to salt -water that there was no danger of taking cold. - -Finally the little girl was wakened by a splash beside her and a grunt of -satisfaction from Cap'n Bill. She opened her eyes to find that the Cap'n -had landed a silver-scaled fish weighing about two pounds. This cheered -her considerably and she hurried to scrape together a heap of seaweed, -while Cap'n Bill cut up the fish with his jackknife and got it ready for -cooking. - -They had cooked fish with seaweed before. Cap'n Bill wrapped his fish -in some of the weed and dipped it in the water to dampen it. Then he -lighted a match and set fire to Trot's heap, which speedily burned down -to a glowing bed of ashes. Then they laid the wrapped fish on the ashes, -covered it with more seaweed, and allowed this to catch fire and burn to -embers. After feeding the fire with seaweed for some time, the sailor -finally decided that their supper was ready, so he scattered the ashes -and drew out the bits of fish, still encased in their smoking wrappings. -When these wrappings were removed, the fish was found thoroughly cooked -and both Trot and Cap'n Bill ate of it freely. It had a slight flavor of -seaweed and would have been better with a sprinkling of salt. - -The soft glow which until now had lighted the cavern, began to grow dim, -but there was a great quantity of seaweed in the place, so after they -had eaten their fish they kept the fire alive for a time by giving it a -handful of fuel now and then. - -From an inner pocket the sailor drew a small flask of battered metal and -unscrewing the cap handed it to Trot. She took but one swallow of the -water, although she wanted more, and she noticed that Cap'n Bill merely -wet his lips with it. - -"S'pose," said she, staring at the glowing seaweed fire and speaking -slowly, "that we can catch all the fish we need; how 'bout the -drinking-water, Cap'n?" - -He moved uneasily but did not reply. Both of them were thinking about the -dark hole, but while Trot had little fear of it the old man could not -overcome his dislike to enter the place. He knew that Trot was right, -though. To remain in the cavern, where they now were, could only result -in slow but sure death. - -It was nighttime upon the earth's surface, so the little girl became -drowsy and soon fell asleep. After a time the old sailor slumbered on the -sands beside her. It was very still and nothing disturbed them for hours. -When at last they awoke the cavern was light again. - -They had divided one of the biscuits and were munching it for breakfast -when they were startled by a sudden splash in the pool. Looking toward -it they saw emerging from the water the most curious creature either of -them had ever beheld. It wasn't a fish, Trot decided, nor was it a beast. -It had wings, though, and queer wings they were: shaped like an inverted -chopping-bowl and covered with tough skin instead of feathers. It had -four legs--much like the legs of a stork, only double the number--and -its head was shaped a good deal like that of a poll parrot, with a beak -that curved downward in front and upward at the edges, and was half bill -and half mouth. But to call it a bird was out of the question, because -it had no feathers whatever except a crest of wavy plumes of a scarlet -color on the very top of its head. The strange creature must have weighed -as much as Cap'n Bill, and as it floundered and struggled to get out of -the water to the sandy beach it was so big and unusual that both Trot and -her companion stared at it in wonder--in wonder that was not unmixed with -fear. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 3 - -The Ork - -The eyes that regarded them, as the creature stood dripping before them, -were bright and mild in expression, and the queer addition to their party -made no attempt to attack them and seemed quite as surprised by the -meeting as they were. - -"I wonder," whispered Trot, "what it is." - -"Who, me?" exclaimed the creature in a shrill, high-pitched voice. "Why, -I'm an Ork." - -"Oh!" said the girl. "But what is an Ork?" - -"I am," he repeated, a little proudly, as he shook the water from his -funny wings; "and if ever an Ork was glad to be out of the water and -on dry land again, you can be mighty sure that I'm that especial, -individual Ork!" - -"Have you been in the water long?" inquired Cap'n Bill, thinking it only -polite to show an interest in the strange creature.. - -"Why, this last ducking was about ten minutes, I believe, and that's -about nine minutes and sixty seconds too long for comfort," was the -reply. "But last night I was in an awful pickle, I assure you. The -whirlpool caught me, and--" - -"Oh, were you in the whirlpool, too?" asked Trot eagerly. - -He gave her a glance that was somewhat reproachful. - -"I believe I was mentioning the fact, young lady, when your desire to -talk interrupted me," said the Ork. "I am not usually careless in my -actions, but that whirlpool was so busy yesterday that I thought I'd -see what mischief it was up to. So I flew a little too near it and the -suction of the air drew me down into the depths of the ocean. Water and -I are natural enemies, and it would have conquered me this time had not -a bevy of pretty mermaids come to my assistance and dragged me away from -the whirling water and far up into a cavern, where they deserted me." - -"Why, that's about the same thing that happened to us," cried Trot. "Was -your cavern like this one?" - -"I haven't examined this one yet," answered the Ork; "but if they happen -to be alike I shudder at our fate, for the other one was a prison, -with no outlet except by means of the water. I stayed there all night, -however, and this morning I plunged into the pool, as far down as I -could go, and then swam as hard and as far as I could. The rocks scraped -my back, now and then, and I barely escaped the clutches of an ugly -sea-monster; but by and by I came to the surface to catch my breath, -and found myself here. That's the whole story, and as I see you have -something to eat I entreat you to give me a share of it. The truth is, -I'm half starved." - -With these words the Ork squatted down beside them. Very reluctantly -Cap'n Bill drew another biscuit from his pocket and held it out. The Ork -promptly seized it in one of its front claws and began to nibble the -biscuit in much the same manner a parrot might have done. - -"We haven't much grub," said the sailor-man, "but we're willin' to share -it with a comrade in distress." - -"That's right," returned the Ork, cocking its head sidewise in a cheerful -manner, and then for a few minutes there was silence while they all ate -of the biscuits. After a while Trot said: - -"I've never seen or heard of an Ork before. Are there many of you?" - -"We are rather few and exclusive, I believe," was the reply. "In the -country where I was born we are the absolute rulers of all living things, -from ants to elephants." - -"What country is that?" asked Cap'n Bill. - -"Orkland." - -"Where does it lie?" - -"I don't know, exactly. You see, I have a restless nature, for some -reason, while all the rest of my race are quiet and contented Orks and -seldom stray far from home. From childhood days I loved to fly long -distances away, although father often warned me that I would get into -trouble by so doing. - -"'It's a big world, Flipper, my son,' he would say, 'and I've heard that -in parts of it live queer two-legged creatures called Men, who war upon -all other living things and would have little respect for even an Ork.' - -"This naturally aroused my curiosity and after I had completed my -education and left school I decided to fly out into the world and try to -get a glimpse of the creatures called Men. So I left home without saying -good-bye, an act I shall always regret. Adventures were many, I found. I -sighted men several times, but have never before been so close to them -as now. Also I had to fight my way through the air, for I met gigantic -birds, with fluffy feathers all over them, which attacked me fiercely. -Besides, it kept me busy escaping from floating airships. In my rambling -I had lost all track of distance or direction, so that when I wanted to -go home I had no idea where my country was located. I've now been trying -to find it for several months and it was during one of my flights over -the ocean that I met the whirlpool and became its victim." - -Trot and Cap'n Bill listened to this recital with much interest, and -from the friendly tone and harmless appearance of the Ork they judged he -was not likely to prove so disagreeable a companion as at first they had -feared he might be. - -The Ork sat upon its haunches much as a cat does, but used the -finger-like claws of its front legs almost as cleverly as if they were -hands. Perhaps the most curious thing about the creature was its tail, or -what ought to have been its tail. This queer arrangement of skin, bones -and muscle was shaped like the propellers used on boats and airships, -having fan-like surfaces and being pivoted to its body. Cap'n Bill knew -something of mechanics, and observing the propeller-like tail of the Ork -he said: - -"I s'pose you're a pretty swift flyer?" - -"Yes, indeed; the Orks are admitted to be Kings of the Air." - -"Your wings don't seem to amount to much," remarked Trot. - -"Well, they are not very big," admitted the Ork, waving the four hollow -skins gently to and fro, "but they serve to support my body in the air -while I speed along by means of my tail. Still, taken altogether, I'm -very handsomely formed, don't you think?" - -Trot did not like to reply, but Cap'n Bill nodded gravely. "For an Ork," -said he, "you're a wonder. I've never seen one afore, but I can imagine -you're as good as any." - -That seemed to please the creature and it began walking around the -cavern, making its way easily up the slope. While it was gone, Trot and -Cap'n Bill each took another sip from the water-flask, to wash down their -breakfast. - -"Why, here's a hole--an exit--an outlet!" exclaimed the Ork from above. - -"We know," said Trot. "We found it last night." - -"Well, then, let's be off," continued the Ork, after sticking its head -into the black hole and sniffing once or twice. "The air seems fresh and -sweet, and it can't lead us to any worse place than this." - -[Illustration] - -The girl and the sailor-man got up and climbed to the side of the Ork. - -"We'd about decided to explore this hole before you came," explained -Cap'n Bill; "but it's a dangerous place to navigate in the dark, so wait -till I light a candle." - -"What is a candle?" inquired the Ork. - -"You'll see in a minute," said Trot. - -The old sailor drew one of the candles from his right-side pocket and the -tin matchbox from his left-side pocket. When he lighted the match the -Ork gave a startled jump and eyed the flame suspiciously; but Cap'n Bill -proceeded to light the candle and the action interested the Ork very much. - -"Light," it said, somewhat nervously, "is valuable in a hole of this -sort. The candle is not dangerous, I hope?" - -"Sometimes it burns your fingers," answered Trot, "but that's about the -worst it can do--'cept to blow out when you don't want it to." - -Cap'n Bill shielded the flame with his hand and crept into the hole. It -wasn't any too big for a grown man, but after he had crawled a few feet -it grew larger. Trot came close behind him and then the Ork followed. - -"Seems like a reg'lar tunnel," muttered the sailor-man, who was creeping -along awkwardly because of his wooden leg. The rocks, too, hurt his knees. - -For nearly half an hour the three moved slowly along the tunnel, which -made many twists and turns and sometimes slanted downward and sometimes -upward. Finally Cap'n Bill stopped short, with an exclamation of -disappointment, and held the flickering candle far ahead to light the -scene. - -"What's wrong?' demanded Trot, who could see nothing because the sailor's -form completely filled the hole. - -"Why, we've come to the end of our travels, I guess," he replied. - -"Is the hole blocked?" inquired the Ork. - -"No; it's wuss nor that," replied Cap'n Bill sadly. "I'm on the edge -of a precipice. Wait a minute an' I'll move along and let you see for -yourselves. Be careful, Trot, not to fall." - -Then he crept forward a little and moved to one side, holding the candle -so that the girl could see to follow him. The Ork came next and now all -three knelt on a narrow ledge of rock which dropped straight away and -left a huge black space which the tiny flame of the candle could not -illuminate. - -"H-m!" said the Ork, peering over the edge; "this doesn't look very -promising, I'll admit. But let me take your candle, and I'll fly down and -see what's below us." - -"Aren't you afraid?" asked Trot. - -"Certainly I'm afraid," responded the Ork. "But if we intend to escape -we can't stay on this shelf forever. So, as I notice you poor creatures -cannot fly, it is my duty to explore the place for you." - -Cap'n Bill handed the Ork the candle, which had now burned to about half -its length. The Ork took it in one claw rather cautiously and then tipped -its body forward and slipped over the edge. They heard a queer buzzing -sound, as the tail revolved, and a brisk flapping of the peculiar wings, -but they were more interested just then in following with their eyes the -tiny speck of light which marked the location of the candle. This light -first made a great circle, then dropped slowly downward and suddenly was -extinguished, leaving everything before them black as ink. - -"Hi, there! How did that happen?" cried the Ork. - -"It blew out, I guess," shouted Cap'n Bill. "Fetch it here." - -"I can't see where you are," said the Ork. - -So Cap'n Bill got out another candle and lighted it, and its flame -enabled the Ork to fly back to them. It alighted on the edge and held out -the bit of candle. - -"What made it stop burning?" asked the creature. - -"The wind," said Trot. "You must be more careful, this time." - -"What's the place like?" inquired Cap'n Bill. - -"I don't know, yet; but there must be a bottom to it, so I'll try to find -it." - -With this the Ork started out again and this time sank downward more -slowly. Down, down, down it went, till the candle was a mere spark, and -then it headed away to the left and Trot and Cap'n Bill lost all sight of -it. - -[Illustration] - -In a few minutes, however, they saw the spark of light again, and as the -sailor still held the second lighted candle the Ork made straight toward -them. It was only a few yards distant when suddenly it dropped the -candle with a cry of pain and next moment alighted, fluttering wildly, -upon the rocky ledge. - -"What's the matter?" asked Trot. - -"It bit me!" wailed the Ork. "I don't like your candles. The thing began -to disappear slowly as soon as I took it in my claw, and it grew smaller -and smaller until just now it turned and bit me--a most unfriendly thing -to do. Oh--oh! Ouch, what a bite!" - -"That's the nature of candles, I'm sorry to say," explained Cap'n Bill, -with a grin. "You have to handle 'em mighty keerful. But tell us, what -did you find down there?" - -"I found a way to continue our journey," said the Ork, nursing tenderly -the claw which had been burned. "Just below us is a great lake of black -water, which looked so cold and wicked that it made me shudder; but away -at the left there's a big tunnel, which we can easily walk through. I -don't know where it leads to, of course, but we must follow it and find -out." - -"Why, we can't get to it," protested the little girl. "We can't fly, as -you do, you must remember." - -"No, that's true," replied the Ork musingly. - -"Your bodies are built very poorly, it seems to me, since all you can do -is crawl upon the earth's surface. But you may ride upon my back, and in -that way I can promise you a safe journey to the tunnel." - -"Are you strong enough to carry us?" asked Cap'n Bill, doubtfully. - -"Yes, indeed; I'm strong enough to carry a dozen of you, if you could -find a place to sit," was the reply; "but there's only room between my -wings for one at a time, so I'll have to make two trips." - -"All right; I'll go first," decided Cap'n Bill. - -He lit another candle for Trot to hold while they were gone and to light -the Ork on his return to her, and then the old sailor got upon the Ork's -back, where he sat with his wooden leg sticking straight out sidewise. - -"If you start to fall, clasp your arms around my neck," advised the -creature. - -"If I start to fall, it's good night an' pleasant dreams," said Cap'n -Bill. - -"All ready?" asked the Ork. - -"Start the buzz-tail," said Cap'n Bill, with a tremble in his voice. But -the Ork flew away so gently that the old man never even tottered in his -seat. - -Trot watched the light of Cap'n Bill's candle till it disappeared in the -far distance. She didn't like to be left alone on this dangerous ledge, -with a lake of black water hundreds of feet below her; but she was a -brave little girl and waited patiently for the return of the Ork. It came -even sooner than she had expected and the creature said to her: - -"Your friend is safe in the tunnel. Now, then, get aboard and I'll carry -you to him in a jiffy." - -I'm sure not many little girls would have cared to take that awful ride -through the huge black cavern on the back of a skinny Ork. Trot didn't -care for it, herself, but it just had to be done and so she did it as -courageously as possible. Her heart beat fast and she was so nervous she -could scarcely hold the candle in her fingers as the Ork sped swiftly -through the darkness. - -It seemed like a long ride to her, yet in reality the Ork covered the -distance in a wonderfully brief period of time and soon Trot stood -safely beside Cap'n Bill on the level floor of a big arched tunnel. The -sailor-man was very glad to greet his little comrade again and both were -grateful to the Ork for his assistance. - -"I dunno where this tunnel leads to," remarked Cap'n Bill, "but it surely -looks more promisin' than that other hole we crept through." - -"When the Ork is rested," said Trot, "we'll travel on and see what -happens." - -"Rested!" cried the Ork, as scornfully as his shrill voice would allow. -"That bit of flying didn't tire me at all. I'm used to flying days at a -time, without ever once stopping." - -"Then let's move on," proposed Cap'n Bill. He still held in his hand one -lighted candle, so Trot blew out the other flame and placed her candle in -the sailor's big pocket. She knew it was not wise to burn two candles at -once. - -The tunnel was straight and smooth and very easy to walk through, so they -made good progress. Trot thought that the tunnel began about two miles -from the cavern where they had been cast by the whirlpool, but now it -was impossible to guess the miles traveled, for they walked steadily for -hours and hours without any change in their surroundings. - -Finally Cap'n Bill stopped to rest. - -"There's somethin' queer about this 'ere tunnel, I'm certain," he -declared, wagging his head dolefully. "Here's three candles gone a'ready, -an' only three more left us, yet the tunnel's the same as it was when we -started. An' how long it's goin' to keep up, no one knows." - -"Couldn't we walk without a light?" asked Trot. "The way seems safe -enough." - -"It does right now," was the reply, "but we can't tell when we are likely -to come to another gulf, or somethin' jes' as dangerous. In that case -we'd be killed afore we knew it." - -"Suppose I go ahead?" suggested the Ork. "I don't fear a fall, you know, -and if anything happens I'll call out and warn you." - -"That's a good idea," declared Trot, and Cap'n Bill thought so, too. So -the Ork started off ahead, quite in the dark, and hand in hand the two -followed him. - -When they had walked in this way for a good long time the Ork halted and -demanded food. Cap'n Bill had not mentioned food because there was so -little left--only three biscuits and a lump of cheese about as big as his -two fingers--but he gave the Ork half of a biscuit, sighing as he did so. -The creature didn't care for the cheese, so the sailor divided it between -himself and Trot. They lighted a candle and sat down in the tunnel while -they ate. - -"My feet hurt me," grumbled the Ork. "I'm not used to walking and this -rocky passage is so uneven and lumpy that it hurts me to walk upon it." - -"Can't you fly along?" asked Trot. - -"No; the roof is too low," said the Ork. - -After the meal they resumed their journey, which Trot began to fear would -never end. When Cap'n Bill noticed how tired the little girl was, he -paused and lighted a match and looked at his big silver watch. - -"Why, it's night!" he exclaimed. "We've tramped all day, an' still we're -in this awful passage, which mebbe goes straight through the middle of -the world, an' mebbe is a circle--in which case we can keep walkin' till -doomsday. Not knowin' what's before us so well as we know what's behind -us, I propose we make a stop, now, an' try to sleep till mornin'." - -"That will suit me," asserted the Ork, with a groan. "My feet are hurting -me dreadfully and for the last few miles I've been limping with pain." - -"My foot hurts, too," said the sailor, looking for a smooth place on the -rocky floor to sit down. - -"_Your_ foot!" cried the Ork. "Why, you've only one to hurt you, while I -have four. So I suffer four times as much as you possibly can. Here; hold -the candle while I look at the bottoms of my claws. I declare," he said, -examining them by the flickering light, "there are bunches of pain all -over them!" - -"P'r'aps," said Trot, who was very glad to sit down beside her -companions, "you've got corns." - -"Corns? Nonsense! Orks never have corns," protested the creature, rubbing -its sore feet tenderly. - -"Then mebbe they're--they're--What do you call 'em, Cap'n Bill? Something -'bout the Pilgrim's Progress, you know." - -"Bunions," said Cap'n Bill. - -"Oh, yes; mebbe you've got bunions." - -"It is possible," moaned the Ork. "But whatever they are, another day of -such walking on them would drive me crazy." - -"I'm sure they'll feel better by mornin'," said Cap'n Bill, -encouragingly. "Go to sleep an' try to forget your sore feet." - -The Ork cast a reproachful look at the sailor-man, who didn't see it. -Then the creature asked plaintively: "Do we eat now, or do we starve?" - -"There's only half a biscuit left for you," answered Cap'n Bill. "No one -knows how long we'll have to stay in this dark tunnel, where there's -nothing whatever to eat; so I advise you to save that morsel o' food till -later." - -"Give it me now!" demanded the Ork. "If I'm going to starve, I'll do it -all at once--not by degrees." - -Cap'n Bill produced the biscuit and the creature ate it in a trice. Trot -was rather hungry and whispered to Cap'n Bill that she'd take part of -her share; but the old man secretly broke his own half-biscuit in two, -saving Trot's share for a time of greater need. - -He was beginning to be worried over the little girl's plight and long -after she was asleep and the Ork was snoring in a rather disagreeable -manner, Cap'n Bill sat with his back to a rock and smoked his pipe and -tried to think of some way to escape from this seemingly endless tunnel. -But after a time he also slept, for hobbling on a wooden leg all day was -tiresome, and there in the dark slumbered the three adventurers for many -hours, until the Ork roused itself and kicked the old sailor with one -foot. - -"It must be another day," said he. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 4 - -Daylight at Last - - -Cap'n Bill rubbed his eyes, lit a match and consulted his watch. - -"Nine o'clock. Yes, I guess it's another day, sure enough. Shall we go -on?' he asked. - -"Of course," replied the Ork. "Unless this tunnel is different from -everything else in the world, and has no end, we'll find a way out of it -sooner or later." - -The sailor gently wakened Trot. She felt much rested by her long sleep -and sprang to her feet eagerly. - -"Let's start, Cap'n," was all she said. - -They resumed the journey and had only taken a few steps when the Ork -cried "Wow!" and made a great fluttering of its wings and whirling of -its tail. The others, who were following a short distance behind, stopped -abruptly. - -"What's the matter?" asked Cap'n Bill. - -"Give us a light," was the reply. "I think we've come to the end of the -tunnel." Then, while Cap'n Bill lighted a candle, the creature added: "If -that is true, we needn't have wakened so soon, for we were almost at the -end of this place when we went to sleep." - -The sailor-man and Trot came forward with a light. A wall of rock really -faced the tunnel, but now they saw that the opening made a sharp turn -to the left. So they followed on, by a narrower passage, and then made -another sharp turn--this time to the right. - -"Blow out the light, Cap'n," said the Ork, in a pleased voice. "We've -struck daylight." - -Daylight at last! A shaft of mellow light fell almost at their feet as -Trot and the sailor turned the corner of the passage, but it came from -above, and raising their eyes they found they were at the bottom of a -deep, rocky well, with the top far, far above their heads. And here the -passage ended. - -[Illustration] - -For a while they gazed in silence, at least two of them being filled -with dismay at the sight. But the Ork merely whistled softly and said -cheerfully: - -"That was the toughest journey I ever had the misfortune to undertake, -and I'm glad it's over. Yet, unless I can manage to fly to the top of -this pit, we are entombed here forever." - -"Do you think there is room enough for you to fly in?" asked the little -girl anxiously; and Cap'n Bill added: - -"It's a straight-up shaft, so I don't see how you'll ever manage it." - -"Were I an ordinary bird--one of those horrid feathered things--I -wouldn't even make the attempt to fly out," said the Ork. "But my -mechanical propeller tail can accomplish wonders, and whenever you're -ready I'll show you a trick that is worth while." - -"Oh!" exclaimed Trot; "do you intend to take us up, too?" - -"Why not?" - -"I thought," said Cap'n Bill, "as you'd go first, an' then send somebody -to help us by lettin' down a rope." - -"Ropes are dangerous," replied the Ork, "and I might not be able to find -one to reach all this distance. Besides, it stands to reason that if I -can get out myself I can also carry you two with me." - -"Well, I'm not afraid," said Trot, who longed to be on the earth's -surface again. - -"S'pose we fall?'' suggested Cap'n Bill, doubtfully. - -"Why, in that case we would all fall together," returned the Ork. "Get -aboard, little girl; sit across my shoulders and put both your arms -around my neck." - -Trot obeyed and when she was seated on the Ork, Cap'n Bill inquired: - -"How 'bout me, Mr. Ork?" - -"Why, I think you'd best grab hold of my rear legs and let me carry you -up in that manner," was the reply. - -Cap'n Bill looked way up at the top of the well, and then he looked at -the Ork's slender, skinny legs and heaved a deep sigh. - -"It's goin' to be some dangle, I guess; but if you don't waste too much -time on the way up, I may be able to hang on," said he. - -"All ready, then!" cried the Ork, and at once his whirling tail began -to revolve. Trot felt herself rising into the air; when the creature's -legs left the ground Cap'n Bill grasped two of them firmly and held -on for dear life. The Ork's body was tipped straight upward, and Trot -had to embrace the neck very tightly to keep from sliding off. Even in -this position the Ork had trouble in escaping the rough sides of the -well. Several times it exclaimed "Wow!" as it bumped its back, or a wing -hit against some jagged projection; but the tail kept whirling with -remarkable swiftness and the daylight grew brighter and brighter. It was, -indeed, a long journey from the bottom to the top, yet almost before Trot -realized they had come so far, they popped out of the hole into the clear -air and sunshine and a moment later the Ork alighted gently upon the -ground. - -[Illustration] - -The release was so sudden that even with the creature's care for its -passengers Cap'n Bill struck the earth with a shock that sent him rolling -heel over head; but by the time Trot had slid down from her seat the old -sailor-man was sitting up and looking around him with much satisfaction. - -"It's sort o' pretty here," said he. - -"Earth is a beautiful place!" cried Trot. - -"I wonder where on earth we are?' pondered the Ork, turning first one -bright eye and then the other to this side and that. Trees there were, in -plenty, and shrubs and flowers and green turf. But there were no houses; -there were no paths; there was no sign of civilization whatever. - -"Just before I settled down on the ground I thought I caught a view of -the ocean," said the Ork. "Let's see if I was right." Then he flew to a -little hill, near by, and Trot and Cap'n Bill followed him more slowly. -When they stood on the top of the hill they could see the blue waves of -the ocean in front of them, to the right of them, and at the left of -them. Behind the hill was a forest that shut out the view. - -"I hope it ain't an island, Trot," said Cap'n Bill gravely. - -"If it is, I s'pose we're prisoners," she replied. - -"Ezzackly so, Trot." - -"But, even so, it's better than those terr'ble underground tunnels and -caverns," declared the girl. - -"You are right, little one," agreed the Ork. "Anything above ground is -better than the best that lies under ground. So let's not