"Then you're prisoner, too ? " asked Trot, leaning forward sympathetically

"Who ? " demanded the Scarecrow again "And how you still have both sides of your face ? "

"Because the blue ray destroy waterman," said the old man proudly, and sitting up them strange story

"My name is Orpah," he announced sadly, "and keeper King's sea horses Every morning drive them jeweled caverns to graze green plants bottom lake, bringing them back King subjects wished to ride Yes, for many years I cared sea horses of Cheeriobed, who every thing I wished for but had these golden crutches made so travel on land as water "

"Are all the inhabitants Ozure Isles like you ? " interrupted Trot, "or have they wings like the bird man who brought us here ? "

" the only mer-man parts other Islanders have two legs like you yourself I never saw any with wings," exclaimed Orpah, regarding the little girl with puzzled frown

"Let him tell his story and then we'll tell ours, advised Benny, who was extremely interested old man's recital

"There isn't much more," sighed the mer-man gloomily "Everything went well and happily till the day the little Prince Ozure Isles was two years old Then Mombi suddenly appeared, snatched up her Majesty and flew off The same day Quiberon came roaring across the lake One by one, he devoured the herd of sea horses the Ozure Islanders were accustomed to ride mainland When I tried to defend them he seized me and thrust me into his cave Leaping water-fall, I escaped to Cave City and prisoner If I refuse to obey the cave men, they shut me up without water Without water live, so as their slave forced to work dismal underground cavern

"Just wait till Ozma hears this," cried Trot indignantly "That monster tried to catch us too, but he's caught himself now, and never will get away

" it ? " Orpah sprang crutches and looked joyfully from one other Trot hastily told him how the bird man had carried them Emerald City to Quiberon's cave, how they, too, had escaped water-fall and how the great monster, rushing after them, had become wedged narrow passageway

" the King knew If Cheeriobed knew, he'd 'start at once in search Queen," cried Orpah excitedly

"We'll tell him we're out," proposed the Scarecrow cheerfully, "and help him find the Queen besides "

"But how are we out ? " groaned the mer-man dismally "I've been here for twenty years

" fight these cave men," declared Benny, picking up rock and glancing belligerently from left to right

"Hush," warned the Scarecrow in low voice " being shadowed "

"What's that ? " shivered Trot, as cold damp wind went whistling past her ears and long series of wails came echoing cavern

"The cave men," whispered Orpah, quickening his pace " coming you

"They won't get me," blustered Benny, brandishing his umbrella in one hand rock other

"Why, they're shadows ! " cried Trot, seizing the Scarecrow's arm "Live shadows "

"Silhouettes," corrected the mer-man, placing himself boldly in front little girl

Rushing along both sides wall, came the cave men, shouting and yelling and waving their shadow swords and clubs seen the picture of Egyptian silhouettes carved on old tombs and walls ? Well, the cave men were like that, except that move and talk

"Pooh ! Who's afraid ? " stuttered Trot, threatening shadows swept along each side cave

"Surrender ! " called blue shade,armed with long spear "Surrender name bf King Silly the Second "

"Nonsense ! "puffed the Scarecrow, shaking his cotton fist shadow, while Benny let his rock fly directly speaker It struck the wall with terrific thud, but the silhouette even seem to notice it same time, the three travelers felt an irresistible force pushing them forward The cave men themselves were moving backward

" summoned Presence King ! " announced pikeman in high thin voice

"Well I'll be pebbled," panted the stone man For even Benny's great weight withstand the relentless force that was dragging them along shadow army Orpah tried to comfort them, but little the old man presence cruel and ghostly company When at last they reached the King's cavern, even Benny felt dismayed King Silly the Second was so immense up one entire side royal cave sitting sideways, like all other shadows, upon throne roughly drawn rocks His one eye rolled angrily around intruders and as his subjects grouped themselves around the throne, loudly

"No bodies allowed here How dare you clutter up my Kingdom with your miserable bodies ? "

" 't help being ourselves," faltered Trot, eyeing His Majesty nervously, "and 'll tell us the way out of your Kingdom, we'll go immediately "

"Faster than that, even," added the Scarecrow, looking 'round with shudder

"Hold your tongue," advised the King sharply "Since here, be silhouettes too some new slaves Pray stand against that wall yonder with your best sides out and I'll melted down to shadows "

