Oz 09: The Scarecrow of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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tasted them . but the Scarecrow said with a laugh:

" someone is looking after your welfare, that_is certain, and from_the looks of_this table I suspect my friend the wizard has taken us in_his charge .I've known him to_do things like this before, and if_we_are in_the wizard's care you_need not worry about_your future ."

" who's worrying ? " inquired button- bright, already at_the table and busily eating .

the Scarecrow looked around the place while the others were feasting, and finding many things unfamiliar to him he shook his head and remarked:

" I_must_have taken the wrong path, back in_that last valley, for on my way to Jinxland I remember that I passed around the foot of_this river, where there_was a great waterfall ."

" did the river make a bend, after_the waterfall ? " asked Cap'n bill .

" no, the river disappeared . only a pool of whirling water showed what had become of_the river; but I suppose it_is under ground, somewhere, and will come to_the surface again in another part of_the country ."

" well," suggested trot, as she finished her luncheon, " as there_is no way to cross this river, I s' pose we'll have to_find that waterfall, and go around it ."

" exactly," replied the Scarecrow; so they soon renewed their journey, following the river for_a_long_time until the roar of_the waterfall sounded in their ears . by and by they came to_the waterfall itself, a sheet of silver dropping far, far down into a tiny lake which seemed to_have no outlet . from_the top of_the fall, where they stood, the banks gradually sloped away, so that_the descent by land was quite easy, while the river could do nothing but glide over an edge of rock and tumble straight down to_the depths below .

" you_see," said the Scarecrow, leaning over the brink, " this_is called by our Oz people the great waterfall, because it_is certainly the highest one in all the land; but i_think -- help ! "

he had lost his balance and pitched headforemost into_the river . they saw a flash of straw and blue clothes, and_the painted face looking upward in surprise . the next moment the Scarecrow was swept over the waterfall and plunged into_the basin below .

the accident had happened so suddenly that for a moment they were all too horrified to_speak or move .

" quick ! we_must go to help him or he_will_be drowned," trot exclaimed .

even while speaking she began to descend the bank to_the pool below, and Cap'n bill followed as swiftly as his wooden leg would let him . button- bright came more slowly, calling to_the girl:

" he_can't drown, trot; he's aScarecrow ."

but she wasn't sure aScarecrow couldn't drown and never relaxed her speed until she stood on_the edge of_the pool, with_the spray dashing in her face .Cap'n bill, puffing and panting, had just voice enough to ask, as he reached her side:

" see him, trot ? "

" not a speck of him .Oh, Cap'n, what do_you s' pose has become of him ? "

"I s' pose," replied the sailor, " that he's in_that water, more or less far down, and I'm 'fraid it'll make his straw pretty soggy . but as fer his bein' drowned, I agree with button- bright that_it can't be_done ."

there_was small comfort in_this assurance and trot stood for some_time searching with her eyes the bubbling water, in_the hope_that the Scarecrow would finally come to_the surface . presently she heard button- bright calling: " come here, trot ! " and looking around she saw that_the boy had crept over the wet rocks to_the edge of_the waterfall and seemed to_be peering behind it .Making her way toward him, she asked:

" what do you_see ? "

"A cave," he answered ." let's go in .P'r'aps we'll find the Scarecrow there ."

she was a little doubtful of_that, but the cave interested her, and so did it Cap'n bill . there_was just space enough at_the edge of_the sheet of water for_them to crowd in behind it, but after_that dangerous entrance they found room enough to walk upright and after a time they came to an opening in_the wall of rock .Approaching this opening, they gazed within it and found a series of steps, cut so_that they_might easily descend into_the cavern .

trot turned to look inquiringly at her companions . the falling water made such din and roaring that her voice could_not_be heard .Cap'n bill nodded his head, but before he_could enter the cave, button- bright was before him, clambering down the steps without a particle of fear . so the others followed the boy .

the first steps were wet with spray, and slippery, but the remainder were quite dry .a rosy light seemed to_come from_the interior of_the cave, and this lighted their way . after_the steps there_was a short tunnel, high enough for_them to walk erect in . and then they reached the cave itself and paused in wonder and admiration .

they stood on_the edge of a vast cavern, the walls and domed roof of_which were lined with countless rubies, exquisitely cut and flashing sparkling rays from one to another . this caused a radiant light that permitted the entire cavern to_be distinctly seen, and_the effect was so marvelous that trot drew in her breath with a sort of a gasp, and stood quite still in wonder .

but the walls and roof of_the cavern were merely asetting for a more wonderful scene . in_the center was abubbling caldron of water, for here the river rose again, splashing and dashing till its spray rose high in_the air, where it took the ruby color of_the jewels and seemed like aseething mass of flame . and while they gazed into_the tumbling, tossing water, the body of_the Scarecrow suddenly rose in_the center, struggling and kicking, and_the next instant wholly disappeared from view .

