Oz 15: The Royal Book of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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fare . he had always spent the dinner hours in_the garden . he sighed, and looked wistfully at_the bean pole in_the center of_the hall . every_minute he_was feeling less_and_less like the emperor of_the silver island and more and more like the plain Scarecrow of Oz .

" your majesty seems out of spirits," said happy Toko as he placed himself and_the huge watering can beside the emperor's bench in_the garden later in_the evening .

" i_wish I were," said the Scarecrow ." to_have an emperor's spirit wished on you is no joke, my dear Tappy . it's ablinking bore ! " at_that moment, the fireworks commenced . the garden, ablaze with many shaped silver lanterns, looked more like fairyland than ever . but each rocket made the Scarecrow wince .Showers of stars and butterflies fell ' round his head, fiery dragons leaped over the trees, and in all the fourth of July celebrations you_could imagine there were never such marvelous fireworks as_these . no wonder happy Toko, gazing in delight, forgot his promises to_his royal master .

soon the Scarecrow's fears were realized, and_his straw stuffing began to smoke .

" put me out ! put me out ! " cried the Scarecrow, as a shower of Sparks settled in_his lap . the royal band made such adin and_the courtiers such a clatter that happy did_not hear .

all of_the silver Islanders were intent on_the display, and_they forgot all about their unhappy and smoking emperor .

" help ! water ! water ! fire ! " screamed the Scarecrow, jumping off his throne and knocking happy head over heels . thus brought to_his senses, happy hurriedly seized the watering can and sprinkled its contents on_the smoking emperor .

"Am I out ? " gasped the emperor anxiously ."A fine way to celebrate a victory, lighting me up like a Roman candle ! "

" yes, dear master," said the repentant happy, helping the dripping Scarecrow to_his feet, " it only scorched your royal robe . and it's all over, anyway . let_us go in ."

the dripping emperor was quite ready to_follow his imperial Punster's advice .

" now that I_am put out, let_us by all means go in," said the Scarecrow gloomily, and_the two slipped off without anyone noticing their departure .

"I'm afraid I'll have to_have some new stuffing tomorrow," observed the Scarecrow, sinking dejectedly on_his throne ."Tappy, my dear boy, after_this never leave me alone, do_you hear ? " happy Toko made no reply . he had fallen asleep beside the imperial throne .

the Scarecrow might_have called his court, but he_was in no mood for more of_the silver Islanders' idea of a good_time . he longed for_the dear friends of_his loved land of Oz .

one by one the lights winked out in_the gardens, and_the noisy company dispersed, and soon no one in_the palace was awake but the Scarecrow . his straw was wet and soggy, and even his excellent brains felt damp and dull .

" if_it weren't for Tappy Oko, how lonely i_should_be ." he stared through_the long, dim, empty hall with its shimmering silver screens and vases ."I wonder what little Dorothy is doing," sighed the Scarecrow wistfully .

chapter 10

princess OZMA and BETSY bobbin talk it over

" Dorothy must_be having a lovely time at_the Scarecrow's," remarked Betsy bobbin to Ozma one afternoon as_they sat reading in_the royal Gardens several_days after Dorothy's departure from_the emerald city of Oz .

" one always has a jolly time at_the Scarecrow's," laughed the little queen of Oz ." I_must look in my magic picture and_see what they_are doing . too bad she missed the A-B- sea serpent and Rattlesnakes .Weren't they the funniest creatures ? "

both the little girls ( for Ozma is really just a little girl) went off into a gale of laughter . the two queer creatures had followed the Scarecrow's advice and had spent their vacation in_the emerald city, and partly because they were so dazzled by their surroundings and partly because they_have no sort of memories whatever, they never mentioned the Scarecrow himself or said anything about his plan to hunt his family tree . they talked incessantly of_the Mer city and told innumerable A-B- sea stories to Scraps and_the tin woodman and_the children of_the emerald city . when_they were ready to_go, the A-B- sea serpent snapped off its X block for Ozma .X, he_said, meant almost everything, and pretty well expressed his gratitude to_the lovely little ruler of Oz .Ozma in turn gave each of_the visitors an emerald collar, and_that very morning they had started back to_the Munchkin river, and all the celebrities of Oz had gotten up to_see them off .

