"Well, did he ? " Benny looked curiously Scarecrow's bulging forehead

"Haven't you noticed them ? " demanded the Scarecrow in vexed voice Removing his hat he tapped the top head proudly "In here are the finest and most magic brains in Oz," he announced seriously " did they help me an Emperor, but since solved many questions of state present ruler, Ozma of Oz think of anything, can't I, Trot ? "

The little girl nodded politely and Benny, much impressed, watched the Scarecrow put hat " castle own Winkie Country but spend most of Emerald City," he concluded proudly

"Did the Wizard send Dorothy back to America ? " asked Benny, Scarecrow stopped to pick green rose for Trot

"Certainly ! " answered the Scarecrow, pulling two thorns cotton thumb, "but in Oz again No one who has lived in Oz can stay away long Dorothy lives castle with Ozma, Betsy and Trot Betsy Bobbin is another little girl from America, so you'll have lots of company, old fellow "

"Does the Wizard live there, too ? " questioned Benny eagerly, Scarecrow clumsily presented the rose to Trot, "and change me to real person ? "

" , but if I were you, stay lots of real people but precious few stone ones Think advantages ! " Tapping Benny lightly chest the Scarecrow began to enumerate them "First of all," he explained merrily, " never tire, need food or suffer pain never wear out nor require clothes Why, all the advantages of life without any inconveniences Isn't that true, Trot ? "

Trot smiled and made gesture that "yes" or "no " It taken wiser person than Trot to settle question like the Scarecrow's

They were drawing nearer Emerald City every moment now Over the tree tops ahead, Benny the tall towers and flashing spires castle The air was fresh, fragrant and somehow exciting On each side yellow brick road, cozy green cottages with domed emerald roofs began to appear Friendly faced folk, in stiff green silk costumes, waved doorways Trot Scarecrow waved back, and Benny, taking off his hat and bowing stiffly , decided that going life Land of Oz extremely pleasant and interesting At Trot's suggestion they turned off the yellow brick highway short cut castle

"Well ,"laughed Trot, dancing along pleasant little wood, "We'll soon be Emerald City now, and then-and then ! "

"Then what ? " wheezed the Scarecrow, stopping to swing on low branch

"Why, then we'll have party ! " exclaimed Trot "Don't we always have party come castle, but this party for Benny, in honor coming to life " The stone man was not sure just what party was, but as Trot was everything all right "We'll have games," continued the little girl happily, "and music and riddles and refreshments-and-"

"Stop ! " roared an imperious voice in Trot's ear

"Now then, come along peaceably or must I use force ? " sudden horrid interruption, Benny Scarecrow swung round in perfect astonishment

"A-a Goblin "faltered Trot, catching wildly at Benny

"Run ! Run ! That awful bird ! " panted the Scarecrow, taking great leap forward

"Run to," rumbled the Public Benefactor stopping short "But as not real person, stay here and fight Get away from here, you wild Whankus ! Leave Trot alone, you old Wallybuster ! " Words that he had never known were head came tumbling from Benny's stone lips and brandishing his umbrella threateningly he stepped little girl great ugly bird-man But Akbad, for Akbad, paid no attention to Benny's expostulations looking earnestly picture he had torn history of Oz All night the magic wings had carried him steadily toward the capital and Akbad who had scared the two travelers After frightening them heart's content, he had alighted in small orchard to refresh himself with few peaches When he flew on again the wings had carried him straight after Trot and her companions Looking down and seeing little girl , he had immediately dropped to earth

"You'll do, you're ! " shrilled the Soothsayer, waving the picture triumphantly "Come on, there's no time to lose ! " Before either Benny or the Scarecrow realized happening, Akbad seized the little girl and spread his great golden wings

"Stop ! " yelled the Scarecrow, running back and catching Trot hand

"Stop ! " gritted Benny, making wild snatch Soothsayer's heels As Benny's stone fingers closed around his ankles Akbad soared air thought the great weight stone man held him down But thousand pounds to pair of magic wings ! Up and away, over the sparkling spires capital circled Akbad, paying no more attention to Benny than to feather and scarcely noticing the Scarecrow at all

"Take us Ozure Isles," he commanded, tightening his grasp on Trot's arm

CHAPTER 5

Cave of Quiberon

IT HAD taken the golden wings nearly nine hours to carry Akbad Emerald City It took scarcely five to bring him back, so little after noon Soothsayer prisoners reached the sparkling shores Ozure Isles Not word spoken by anyone during the entire flight Trot had started to scream, but the wind rushing down her throat about mile minute had almost choked her When she managed her mouth shut again she was glad it that way, her eyes too matter Benny was too startled anything Scarecrow had all do himself from blowing apart But as Akbad, folding his wings, began to descend, Trot with long sigh opened her eyes

The five lovely islands of Cheeriobed lay glittering just below and Trot gave little gasp of relief and pleasure, hovered over the gorgeous Sapphire City Frightened though she was, Trot's heart began to beat with excitement and curiosity Surely nothing so very dreadful could happen in place like this ! But Akbad stop, and flying over the beautiful city carried them extreme end last island Here the waters of Orizon were pounding and roaring between two jeweled cliffs two cliffs and very mouth of great cave, Akbad closed his wings With suddenness that took what little breath Trot had left, they came tumbling down narrow beach Benny got such thump, he let go the Soothsayer's heels and almost fell lake Trot Scarecrow rolled over twice and, clutching wildly, sat up, simply speechless with indignation

"You," puffed Akbad, for he, too, was worn out long fly, " chosen to save the Ozure Isles " He shook his long finger in Trot's face "These others may escape wish, but stay and serve the monster Quiberon " As Trot, blinking her eyes between shock and consternation, tried to understand what all about, there came great snort and splashing and in toward the cave swam the monster himself

"Here's Your mortal maiden ! " yelled Akbad, and spreading his wings, rose quickly air, leaving Trot and her friends the giant fear fish Benny had struggled feet, but at sight monster he nearly lost his balance again As for Trot Scarecrow, after one horrified glance, they seized hands and dashed only direction open -straight blue cave

"Wait ! " thundered Quiberon, shooting long tongue of flame fiery nostrils so close fire and smoke blackened both Benny's eyes With grunt of surprise and displeasure, the stone man snatched up his umbrella and pounded after Trot Scarecrow

" you said that in Oz things different," shouted Benny, grinding the jeweled pebbles floor cave to powder beneath his flying stone boots

"Well, isn't this different ? " stuttered the Scarecrow, tripping over sapphire boulder and sprawling upon his nose

"Oh, hurry ! " begged Trot, jerking him quickly feet "Here it comes " At another time the three travelers paused to admire the great jeweled grotto, but snorting, puffing monster at their heels they scarcely glanced sapphire icicles hanging roof and jutting out sides sparkling gems that strewed the floor cave Water rushed center and no easy task running over the rocks and boulders side The glowing eyes monster lighted up the whole cavern Like steam engine, he puffed and snorted behind them, filling the air with sulphurous smoke, till it smelled like twenty Fourths of July rolled into one At every flash nostrils, the poor Scarecrow would wince and shudder