" my, but he's wet ! " exclaimed button- bright; but none_of_the others heard him .

trot and Cap'n bill discovered that a broad ledge -- covered, like the walls, with glittering rubies -- ran all around the cavern; so they followed this gorgeous path to_the rear and found where the water made its final dive underground, before it disappeared entirely . where it plunged into_this dim abyss the river was black and dreary looking, and_they stood gazing in awe until just beside them the body of_the Scarecrow again popped up from_the water .

chapter Twenty three

the land of Oz

the straw man's appearance on_the water was so sudden that_it startled trot, but Cap'n bill had the presence of mind to stick his wooden leg out over the water and_the Scarecrow made a desperate clutch and grabbed the leg with both hands . he managed to hold on until trot and button- bright knelt down and seized his clothing, but the children would_have_been powerless to drag the soaked Scarecrow ashore had_not Cap'n bill now assisted them . when_they laid him on_the ledge of rubies he was_the most useless looking Scarecrow you_can imagine -- his straw sodden and dripping with water, his clothing wet and crumpled, while even the sack upon_which his face was painted had become so wrinkled that_the old jolly expression of_their stuffed friend's features was entirely gone . but he_could still speak, and when trot bent down her ear she heard him say:

" get me out of here as_soon_as_you_can ."

that seemed a wise thing to_do, so Cap'n bill lifted his head and shoulders, and trot and button- bright each took a leg; among them they partly carried and partly dragged the damp Scarecrow out_of_the ruby cavern, along the tunnel, and up the flight of rock steps . it_was somewhat difficult to_get him past the edge of_the waterfall, but they succeeded, after much effort, and a few_minutes later laid their poor comrade on agrassy bank where the sun shone upon him freely and he_was beyond the reach of_the spray .

Cap'n bill now knelt down and examined the straw that_the Scarecrow was stuffed with .

"I don't believe it'll be of much use to him, any more," said he, " for_it's full of polliwogs an' fish eggs, an' the water has took all the crinkle out o' the straw an ruined it .I guess, trot, that_the best thing for_us to_do is to empty out all his body an' carry his head an' clothes along the road till we come to a field or a house where we_can get some fresh straw ."

" yes, Cap'n," she agreed, " there's nothing else to_be_done . but how shall we ever find the road to Glinda's palace, without the Scarecrow to guide us ? "

" that's easy," said the Scarecrow, speaking in a rather feeble but distinct voice ." if Cap'n bill will carry my head on_his shoulders, eyes front, I_can tell him which_way to_go ."

so they followed that plan and emptied all the old, wet straw out_of_the Scarecrow's body . then the sailor- man wrung out the clothes and laid them in_the sun till they were quite dry . trot took charge of_the head and pressed the wrinkles out_of_the face as it dried, so_that after a while the Scarecrow's expression became natural again, and as jolly as before .

this work consumed some_time, but when it_was completed they again started upon their journey, button- bright carrying the boots and hat, trot the bundle of clothes, and Cap'n bill the head . the Scarecrow, having regained his composure and being now in a good humor, despite his recent mishaps, beguiled their way with stories of_the land of Oz .

it_was not until the next morning, however, that_they found straw with_which to restuff the Scarecrow . that evening they came to_the same little house they had slept in before, only now it_was magically transferred to a new place . the same bountiful supper as before was found smoking hot upon_the table and_the same cosy beds were ready for_them to sleep in .

they rose early and after breakfast went out of doors, and there, lying just beside the house, was a heap of clean, crisp straw .Ozma had noticed the Scarecrow's accident in her magic picture and had notified the wizard to_provide the straw, for she knew the adventurers were_not likely to_find straw in_the country through which they were now traveling .

they lost no time in stuffing the Scarecrow anew, and he_was greatly delighted at being able to walk around again and to assume the leadership of_the little party .

" really," said trot, " i_think you're better than you were before, for you_are fresh and sweet all through and rustle beautifully when_you move ."

" thank_you, my dear," he replied gratefully ."I always feel like a new man when I'm freshly stuffed . no one likes to_get musty, you_know, and even good straw may_be spoiled by age ."

" it_was water that spoiled you, the last time," remarked button- bright, " which proves that too_much bathing is as bad as too little . but, after all, Scarecrow, water is_not as dangerous for_you as fire ."

" all things are good in moderation," declared the Scarecrow ." but now, let_us hurry on, or we_shall_not reach Glinda's palace by nightfall ."

chapter Twenty-Four

the royal reception

at about four o'clock of_that same day the red wagon drew up at_the entrance to Glinda's palace and Dorothy and Betsy jumped out .Ozma's red wagon was almost a chariot, being inlaid with rubies and pearls, and it_was drawn by Ozma's favorite steed, the wooden sawhorse .

" shall I unharness you," asked Dorothy, " so you_can come in and visit ? "

" no," replied the sawhorse ."I'll just stand here and think . take your time .Thinking doesn't seem to bore me at all ."

" what_will you_think of ? " inquired Betsy .

" of_the acorn that grew the tree from_which I was_made ."

so they left the wooden animal and went in to_see Glinda, who welcomed the little girls in her most cordial manner .

" I_knew you were on_your way," said the good sorceress when_they were seated in her library, " for I learned from my record book that you intended to meet trot and button- bright on their arrival here ."

" is_the strange little girl named trot ? " asked Dorothy .

" yes; and her companion, the old sailor, is named Cap'n bill . i_think we_shall like them very_much, for they_are just the kind of people to enjoy and appreciate our fairyland and I_do_not_see any_way, at present, for_them to return again to_the outside world ."

" well, there's room enough here for_them, I'm sure," said Dorothy ."Betsy and I are already eager to welcome trot . it_will keep us busy for a year, at_least, showing her all the wonderful things in Oz ."

Glinda smiled .

" I_have lived here many years," said she, " and I_have_not seen all the wonders of Oz yet ."

meantime the travelers were drawing near to_the palace, and when_they first caught sight of_its towers trot realized that_it_was far more grand and imposing than was_the king's castle in Jinxland . the nearer they came, the more beautiful the palace appeared, and when finally the Scarecrow led them up the great marble steps, even button- bright was filled with awe .

"I don't see any soldiers to guard the place," said the little girl .

" there_is no need to guard Glinda's palace," replied the Scarecrow ." we_have no wicked people in Oz, that we_know of, and even if there were any, Glinda's magic would_be powerful enough

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