" maybe they'll come again some_time," said Betsy bobbin, swinging her feet ." but look, Ozma, here comes a messenger ." a messenger it surely was, dressed in_the quaint red costume of_the Quadlings . it_was from Glinda, the good sorceress, and caused the princess to sigh with vexation .

" tell jack Pumpkinhead to harness the sawhorse to_the red wagon," said Ozma after glancing hastily at_the little note ." the Horners and Hoppers are at war again . and tell the wizard to_make ready for a journey ."

" may I come, too, ? " asked Betsy .Ozma nodded with a troubled little frown, and Betsy bustled off importantly . not many little girls are called upon to help settle wars and rule a country as wonderful as Oz .

the Horners and Hoppers are a quarrelsome and curious folk living in_the Quadling mountains, and soon Ozma, jack Pumpkinhead, Betsy and_the wizard of Oz were rattling off at_the best speed the sawhorse could manage . this_was pretty fast, for_the little horse, being made of wood and magically brought to life, never tires and could outrun anything on legs in_the fairy kingdom of Oz .

but the fact that interests us is_that Ozma did_not look in_the magic picture or see what exciting adventures the Scarecrow and Dorothy really were having !

as for professor Wogglebug, who had caused all the trouble, he_was busily at work on_the twelfth chapter of_the royal book of Oz, which he had modestly headed:

H .M .WOGGLEBUG T .E ., prince of BUGS,

cultured and eminent educator and also great grand and general genealogist of Oz .

chapter 11

sir HOKUS OVERCOMETH the giant

"I don't believe we'll ever find the way out of_this forest ."

Dorothy stopped with a discouraged little sigh and leaned against a tree . they had followed the road for several hours . first it had_been fine and wide, but it had gradually dwindled to a crooked little path that wound crazily in and out through_the trees . although it_was almost noonday, not a ray of sun penetrated through_the dim green depths .

" methinks," said sir Hokus, peering into_the gloom ahead, " that a great adventure is at hand ."

the cowardly lion put back his ears ." what makes you methink so ? " he rumbled anxiously .

" hark thee ! " said sir Hokus, holding up his finger warningly . from a great way off sounded a curious thumping . it_was coming nearer and nearer .

" good gracious ! " cried Dorothy, catching hold of_the cowardly lion's mane .

" this_is worse than Pokes ! "

" perchance it_is a dragon," exulted the knight, drawing his short sword ."Ah, how it would refresh me to slay a dragon ! "

"I don't relish dragons myself . scorched my tongue on one once," said the cowardly lion huskily ." but I'll fight with_you, brother Hokus . stand back, Dorothy dear ."

as_the thuds grew louder, the knight fairly danced up and down with excitement ." approach, villain ! " he roared lustily .

" approach till I impale thee on my lance .Ah, had I but a horse ! "

"I'd let you ride on my back if_it weren't for_that hard tin suit," said the cowardly lion ." but cheer up, my dear Hokus, your voice is a little hoarse ." Dorothy giggled nervously, then seized hold of a small tree, for_the whole forest was rocking .

" how now ! " gasped the knight . there_was a terrific quake that threw sir Hokus on_his face and sent every hair in_the lion's mane on end, and then a great foot came crashing down through_the treetops not three paces from_the little party . before_they could even swallow, a giant hand flashed down- ward, jerked up a handful of trees by_the roots, and disappeared, while a voice from somewhere way above shouted:

what_are little humans for ? to feed the giant Bangladore . broiled or toasted, baked or roasted, I smell three or maybe four !

" you hear that ? " quavered the cowardly lion . sir Hokus did_not answer . his helmet had_been jammed down by his fall, and he_was tugging it upward with both hands . frightened though Dorothy was, she ran to_the knight's assistance .

" have at you ! " cried sir Hokus as_soon_as_the opening in_his helmet was opposite his eyes ." forward ! "

" my heart is beating a retreat," gulped the cowardly lion, but he bounded boldly after sir Hokus .

" varlet ! " hissed the knight, and raising his sword gave a mighty slash at_the giant's ankle, which_was broad as three tree trunks, while the cowardly lion gave a great spring and sank his teeth in_the giant's huge leg .

