Oz 15: The Royal Book of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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had never seen more disagreeable looking creatures .

" what he_needs," spluttered the king, fingering the jewel greedily, " is a coat of mud ! shall we pull him in, muddle ? "

" he's very poorly made, your Mudjesty . can_you work, Carescrow ? " asked muddle, thumping him rudely in_the chest .

"Scarecrow, if_you please ! " the Scarecrow drew himself up and spoke with great difficulty ." I_can work with my head ! " he added proudly .

" your head ! " roared the king ." did you hear that, muddle ? he works with_his head . what's the matter with your hands ? " again the king lunged forward, and this_time his face fell on_the other side and had bulged enormously before muddle could pat it into shape . they began whispering excitedly together, but the Scarecrow made no reply, for looking over their shoulder he glimpsed a dark, forbidding cavern lighted only by_the flashing red eyes of thousands of Middlings . they appeared to_be digging, and above the rattle of_the shovels and picks came the hoarse voice of one_of_them singing the Middling national air . or so the Scarecrow gathered from_the words:

"Oh, chop the brown clods as_they fall with a thud ! three croaks for_the Middlings, who stick in_the mud .Oh, mud, rich and wormy ! Oh, mud, sweet and squirmy ! Oh what_is so lovely as mud ! Oh what_is so lovely as mud ! three croaks for_the Middlings, who delve all the day in their beautiful kingdom of soft mud and clay ! "

the croaks that came at_the end of_the song were so terrifying that_the Scarecrow shivered in_spite of himself .

"Ugh ! hardly a place for a pleasant visit ! " he gasped, flattening himself against the wall of_the passage .Feeling that matters had gone far enough, he repeated in a loud voice:

" I_am the Scarecrow of Oz and desire to_continue my fall . I_have paid my toll and unless your royal Middleness release me --"

" might as_well drop him -- a useless creature ! " whispered muddle, and before_the king had time to object, he jerked the board back ." fall on ! " he screeched maliciously, and_the Scarecrow shot down into_the darkness, the hoarse screams of_the two Middlings echoing after him through_the gloom .

no use trying to_think ! the poor Scarecrow bumped and banged from side to side of_the passage . it_was all he_could do to_keep hold of_the bean pole, so swiftly was he falling .

"A good thing I'm not made of meat like little Dorothy," he wheezed breathlessly . his gloves were getting worn through from friction with_the pole, and_the rush of air past his ears was so confusing that he_gave up all idea of thinking . even magic brains refuse to work under such conditions . down -- down -- down he plunged till he_lost all count of_time . down -- down - down -- hours and hours ! would he never stop ? then suddenly it grew quite light, and he flashed through what appeared to_be a hole in_the roof of a huge silver palace, whirled down several stories and landed in a heap on_the floor of a great hall . in one hand he clutched a small fan, and in_the other a parasol that had snapped off the beanstalk just before he reached the palace roof .

shaken and bent over double though he_was, the Scarecrow could_see that he had fallen into a company of great magnificence . he had a confused glimpse of silken clad courtiers, embroidered screens, inlaid floors, and flashing silver lanterns, when there_was a thundering bang that hurled him halfway to_the roof again .Falling to asitting position and still clinging to_the bean pole, he_saw two giant kettle drums nearby, still vibrating from_the terrible blows they had received .

the company were staring at him solemnly, and as he attempted to rise, they fell prostrate on their faces . up flew the poor flimsy Scarecrow again, such was_the draught, and this_time landed on_his face . he_was beginning to_feel terribly annoyed, but before he_could open his mouth or stand up, a deep voice boomed:

" he has_come ! "

" he has_come ! " shrilled the rest of_the company, thumping their heads on_the stone floor . the language seemed strange to_the Scarecrow, but oddly enough, he_could understand it perfectly .Keeping a tight grasp on_the bean pole, he gazed at_the prostrate assemblage, too astonished to_speak . they looked exactly like the pictures of some Chinamen he had seen in one of Dorothy's picture books back in Oz, but instead of being yellow, their skin was a curious gray, and_the hair of old and young alike was silver and worn in long, stiff queues . before he had time to observe any more, an old, old courtier hobbled forward and beckoned imperiously to a page at_the door . the page immediately unfurled a huge silk umbrella and, running forward, held it over the Scarecrow's head .

