" never be the same," the Scarecrow assured them sorrowfully " like an aquarium Is my face washed off, Trot ? what's got into my chest, ? " Trot thrust her hand Scarecrow's stuffed shirt and, with little grimace, brought forth wriggling fish There were several crabs and turtle Scarecrow's pockets, but after they had shaken him well and restored the wriggling creatures lake, Trot and Orpah wrung out the poor straw man and stretched him sun to dry

"You'll be all right soon," smiled Trot, giving him little hug, "and when we reach the Emerald City, yourself laundered and restuffed and I'll touch up your face with my new paints "

"But we going now ? " asked Benny, surveying the little girl expectantly

"Well," answered Trot, shaking back her wet hair, " we'd better get back Emerald City , Ozma can help find the Queen Ozure Isles, and keep Quiberon from doing any more mischief Don't so, Orpah ? "

"That's the best thing I've heard since I escaped from Cave City," smiled the mer-man, "and spare me, I'll swim across right now and tell Cheeriobed the good news

"Don't be too sure good," sighed the Scarecrow, raising his head with great effort He still felt damp and depressed, but Trot shook the old mer-man heartily hand and promised to return with Ozma Ozure Isles

"I'd like the Sapphire City again," finished Trot

"If Trot comes, I'll come too," promised Benny, "but not know me, for I'll be real person after the Wizard of Oz ! "

"You're real person now," chuckled Orpah, tapping Benny arm gold crutch, "and Cheeriobed will reward you well for your services "

" they won't hang wreaths 'round my neck," worried Benny, mer-man dove lake "I hate wreaths ! When do we start on, Trot ? "

" Scarecrow dries off and something to eat," answered Trot "Oh, Benny, I'm so hungry ! "

"What's that ? " inquired Benny, in surprise

"It's the way she's made," explained the Scarecrow patiently, "and inconveniences of being real person Real people, my dear Benny, must eat three times day, I'm glad I'm stuffed with straw and thank your hackers and hewers that made of stone ! "

"But, she eat ? " asked Benny, staring at Trot with worried frown

"Oh, I'll find something," laughed Trot, who was used to taking care of herself and picking up lunches in strange lands Running top of small sand dune, she looked carefully all around and soon found big clump of beach plums toast tree grew nearby and two, Trot fared extremely well The brisk breezes dried her clothes while she ate and, feeling rested and refreshed, Trot skipped back to her companions, thinking how astonished Dorothy and Betsy when she told them about Cave City bird man

The Scarecrow was telling Benny something of life capital, more the Public Benefactor heard strange and marvelous city, the more anxious off The Scarecrow himself could now walk without collapsing, so Trot appeared they both declared themselves ready to start

" this country," declared the Scarecrow with knowing wink " but to walk east until we come to Jinjur's cottage, then proceed in south-westerly direction till we reach the Emerald City itself "

" Jinjur ? " inquired Benny, tramping heavily tall grass

"A young lady who gathered an army of girls and conquered the Emerald City when Emperor," answered the Scarecrow, with merry glance at Trot

"How unladylike ! " mused the stone man " not afraid she will conquer you again ? "

"Dear me, no ! " laughed the Scarecrow "That's all over and done with and Jinjur and I are the best of friends tired of being Emperor, anyway," he finished carelessly "It's more fun being yourself "

"Will I be myself when I'm real man ? " asked the statue soberly "I'm beginning happy the way "

"That's because you're helping everybody," exclaimed Trot, giving him little pat

" ? " Stroking his chin thoughtfully, the stone man stopped "I don't even mind losing my hat and umbrella," he finished in surprise

"We'll soon find you new ones, promised the Scarecrow " we reach the Emerald City, and when we've helped find this lost Queen, settle down and be happy ever afterward "

"How long ? " Benny eyed the straw man with deep interest

"For as long live," announced Trot with little skip

"Then I live always," sighed Benny "I'd hate to stand still for fifty years like before And if I'm ever called upon statue again, I'll be sitting-down statue no idea how tiresome standing up and somebody never seen, year after year "

The Scarecrow nodded sympathetically and, talking , but especially Ozure Isles, the three travelers crossed several meadows and finally came to narrow blue highway so narrow they had to walk single file, but Scarecrow declared that any road was better than none, they proceeded along the highway until the strawman, who was lead, came to full stop

"What's the matter ? " demanded Trot, who came next The Scarecrow squeezed aside so the others ahead and, peering anxiously over his shoulder, Trot saw curious blue turnstile