quarrel with -our fate but be thankful we've escaped." - -"We are, indeed!" she replied. "But I wonder if we can find something to -eat in this place?" - -"Let's explore an' find out," proposed Cap'n Bill. "Those trees over at -the left look like cherry-trees." - -On the way to them the explorers had to walk through a tangle of vines -and Cap'n Bill, who went first, stumbled and pitched forward on his face. - -"Why, it's a melon!" cried Trot delightedly, as she saw what had caused -the sailor to fall. - -[Illustration] - -Cap'n Bill rose to his foot, for he was not at all hurt, and examined the -melon. Then he took his big jackknife from his pocket and cut the melon -open. It was quite ripe and looked delicious; but the old man tasted -it before he permitted Trot to eat any. Deciding it was good he gave -her a big slice and then offered the Ork some. The creature looked at -the fruit somewhat disdainfully, at first, but once he had tasted its -flavor he ate of it as heartily as did the others. Among the vines they -discovered many other melons, and Trot said gratefully: "Well, there's no -danger of our starving, even if this _is_ an island." - -"Melons," remarked Cap'n Bill, "are both food an' water. We couldn't have -struck anything better." - -Farther on they came to the cherry-trees, where they obtained some of the -fruit, and at the edge of the little forest were wild plums. The forest -itself consisted entirely of nut trees--walnuts, filberts, almonds and -chestnuts--so there would be plenty of wholesome food for them while they -remained there. - -Cap'n Bill and Trot decided to walk through the forest, to discover what -was on the other side of it, but the Ork's feet were still so sore and -"lumpy" from walking on the rocks that the creature said he preferred to -fly over the tree-tops and meet them on the other side. The forest was -not large, so by walking briskly for fifteen minutes they reached its -farthest edge and saw before them the shore of the ocean. - -"It's an island, all right," said Trot, with a sigh. - -"Yes, and a pretty island, too," said Cap'n Bill, trying to conceal his -disappointment on Trot's account. "I guess, partner, if the wuss comes to -the wuss, I could build a raft--or even a boat--from those trees, so's -we could sail away in it." - -The little girl brightened at this suggestion. - -"I don't see the Ork anywhere," she remarked, looking around. Then her -eyes lighted upon something and she exclaimed: "Oh, Cap'n Bill! Isn't -that a house, over there to the left?" - -Cap'n Bill, looking closely, saw a shed-like structure built at one edge -of the forest. - -"Seems like it, Trot. Not that I'd call it much of a house, but it's a -buildin', all right. Let's go over an' see if it's occypied." - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 5 - -The Little Old Man of the Island - - -A few steps brought them to the shed, which was merely a roof of boughs -built over a square space, with some branches of trees fastened to the -sides to keep off the wind. The front was quite open and faced the sea, -and as our friends came nearer they observed a little man, with a long -pointed beard, sitting motionless on a stool and staring thoughtfully out -over the water. - -"Get out of the way, please," he called in a fretful voice. "Can't you -see you are obstructing my view?" - -"Good morning," said Cap'n Bill, politely. - -"It isn't a good morning!" snapped the little man. "I've seen plenty -of mornings better than this. Do you call it a good morning when I'm -pestered with such a crowd as you?" - -Trot was astonished to hear such words from a stranger whom they had -greeted quite properly, and Cap'n Bill grew red at the little man's -rudeness. But the sailor said, in a quiet tone of voice: - -"Are you the only one as lives on this 'ere island?" - -"Your grammar's bad," was the reply. "But this is my own exclusive -island, and I'll thank you to get off it as soon as possible." - -"We'd like to do that," said Trot, and then she and Cap'n Bill turned -away and walked down to the shore, to see if any other land was in sight. - -The little man rose and followed them, although both were now too -provoked to pay any attention to him. - -"Nothin' in sight, partner," reported Cap'n Bill, shading his eyes with -his hand; "so we'll have to stay here for a time, anyhow. It isn't a bad -place, Trot, by any means." - -"That's all you know about it!" broke in the little man. "The trees are -altogether too green and the rocks are harder than they ought to be. I -find the sand very grainy and the water dreadfully wet. Every breeze -makes a draught and the sun shines in the daytime, when there's no need -of it, and disappears just as soon as it begins to get dark. If you -remain here you'll find the island very unsatisfactory." - -Trot turned to look at him, and her sweet face was grave and curious. - -"I wonder who you are," she said. - -"My name is Pessim," said he, with an air of pride. "I'm called the -Observer." - -"Oh. What do you observe?" asked the little girl. - -"Everything I see," was the reply, in a more surly tone. Then Pessim drew -back with a startled exclamation and looked at some footprints in the -sand. "Why, good gracious me!' he cried in distress. - -"What's the matter now?' asked Cap'n Bill. - -"Someone has pushed the earth in! Don't you see it?" - -"It isn't pushed in far enough to hurt anything," said Trot, examining -the footprints. - -"Everything hurts that isn't right," insisted the man. "If the earth were -pushed in a mile, it would be a great calamity, wouldn't it?" - -"I s'pose so," admitted the little girl. - -"Well, here it is pushed in a full inch! That's a twelfth of a foot, -or a little more than a millionth part of a mile. Therefore it is -one-millionth part of a calamity--Oh, dear! How dreadful!" said Pessim in -a wailing voice. - -"Try to forget it, sir," advised Cap'n Bill, soothingly. "It's beginning -to rain. Let's get under your shed and keep dry." - -"Raining! Is it really raining?' asked Pessim, beginning to weep. - -"It is," answered Cap'n Bill, as the drops began to descend, "and I don't -see any way to stop it--although I'm some observer myself." - -"No; we can't stop it, I fear," said the man. "Are you very busy just -now?" - -"I won't be after I get to the shed," replied the sailor-man. - -"Then do me a favor, please," begged Pessim, walking briskly along behind -them, for they were hastening to the shed. - -"Depends on what it is," said Cap'n Bill. - -"I wish you would take my umbrella down to the shore and hold it over -the poor fishes till it stops raining. I'm afraid they'll get wet," said -Pessim. - -Trot laughed, but Cap'n Bill thought the little man was poking fun at him -and so he scowled upon Pessim in a way that showed he was angry. - -They reached the shed before getting very wet, although the rain was now -coming down in big drops. The roof of the shed protected them and while -they stood watching the rainstorm something buzzed in and circled around -Pessim's head. At once the Observer began beating it away with his hands, -crying out: - -"A bumblebee! A bumblebee! The queerest bumblebee I ever saw!" - -Cap'n Bill and Trot both looked at it and the little girl said in -surprise: - -"Dear me! It's a wee little Ork!" - -"That's what it is, sure enough," exclaimed Cap'n Bill. - -Really, it wasn't much bigger than a big bumblebee, and when it came -toward Trot she allowed it to alight on her shoulder. - -"It's me, all right," said a very small voice in her ear; "but I'm in an -awful pickle, just the same!" - -"What, are you _our_ Ork, then?" demanded the girl, much amazed. - -"No, I'm my own Ork. But I'm the only Ork you know," replied the tiny -creature. - -"What's happened to you?" asked the sailor, putting his head close to -Trot's shoulder in order to hear the reply better. Pessim also put his -head close, and the Ork said: - -[Illustration] - -"You will remember that when I left you I started to fly over the trees, -and just as I got to this side of the forest I saw a bush that was loaded -down with the most luscious fruit you can imagine. The fruit was about -the size of a gooseberry and of a lovely lavender color. So I swooped -down and picked off one in my bill and ate it. At once I began to grow -small. I could feel myself shrinking, shrinking away, and it frightened -me terribly, so that I alighted on the ground to think over what was -happening. In a few seconds I had shrunk to the size you now see me; -but there I remained, getting no smaller, indeed, but no larger. It is -certainly a dreadful affliction! After I had recovered somewhat from the -shock I began to search for you. It is not so easy to find one's way when -a creature is so small, but fortunately I spied you here in this shed and -came to you at once." - -Cap'n Bill and Trot were much astonished at this story and felt grieved -for the poor Ork, but the little man Pessim seemed to think it a good -joke. He began laughing when he heard the story and laughed until he -choked, after which he lay down on the ground and rolled and laughed -again, while the tears of merriment coursed down his wrinkled cheeks. - -"Oh, dear! Oh, dear!" he finally gasped, sitting up and wiping his eyes. -"This is too rich! It's almost too joyful to be true." - -"I don't see anything funny about it," remarked Trot indignantly. - -"You would if you'd had my experience," said Pessim, getting upon his -feet and gradually resuming his solemn and dissatisfied expression of -countenance. "The same thing happened to me." - -"Oh, did it? And how did you happen to come to this island?" asked the -girl. - -"I didn't come; the neighbors brought me," replied the little man, with a -frown at the recollection. "They said I was quarrelsome and fault-finding -and blamed me because I told them all the things that went wrong, or -never were right, and because I told them how things ought to be. So they -brought me here and left me all alone, saying that if I quarreled with -myself, no one else would be made unhappy. Absurd, wasn't it?" - -"Seems to me," said Cap'n Bill, "those neighbors did the proper thing." - -"Well," resumed Pessim, "when I found myself King of this island I -was obliged to live upon fruits, and I found many fruits growing here -that I had never seen before. I tasted several and found them good and -wholesome. But one day I ate a lavender berry--as the Ork did--and -immediately I grew so small that I was scarcely two inches high. It was a -very unpleasant condition and like the Ork I became frightened. I could -not walk very well nor very far, for every lump of earth in my way seemed -a mountain, every blade of grass a tree and every grain of sand a rocky -boulder. For several days I stumbled around in an agony of fear. Once a -tree toad nearly gobbled me up, and if I ran out from the shelter of the -bushes the gulls and cormorants swooped down upon me. Finally I decided -to eat another berry and become nothing at all, since life, to one as -small as I was, had become a dreary nightmare. - -"At last I found a small tree that I thought bore the same fruit as that -I had eaten. The berry was dark purple instead of light lavender, but -otherwise it was quite similar. Being unable to climb the tree, I was -obliged to wait underneath it until a sharp breeze arose and shook the -limbs so that a berry fell. Instantly I seized it and taking a last view -of the world--as I then thought--I ate the berry in a twinkling. Then, -to my surprise, I began to grow big again, until I became of my former -stature, and so I have since remained. Needless to say, I have never -eaten again of the lavender fruit, nor do any of the beasts or birds that -live upon this island eat it." - -They had all three listened eagerly to this amazing tale, and when it was -finished the Ork exclaimed: - -"Do you think, then, that the deep purple berry is the antidote for the -lavender one?" - -"I'm sure of it," answered Pessim. "Then lead me to the tree at once!" -begged the Ork, "for this tiny form I now have terrifies me greatly." - -Pessim examined the Ork closely. - -[Illustration] - -"You are ugly enough as you are," said he. "Were you any larger you might -be dangerous." - -"Oh, no," Trot assured him; "the Ork has been our good friend. Please -take us to the tree." - -Then Pessim consented, although rather reluctantly. He led them to the -right, which was the east side of the island, and in a few minutes -brought them near to the edge of the grove which faced the shore of the -ocean. Here stood a small tree bearing berries of a deep purple color. -The fruit looked very enticing and Cap'n Bill reached up and selected one -that seemed especially plump and ripe. - -The Ork had remained perched upon Trot's shoulder but now it flew down -to the ground. It was so difficult for Cap'n Bill to kneel down, with -his wooden leg, that the little girl took the berry from him and held it -close to the Ork's head. - -"It's too big to go into my mouth," said the little creature, looking at -the fruit sidewise. - -"You'll have to make sev'ral mouthfuls of it, I guess," said Trot; and -that is what the Ork did. He pecked at the soft, ripe fruit with his bill -and ate it up very quickly, because it was good. - -Even before he had finished the berry they could see the Ork begin to -grow. In a few minutes he had regained his natural size and was strutting -before them, quite delighted with his transformation. - -"Well, well! What do you think of me now?" he asked proudly. - -"You are very skinny and remarkably ugly," declared Pessim. - -"You are a poor judge of Orks," was the reply. "Anyone can see that I'm -much handsomer than those dreadful things called birds, which are all -fluff and feathers." - -"Their feathers make soft beds," asserted Pessim. - -"And my skin would make excellent drumheads," retorted the Ork. -"Nevertheless, a plucked bird or a skinned Ork would be of no value to -himself, so we needn't brag of our usefulness after we are dead. But for -the sake of argument, friend Pessim, I'd like to know what good _you_ -would be, were you not alive?" - -"Never mind that," said Cap'n Bill. "He isn't much good as he is." - -"I am King of this Island, allow me to say, and you're intruding on my -property," declared the little man, scowling upon them. "If you don't -like me--and I'm sure you don't, for no one else does--why don't you go -away and leave me to myself?" - -"Well, the Ork can fly, but we can't," explained Trot, in answer. "We -don't want to stay here a bit, but I don't see how we can get away." - -"You can go back into the hole you came from." - -Cap'n Bill shook his head; Trot shuddered at the thought; the Ork laughed -aloud. - -"You may be King here," the creature said to Pessim, "but we intend to -run this island to suit ourselves, for we are three and you are one, and -the balance of power lies with us." - -The little man made no reply to this, although as they walked back to -the shed his face wore its fiercest scowl. Cap'n Bill gathered a lot of -leaves and, assisted by Trot, prepared two nice beds in opposite corners -of the shed. Pessim slept in a hammock which he swung between two trees. - -They required no dishes, as all their food consisted of fruits and nuts -picked from the trees; they made no fire, for the weather was warm and -there was nothing to cook; the shed had no furniture other than the rude -stool which the little man was accustomed to sit upon. He called it his -"throne" and they let him keep it. - -So they lived upon the island for three days, and rested and ate to their -hearts' content. Still, they were not at all happy in this life because -of Pessim. He continually found fault with them, and all that they did, -and all their surroundings. He could see nothing good or admirable in all -the world and Trot soon came to understand why the little man's former -neighbors had brought him to this island and left him there, all alone, -so he could not annoy anyone. It was their misfortune that they had -been led to this place by their adventures, for often they would have -preferred the company of a wild beast to that of Pessim. - -On the fourth day a happy thought came to the Ork. They had all -been racking their brains for a possible way to leave the island, -and discussing this or that method, without finding a plan that was -practical. Cap'n Bill had said he could make a raft of the trees, -big enough to float them all, but he had no tools except those two -pocketknives and it was not possible to chop down trees with such small -blades. - -"And s'pose we got afloat on the ocean," said Trot, "where would we drift -to, and how long would it take us to get there?" - -Cap'n Bill was forced to admit he didn't know. The Ork could fly away -from the island any time it wished to, but the queer creature was loyal -to his new friends and refused to leave them in such a lonely, forsaken -place. - -It was when Trot urged him to go, on this fourth morning, that the Ork -had his happy thought. - -"I will go," said he, "if you two will agree to ride upon my back." - -"We are too heavy; you might drop us," objected Cap'n Bill. - -"Yes, you are rather heavy for a long journey," acknowledged the Ork, -"but you might eat of those lavender berries and become so small that I -could carry you with ease." - -This quaint suggestion startled Trot and she looked gravely at the -speaker while she considered it, but Cap'n Bill gave a scornful snort and -asked: - -"What would become of us afterward! We wouldn't be much good if we were -some two or three inches high. No, Mr. Ork, I'd rather stay here, as I -am, than be a hop-o'-my-thumb somewhere else." - -"Why couldn't you take some of the dark purple berries along with you, to -eat after we had reached our destination?" inquired the Ork. "Then you -could grow big again whenever you pleased." - -Trot clapped her hands with delight. - -"That's it!" she exclaimed. "Let's do it, Cap'n Bill." - -The old sailor did not like the idea at first, but he thought it over -carefully and the more he thought the better it seemed. - -"How could you manage to carry us, if we were so small?" he asked. - -"I could put you in a paper bag, and tie the bag around my neck." - -"But we haven't a paper bag," objected Trot. - -The Ork looked at her. - -"There's your sunbonnet," it said presently, "which is hollow in the -middle and has two strings that you could tie around my neck." - -[Illustration] - -Trot took off her sunbonnet and regarded it critically. Yes, it might -easily hold both her and Cap'n Bill, after they had eaten the lavender -berries and been reduced in size. She tied the strings around the Ork's -neck and the sunbonnet made a bag in which two tiny people might ride -without danger of falling out. So she said: - -"I b'lieve we'll do it that way, Cap'n." - -Cap'n Bill groaned but could make no logical objection except that the -plan seemed to him quite dangerous--and dangerous in more ways than one. - -"I think so, myself," said Trot soberly. "But nobody can stay alive -without getting into danger sometimes, and danger doesn't mean getting -hurt, Cap'n; it only means we _might_ get hurt. So I guess we'll have to -take the risk." - -"Let's go and find the berries," said the Ork. - -They said nothing to Pessim, who was sitting on his stool and scowling -dismally as he stared at the ocean, but started at once to seek the -trees that bore the magic fruits. The Ork remembered very well where the -lavender berries grew and led his companions quickly to the spot. - -Cap'n Bill gathered two berries and placed them carefully in his pocket. -Then they went around to the east side of the island and found the tree -that bore the dark purple berries. - -"I guess I'll take four of these," said the sailor-man, "so in case one -doesn't make us grow big we can eat another." - -"Better take six," advised the Ork. "It's well to be on the safe side, -and I'm sure these trees grow nowhere else in all the world." - -So Cap'n Bill gathered six of the purple berries and with their precious -fruit they returned to the shed to bid good-bye to Pessim. Perhaps they -would not have granted the surly little man this courtesy had they not -wished to use him to tie the sunbonnet around the Ork's neck. - -When Pessim learned they were about to leave him he at first looked -greatly pleased, but he suddenly recollected that nothing ought to please -him and so began to grumble about being left alone. - -"We knew it wouldn't suit you," remarked Cap'n Bill. "It didn't suit you -to have us here, and it won't suit you to have us go away." - -"That is quite true," admitted Pessim. "I haven't been suited since I can -remember; so it doesn't matter to me in the least whether you go or stay." - -He was interested in their experiment, however, and willingly agreed to -assist, although he prophesied they would fall out of the sunbonnet on -their way and be either drowned in the ocean or crushed upon some rocky -shore. This uncheerful prospect did not daunt Trot, but it made Cap'n -Bill quite nervous. - -"I will eat my berry first," said Trot, as she placed her sunbonnet on -the ground, in such manner that they could get into it. - -Then she ate the lavender berry and in a few seconds became so small that -Cap'n Bill picked her up gently with his thumb and one finger and placed -her in the middle of the sunbonnet. Then he placed beside her the six -purple berries--each one being about as big as the tiny Trot's head--and -all preparations being now made the old sailor ate his lavender berry and -became very small--wooden leg and all! - -Cap'n Bill stumbled sadly in trying to climb over the edge of the -sunbonnet and pitched in beside Trot headfirst, which caused the unhappy -Pessim to laugh with glee. Then the King of the Island picked up the -sunbonnet--so rudely that he shook its occupants like peas in a pod--and -tied it, by means of its strings, securely around the Ork's neck. - -"I hope, Trot, you sewed those strings on tight," said Cap'n Bill -anxiously. - -"Why, we are not very heavy, you know," she replied, "so I think the -stitches will hold. But be careful and not crush the berries, Cap'n." - -"One is jammed already," he said, looking at them. - -"All ready?" asked the Ork. - -"Yes!" they cried together, and Pessim came close to the sunbonnet and -called out to them: "You'll be smashed or drowned, I'm sure you will! But -farewell, and good riddance to you." - -The Ork was provoked by this unkind speech, so he turned his tail toward -the little man and made it revolve so fast that the rush of air tumbled -Pessim over backward and he rolled several times upon the ground before -he could stop himself and sit up. By that time the Ork was high in the -air and speeding swiftly over the ocean. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 6 - -The Flight of the Midgets - - -Cap'n Bill and Trot rode very comfortably in the sunbonnet. The motion -was quite steady, for they weighed so little that the Ork flew without -effort. Yet they were both somewhat nervous about their future fate and -could not help wishing they were safe on land and their natural size -again. - -"You're terr'ble small, Trot," remarked Cap'n Bill, looking at his -companion. - -"Same to you, Cap'n," she said with a laugh; "but as long as we have the -purple berries we needn't worry about our size." - -"In a circus," mused the old man, "we'd be curiosities. But in a -sunbonnet--high up in the air--sailin' over a big, unknown ocean--they -ain't no word in any booktionary to describe us." - -"Why, we're midgets, that's all," said the little girl. - -The Ork flew silently for a long time. The slight swaying of the -sunbonnet made Cap'n Bill drowsy, and he began to doze. Trot, however, -was wide awake, and after enduring the monotonous journey as long as she -was able she called out: - -"Don't you see land anywhere, Mr. Ork?" - -"Not yet," he answered. "This is a big ocean and I've no idea in which -direction the nearest land to that island lies; but if I keep flying in a -straight line I'm sure to reach some place some time." - -That seemed reasonable, so the little people in the sunbonnet remained as -patient as possible; that is, Cap'n Bill dozed and Trot tried to remember -her geography lessons so she could figure out what land they were likely -to arrive at. - -For hours and hours the Ork flew steadily, keeping to the straight line -and searching with his eyes the horizon of the ocean for land. Cap'n Bill -was fast asleep and snoring and Trot had laid her head on his shoulder to -rest it when suddenly the Ork exclaimed: - -"There! I've caught a glimpse of land, at last." - -At this announcement they roused themselves. Cap'n Bill stood up and -tried to peek over the edge of the sunbonnet. - -"What does it look like?" he inquired. - -"Looks like another island," said the Ork; "but I can judge it better in -a minute or two." - -"I don't care much for islands, since we visited that other one," -declared Trot. - -Soon the Ork made another announcement. - -"It is surely an island, and a little one, too," said he. "But I won't -stop, because I see a much bigger land straight ahead of it." - -"That's right," approved Cap'n Bill. "The bigger the land, the better it -will suit us." - -"It's almost a continent," continued the Ork after a brief silence, -during which he did not decrease the speed of his flight. "I wonder if it -can be Orkland, the place I have been seeking so long?" - -"I hope not," whispered Trot to Cap'n Bill--so softly that the Ork could -not hear her--"for I shouldn't like to be in a country where only Orks -live. This one Ork isn't a bad companion, but a lot of him wouldn't be -much fun." - -After a few more minutes of flying the Ork called out in a sad voice: - -"No! this is not my country. It's a place I have never seen before, -although I have wandered far and wide. It seems to be all mountains and -deserts and green valleys and queer cities and lakes and rivers--mixed up -in a very puzzling way." - -"Most countries are like that," commented Cap'n Bill. "Are you going to -land?" - -"Pretty soon," was the reply. "There is a mountain peak just ahead of me. -What do you say to our landing on that?" - -"All right," agreed the sailor-man, for both he and Trot were getting -tired of riding in the sunbonnet and longed to set foot on solid ground -again. - -So in a few minutes the Ork slowed down his speed and then came to a -stop so easily that they were scarcely jarred at all. Then the creature -squatted down until the sunbonnet rested on the ground, and began trying -to unfasten with its claws the knotted strings. - -This proved a very clumsy task, because the strings were tied at the back -of the Ork's neck, just where his claws would not easily reach. After -much fumbling he said: - -"I'm afraid I can't let you out, and there is no one near to help me." - -This was at first discouraging, but after a little thought Cap'n Bill -said: - -"If you don't mind, Trot, I can cut a slit in your sunbonnet with my -knife." - -"Do," she replied. "The slit won't matter, 'cause I can sew it up again -afterward, when I am big." - -So Cap'n Bill got out his knife, which was just as small, in proportion, -as he was, and after considerable trouble managed to cut a long slit in -the sunbonnet. First he squeezed through the opening himself and then -helped Trot to get out. - -[Illustration] - -When they stood on firm ground again their first act was to begin eating -the dark purple berries which they had brought with them. Two of these -Trot had guarded carefully during the long journey, by holding them in -her lap, for their safety meant much to the tiny people. - -"I'm not very hungry," said the little girl as she handed a berry to -Cap'n Bill, "but hunger doesn't count, in this case. It's like taking -medicine to make you well, so we must manage to eat 'em, somehow or -other." - -But the berries proved quite pleasant to taste and as Cap'n Bill and -Trot nibbled at their edges their forms began to grow in size--slowly -but steadily. The bigger they grew the easier it was for them to eat -the berries, which of course became smaller to them, and by the time the -fruit was eaten our friends had regained their natural size. - -The little girl was greatly relieved when she found herself as large as -she had ever been, and Cap'n Bill shared her satisfaction; for, although -they had seen the effect of the berries on the Ork, they had not been -sure the magic fruit would have the same effect on human beings, or that -the magic would work in any other country than that in which the berries -grew. - -"What shall we do with the other four berries?" asked Trot, as she picked -up her sunbonnet, marveling that she had ever been small enough to ride -in it. "They're no good to us now, are they, Cap'n?" - -"I'm not sure as to that," he replied. "If they were eaten by one who had -never eaten the lavender berries, they might have no effect at all; but -then, contrarywise, they might. One of 'em has got badly jammed, so I'll -throw it away, but the other three I b'lieve I'll carry with me. They're -magic things, you know, and may come handy to us some time." - -He now searched in his big pockets and drew out a small wooden box with -a sliding cover. The sailor had kept an assortment of nails, of various -sizes, in this box, but those he now dumped loosely into his pocket and -in the box placed the three sound purple berries. - -When this important matter was attended to they found time to look about -them and see what sort of place the Ork had landed them in. