Oz 09: The Scarecrow of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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he_could help it . therefore he_gave a harsh, wicked laugh of derision and said:

"I'm busy, now . stand out of_my way, Scarecrow, and I'll talk with_you by and by ."

but the Scarecrow turned to_the assembled courtiers and people and called in a loud voice:

"I hereby declare, in_the name of Ozma of Oz, that_this man is no longer ruler of Jinxland . from_this moment princess Gloria is your rightful queen, and I ask all of you to_be loyal to her and to obey her commands ."

the people looked fearfully at_the king, whom they all hated in their hearts, but likewise feared .Krewl was now in a terrible rage and he raised his golden sceptre and struck the Scarecrow so heavy a blow that he fell to_the floor .

but he_was up again, in an instant, and with Pon's riding- whip he switched the king so hard that_the wicked monarch roared with pain as_much as with rage, calling on_his soldiers to capture the Scarecrow .

they tried to do_that, and thrust their lances and swords into_the straw body, but without doing any damage except to_make holes in_the Scarecrow's clothes . however, they were many against one and finally old Googly-Goo brought a rope which he wound around the Scarecrow, binding his legs together and_his arms to_his sides, and after_that the fight was over .

the king stormed and danced around in a dreadful fury, for he had never been so switched since he_was a boy -- and perhaps not then . he ordered the Scarecrow thrust into_the castle prison, which_was no task at all because one man could carry him easily, bound . as he_was .

even after_the prisoner was removed the king could_not control his anger . he tried to figure out some way to_be revenged upon_the straw man, but could think of nothing that could hurt him . at last, when_the terrified people and_the frightened courtiers had all slunk away, old Googly-Goo approached the king with a malicious grin upon his face .

"I'll tell you what to_do," said he ." build a big bonfire and burn the Scarecrow up, and that_will_be the end of him ."

the king was so delighted with_this suggestion that he hugged old Googly-Goo in_his joy

" of_course ! " he cried ." the very thing . why did I not think of it myself ? "

so he summoned his soldiers and retainers and bade them prepare a great bonfire in an open space in_the castle park . also he sent word to all his people to assemble and witness the destruction of_the Scarecrow who had dared to defy his power . before long a vast throng gathered in_the park and_the servants had heaped up enough fuel to_make a fire that might_be seen for miles away -- even in_the daytime .

when all was prepared, the king had his throne brought out for him to sit upon and enjoy the spectacle, and then he sent his soldiers to fetch the Scarecrow .

now the one_thing in all the world that_the straw man really feared was fire . he_knew he_would burn very easily and_that his ashes wouldn't amount to much afterward . it wouldn't hurt him to_be destroyed in_such_a_manner, but he realized that many people in_the land of Oz, and especially Dorothy and_the royal Ozma, would feel sad if_they learned that their old friend the Scarecrow was no longer in existence .

in_spite of_this, the straw man was brave and faced his fiery fate like a hero . when_they marched him out before_the concourse of people he turned to_the king with great calmness and said:

" this wicked deed will cost you your throne, as_well as_much suffering, for_my friends will avenge my destruction ."

" your friends are_not here, nor will they know what I_have_done to_you, when_you_are gone and can- not tell them," answered the king in a scornful voice .

then he ordered the Scarecrow bound to a stout stake that he had had driven into_the ground, and_the materials for_the fire were heaped all around him . when_this had_been done, the king's brass band struck up a lively tune and old Googly-Goo came forward with a lighted match and set fire to_the pile .

at once the flames shot up and crept closer and closer toward the Scarecrow . the king and all his people were so intent upon_this terrible spectacle that none_of_them noticed how the sky grew suddenly dark . perhaps they thought that_the loud buzzing sound -- like the noise of a dozen moving railway trains -- came from_the blazing fagots; that_the rush of wind was merely a breeze . but suddenly down swept a flock of Orks, half a hundred of_them at_the least, and_the powerful currents of air caused by their revolving tails sent the bonfire scattering in every direction, so_that not one burning brand ever touched the Scarecrow .

