Oz 09: The Scarecrow of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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the Scarecrow knelt down and examined the ground carefully, and in a moment he discovered afuzzy brown spider that had rolled itself into a ball . so he_took two tiny pills from_his pocket and laid them beside the spider, which unrolled itself and quickly ate up the pills . then the Scarecrow said in a voice of command:

" spin ! " and_the spider obeyed instantly .

in a few_moments the little creature had spun two slender but strong strands that reached way across the gulf, one being five or six feet above the other . when these were completed the Scarecrow started across the tiny bridge, walking upon one strand as a person walks upon a rope, and holding to_the upper strand with_his hands to_prevent him from losing his balance and toppling over into_the gulf . the tiny threads held him safely, thanks to_the strength given them by_the magic pills .

presently he_was safe across and standing on_the plains of Jinxland . far away he could_see the towers of_the king's castle and toward this he at once began to walk .

chapter Fourteen

the frozen heart

in_the hut of Pon, the gardener's boy, button- bright was_the first to waken in_the morning . leaving his companions still asleep, he went out into_the fresh morning air and saw some blackberries growing on bushes in a field not far away . going to_the bushes he_found the berries ripe and sweet, so he began eating them . more bushes were scattered over the fields, so the boy wandered on, from bush to bush, without paying any heed to where he_was wandering . then a butterfly fluttered by . he_gave chase to_it and followed it a long way . when finally he paused to look around him, button- bright could_see no sign of Pon's house, nor had he the slightest idea in_which direction it lay .

" well, I'm lost again," he remarked to himself ." but never mind; I've been lost lots of times . someone is sure to_find me ."

trot was a little worried about button- bright when she awoke and found him gone .Knowing how careless he_was, she believed that he had strayed away, but felt that he_would come back in_time, because he had a habit of not staying lost .Pon got the little girl some food for her breakfast and then together they went out_of_the hut and stood in_the sunshine .

Pon's house was some distance off the road, but they_could see it from where they stood and both gave a start of surprise when_they discovered two soldiers walking along the roadway and escorting princess Gloria between_them . the poor girl had her hands bound together, to_prevent her from struggling, and_the soldiers rudely dragged her forward when her steps seemed to lag .

behind this group came king Krewl, wearing his jeweled crown and swinging in_his hand a slender golden staff with a ball of clustered gems at one end .

" where are they going ? " asked trot ." to_the house of_the wicked witch, I_fear," Pon replied ." come, let_us follow them, for I_am_sure they intend to harm my dear Gloria ."

" won't they see us ? " she asked timidly .

" we won't let them . I_know a short cut through_the trees to Blinkie's house," said he .

so they hurried away through_the trees and reached the house of_the witch ahead of_the king and_his soldiers .Hiding themselves in_the shrubbery, they watched the approach of poor Gloria and her escort, all of whom passed so near to_them that Pon could_have put out a hand and touched his sweetheart, had he dared to .

Blinkie's house had eight sides, with a door and a window in each side . smoke was coming out_of_the chimney and as_the guards brought Gloria to one_of_the doors it_was opened by_the old witch in person . she chuckled with evil glee and rubbed her skinny hands together to show the delight with_which she greeted her victim, for Blinkie was pleased to_be_able to perform her wicked rites on one so fair and sweet as_the princess .

Gloria struggled to resist when_they bade her enter the house, so the soldiers forced her through_the doorway and even the king gave her a shove as he followed close behind .Pon was so incensed at_the cruelty shown Gloria that he forgot all caution and rushed forward to enter the house also; but one_of_the soldiers prevented him, pushing the gardener's boy away with violence and slamming the door in_his face .

" never mind," said trot soothingly, as Pon rose from where he had fallen ." you couldn't do much to help the poor princess if_you were inside . how unfortunate it is_that you_are in love with her ! "

" true," he answered sadly, " it_is indeed my misfortune . if I_did_not love her, it would_be none of_my business what the king did to_his niece Gloria; but the unlucky circumstance of_my loving her makes it my duty to defend her ."

"I don't see how you_can, duty or no duty," observed trot .

" no; I_am powerless, for they_are stronger than I . but we_might peek in through_the window and_see what they_are doing ."

trot was somewhat curious, too, so they crept up_to one_of_the windows and looked in, and it so happened that_those inside the witch's house were so busy they_did_not notice that Pon and trot were watching them .

Gloria had_been tied to a stout post in_the center of_the room and_the king was giving the wicked witch a quantity of money and jewels, which Googly-Goo had provided in payment . when_this had_been done the king said to her:

" are_you perfectly sure you_can freeze this maiden's heart, so_that she will no longer love that low gardener's boy ? "

" sure as witchcraft, your majesty," the creature replied .

