Oz 15: The Royal Book of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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sir Hokus fastened thick ropes around the cowardly lion, the doubtful dromedary and_the comfortable camel . similar ropes they tied around their own waists and Dorothy's, and_the ends of all were fastened securely to_the handle of_the magic parasol, which Dorothy held carefully .

" goodbye, everybody ! " called the little girl, suddenly opening the parasol .

" goodbye ! " cried the genial Scarecrow, waving his hand .

too stupefied for speech, the assemblage gaped with amazement as_the party floated gently upward . up -- up -- and out of sight whirled the entire party .

chapter 22

the flight of_the parasol

Holding the handle of_the parasol, Dorothy steered it with all the skill of an aviator, and in several minutes after their start the party had entered the deep, black passage down which the Scarecrow had fallen . each one_of_the adventurers was fastened to_the parasol with ropes of different length so_that none_of_them bumped together, but even with all the care in_the_world it_was not possible to_keep them from bumping the sides of_the tube . the comfortable camel grunted plaintively from_time to_time, and Dorothy could hear the doubtful dromedary complaining bitterly in_the darkness . it_was pitch dark, but by keeping one hand in touch with_the bean pole, Dorothy managed to hold the parasol in_the center .

" how long will it take ? " she called breathlessly to_the Scarecrow, who was dangling just below .

"Hours ! " wheezed the Scarecrow, holding fast to_his hat ." I_hope none_of_the parties on_this line hear us," he added nervously, thinking of_the Middlings .

" what recks it ? " blustered sir Hokus ."Hast forgotten my trusty sword ? " but his words were completely drowned in_the rattle of_his armor .

" hush ! " warned the Scarecrow, " or we'll be pulled in ." so for almost an hour, they flew up the dark, chimney- like tube with only an occasional groan as one or another scraped against the rough sides of_the passage . then, before_they knew what_was happening, the parasol crashed into something, half closed, and_the whole party started to_fall head over heels over helmets .

"O ! " gasped Dorothy, turning a complete somersault, " catch hold of_the bean pole, somebody ! "

" put up the parasol ! " shrieked the Scarecrow . just then Dorothy, finding herself right side up, grasped the pole herself and snapped the parasol wide open . up, up, up they soared again, faster than ever !

" we're flying up much faster than I fell down . we_must_be at_the top ! " called the Scarecrow hoarsely, " and somebody has closed the opening ! "

chapter 23

safe at last in_the land of OZ

" must we keep bumping until we bump through ? " panted Dorothy anxiously .

" no, by my hilts ! " roared sir Hokus, and setting his foot in a notch of_the beanstalk, he cut with_his sword the rope that bound him to_the parasol ." put the parasol down half way, and I'll climb ahead and cut an opening ."

with great difficulty Dorothy partially lowered the parasol, and instantly their speed diminished . indeed, they barely moved at all, and_the knight had soon passed them on_his climb to_the top .

" are_you there ? " rumbled the cowardly lion anxiously .a great clod of earth landed on_his head, filling his eyes and mouth with mud .

"Ugh ! " roared the lion .

" it's getting light ! it's getting light ! " screamed Dorothy, and in her excitement snapped the parasol up .

sir Hokus, having cut with_his sword a large circular hole in_the thin crust of earth covering the tube, was about to step out when_the parasol, hurling up from below, caught him neatly on its top, and out burst the whole party and sailed up almost to_the clouds !

" welcome to Oz ! " cried Dorothy, looking down happily on_the dear familiar Munchkin landscape .

" home at last ! " exulted the Scarecrow, wafting a kiss downward .

" let's get down to earth before we knock the sun into acocked hat," gasped the cowardly lion, for Dorothy, in her excitement, had forgotten to lower the parasol .

now the little girl lowered the parasol carefully at first, then faster and faster and finally shut it altogether .

sir Hokus took a high dive from_the top . down tumbled the others, over and over . but fortunately for all, there_was a great haystack below, and upon_this they landed in a jumbled heap close to_the magic bean pole . as it happened, there_was no one in sight . up they jumped in a trice, and while the comfortable camel and doubtful dromedary munched contentedly at_the hay, sir Hokus and_the Scarecrow placed some loose boards over the opening around the bean pole and covered them with dirt and cornstalks .