" welcome home, sublime and noble ancestor ! welcome, honorable and exalted sir ." the old gentleman made several deep salaams .

" welcome, immortal and illustrious ancestor ! welcome, ancient and serene father ! " cried the others, banging their heads hard on_the floor -- so hard that their queues flew into_the air .

" ancestor ! father ! " mumbled the Scarecrow in a puzzled voice . then, collecting himself somewhat, he_made a deep bow, and sweeping off his hat with a truly royal gesture began: " I_am indeed honored --" but he got no farther . the silken clad courtiers sprang to_their feet in a frenzy of joy .a dozen seized him bodily and carried him to a great silver throne room .

" the same beautiful voice ! " cried the ancient gentleman, clasping his hands in an ecstasy of feeling .

" it_is he ! the emperor ! the emperor has returned ! long live the emperor ! " shouted everyone at once . the confusion grew worse and worse .

" ancestor ! father ! emperor ! " the Scarecrow could scarcely believe his ears ." for a fallen man, I_am rising like yeast ! " he murmured to himself . half a dozen courtiers had run outdoors to spread the wonderful news, and soon silver gongs and bells began ringing all over the kingdom, and cries of " the emperor ! the emperor ! " added to_the general excitement .Holding fast to_the sides of_the throne and still grasping the little fan and parasol, the Scarecrow sat blinking with embarrassment .

" if_they_would just stop emperoring, I_could ask them who I_am," thought the poor Scarecrow . as_if in answer to_his thoughts, the tottery old nobleman raised his long arm, and at once the hall became absolutely silent .

" now ! " sighed the Scarecrow, leaning forward ." now I_shall hear something of interest ."

chapter 4

Dorothy'S lonely breakfast

Dorothy, who occupied one_of_the coziest apartments in Ozma's palace, wakened the morning after_the party with afeeling of great uneasiness . at breakfast, the Scarecrow was missing . although he, the tin woodman and Scraps did_not require food, they always livened up the table with their conversation . ordinarily Dorothy would_have thought nothing of_the Scarecrow's absence, but she_could_not forget his distressed expression when professor Wogglebug had so rudely remarked on_his family tree . the professor himself had left before breakfast, and everybody but Dorothy had forgotten all about_the royal book of Oz .

already many of Ozma's guests who did_not live in_the palace were preparing to depart, but Dorothy could_not get over her feeling of uneasiness . the Scarecrow was her very best friend, and it_was not like him to_go without saying goodbye . so she hunted through_the gardens and in every room of_the palace and questioned all the servants . unfortunately, Jellia Jamb, who was_the only_one who had seen the Scarecrow go, was with her mistress .Ozma always breakfasted alone and spent the morning over state matters .Knowing how busy she was, Dorothy did_not like to disturb her .Betsy bobbin and trot, real little girls like Dorothy, also lived in_the fairy palace, and Ozma was a great chum for_them . but the kingdom of Oz had to_be governed in between times, and_they all knew that unless Ozma had the mornings to herself, she_could_not play with_them in_the afternoons . so Dorothy searched by herself .

" perhaps I didn't look hard enough," thought the little girl, and searched the palace all over again .

"Don't worry," advised the tin woodman, who was playing checkers with Scraps ." he's probably gone home ."

" he_is a man of brains; why worry because he's left us in a hurry ? "

chuckled Scraps with a careless wave of her hand, and Dorothy, laughing in_spite of herself, ran out to_have another look in_the garden .

" that_is just what he has_done, and if I hurry, I_may overtake him . anyway, I believe I'll go and pay him a visit," thought Dorothy .

trot and Betsy bobbin were swinging in one_of_the royal hammocks, and when Dorothy invited them to_go along, they explained that_they were going on a picnic with_the tin woodman . so without waiting to ask anyone else or even whistling for Toto, her little dog, Dorothy skipped out_of_the garden .

the cowardly lion, half asleep under a rose bush, caught a glimpse of her blue dress flashing by, and bounding to_his feet thudded after her .

" where are_you going ? " he asked, stifling a giant yawn .