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 7 - -The Bumpy Man - - -The mountain on which they had alighted was not a barren waste, but had -on its sides patches of green grass, some bushes, a few slender trees and -here and there masses of tumbled rocks. The sides of the slope seemed -rather steep, but with care one could climb up or down them with ease and -safety. The view from where they now stood showed pleasant valleys and -fertile hills lying below the heights. Trot thought she saw some houses -of queer shapes scattered about the lower landscape, and there were -moving dots that might be people or animals, yet were too far away for -her to see them clearly. - -Not far from the place where they stood was the top of the mountain, -which seemed to be flat, so the Ork proposed to his companions that he -would fly up and see what was there. - -"That's a good idea," said Trot, "'cause it's getting toward evening and -we'll have to find a place to sleep." - -The Ork had not been gone more than a few minutes when they saw him -appear on the edge of the top which was nearest them. - -"Come on up!" he called. - -So Trot and Cap'n Bill began to ascend the steep slope and it did not -take them long to reach the place where the Ork awaited them. - -Their first view of the mountain-top pleased them very much. It was a -level space of wider extent than they had guessed and upon it grew grass -of a brilliant green color. In the very center stood a house built of -stone and very neatly constructed. No one was in sight, but smoke was -coming from the chimney, so with one accord all three began walking -toward the house. - -"I wonder," said Trot, "in what country we are, and if it's very far from -my home in California." - -"Can't say as to that, partner," answered Cap'n Bill, "but I'm mighty -certain we've come a long way since we struck that whirlpool." - -"Yes," she agreed, with a sigh, "it must be miles and miles!" - -"Distance means nothing," said the Ork. "I have flown pretty much all -over the world, trying to find my home, and it is astonishing how many -little countries there are, hidden away in the cracks and corners of this -big globe of Earth. If one travels, he may find some new country at every -turn, and a good many of them have never yet been put upon the maps." - -"P'raps this is one of them," suggested Trot. - -They reached the house after a brisk walk and Cap'n Bill knocked upon -the door. It was at once opened by a rugged looking man who had "bumps -all over him," as Trot afterward declared. There were bumps on his head, -bumps on his body and bumps on his arms and legs and hands. Even his -fingers had bumps on the ends of them. For dress he wore an old gray suit -of fantastic design, which fitted him very badly because of the bumps it -covered but could not conceal. - -But the Bumpy Man's eyes were kind and twinkling in expression and as -soon as he saw his visitors he bowed low and said in a rather bumpy voice: - -"Happy day! Come in and shut the door, for it grows cool when the sun -goes down. Winter is now upon us." - -"Why, it isn't cold a bit, outside," said Trot, "so it can't be winter -yet." - -"You will change your mind about that in a little while," declared the -Bumpy Man. "My bumps always tell me the state of the weather, and they -feel just now as if a snowstorm was coming this way. But make yourselves -at home, strangers. Supper is nearly ready and there is food enough for -all." - -Inside the house there was but one large room, simply but comfortably -furnished. It had benches, a table and a fireplace, all made of stone. -On the hearth a pot was bubbling and steaming, and Trot thought it -had a rather nice smell. The visitors seated themselves upon the -benches--except the Ork, which squatted by the fireplace--and the Bumpy -Man began stirring the kettle briskly. - -"May I ask what country this is, sir?' inquired Cap'n Bill. - -"Goodness me--fruit-cake and apple-sauce!--don't you know where you are?' -asked the Bumpy Man, as he stopped stirring and looked at the speaker in -surprise. - -"No," admitted Cap'n Bill. "We've just arrived." - -"Lost your way?" questioned the Bumpy Man. - -"Not exactly," said Cap'n Bill. "We didn't have any way to lose." - -"Ah!" said the Bumpy Man, nodding his bumpy head. "This," he announced, -in a solemn, impressive voice, "is the famous Land of Mo." - -"Oh!" exclaimed the sailor and the girl, both in one breath. But, never -having heard of the Land of Mo, they were no wiser than before. - -"I thought that would startle you," remarked the Bumpy Man, well pleased, -as he resumed his stirring. The Ork watched him a while in silence and -then asked: - -"Who may _you_ be?" - -"Me?" answered the Bumpy Man. "Haven't you heard of me? Gingerbread and -lemon-juice! I'm known, far and wide, as the Mountain Ear." - -They all received this information in silence at first, for they were -trying to think what he could mean. Finally Trot mustered up courage to -ask: - -"What is a Mountain Ear, please?" - -For answer the man turned around and faced them, waving the spoon with -which he had been stirring the kettle, as he recited the following verses -in a singsong tone of voice: - - "Here's a mountain, hard of hearing, - That's sad-hearted and needs cheering, - So my duty is to listen to all sounds that Nature makes, - So the hill won't get uneasy-- - Get to coughing, or get sneezy-- - For this monster bump, when frightened, is quite liable to quakes. - - "_You_ can hear a bell that's ringing; - _I_ can feel some people's singing; - But a mountain isn't sensible of what goes on, and so - When I hear a blizzard blowing - Or it's raining hard, or snowing, - I tell it to the mountain and the mountain seems to know. - - "Thus I benefit all people - While I'm living on this steeple, - For I keep the mountain steady so my neighbors all may thrive. - With my list'ning and my shouting - I prevent this mount from spouting, - And that makes me so important that I'm glad that I'm alive." - -When he had finished these lines of verse the Bumpy Man turned again to -resume his stirring. The Ork laughed softly and Cap'n Bill whistled to -himself and Trot made up her mind that the Mountain Ear must be a little -crazy. But the Bumpy Man seemed satisfied that he had explained his -position fully and presently he placed four stone plates upon the table -and then lifted the kettle from the fire and poured some of its contents -on each of the plates. Cap'n Bill and Trot at once approached the table, -for they were hungry, but when she examined her plate the little girl -exclaimed: - -"Why, it's molasses candy!" - -"To be sure," returned the Bumpy Man, with a pleasant smile. "Eat it -quick, while it's hot, for it cools very quickly this winter weather." - -With this he seized a stone spoon and began putting the hot molasses -candy into his mouth, while the others watched him in astonishment. - -"Doesn't it burn you?" asked the girl. - -"No indeed," said he. "Why don't you eat? Aren't you hungry?" - -"Yes," she replied, "I am hungry. But we usually eat our candy when it is -cold and hard. We always pull molasses candy before we eat it." - -"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the Mountain Ear. "What a funny idea! Where in the -world did you come from?" - -"California," she said. - -"California! Pooh! there isn't any such place. I've heard of every place -in the Land of Mo, but I never before heard of California." - -[Illustration] - -"It isn't in the Land of Mo," she explained. - -"Then it isn't worth talking about," declared the Bumpy Man, helping -himself again from the steaming kettle, for he had been eating all the -time he talked. - -"For my part," sighed Cap'n Bill, "I'd like a decent square meal, once -more, just by way of variety. In the last place there was nothing but -fruit to eat, and here it's worse, for there's nothing but candy." - -"Molasses candy isn't so bad," said Trot. "Mine's nearly cool enough to -pull, already. Wait a bit, Cap'n, and you can eat it." - -A little later she was able to gather the candy from the stone plate and -begin to work it back and forth with her hands. The Mountain Ear was -greatly amazed at this and watched her closely. It was really good candy -and pulled beautifully, so that Trot was soon ready to cut it into chunks -for eating. - -Cap'n Bill condescended to eat one or two pieces and the Ork ate several, -but the Bumpy Man refused to try it. Trot finished the plate of candy -herself and then asked for a drink of water. - -"Water?" said the Mountain Ear wonderingly. "What is that?" - -"Something to drink. Don't you have water in Mo?" - -"None that ever I heard of," said he. "But I can give you some fresh -lemonade. I caught it in a 'jar the last time it rained, which was only -day before yesterday." - -"Oh, does it rain lemonade here?" she inquired. - -"Always; and it is very refreshing and healthful." - -[Illustration ] - -With this he brought from a cupboard a stone jar and a dipper, and the -girl found it very nice lemonade, indeed. Cap'n Bill liked it, too; but -the Ork would not touch it. - -"If there is no water in this country, I cannot stay here for long," the -creature declared. "Water means life to man and beast and bird." - -"There must be water in lemonade," said Trot. - -"Yes," answered the Ork, "I suppose so; but there are other things in it, -too, and they spoil the good water." - -The day's adventures had made our wanderers tired, so the Bumpy Man -brought them some blankets in which they rolled themselves and then lay -down before the fire, which their host kept alive with fuel all through -the night. Trot wakened several times and found the Mountain Ear always -alert and listening intently for the slightest sound. But the little girl -could hear no sound at all except the snores of Cap'n Bill. - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 8 - -Button-Bright is Lost and Found Again - - -"Wake up--wake up!" called the voice of the Bumpy Man. "Didn't I tell you -winter was coming? I could hear it coming with my left ear, and the proof -is that it is now snowing hard outside." - -"Is it?" said Trot, rubbing her eyes and creeping out of her blanket. -"Where I live, in California, I have never seen snow, except far away on -the tops of high mountains." - -"Well, this is the top of a high mountain," returned the bumpy one, "and -for that reason we get our heaviest snowfalls right here." - -The little girl went to the window and looked out. The air was filled -with falling white flakes, so large in size and so queer in form that she -was puzzled. - -"Are you certain this is snow?" she asked. - -"To be sure. I must get my snow-shovel and turn out to shovel a path. -Would you like to come with me?" - -"Yes," she said, and followed the Bumpy Man out when he opened the door. -Then she exclaimed: "Why, it isn't cold a bit!" - -"Of course not," replied the man. "It was cold last night, before the -snowstorm; but snow, when it falls, is always crisp and warm." - -Trot gathered a handful of it. - -"Why, it's popcorn?" she cried. - -"Certainly; all snow is popcorn. What did you expect it to be?" - -"Popcorn is not snow in my country." - -"Well, it is the only snow we have in the Land of Mo, so you may as well -make the best of it," said he, a little impatiently. "I'm not responsible -for the absurd things that happen in your country, and when you're in Mo -you must do as the Momen do. Eat some of our snow, and you will find it -is good. The only fault I find with our snow is that we get too much of -it at times." - -With this the Bumpy Man set to work shoveling a path and he was so quick -and industrious that he piled up the popcorn in great banks on either -side of the trail that led to the mountain-top from the plains below. -While he worked, Trot ate popcorn and found it crisp and slightly warm, -as well as nicely salted and buttered. Presently Cap'n Bill came out of -the house and joined her. - -"What's this?" he asked. - -"Mo snow," said she. "But it isn't real snow, although it falls from the -sky. It's popcorn." - -Cap'n Bill tasted it; then he sat down in the path and began to eat. The -Ork came out and pecked away with its bill as fast as it could. They all -liked popcorn and they all were hungry this morning. - -Meantime the flakes of "Mo snow" came down so fast that the number of -them almost darkened the air. The Bumpy Man was now shoveling quite a -distance down the mountain-side, while the path behind him rapidly filled -up with fresh-fallen popcorn. Suddenly Trot heard him call out: - -"Goodness gracious--mince pie and pancakes!--here is some one buried in -the snow." - -She ran toward him at once and the others followed, wading through the -corn and crunching it underneath their feet. The Mo snow was pretty deep -where the Bumpy Man was shoveling and from beneath a great bank of it he -had uncovered a pair of feet. - -"Dear me! Someone has been lost in the storm," said Cap'n Bill. "I hope -he is still alive. Let's pull him out and see." - -He took hold of one foot and the Bumpy Man took hold of the other. Then -they both pulled and out from the heap of popcorn came a little boy. -He was dressed in a brown velvet jacket and knickerbockers, with brown -stockings, buckled shoes and a blue shirt-waist that had frills down its -front. When drawn from the heap the boy was chewing a mouthful of popcorn -and both his hands were full of it. So at first he couldn't speak to his -rescuers but lay quite still and eyed them calmly until he had swallowed -his mouthful. Then he said: - -"Get my cap," and stuffed more popcorn into his mouth. - -While the Bumpy Man began shoveling into the corn-bank to find the boy's -cap, Trot was laughing joyfully and Cap'n Bill had a broad grin on his -face. The Ork looked from one to another and asked: - -"Who is this stranger?" - -"Why, it's Button-Bright, of course," answered Trot. "If anyone ever -finds a lost boy, he can make up his mind it's Button-Bright. But how he -ever came to be lost in this far-away country is more'n I can make out." - -"Where does he belong?" inquired the Ork. - -[Illustration] - -"His home used to be in Philadelphia, I think; but I'm quite sure -Button-Bright doesn't belong anywhere." - -"That's right," said the boy, nodding his head as he swallowed the second -mouthful. - -"Everyone belongs somewhere," remarked the Ork. - -"Not me," insisted Button-Bright. "I'm half-way 'round the world from -Philadelphia, and I've lost my Magic Umbrella, that used to carry me -anywhere. Stands to reason that if I can't get back I haven't any home. -But I don't care much. This is a pretty good country, Trot. I've had lots -of fun here." - -By this time the Mountain Ear had secured the boy's cap and was listening -to the conversation with much interest. - -"It seems you know this poor, snow-covered castaway," he said. - -"Yes, indeed," answered Trot. "We made a journey together to Sky Island, -once, and were good friends." - -"Well, then I'm glad I saved his life," said the Bumpy Man. - -"Much obliged, Mr. Knobs," said Button-Bright, sitting up and staring at -him, "but I don't believe you've saved anything except some popcorn that -I might have eaten had you not disturbed me. It was nice and warm in that -bank of popcorn, and there was plenty to eat. What made you dig me out? -And what makes you so bumpy everywhere?" - -"As for the bumps," replied the man, looking at himself with much pride, -"I was born with them and I suspect they were a gift from the fairies. -They make me look rugged and big, like the mountain I serve." - -"All right," said Button-Bright and began eating popcorn again. - -It had stopped snowing, now, and great flocks of birds were gathering -around the mountain-side, eating the popcorn with much eagerness and -scarcely noticing the people at all. There were birds of every size and -color, most of them having gorgeous feathers and plumes. - -"Just look at them!" exclaimed the Ork scornfully. "Aren't they dreadful -creatures, all covered with feathers?" - -"I think they're beautiful," said Trot, and this made the Ork so -indignant that he went back into the house and sulked. - -Button-Bright reached out his hand and caught a big bird by the leg. At -once it rose into the air and it was so strong that it nearly carried the -little boy with it. He let go the leg in a hurry and the bird flew down -again and began to eat of the popcorn, not being frightened in the least. - -This gave Cap'n Bill an idea. He felt in his pocket and drew out several -pieces of stout string. Moving very quietly, so as to not alarm the -birds, he crept up to several of the biggest ones and tied cords around -their legs, thus making them prisoners. The birds were so intent on their -eating that they did not notice what had happened to them, and when about -twenty had been captured in this manner Cap'n Bill tied the ends of all -the strings together and fastened them to a huge stone, so they could not -escape. - -The Bumpy Man watched the old sailor's actions with much curiosity. - -"The birds will be quiet until they've eaten up all the snow," he said, -"but then they will want to fly away to their homes. Tell me, sir, what -will the poor things do when they find they can't fly?" - -"It may worry 'em a little," replied Cap'n Bill, "but they're not going -to be hurt if they take it easy and behave themselves." - -Our friends had all made a good breakfast of the delicious popcorn and -now they walked toward the house again. Button-Bright walked beside Trot -and held her hand in his, because they were old friends and he liked -the little girl very much. The boy was not so old as Trot, and small as -she was he was half a head shorter in height. The most remarkable thing -about Button-Bright was that he was always quiet and composed, whatever -happened, and nothing was ever able to astonish him. Trot liked him -because he was not rude and never tried to plague her. Cap'n Bill liked -him because he had found the boy cheerful and brave at all times, and -willing to do anything he was asked to do. - -When they came to the house Trot sniffed the air and asked: "Don't I -smell perfume?'" - -[Illustration] - -"I think you do," said the Bumpy Man. "You smell violets, and that -proves there is a breeze springing up from the south. All our winds and -breezes are perfumed and for that reason we are glad to have them blow -in our direction. The south breeze always has a violet odor; the north -breeze has the fragrance of wild roses; the east breeze is perfumed with -lilies-of-the-valley and the west wind with lilac blossoms. So we need no -weather-vane to tell us which way the wind is blowing. We have only to -smell the perfume and it informs us at once." - -Inside the house they found the Ork, and Button-Bright regarded the -strange, bird-like creature with curious interest. After examining it -closely for a time he asked: - -"Which way does your tail whirl?" - -"Either way," said the Ork. - -Button-Bright put out his hand and tried to spin it. - -"Don't do that!" exclaimed the Ork. - -"Why not?' inquired the boy. - -"Because it happens to be my tail, and I reserve the right to whirl it -myself," explained the Ork. - -"Let's go out and fly somewhere," proposed Button-Bright. "I want to see -how the tail works." - -"Not now," said the Ork. "I appreciate your interest in me, which I fully -deserve; but I only fly when I am going somewhere, and if I got started I -might not stop." - -"That reminds me," remarked Cap'n Bill, "to ask you, friend Ork, how we -are going to get away from here?" - -"Get away!" exclaimed the Bumpy Man. "Why don't you stay here? You won't -find any nicer place than Mo." - -"Have you been anywhere else, sir?" - -"No; I can't say that I have," admitted the Mountain Ear. - -"Then permit me to say you're no judge," declared Cap'n Bill. "But you -haven't answered my question, friend Ork. How are we to get away from -this mountain?" - -The Ork reflected a while before he answered. - -"I might carry one of you--the boy or the girl--upon my back," said he, -"but three big people are more than I can manage, although I have carried -two of you for a short distance. You ought not to have eaten those purple -berries so soon." - -"P'r'aps we did make a mistake," Cap'n Bill acknowledged. - -"Or we might have brought some of those lavender berries with us, instead -of so many purple ones," suggested Trot regretfully. - -Cap'n Bill made no reply to this statement, which showed he did not -fully agree with the little girl; but he fell into deep thought, with -wrinkled brows, and finally he said: - -"If those purple berries would make anything grow bigger, whether it'd -eaten the lavender ones or not, I could find a way out of our troubles." - -They did not understand this speech and looked at the old sailor as if -expecting him to explain what he meant. But just then a chorus of shrill -cries rose from outside. - -"Here! Let me go--let me go!" the voices seemed to say. "Why are we -insulted in this way? Mountain Ear, come and help us!" - -Trot ran to the window and looked out. - -"It's the birds you caught, Cap'n," she said. "I didn't know they could -talk." - -"Oh, yes; all the birds in Mo are educated to talk," said the Bumpy Man. -Then he looked at Cap'n Bill uneasily and added: "Won't you let the poor -things go?" - -"I'll see," replied the sailor, and walked out to where the birds were -fluttering and complaining because the strings would not allow them to -fly away. - -"Listen to me!" he cried, and at once they became still. "We three people -who are strangers in your land want to go to some other country, and -we want three of you birds to carry us there. We know we are asking a -great favor, but it's the only way we can think of--excep' walkin', an' -I'm not much good at that because I've a wooden leg. Besides, Trot an' -Button-Bright are too small to undertake a long and tiresome journey. -Now, tell me: Which three of you birds will consent to carry us?" - -[Illustration] - -The birds looked at one another as if greatly astonished. Then one of -them replied: - -"You must be crazy, old man. Not one of us is big enough to fly with -even the smallest of your party." - -"I'll fix the matter of size," promised Cap'n Bill. "If three of you will -agree to carry us, I'll make you big an' strong enough to do it, so it -won't worry you a bit." - -The birds considered this gravely. Living in a magic country, they had no -doubt but that the strange one-legged man could do what he said. After a -little, one of them asked: - -"If you make us big, would we stay big always?" - -"I think so," replied Cap'n Bill. - -They chattered a while among themselves and then the bird that had first -spoken said: "I'll go, for one." - -"So will I," said another; and after a pause a third said: "I'll go, too." - -Perhaps more would have volunteered, for it seemed that for some reason -they all longed to be bigger than they were; but three were enough for -Cap'n Bill's purpose and so he promptly released all the others, who -immediately flew away. - -The three that remained were cousins, and all were of the same brilliant -plumage and in size about as large as eagles. When Trot questioned them -she found they were quite young, having only abandoned their nests a few -weeks before. They were strong young birds, with clear, brave eyes, and -the little girl decided they were the most beautiful of all the feathered -creatures she had ever seen. - -[Illustration] - -Cap'n Bill now took from his pocket the wooden box with the sliding cover -and removed the three purple berries, which were still in good condition. - -"Eat these," he said, and gave one to each of the birds. They obeyed, -finding the fruit very pleasant to taste. In a few seconds they began to -grow in size and grew so fast that Trot feared they would never stop. But -they finally did stop growing, and then they were much larger than the -Ork, and nearly the size of full-grown ostriches. - -Cap'n Bill was much pleased by this result. - -"You can carry us now, all right," said he. - -The birds strutted around with pride, highly pleased with their immense -size. - -"I don't see, though," said Trot doubtfully, "how we're going to ride on -their backs without falling off." - -"We're not going to ride on their backs," answered Cap'n Bill. "I'm going -to make swings for us to ride in." - -He then asked the Bumpy Man for some rope, but the man had no rope. He -had, however, an old suit of gray clothes which he gladly presented to -Cap'n Bill, who cut the cloth into strips and twisted it so that it was -almost as strong as rope. With this material he attached to each bird a -swing that dangled below its feet, and Button-Bright made a trial flight -in one of them to prove that it was safe and comfortable. When all this -had been arranged one of the birds asked: - -"Where do you wish us to take you?" - -"Why, just follow the Ork," said Cap'n Bill. "He will be our leader, and -wherever the Ork flies you are to fly, and wherever the Ork lands you are -to land. Is that satisfactory?" - -[Illustration] - -The birds declared it was quite satisfactory, so Cap'n Bill took counsel -with the Ork. - -"On our way here," said that peculiar creature, "I noticed a broad, sandy -desert at the left of me, on which was no living thing." - -"Then we'd better keep away from it," replied the sailor. - -"Not so," insisted the Ork. "I have found, on my travels, that the most -pleasant countries often lie in the midst of deserts; so I think it would -be wise for us to fly over this desert and discover what lies beyond it. -For in the direction we came from lies the ocean, as we well know, and -beyond here is this strange Land of Mo, which we do not care to explore. -On one side, as we can see from this mountain, is a broad expanse of -plain, and on the other the desert. For my part, I vote for the desert." - -"What do you say, Trot?" inquired Cap'n Bill. - -"It's all the same to me," she replied. - -No one thought of asking Button-Bright's opinion, so it was decided to -fly over the desert. They bade good-bye to the Bumpy Man and thanked him -for his kindness and hospitality. Then they seated themselves in the -swings--one for each bird--and told the Ork to start away and they would -follow. - -The whirl of the Ork's tail astonished the birds at first, but after he -had gone a short distance they rose in the air, carrying their passengers -easily, and flew with strong, regular strokes of their great wings in the -wake of their leader. - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 9 - -The Kingdom of Jinxland - - -Trot rode with more comfort than she had expected, although the swing -swayed so much that she had to hold on tight with both hands. Cap'n -Bill's bird followed the Ork, and Trot came next, with Button-Bright -trailing behind her. It was quite an imposing procession, but -unfortunately there was no one to see it, for the Ork had headed straight -for the great sandy desert and in a few minutes after starting they were -flying high over the broad waste, where no living thing could exist. - -The little girl thought this would be a bad place for the birds to lose -strength, or for the cloth ropes to give way; but although she could not -help feeling a trifle nervous and fidgety she had confidence in the huge -and brilliantly plumaged bird that bore her, as well as in Cap'n Bill's -knowledge of how to twist and fasten a rope so it would hold. - -That was a remarkably big desert. There was nothing to relieve the -monotony of view and every minute seemed an hour and every hour a day. -Disagreeable fumes and gases rose from the sands, which would have been -deadly to the travelers had they not been so high in the air. As it was, -Trot was beginning to feel sick, when a breath of fresher air filled her -nostrils and on looking ahead she saw a great cloud of pink-tinted mist. -Even while she wondered what it could be, the Ork plunged boldly into the -mist and the other birds followed. She could see nothing for a time, nor -could the bird which carried her see where the Ork had gone, but it kept -flying as sturdily as ever and in a few moments the mist was passed and -the girl saw a most beautiful landscape spread out below her, extending -as far as her eye could reach. - -She saw bits of forest, verdure clothed hills, fields of waving grain, -fountains, rivers and lakes; and throughout the scene were scattered -groups of pretty houses and a few grand castles and palaces. - -Over all this delightful landscape--which from Trot's high perch seemed -like a magnificent painted picture--was a rosy glow such as we sometimes -see in the west at sunset. In this case, however, it was not in the west -only, but everywhere. - -No wonder the Ork paused to circle slowly over this lovely country. The -other birds followed his action, all eyeing the place with equal delight. -Then, as with one accord, the four formed a group and slowly sailed -downward. This brought them to that part of the newly-discovered land -which bordered on the desert's edge; but it was just as pretty here as -anywhere, so the Ork and the birds alighted and the three passengers at -once got out of their swings. - -"Oh, Cap'n Bill, isn't this fine an' dandy?" exclaimed Trot rapturously. -"How lucky we were to discover this beautiful country!" - -"The country seems rather high class, I'll admit, Trot," replied the old -sailor-man, looking around him, "but we don't know, as yet, what its -people are like." - -"No