Oz 15: The Royal Book of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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and_that, and such was_the determination of_the cowardly lion that he never stopped till he_was out_of_the gate and halfway up the rough road they had so recently traveled . then with a mighty sigh, he dropped the rope, rolled over and over down the hill, and lay panting with exhaustion at_the bottom .

the bumping over the cobbles had wakened sir Hokus thoroughly . indeed, the poor knight was black and blue, and_his armor dented and scraped frightfully in important places .

Dorothy, considerably shaken, opened her eyes and began feebly singing " three blind Mice ."

" no need," puffed sir Hokus, lifting her off his lap and rising stiffly .

" yon noble beast has rescued us ."

" won't the Pokes come up here ? " asked Dorothy, staring around a bit dizzily .

" they_cannot live out_of_the kingdom," said the knight, and Dorothy drew a big sigh of relief . sir Hokus, however, was looking very grave .

" I_have failed on my first adventure . had it not been for_the cowardly lion, we_would now be prisoners in Pokes," he murmured sadly . then he unfastened the plume from_his helmet ." it beseemeth me not to wear it," sighed the knight mournfully, and though Dorothy tried her best to comfort him, he refused to_put it back . finally, she fastened the plume to her dress, and_they went down to_the cowardly lion .

there_was a little spring nearby, and after they had poured six helmets of water over his head, the lion opened his eyes ." been in a good_many fights," gasped the lion, " but I never fought one like this .Singing, bah ! "

" noble sir, how can I ever repay you ? " faltered the knight ." alas, that I_have failed in_the hour of trial ! "

" why, it wasn't a question of courage at all," rumbled the cowardly lion, greatly embarrassed ."I had the loudest voice and_the most breath, that's all ! you got the rough end of it ." sir Hokus looked ruefully at his armor . the back was entirely squashed .

" never mind ! " said the knight bravely ." it_is_the front one presents to_the foe ."

" now you're talking like a real knight," said Dorothy ."A while ago you said, ' yon' and 'beseemeth,' and first thing you_know the talk will all come back to_you ." sir Hokus' honest face shone with pleasure .

"Odds bludgeons and truncheons ! the little maid is right ! " he exclaimed, striking an attitude ." and once it does, the rest will_be easy ."

"Don't say rest to_me," begged the cowardly lion, getting slowly to_his feet ."Hah, hoh, hum ! just to_think of it makes me yawn . now don't you_think we had better start off ? "

" if_you're rested," began Dorothy . the cowardly lion put his paw over his ear and looked so comical that both Dorothy and sir Hokus laughed heartily .

" if_you're ready," amended Dorothy, and_the three adventurers started up the steep road ." the first thing to_do," said the little girl, " is to_get back to_the emerald city as quickly as_we_can ."

at_this very minute Glinda, the good sorceress of Oz, in her palace in_the Quadling country, was puzzling over an entry in_the magic record book . this book tells everything that_is happening in_the_world and out, and while it does_not give details, it_is a very useful possession .

" the emperor of_the silver Islands," read Glinda, " has returned to_his people ."

" now who is_the emperor of_the silver Islands ? " she asked herself . she puzzled about_it for a long while, and then, deciding that_it had nothing to_do with_the fairy kingdom of Oz, she closed the book and went for a walk in_the palace garden .

Dorothy and sir Hokus and_the cowardly lion had meanwhile reached the first sign in_the dim forest, the sign directing travelers to Pokes . two roads branched out through_the forest, and after much debating they took the wider .

" do_you 'spose this leads to_the emerald city ? " asked cowardly lion dubiously .

" time will tell, time will tell," said sir Hokus cheerfully .

" yes," murmured the cowardly lion, " time will tell . but what ? "

chapter 7

the SCARECROW is hailed as emperor !

Leaning forward on_the great throne, the Scarecrow waited impatiently for_the ancient gentleman to_speak . the gray- skinned courtiers were eyeing him expectantly, and just as_the suspense became almost unendurable, the old man threw up his arms and cried sharply:

" the prophecy of_the magic beanstalk has_been fulfilled . in_this radiant and sublime Scarecrowcus, the spirit of Chang Wang woe, the mighty, has returned . and I, the grand chew chew of_the realm, prostrate myself before this wonderful Scarecrowcus, emperor of_the silver Islands ." so, likewise, did all the company present, and_the Scarecrow, taken unawares, flew up several feet and landed in a heap on_the steps leading to_the throne . he climbed back hurriedly, picking up the fan and parasol that he had plucked from_the beanstalk .