"I won't be shadow ! " cried Benny, stamping his foot determinedly " going Emerald City so real person "

"You'll make an excellent shade," muttered the King, resting his chin upon his arm

"But look here," protested the Scarecrow, waving his hat to attract His Majesty's attention, 't important subjects of Ozma of Oz and when we fail to return she will come here with her army and destroy you

" 't fight shadows," answered the King calmly "Fetch the blue ray, Ozeerus "

Backing along the wall, the blue shade thus addressed left the cavern, returning presently with flaming blue torch weird blue light danced all over the ceiling and walls, Trot seized her two friends hands

"Run ! " panted Trot frantically But at their first step, the same invisible force that had swept them King's presence, thrust them back against the left wall cave

"This ray," explained the King, smiling icily, "will destroy those clumsy bodies of yours and transform you into fine, useful shades Quick, best sides out "

"Am I shadow before I become man ? " groaned Benny, glancing about desper-ately

"Will I be the shadow of myself ? " moaned the Scarecrow, putting both hands before his face and crouching back against the wall

"Never mind," comforted Trot "Maybe it won't hurt much and we won't have shadows long, for Ozma will soon miss us and then this silly old King sorry as silly "

"Who first ? " inquired the monarch, giving no heed to Trot's remarks Benny glanced blazing blue torch to Trot and then quickly stepped forward

" first," announced Benny, "but beware, when I become shadow, I'll toss you off the throne, I'll hammer you to shadow bits, I'll-" Benny got no further, for juncture, Ozeerus turned the blue torch full upon him sparkle and flash blue flame sprayed against the wall and then such roar and grind Scarecrow toppled over like ten-pin and Trot clapped both hands to her ears

CHAPTER 12

Escape from Cave City

THE last thing Trot remembered was an ear splitting explosion, terrible tumble through dark tunnel, terrific splash sudden shock of finding herself under water Choking and spluttering the little girl struck out valiantly As she did, two wet arms clasped themselves 'round her waist and she felt herself being borne swiftly upward Next instant the warm sun was shining on her face and, opening her eyes, Trot found herself surface of Lake Orizon Supporting her with one arm, Orpah was swimming steadily toward rocky beach Blinking and gasping, for she had swallowed dreadful dose of salt water, the little girl tried to look for her friends But no sign of Benny or the Scarecrow, nor jeweled islands she had seen bird man dropped her in Quiberon's cave

Too exhausted to ask questions, Trot let the old mer-man tow her ashore As it grew shallower, he lifted her arms and set her on high rock reach tide

"Now, go back others," he wheezed hoarsely "But we're free-free my girl-and all troubles are over ! "

Trot smiled faintly, too wet and shaken word and, with joyous flirt tail, Orpah disappeared under the waves But the warm sunshine and bracing breeze soon restored Trot to herself Wringing out her dress and shaking back her hair she began to look eagerly return of Orpah She wondered just how she had reached the bottom lake and whether Benny Scarecrow blown there with her And before she had answered this question to her own satisfaction, the hard head stone man appeared suddenly above the water At each step he rose higher and Orpah, swimming joyously at his side, waved gaily to Trot Benny was carrying the Scarecrow arms, and reached the little girl's rock, the straw man gave feeble cheer

Benny had lost his high hat and umbrella and was covered with clinging sea weeds, but at sight of Trot, safe and sound rocks, his stone lips parted in broad smile

"Well," rasped Benny jovially, " better than being shades, but let's go in where it's dryer "

"By all means," coughed the Scarecrow " like sponge ! " As Benny came opposite, Trot, standing on top-toe, put her arms 'round 'his neck Striding easily over the jagged rocks, the stone man carried both Trot Scarecrow far up beach The mer-man had recovered his crutches , and hobbled happily along behind them

"I'm glad you're not real man yet," muttered the Scarecrow, as Benny put him carefully down sand "A real man could never have walked along the bottom of lake, nor saved us from being shadows "

"Did I save you ? " asked Benny, easing Trot down beside the Scarecrow

" ! " Dragging himself up beside the others, Orpah beamed former statue " refused to melt into shadow, Ozeerus turned the blue ray higher and higher till it exploded and blew out the side cave and carried us all bottom lake "

"But where are the Ozure Isles ? " questioned Trot, standing up and shading her eyes with one hand