"Ouch ! " roared the giant in a voice that shook every leaf in_the forest ." you stop, or I'll tell my father ! " with_that, he_gave ahop that sent sir Hokus flying into_the treetops, stumbled over a huge rock, and came crashing to_the earth, smashing trees like grass blades . at_the giant's first scream, Dorothy shut her eyes and, putting her hands over her ears, had run as far and as fast as she_could . at_the awful crash, she stopped short, opened her eyes, and stared ' round giddily .

the giant was flat on_his back, but as he_was stretched as far as four city blocks, only half of him was visible . the cowardly lion still clung to_his leg, and he_was gurgling and struggling in a way Dorothy could_not understand .

she looked around in a panic for_the knight . just then, sir Hokus dropped from_the branch of a tree .

"Uds daggers ! " he puffed, looking ruefully at his sword, which had snapped off at_the handle, " 'Tis a pretty rogue ! "

"Don't you_think we'd better run ? " shiver Dorothy, thinking of_the giant's song .

" not while I wear these colors ! " exclaimed sir Hokus, proudly touching Dorothy's hair ribbon, which still adorned his arm ." come, my good lion, let_us dispatch this braggart and saucy monster ."

" father ! " screamed the giant, making no attempt to move .

" he seems_to_be frightened, himself," whispered Dorothy to_the knight ." but whatever is_the matter with_the cowardly lion ? "

at_that minute, the cowardly lion gave a great jerk and began backing with_his four feet braced . the piece of giant leg that he had hold of stretched and stretched, and while sir Hokus and Dorothy stared in amazement, it snapped off and_the cowardly lion rolled head over paws .

" taffy ! " roared the cowardly lion, sitting up and trying to open his jaws, which were firmly stuck together .

" taffy ! " at_this, sir Hokus sprang nimbly on_the giant's leg, ran up his chest, and perched bravely on_his peppermint collar .

" surrender, knave ! " he demanded threateningly . Dorothy, seeing she_could do nothing to help the cowardly lion, followed . on her way up, she broke off a tiny piece of_his coat and found it most delicious chocolate .

" why, he's all made of candy ! " she cried excitedly .

"Oh, hush ! " sobbed the giant, rolling his great sourball eyes ."I'd be eaten in a minute if_it were known ."

" you were mighty anxious to eat us a while ago," said Dorothy, looking longingly at_the giant's coat buttons . they seemed to_be large marshmallows .

" go away ! " screamed the giant, shaking so_that Dorothy slid into his vest pocket ." no one under forty feet is allowed in_this forest ! "

Dorothy climbed crossly out_of_the giant's pocket ." we didn't come because we wanted to," she assured him, wiping the chocolate off her nose .

"Odds bodikins ! I_cannot fight a great baby like this," sighed sir Hokus, dodging just in_time a great, sugary tear that had rolled down the giant's nose ." he's got to apologize for_that song, though ."

" wait ! " cried Dorothy suddenly ." I_have an idea . if_you set us down on_the edge of_the forest and give_us all your vest buttons for lunch, we won't tell anyone you're made of candy . we'll let you go," she called loudly, for_the giant had begun to sob again .

" won't you ? will_you ? " sniffed the foolish giant .

" never sing that song again ! " commanded the knight sternly .

" no, sir," answered the giant meekly ." did your dog chew much of_my leg, sir ? " then, before Dorothy or sir Hokus had time to way a word, they were snatched up in sticky fingers and next minute were dropped with a thump in a large field of daisies .

"Oh ! " spluttered Dorothy as_the giant made off on_his taffy legs ."Oh, we've forgotten the cowardly lion ! " but at_that minute, the giant reappeared, and_the lion was dropped beside them .

" what's this ? what's this ? " growled the cowardly lion, looking around wildly .

" we got him to lift us out_of_the forest," explained Dorothy ." have_you swallowed the taffy ? " the lion was still dizzy from_his ride and only shook his head feebly .

sir Hokus sighed and sat heavily down on a large rock ." there_is no sort of honor, methinks, in overcoming a candy giant," he observed, looking wistfully at_the plume still pinned to Dorothy's dress ."Ah, had it but been a proper fight ! "

" you didn't know he_was candy . i_think you were just splendid ." Jumping up, Dorothy fastened the plume in_the knight's helmet ." and you're talking just beautifully, more like a knight every_minute," she added with conviction . sir Hokus tried not to look pleased .

" give_me a meat enemy ! my teeth ache yet ! first singing, then candy-

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