one could live in such a country without being happy and good--I'm -sure of that," she said earnestly. "Don't you think so, Button-Bright?" - -"I'm not thinking, just now," answered the little boy. "It tires me to -think, and I never seem to gain anything by it. When we see the people -who live here we will know what they are like, and no 'mount of thinking -will make them any different." - -"That's true enough," said the Ork. "But now I want to make a proposal. -While you are getting acquainted with this new country, which looks as if -it contains everything to make one happy, I would like to fly along--all -by myself--and see if I can find my home on the other side of the great -desert. If I do, I will stay there, of course. But if I fail to find -Orkland I will return to you in a week, to see if I can do anything more -to assist you." - -They were sorry to lose their queer companion, but could offer no -objection to the plan; so the Ork bade them good-bye and rising swiftly -in the air, he flew over the country and was soon lost to view in the -distance. - -The three birds which had carried our friends now begged permission to -return by the way they had come, to their own homes, saying they were -anxious to show their families how big they had become. So Cap'n Bill and -Trot and Button-Bright all thanked them gratefully for their assistance -and soon the birds began their long flight toward the Land of Mo. - -Being now left to themselves in this strange land, the three comrades -selected a pretty pathway and began walking along it. They believed -this path would lead them to a splendid castle which they espied in the -distance, the turrets of which towered far above the tops of the trees -which surrounded it. It did not seem very far away, so they sauntered on -slowly, admiring the beautiful ferns and flowers that lined the pathway -and listening to the singing of the birds and the soft chirping of the -grasshoppers. - -[Illustration] - -Presently the path wound over a little hill. In a valley that lay beyond -the hill was a tiny cottage surrounded by flower beds and fruit trees. On -the shady porch of the cottage they saw, as they approached, a pleasant -faced woman sitting amidst a group of children, to whom she was telling -stories. The children quickly discovered the strangers and ran toward -them with exclamations of astonishment, so that Trot and her friends -became the center of a curious group, all chattering excitedly. Cap'n -Bill's wooden leg seemed to arouse the wonder of the children, as they -could not understand why he had not two meat legs. This attention seemed -to please the old sailor, who patted the heads of the children kindly and -then, raising his hat to the woman, he inquired: - -"Can you tell us, madam, just what country this is?" - -She stared hard at all three of the strangers as she replied briefly: -"Jinxland." - -"Oh!" exclaimed Cap'n Bill, with a puzzled look. "And where is Jinxland, -please?" - -"In the Quadling Country," said she. - -"What!" cried Trot, in sudden excitement. "Do you mean to say this is the -Quadling Country of the Land of Oz?" - -"To be sure I do," the woman answered. "Every bit of land that is -surrounded by the great desert is the Land of Oz, as you ought to know -as well as I do; but I'm sorry to say that Jinxland is separated from -the rest of the Quadling Country by that row of high mountains you see -yonder, which have such steep sides that no one can cross them. So we -live here all by ourselves, and are ruled by our own King, instead of by -Ozma of Oz." - -"I've been to the Land of Oz before," said Button-Bright, "but I've never -been here." - -"Did you ever hear of Jinxland before?' asked Trot. - -"No," said Button-Bright. - -"It is on the Map of Oz, though," asserted the woman, "and it's a fine -country, I assure you. If only," she added, and then paused to look -around her with a frightened expression. "If only--" here she stopped -again, as if not daring to go on with her speech. - -"If only what, ma'am?" asked Cap'n Bill. - -The woman sent the children into the house. Then she came closer to the -strangers and whispered: "If only we had a different King, we would be -very happy and contented." - -"What's the matter with your King?" asked Trot, curiously. But the woman -seemed frightened to have said so much. She retreated to her porch, -merely saying: - -"The King punishes severely any treason on the part of his subjects." - -"What's treason?" asked Button-Bright. - -"In this case," replied Cap'n Bill, "treason seems to consist of knockin' -the King; but I guess we know his disposition now as well as if the lady -had said more." - -"I wonder," said Trot, going up to the woman, "if you could spare us -something to eat. We haven't had anything but popcorn and lemonade for a -long time." - -"Bless your heart! Of course I can spare you some food," the woman -answered, and entering her cottage she soon returned with a tray loaded -with sandwiches, cakes and cheese. One of the children drew a bucket of -clear, cold water from a spring and the three wanderers ate heartily and -enjoyed the good things immensely. - -When Button-Bright could eat no more he filled the pockets of his jacket -with cakes and cheese, and not even the children objected to this. Indeed -they all seemed pleased to see the strangers eat, so Cap'n Bill decided -that no matter what the King of Jinxland was like, the people would prove -friendly and hospitable. - -[Illustration] - -"Whose castle is that, yonder, ma'am?" he asked, waving his hand toward -the towers that rose above the trees. - -"It belongs to his Majesty, King Krewl," she said. - -"Oh, indeed; and does he live there?" - -"When he is not out hunting with his fierce courtiers and war captains," -she replied. - -"Is he hunting now?" Trot inquired. - -"I do not know, my dear. The less we know about the King's actions the -safer we are." - -It was evident the woman did not like to talk about King Krewl and so, -having finished their meal, they said good-bye and continued along the -pathway. - -"Don't you think we'd better keep away from that King's castle, Cap'n?" -asked Trot. - -"Well," said he, "King Krewl would find out, sooner or later, that we are -in his country, so we may as well face the music now. Perhaps he isn't -quite so bad as that woman thinks he is. Kings aren't always popular with -their people, you know, even if they do the best they know how." - -"Ozma is pop'lar," said Button-Bright. - -"Ozma is diff'rent from any other Ruler, from all I've heard," remarked -Trot musingly, as she walked beside the boy. "And, after all, we are -really in the Land of Oz, where Ozma rules ev'ry King and ev'rybody -else. I never heard of anybody getting hurt in her dominions, did you, -Button-Bright?" - -"Not when she knows about it," he replied. "But those birds landed us in -just the wrong place, seems to me. They might have carried us right on, -over that row of mountains, to the Em'rald City." - -"True enough," said Cap'n Bill; "but they didn't, an' so we must make the -best of Jinxland. Let's try not to be afraid." - -"Oh, I'm not very scared," said Button-Bright, pausing to look at a pink -rabbit that popped its head out of a hole in the field near by. - -"Nor am I," added Trot. "Really, Cap'n, I'm so glad to be anywhere at all -in the wonderful fairyland of Oz that I think I'm the luckiest girl in -all the world. Dorothy lives in the Em'rald City, you know, and so does -the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman and Tik-Tok and the Shaggy Man--and all -the rest of 'em that we've heard so much about not to mention Ozma, who -must be the sweetest and loveliest girl in all the world!" - -"Take your time, Trot," advised Button-Bright. "You don't have to say -it all in one breath, you know. And you haven't mentioned half of the -curious people in the Em'rald City." - -"That 'ere Em'rald City," said Cap'n Bill impressively, "happens to be -on the other side o' those mountains, that we're told no one is able -to cross. I don't want to discourage of you, Trot, but we're a'most as -much separated from your Ozma an' Dorothy as we were when we lived in -Californy." - -There was so much truth in this statement that they all walked on in -silence for some time. Finally they reached the grove of stately trees -that bordered the grounds of the King's castle. They had gone half-way -through it when the sound of sobbing, as of someone in bitter distress, -reached their ears and caused them to halt abruptly. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 10 - -Pon, the Gardener's Boy - - -It was Button-Bright who first discovered, lying on his face beneath -a broad spreading tree near the pathway, a young man whose body shook -with the force of his sobs. He was dressed in a long brown smock and had -sandals on his feet, betokening one in humble life. His head was bare and -showed a shock of brown, curly hair. Button-Bright looked down on the -young man and said: - -"Who cares, anyhow?" - -"I do!" cried the young man, interrupting his sobs to roll over, face -upward, that he might see who had spoken. "I care, for my heart is -broken!" - -"Can't you get another one?" asked the little boy. - -"I don't want another!" wailed the young man. - -By this time Trot and Cap'n Bill arrived at the spot and the girl leaned -over and said in a sympathetic voice: - -"Tell us your troubles and perhaps we may help you." - -The youth sat up, then, and bowed politely. Afterward he got upon his -feet, but still kept wringing his hands as he tried to choke down his -sobs. Trot thought he was very brave to control such awful agony so well. - -"My name is Pon," he began. "I'm the gardener's boy." - -"Then the gardener of the King is your father, I suppose," said Trot. - -"Not my father, but my master," was the reply. - -"I do the work and the gardener gives the orders. And it was not my -fault, in the least, that the Princess Gloria fell in love with me." - -"Did she, really?" asked the little girl. - -"I don't see why," remarked Button-Bright, staring at the youth. - -"And who may the Princess Gloria be?" inquired Cap'n Bill. - -"She is the niece of King Krewl, who is her guardian. The Princess -lives in the castle and is the loveliest and sweetest maiden in all -Jinxland. She is fond of flowers and used to walk in the gardens with -her attendants. At such times, if I was working at my tasks, I used to -cast down my eyes as Gloria passed me; but one day I glanced up and found -her gazing at me with a very tender look in her eyes. The next day she -dismissed her attendants and, coming to my side, began to talk with me. -She said I had touched her heart as no other young man had ever done. I -kissed her hand. Just then the King came around a bend in the walk. He -struck me with his fist and kicked me with his foot. Then he seized the -arm of the Princess and rudely dragged her into the castle." - -"Wasn't he awful!" gasped Trot indignantly. - -"He is a very abrupt King," said Pon, "so it was the least I could -expect. Up to that time I had not thought of loving Princess Gloria, but -realizing it would be impolite not to return her love, I did so. We met -at evening, now and then, and she told me the King wanted her to marry a -rich courtier named Googly-Goo, who is old enough to be Gloria's father. -She has refused Googly-Goo thirty-nine times, but he still persists and -has brought many rich presents to bribe the King. On that account King -Krewl has commanded his niece to marry the old man, but the Princess has -assured me, time and again, that she will wed only me. This morning we -happened to meet in the grape arbor and as I was respectfully saluting -the cheek of the Princess, two of the King's guards seized me and beat me -terribly before the very eyes of Gloria, whom the King himself held back -so she could not interfere." - -[Illustration] - -"Why, this King must be a monster!" cried Trot. - -"He is far worse than that," said Pon, mournfully. - -"But, see here," interrupted Cap'n Bill, who had listened carefully to -Pon. "This King may not be so much to blame, after all. Kings are proud -folks, because they're so high an' mighty, an' it isn't reasonable for a -royal Princess to marry a common gardener's boy." - -"It isn't right," declared Button-Bright. "A Princess should marry a -Prince." - -"I'm not a common gardener's boy," protested Pon. "If I had my rights I -would be the King instead of Krewl. As it is, I'm a Prince, and as royal -as any man in Jinxland." - -"How does that come?" asked Cap'n Bill. - -"My father used to be the King and Krewl was his Prime Minister. But one -day while out hunting, King Phearse--that was my father's name--had a -quarrel with Krewl and tapped him gently on the nose with the knuckles -of his closed hand. This so provoked the wicked Krewl that he tripped my -father backward, so that he fell into a deep pond. At once Krewl threw -in a mass of heavy stones, which so weighted down my poor father that -his body could not rise again to the surface. It is impossible to kill -anyone in this land, as perhaps you know, but when my father was pressed -down into the mud at the bottom of the deep pool and the stones held him -so he could never escape, he was of no more use to himself or the world -than if he had died. Knowing this, Krewl proclaimed himself King, taking -possession of the royal castle and driving all my father's people out. -I was a small boy, then, but when I grew up I became a gardener. I have -served King Krewl without his knowing that I am the son of the same King -Phearse whom he so cruelly made away with." - -"My, but that's a terr'bly exciting story!" said Trot, drawing a long -breath. "But tell us, Pon, who was Gloria's father?" - -"Oh, he was the King before my father," replied Pon. "Father was Prime -Minister for King Kynd, who was Gloria's father. She was only a baby -when King Kynd fell into the Great Gulf that lies just this side of the -mountains--the same mountains that separate Jinxland from the rest of the -Land of Oz. It is said the Great Gulf has no bottom; but, however that -may be, King Kynd has never been seen again and my father became King in -his place." - -"Seems to me," said Trot, "that if Gloria had her rights she would be -Queen of Jinxland." - -"Well, her father was a King," admitted Pon, "and so was my father; -so we are of equal rank, although she's a great lady and I'm a humble -gardener's boy. I can't see why we should not marry if we want to--except -that King Krewl won't let us." - -"It's a sort of mixed-up mess, taken altogether," remarked Cap'n Bill. -"But we are on our way to visit King Krewl, and if we get a chance, young -man, we'll put in a good word for you." - -"Do, please!" begged Pon. - -"Was it the flogging you got that broke your heart?' inquired -Button-Bright. - -"Why, it helped to break it, of course," said Pon. - -"I'd get it fixed up, if I were you," advised the boy, tossing a pebble -at a chipmunk in a tree. - -"You ought to give Gloria just as good a heart as she gives you." - -"That's common sense," agreed Cap'n Bill. So they left the gardener's boy -standing beside the path, and resumed their journey toward the castle. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 11 - -The Wicked King and Googly-Goo - - -When our friends approached the great doorway of the castle they found it -guarded by several soldiers dressed in splendid uniforms. They were armed -with swords and lances. Cap'n Bill walked straight up to them and asked: - -"Does the King happen to be at home?" - -"His Magnificent and Glorious Majesty, King Krewl, is at present -inhabiting his Royal Castle," was the stiff reply. - -"Then I guess we'll go in an' say how-d'ye-do," continued Cap'n Bill, -attempting to enter the doorway. But a soldier barred his way with a -lance. - -"Who are you, what are your names, and where do you come from?" demanded -the soldier. - -"You wouldn't know if we told you," returned the sailor, "seein' as we're -strangers in a strange land." - -"Oh, if you are strangers you will be permitted to enter," said the -soldier, lowering his lance. "His Majesty is very fond of strangers." - -"Do many strangers come here?" asked Trot. - -"You are the first that ever came to our country," said the man. "But -his Majesty has often said that if strangers ever arrived in Jinxland he -would see that they had a very exciting time." - -Cap'n Bill scratched his chin thoughtfully. He wasn't very favorably -impressed by this last remark. But he decided that as there was no way of -escape from Jinxland it would be wise to confront--the King boldly and -try to win his favor. So they entered the castle, escorted by one of the -soldiers. - -It was certainly a fine castle, with many large rooms, all beautifully -furnished. The passages were winding and handsomely decorated, and after -following several of these the soldier led them into an open court that -occupied the very center of the huge building. It was surrounded on every -side by high turreted walls, and contained beds of flowers, fountains -and walks of many colored marbles which were matched together in quaint -designs. In an open space near the middle of the court they saw a group -of courtiers and their ladies, who surrounded a lean man who wore upon -his head a jeweled crown. His face was hard and sullen and through the -slits of his half-closed eyelids the eyes glowed like coals of fire. He -was dressed in brilliant satins and velvets and was seated in a golden -throne-chair. - -This personage was King Krewl, and as soon as Cap'n Bill saw him the old -sailor knew at once that he was not going to like the King of Jinxland. - -"Hello! who's here?" said his Majesty, with a deep scowl. - -"Strangers, Sire," answered the soldier, bowing so low that his forehead -touched the marble tiles. - -"Strangers, eh? Well, well; what an unexpected visit! Advance, strangers, -and give an account of yourselves." - -The King's voice was as harsh as his features. Trot shuddered a little -but Cap'n Bill calmly replied: - -"There ain't much for us to say, 'cept as we've arrived to look over -your country an' see how we like it. Judgin' from the way you speak, you -don't know who we are, or you'd be jumpin' up to shake hands an' offer -us seats. Kings usually treat us pretty well, in the great big Outside -World where we come from, but in this little kingdom which don't amount -to much, anyhow folks don't seem to 'a' got much culchure." - -The King listened with amazement to this bold speech, first with a frown -and then gazing at the two children and the old sailor with evident -curiosity. The courtiers were dumb with fear, for no one had ever -dared speak in such a manner to their self-willed, cruel King before. -His Majesty, however, was somewhat frightened, for cruel people are -always cowards, and he feared these mysterious strangers might possess -magic powers that would destroy him unless he treated them well. So he -commanded his people to give the new arrivals seats, and they obeyed with -trembling haste. - -After being seated, Cap'n Bill lighted his pipe and began puffing smoke -from it, a sight so strange to them that it filled them all with wonder. -Presently the King asked: - -"How did you penetrate to this hidden country? Did you cross the desert -or the mountains?" - -"Desert," answered Cap'n Bill, as if the task were too easy to be worth -talking about. - -"Indeed! No one has ever been able to do that before," said the King. - -"Well, it's easy enough, if you know how," asserted Cap'n Bill, so -carelessly that it greatly impressed his hearers. The King shifted in his -throne uneasily. He was more afraid of these strangers than before. - -"Do you intend to stay long in Jinxland?" was his next anxious question. - -"Depends on how we like it," said Cap'n Bill. "Just now I might suggest -to your Majesty to order some rooms got ready for us in your dinky little -castle here. And a royal banquet, with some fried onions an' pickled -tripe, would set easy on our stomicks an' make us a bit happier than we -are now." - -"Your wishes shall be attended to," said King Krewl, but his eyes flashed -from between their slits in a wicked way that made Trot hope the food -wouldn't be poisoned. At the King's command several of his attendants -hastened away to give the proper orders to the castle servants and no -sooner were they gone than a skinny old man entered the courtyard and -bowed before the King. - -This disagreeable person was dressed in rich velvets, with many furbelows -and laces. He was covered with golden chains, finely wrought rings and -jeweled ornaments. He walked with mincing steps and glared at all the -courtiers as if he considered himself far superior to any or all of them. - -[Illustration] - -"Well, well, your Majesty; what news--what news?" he demanded, in a -shrill, cracked voice. - -The King gave him a surly look. - -"No news, Lord Googly-Goo, except that strangers have arrived," he said. - -Googly-Goo cast a contemptuous glance at Cap'n Bill and a disdainful one -at Trot and Button-Bright. Then he said: - -"Strangers do not interest me, your Majesty. But the Princess Gloria is -very interesting--very interesting, indeed! What does she say, Sire? Will -she marry me?" - -"Ask her," retorted the King. - -"I have, many times; and every time she has refused." - -"Well?" said the King harshly. - -"Well," said Googly-Goo in a jaunty tone, "a bird that _can_ sing, and -_won't_ sing, must be _made_ to sing." - -"Huh!" sneered the King. "That's easy, with a bird; but a girl is harder -to manage." - -"Still," persisted Googly-Goo, "we must overcome difficulties. The chief -trouble is that Gloria fancies she loves that miserable gardener's boy, -Pon. Suppose we throw Pon into the Great Gulf, your Majesty?" - -"It would do you no good," returned the King. "She would still love him." - -"Too bad, too bad!" sighed Googly-Goo. "I have laid aside more than a -bushel of precious gems--each worth a king's ransom--to present to your -Majesty on the day I wed Gloria." - -The King's eyes sparkled, for he loved wealth above everything; but the -next moment he frowned deeply again. - -"It won't help us to kill Pon," he muttered. "What we must do is kill -Gloria's love for Pon." - -"That is better, if you can find a way to do it," agreed Googly-Goo. -"Everything would come right if you could kill Gloria's love for that -gardener's boy. Really, Sire, now that I come to think of it, there must -be fully a bushel and a half of those jewels!" - -Just then a messenger entered the court to say that the banquet was -prepared for the strangers. So Cap'n Bill, Trot and Button-Bright entered -the castle and were taken to a room where a fine feast was spread upon -the table. - -"I don't like that Lord Googly-Goo," remarked Trot as she was busily -eating. - -"Nor I," said Cap'n Bill. "But from the talk we heard I guess the -gardener's boy won't get the Princess." - -"Perhaps not," returned the girl; "but I hope old Googly doesn't get her, -either." - -"The King means to sell her for all those jewels," observed -Button-Bright, his mouth half full of cake and jam. - -"Poor Princess!" sighed Trot. "I'm sorry for her, although I've never -seen her. But if she says no to Googly-Goo, and means it, what can they -do?" - -"Don't let us worry about a strange Princess," advised Cap'n Bill. "I've -a notion we're not too safe, ourselves, with this cruel King." - -The two children felt the same way and all three were rather solemn -during the remainder of the meal. - -When they had eaten, the servants escorted them to their rooms. Cap'n -Bill's room was way to one end of the castle, very high up, and Trot's -room was at the opposite end, rather low down. As for Button-Bright, they -placed him in the middle, so that all were as far apart as they could -possibly be. They didn't like this arrangement very well, but all the -rooms were handsomely furnished and being guests of the King they dared -not complain. - -After the strangers had left the courtyard the King and Googly-Goo had a -long talk together, and the King said: - -[Illustration] - -"I cannot force Gloria to marry you just now, because those strangers may -interfere. I suspect that the wooden-legged man possesses great magical -powers, or he would never have been able to carry himself and those -children across the deadly desert." - -"I don't like him; he looks dangerous," answered Googly-Goo. "But -perhaps you are mistaken about his being a wizard. Why don't you test his -powers?" - -"How?" asked the King. - -"Send for the Wicked Witch. She will tell you in a moment whether that -wooden-legged person is a common man or a magician." - -"Ha! that's a good idea," cried the King. "Why didn't I think of the -Wicked Witch before? But the woman demands rich rewards for her services." - -"Never mind; I will pay her," promised the wealthy Googly-Goo. - -So a servant was dispatched to summon the Wicked Witch, who lived but -a few leagues from King Krewl's castle. While they awaited her, the -withered old courtier proposed that they pay a visit to Princess Gloria -and see if she was not now in a more complaisant mood. So the two started -away together and searched the castle over without finding Gloria. - -At last Googly-Goo suggested she might be in the rear garden, which was -a large park filled with bushes and trees and surrounded by a high wall. -And what was their anger, when they turned a corner of the path, to find -in a quiet nook the beautiful Princess, and kneeling before her, Pon, the -gardener's boy! - -With a roar of rage the King dashed forward; but Pon had scaled the wall -by means of a ladder, which still stood in its place, and when he saw the -King coming he ran up the ladder and made good his escape. But this left -Gloria confronted by her angry guardian, the King, and by old Googly-Goo, -who was trembling with a fury he could not express in words. - -Seizing the Princess by her arm the King dragged her back to the castle. -Pushing her into a room on the lower floor he locked the door upon the -unhappy girl. And at that moment the arrival of the Wicked Witch was -announced. - -[Illustration] - -Hearing this, the King smiled, as a tiger smiles, showing his teeth. -And Googly-Goo smiled, as a serpent smiles, for he had no teeth except -a couple of fangs. And having frightened each other with these smiles -the two dreadful men went away to the Royal Council Chamber to meet the -Wicked Witch. - -[Illustration: Queen Gloria] - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 12 - -The Wooden-Legged Grass-Hopper - - -Now it so happened that Trot, from the window of her room, had witnessed -the meeting of the lovers in the garden and had seen the King come and -drag Gloria away. The little girl's heart went out in sympathy for the -poor Princess, who seemed to her to be one of the sweetest and loveliest -young ladies she had ever seen, so she crept along the passages and from -a hidden niche saw Gloria locked in her room. - -The key was still in the lock, so when the King had gone away, followed -by Googly-Goo, Trot stole up to the door, turned the key and entered. -The Princess lay prone upon a couch, sobbing bitterly. Trot went up to -her and smoothed her hair and tried to comfort her. - -"Don't cry," she said. "I've unlocked the door, so you can go away any -time you want to." - -"It isn't that," sobbed the Princess. "I am unhappy because they will not -let me love Pon, the gardener's boy!" - -"Well, never mind; Pon isn't any great shakes, anyhow, seems to me," said -Trot soothingly. "There are lots of other people you can love." - -Gloria rolled over on the couch and looked at the little girl -reproachfully. - -"Pon has won my heart, and I can't help loving him," she explained. -Then with sudden indignation she added: "But I'll never love -Googly-Goo--never, as long as I live!" - -"I should say not!" replied Trot. "Pon may not be much good, but old -Googly is very, very bad. Hunt around, and I'm sure you'll find someone -worth your love. You're very pretty, you know, and almost anyone ought to -love you." - -"You don't understand, my dear," said Gloria, as she wiped the tears from -her eyes with a dainty lace handkerchief bordered with pearls. "When you -are older you will realize that a young lady cannot decide whom she will -love, or choose the most worthy. Her heart alone decides for her, and -whomsoever her heart selects, she must love, whether he amounts to much -or not." - -Trot was a little puzzled by this speech, which seemed to her -unreasonable; but she made no reply and presently Gloria's grief -softened and she began to question the little girl about herself and her -adventures. Trot told her how they had happened to come to Jinxland, and -all about Cap'n Bill and the Ork and Pessim and the Bumpy Man. - -While they were thus conversing together, getting more and more friendly -as they became better acquainted, in the Council Chamber the King and -Googly-Goo were talking with the Wicked Witch. - -This evil creature was old and ugly. She had lost one eye and wore a -black patch over it, so the people of Jinxland had named her "Blinkie." -Of course witches are forbidden to exist in the Land of Oz, but Jinxland -was so far removed from the center of Ozma's dominions, and so absolutely -cut off from it by the steep mountains and the bottomless gulf, that -the laws of Oz were not obeyed very well in that country. So there were -several witches in Jinxland who were the terror of the people, but King -Krewl favored