" i_will get Ozma to close it properly with_the magic belt," said the Scarecrow gravely ." it wouldn't do to_have people sliding down my family tree and scaring poor Tappy . as for_me, I_shall never leave Oz again ! "

" I_hope not," growled the cowardly lion, tenderly examining his scratched hide .

" but if_you hadn't, I'd never have_had such lovely adventures or found sir Hokus and_the comfortable camel and doubtful dromedary," said Dorothy ." and what alot I_have to_tell Ozma ! let's go straight to_the emerald city ."

" it's quite a journey," explained the Scarecrow to sir Hokus, who was cleaning off his armor with a handful of straw .

"I go where lady dot goes," replied the knight, smiling affectionately at_the little girl and straightening the ragged hair ribbon which he still wore on_his arm .

"Don't forget me, dear Karwan Bashi," wheezed the comfortable camel, putting his head on_the knight's shoulder .

" you're a sentimental dunce, Camy . I_doubt whether they'll take us at all ! " the doubtful dromedary looked wistfully at Dorothy .

" go to, now ! " cried sir Hokus, putting an arm around each neck ." you're just like two of_the family ! "

" it_will_be very comfortable to_go to now," sighed the camel .

" we're all a big, jolly family here," said the Scarecrow, smiling brightly, " and Oz is_the friendliest country in_the_world ."

" right," said the cowardly lion, " but let's get started ! " he stretched his tired muscles and began limping stiffly toward the yellow brick road .

" wait," cried Dorothy, " have_you forgotten the parasol ? "

" i_wish I_could," groaned the cowardly lion, rolling his eyes .

sir Hokus, with folded arms, was gazing regretfully at_the bean pole ." it_has_been a brave quest," he sighed, " but now, I take it, our adventures are over ! " absently, the knight felt in_his boot- top and drawing out a small red bean popped it into his mouth . just before reaching the top of_the tube, he had pulled a handful of_them from_the beanstalk, but the others had fallen out when he dove into_the hay .

" shall we use the parasol again, lady dot ? " he asked, still staring pensively at_the bean pole ." shall-- ? "

he got no farther, nor did Dorothy answer his question . instead, she gave a loud scream and clutched the Scarecrow's arm . the Scarecrow, taken by surprise, fell over backward, and_the comfortable camel, raising his head inquiringly, gave abellow of terror . from_the knight's shoulders a green branch had sprung, and while the company gazed in round- eyed amazement it stretched toward the bean pole, attached itself firmly, and then shot straight up into_the air, the knight kicking and struggling on_the end . in another second, he_was out of sight .

" come back ! come back ! " screamed the comfortable camel, running around distractedly .

" I_doubt we'll ever see him again ! " groaned the doubtful dromedary, craning his neck upward .

" do something ! do something ! " begged Dorothy . at which the Scarecrow jumped up and dashed toward the little farmhouse .

"I'll get an ax," he_called over his shoulder, " and chop down the bean pole ."

" no, don't do_that ! " roared the cowardly lion, starting after him ." do_you_want to break him to pieces ? "

"Oh ! Oh ! can't you_think of something else ? " cried Dorothy ." and hurry, or he'll be up_to_the moon ! "

the Scarecrow put both hands to_his head and stared around wildly . then, with a triumphant wave of_his hat, declared himself ready to act .

" the parasol ! " cried the late emperor of silver island ." quick, Dorothy, put up the parasol ! "

Snatching the parasol, which lay at_the foot of_the bean pole, Dorothy snapped it open, and_the Scarecrow just had time to_make aflying leap and seize the handle before it soared upward, and in a trice they, too, had disappeared .

"Doubty ! Doubty ! " wailed the comfortable camel, crowding up to_his humpbacked friend, " we're having a pack of trouble . my knees are all a- tremble ! "

" now don't you worry," advised the cowardly lion, sitting down resignedly ."I'm frightened myself, but that's because I'm so cowardly . queer things happen in Oz, but they usually turn out all right . why, Hokus is just growing up with_the country, that's all, just growing up with_the country ."

" doubt that," sniffed the doubtful dromedary faintly ." he_was grown up in_the beginning ."

" but think of_the Scarecrow's brains . you leave things to_the Scarecrow ." but it_was no use . both beasts began to roar dismally .

"I don't want a plant . i_want my Karwan Bashi," sobbed the comfortable camel broken-heartedly .

