Oz 02: The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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are_you ready ? "

the tin woodman looked at tip .

"I'm rested," said the boy ." let_us start ."

then they resumed their journey, the little grey queen of_the field Mice running swiftly ahead and then pausing until the travelers drew near, when away she_would dart again .

without this unerring guide the Scarecrow and_his comrades might never have gained the emerald city; for many were the obstacles thrown in their way by_the arts of old Mombi . yet not one_of_the obstacles really existed -- all were cleverly contrived deceptions . for when_they came to_the banks of arushing river that threatened to bar their way the

165 little queen kept steadily on, passing through_the seeming flood in safety; and_our travelers followed her without encountering a single drop of water .

again, a high wall of granite towered high above their heads and opposed their advance . but the grey field mouse walked straight through it, and_the others did the same, the wall melting into mist as_they passed it .

Afterward, when_they had stopped for a moment to allow tip to rest, they saw forty roads branching off from their feet in forty different directions; and soon these forty roads began whirling around like a mighty wheel, first in one direction and then in_the other, completely bewildering their vision .

but the queen called for_them to_follow her and darted off in a straight line; and when_they had gone a few paces the whirling pathways vanished and were seen no more .

Mombi's last trick was_the most fearful of all . she sent a sheet of crackling flame rushing over the meadow to consume them; and for_the first time the Scarecrow became afraid and turned to fly .

" if_that fire reaches me i_will_be gone in no time ! " said he, trembling until his straw rattled ." it's the most dangerous thing I ever encountered ."

"I'm off, too ! " cried the saw- horse, turning and

166 prancing with agitation; " for_my wood is so dry it would burn like kindlings ."

" is fire dangerous to pumpkins ? " asked jack, fearfully .

" you'll be baked like a tart -- and so will I ! "

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answered the Woggle- bug, getting down on all fours so he_could run the faster .

but the tin woodman, having no fear of fire, averted the stampede by a few sensible words .

" look at_the field mouse ! " he shouted ." the fire does_not burn her in_the least . in_fact, it_is no fire at all, but only a deception ."

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indeed, to watch the little queen march calmly through_the advancing flames restored courage to every member of_the party, and_they followed her without being even scorched .

" this_is surely a most extraordinary adventure," said the Woggle- bug, who was greatly amazed; " for_it upsets all the natural Laws that I heard professor Nowitall teach in_the school- house ."

" of_course it does," said the Scarecrow, wisely ." all magic is unnatural, and for_that reason is_to_be feared and avoided . but I_see before_us the gates of_the emerald city, so I imagine we_have now overcome all the magical obstacles that seemed to oppose us ."

indeed, the walls of_the city were plainly visible, and_the queen of_the field Mice, who had guided them so faithfully, came near to bid them good- bye .

" we_are very grateful to your majesty for your kind assistance," said the tin woodman, bowing before_the pretty creature .

" I_am always pleased to_be of service to my friends," answered the queen, and in a flash she had darted away upon her journey home .

168 full page line- art drawing .

169 the Prisoners of_the queen

Approaching the gateway of_the emerald city the travelers found it guarded by two girls of_the army of revolt, who opposed their entrance by drawing the knitting-needles from their hair and threatening to prod the first that came near .

but the tin woodman was not afraid ."

at_the worst they_can but scratch my beautiful nickel- plate," he_said ." but there_will_be no ' worst,' for i_think I_can manage to frighten these absurd soldiers very easily . follow me closely, all of you ! "

then, swinging his axe in a great circle to right and left before him, he advanced upon_the gate, and_the others followed him without hesitation .

the girls, who had expected no resistance whatever, were terrified by_the sweep of_the glittering axe and fled screaming into_the city; so that_our

170 travelers passed the gates in safety and marched down the green marble pavement of_the wide street toward the royal palace .

" at_this rate we_will soon have your majesty upon_the throne again," said the tin woodman, laughing at his easy conquest of_the guards .