them and permitted them to exercise their evil sorcery. - -Blinkie was the leader of all the other witches and therefore the most -hated and feared. The King used her witchcraft at times to assist him in -carrying out his cruelties and revenge, but he was always obliged to pay -Blinkie large sums of money or heaps of precious jewels before she would -undertake an enchantment. This made him hate the old woman almost as much -as his subjects did, but to-day Lord Googly-Goo had agreed to pay the -witch's price, so the King greeted her with gracious favor. - -"Can you destroy the love of Princess Gloria for the gardener's boy?" -inquired his Majesty. - -The Wicked Witch thought about it before she replied: - -"That's a hard question to answer. I can do lots of clever magic, but -love is a stubborn thing to conquer. When you think you've killed it, -it's liable to bob up again as strong as ever. I believe love and cats -have nine lives. In other words, killing love is a hard job, even for a -skillful witch, but I believe I can do something that will answer your -purpose just as well." - -"What is that?" asked the King. - -[Illustration] - -"I can freeze the girl's heart. I've got a special incantation for that, -and when Gloria's heart is thoroughly frozen she can no longer love Pon." - -"Just the thing!" exclaimed Googly-Goo, and the King was likewise much -pleased. - -They bargained a long time as to the price, but finally the old courtier -agreed to pay the Wicked Witch's demands. It was arranged that they -should take Gloria to Blinkie's house the next day, to have her heart -frozen. - -Then King Krewl mentioned to the old hag the strangers who had that day -arrived in Jinxland, and said to her: - -"I think the two children--the boy and the girl--are unable to harm me, -but I have a suspicion that the wooden-legged man is a powerful wizard." - -The witch's face wore a troubled look when she heard this. - -"If you are right," she said, "this wizard might spoil my incantation and -interfere with me in other ways. So it will be best for me to meet this -stranger at once and match my magic against his, to decide which is the -stronger." - -"All right," said the King. "Come with me and I will lead you to the -man's room." - -Googly-Goo did not accompany them, as he was obliged to go home to get -the money and jewels he had promised to pay old Blinkie, so the other two -climbed several flights of stairs and went through many passages until -they came to the room occupied by Cap'n Bill. - -The sailor-man, finding his bed soft and inviting, and being tired with -the adventures he had experienced, had decided to take a nap. When the -Wicked Witch and the King softly opened his door and entered, Cap'n Bill -was snoring with such vigor that he did not hear them at all. - -Blinkie approached the bed and with her one eye anxiously stared at the -sleeping stranger. - -"Ah," she said in a soft whisper, "I believe you are right, King Krewl. -The man looks to me like a very powerful wizard. But by good luck I have -caught him asleep, so I shall transform him before he wakes up, giving -him such a form that he will be unable to oppose me." - -"Careful!" cautioned the King, also speaking low. "If he discovers what -you are doing he may destroy you, and that would annoy me because I need -you to attend to Gloria." - -But the Wicked Witch realized as well as he did that she must be -careful. She carried over her arm a black bag, from which she now drew -several packets carefully wrapped in paper. Three of these she selected, -replacing the others in the bag. Two of the packets she mixed together -and then she cautiously opened the third. - -"Better stand back, your Majesty," she advised, "for if this powder falls -on you you might be transformed yourself." - -The King hastily retreated to the end of the room. As Blinkie mixed the -third powder with the others she waved her hands over it, mumbled a few -words, and then backed away as quickly as she could. - -Cap'n Bill was slumbering peacefully, all unconscious of what was going -on. Puff! A great cloud of smoke rolled over the bed and completely hid -him from view. When the smoke rolled away, both Blinkie and the King saw -that the body of the stranger had quite disappeared, while in his place, -crouching in the middle of the bed, was a little gray grasshopper. - -One curious thing about this grasshopper was that the last joint of its -left leg was made of wood. Another curious thing--considering it was a -grasshopper--was that it began talking, crying out in a tiny but sharp -voice: - -"Here--you people! What do you mean by treating me so? Put me back where -I belong, at once, or you'll be sorry!" - -[Illustration] - -The cruel King turned pale at hearing the grasshopper's threats, but the -Wicked Witch merely laughed in derision. Then she raised her stick and -aimed a vicious blow at the grasshopper, but before the stick struck the -bed the tiny hopper made a marvelous jump--marvelous, indeed, when we -consider that it had a wooden leg. It rose in the air and sailed across -the room and passed right through the open window, where it disappeared -from their view. - -"Good!" shouted the King. "We are well rid of this desperate wizard." And -then they both laughed heartily at the success of the incantation, and -went away to complete their horrid plans. - -After Trot had visited a time with Princess Gloria, the little girl went -to Button-Bright's room but did not find him there. Then she went to -Cap'n Bill's room, but he was not there because the witch and the King -had been there before her. So she made her way downstairs and questioned -the servants. They said they had seen the little boy go out into the -garden, some time ago, but the old man with the wooden leg they had not -seen at all. - -Therefore Trot, not knowing what else to do, rambled through the great -gardens, seeking for Button-Bright or Cap'n Bill and not finding either -of them. This part of the garden, which lay before the castle, was not -walled in, but extended to the roadway, and the paths were open to the -edge of the forest; so, after two hours of vain search for her friends, -the little girl returned to the castle. - -But at the doorway a soldier stopped her. - -"I live here," said Trot, "so it's all right to let me in. The King has -given me a room." - -"Well, he has taken it back again," was the soldier's reply. "His -Majesty's orders are to turn you away if you attempt to enter. I am also -ordered to forbid the boy, your companion, to again enter the King's -castle." - -"How 'bout Cap'n Bill'?' she inquired. - -"Why, it seems he has mysteriously disappeared," replied the soldier, -shaking his head ominously. "Where he has gone to, I can't make out, but -I can assure you he is no longer in this castle. I'm sorry, little girl, -to disappoint you. Don't blame me; I must obey my master's orders." - -Now, all her life Trot had been accustomed to depend on Cap'n Bill, so -when this good friend was suddenly taken from her she felt very miserable -and forlorn indeed. She was brave enough not to cry before the soldier, -or even to let him see her grief and anxiety, but after she was turned -away from the castle she sought a quiet bench in the garden and for a -time sobbed as if her heart would break. - -It was Button-Bright who found her, at last, just as the sun had set and -the shades of evening were falling. He also had been turned away from the -King's castle, when he tried to enter it, and in the park he came across -Trot. - -"Never mind," said the boy. "We can find a place to sleep." - -"I want Cap'n Bill," wailed the girl. - -"Well, so do I," was the reply. "But we haven't got him. Where do you -s'pose he is, Trot?" - -"I don't s'pose anything. He's gone, an' that's all I know 'bout it." - -Button-Bright sat on the bench beside her and thrust his hands in the -pockets of his knickerbockers. Then he reflected somewhat gravely for him. - -"Cap'n Bill isn't around here," he said, letting his eyes wander over -the dim garden, "so we must go somewhere else if we want to find him. -Besides, it's fast getting dark, and if we want to find a place to sleep -we must get busy while we can see where to go." - -He rose from the bench as he said this and Trot also jumped up, drying -her eyes on her apron. Then she walked beside him out of the grounds of -the King's castle. They did not go by the main path, but passed through -an opening in a hedge and found themselves in a small but well-worn -roadway. Following this for some distance, along a winding way, they came -upon no house or building that would afford them refuge for the night. It -became so dark that they could scarcely see their way, and finally Trot -stopped and suggested that they camp under a tree. - -[Illustration] - -"All right," said Button-Bright, "I've often found that leaves make a -good warm blanket. But--look there, Trot!--isn't that a light flashing -over yonder?" - -"It certainly is, Button-Bright. Let's go over and see if it's a house. -Whoever lives there couldn't treat us worse than the King did." - -To reach the light they had to leave the road, so they stumbled over -hillocks and brushwood, hand in hand, keeping the tiny speck of light -always in sight. - -They were rather forlorn little waifs, outcasts in a strange country and -forsaken by their only friend and guardian, Cap'n Bill. So they were very -glad when finally they reached a small cottage and, looking in through -its one window, saw Pon, the gardener's boy, sitting by a fire of twigs. - -As Trot opened the door and walked boldly in, Pon sprang up to greet -them. They told him of Cap'n Bill's disappearance and how they had been -turned out of the King's castle. As they finished the story Pon shook his -head sadly. - -"King Krewl is plotting mischief, I fear," said he, "for to-day he sent -for old Blinkie, the Wicked Witch, and with my own eyes I saw her -come from the castle and hobble away toward her hut. She had been with -the King and Googly-Goo, and I was afraid they were going to work some -enchantment on Gloria so she would no longer love me. But perhaps the -witch was only called to the castle to enchant your friend, Cap'n Bill." - -"Could she do that?" asked Trot, horrified by the suggestion. - -"I suppose so, for old Blinkie can do a lot of wicked magical things." - -"What sort of an enchantment could she put on Cap'n Bill?" - -"I don't know. But he has disappeared, so I'm pretty certain she has done -something dreadful to him. But don't worry. If it has happened, it can't -be helped, and if it hasn't happened we may be able to find him in the -morning." - -With this Pon went to the cupboard and brought food for them. Trot was -far too worried to eat, but Button-Bright made a good supper from the -simple food and then lay down before the fire and went to sleep. The -little girl and the gardener's boy, however, sat for a long time staring -into the fire, busy with their thoughts. But at last Trot, too, became -sleepy and Pon gently covered her with the one blanket he possessed. Then -he threw more wood on the fire and laid himself down before it, next to -Button-Bright. Soon all three were fast asleep. They were in a good deal -of trouble; but they were young, and sleep was good to them because for a -time it made them forget. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 13 - -Glinda the Good and the Scarecrow of Oz - - -That country south of the Emerald City, in the Land of Oz, is known as -the Quadling Country, and in the very southernmost part of it stands a -splendid palace in which lives Glinda the Good. - -Glinda is the Royal Sorceress of Oz. She has wonderful magical powers and -uses them only to benefit the subjects of Ozma's kingdom. Even the famous -Wizard of Oz pays tribute to her, for Glinda taught him all the real -magic he knows, and she is his superior in all sorts of sorcery. - -Everyone loves Glinda, from the dainty and exquisite Ruler, Ozma, down -to the humblest inhabitant of Oz, for she is always kindly and helpful -and willing to listen to their troubles, however busy she may be. No one -knows her age, but all can see how beautiful and stately she is. Her hair -is like red gold and finer than the finest silken strands. Her eyes are -blue as the sky and always frank and smiling. Her cheeks are the envy of -peach-blows and her mouth is enticing as a rosebud. Glinda is tall and -wears splendid gowns that trail behind her as she walks. She wears no -jewels, for her beauty would shame them. - -For attendants Glinda has half a hundred of the loveliest girls in -Oz. They are gathered from all over Oz, from among the Winkies, the -Munchkins, the Gillikins and the Quadlings, as well as from Ozma's -magnificent Emerald City, and it is considered a great favor to be -allowed to serve the Royal Sorceress. - -Among the many wonderful things in Glinda's palace is the Great Book -of Records. In this book is inscribed everything that takes place in -all the world, just the instant it happens; so that by referring to its -pages Glinda knows what is taking place far and near, in every country -that exists. In this way she learns when and where she can help any in -distress or danger, and although her duties are confined to assisting -those who inhabit the Land of Oz, she is always interested in what takes -place in the unprotected outside world. - -[Illustration: The most popular man in the Land of Oz] - -So it was that on a certain evening Glinda sat in her library, surrounded -by a bevy of her maids, who were engaged in spinning, weaving and -embroidery, when an attendant announced the arrival at the palace of the -Scarecrow. - -This personage was one of the most famous and popular in all the Land of -Oz. His body was merely a suit of Munchkin clothes stuffed with straw, -but his head was a round sack filled with bran, with which the Wizard of -Oz had mixed some magic brains of a very superior sort. The eyes, nose -and mouth of the Scarecrow were painted upon the front of the sack, as -were his ears, and since this quaint being had been endowed with life, -the expression of his face was very interesting, if somewhat comical. - -The Scarecrow was good all through, even to his brains, and while he -was naturally awkward in his movements and lacked the neat symmetry of -other people, his disposition was so kind and considerate and he was so -obliging and honest, that all who knew him loved him, and there were few -people in Oz who had not met our Scarecrow and made his acquaintance. - -He lived part of the time in Ozma's palace at the Emerald City, part of -the time in his own corncob castle in the Winkie Country, and part of the -time he traveled over all Oz, visiting with the people and playing with -the children, whom he dearly loved. - -It was on one of his wandering journeys that the Scarecrow had arrived at -Glinda's palace, and the Sorceress at once made him welcome. As he sat -beside her, talking of his adventures, he asked: - -"What's new in the way of news?" - -Glinda opened her Great Book of Records and read some of the last pages. - -"Here is an item quite curious and interesting," she announced, an accent -of surprise in her voice. "Three people from the big Outside World have -arrived in Jinxland." - -"Where is Jinxland?' inquired the Scarecrow. - -"Very near here, a little to the east of us," she said. "In fact, -Jinxland is a little slice taken off the Quadling Country, but separated -from it by a range of high mountains, at the foot of which lies a wide, -deep gulf that is supposed to be impassable." - -"Then Jinxland is really a part of the Land of Oz," said he. - -"Yes," returned Glinda, "but Oz people know nothing of it, except what -is recorded here in my book." - -"What does the Book say about it?' asked the Scarecrow. - -"It is ruled by a wicked man called King Krewl, although he has no right -to the title. Most of the people are good, but they are very timid and -live in constant fear of their fierce ruler. There are also several -Wicked Witches who keep the inhabitants of Jinxland in a state of terror." - -"Do those witches have any magical powers?" inquired the Scarecrow. - -"Yes, they seem to understand witchcraft in its most evil form, for one -of them has just transformed a respectable and honest old sailor--one of -the strangers who arrived there--into a grasshopper. This same witch, -Blinkie by name, is also planning to freeze the heart of a beautiful -Jinxland girl named Princess Gloria." - -"Why, that's a dreadful thing to do!" exclaimed the Scarecrow. - -Glinda's face was very grave. She read in her book how Trot and -Button-Bright were turned out of the King's castle, and how they found -refuge in the hut of Pon, the gardener's boy. - -"I'm afraid those helpless earth people will endure much suffering in -Jinxland, even if the wicked King and the witches permit them to live," -said the good Sorceress, thoughtfully. "I wish I might help them." - -"Can I do anything?" asked the Scarecrow, anxiously. "If so, tell me what -to do, and I'll do it." - -[Illustration] - -For a few moments Glinda did not reply, but sat musing over the records. -Then she said: "I am going to send you to Jinxland, to protect Trot and -Button-Bright and Cap'n Bill." - -"All right," answered the Scarecrow in a cheerful voice. "I know -Button-Bright already, for he has been in the Land of Oz before. You -remember he went away from the Land of Oz in one of our Wizard's big -bubbles." - -"Yes," said Glinda, "I remember that." Then she carefully instructed the -Scarecrow what to do and gave him certain magical things which he placed -in the pockets of his ragged Munchkin coat. - -"As you have no need to sleep," said she, "you may as well start at once." - -"The night is the same as day to me," he replied, "except that I cannot -see my way so well in the dark." - -"I will furnish a light to guide you," promised the Sorceress. - -So the Scarecrow bade her good-bye and at once started on his journey. By -morning he had reached the mountains that separated the Quadling Country -from Jinxland. The sides of these mountains were too steep to climb, -but the Scarecrow took a small rope from his pocket and tossed one end -upward, into the air. The rope unwound itself for hundreds of feet, until -it caught upon a peak of rock at the very top of a mountain, for it was a -magic rope furnished him by Glinda. The Scarecrow climbed the rope and, -after pulling it up, let it down on the other side of the mountain range. -When he descended the rope on this side he found himself in Jinxland, but -at his feet yawned the Great Gulf, which must be crossed before he could -proceed any farther. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - -The Scarecrow knelt down and examined the ground carefully, and in a -moment he discovered a fuzzy brown spider that had rolled itself into -a ball. So he took two tiny pills from his pocket and laid them beside -the spider, which unrolled itself and quickly ate up the pills. Then the -Scarecrow said in a voice of command: - -"Spin!" and the spider obeyed instantly. - -[Illustration] - -In a few moments the little creature had spun two slender but strong -strands that reached way across the gulf, one being five or six feet -above the other. When these were completed the Scarecrow started across -the tiny bridge, walking upon one strand as a person walks upon a rope, -and holding to the upper strand with his hands to prevent him from losing -his balance and toppling over into the gulf. The tiny threads held him -safely, thanks to the strength given them by the magic pills. - -Presently he was safe across and standing on the plains of Jinxland. Far -away he could see the towers of the King's castle and toward this he at -once began to walk. - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 14 - -The Frozen Heart - - -In the hut of Pon, the gardener's boy, Button-Bright was the first to -waken in the morning. Leaving his companions still asleep, he went out -into the fresh morning air and saw some blackberries growing on bushes -in a field not far away. Going to the bushes he found the berries ripe -and sweet, so he began eating them. More bushes were scattered over the -fields, so the boy wandered on, from bush to bush, without paying any -heed to where he was wandering. Then a butterfly fluttered by. He gave -chase to it and followed it a long way. When finally he paused to look -around him, Button-Bright could see no sign of Pon's house, nor had he -the slightest idea in which direction it lay. - -"Well, I'm lost again," he remarked to himself. "But never mind; I've -been lost lots of times. Someone is sure to find me." - -Trot was a little worried about Button-Bright when she awoke and found -him gone. Knowing how careless he was, she believed that he had strayed -away, but felt that he would come back in time, because he had a habit of -not staying lost. Pon got the little girl some food for her breakfast and -then together they went out of the hut and stood in the sunshine. - -Pon's house was some distance off the road, but they could see it from -where they stood and both gave a start of surprise when they discovered -two soldiers walking along the roadway and escorting Princess Gloria -between them. The poor girl had her hands bound together, to prevent her -from struggling, and the soldiers rudely dragged her forward when her -steps seemed to lag. - -Behind this group came King Krewl, wearing his jeweled crown and swinging -in his hand a slender golden staff with a ball of clustered gems at one -end. - -"Where are they going?'' asked Trot. - -"To the house of the Wicked Witch, I fear," Pon replied. "Come, let us -follow them, for I am sure they intend to harm my dear Gloria." - -"Won't they see us?" she asked timidly. - -"We won't let them. I know a short cut through the trees to Blinkie's -house," said he. - -So they hurried away through the trees and reached the house of the witch -ahead of the King and his soldiers. Hiding themselves in the shrubbery, -they watched the approach of poor Gloria and her escort, all of whom -passed so near to them that Pon could have put out a hand and touched his -sweetheart, had he dared to. - -Blinkie's house had eight sides, with a door and a window in each side. -Smoke was coming out of the chimney and as the guards brought Gloria to -one of the doors it was opened by the old witch in person. She chuckled -with evil glee and rubbed her skinny hands together to show the delight -with which she greeted her victim, for Blinkie was pleased to be able to -perform her wicked rites on one so fair and sweet as the Princess. - -Gloria struggled to resist when they bade her enter the house, so the -soldiers forced her through the doorway and even the King gave her a -shove as he followed close behind. Pon was so incensed at the cruelty -shown Gloria that he forgot all caution and rushed forward to enter the -house also; but one of the soldiers prevented him, pushing the gardener's -boy away with violence and slamming the door in his face. - -"Never mind," said Trot soothingly, as Pon rose from where he had fallen. -"You couldn't do much to help the poor Princess if you were inside. How -unfortunate it is that you are in love with her!" - -"True," he answered sadly, "it is indeed my misfortune. If I did not -love her, it would be none of my business what the King did to his niece -Gloria; but the unlucky circumstance of my loving her makes it my duty to -defend her." - -"I don't see how you can, duty or no duty," observed Trot. - -"No; I am powerless, for they are stronger than I. But we might peek in -through the window and see what they are doing." - -Trot was somewhat curious, too, so they crept up to one of the windows -and looked in, and it so happened that those inside the witch's house -were so busy they did not notice that Pon and Trot were watching them. - -Gloria had been tied to a stout post in the center of the room and the -King was giving the Wicked Witch a quantity of money and jewels, which -Googly-Goo had provided in payment. When this had been done the King said -to her: - -"Are you perfectly sure you can freeze this maiden's heart, so that she -will no longer love that low gardener's boy?" - -"Sure as witchcraft, your Majesty," the creature replied. - -"Then get to work," said the King. "There may be some unpleasant features -about the ceremony that would annoy me, so I'll bid you good day and -leave you to carry out your contract. One word, however: If you fail, I -shall burn you at the stake!" Then he beckoned to his soldiers to follow -him, and throwing wide the door of the house walked out. - -This action was so sudden that King Krewl almost caught Trot and Pon -eavesdropping, but they managed to run around the house before he saw -them. Away he marched, up the road, followed by his men, heartlessly -leaving Gloria to the mercies of old Blinkie. - -[Illustration] - -When they again crept up to the window, Trot and Pon saw Blinkie gloating -over her victim. Although nearly fainting from fear, the proud Princess -gazed with haughty defiance into the face of the wicked creature; but she -was bound so tightly to the post that she could do no more to express her -loathing. - -Pretty soon Blinkie went to a kettle that was swinging by a chain over -the fire and tossed into it several magical compounds. The kettle gave -three flashes, and at every flash another witch appeared in the room. - -These hags were very ugly but when one-eyed Blinkie whispered her orders -to them they grinned with joy as they began dancing around Gloria. -First one and then another cast something into the kettle, when to the -astonishment of the watchers at the window all three of the old women -were instantly transformed into maidens of exquisite beauty, dressed -in the daintiest costumes imaginable. Only their eyes could not be -disguised, and an evil glare still shone in their depths. But if the eyes -were cast down or hidden, one could not help but admire these beautiful -creatures, even with the knowledge that they were mere illusions of -witchcraft. - -Trot certainly admired them, for she had never seen anything so dainty -and bewitching, but her attention was quickly drawn to their deeds -instead of their persons, and then horror replaced admiration. - -Into the kettle old Blinkie poured another mess from a big brass bottle -she took from a chest, and this made the kettle begin to bubble and -smoke violently. One by one the beautiful witches approached to stir the -contents of the kettle and to mutter a magic charm. Their movements were -graceful and rhythmic and the Wicked Witch who had called them to her aid -watched them with an evil grin upon her wrinkled face. - -Finally the incantation was complete. The kettle ceased bubbling and -together the witches lifted it from the fire. Then Blinkie brought a -wooden ladle and filled it from the contents of the kettle. Going with -the spoon to Princess Gloria she cried: - - "Love no more! Magic art - Now will freeze your mortal heart!" - -With this she dashed the contents of the ladle full upon Gloria's breast. - -Trot saw the body of the Princess become transparent, so that her beating -heart showed plainly. But now the heart turned from a vivid red to gray, -and then to white. A layer of frost formed about it and tiny icicles -clung to its surface. Then slowly the body of the girl became visible -again and the heart was hidden from view. Gloria seemed to have fainted, -but now she recovered and, opening her beautiful eyes, stared coldly and -without emotion at the group of witches confronting her. - -Blinkie and the others knew by that one cold look that their charm had -been successful. They burst into a chorus of wild laughter and the three -beautiful ones began dancing again, while Blinkie unbound the Princess -and set her free. - -Trot rubbed her eyes to prove that she was wide awake and seeing clearly, -for her astonishment was great when the three lovely maidens turned into -ugly, crooked hags again, leaning on broomsticks and canes. They jeered -at Gloria, but the Princess regarded them with cold disdain. Being now -free, she walked to a door, opened it and passed out. And the witches let -her go. - -Trot and Pon had been so intent upon this scene that in their eagerness -they had pressed quite hard against the window. Just as Gloria went out -of the house the window-sash broke loose from its fastenings and fell -with a crash into the room. The witches uttered a chorus of screams and -then, seeing that their magical incantation had been observed, they -rushed for the open window with uplifted broomsticks and canes. But Pon -was off like the wind, and Trot followed at his heels. Fear lent them -strength to run, to leap across ditches, to speed up the hills and to -vault the low fences as a deer would. - -[Illustration] - -The band of witches had dashed through the window in pursuit; but Blinkie -was so old, and the others so crooked and awkward, that they soon -realized they would be unable to overtake the fugitives. So the three -who had been summoned by the Wicked Witch put their canes or broomsticks -between their legs and flew away through the air, quickly disappearing -against the blue sky. Blinkie, however, was so enraged at Pon and Trot -that she hobbled on in the direction they had taken, fully determined -to catch them, in time, and to punish them terribly for spying upon her -witchcraft. - -When Pon and Trot had run so far that they were confident they had made -good their