Oz 15: The Royal Book of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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in_the kingdom, and unless one is a good swimmer or equipped with some_of_the wizard's magic it_is mighty troublesome . water does_not agree with_the Scarecrow at all, and as for swimming, he_can no more swim than a bag of meal .

but he_was too wise a person to_give up merely because a thing appeared to_be impossible . it_was for just such emergencies that his excellent brains had_been given to him .

" if nick chopper were here, he_would build a raft in no time," murmured the Scarecrow, " but as he_is_not, I_must think of another way ! "

Turning his back on_the river, which distracted his mind, he began to_think with all his might . before he_could collect his thoughts, there_was a tremendous crash, and next minute he_was lying face down in_the mud . several little crashes followed, and a shower of water . then a wet voice called out with a cheerful chuckle:

" come on out, my dear Rattles . not a bad place at all, and here's breakfast already waiting ! "

" breakfast ! " the Scarecrow turned over cautiously .a huge and curious creature was slashing through_the grass toward him .a smaller and still more curious one followed . both were extremely damp and had evidently just come out_of_the river .

" good morning ! " quavered the Scarecrow, sitting up with a jerk and at_the same time reaching for a stick that lay just behind him .

"I won't eat it if_it talks -- so there ! " the smaller creature stopped and stared fixedly at_the Scarecrow .

the Scarecrow, hearing this, tried to_think of something else to_say, but the appearance of_the two was so amazing that, as he_told Dorothy afterwards, he_was struck dumb . the larger was at_least two hundred feet long and made entirely of blocks of wood . on each block was a letter of_the alphabet . the head was a huge square block with a serpent's face and long, curling, tape- measure tongue . the little one was very_much smaller and seemed to consist of hundreds of rattles, wood, celluloid, and rubber, fastened together with wires . every time it moved, the rattles tinkled . its face, however, was not unpleasant, so the Scarecrow took heart and made a deep bow .

" and I'm not going to eat anything that squirms ." this_time it was_the big serpent who spoke .

" thank_you ! " said the Scarecrow, bowing several_times more ." you relieve my mind .I've never been a breakfast yet, and I'd rather not begin . but if I_cannot_be your breakfast, let me be your friend ! " he extended his arms impulsively .

there_was something so jolly about_the Scarecrow's smile that_the two creatures became friendly at once, and moreover told him the story of_their lives .

" as_you_have doubtless noted," began the larger creature, " I_am an A-B- sea serpent . I_am employed in_the nursery of_the Mer children to teach them their letters . my friend, here, is a rattlesnake, and it_is his business to amuse the Mer babies while the Mermaids are mer-marketing . once a year, we take a vacation, and proceeding from_the sea depths up a strange river, we came out upon_this shore . perhaps you, sir, will_be_able to_tell us where we_are ? "

" you_are in_the Munchkin country of_the land of Oz," explained the Scarecrow politely ." it_is acharming place for a vacation . i_would show you about myself if I were_not bound on an important mission ." here the Scarecrow sighed deeply .

" have_you a family ? " he asked the A-B- sea serpent curiously .

" yes, indeed," replied the monster, snapping its tape- measure tongue in and out, " I_have five great-grandmothers, twenty- one grandnieces, seven brothers, and six sisters- in- law ! "

"Ah ! " murmured the Scarecrow, clasping his hands tragically, " how I envy you . I_have no one -- no aunts -- no ancestors -- no family -- no family tree but a bean pole . I_am, alas, a man without a past ! " the Scarecrow looked so dejected that_the rattlesnake thought he_was going to cry .

"Oh, cheer up ! " it begged in adistressed voice ." think of your presence -- here -- I give_you permission to shake me ! " the Scarecrow was so affected by_this kind offer that he cheered up immediately .

" no past but a presence -- I'll remember that ! " he swelled out his straw chest complacently, and leaning over, stroked the rattlesnake on_the head .

" are_you good at riddles ? " asked the rattlesnake timidly .

" well," answered the Scarecrow judiciously, " I_have very_good brains, given me by_the famous wizard of Oz ."

" then why is_the A-B- sea serpent like a city ? " asked the rattlesnake promptly .

the Scarecrow thought hard for several seconds .

