Oz 09: The Scarecrow of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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in_the proceedings, while Blinkie tore a handful of hair from her own head and ripped a strip of cloth from_the bottom of her gown . then the witch sank upon her knees, took a purple powder from her black bag and sprinkled it over the hair and cloth .

"I hate to_do_it -- I hate to_do_it ! " she wailed, " for there_is no more of_this magic compound in all the world . but I_must sacrifice it to save my own life .a match ! give_me a match, quick ! " and panting from lack of breath she gazed imploringly from one to another .

Cap'n bill was_the only_one who had a match, but he_lost no time in handing it to Blinkie, who quickly set fire to_the hair and_the cloth and_the purple powder . at once a purple cloud enveloped Gloria, and this gradually turned to a rosy pink color -- brilliant and quite transparent . through_the rosy cloud they_could all see the beautiful princess, standing proud and erect . then her heart became visible, at first frosted with ice but slowly growing brighter and warmer until all the frost had disappeared and it_was beating as softly and regularly as any_other heart . and now the cloud dispersed and disclosed Gloria, her face suffused with joy, smiling tenderly upon_the friends who were grouped about her .

poor Pon stepped forward -- timidly, fearing a repulse, but with pleading eyes and arms fondly outstretched toward his former sweetheart -- and_the princess saw him and her sweet face lighted with a radiant smile . without an instant's hesitation she threw herself into Pon's arms and this reunion of two loving hearts was so affecting that_the people turned away and lowered their eyes so as not to mar the sacred joy of_the faithful lovers .

but Blinkie's small voice was shouting to_the Scarecrow for help .

" the antidote ! " she screamed ." give_me the other box -- quick ! "

the Scarecrow looked at_the witch with_his quaint, painted eyes and saw that she was now no taller than his knee . so he_took from_his pocket the second box and scattered its contents on Blinkie . she ceased to grow any smaller, but she_could never regain her former size, and this the wicked old woman well knew .

she did_not know, however, that_the second powder had destroyed all her power to work magic, and seeking to_be revenged upon_the Scarecrow and_his friends she at once began to mumble a charm so terrible in its effect that_it would_have destroyed half the population of Jinxland -- had it worked . but it did_not work at all, to_the amazement of old Blinkie . and by_this_time the Scarecrow noticed what the little witch was trying to_do, and said to her:

" go home, Blinkie, and behave yourself . you_are no longer a witch, but an ordinary old woman, and since you_are powerless to_do more evil I advise you to_try to_do some good in_the_world . believe me, it_is more fun to accomplish a good act than an evil one, as_you_will discover when once you_have tried it ."

but Blinkie was at_that moment filled with grief and chagrin at losing her magic powers . she started away toward her home, sobbing and bewailing her fate, and not one who saw her go was at all sorry for her .

chapter Twenty

queen Gloria

next morning the Scarecrow called upon all the courtiers and_the people to assemble in_the throne room of_the castle, where there_was room enough for all that were able to attend . they found the straw man seated upon_the velvet cushions of_the throne, with_the king's glittering crown still upon his stuffed head . on one side of_the throne, in a lower chair, sat Gloria, looking radiantly beautiful and fresh as a new- blown rose . on_the other side sat Pon, the gardener's boy, still dressed in_his old smock frock and looking sad and solemn; for Pon could_not make himself believe that so splendid a princess would condescend to love him when she had come to her own and was seated upon a throne . trot and Cap'n bill sat at_the feet of_the Scarecrow and were much interested in_the proceedings . button- bright had lost himself before breakfast, but came into_the throne room before_the ceremonies were over . back of_the throne stood a row of_the great Orks, with their leader in_the center, and_the entrance to_the palace was guarded by more Orks, who were regarded with wonder and awe .

when all were assembled, the Scarecrow stood up and made a speech . he_told how Gloria's father, the good king Kynd, who had once ruled them and been loved by everyone, had_been destroyed by king Phearce, the father of Pon, and how king Phearce had_been destroyed by king Krewl . this last king had_been a bad ruler, as_they knew very_well, and_the Scarecrow declared that_the only_one in all Jinxland who had the right to sit upon_the throne was princess Gloria, the daughter of king Kynd .

" but," he added, " it_is_not for_me, a stranger, to_say who shall rule you . you_must decide for yourselves, or you_will_not_be content . so choose now who shall be your future ruler ."

and_they all shouted: " the Scarecrow ! the Scarecrow shall rule us ! "

which proved that_the stuffed man had made himself very popular by his conquest of king Krewl, and_the people thought they_would like him for their king . but the Scarecrow shook his head so vigorously that_it became loose, and trot had to pin it firmly to_his body again .

" no," said he, "I belong in_the land of Oz, where I_am the humble servant of_the lovely girl who rules us all -- the royal Ozma . you_must choose one of your own inhabitants to rule over Jinxland . who shall it be ? "

they hesitated for a moment, and some few cried: "Pon ! " but many more shouted: " Gloria ! "

so the Scarecrow took Gloria's hand and led her to_the throne, where he first seated her and then took the glittering crown off his own head and placed it upon that of_the young lady, where it nestled prettily amongst her soft curls . the people cheered and shouted then, kneeling before their new queen; but Gloria leaned down and took Pon's hand in both her own and raised him to_the seat beside her .

" you_shall_have both a king and a queen to care for_you and to protect you, my dear subjects," she said in a sweet voice, while her face glowed with happiness; " for Pon was a king's son before he became a gardener's boy, and because I love him he is_to_be my royal consort ."

that pleased them all, especially Pon, who realized that_this was_the most important moment of_his life . trot and button- bright and Cap'n will all congratulated him on winning the beautiful Gloria; but the Ork sneezed twice and said that in_his opinion the young lady might_have done better .

then the Scarecrow ordered the guards to bring in_the wicked Krewl, king no longer, and when he appeared, loaded with chains and dressed in fustian, the people hissed him and drew back as he passed so their garments would_not touch him .