escape, they sat down near the edge of a forest to get their -breath again, for both were panting hard from their exertions. Trot was -the first to recover speech, and she said to her companion: - -"My! wasn't it terr'ble?" - -"The most terrible thing I ever saw," Pon agreed. - -"And they froze Gloria's heart; so now she can't love you any more." - -"Well, they froze her heart, to be sure," admitted Pon, "but I'm in hopes -I can melt it with my love." - -"Where do you s'pose Gloria is?' asked the girl, after a pause. - -"She left the witch's house just before we did. Perhaps she has gone back -to the King's castle," he said. - -"I'm pretty sure she started off in a different direction," declared -Trot. "I looked over my shoulder, as I ran, to see how close the witches -were, and I'm sure I saw Gloria walking slowly away toward the north." - -"Then let us circle around that way," proposed Pon, "and perhaps we shall -meet her." - -Trot agreed to this and they left the grove and began to circle around -toward the north, thus drawing nearer and nearer to old Blinkie's house -again. The Wicked Witch did not suspect this change of direction, so when -she came to the grove she passed through it and continued on. - -Pon and Trot had reached a place less than half a mile from the witch's -house when they saw Gloria walking toward them. The Princess moved with -great dignity and with no show of haste whatever, holding her head high -and looking neither to right nor left. - -Pon rushed forward, holding out his arms as if to embrace her and calling -her sweet names. But Gloria gazed upon him coldly and repelled him with a -haughty gesture. At this the poor gardener's boy sank upon his knees and -hid his face in his arms, weeping bitter tears; but the Princess was not -at all moved by his distress. Passing him by, she drew her skirts aside, -as if unwilling they should touch him, and then she walked up the path a -way and hesitated, as if uncertain where to go next. - -Trot was grieved by Pon's sobs and indignant because Gloria treated him -so badly. But she remembered why. - -"I guess your heart is frozen, all right," she said to the Princess. -Gloria nodded gravely, in reply, and then turned her back upon the little -girl. "Can't you like even me?" asked Trot, half pleadingly. - -"No," said Gloria. - -"Your voice sounds like a refrig'rator," sighed the little girl. "I'm -awful sorry for you, 'cause you were sweet an' nice to me before this -happened. You can't help it, of course; but it's a dreadful thing, jus' -the same." - -"My heart is frozen to all mortal loves," announced Gloria, calmly. "I do -not love even myself." - -[Illustration] - -"That's too bad," said Trot, "for, if you can't love anybody, you can't -expect anybody to love you." - -"I do!" cried Pon. "I shall always love her." - -"Well, you're just a gardener's boy," replied Trot, "and I didn't think -you 'mounted to much, from the first. I can love the old Princess Gloria, -with a warm heart an' nice manners, but this one gives me the shivers." - -"It's her icy heart, that's all," said Pon. - -"That's enough," insisted Trot. "Seeing her heart isn't big enough to -skate on, I can't see that she's of any use to anyone. For my part, I'm -goin' to try to find Button-Bright an' Cap'n Bill." - -"I will go with you," decided Pon. "It is evident that Gloria no longer -loves me and that her heart is frozen too stiff for me to melt it with my -own love; therefore I may as well help you to find your friends." - -As Trot started off, Pon cast one more imploring look at the Princess, -who returned it with a chilly stare. So he followed after the little girl. - -As for the Princess, she hesitated a moment and then turned in the same -direction the others had taken, but going far more slowly. Soon she heard -footsteps pattering behind her, and up came Googly-Goo, a little out of -breath with running. - -"Stop, Gloria!" he cried. "I have come to take you back to my mansion, -where we are to be married." - -She looked at him wonderingly a moment, then tossed her head disdainfully -and walked on. But Googly-Goo kept beside her. - -"What does this mean?" he demanded. "Haven't you discovered that you no -longer love that gardener's boy, who stood in my way?" - -"Yes; I have discovered it," she replied. "My heart is frozen to all -mortal loves. I cannot love you, or Pon, or the cruel King my uncle, or -even myself. Go your way, Googly-Goo, for I will wed no one at all." - -He stopped in dismay when he heard this, but in another minute he -exclaimed angrily: - -"You _must_ wed me, Princess Gloria, whether you want to or not! I paid to -have your heart frozen; I also paid the King to permit our marriage. If -you now refuse me it will mean that I have been robbed--robbed--robbed of -my precious money and jewels!" - -He almost wept with despair, but she laughed a cold, bitter laugh and -passed on. Googly-Goo caught at her arm, as if to restrain her, but she -whirled and dealt him a blow that sent him reeling into a ditch beside -the path. Here he lay for a long time, half covered by muddy water, dazed -with surprise. - -Finally the old courtier arose, dripping, and climbed from the ditch. The -Princess had gone; so, muttering threats of vengeance upon her, upon the -King and upon Blinkie, old Googly-Goo hobbled back to his mansion to have -the mud removed from his costly velvet clothes. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 15 - -Trot Meets the Scarecrow - - -Trot and Pon covered many leagues of ground, searching through forests, -in fields and in many of the little villages of Jinxland, but could find -no trace of either Cap'n Bill or Button-Bright. Finally they paused -beside a cornfield and sat upon a stile to rest. Pon took some apples -from his pocket and gave one to Trot. Then he began eating another -himself, for this was their time for luncheon. When his apple was -finished Pon tossed the core into the field. - -"Tchuk-tchuk!" said a strange voice. "What do you mean by hitting me in -the eye with an apple-core?" - -Then rose up the form of the Scarecrow, who had hidden himself in the -cornfield while he examined Pon and Trot and decided whether they were -worthy to be helped. - -"Excuse me," said Pon. "I didn't know you were there." - -"How did you happen to be there, anyhow?" asked Trot. - -The Scarecrow came forward with awkward steps and stood beside them. - -"Ah, you are the gardener's boy," he said to Pon. Then he turned to Trot. -"And you are the little girl who came to Jinxland riding on a big bird, -and who has had the misfortune to lose her friend, Cap'n Bill, and her -chum, Button-Bright." - -"Why, how did you know all that?" she inquired. - -"I know a lot of things," replied the Scarecrow, winking at her -comically. "My brains are the Carefully-Assorted, Double-Distilled, -High-Efficiency sort that the Wizard of Oz makes. He admits, himself, -that my brains are the best he ever manufactured." - -"I think I've heard of you," said Trot slowly, as she looked the -Scarecrow over with much interest; "but you used to live in the Land of -Oz." - -"Oh, I do now," he replied cheerfully. "I've just come over the -mountains from the Quadling Country to see if I can be of any help to -you." - -"Who, me?" asked Pon. - -"No, the strangers from the big world. It seems they need looking after." - -"I'm doing that myself," said Pon, a little ungraciously. "If you will -pardon me for saying so, I don't see how a Scarecrow with painted eyes -can look after anyone." - -"If you don't see that, you are more blind than the Scarecrow," asserted -Trot. "He's a fairy man, Pon, and comes from the fairyland of Oz, so he -can do 'most anything. I hope," she added, turning to the Scarecrow, "you -can find Cap'n Bill for me." - -"I will try, anyhow," he promised. "But who is that old woman who is -running toward us and shaking her stick at us?" - -Trot and Pon turned around and both uttered an exclamation of fear. The -next instant they took to their heels and ran fast up the path. For it -was old Blinkie, the Wicked Witch, who had at last traced them to this -place. Her anger was so great that she was determined not to abandon the -chase of Pon and Trot until she had caught and punished them. - -The Scarecrow understood at once that the old woman meant harm to his -new friends, so as she drew near he stepped before her. His appearance -was so sudden and unexpected that Blinkie ran into him and toppled him -over, but she tripped on his straw body and went rolling in the path -beside him. - -[Illustration] - -The Scarecrow sat up and said: "I beg your pardon!" but she whacked him -with her stick and knocked him flat again. Then, furious with rage, the -old witch sprang upon her victim and began pulling the straw out of his -body. The poor Scarecrow was helpless to resist and in a few moments all -that was left of him was an empty suit of clothes and a heap of straw -beside it. Fortunately, Blinkie did not harm his head, for it rolled into -a little hollow and escaped her notice. Fearing that Pon and Trot would -escape her, she quickly resumed the chase and disappeared over the brow -of a hill, following the direction in which she had seen them go. - -Only a short time elapsed before a gray grasshopper with a wooden -leg came hopping along and lit directly on the upturned face of the -Scarecrow's head. - -"Pardon me, but you are resting yourself upon my nose," remarked the -Scarecrow. - -[Illustration] - -"Oh! are you alive?" asked the grasshopper. - -"That is a question I have never been able to decide," said the -Scarecrow's head. "When my body is properly stuffed I have animation -and can move around as well as any live person. The brains in the head -you are now occupying as a throne, are of very superior quality and do -a lot of very clever thinking. But whether that is being alive, or not, -I cannot prove to you; for one who lives is liable to death, while I am -only liable to destruction." - -"Seems to me," said the grasshopper, rubbing his nose with his front -legs, "that in your case it doesn't matter--unless you're destroyed -already." - -"I am not; all I need is re-stuffing," declared the Scarecrow; "and if -Pon and Trot escape the witch, and come back here, I am sure they will do -me that favor." - -"Tell me! Are Trot and Pon around here?" inquired the grasshopper, its -small voice trembling with excitement. - -The Scarecrow did not answer at once, for both his eyes were staring -straight upward at a beautiful face that was slightly bent over his head. -It was, indeed, Princess Gloria, who had wandered to this spot, very much -surprised when she heard the Scarecrow's head talk and the tiny gray -grasshopper answer it. - -"This," said the Scarecrow, still staring at her, "must be the Princess -who loves Pon, the gardener's boy." - -"Oh, indeed!" exclaimed the grasshopper--who of course was Cap'n Bill--as -he examined the young lady curiously. - -"No," said Gloria frigidly, "I do not love Pon, or anyone else, for the -Wicked Witch has frozen my heart." - -"What a shame!" cried the Scarecrow. "One so lovely should be able to -love. But would you mind, my dear, stuffing that straw into my body -again?" - -The dainty Princess glanced at the straw and at the well-worn blue -Munchkin clothes and shrank back in disdain. But she was spared from -refusing the Scarecrow's request by the appearance of Trot and Pon, who -had hidden in some bushes just over the brow of the hill and waited until -old Blinkie had passed them by. Their hiding place was on the same side -as the witch's blind eye, and she rushed on in the chase of the girl and -the youth without being aware that they had tricked her. - -[Illustration] - -Trot was shocked at the Scarecrow's sad condition and at once began -putting the straw back into his body. Pon, at sight of Gloria, again -appealed to her to take pity on him, but the frozen-hearted Princess -turned coldly away and with a sigh the gardener's boy began to assist -Trot. - -Neither of them at first noticed the small grasshopper, which at their -appearance had skipped off the Scarecrow's nose and was now clinging to -a wisp of grass beside the path, where he was not likely to be stepped -upon. Not until the Scarecrow had been neatly restuffed and set upon his -feet again when he bowed to his restorers and expressed his thanks did -the grasshopper move from his perch. Then he leaped lightly into the path -and called out: - -"Trot--Trot! Look at me. I'm Cap'n Bill! See what the Wicked Witch has -done to me." - -The voice was small, to be sure, but it reached Trot's ears and startled -her greatly. She looked intently at the grasshopper, her eyes wide with -fear at first; then she knelt down and, noticing the wooden leg, she -began to weep sorrowfully. - -"Oh, Cap'n Bill--dear Cap'n Bill! What a cruel thing to do!'' she sobbed. - -"Don't cry, Trot," begged the grasshopper. "It didn't hurt any, and it -doesn't hurt now. But it's mighty inconvenient an' humiliatin', to say -the least." - -"I wish," said the girl indignantly, while trying hard to restrain her -tears, "that I was big 'nough an' strong 'nough to give that horrid witch -a good beating. She ought to be turned into a toad for doing this to you, -Cap'n Bill!" - -"Never mind," urged the Scarecrow, in a comforting voice, "such a -transformation doesn't last always, and as a general thing there's some -way to break the enchantment. I'm sure Glinda could do it, in a jiffy." - -"Who is Glinda?" inquired Cap'n Bill. - -Then the Scarecrow told them all about Glinda, not forgetting to mention -her beauty and goodness and her wonderful powers of magic. He also -explained how the Royal Sorceress had sent him to Jinxland especially to -help the strangers, whom she knew to be in danger because of the wiles of -the cruel King and the Wicked Witch. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 16 - -Pon Summons the King to Surrender - - -Gloria had drawn near to the group to listen to their talk, and it seemed -to interest her in spite of her frigid manner. They knew, of course, that -the poor Princess could not help being cold and reserved, so they tried -not to blame her. - -"I ought to have come here a little sooner," said the Scarecrow, -regretfully; "but Glinda sent me as soon as she discovered you were -here and were likely to get into trouble. And now that we are all -together--except Button-Bright, over whom it is useless to worry--I -propose we hold a council of war, to decide what is best to be done." - -That seemed a wise thing to do, so they all sat down upon the grass, -including Gloria, and the grasshopper perched upon Trot's shoulder and -allowed her to stroke him gently with her hand. - -"In the first place," began the Scarecrow, "this King Krewl is a usurper -and has no right to rule this Kingdom of Jinxland." - -"That is true," said Pon, eagerly. "My father was King before him, and -I--" - -"You are a gardener's boy," interrupted the Scarecrow. "Your father had -no right to rule, either, for the rightful King of this land was the -father of Princess Gloria, and only she is entitled to sit upon the -throne of Jinxland." - -"Good!" exclaimed Trot. "But what'll we do with King Krewl? I s'pose he -won't give up the throne unless he has to." - -"No, of course not," said the Scarecrow. "Therefore it will be our duty -to _make_ him give up the throne." - -"How?" asked Trot. - -"Give me time to think," was the reply. "That's what my brains are for. I -don't know whether you people ever think, or not, but my brains are the -best that the Wizard of Oz ever turned out, and if I give them plenty of -time to work, the result usually surprises me." - -"Take your time, then," suggested Trot. "There's no hurry." - -"Thank you," said the straw man, and sat perfectly still for half an -hour. During this interval the grasshopper whispered in Trot's ear, to -which he was very close, and Trot whispered back to the grasshopper -sitting upon her shoulder. Pon cast loving glances at Gloria, who paid -not the slightest heed to them. - -Finally the Scarecrow laughed aloud. - -"Brains working?" inquired Trot. - -"Yes. They seem in fine order to-day. We will conquer King Krewl and put -Gloria upon his throne as Queen of Jinxland." - -"Fine!" cried the little girl, clapping her hands together gleefully. -"But how?" - -"Leave the _how_ to me," said the Scarecrow proudly. "As a conqueror I'm -a wonder. We will, first of all, write a message to send to King Krewl, -asking him to surrender. If he refuses, then we will make him surrender." - -"Why ask him, when we _know_ he'll refuse?" inquired Pon. - -"Why, we must be polite, whatever we do," explained the Scarecrow. "It -would be very rude to conquer a King without proper notice." - -[Illustration] - -They found it difficult to write a message without paper, pen and ink, -none of which was at hand; so it was decided to send Pon as a messenger, -with instructions to ask the King, politely but firmly, to surrender. - -Pon was not anxious to be the messenger. Indeed, he hinted that it might -prove a dangerous mission. - -But the Scarecrow was now the acknowledged head of the Army of Conquest, -and he would listen to no refusal. So off Pon started for the King's -castle, and the others accompanied him as far as his hut, where they had -decided to await the gardener's boy's return. - -I think it was because Pon had known the Scarecrow such a short time that -he lacked confidence in the straw man's wisdom. It was easy to say: "We -will conquer King Krewl," but when Pon drew near to the great castle he -began to doubt the ability of a straw-stuffed man, a girl, a grasshopper -and a frozen-hearted Princess to do it. As for himself, he had never -thought of defying the King before. - -That was why the gardener's boy was not very bold when he entered the -castle and passed through to the enclosed court where the King was just -then seated, with his favorite courtiers around him. None prevented Pon's -entrance, because he was known to be the gardener's boy, but when the -King saw him he began to frown fiercely. He considered Pon to be to blame -for all his trouble with Princess Gloria, who since her heart had been -frozen had escaped to some unknown place, instead of returning to the -castle to wed Googly-Goo, as she had been expected to do. So the King -bared his teeth angrily as he demanded: - -[Illustration] - -"What have you done with Princess Gloria?" - -"Nothing, your Majesty! I have done nothing at all," answered Pon in a -faltering voice. "She does not love me any more and even refuses to speak -to me." - -"Then why are you here, you rascal?" roared the King. - -Pon looked first one way and then another, but saw no means of escape; so -he plucked up courage. - -"I am here to summon your Majesty to surrender." - -"What!" shouted the King. "Surrender? Surrender to whom?" - -Pon's heart sank to his boots. - -"To the Scarecrow," he replied. - -Some of the courtiers began to titter, but King Krewl was greatly -annoyed. He sprang up and began to beat poor Pon with the golden staff he -carried. Pon howled lustily and would have run away had not two of the -soldiers held him until his Majesty was exhausted with punishing the boy. -Then they let him go and he left the castle and returned along the road, -sobbing at every step because his body was so sore and aching. - -"Well," said the Scarecrow, "did the King surrender?" - -"No; but he gave me a good drubbing!" sobbed poor Pon. - -Trot was very sorry for Pon, but Gloria did not seem affected in any -way by her lover's anguish. The grasshopper leaped to the Scarecrow's -shoulder and asked him what he was going to do next. - -"Conquer," was the reply. "But I will go alone, this time, for beatings -cannot hurt me at all; nor can lance thrusts--or sword cuts--or arrow -pricks." - -"Why is that?" inquired Trot. - -"Because I have no nerves, such as you meat people possess. Even -grasshoppers have nerves, but straw doesn't; so whatever they do--except -just one thing--they cannot injure me. Therefore I expect to conquer King -Krewl with ease." - -"What is that one thing you excepted?" asked Trot. - -"They will never think of it, so never mind. And now, if you will kindly -excuse me for a time, I'll go over to the castle and do my conquering." - -"You have no weapons," Pon reminded him. - -"True," said the Scarecrow. "But if I carried weapons I might injure -someone--perhaps seriously--and that would make me unhappy. I will just -borrow that riding-whip, which I see in the corner of your hut, if you -don't mind. It isn't exactly proper to walk with a riding-whip, but I -trust you will excuse the inconsistency." - -Pon handed him the whip and the Scarecrow bowed to all the party and left -the hut, proceeding leisurely along the way to the King's castle. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 17 - -The Ork Rescues Button-Bright - - -I must now tell you what had become of Button-Bright since he wandered -away in the morning and got lost. This small boy, as perhaps you have -discovered, was almost as destitute of nerves as the Scarecrow. Nothing -ever astonished him much; nothing ever worried him or made him unhappy. -Good fortune or bad fortune he accepted with a quiet smile, never -complaining, whatever happened. This was one reason why Button-Bright was -a favorite with all who knew him--and perhaps it was the reason why he so -often got into difficulties, or found himself lost. - -To-day, as he wandered here and there, over hill and down dale, he missed -Trot and Cap'n Bill, of whom he was fond, but nevertheless he was not -unhappy. The birds sang merrily and the wildflowers were beautiful and -the breeze had a fragrance of new-mown hay. - -"The only bad thing about this country is its King," he reflected; "but -the country isn't to blame for that." - -A prairie-dog stuck its round head out of a mound of earth and looked at -the boy with bright eyes. - -"Walk around my house, please," it said, "and then you won't harm it or -disturb the babies." - -"All right," answered Button-Bright, and took care not to step on the -mound. He went on, whistling merrily, until a petulant voice cried: - -"Oh, stop it! Please stop that noise. It gets on my nerves." - -Button-Bright saw an old gray owl sitting in the crotch of a tree, and he -replied with a laugh: "All right, old Fussy," and stopped whistling until -he had passed out of the owl's hearing. At noon he came to a farmhouse -where an aged couple lived. They gave him a good dinner and treated him -kindly, but the man was deaf and the woman was dumb, so they could answer -no questions to guide him on the way to Port's house. When he left them -he was just as much lost as he had been before. - -Every grove of trees he saw from a distance he visited, for he remembered -that the King's castle was near a grove of trees and Pon's hut was near -the King's castle; but always he met with disappointment. Finally, -passing through one of these groves, he came out into the open and found -himself face to face with the Ork. - -"Hello!" said Button-Bright. "Where did _you_ come from?" - -[Illustration] - -"From Orkland," was the reply. "I've found my own country, at last, and -it is not far from here, either. I would have come back to you sooner, -to see how you are getting along, had not my family and friends welcomed -my return so royally that a great celebration was held in my honor. So I -couldn't very well leave Orkland again until the excitement was over." - -"Can you find your way back home again?" asked the boy. - -"Yes, easily; for now I know exactly where it is. But where are Trot and -Cap'n Bill?" - -Button-Bright related to the Ork their adventures since it had left them -in Jinxland, telling of Trot's fear that the King had done something -wicked to Cap'n Bill, and of Pon's love for Gloria, and how Trot and -Button-Bright had been turned out of the King's castle. That was all the -news that the boy had, but it made the Ork anxious for the safety of his -friends. - -"We must go to them at once, for they may need us," he said. - -"I don't know where to go," confessed Button-Bright. "I'm lost." - -"Well, I can take you back to the hut of the gardener's boy," promised -the Ork, "for when I fly high in the air I can look down and easily spy -the King's castle. That was how I happened to spy you, just entering the -grove; so I flew down and waited until you came out." - -"How can you carry me?" asked the boy. - -"You'll have to sit straddle my shoulders and put your arms around my -neck. Do you think you can keep from falling off?" - -"I'll try," said Button-Bright. So the Ork squatted down and the boy -took his seat and held on tight. Then the skinny creature's tail began -whirling and up they went, far above all the tree-tops. - -After the Ork had circled around once or twice, its sharp eyes located -the towers of the castle and away it flew, straight toward the place. -As it hovered in the air, near by the castle, Button-Bright pointed out -Pon's hut, so they landed just before it and Trot came running out to -greet them. - -Gloria was introduced to the Ork, who was surprised to find Cap'n Bill -transformed into a grasshopper. - -"How do you like it?" asked the creature. - -"Why, it worries me a good deal," answered Cap'n Bill, perched upon -Trot's shoulder. "I'm always afraid o' bein' stepped on, and I don't like -the flavor of grass an' can't seem to get used to it. It's my nature to -eat grass, you know, but I begin to suspect it's an acquired taste." - -"Can you give molasses?" asked the Ork. - -"I guess I'm not that kind of a grasshopper," replied Cap'n Bill. "But I -can't say what I might do if I was squeezed--which I hope I won't be." - -"Well," said the Ork, "it's a great pity, and I'd like to meet that cruel -King and his Wicked Witch and punish them both severely. You're awfully -small, Cap'n Bill, but I think I would recognize you anywhere by your -wooden leg." - -Then the Ork and Button-Bright were told all about Gloria's frozen heart -and how the Scarecrow had come from the Land of Oz to help them. The Ork -seemed rather disturbed when it learned that the Scarecrow had gone alone -to conquer King Krewl. - -"I'm afraid he'll make a fizzle of it," said the skinny creature, -"and there's no telling what that terrible King might do to the poor -Scarecrow, who seems like a very interesting person. So I believe I'll -take a hand in this conquest myself." - -"How?" asked Trot. - -"Wait and see," was the reply. "But, first of all, I must fly home -again--back to my own country--so if you'll forgive my leaving you so -soon, I'll be off at once. Stand away from my tail, please, so that the -wind from it, when it revolves, won't knock you over." - -They gave the creature plenty of room and away it went like a flash and -soon disappeared in the sky. - -"I wonder," said Button-Bright, looking solemnly after the Ork, "whether -he'll ever come back again." - -"Of course he will!" returned Trot. "The Ork's a pretty good fellow, and -we can depend on him. An' mark my words, Button-Bright, whenever our -Ork does come back, there's one cruel King in Jinxland that'll wish he -hadn't." - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 18 - -The Scarecrow Meets an Enemy - - -The Scarecrow was not a bit afraid of King Krewl. Indeed, he rather -enjoyed the prospect of conquering the evil King and putting Gloria on -the throne of Jinxland in his place. So he advanced boldly to the royal -castle and demanded admittance. - -Seeing that he was a stranger, the soldiers allowed him to enter. He made -his way straight to the throne room, where at that time his Majesty was -settling the disputes among his subjects. - -"Who are you?" demanded the King. - -"I'm the Scarecrow of Oz, and I command you to surrender yourself my -prisoner." - -[Illustration] - -"Why should I do that?" inquired the King, much astonished at the straw -man's audacity. - -"Because I've decided you are too cruel a King to rule so beautiful a -country. You must remember that Jinxland is a part of Oz, and therefore -you owe allegiance to Ozma of Oz, whose friend and servant I am." - -Now, when he heard this, King Krewl was much disturbed in mind, for he -knew the Scarecrow spoke the truth. But no one had ever before come to -Jinxland from the Land of Oz and the King did not intend to be put out of -his throne if he could help it. Therefore he gave a harsh, wicked laugh -of derision and said: - -"I'm busy, now. Stand out of my way, Scarecrow, and I'll talk with you by -and by." - -But the Scarecrow turned to the assembled courtiers and people and called -in a loud voice: - -"I hereby declare, in the name of Ozma of Oz, that this man is no longer -ruler of Jinxland. From this moment Princess Gloria is your rightful -Queen, and I ask all of you to be loyal to her and to obey her commands." - -The people looked fearfully at the King, whom they all hated in their -hearts, but likewise feared. Krewl was now in a terrible rage and he -raised his golden sceptre and struck the Scarecrow so heavy a blow that -he fell to the floor. - -But he was up again, in an instant, and with Pon's riding-whip he -switched the King so hard that the wicked monarch roared with pain as -much as with rage, calling on his soldiers to capture the Scarecrow. - -They tried to do that, and thrust their lances and swords into the -straw body, but without doing any damage except to make holes in the -Scarecrow's clothes. However, they were many against one and finally old -Googly-Goo brought a rope