" well, don't drown me," begged the cowardly lion, moving out_of_the way of_the camel's tears ." say, what's that draft ? "

what indeed ? in_the trees overhead, a very cyclone whistled, and before_the three had even time to catch their breath, they were blown high into_the air and_the next instant were hurtling toward the emerald city like three furry cannonballs, faster and faster .

chapter 24

homeward bound to_the emerald city

Dorothy and_the Scarecrow, clinging fast to_the magic parasol, had followed the knight almost to_the clouds . at first, it looked as if_they_would never catch up with_him, so swiftly was_the branch growing, but it_was not long before_the little umbrella began to gain, and in several minutes more they were beside sir Hokus himself .

"Beshrew me, now ! " gasped the knight, stretching out his hand toward Dorothy ." can'st stop this reckless plant ? "

" give_me your sword," commanded the Scarecrow, " and I'll cut you off ."

Dorothy, with great difficulty, kept the parasol close to_the knight while the Scarecrow reached for_the sword . but sir Hokus backed away in alarm ."

'Tis part of me, an' you cut it off, i_will_be cut off, too .'Tis rooted in my back," he puffed .

" what shall we_do ? " cried Dorothy in distress ." maybe if_we take hold of_his hands we_can keep him from going any higher ."

the Scarecrow, jamming down his hat so it wouldn't blow off, nodded approvingly, and each holding the parasol with one hand gave the other to_the knight . and when Dorothy pointed the parasol down, to her great delight sir Hokus came also, the thin green branch growing just about as fast as_they moved .

just then the little fan, which had_been rolling around merrily in Dorothy's pocket, slipped out and fell straight down toward the three unsuspecting beasts below . draft ! no wonder !

but Dorothy never missed it, and quite unconscious of_such a calamity anxiously talked over the knight's predicament with_the Scarecrow . they both decided that_the best plan was to fly straight to_the emerald city and_have Ozma release the knight from_the enchanted beanstalk .

"I'm sorry you got tangled up in my family tree, old fellow," said the Scarecrow after they had flown some_time in silence, " but this makes us relations, doesn't it ? " he winked broadly at_the knight .

" so it does," said sir Hokus jovially ."I'm a branch of your family now . yet methinks I should_not have swallowed that bean ."

" bean ? " questioned Dorothy ." what bean ? " the knight carefully explained how he had plucked a handful of red beans from_the beanstalk just before reaching the top of_the tube and how he had eaten one .

" so_that's what started you growing ! " exclaimed Dorothy in surprise .

" alas, yes ! " admitted the knight ."I've never felt more grown- up in my life," he finished solemnly ." an adventurous country, this Oz ! "

" i_should say it_was," chuckled the Scarecrow ." but isn't it almost time we were reaching the emerald city, Dorothy ? "

" i_think I'm going in_the right direction," answered the little girl, " but I'll fly a little lower to_be_sure ."

" not too fast ! not too fast ! " warned sir Hokus, looking nervously over his shoulder at his long, wriggling stem .

" there's Ozma's palace ! " cried the Scarecrow all at once .

" and there's Ozma ! " screamed Dorothy, peering down delightedly ." and Scraps and Tik-Tok and everybody ! "

she pointed the parasol straight down, when a sharp tug from sir Hokus jerked them all back . they were going faster than_the poor knight was growing, so Dorothy lowered the parasol half way, and slowly they floated toward the earth, landing gently in one_of_the flower beds of Ozma's lovely garden .

" come along and meet the folks," said the Scarecrow as Dorothy closed the parasol . but sir Hokus clutched him in alarm .

" hold ! hold ! " gasped the knight ."I've stopped growing, but if_you leave me I'll shoot up into_the air again ."

the Scarecrow and Dorothy looked at each_other in dismay . sure enough, the knight had stopped growing, and it_was all they_could do to hold him down to earth, for_the stubborn branch of beanstalk was trying to straighten up . they had fallen quite a distance from_the palace itself, and all the people of Oz had their backs turned, so had_not seen their singular arrival .

"Hello ! " called the Scarecrow loudly . then " help ! help ! " as_the knight jerked him twice into_the air . but Ozma, trot, jack Pumpkinhead and all the rest were staring upward and talking so busily among themselves that they_did_not hear either Dorothy's or the Scarecrow's cries . first one, then the other was snatched off his feet, and although sir Hokus, with tears in_his eyes, begged them

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