Krewl was not haughty or overbearing any more; on_the contrary he_seemed very meek and in great fear of_the fate his conquerors had in store for him . but Gloria and Pon were too happy to_be revengeful and so they offered to appoint Krewl to_the position of gardener's boy at_the castle, Pon having resigned to_become king . but they said he_must promise to reform his wicked ways and to_do his duty faithfully, and he_must change his name from Krewl to Grewl . all this the man eagerly promised to_do, and so when Pon retired to a room in_the castle to_put on princely raiment, the old brown smock he had formerly worn was given to Grewl, who then went out into_the garden to water the roses .

the remainder of_that famous day, which_was long remembered in Jinxland, was given over to feasting and merrymaking . in_the evening there_was a grand dance in_the courtyard, where the brass band played a new piece of music called the "Ork trot" which_was dedicated to " our glorious Gloria, the queen ."

while the queen and Pon were leading this dance, and all the Jinxland people were having a good_time, the strangers were gathered in a group in_the park outside the castle .Cap'n bill, trot, button- bright and_the Scarecrow were there, and so was their old friend the Ork; but of all the great flock of Orks which had assisted in_the conquest but three remained in Jinxland, besides their leader, the others having returned to_their own country as_soon_as Gloria was crowned queen . to_the young Ork who had accompanied them in their adventures Cap'n bill said:

" you've surely been a friend in need, and we're mighty grateful to_you for helping us .I might_have_been a grasshopper yet if_it hadn't been for_you, an' I_might remark that bein' a grasshopper isn't much fun ."

" if_it hadn't been for_you, friend Ork," said the Scarecrow, " I_fear I_could_not have conquered king Krewl ."

" no," agreed trot, " you'd have_been just a heap of ashes by_this_time ."

and I might_have_been lost yet," added button- bright ." much obliged, Mr Ork ."

"Oh, that's all right," replied the Ork ." friends must stand together, you_know, or they wouldn't be friends . but now I_must leave you and be off to my own country, where there's going to_be a surprise party on my uncle, and I've promised to attend it ."

" dear me," said the Scarecrow, regretfully ." that_is very unfortunate ."

" why so ? " asked the Ork .

"I hoped you_would consent to carry us over those mountains, into_the land of Oz . my mission here_is now finished and i_want to_get back to_the emerald city ."

" how did you cross the mountains before ? " inquired the Ork .

"I scaled the cliffs by_means of a rope, and crossed the great gulf on a strand of spider web . of_course I_can return in_the same manner, but it would_be a hard journey -- and perhaps an impossible one -- for trot and button- bright and Cap'n bill . so i_thought that if_you had the time you and your people would carry us over the mountains and land us all safely on_the other side, in_the land of Oz ."

the Ork thoughtfully considered the matter for a while . then he_said:

"I mustn't break my promise to_be present at_the surprise party; but, tell me, could you go to Oz to- night ? "

" what, now ? " exclaimed trot .

" it_is a fine moonlight night," said the Ork, " and I've found in my experience that there's no time so good as right away . the fact is," he explained, " it's a long journey to Orkland and I and my cousins here are all rather tired by our day's work . but if_you_will start now, and be content to allow us to carry you over the mountains and dump you on_the other side, just say the word and -- off we go ! "

Cap'n bill and trot looked at one another questioningly . the little girl was eager to visit the famous fairyland of Oz and_the old sailor had endured such hardships in Jinxland that he_would_be_glad to_be out of it .

" it's rather impolite of us not to_say good-bye to_the new king and queen," remarked the Scarecrow, " but I'm sure they're too happy to miss us, and I assure you it_will_be much easier to fly on_the backs of_the Orks over those steep mountains than to climb them as I_did ."

" all right; let's go ! " trot decided ." but where's button- bright ? "

just at_this important moment button- bright was lost again, and_they all scattered in search of him . he had_been standing beside them just a few_minutes before, but his friends had an exciting hunt for him before_they finally discovered the boy seated among_the members of_the band, beating the end of_the bass drum with_the bone of a turkey- leg that he had taken from_the table in_the banquet room .

"Hello, trot," he_said, looking up at_the little girl when she found him ." this_is_the first chance I ever had to pound a drum with areg'lar drum stick . and I ate all the meat off the bone myself ."

" come quick . we're going to_the land of Oz ."

"Oh, what's the hurry ? " said button- bright; but she seized his arm and dragged him away to_the park, where the others were waiting .

trot climbed upon_the back of her old friend, the Ork leader, and_the others took their seats on_the backs of_his three cousins . as_soon_as all were placed and clinging to_the skinny necks of_the creatures, the revolving tails began to whirl and up rose the four monster Orks and sailed away toward the mountains . they were so high in_the air that when_they passed the crest of_the highest peak it seemed far below them . no sooner were they well across the barrier than_the Orks swooped downward and landed their passengers upon_the ground .

" here we_are, safe in_the land of Oz ! " cried the Scarecrow joyfully .

"Oh, are we ? " asked trot, looking around her curiously .

she_could see the shadows of stately trees and_the outlines of rolling hills; beneath her feet was soft turf, but otherwise the subdued light of_the moon disclosed nothing clearly .

"Seems jus' like any_other country," was Cap'n bill's comment .

" but it isn't," the Scarecrow assured him ." you_are now within_the borders of_the most glorious fairyland in all

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