" to visit the Scarecrow," explained Dorothy ." he looked so unhappy last night . I_am afraid he_is worrying about his family tree, and i_thought p'raps I_could cheer him up ."

the cowardly lion stretched luxuriously ."I'll go too," he rumbled, giving himself a shake ." but it's the first time I ever heard of_the Scarecrow worrying ."

" but you_see," Dorothy said gently, " professor Wogglebug told him he had no family ."

" family ! family fiddlesticks ! Hasn't he got us ? " the cowardly lion stopped and waved his tail indignantly .

" why, you dear old thing ! " Dorothy threw her arms around his neck ." you've given me a lovely idea ! " the cowardly lion tried not to look pleased .

" well, as long as I've given it to_you, you_might tell me what it_is," he suggested mildly .

" why," said Dorothy, skipping along happily, " we'll let him adopt us and be his really relations .I'll be his sister, and you'll be --"

" his cousin -- that_is, if_you_think he wouldn't mind having a great coward like me for a cousin," finished the cowardly lion in an anxious voice .

" do_you still feel as cowardly as ever ? " asked Dorothy sympathetically .

" more so ! " sighed the great beast, glancing appre-hensively over his shoulder . this made Dorothy laugh, for although the lion trembled like a cup custard at_the approach of danger, he always managed to fight with great valor, and_the little girl felt safer with_him than with_the whole army of Oz, who never were frightened but who always ran away .

now anyone who_is at all familiar with_his geozify knows that_the fairyland of Oz is divided into four parts, exactly like aparchesi board, with_the emerald city in_the very center, the purple Gillikin country to_the north, the red Quadling country to_the south, the blue Munchkin country to_the east, and_the yellow country of_the Winkies to_the west . it_was toward the west that Dorothy and_the cowardly lion turned their steps, for it_was in_the Winkie country that_the Scarecrow had built his gorgeous golden tower in exactly the shape of a huge ear of corn .

Dorothy ran along beside the cowardly lion, chatting over their many adventures in Oz, and stopping now_and_then to pick buttercups and daisies that dotted the roadside . she tied a big bunch to_the tip of her friend's tail and twined some more in_his mane, so_that he presented a very festive appearance indeed . then, when she grew tired, she climbed on_his big back, and swiftly they jogged through_the pleasant land of_the Winkies . the people waved to_them from windows and fields, for everyone loved little Dorothy and_the big lion, and as_they passed a neat yellow cottage, a little Winkie lady came running down the path with a cup of tea in one hand and a bucket in_the other .

" I_saw you coming and thought you_might_be thirsty," she called hospitably . Dorothy drank her cup without alighting .

" we're in an awful hurry; we're visiting the Scarecrow," she exclaimed apologetically . the lion drank his bucket of tea at one gulp . it_was so hot that_it made his eyes water .

" how I loathe tea ! if I hadn't been such a coward, I'd have upset the bucket," groaned the lion as_the little Winkie lady went back into her house ." but no, i_was afraid of hurting her feelings .Ugh, what a terrible thing it is_to_be a coward ! "

" nonsense ! " said Dorothy, wiping her eyes with her handkerchief ." you're not a coward, you're just polite . but let's run very fast so we_can reach the Scarecrow's in_time for lunch ."

so like the wind away raced the cowardly lion, Dorothy holding fast to_his mane, with her curls blowing straight out behind, and in exactly two Oz hours and seventeen Winkie minutes they came to_the dazzling corn- ear residence of_their old friend .Hurrying through_the cornfields that surrounded his singular mansion, Dorothy and_the cowardly lion rushed through_the open door .

" we've come for lunch," announced Dorothy .

" and I'm hungry enough to eat crow," rumbled the lion . then both stopped in dismay, for_the big reception room was empty . from a room above came ashuffling of feet, and blink, the Scarecrow's gentlemanly housekeeper, came running down the stairs .

" where's the Scarecrow ? " asked Dorothy anxiously ."Isn't he here ? "

" here ! Isn't he there ? Isn't he in_the emerald city ? " gasped the little Winkie, putting his specs on upside down .

" no -- at_least, I don't think so .Oh, dear, I just felt that something had happened to him ! " wailed Dorothy, sinking into an ebony armchair and fanning herself with a silk sofa cushion .

" now don't be alarmed ." the cowardly lion rushed to Dorothy's side and knocked three vases and aclock

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