but that was not the only effect of_this sudden tornado . king Krewl was blown out of_his throne and went tumbling heels over head until he landed with a bump against the stone wall of_his own castle, and before he_could rise a big Ork sat upon him and held him pressed flat to_the ground . old Googly-Goo shot up into_the air like a rocket and landed on a tree, where he hung by_the middle on a high limb, kicking the air with_his feet and clawing the air with_his hands, and howling for mercy like the coward he_was .

the people pressed back until they were jammed close together, while all the soldiers were knocked over and sent sprawling to_the earth . the excitement was great for_a_few_minutes, and every frightened inhabitant of Jinxland looked with awe and amazement at_the great Orks whose descent had served to rescue the Scarecrow and conquer king Krewl at one and_the same time .

the Ork, who was_the leader of_the band, soon had the Scarecrow free of_his bonds . then he_said: " well, we were just in_time to save you, which_is better than being a minute too late . you_are now the master here, and we_are determined to_see your_orders obeyed ."

with_this the Ork picked up Krewl's golden crown, which had fallen off his head, and placed it upon_the head of_the Scarecrow, who in_his awkward way then shuffled over to_the throne and sat down in_it .

Seeing this, arousing cheer broke from_the crowd of people, who tossed their hats and waved their handkerchiefs and hailed the Scarecrow as their king . the soldiers joined the people in_the cheering, for now they fully realized that their hated master was conquered and it would_be wise to show their good will to_the conqueror . some_of_them bound Krewl with ropes and dragged him forward, dumping his body on_the ground before_the Scarecrow's throne .Googly-Goo struggled until he finally slid off the limb of_the tree and came tumbling to_the ground . he then tried to sneak away and escape, but the soldiers seized and bound him beside Krewl .

" the tables are turned," said the Scarecrow, swelling out his chest until the straw within it crackled pleasantly, for he_was highly pleased; " but it_was you and your people who did it, friend Ork, and from this_time you_may count me your humble servant ."

chapter Nineteen

the conquest of_the witch

now as_soon_as_the conquest of king Krewl had taken place, one_of_the Orks had_been dispatched to Pon's house with_the joyful news . at once Gloria and Pon and trot and button- bright hastened toward the castle . they were somewhat surprised by_the sight that met their eyes, for there_was the Scarecrow, crowned king, and all the people kneeling humbly before him . so they likewise bowed low to_the new ruler and then stood beside the throne .Cap'n bill, as_the gray grasshopper, was still perched upon trot's shoulder, but now he hopped to_the shoulder of_the Scarecrow and whispered into_the painted ear:

" i_thought Gloria was to_be queen of Jinxland ."

the Scarecrow shook his head .

" not yet," he answered ." no queen with a frozen heart is fit to rule any country ." then he turned to_his new friend, the Ork, who was strutting about, very proud of what he had done, and said: " do_you suppose you, or your followers, could find old Blinkie the witch ? "

" where is she ? " asked the Ork .

" somewhere in Jinxland, I'm sure ."

" then," said the Ork, " we_shall certainly be_able to_find her ."

" it_will give_me great pleasure," declared the Scarecrow ." when_you have found her, bring her here to_me . and_I_will then decide what to_do with her ."

the Ork called his followers together and spoke a few words to_them in a low tone .a moment after they rose into_the air -- so suddenly that_the Scarecrow, who was very light in weight, was blown quite out of_his throne and into_the arms of Pon, who replaced him carefully upon his seat . there_was an eddy of dust and ashes, too, and_the grasshopper only saved himself from being whirled into_the crowd of people by jumping into a tree, from where a series of hops soon brought him back to trot's shoulder again . the Orks were quite out of sight by_this_time, so the Scarecrow made a speech to_the people and presented Gloria to_them, whom they knew well already and were fond of . but not all of_them knew of her frozen heart, and when_the Scarecrow related the story of_the wicked witch's misdeeds, which had_been encouraged and paid for by Krewl and Googly-Goo, the people were very indignant .

