"One spark, and an ash heap ! " groaned the unhappy straw man, leaping wildly from boulder to rock

"What shall now ? " wailed Trot, stopping in dismay, for they had come very back cavern and could run no farther

"I don't know what real person would do," panted Benny glancing around desperately, "but I'll do something Quick, squeeze into that little opening " just time for Trot Scarecrow to slip narrow crevice back cave before Quiberon dragged himself water and flung himself up rocks

"Where mortal maiden ? " roared the great dragon, as Benny placed himself bravely between his friends monster

"Turn off your fire works ! to burn her to crisp ? " shouted the stone man, waving his umbrella boldly under Quiberon's very nose "Can't you talk without smoking ? " he continued crossly, "You're turning me quite black "

"Speak without smoking," muttered the monster in puzzled voice "Well, try it better ? " he grunted presently Benny nodded and waving the cloud of smoke from before his eyes peered anxiously downward

"What with Trot ? " he asked suspiciously

" her for servant," answered Quiberon promptly " polish my scales, comb my hair," he lifted great silver lock that hung between his horns, "sweep out the cave and tell me stories " Benny was about to snap his stone fingers monster's face, when Trot tapped him sharply ankles

"Don't make him angry," whispered the little girl "Maybe if I tried it for time find way to escape " Disgusted thought of Trot even looking at such creature, Benny nevertheless realized that she was more experienced ways fairy kingdom than Stifling an impulse to jump monster's head Benny called gruffly:

" promise not to hurt her ? "

"Not at first," agreed Quiberon readily enough "Not till she tells me all she knows about mortals That's fair enough, isn't it ? " With an angry grunt Benny stepped aside and Trot Scarecrow slipped crevice

"Remember now, no more firing," quavered the Scarecrow, "and no nonsense either ! "

"Pooh ! " sniffed Quiberon so vigorously the Scarecrow was blown five feet air and only saved quick action of Benny from falling tumbling stream below

"What shall first ? " asked Trot, bowing timidly to Quiberon

" practice some songs," purred the dragon drowsily "And when I return sing me to sleep "

"Are we going to stand ? " demanded Benny in furious whisper Scarecrow, who was balanced insecurely on sharp spike jutting out side cave

"Hush ! " warned the Scarecrow "I'm thinking ! " And putting his cotton finger wrinkled forehead he gazed intently ceiling

" just outside, so don't try running away," advised Quiberon, sliding water with tremendous splash and his glittering tail had disappeared opening cave

"Well ! " exclaimed Trot, clasping her hands resignedly, "I've never tried singing dragon to sleep, but I suppose there must always be first time he doesn't put his head in my lap, though "

"He'd better not ! " stormed Benny, tramping angrily up and down "I'll dance talons, I'll tread tail and pull out his whiskers ! "

"Maybe there's another way out," mused the Scarecrow removing his eyes ceiling cave

"Let's look," proposed Trot, darting eagerly toward the back cavern Hurriedly they circled one entire side without success Tumbling straight top cave other side was sparkling silver water fall

"I wonder what's beyond that ? " muttered the Scarecrow looking up at it thoughtfully

"Water doesn't hurt me, so I'll just take look," said the stone man and before Trot or the Scarecrow could stop him Benny stepped right water fall and disappeared With sharp cry of distress Trot rushed forward

"He's gone ! " wailed the little girl dolefully The Scarecrow looked almost as upset as Trot, for even short time he had grown fond strange stone comrade discussed in anxious tones what they had better do, the dripping face of Benny looked out water fall

"Come on ! " he spluttered excitedly "Run through, it leads into another cave ! " Taking deep breath Scarecrow's hand, Trot plunged waterfall Benny seized them just , terrible rush of water took Trot's breath poor Scarecrow was limp and helpless, stepped out other side

"I'll carry him," decided Benny, Scarecrow made an unsuccessful attempt to walk The live statue was really beginning to enjoy all these strange adventures and excitements "Hurry ! " he puffed, picking up the poor, soggy straw man "That monster's coming I hear him " had reached the end second cave, Quiberon with flop and flash came plunging water fall

"How dare you run away ? " sizzled the monster water poured over his fire-breathing nose, steam came rolling in hot clouds toward Trot and her friends

"Faster ! Faster ! You go on ! " urged Benny "I'll stop him " stifling steam curling round her head, Trot ran as never before, all the way second cavern and rushed headlong into narrow passageway that opened out between two rocks Benny meanwhile, realizing that never outdistance Quiberon, stopped directly path, first placing the Scarecrow on little ledge beside him With snort that shook seven sapphire rocks roof, Quiberon opened his monstrous mouth, and without moment's hesitation the stone man stepped in The Scarecrow, water soaked and helpless though , help admiring the courage new friend Down came the jaws great fear fish Crunch ! Crunch ! Crunch ! Then, howl of anger and pain and eight red tusks lay floor cavern