" i_wish professor Wogglebug could hear this," said the Scarecrow, settling himself complacently ." but I_must watch out, and remember to hold on ."

the grand chew chew was_the first to rise, and folding his arms, he asked solemnly:

" what_are your commands, ancient and honorable Scarecrowcus ? "

" if_you'd just omit the Cus," begged the Scarecrow in an embarrassed voice, "I believe I_could think better .Am I in china, or where ? are_you Chinamen, or what ? "

" we_are Silvermen," said the grand chew chew impressively, " and a much older race than our Chinese cousins . they_are people of_the sun . we_are people of_the stars . has your highness so soon forgotten ? "

" I_am afraid," said the Scarecrow, rubbing his chin reflectively, " that I_have ." he gazed slowly around the great throne room .Ozma's palace itself was not more dazzling . the floor of dull silver blocks was covered with rich blue rugs . furniture, chairs, screens and everything were made of silver inlaid with precious stones .Filigreed silver lanterns hung from_the high ceilings, and tall silver vases filled with pink and blue blossoms filled the rooms with their perfume . blue flags embroidered with silver stars fluttered from_the walls and_the tips of_the pikebearers' spears, and silver seemed to_be so plentiful that even shoes were fashioned of it . faintly through_the windows came the sweet tones of a hundred silver chimes, and altogether the Scarecrow was quite dazed by his apparent good fortune . surely they had called him emperor, but how could that be ? he turned to address the grand chew chew; then as he_saw out_of_the corner of_his eye that_the assemblage were making ready to_fall upon their faces, he exclaimed in a hoarse whisper:

" may I speak to_you alone ? " the grand chew chew waved his hand imperiously, and_the courtiers with a great crackling of silver brocade backed from_the hall .

" very kind of_them to bow, but i_wish they wouldn't," sighed the Scarecrow, sinking back on_the great throne ." it blows one about so .I declare, if another person falls at my feet, I'll have nervous prostration ."

again he_took a long survey of_the hall, then turned to_the grand chew chew ." would you mind," he asked simply, "telling me again who I_am and how ? "

" who and how ? who -- you_are, illustrious sir, the emperor Chang Wang woe, or to_be more exact, his spirit ! "

" I_have always been a spirited person," observed the Scarecrow dubiously, " but never a spirit without a person . I_must insist on being a person ."

" how ? " the grand chew chew proceeded without noticing the Scarecrow's remarks ."Fifty years_ago -- after your extreme highness had defeated in battle the king of_the golden Islands -- a magician entered the realm . this magician, in_the employ of_this wicked king, entered a room in_the palace where your highness lay sleeping and by an act of necromancy changed you to a crocus ! "

"Ouch ! " exclaimed the Scarecrow, shuddering involun-tarily .

" and had it not been for_the empress, your faithful wife, you_would_have_been lost forever to_the empire ."

" wife ? " gasped the Scarecrow faintly ." have I a wife ? "

" if your highness will permit me to finish," begged the grand chew chew with great dignity . the Scarecrow nodded ." your wife, Tsing Tsing, the beautiful, took the crocus, which_was fading rapidly, and planted it in a silver bowl in_the center of_this very hall and for three days kept it fresh with her tears .Waking on_the third morning, the empress was amazed to_see in place of_the crocus a giant bean pole that extended to_the roof of_the palace and disappeared among_the clouds ."

"Ah ! " murmured the Scarecrow, looking up, " my family tree ! "

" beside the bean pole lay a crumpled parchment ." the grand chew chew felt in_the sleeve of_his kimono and brought out a bit of crumpled silver paper, and adjusting his horn spectacles, read slowly .

" into_the first being who touches this magic pole -- on_the other side of_the world -- the spirit of emperor Chang Wang woe will enter . and fifty years from_this day, he_will return -- to save his people ."

the grand chew chew took off his specs and folded up the paper ." the day has_come ! you_have come down the bean pole, and_are undoubtedly that being who has gone from emperor to crocus to Scarecrowcus . I_have ruled the Islands these fifty years; have seen to_the education of your sons and grandsons . and now, gracious and exalted master, as I_am an old man I ask_you to relieve me from_the cares of state ."