" thank_you, friend nick," returned the Scarecrow, gratefully ." nothing can resist your kind heart and your sharp axe ."

as_they passed the rows of houses they saw through_the open doors that men were sweeping and dusting and washing dishes, while the women sat around in groups, gossiping and laughing .

" what has happened ? " the Scarecrow asked a sad- looking man with abushy beard, who wore an apron and was Wheeling a baby- carriage along the sidewalk .

" why, we've had a revolution, your majesty as_you ought to_know very_well," replied the man; " and since you went away the women have_been running things to suit themselves .I'm glad you_have decided to_come back and restore order, for doing housework and minding the children is wearing out the strength of every man in_the emerald city ."

"Hm ! " said the Scarecrow, thoughtfully ." if_it

171 is such hard work as_you say, how did the women manage it so easily ? "

"I really do_not know" replied the man, with a deep sigh ." perhaps the women are made of castiron ."

no movement was_made, as_they passed along the street, to oppose their progress . several of_the women stopped their gossip long enough to cast curious looks upon our friends, but immediately they_would turn away with a laugh or a sneer and resume their chatter . and when_they met with several girls belonging to_the army of revolt, those soldiers, instead of being alarmed or appearing surprised, merely stepped out_of_the way and allowed them to advance without protest .

this action rendered the Scarecrow uneasy ."

I'm afraid we_are walking into a trap," said he .

" nonsense ! " returned nick chopper, confidently; " the silly creatures are conquered already ! "

but the Scarecrow shook his head in a way that expressed doubt, and tip said:

" it's too easy, altogether . look out for trouble ahead ."

" i_will," returned his majesty . unopposed they reached the royal palace and marched up the marble steps, which had once been

172 full page line- art drawing .

" it'S too easy, altogether ."

173 thickly crusted with emeralds but were now filled with tiny holes where the jewels had_been ruthlessly torn from their settings by_the army of revolt . and so_far not a rebel barred their way .

through_the arched hallways and into_the magnificent throne room marched the tin woodman and_his followers, and here, when_the green silken curtains fell behind them, they saw a curious sight .

seated within_the glittering throne was general Jinjur, with_the Scarecrow's second- best crown upon her head, and_the royal sceptre in her right hand .a box of caramels, from_which she was eating, rested in her lap, and_the girl seemed entirely at ease in her royal surroundings .

the Scarecrow stepped forward and confronted her, while the tin woodman leaned upon his axe and_the others formed a half- circle back of_his majesty's person .

" how dare you sit in my throne ? " demanded the Scarecrow, sternly eyeing the intruder ."Don't you_know you_are guilty of treason, and that_there_is a law against treason ? "

" the throne belongs to whoever is able to_take it," answered Jinjur, as she slowly ate another caramel ." I_have taken it, as you_see; so just now I_am the queen, and all who oppose me are guilty of

174 treason, and must_be punished by_the law you_have just mentioned ."

this view of_the case puzzled the Scarecrow .

" how is_it, friend nick ? " he asked, turning to_the tin woodman .

" why, when it comes to law, I_have nothing to, say" answered that personage ." for laws were never meant to_be understood, and it_is foolish to make_the attempt ."

" then what shall we_do ? " asked the Scarecrow, in dismay .

" why don't you marry the queen ? and then you_can both rule," suggested the Woggle- bug .

Jinjur glared at_the insect fiercely ." why don't you send her back to her mother, where she belongs ? " asked jack Pumpkinhead .

Jinjur frowned .

" why don't you shut her up in a closet until she behaves herself, and promises to_be good ? " enquired tip .Jinjur's lip curled scornfully .

" or give her a good shaking ! " added the saw- horse .

" no," said the tin woodman, " we_must treat the poor girl with gentleness . let_us give her all the Jewels she_can carry, and send her away happy and contented ."

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at_this queen Jinjur laughed aloud, and_the next minute clapped her pretty hands together thrice, as_if for a signal .