which he wound around the Scarecrow, binding -his legs together and his arms to his sides, and after that the fight was -over. - -The King stormed and danced around in a dreadful fury, for he had never -been so switched since he was a boy--and perhaps not then. He ordered the -Scarecrow thrust into the castle prison, which was no task at all because -one man could carry him easily, bound as he was. - -Even after the prisoner was removed the King could not control his anger. -He tried to figure out some way to be revenged upon the straw man, but -could think of nothing that could hurt him. - -At last, when the terrified people and the frightened courtiers had all -slunk away, old Googly-Goo approached the king with a malicious grin upon -his face. - -"I'll tell you what to do," said he. "Build a big bonfire and burn the -Scarecrow up, and that will be the end of him." - -The King was so delighted with this suggestion that he hugged old -Googly-Goo in his joy. - -"Of course!" he cried. "The very thing. Why did I not think of it -myself?" - -So he summoned his soldiers and retainers and bade them prepare a great -bonfire in an open space in the castle park. Also he sent word to all his -people to assemble and witness the destruction of the Scarecrow who had -dared to defy his power. Before long a vast throng gathered in the park -and the servants had heaped up enough fuel to make a fire that might be -seen for miles away--even in the daytime. - -When all was prepared, the King had his throne brought out for him to sit -upon and enjoy the spectacle, and then he sent his soldiers to fetch the -Scarecrow. - -[Illustration] - -Now the one thing in all the world that the straw man really feared was -fire. He knew he would burn very easily and that his ashes wouldn't -amount to much afterward. It wouldn't hurt him to be destroyed in such -a manner, but he realized that many people in the Land of Oz, and -especially Dorothy and the Royal Ozma, would feel sad if they learned -that their old friend the Scarecrow was no longer in existence. - -In spite of this, the straw man was brave and faced his fiery fate like a -hero. When they marched him out before the concourse of people he turned -to the King with great calmness and said: - -"This wicked deed will cost you your throne, as well as much suffering, -for my friends will avenge my destruction." - -"Your friends are not here, nor will they know what I have done to you, -when you are gone and cannot tell them," answered the King in a scornful -voice. - -Then he ordered the Scarecrow bound to a stout stake that he had had -driven into the ground, and the materials for the fire were heaped all -around him. When this had been done, the King's brass band struck up a -lively tune and old Googly-Goo came forward with a lighted match and set -fire to the pile. - -[Illustration] - -At once the flames shot up and crept closer and closer toward the -Scarecrow. The King and all his people were so intent upon this terrible -spectacle that none of them noticed how the sky grew suddenly dark. -Perhaps they thought that the loud buzzing sound--like the noise of a -dozen moving railway trains--came from the blazing fagots; that the rush -of wind was merely a breeze. But suddenly down swept a flock of Orks, -half a hundred of them at the least, and the powerful currents of air -caused by their revolving tails sent the bonfire scattering in every -direction, so that not one burning brand ever touched the Scarecrow. - -But that was not the only effect of this sudden tornado. King Krewl was -blown out of his throne and went tumbling heels over head until he landed -with a bump against the stone wall of his own castle, and before he could -rise a big Ork sat upon him and held him pressed flat to the ground. Old -Googly-Goo shot up into the air like a rocket and landed on a tree, where -he hung by the middle on a high limb, kicking the air with his feet and -clawing the air with his hands, and howling for mercy like the coward he -was. - -The people pressed back until they were jammed close together, while -all the soldiers were knocked over and sent sprawling to the earth. The -excitement was great for a few minutes, and every frightened inhabitant -of Jinxland looked with awe and amazement at the great Orks whose descent -had served to rescue the Scarecrow and conquer King Krewl at one and the -same time. - -The Ork, who was the leader of the band, soon had the Scarecrow free of -his bonds. Then he said: "Well, we were just in time to save you, which -is better than being a minute too late. You are now the master here, and -we are determined to see your orders obeyed." - -With this the Ork picked up Krewl's golden crown, which had fallen off -his head, and placed it upon the head of the Scarecrow, who in his -awkward way then shuffled over to the throne and sat down in it. - -Seeing this, a rousing cheer broke from the crowd of people, who tossed -their hats and waved their handkerchiefs and hailed the Scarecrow as -their King. The soldiers joined the people in the cheering, for now they -fully realized that their hated master was conquered and it would be wise -to show their good will to the conqueror. Some of them bound Krewl with -ropes and dragged him forward, dumping his body on the ground before the -Scarecrow's throne. Googly-Goo struggled until he finally slid off the -limb of the tree and came tumbling to the ground. He then tried to sneak -away and escape, but the soldiers seized and bound him beside Krewl. - -"The tables are turned," said the Scarecrow, swelling out his chest until -the straw within it crackled pleasantly, for he was highly pleased; "but -it was you and your people who did it, friend Ork, and from this time you -may count me your humble servant." - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 19 - -The Conquest of the Witch - - -Now as soon as the conquest of King Krewl had taken place, one of the -Orks had been dispatched to Pon's house with the joyful news. At once -Gloria and Pon and Trot and Button-Bright hastened toward the castle. -They were somewhat surprised by the sight that met their eyes, for there -was the Scarecrow, crowned King, and all the people kneeling humbly -before him. So they likewise bowed low to the new ruler and then stood -beside the throne. Cap'n Bill, as the gray grasshopper, was still perched -upon Trot's shoulder, but now he hopped to the shoulder of the Scarecrow -and whispered into the painted ear: - -"I thought Gloria was to be Queen of Jinxland." - -The Scarecrow shook his head. - -"Not yet," he answered. "No Queen with a frozen heart is fit to rule any -country." Then he turned to his new friend, the Ork, who was strutting -about, very proud of what he had done, and said: "Do you suppose you, or -your followers, could find old Blinkie the Witch?" - -"Where is she?" asked the Ork. - -"Somewhere in Jinxland, I'm sure." - -"Then," said the Ork, "we shall certainly be able to find her." - -"It will give me great pleasure," declared the Scarecrow. "When you have -found her, bring her here to me, and I will then decide what to do with -her." - -The Ork called his followers together and spoke a few words to them in -a low tone. A moment after they rose into the air--so suddenly that the -Scarecrow, who was very light in weight, was blown quite out of his -throne and into the arms of Pon, who replaced him carefully upon his -seat. There was an eddy of dust and ashes, too, and the grasshopper only -saved himself from being whirled into the crowd of people by jumping into -a tree, from where a series of hops soon brought him back to Trot's -shoulder again. - -The Orks were quite out of sight by this time, so the Scarecrow made a -speech to the people and presented Gloria to them, whom they knew well -already and were fond of. But not all of them knew of her frozen heart, -and when the Scarecrow related the story of the Wicked Witch's misdeeds, -which had been encouraged and paid for by Krewl and Googly-Goo, the -people were very indignant. - -Meantime the fifty Orks had scattered all over Jinxland, which is not a -very big country, and their sharp eyes were peering into every valley -and grove and gully. Finally one of them spied a pair of heels sticking -out from underneath some bushes, and with a shrill whistle to warn his -comrades that the witch was found the Ork flew down and dragged old -Blinkie from her hiding-place. Then two or three of the Orks seized the -clothing of the wicked woman in their strong claws and, lifting her high -in the air, where she struggled and screamed to no avail, they flew with -her straight to the royal castle and set her down before the throne of -the Scarecrow. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - -"Good!" exclaimed the straw man, nodding his stuffed head with -satisfaction. "Now we can proceed to business. Mistress Witch, I am -obliged to request, gently but firmly, that you undo all the wrongs you -have done by means of your witchcraft." - -"Pah!" cried old Blinkie in a scornful voice. "I defy you all! By my -magic powers I can turn you all into pigs, rooting in the mud, and I'll -do it if you are not careful." - -"I think you are mistaken about that," said the Scarecrow, and rising -from his throne he walked with wobbling steps to the side of the Wicked -Witch. "Before I left the Land of Oz, Glinda the Royal Sorceress gave me -a box, which I was not to open except in an emergency. But I feel pretty -sure that this occasion is an emergency; don't you, Trot?' he asked, -turning toward the little girl. - -"Why, we've got to do _something_," replied Trot seriously. "Things seem -in an awful muddle here, jus' now, and they'll be worse if we don't stop -this witch from doing more harm to people." - -"That is my idea, exactly," said the Scarecrow, and taking a small box -from his pocket he opened the cover and tossed the contents toward -Blinkie. - -The old woman shrank back, pale and trembling, as a fine white dust -settled all about her. Under its influence she seemed to the eyes of all -observers to shrivel and grow smaller. - -"Oh, dear--oh, dear!" she wailed, wringing her hands in fear. "Haven't -you the antidote, Scarecrow? Didn't the great Sorceress give you another -box?" - -"She did," answered the Scarecrow. - -"Then give it me--quick!" pleaded the witch. "Give it me--and I'll do -anything you ask me to!" - -"You will do what I ask first," declared the Scarecrow, firmly. - -The witch was shriveling and growing smaller every moment. - -"Be quick, then!" she cried. "Tell me what I must do and let me do it, or -it will be too late." - -"You made Trot's friend, Cap'n Bill, a grasshopper. I command you to give -him back his proper form again," said the Scarecrow. - -"Where is he? Where's the grasshopper? Quick--quick!" she screamed. - -Cap'n Bill, who had been deeply interested in this conversation, gave -a great leap from Trot's shoulder and landed on that of the Scarecrow. -Blinkie saw him alight and at once began to make magic passes and to -mumble magic incantations. She was in a desperate hurry, knowing that she -had no time to waste, and the grasshopper was so suddenly transformed -into the old sailor-man, Cap'n Bill, that he had no opportunity to jump -off the Scarecrow's shoulder; so his great weight bore the stuffed -Scarecrow to the ground. No harm was done, however, and the straw man got -up and brushed the dust from his clothes while Trot delightedly embraced -Cap'n Bill. - -"The other box! Quick! Give me the other box," begged Blinkie, who had -now shrunk to half her former size. - -"Not yet," said the Scarecrow. "You must first melt Princess Gloria's -frozen heart." - -"I can't; it's an awful job to do that! I can't," asserted the witch, in -an agony of fear--for still she was growing smaller. - -"You must!" declared the Scarecrow, firmly. - -The witch cast a shrewd look at him and saw that he meant it; so she -began dancing around Gloria in a frantic manner. The Princess looked -coldly on, as if not at all interested in the proceedings, while Blinkie -tore a handful of hair from her own head and ripped a strip of cloth from -the bottom of her gown. Then the witch sank upon her knees, took a purple -powder from her black bag and sprinkled it over the hair and cloth. - -"I hate to do it--I hate to do it!" she wailed, "for there is no more -of this magic compound in all the world. But I must sacrifice it to save -my own life. A match! Give me a match, quick!" and panting from lack of -breath she gazed imploringly from one to another. - -[Illustration] - -Cap'n Bill was the only one who had a match, but he lost no time in -handing it to Blinkie, who quickly set fire to the hair and the cloth -and the purple powder. At once a purple cloud enveloped Gloria, and this -gradually turned to a rosy pink color--brilliant and quite transparent. -Through the rosy cloud they could all see the beautiful Princess, -standing proud and erect. Then her heart became visible, at first -frosted with ice but slowly growing brighter and warmer until all the -frost had disappeared and it was beating as softly and regularly as any -other heart. And now the cloud dispersed and disclosed Gloria, her face -suffused with joy, smiling tenderly upon the friends who were grouped -about her. - -Poor Pon stepped forward--timidly, fearing a repulse, but with pleading -eyes and arms fondly outstretched toward his former sweetheart--and the -Princess saw him and her sweet face lighted with a radiant smile. Without -an instant's hesitation she threw herself into Pon's arms and this -reunion of two loving hearts was so affecting that the people turned away -and lowered their eyes so as not to mar the sacred joy of the faithful -lovers. - -But Blinkie's small voice was shouting to the Scarecrow for help. - -"The antidote!" she screamed. "Give me the other box--quick!" - -The Scarecrow looked at the witch with his quaint, painted eyes and saw -that she was now no taller than his knee. So he took from his pocket the -second box and scattered its contents on Blinkie. She ceased to grow any -smaller, but she could never regain her former size, and this the wicked -old woman well knew. - -[Illustration] - -She did not know, however, that the second powder had destroyed all her -power to work magic, and seeking to be revenged upon the Scarecrow and -his friends she at once began to mumble a charm so terrible in its effect -that it would have destroyed half the population of Jinxland--had it -worked. But it did not work at all, to the amazement of old Blinkie. And -by this time the Scarecrow noticed what the little witch was trying to -do, and said to her: - -"Go home, Blinkie, and behave yourself. You are no longer a witch, but an -ordinary old woman, and since you are powerless to do more evil I advise -you to try to do some good in the world. Believe me, it is more fun to -accomplish a good act than an evil one, as you will discover when once -you have tried it." - -But Blinkie was at that moment filled with grief and chagrin at losing -her magic powers. She started away toward her home, sobbing and bewailing -her fate, and not one who saw her go was at all sorry for her. - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 20 - -Queen Gloria - - -Next morning the Scarecrow called upon all the courtiers and the people -to assemble in the throne room of the castle, where there was room enough -for all that were able to attend. They found the straw man seated upon -the velvet cushions of the throne, with the King's glittering crown still -upon his stuffed head. On one side of the throne, in a lower chair, sat -Gloria, looking radiantly beautiful and fresh as a new-blown rose. On the -other side sat Pon, the gardener's boy, still dressed in his old smock -frock and looking sad and solemn; for Pon could not make himself believe -that so splendid a Princess would condescend to love him when she had -come to her own and was seated upon a throne. Trot and Cap'n Bill sat at -the feet of the Scarecrow and were much interested in the proceedings. -Button-Bright had lost himself before breakfast, but came into the throne -room before the ceremonies were over. Back of the throne stood a row of -the great Orks, with their leader in the center, and the entrance to the -palace was guarded by more Orks, who were regarded with wonder and awe. - -When all were assembled, the Scarecrow stood up and made a speech. He -told how Gloria's father, the good King Kynd, who had once ruled them and -been loved by everyone, had been destroyed by King Phearse, the father -of Pon, and how King Phearse had been destroyed by King Krewl. This last -King had been a bad ruler, as they knew very well, and the Scarecrow -declared that the only one in all Jinxland who had the right to sit upon -the throne was Princess Gloria, the daughter of King Kynd. - -"But," he added, "it is not for me, a stranger, to say who shall rule -you. You must decide for yourselves, or you will not be content. So -choose now who shall be your future ruler." - -And they all shouted: "The Scarecrow! The Scarecrow shall rule us!" - -Which proved that the stuffed man had made himself very popular by his -conquest of King Krewl, and the people thought they would like him for -their King. But the Scarecrow shook his head so vigorously that it became -loose, and Trot had to pin it firmly to his body again. - -"No," said he, "I belong in the Land of Oz, where I am the humble servant -of the lovely girl who rules us all the royal Ozma. You must choose one -of your own inhabitants to rule over Jinxland. Who shall it be?" - -They hesitated for a moment, and some few cried: "Pon!" but many more -shouted: "Gloria!" - -So the Scarecrow took Gloria's hand and led her to the throne, where he -first seated her and then took the glittering crown off his own head and -placed it upon that of the young lady, where it nestled prettily amongst -her soft curls. The people cheered and shouted then, kneeling before -their new Queen; but Gloria leaned down and took Pon's hand in both her -own and raised him to the seat beside her. - -"You shall have both a King and a Queen to care for you and to protect -you, my dear subjects," she said in a sweet voice, while her face glowed -with happiness; "for Pon was a King's son before he became a gardener's -boy, and because I love him he is to be my Royal Consort." - -That pleased them all, especially Pon, who realized that this was the -most important moment of his life. Trot and Button-Bright and Cap'n -Bill all congratulated him on winning the beautiful Gloria; but the Ork -sneezed twice and said that in his opinion the young lady might have done -better. - -Then the Scarecrow ordered the guards to bring in the wicked Krewl, -King no longer, and when he appeared, loaded with chains and dressed -in fustian, the people hissed him and drew back as he passed so their -garments would not touch him. - -Krewl was not haughty or overbearing any more; on the contrary he seemed -very meek and in great fear of the fate his conquerors had in store for -him. But Gloria and Pon were too happy to be revengeful and so they -offered to appoint Krewl to the position of gardener's boy at the castle, -Pon having resigned to become King. But they said he must promise to -reform his wicked ways and to do his duty faithfully, and he must change -his name from Krewl to Grewl. All this the man eagerly promised to do, -and so when Pon retired to a room in the castle to put on princely -raiment, the old brown smock he had formerly worn was given to Grewl, -who then went out into the garden to water the roses. - -[Illustration] - -The remainder of that famous day, which was long remembered in Jinxland, -was given over to feasting and merrymaking. In the evening there was a -grand dance in the courtyard, where the brass band played a new piece of -music called the "Ork Trot" which was dedicated to "Our Glorious Gloria, -the Queen." - -While the Queen and Pon were leading this dance, and all the Jinxland -people were having a good time, the strangers were gathered in a group -in the park outside the castle. Cap'n Bill, Trot, Button-Bright and the -Scarecrow were there, and so was their old friend the Ork; but of all the -great flock of Orks which had assisted in the conquest but three remained -in Jinxland, besides their leader, the others having returned to their -own country as soon as Gloria was crowned Queen. To the young Ork who had -accompanied them in their adventures Cap'n Bill said: - -"You've surely been a friend in need, and we're mighty grateful to you -for helping us. I might have been a grasshopper yet if it hadn't been for -you, an' I might remark that bein' a grasshopper isn't much fun." - -"If it hadn't been for you, friend Ork," said the Scarecrow, "I fear I -could not have conquered King Krewl." - -"No," agreed Trot, "you'd have been just a heap of ashes by this time." - -"And I might have been lost yet," added Button-Bright. "Much obliged, Mr. -Ork." - -"Oh, that's all right," replied the Ork. "Friends must stand together, -you know, or they wouldn't be friends. But now I must leave you and be -off to my own country, where there's going to be a surprise party on my -uncle, and I've promised to attend it." - -"Dear me," said the Scarecrow, regretfully. "That is very unfortunate." - -"Why so?" asked the Ork. - -"I hoped you would consent to carry us over those mountains, into the -Land of Oz. My mission here is now finished and I want to get back to the -Emerald City." - -"How did you cross the mountains before?" inquired the Ork. - -"I scaled the cliffs by means of a rope, and crossed the Great Gulf on -a strand of spider web. Of course I can return in the same manner, but -it would be a hard journey and perhaps an impossible one for Trot and -Button-Bright and Cap'n Bill. So I thought that if you had the time you -and your people would carry us over the mountains and land us all safely -on the other side, in the Land of Oz." - -The Ork thoughtfully considered the matter for a while. Then he said: - -"I mustn't break my promise to be present at the surprise party; but, -tell me, could you go to Oz to-night?" - -"What, now?" exclaimed Trot. - -"It is a fine moonlight night," said the Ork, "and I've found in my -experience that there's no time so good as right away. The fact is," he -explained, "it's a long journey to Orkland and I and my cousins here are -all rather tired by our day's work. But if you will start now, and be -content to allow us to carry you over the mountains and dump you on the -other side, just say the word and--off we go!" - -Cap'n Bill and Trot looked at one another questioningly. The little girl -was eager to visit the famous fairyland of Oz and the old sailor had -endured such hardships in Jinxland that he would be glad to be out of it. - -"It's rather impolite of us not to say good-bye to the new King and -Queen," remarked the Scarecrow, "but I'm sure they're too happy to miss -us, and I assure you it will be much easier to fly on the backs of the -Orks over those steep mountains than to climb them as I did." - -"All right; let's go!" Trot decided. "But where's Button-Bright?" - -Just at this important moment Button-Bright was lost again, and they all -scattered in search of him. He had been standing beside them just a few -minutes before, but his friends had an exciting hunt for him before they -finally discovered the boy seated among the members of the band, beating -the end of the bass drum with the bone of a turkey-leg that he had taken -from the table in the banquet room. - -"Hello, Trot," he said, looking up at the little girl when she found him. -"This is the first chance I ever had to pound a drum with a regular drum -stick. And I ate all the meat off the bone myself." - -"Come quick. We're going to the Land of Oz." - -"Oh, what's the hurry?" said Button-Bright; but she seized his arm and -dragged him away to the park, where the others were waiting. - -Trot climbed upon the back of her old friend, the Ork leader, and the -others took their seats on the backs of his three cousins. As soon as -all were placed and clinging to the skinny necks of the creatures, the -revolving tails began to whirl and up rose the four monster Orks and -sailed away toward the mountains. They were so high in the air that when -they passed the crest of the highest peak it seemed far below them. No -sooner were they well across the barrier than the Orks swooped downward -and landed their passengers upon the ground. - -"Here we are, safe in the Land of Oz!' cried the Scarecrow joyfully. - -"Oh, are we?" asked Trot, looking around her curiously. - -She could see the shadows of stately trees and the outlines of rolling -hills; beneath her feet was soft turf, but otherwise the subdued light of -the moon disclosed nothing clearly. - -"Seems jus' like any other country," was Cap'n Bill's comment. - -[Illustration] - -"But it isn't," the Scarecrow assured him. "You are now within the -borders of the most glorious fairyland in all the world. This part of -it is just a corner of the Quadling Country, and the least interesting -portion of it. It's not very thickly settled, around here, I'll admit, -but--" - -He was interrupted by a sudden whir and a rush of air as the four Orks -mounted into the sky. - -"Good night!" called the shrill voices of the strange creatures, and -although Trot shouted "Good night!" as loudly as she could, the little -girl was almost ready to cry because the Orks had not waited to be -properly thanked for all their kindness to her and to Cap'n Bill. - -But the Orks were gone, and thanks for good deeds do not amount to much -except to prove one's politeness. - -"Well, friends," said the Scarecrow, "we mustn't stay here in the meadows -all night, so let us find a pleasant place to sleep. Not that it matters -to me, in the least, for I never sleep; but I know that meat people like -to shut their eyes and lie still during the dark hours." - -"I'm pretty tired," admitted Trot, yawning as she followed the straw man -along a tiny path, "so, if you don't find a house handy, Cap'n Bill and I -will sleep under the trees, or even on this soft grass." - -But a house was not very far off, although when the Scarecrow stumbled -upon it there was no light in it whatever. Cap'n Bill knocked on the door -several times, and there being no response the Scarecrow boldly lifted -the latch and walked in, followed by the others. And no sooner had they -entered than a soft light filled the room. Trot couldn't tell where it -came from, for no lamp of any sort was visible, but she did not waste -much time on this problem, because directly in the center of the room -stood a table set for three, with lots of good food on it and several of -the dishes smoking hot. - -[Illustration] - -The little girl and Button-Bright both uttered exclamations of pleasure, -but they looked in vain for any cook stove or fireplace, or for any -person who might have prepared for them this delicious feast. - -"It's fairyland," muttered the boy, tossing his cap in a corner and -seating himself at the table. "This supper smells 'most as good as that -turkey-leg I had in Jinxland. Please pass the muffins, Cap'n Bill." - -Trot thought it was strange that no people but themselves were in the -house, but on the wall opposite the door was a gold frame bearing in big -letters the word: - - "WELCOME." - -So she had no further hesitation in eating of the food so mysteriously -prepared for them. - -"But there are only places for three!' she exclaimed. - -"Three are quite enough," said the Scarecrow. "I never eat, because I am -stuffed full already, and I like my nice clean straw better than I do -food." - -Trot and the sailor-man were hungry and made a hearty meal, for not since -they had left home had they tasted such good food. It was surprising that -Button-Bright could eat so soon after his feast in Jinxland, but the boy -always ate whenever there was an opportunity. "If I don't eat now," he -said, "the next time I'm hungry I'll wish I had." - -"Really, Cap'n," remarked Trot, when she found a dish of ice-cream appear -beside her plate, "I b'lieve this is fairyland, sure enough." - -"There's no doubt of it, Trot," he answered gravely. - -"I've been here before," said Button-Bright, "so I know." - -After supper they discovered three tiny bedrooms adjoining the big living -room of the house, and in each room was a comfortable white bed with -downy pillows. You may be sure that the tired mortals were not long in -bidding the Scarecrow good night and creeping into their beds, where they -slept soundly until morning. - -For the first time since they set eyes on the terrible whirlpool, Trot -and Cap'n Bill were free from anxiety and care. Button-Bright never -worried about anything. The Scarecrow, not being able to sleep, looked -out of the window and tried to count the stars. - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 21 - -Dorothy, Betsy and Ozma - - -I suppose many of my readers have read descriptions of the beautiful and -magnificent Emerald City of Oz, so I need not describe it here, except -to state that never has any city in any fairyland ever equalled this one -in stately splendor. It lies almost exactly in the center of the Land of -Oz, and in the center of the Emerald City rises the wall of glistening -emeralds that surrounds the palace of Ozma. The palace is almost a city -in itself and is inhabited by many of the Ruler's especial friends and -those who have won her confidence and favor. - -As for Ozma herself, there