"Sons ! Grandsons ! " choked the Scarecrow, beginning to_feel very_much alarmed indeed ." how old am I ? "

" your highness," said the grand chew chew with a deep salaam, " is as old as I . in other words, you_are in_the ripe and glorious eighty-fifth year of your majesty's illustrious and useful age ."

"Eigh-ty five ! " gasped the Scarecrow, staring in dismay at_the gray, wrinkled face of_the old Silverman ." now see here, chew chew, are_you sure of_that ? "

" quite_sure, immortal and honored master ! "

the Scarecrow could_not help but be convinced of_the truth of_the grand chew chew's story . the pole in_the Munchkin farmer's cornfield was none other_than the magic beanstalk, and he, thrust on_the pole by_the farmer to scare away the crows, had received the spirit of_the emperor Chang Wang woe ." which accounts for_my cleverness," he thought gloomily . now, surely he should_have_been pleased, for he had come in search of a family, but the acquisition of an empire, sons and grandsons, and old age, all in a trice, fairly took his breath away .

"Does the prophecy say anything about restoring my imperial person ? " he asked anxiously, for_the thought of looking like chew chew was not a cheerful one .

" alas, no ! " sighed the grand chew chew sorrowfully ." but we_have very clever wizards on_the island, and I_shall set them at work on_the problem at once ."

" now don't be in_such a rush," begged the Scarecrow, secretly determined to lock up the wizards at_the first opportunity ."I'm rather fond of_this shape . you_see, it requires no food and never grows tired -- or old ! "

" the royal robes will in a measure conceal it," murmured the grand chew chew politely, and clapped his hands .a little servitor bounced into_the hall .

"A royal robe, quick silver, for_his radiant highness," snapped the grand chew chew . in a moment quick silver had returned with a magnificent purple satin robe embroidered in silver threads and heavy with jewels, and a hat of silver cloth with upturned brim . the Scarecrow wrapped himself in_the purple robe, took off his old Munchkin hat, and substituted the imperial headpiece .

" how do I look, chew ? " he asked anxiously .

" quite like your old imperial self, except --" the old prime minister ran unsteadily out_of_the room . there_was a muffled scream from_the hall, and_the next instant he returned with a long, shiny, silver queue which he had evidently clipped from_the head of one_of_the servants .Removing the Scarecrow's hat, he pinned the queue to_the back, set it on_the Scarecrow's head, and stood regarding him with great satisfaction ."Ah, if_the empress could only see you ! " he murmured rapturously .

" where -- where is she ? " asked the Scarecrow, looking around nervously . his long, care- free life in Oz had somewhat unfitted him, he reflected, for family life .

" alas ! " sighed the grand chew chew, wiping his eyes on_the sleeve of_his kimono, " she has returned to her silver ancestors ."

" then show me her picture," commanded the Scarecrow, visibly affected . the grand chew chew stepped to a side wall, and pulling on a silken cord, disclosed the picture of a large, gray lady with curiously small eyes and a curiously large nose .

" is she not beautiful ? " asked the grand chew chew, bowing his head .

" beautiful -- er -- er, beautiful ! " gulped the Scarecrow . he thought of lovely little Ozma and dear little Dorothy, and all at once felt terribly upset and homesick . he had no recollection of_the silver island or his life here whatever . who was he, anyway -- the Scarecrow of Oz or emperor Chang Wang woe ? he couldn't be both .

"Ah ! " whispered the grand chew chew, seeing his agitation ." you remember her ? " the Scarecrow shook his head, with an inward shudder .

" now show me myself, chew," he asked curiously .Pulling the cord of a portrait beside the empress, chew chew revealed the picture of Chang Wang woe as he had_been fifty years_ago . his face was bland and jolly, and to_be perfectly truthful, quite like the Scarecrow's in shape and expression ." I_am beside myself," murmured the Scarecrow dazedly -- which in truth he_was .

" you were -- er -- are a very royal and handsome person," stammered the grand chew chew .

the Scarecrow, stepping off the throne to examine himself more closely, dropped the little fan and parasol . he had really not had time to examine them since they snapped off the beanstalk,

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