" because it_is made up of blocks ! " he roared triumphantly ." that's easy; now it's my turn . why is_the A-B- sea serpent such a slow talker ? "

" give it up ! " said the rattlesnake after shaking himself several_times .

" because his tongue is a tape measure, and he has_to measure his words ! " cried the Scarecrow, snapping his clumsy fingers ." and_that's a good one, if I_did make it myself . I_must remember to_tell it to Dorothy ! "

then he sobered quite suddenly, for_the thought of Dorothy brought back the purpose of_his journey .Interrupting the rattlesnake in_the midst of a new riddle, he explained how anxious he_was to return to_the little farm where he had_been discovered and try to_find some traces of_his family .

" and_the real riddle," he sighed with a wave of_his hand, " is how to cross this river ."

" that's easy and no riddle at all," rumbled the A-B- sea serpent, who had_been listening attentively to_the Scarecrow's remarks ."I'll stretch across, and you_can walk over ." Suiting the action to_the word, he began backing very cautiously toward the river so as not to shake the Scarecrow off his feet .

" mind your P's and Q's ! " called the rattlesnake warn-ingly . it_was well that he spoke, for_the A-B- sea serpent had doubled the P and Q blocks under, and_they were ready to snap off . finally, however, he managed to_make a bridge of himself, and_the Scarecrow stepped easily over the blocks, the huge serpent holding himself rigid . just as he reached Y, the unfortunate creature sneezed, and all the blocks rattled together . up flew the Scarecrow and escaped falling into_the stream only by_the narrowest margin .

" blockhead ! " shrilled the rattlesnake, who had taken a great fancy to_the Scarecrow .

"I'm all right," cried the Scarecrow rather breathlessly ." thank_you very_much ! " he sprang nimbly up the bank ." hope you_have a pleasant vacation ! "

" can't, with arattlepate like that ." the A-B- sea serpent nodded glumly in_the rattlesnake's direction .

" now don't quarrel," begged the Scarecrow ." you_are both charming and unusual, and if_you follow that yellow road, you_will come to_the emerald city, and Ozma will_be delighted to welcome you ."

" the emerald city ! we_must see that, my dear Rattles ." Forgetting his momentary displeasure, the A-B- sea serpent pulled himself out_of_the river, and waving his X Y Z blocks in farewell to_the Scarecrow, went clattering down the road, the little rattlesnake rattling along behind him .

as for_the Scarecrow, he continued his journey, and_the day was so delightful and_the country so pleasant that he almost forgot he had no family . he_was treated everywhere with_the greatest courtesy and had innumerable invitations from_the hospitable Munchkins . he_was anxious to reach his destination, however, so he refused them all, and traveling night and day came without further mishap or adventure late on_the second evening to_the little Munchkin farm where Dorothy had first discovered him . he_was curious to_know whether the pole on_which he had_been hoisted to scare away the crows still stood in_the cornfield and whether the farmer who had made him could tell him anything further about his history .

" it_is a shame to waken him," thought the kind Scarecrow ."I'll just take a look in_the cornfield ." the moon shone so brightly that he had no trouble finding his way about . with a little cry of pleasure, he pushed his way through_the dry cornstalks . there in_the center of_the field stood a tall pole -- the very identical bean pole from_which he had descended .

" all the family or family tree I've got ! " cried the Scarecrow, running toward it with emotion .

" what's that ? " a window in_the farmhouse was thrown up, and a sleepy Munchkin thrust out his head ." what_are you doing ? " he_called crossly .

"Thinking ! " said the Scarecrow, leaning heavily against the bean pole .

" well, don't do_it out loud," snapped the farmer . then, catching a better view of_the Scarecrow, he cried in surprise: " why, it's you ! -- come right in, my dear fellow, and give_us the latest news from_the emerald city .I'll fetch a candle ! "

the farmer was very proud of_the Scarecrow . he had made him long_ago by stuffing one of_his old suits with straw, painting a jolly face on asack, stuffing that, and fastening the two together . red boots, a hat, and yellow gloves had finished his man -- and nothing could_have_been jollier than_the result . later on, when_the Scarecrow had run off with Dorothy and got his brains from_the wizard of Oz and become ruler of_the emerald city, the little farmer had felt highly gratified .

the Scarecrow, however, was not in a humor for conversation . he_wanted to_think in peace ."Don't bother ! " he_called up ."I'm going to_spend the night here .I'll see you in_the morning ."