" you_are very absurd creatures," said she; " but I_am tired of your nonsense and_have no time to bother with_you longer ."

while the monarch and_his friends listened in amazement to_this impudent speech, astartling thing happened . the tin woodman's axe was snatched from_his grasp by some person behind him, and he_found himself disarmed and helpless . at_the same instant a shout of laughter rang in_the ears of_the devoted band, and turning to_see whence this came they found themselves surrounded by_the army of revolt, the girls bearing in either hand their glistening knitting-needles . the entire throne room seemed to_be filled with_the rebels, and_the Scarecrow and_his comrades realized that_they were prisoners .

" you_see how foolish it_is to oppose a woman's wit," said Jinjur, gaily; " and this event only proves that I_am more fit to rule the emerald city than aScarecrow .I bear you no ill will, I assure you; but lest you_should prove troublesome to_me in_the_future I_shall order you all to_be destroyed . that_is, all except the boy, who belongs to old Mombi and must_be restored to her keeping . the rest of

176 you_are_not human, and therefore it_will_not_be wicked to demolish you . the saw- horse and_the Pumpkinhead's body i_will_have chopped up for kindling- wood; and_the pumpkin shall be made into tarts . the Scarecrow will do nicely to start abonfire, and_the tin man can_be cut into small pieces and fed to_the goats . as for_this immense Woggle- bug -- "

" highly Magnified, if_you please ! " interrupted the insect .

" i_think i_will ask_the cook to_make green- turtle soup of you," continued the queen, reflectively .

the Woggle- bug shuddered .

" or, if_that won't do, we_might use you for a Hungarian goulash, stewed and highly spiced," she added, cruelly .

this programme of extermination was so terrible that_the prisoners looked upon one another in a panic of fear . the Scarecrow alone did_not give way to despair . he stood quietly before_the queen and_his brow was wrinkled in deep thought as he strove to_find some means to escape .

while thus engaged he_felt the straw within his breast move gently . at once his expression changed from sadness to joy, and raising his hand he quickly unbuttoned the front of_his jacket .

this action did_not pass unnoticed by_the crowd

177 of girls clustering about him, but none_of_them suspected what he_was doing until a tiny grey mouse leaped from_his bosom to_the floor and scampered

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away between_the feet of_the army of revolt . another mouse quickly followed; then another and another, in rapid succession . and suddenly such a

178 scream of terror went up from_the army that_it might easily have filled the stoutest heart with consternation . the flight that ensued turned to a stampede, and_the stampede to a panic .

for while the startled mice rushed wildly about_the room the Scarecrow had only time to note a whirl of skirts and atwinkling of feet as_the girls disappeared from_the palace -- pushing and crowding one another in their mad efforts to escape .

the queen, at_the first alarm, stood up on_the cushions of_the throne and began to dance frantically upon her tiptoes . then a mouse ran up the cushions, and with a terrified leap poor Jinjur shot clear over the head of_the Scarecrow and escaped through an archway -- never pausing in her wild career until she had reached the city gates .

so, in less time than I_can explain, the throne room was deserted by all save the Scarecrow and_his friends, and_the Woggle- bug heaved a deep sigh of relief as he exclaimed:

" thank goodness, we_are saved ! "

" for a time, yes;" answered the tin woodman ." but the enemy will soon return, I_fear ."

" let_us bar all the entrances to_the palace ! " said the Scarecrow ." then we_shall_have time to_think what_is best to_be_done ."

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so all except jack Pumpkinhead, who was still tied fast to_the saw- horse, ran to_the various entrances of_the royal palace and closed the heavy doors, bolting and locking them securely . then, knowing that_the army of revolt could_not batter down the barriers in several_days, the adventurers gathered once more in_the throne room for a council of war .

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180 full page line- art drawing .

181 the Scarecrow Takes time to_think

" it seems to_me," began the Scarecrow, when all were again assembled in_the throne room, " that_the girl Jinjur is quite right in claiming to_be queen . and if she_is right, then I_am wrong, and we_have no business to_be occupying her palace ."

" but you were the king until she came," said the Woggle- bug, strutting up and down with_his hands in_his pockets; " so it appears to_me that she is_the interloper instead of you ."

" especially as we_have just conquered her and put her to flight," added the Pumpkinhead, as he raised his hands to_turn his face toward

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