are no words in any dictionary I can find -that are fitted to describe this young girl's beauty of mind and person. -Merely to see her is to love her for her charming face and manners; to -know her is to love her for her tender sympathy, her generous nature, her -truth and honor. Born of a long line of Fairy Queens, Ozma is as nearly -perfect as any fairy may be, and she is noted for her wisdom as well as -for her other qualities. Her happy subjects adore their girl Ruler and -each one considers her a comrade and protector. - -At the time of which I write, Ozma's best friend and most constant -companion was a little Kansas girl named Dorothy, a mortal who had come -to the Land of Oz in a very curious manner and had been offered a home in -Ozma's palace. Furthermore, Dorothy had been made a Princess of Oz, and -was as much at home in the royal palace as was the gentle Ruler. She knew -almost every part of the great country and almost all of its numerous -inhabitants. Next to Ozma she was loved better than anyone in all Oz, -for Dorothy was simple and sweet, seldom became angry and had such a -friendly, chummy way that she made friends wherever she wandered. It was -she who first brought the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly -Lion to the Emerald City. Dorothy had also introduced to Ozma the Shaggy -Man and the Hungry Tiger, as well as Billina the Yellow Hen, Eureka -the Pink Kitten, and many other delightful characters and creatures. -Coming as she did from our world, Dorothy was much like many other girls -we know; so there were times when she was not so wise as she might -have been, and other times when she was obstinate and got herself into -trouble. But life in a fairyland had taught the little girl to accept all -sorts of surprising things as matters-of-course, for while Dorothy was no -fairy--but just as mortal as we are--she had seen more wonders than most -mortals ever do. - -Another little girl from our outside world also lived in Ozma's palace. -This was Betsy Bobbin, whose strange adventures had brought her to the -Emerald City, where Ozma had cordially welcomed her. Betsy was a shy -little thing and could never get used to the marvels that surrounded -her, but she and Dorothy were firm friends and thought themselves very -fortunate in being together in this delightful country. - -One day Dorothy and Betsy were visiting Ozma in the girl Ruler's private -apartment, and among the things that especially interested them was -Ozma's Magic Picture, set in a handsome frame and hung upon the wall -of the room. This picture was a magic one because it constantly changed -its scenes and showed events and adventures happening in all parts of -the world. Thus it was really a "moving picture" of life, and if the one -who stood before it wished to know what any absent person was doing, the -picture instantly showed that person, with his or her surroundings. - -The two girls were not wishing to see anyone in particular, on this -occasion, but merely enjoyed watching the shifting scenes, some of which -were exceedingly curious and remarkable. Suddenly Dorothy exclaimed: -"Why, there's Button-Bright!" and this drew Ozma also to look at the -picture, for she and Dorothy knew the boy well. - -"Who is Button-Bright?" asked Betsy, who had never met him. - -"Why, he's the little boy who is just getting off the back of that -strange flying creature," exclaimed Dorothy. Then she turned to Ozma and -asked: "What is that thing, Ozma? A bird? I've never seen anything like -it before." - -[Illustration] - -"It is an Ork," answered Ozma, for they were watching the scene where -the Ork and the three big birds were first landing their passengers in -Jinxland, after the long flight across the desert. "I wonder," added -the girl Ruler, musingly, "why those strangers dare venture into that -unfortunate country, which is ruled by a wicked King." - -"That girl, and the one-legged man, seem to be mortals from the outside -world," said Dorothy. - -"The man isn't one-legged," corrected Betsy; "he has one wooden leg." - -"It's almost as bad," declared Dorothy, watching Cap'n Bill stump around. - -"They are three mortal adventurers," said Ozma, "and they seem worthy and -honest. But I fear they will be treated badly in Jinxland, and if they -meet with any misfortune there it will reflect upon me, for Jinxland is a -part of my dominions." - -"Can't we help them in any way?" inquired Dorothy. "That seems like a -nice little girl. I'd be sorry if anything happened to her." - -"Let us watch the picture for awhile," suggested Ozma, and so they all -drew chairs before the Magic Picture and followed the adventures of Trot -and Cap'n Bill and Button-Bright. Presently the scene shifted and showed -their friend the Scarecrow crossing the mountains into Jinxland, and that -somewhat relieved Ozma's anxiety, for she knew at once that Glinda the -Good had sent the Scarecrow to protect the strangers. - -The adventures in Jinxland proved very interesting to the three girls in -Ozma's palace, who during the succeeding days spent much of their time in -watching the picture. It was like a story to them. - -[Illustration: Dorothy] - -"That girl's a reg'lar trump!' exclaimed Dorothy, referring to Trot, and -Ozma answered: - -"She's a dear little thing, and I'm sure nothing very bad will happen -to her. The old sailor is a fine character, too, for he has never once -grumbled over being a grasshopper, as so many would have done." - -When the Scarecrow was so nearly burned up the girls all shivered a -little, and they clapped their hands in joy when the flock of Orks came -and saved him. - -So it was that when all the exciting adventures in Jinxland were over and -the four Orks had begun their flight across the mountains to carry the -mortals into the Land of Oz, Ozma called the Wizard to her and asked him -to prepare a place for the strangers to sleep. - -The famous Wizard of Oz was a quaint little man who inhabited the royal -palace and attended to all the magical things that Ozma wanted done. He -was not as powerful as Glinda, to be sure, but he could do a great many -wonderful things. He proved this by placing a house in the uninhabited -part of the Quadling Country where the Orks landed Cap'n Bill and Trot -and Button-Bright, and fitting it with all the comforts I have described -in the last chapter. - -Next morning Dorothy said to Ozma: - -"Oughtn't we to go meet the strangers, so we can show them the way to the -Emerald City? I'm sure that little girl will feel shy in this beautiful -land, and I know if 'twas me I'd like somebody to give me a welcome." - -Ozma smiled at her little friend and answered: - -"You and Betsy may go to meet them, if you wish, but I can not leave -my palace just now, as I am to have a conference with Jack Pumpkinhead -and Professor Wogglebug on important matters. You may take the Sawhorse -and the Red Wagon, and if you start soon you will be able to meet the -Scarecrow and the strangers at Glinda's palace." - -"Oh, thank you!" cried Dorothy, and went away to tell Betsy and to make -preparations for the journey. - -[Illustration: Betsy] - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 22 - -The Waterfall - - -Glinda's castle was a long way from the mountains, but the Scarecrow -began the journey cheerfully, since time was of no great importance in -the Land of Oz and he had recently made the trip and knew the way. It -never mattered much to Button-Bright where he was or what he was doing; -the boy was content in being alive and having good companions to share -his wanderings. As for Trot and Cap'n Bill, they now found themselves -so comfortable and free from danger, in this fine fairyland, and they -were so awed and amazed by the adventures they were encountering, that -the journey to Glinda's castle was more like a pleasure trip than a -hardship, so many wonderful things were there to see. - -Button-Bright had been in Oz before, but never in this part of it, so -the Scarecrow was the only one who knew the paths and could lead them. -They had eaten a hearty breakfast, which they found already prepared for -them and awaiting them on the table when they arose from their refreshing -sleep, so they left the magic house in a contented mood and with hearts -lighter and more happy than they had known for many a day. As they -marched along through the fields, the sun shone brightly and the breeze -was laden with delicious fragrance, for it carried with it the breath of -millions of wildflowers. - -At noon, when they stopped to rest by the banks of a pretty river, Trot -said with a long-drawn breath that was much like a sigh: - -"I wish we'd brought with us some of the food that was left from our -breakfast, for I'm getting hungry again." - -Scarcely had she spoken when a table rose up before them, as if from -the ground itself, and it was loaded with fruits and nuts and cakes and -many other good things to eat. The little girl's eyes opened wide at -this display of magic, and Cap'n Bill was not sure that the things were -actually there and fit to eat until he had taken them in his hand and -tasted them. But the Scarecrow said with a laugh: - -"Someone is looking after your welfare, that is certain, and from the -looks of this table I suspect my friend the Wizard has taken us in his -charge. I've known him to do things like this before, and if we are in -the Wizard's care you need not worry about your future." - -"Who's worrying?" inquired Button-Bright, already at the table and busily -eating. - -The Scarecrow looked around the place while the others were feasting, and -finding many things unfamiliar to him he shook his head and remarked: - -"I must have taken the wrong path, back in that last valley, for on my -way to Jinxland I remember that I passed around the foot of this river, -where there was a great waterfall." - -"Did the river make a bend, after the waterfall?" asked Cap'n Bill. - -"No, the river disappeared. Only a pool of whirling water showed what had -become of the river; but I suppose it is under ground, somewhere, and -will come to the surface again in another part of the country." - -"Well," suggested Trot, as she finished her luncheon, "as there is no way -to cross this river, I s'pose we'll have to find that waterfall, and go -around it." - -"Exactly," replied the Scarecrow; so they soon renewed their journey, -following the river for a long time until the roar of the waterfall -sounded in their ears. By and by they came to the waterfall itself, a -sheet of silver dropping far, far down into a tiny lake which seemed to -have no outlet. From the top of the fall, where they stood, the banks -gradually sloped away, so that the descent by land was quite easy, while -the river could do nothing but glide over an edge of rock and tumble -straight down to the depths below. - -"You see," said the Scarecrow, leaning over the brink, "this is called by -our Oz people the Great Waterfall, because it is certainly the highest -one in all the land; but I think--Help!" - -[Illustration] - -He had lost his balance and pitched headforemost into the river. They saw -a flash of straw and blue clothes, and the painted face looking upward in -surprise. The next moment the Scarecrow was swept over the waterfall and -plunged into the basin below. - -The accident had happened so suddenly that for a moment they were all too -horrified to speak or move. - -"Quick! We must go to help him or he will be drowned," Trot exclaimed. - -Even while speaking she began to descend the bank to the pool below, -and Cap'n Bill followed as swiftly as his wooden leg would let him. -Button-Bright came more slowly, calling to the girl: - -"He can't drown, Trot; he's a Scarecrow." - -But she wasn't sure a Scarecrow couldn't drown and never relaxed her -speed until she stood on the edge of the pool, with the spray dashing in -her face. Cap'n Bill, puffing and panting, had just voice enough to ask, -as he reached her side: - -"See him, Trot?" - -"Not a speck of him. Oh, Cap'n, what do you s'pose has become of him?" - -"I s'pose," replied the sailor, "that he's in that water, more or less -far down, and I'm 'fraid it'll make his straw pretty soggy. But as fer -his bein' drowned, I agree with Button-Bright that it can't be done." - -[Illustration] - -There was small comfort in this assurance and Trot stood for some -time searching with her eyes the bubbling water, in the hope that -the Scarecrow would finally come to the surface. Presently she heard -Button-Bright calling: "Come here, Trot!" and looking around she saw that -the boy had crept over the wet rocks to the edge of the waterfall and -seemed to be peering behind it. Making her way toward him, she asked: - -"What do you see?" - -"A cave," he answered. "Let's go in. Perhaps we'll find the Scarecrow -there." - -She was a little doubtful of that, but the cave interested her, and so -did it Cap'n Bill. There was just space enough at the edge of the sheet -of water for them to crowd in behind it, but after that dangerous -entrance they found room enough to walk upright and after a time they -came to an opening in the wall of rock. Approaching this opening, they -gazed within it and found a series of steps, cut so that they might -easily descend into the cavern. - -Trot turned to look inquiringly at her companions. The falling water made -such din and roaring that her voice could not be heard. Cap'n Bill nodded -his head, but before he could enter the cave, Button-Bright was before -him, clambering down the steps without a particle of fear. So the others -followed the boy. - -The first steps were wet with spray, and slippery, but the remainder were -quite dry. A rosy light seemed to come from the interior of the cave, and -this lighted their way. After the steps there was a short tunnel, high -enough for them to walk erect in, and then they reached the cave itself -and paused in wonder and admiration. - -They stood on the edge of a vast cavern, the walls and domed roof of -which were lined with countless rubies, exquisitely cut and flashing -sparkling rays from one to another. This caused a radiant light that -permitted the entire cavern to be distinctly seen, and the effect was so -marvelous that Trot drew in her breath with a sort of a gasp, and stood -quite still in wonder. - -But the walls and roof of the cavern were merely a setting for a more -wonderful scene. In the center was a bubbling cauldron of water, for here -the river rose again, splashing and dashing till its spray rose high in -the air, where it took the ruby color of the jewels and seemed like a -seething mass of flame. And while they gazed into the tumbling, tossing -water, the body of the Scarecrow suddenly rose in the center, struggling -and kicking, and the next instant wholly disappeared from view. - -"My, but he's wet!" exclaimed Button-Bright; but none of the others heard -him. - -Trot and Cap'n Bill discovered that a broad ledge--covered, like the -walls, with glittering rubies--ran all around the cavern; so they -followed this gorgeous path to the rear and found where the water made -its final dive underground, before it disappeared entirely. Where it -plunged into this dim abyss the river was black and dreary looking, and -they stood gazing in awe until just beside them the body of the Scarecrow -again popped up from the water. - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 23 - -The Land of Oz - - -The straw man's appearance on the water was so sudden that it startled -Trot, but Cap'n Bill had the presence of mind to stick his wooden leg out -over the water and the Scarecrow made a desperate clutch and grabbed the -leg with both hands. He managed to hold on until Trot and Button-Bright -knelt down and seized his clothing, but the children would have been -powerless to drag the soaked Scarecrow ashore had not Cap'n Bill now -assisted them. When they laid him on the ledge of rubies he was the most -useless looking Scarecrow you can imagine--his straw sodden and dripping -with water, his clothing wet and crumpled, while even the sack upon -which his face was painted had become so wrinkled that the old jolly -expression of their stuffed friend's features was entirely gone. But he -could still speak, and when Trot bent down her ear she heard him say: - -"Get me out of here as soon as you can." - -That seemed a wise thing to do, so Cap'n Bill lifted his head and -shoulders, and Trot and Button-Bright each took a leg; among them they -partly carried and partly dragged the damp Scarecrow out of the Ruby -Cavern, along the tunnel, and up the flight of rock steps. It was -somewhat difficult to get him past the edge of the waterfall, but they -succeeded, after much effort, and a few minutes later laid their poor -comrade on a grassy bank where the sun shone upon him freely and he was -beyond the reach of the spray. - -Cap'n Bill now knelt down and examined the straw that the Scarecrow was -stuffed with. - -"I don't believe it'll be of much use to him, any more," said he, "for -it's full of polliwogs an' fish eggs, an' the water has took all the -crinkle out o' the straw an' ruined it. I guess, Trot, that the best -thing for us to do is to empty out all his body an' carry his head an' -clothes along the road till we come to a field or a house where we can -get some fresh straw." - -"Yes, Cap'n," she agreed, "there's nothing else to be done. But how shall -we ever find the road to Glinda's palace, without the Scarecrow to guide -us?" - -"That's easy," said the Scarecrow, speaking in a rather feeble but -distinct voice. "If Cap'n Bill will carry my head on his shoulders, eyes -front, I can tell him which way to go." - -So they followed that plan and emptied all the old, wet straw out of the -Scarecrow's body. Then the sailor-man wrung out the clothes and laid them -in the sun till they were quite dry. Trot took charge of the head and -pressed the wrinkles out of the face as it dried, so that after a while -the Scarecrow's expression became natural again, and as jolly as before. - -This work consumed some time, but when it was completed they again -started upon their journey, Button-Bright carrying the boots and hat, -Trot the bundle of clothes, and Cap'n Bill the head. The Scarecrow, -having regained his composure and being now in a good humor, despite his -recent mishaps, beguiled their way with stories of the Land of Oz. - -[Illustration] - -It was not until the next morning, however, that they found straw with -which to restuff the Scarecrow. That evening they came to the same little -house they had slept in before, only now it was magically transferred to -a new place. The same bountiful supper as before was found smoking hot -upon the table and the same cosy beds were ready for them to sleep in. - -They rose early and after breakfast went out of doors, and there, lying -just beside the house, was a heap of clean, crisp straw. Ozma had noticed -the Scarecrow's accident in her Magic Picture and had notified the Wizard -to provide the straw, for she knew the adventurers were not likely to -find straw in the country through which they were now traveling. - -They lost no time in stuffing the Scarecrow anew, and he was greatly -delighted at being able to walk around again and to assume the leadership -of the little party. - -"Really," said Trot, "I think you're better than you were before, for you -are fresh and sweet all through and rustle beautifully when you move." - -"Thank you, my dear," he replied gratefully. "I always feel like a new -man when I'm freshly stuffed. No one likes to get musty, you know, and -even good straw may be spoiled by age." - -"It was water that spoiled you, the last time," remarked Button-Bright, -"which proves that too much bathing is as bad as too little. But, after -all, Scarecrow, water is not as dangerous for you as fire." - -"All things are good in moderation," declared the Scarecrow. "But now, -let us hurry on, or we shall not reach Glinda's palace by nightfall." - -[Illustration] - - - - -[Illustration] - - -CHAPTER 24 - -The Royal Reception - - -At about four o'clock of that same day the Red Wagon drew up at the -entrance to Glinda's palace and Dorothy and Betsy jumped out. Ozma's Red -Wagon was almost a chariot, being inlaid with rubies and pearls, and it -was drawn by Ozma's favorite steed, the wooden Sawhorse. - -"Shall I unharness you," asked Dorothy, "so you can come in and visit?" - -"No," replied the Sawhorse. "I'll just stand here and think. Take your -time. Thinking doesn't seem to bore me at all." - -"What will you think of?" inquired Betsy. - -"Of the acorn that grew the tree from which I was made." - -So they left the wooden animal and went in to see Glinda, who welcomed -the little girls in her most cordial manner. - -"I knew you were on your way," said the good Sorceress when they were -seated in her library, "for I learned from my Record Book that you -intended to meet Trot and Button-Bright on their arrival here." - -"Is the strange little girl named Trot?' asked Dorothy. - -"Yes; and her companion, the old sailor, is named Cap'n Bill. I think we -shall like them very much, for they are just the kind of people to enjoy -and appreciate our fairyland and I do not see any way, at present, for -them to return again to the outside world." - -"Well, there's room enough here for them, I'm sure," said Dorothy. "Betsy -and I are already eager to welcome Trot. It will keep us busy for a year, -at least, showing her all the wonderful things in Oz." - -Glinda smiled. - -"I have lived here many years," said she, "and I have not seen all the -wonders of Oz vet." - -Meantime the travelers were drawing near to the palace, and when they -first caught sight of its towers Trot realized that it was far more -grand and imposing than was the King's castle in Jinxland. The nearer -they came, the more beautiful the palace appeared, and when finally the -Scarecrow led them up the great marble steps, even Button-Bright was -filled with awe. - -"I don't see any soldiers to guard the place," said the little girl. - -"There is no need to guard Glinda's palace," replied the Scarecrow. "We -have no wicked people in Oz, that we know of, and even if there were any, -Glinda's magic would be powerful enough to protect her." - -Button-Bright was now standing on the top steps of the entrance, and he -suddenly exclaimed: - -"Why, there's the Sawhorse and the Red Wagon! Hip, hooray!" and next -moment he was rushing down to throw his arms around the neck of the -wooden horse, which good-naturedly permitted this familiarity when it -recognized in the boy an old friend. - -Button-Bright's shout had been heard inside the palace, so now Dorothy -and Betsy came running out to embrace their beloved friend, the -Scarecrow, and to welcome Trot and Cap'n Bill to the Land of Oz. - -"We've been watching you for a long time, in Ozma's Magic Picture," said -Dorothy, "and Ozma has sent us to invite you to her own palace in the -Em'rald City. I don't know if you realize how lucky you are to get that -invitation, but you'll understand it better after you've seen the royal -palace and the Em'rald City." - -Glinda now appeared in person to lead all the party into her Azure -Reception Room. Trot was a little afraid of the stately Sorceress, but -gained courage by holding fast to the hands of Betsy and Dorothy. Cap'n -Bill had no one to help him feel at ease, so the old sailor sat stiffly -on the edge of his chair and said: "Yes, ma'am," or "No, ma'am," when he -was spoken to, and was greatly embarrassed by so much splendor. - -The Scarecrow had lived so much in palaces that he felt quite at home, -and he chatted to Glinda and the Oz girls in a merry, light-hearted way. -He told all about his adventures in Jinxland, and at the Great Waterfall, -and on the journey hither--most of which his hearers knew already--and -then he asked Dorothy and Betsy what had happened in the Emerald City -since he had left there. - -They all passed the evening and the night at Glinda's palace, and the -Sorceress was so gracious to Cap'n Bill that the old man by degrees -regained his self-possession and began to enjoy himself. Trot had -already come to the conclusion that in Dorothy and Betsy she had found -two delightful comrades, and Button-Bright was just as much at home here -as he had been in the fields of Jinxland or when he was buried in the -popcorn snow of the Land of Mo. - -The next morning they arose bright and early and after breakfast bade -good-bye to the kind Sorceress, whom Trot and Cap'n Bill thanked -earnestly for sending the Scarecrow to Jinxland to rescue them. Then they -all climbed into the Red Wagon. - -There was room for all on the broad seats, and when all had taken -their places--Dorothy, Trot and Betsy on the rear seat and Cap'n Bill, -Button-Bright and the Scarecrow in front--they called "Gid-dap!" to the -Sawhorse and the wooden steed moved briskly away, pulling the Red Wagon -with ease. - -It was now that the strangers began to perceive the real beauties of the -Land of Oz, for they were passing through a more thickly settled part -of the country and the population grew more dense as they drew nearer -to the Emerald City. Everyone they met had a cheery word or a smile for -the Scarecrow, Dorothy and Betsy Bobbin, and some of them remembered -Button-Bright and welcomed him back to their country. - -It was a happy party, indeed, that journeyed in the Red Wagon to the -Emerald City, and Trot already began to hope that Ozma would permit her -and Cap'n Bill to live always in the Land of Oz. - -When they reached the great city they were more amazed than ever, both by -the concourse of people in their quaint and picturesque costumes, and by -the splendor of the city itself. But the magnificence of the Royal Palace -quite took their breath away, until Ozma received them in her own pretty -apartment and by her charming manners and assuring smiles made them feel -they were no longer strangers. - -Trot was given a lovely little room next to that of Dorothy, while Cap'n -Bill had the cosiest sort of a room next to Trot's and overlooking the -gardens. And that evening Ozma gave a grand banquet and reception in -honor of the new arrivals. While Trot had read of many of the people she -then met, Cap'n Bill was less familiar with them and many of the unusual -characters introduced to him that evening caused the old sailor to open -his eyes wide in astonishment. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration] - -He had thought the live Scarecrow about as curious as anyone could be, -but now he met the Tin Woodman, who was all made of tin, even to his -heart, and carried a gleaming axe over his shoulder wherever he went. -Then there was Jack Pumpkinhead, whose head was a real pumpkin with the -face carved upon it; and Professor Wogglebug, who had the shape of an -enormous bug but was dressed in neat fitting garments. The Professor was -an interesting talker and had very polite manners, but his face was so -comical that it made Cap'n Bill smile to look at it. A great friend of -Dorothy and Ozma seemed to be a machine man called Tik-Tok, who ran down -several times during the evening and had to be wound up again by someone -before he could move or speak. - -At the reception appeared the Shaggy Man and his brother, both very -popular in Oz, as well as Dorothy's Uncle Henry and Aunt Em, two happy -old people who lived in a pretty cottage near the palace. - -But what perhaps seemed most surprising to both Trot and Cap'n Bill was -the number of peculiar animals admitted into Ozma's parlors, where they -not only conducted themselves quite properly but were able to talk as -well as anyone. - -There was the Cowardly Lion, an immense beast with a beautiful mane; and -the Hungry Tiger, who smiled continually; and Eureka the Pink Kitten, who -lay curled upon a cushion and had rather supercilious manners; and the -wooden Sawhorse; and nine tiny piglets that belonged to the Wizard; and -a mule named Hank, who belonged to Betsy Bobbin. A fuzzy little terrier -dog, named Toto, lay at Dorothy's feet but seldom took part in the -conversation, although he listened to every word that was said. But the -most wonderful of all to Trot was a square beast with a winning smile, -that squatted in a corner of the room and wagged his square head at -everyone in quite a jolly way. Betsy told Trot that this unique beast was -called the Woozy, and there was no other like him in all the world. - -Cap'n Bill and Trot had both looked around expectantly for the Wizard of -Oz, but the evening was far advanced before the famous little man entered -the room. But he went up to the strangers at once and said: - -"I know you, but you don't know me; so let's get acquainted." - -And they did get acquainted, in a very short time, and before the evening -was over Trot felt that she knew every person and animal present at the -reception, and that they were all her good friends. - -Suddenly they looked around for Button-Bright, but he was nowhere to be -found. - -"Dear me!" cried Trot. "He's lost again." - -"Never mind, my dear," said Ozma, with her charming smile, "no one -can go far astray in the Land of Oz, and if Button-Bright isn't lost -occasionally, he isn't happy." - -[Illustration] - - - * * * * * - - -Transcriber Notes - - -All illustrations were placed so as to not split paragraphs. The color -illustrations were grouped together (between pages 32 and 33) in the -printed version; but have been moved to the relevent point within the -story. 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