" all right ! take care of yourself," yawned the farmer, and drew in_his head .

for_a_long_time the Scarecrow stood perfectly still beside the bean pole -- thinking . then he got a spade from_the shed and began clearing away the cornstalks and dried leaves from around the base of_the pole . it_was slow work, for_his fingers were clumsy, but he persevered . then a wonderful idea came to him .

" perhaps if I dig down a bit, I_may discover --" he got no further, for at_the word " discover," he pushed the spade down with all his might . there_was a loud crash . the bottom dropped out of things, and_the Scarecrow fell through .

"Gr- eat cornstalks ! " cried the Scarecrow, throwing up his arms . to_his surprise, they came in contact with a stout pole, which he embraced . it_was alifesaver, for he_was shooting down into_the darkness at a great rate .

" why ! " he gasped as_soon_as he regained his breath, for he_was falling at a terrific rate of speed, " why, I believe I'm sliding down the bean pole ! "

chapter 3

down the magic bean pole

Hugging the bean pole for dear life, the Scarecrow slid rapidly downward, everything was dark, but at times a confused roaring sounded in_his ears .

" father, I hear something falling past ! " shouted a gruff voice all at once .

" then reach out and pull it in," growled a still deeper voice . there_was a flash of light, a door opened suddenly, and a giant hand snatched the air just above the Scarecrow's head .

" it's a good thing I haven't a heart to fail me," murmured the Scarecrow, glancing up fearfully and clinging more tightly to_the pole ." though I fall, I_shall_not falter . but where under the earth am I falling to ? " at_that minute, a door opened far below, and someone called up:

" who_are you ? have out your toll and be ready to salute the royal ruler of_the Middlings ! "

the Scarecrow had learned in_the course of_his many and strange adventures that_it_was best to accede to every request that was reasonable or possible .Realizing that unless he answered at once he_would fall past his strange questioners, he shouted amiably:

" I_am the Scarecrow of Oz, sliding down my family tree ! " the words echoed oddly in_the narrow passageway, and by_the_time he reached the word " tree" the Scarecrow could make out two large brown men leaning from a door somewhere below . next minute he_came to a sharp stop .a board had shot out and closed off the passageway . so sudden was_the stop that_the Scarecrow was tossed violently upward . while he endeavored to regain his balance, the two Middlings eyed him curiously .

" so this_is_the kind of thing they grow on top," said one, holding a lantern close to_the Scarecrow's head .

" toll, toll ! " droned the other, holding out ahorribly twisted hand .

" one moment, your royal Middleness ! " cried the Scarecrow, backing as far away from_the lantern as he_could, for with a straw stuffing one cannot_be too careful of fire . he_felt in_his pocket for an emerald he had picked up in_the emerald city a few_days before and handed it gingerly to_the muddy monarch .

" why do_you call me Middleness ? " the king demanded angrily, taking the emerald .

" is your kingdom not in_the middle of_the earth, and are_you not royalty ? what could_be more proper than royal Middleness ? " asked the Scarecrow, flecking the dust from_his hat .

now that he had a better view, he_saw that_the two were entirely men of mud, and very roughly put together . dried grass hair stood erect upon each head, and their faces were large and lumpy and had adisconcerting way of changing shape . indeed, when_the king leaned over to examine the Scarecrow, his features were so soft they seemed to run into his cheek, which hung down alarmingly, while his nose turned sideways and lengthened at_least an inch !

muddle pushed the king's nose back and began spreading his cheek into place . instead of hands and feet, the Middlings had gnarled and twisted roots which curled up in a perfectly terrifying manner . their teeth were gold, and their eyes shone like small electric lights . they wore stiff coats of dried mud, buttoned clumsily with lumps of coal, and_the king had a tall mud crown . altogether, the Scarecrow thought he had

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