" then get to work," said the king ." there_may_be some unpleasant features about_the ceremony that_would annoy me, so I'll bid you good day and leave you to carry out your contract . one word, however: if_you fail, I_shall burn you at_the stake ! " then he beckoned to_his soldiers to_follow him, and throwing wide the door of_the house walked out .

this action was so sudden that king Krewl almost caught trot and Pon eavesdropping, but they managed to run around the house before he_saw them . away he marched, up the road, followed by his men, heartlessly leaving Gloria to_the mercies of old Blinkie .

when_they again crept up_to_the window, trot and Pon saw Blinkie gloating over her victim . although nearly fainting from fear, the proud princess gazed with haughty Defiance into_the face of_the wicked creature; but she was bound so tightly to_the post that she_could do no more to express her loathing .

pretty soon Blinkie went to akettle that was swinging by a chain over the fire and tossed into_it several magical compounds . the kettle gave three flashes, and at every flash another witch appeared in_the room .

these hags were very ugly but when one- eyed Blinkie whispered her orders to_them they grinned with joy as_they began dancing around Gloria . first one and then another cast something into_the kettle, when to_the astonishment of_the watchers at_the window all three of_the old women were instantly transformed into maidens of exquisite beauty, dressed in_the daintiest costumes imaginable . only their eyes could_not_be disguised, and an evil glare still shone in their depths . but if_the eyes were cast down or hidden, one could_not help but admire these beautiful creatures, even with_the knowledge that_they were mere illusions of witchcraft .

trot certainly admired them, for she had never seen anything so dainty and bewitching, but her attention was quickly drawn to_their deeds instead of_their persons, and then horror replaced admiration . into_the kettle old Blinkie poured another mess from a big brass bottle she took from a chest, and this made the kettle begin to bubble and smoke violently . one by one the beautiful witches approached to stir the contents of_the kettle and to mutter a magic charm . their movements were graceful and rhythmic and_the wicked witch who had called them to her aid watched them with an evil grin upon her wrinkled face .

finally the incantation was complete . the kettle ceased bubbling and together the witches lifted it from_the fire . then Blinkie brought a wooden ladle and filled it from_the contents of_the kettle . going with_the spoon to princess Gloria she cried:

" love no more ! magic art now will freeze your mortal heart ! "

with_this she dashed the contents of_the ladle full upon Gloria's breast .

trot saw the body of_the princess become transparent, so_that her beating heart showed plainly . but now the heart turned from a vivid red to gray, and then to white .a layer of frost formed about_it and tiny icicles clung to its surface . then slowly the body of_the girl became visible again and_the heart was hidden from view . Gloria seemed to_have fainted, but now she recovered and, opening her beautiful eyes, stared coldly and without emotion at_the group of witches confronting her .

Blinkie and_the others knew by_that one cold look that their charm had_been successful . they burst into a chorus of wild laughter and_the three beautiful ones began dancing again, while Blinkie unbound the princess and set her free .

trot rubbed her eyes to_prove that she was wide awake and seeing clearly, for her astonishment was great when_the three lovely maidens turned into ugly, crooked hags again, leaning on broomsticks and canes . they jeered at Gloria, but the princess regarded them with cold disdain . being now free, she walked to a door, opened it and passed out . and_the witches let her go .

trot and Pon had_been so intent upon_this scene that in their eagerness they had pressed quite hard against the window . just as Gloria went out_of_the house the window- sash broke loose from its fastenings and fell with a crash into_the room . the witches uttered a chorus of screams and then, seeing that their magical incantation had_been observed, they rushed for_the open window with uplifted broomsticks and canes . but Pon was off like the wind, and trot followed at his heels . fear lent them strength to run, to leap across ditches, to speed up the hills and to vault the low fences as a deer would .

the band of witches had dashed through_the window in pursuit; but Blinkie was so old, and_the others so crooked and awkward, that_they soon realized they_would_be unable to overtake the fugitives . so the three who had_been summoned by_the wicked witch put their canes or broomsticks between their legs and flew away through_the air, quickly disappearing against the blue sky .Blinkie, however, was so enraged at Pon and trot that she hobbled on in_the direction they had taken, fully determined to catch them, in_time, and to punish them terribly for spying upon her witchcraft .

when Pon and trot had run so_far that_they were confident they had made good their escape, they sat down near the edge of a forest to_get their breath again, for both were panting hard from their exertions . trot was_the first to recover speech, and she said to her companion:

" my ! wasn't it terr'ble ? "

" the most terrible thing I ever saw," Pon agreed .

" and_they froze Gloria's heart; so now she_can't love you any more ."

" well, they froze her heart, to_be_sure," admitted Pon, " but I'm in hopes I_can melt it with my love ."

where do_you s' pose Gloria is ? " asked the girl, after a pause .

" she left the witch's house just before we_did . perhaps she has gone back to_the king's castle," he_said .

"I'm pretty sure she started off in adiff' rent direction," declared trot ."I looked over my shoulder, as I ran, to_see how close the witches were, and I'm sure I_saw Gloria walking slowly away toward the north ."

" then let_us circle around that way," proposed Pon, " and perhaps we_shall meet her ."

trot agreed to_this and_they left the grove and began to circle around toward the north, thus drawing nearer and nearer to old Blinkie's house again . the wicked witch did_not suspect this change of direction, so when she came to_the grove she passed through it and continued on .

Pon and trot had reached a place less_than half a mile from_the witch's house when_they saw Gloria walking toward them . the princess moved with great dignity and with no show of haste whatever, holding her head high and looking neither to right nor left .

Pon rushed forward, holding out his arms as_if to embrace her and calling her sweet names . but Gloria gazed upon him coldly and repelled him with a haughty gesture . at_this the poor gardener's boy sank upon his knees and hid his face in_his arms, weeping bitter tears; but the princess was not at all moved by his distress .Passing him by, she drew her skirts aside, as_if unwilling they should touch him, and then she walked up the path a way and hesitated, as_if uncertain where to_go next .

trot was grieved by Pon's sobs and indignant because Gloria treated him so badly . but she remembered why .

"I guess your heart is frozen, all right," she said to_the princess . Gloria nodded gravely, in reply, and then turned her back upon_the little girl ." can't you like even me ? " asked trot, half pleadingly .

" no," said Gloria .

" your

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