meantime the fifty Orks had scattered all over jinx land, which_is not a very big country, and their sharp eyes were peering into every valley and grove and gully . finally one_of_them spied a pair of heels sticking out from underneath some bushes, and with a shrill whistle to warn his comrades that_the witch was found the Ork flew down and dragged old Blinkie from her hiding- place . then two_or_three of_the Orks seized the clothing of_the wicked woman in their strong claws and, lifting her high in_the air, where she struggled and screamed to no avail, they flew with her straight to_the royal castle and set her down before_the throne of_the Scarecrow .

" good ! " exclaimed the straw man, nodding his stuffed head with satisfaction ." now we_can proceed to business . mistress witch, I_am obliged to request, gently but firmly, that you undo all the wrongs you have_done by_means of your witchcraft ."

"Pah ! " cried old Blinkie in a scornful voice ."I defy you all ! by my magic powers I_can turn you all into pigs, rooting in_the mud, and I'll do_it if you_are_not careful ."

" i_think you_are mistaken about_that," said the Scarecrow, and rising from_his throne he walked with wobbling steps to_the side of_the wicked witch ." before I left the land of Oz, Glinda the royal sorceress gave_me a box, which i_was not to open except in an emergency . but I_feel pretty sure that_this occasion is an emergency; don't you, trot ? " he asked, turning toward the little girl .

" why, we've got to_do something," replied trot seriously ." things seem in an awful muddle here, jus' now, and_they'll be worse if_we don't stop this witch from doing more harm to people ."

" that_is my idea, exactly," said the Scarecrow, and taking a small box from_his pocket he opened the cover and tossed the contents toward Blinkie .

the old woman shrank back, pale and trembling, as a fine white dust settled all about her . under its influence she seemed to_the eyes of all observers to shrivel and grow smaller .

"Oh, dear - oh, dear ! " she wailed, wringing her hands in fear ." haven't you the antidote, Scarecrow ? Didn't the great sorceress give_you another box ? "

" she did," answered the Scarecrow .

" then give it me -- quick ! " pleaded the witch ." give it me -- and I'll do anything you ask me to ! "

" you_will do what I ask first," declared the Scarecrow, firmly .

the witch was shriveling and growing smaller every moment .

" be quick, then ! " she cried ." tell me what I_must do and let me do_it, or it_will_be too late ."

" you_made trot's friend, Cap'n bill, a grasshopper .I command you to_give him back his proper form again," said the Scarecrow .

" where is he ? where's the grasshopper ? quick -- quick ! " she screamed .

Cap'n bill, who had_been deeply interested in_this conversation, gave a great leap from trot's shoulder and landed on_that of_the Scarecrow .Blinkie saw him alight and at once began to_make magic passes and to mumble magic incantations . she was in a desperate hurry, knowing that she had no time to waste, and_the grasshopper was so suddenly transformed into_the old sailor- man, Cap'n bill, that he had no opportunity to jump off the Scarecrow's shoulder; so his great weight bore the stuffed Scarecrow to_the ground . no harm was_done, however, and_the straw man got up and brushed the dust from_his clothes while trot delightedly embraced Cap'n bill .

" the other box ! quick ! give_me the other box," begged Blinkie, who had now shrunk to half her former size .

" not yet," said the Scarecrow ." you_must first melt princess Gloria's frozen heart ."

" I_can't; it's an awful job to do_that ! I_can't," asserted the witch, in an agony of fear -- for still she was growing smaller .

" you_must ! " declared the Scarecrow, firmly .

the witch cast a shrewd look at him and saw that he meant it; so she began dancing around Gloria in a frantic manner . the princess looked coldly on, as if_not at all interested in_the

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