"Bite Public Benefactor, would you ? " sniffed Benny, stepping calmly out monster opened his mouth, and before Quiberon had recovered he snatched up the Scarecrow and pounded after Trot They had almost reached the end dim blue corridor before Quiberon appeared head Five times as furious as he before, crashing on like an express train Trot dared not look over her shoulder, and even Benny felt that nothing could save them now Without plan or hope they dashed on, till an ear splitting screech brought them to sudden stop

"You look ! " begged Trot, covering her eyes with both hands Expecting almost anything, Benny swung round, then instantly gave great shout of relief

"He's stuck ! " cried the stone man exuberantly And so , few yards behind them Smoking, screaming and sending up shower after shower of sparks, the monster lay jammed rocky sides passageway So fast had Trot and Benny been running they scarcely noticed the gradual narrowing corridor, and so fast had Quiberon rushed after them that he had stuck fast before he had time to stop himself

"A narrow escape , but not for him," remarked the Scarecrow in moist whisper Scarcely able black smoke Quiberon was sending out, and almost deafened by his whistles and roars, Trot and Benny ran on The passageway was growing narrower still, and after several twists and turns, it came to an abrupt stop

"Cave City ! " puffed Trot The words were studded in sapphire rock ahead "Admittance three rocks "

"Well, 't go back," sighed the little girl, sitting down wearily, "so we'll just have Cave City "

"But we haven't any rocks," observed Benny, putting the Scarecrow down beside Trot and looking carefully all around "And will the people city welcome us~or-" Benny finish his sentence but looked uneasily from Trot Scarecrow

" great deal of water on my brain," complained the Scarecrow, "but if someone will wring me out, I'll endeavor " Benny looked on rather nervously as Trot squeezed the water flimsy body Scarecrow

"Don't forget to wring my neck," directed the straw man calmly "I believe the only man in Oz whose neck wrung without discomfort," he explained, glancing brightly up live statue Benny said nothing and indeed what could he say ? And Trot, after shaking up the Scarecrow and smoothing him out as best , propped him up against the side passageway

"I suppose if I were real person, think of something too," mourned Benny, taking off his high hat and rubbing his stone crown reflectively

"You're much better than real person ! " declared the Scarecrow promptly "A real person have jumped jaws of monster like Quiberon I, part, am glad yourself ! "

"Come on, Benny, let's look for some rocks ! " cried Trot

"And think of some, said the Scarecrow leaning his head back against the wall But though Benny and Trot searched up and down the narrow corridor not loose rock, stone or even pebble could they find The walls, ceiling and floor were of smooth sparkling sapphire It shed weird blue light over the three travelers and soon they began as blue looked After searching in vain for rocks, they began to thump door of Cave City, but with no results and had about decided they were prisoners forever narrow enclosure, Scarecrow gave loud shout though of some rocks," he announced excitedly " three of us here Well then, but to rock with laughter doors will fly open "

Benny looked doubtful and Trot feel much like laughing, but Scarecrow insisted, they ranged themselves door of Cave City Benny and Trot had to support the Scarecrow for still too wet and soggy to stand alone

"Now you laugh 'He ! ', I'll laugh 'Ho ! ' and Trot must laugh 'Hah ! '," directed the Scarecrow solemnly So at his signal Benny burst into loud "He ! " Trot into shrill "Hah ! " Scarecrow into husky "Ho ! " same time they rocked all together and fixed their eyes expectantly door Much to Trot's surprise, it instantly swung inward, and an old merman on crutches stood opening

"Well ! Well ! " he began querulously, "Why don't you come in ? Come in ! Come in, I'm mighty sorry you

"Sorry ? " gasped Trot, as Benny stepped forward, drawing the others along "Why ? "

"You'll know that soon enough," mumbled the old merman swinging along ahead crutches " please, and mind you don't tread on my tail "

CHAPTER 6

The Wicked Soothsayer

AFTER leaving Trot and her companions mercies of Quiberon, Akbad flew quickly King's garden, intending to rid himself golden wings and say nothing at all about his curious adventure But before he had come enchanted tree, the King and half courtiers came rushing sapphire palace

"My son ? Where is my son ? " panted Cheerobed, seizing Akbad arm, not even noticing the great wings that drooped Soothsayer's shoulders