"Shall we go on ? " asked the Scarecrow uncertainly, "or shall we go back ? "

Standing on tip-toes, Trot tried where the road beyond the turnstile went to

"Let's go on," decided Trot, help feeling curious So the Scarecrow stepped turnstile others quickly followed him

Round the first bend road hung big circular sign

ROUNDABOUT WAY

"Maybe the longest way 'round shortest way home," observed the Scarecrow, "and now that discover where this road goes " But impossible far Bushy trees grew on each side blue pathway and it curved see only few feet ahead

"This makes me dizzy," confessed Trot, after they had gone around dozens and dozens of curves " suppose it leads anywhere at all ? "

"Well, here's round house ! " exclaimed the Scarecrow "Shall we go in ? "

Coming 'round the last curve, Trot and Benny saw an enormous wooden dome, larger than ten circus tents rolled into one There were round windows walls halfway up and side toward them swiftly revolving door others had quite decided what , the Scarecrow stepped swinging door and disappeared

"Now we'll have in," decided Trot, anxiously and, waiting her chance she dashed Scarecrow and Benny stepped section immediately back of Trot

CHAPTER 13

The Round-abouties

STEPPING revolving door was , stepping out, another It whirled and spun so rapidly that poor Trot grew giddy and breathless, and when she did manage to escape she fell headlong The Scarecrow and Benny, not being real persons, suffer from giddiness, but they too lost their balance stepped out and lay face down sawdust that covered the floor round house The Scarecrow was first up, also first down again, for no sooner did they rise and try to walk forward were violently flung on their noses

"Let's go back," said the Scarecrow, after his sixth tumble " 't stand this "

" 't stand at all," complained Benny, rolling over and looking appealingly at Trot

"Neither can I," confessed Trot, trying to wiggle backwards without getting up But this proved impossible and, finding move backward or forward, the three travelers sat up and looked blankly at one another

" try going 'round ? " suggested roguish voice in Trot's ear and, turning with start, the little girl saw perfectly round young man, smiling amiably down upon her His head was round and covered with red ringlets, his legs and arms were short and round hands and feet were regular tennis balls

"See ! " cried the little man, bouncing easily to one side, "we go 'round in rings here Won't you join our family circle ? " he invited pleasantly

first time Trot became aware of great clamor and confusion round house big ring of Round-abouties was revolving merrily, twenty yards off Inside that, she still another circle moving opposite direction The loud ringing voices pudgy little people made her ears ring and, while she was considering the Round-abouty's invitation, his head began to spin merrily upon his peg neck

"Oh, look ! " wailed Trot, seizing the Scarecrow's arm "Whatever shall ? Everything's going 'round, even their heads ! " "Your head will soon turn as easily as mine," promised the Round-abouty, leaning down Trot's hand own "Come around please "

In panic, Trot pulled the Scarecrow with her and he in turn took hold of Benny Stepping rapidly right, they moved toward the first circle and were quickly drawn ring

"Did you once say to dance ? " chuckled the Scarecrow, looking up mischievously at Benny "Well, now's your chance, old boulder, but don't step on my foot " And dance they certainly did, 'round and 'round and 'round, till Trot really began to suspect that her head was turning too

"Don't you ever stop ? " panted the little girl, raising her voice above the shouts and yells Round-abouties, who seemed enjoying themselves tremendously

"Nope ! " Puffing out his cheeks, the little Round-abouty beamed upon Trot "We never stop, we just keep on going 'round together Isn't it fun ? "

Trot shook her head violently and tried to break circle, but the little fellows let go After circling more times that she lost all count, bell clanged out center ring Immediately Trot and her friends were thrust second circle which began revolving opposite direction The second circle was singing circle and as each Round-abouty was singing different song imagine the awful discords Trot groaned and put her fingers in her ears, but her hands were held so tightly was impossible After discovering that there were two more circles and merry-go-round exact center, Trot closed her eyes and skipped dizzily on

"If anyone ever asks me to play round game, reflected Trot grimly, "I'll, I'll hit them-yes, "

Benny Scarecrow mind , but even they grew tired continuous turning spinning heads strange comrades "We're close center," called the Scarecrow, were pushed third circle "Maybe when we reach the middle, something will happen I wouldn't mind riding merry-go-round "

"Well," rasped the stone man, skipping stiffy as he spoke "I've never ridden on merry-go-round yet, but if riding on one is part of being alive I suppose it ,'