The merry-go-round was so immense 'round and 'round motion grew noticible and presently Trot, becoming less dizzy, began more interested in her suroundings hollow center merry-go-round stood large round table and seated about was whole company of Round-abouties One had merry-go-round rings in both ears and one through his nose He held large silver bell and Trot immediately decided that the ring leader riotous band His head turned more slowly heads subjects, and as Trot passed, he smiled at her pleasantly Beside the round table, round tower rose floor ceiling round house Trot glanced at it curiously she went by and finally made out round door with black ring center bottom tower She had just made this interesting discovery ring leader rang his bell Taking Benny's hand and motioning Scarecrow , Trot jumped off inside merry-go-round and politely approached the ring leader

"Could you please show us the way out of your house ? " asked Trot, bowing nervously

"We're on an important mission," put Scarecrow, "and must reach the Emerald City tonight "

"Your mission from now on is me laugh," roared the ring leader, holding his head still with both hands so better observe the Scarecrow "Ha, ha ! You're enough Kookaroo laugh "

"I don't care cat's whisker for your opinion," exclaimed the Scarecrow indignantly, as all the other Round-abouties began to roar with their little round ruler

"Shall I hit somebody ? " asked Benny, stepping close round table and bringing his fist down with thump that shook the house

"Ring the bell ! Ring the bell ! " cried the Round-abouty next ring leader "Keep 'em going 'round, that's the way them 'round here " leader lifted his arm to ring the silver bell, Trot broke away and, being careful to run sideways, rushed toward the door round tower Seizing the ring, she jerked it open and plunged up the spiral stairway curling aloft Almost instantly thump behind her, and turning about, she saw that Benny Scarecrow were right at her heels 'Round and 'round, up and up, tore Trot, not daring to look back and growing more breathless at every step hear the screams and shouts Round-abouties down below thud rubber soles stair Frightened as she was and determined though she was to escape, one hundred and tenth step Trot's breath failed her Sinking down, she covered her face with her hands and waited mischievous little men to seize her Instead, two hard arms caught her up and Benny, who never grew tired nor lost his breath, pounded 'round and 'round, and up and very top flight Butting trap door center tower open head, he ran up the last three steps spiral stairway, leaned down, dragged the Scarecrow opening, then slammed down the trap door and sat just first Round-abouty reached the top

"That ! " declared the Scarecrow solemnly, " funniest race I ever was in And now that we're up here, how shall we get down ? " The trap door was bumping up and down furious thumps Round-abouties and even Benny's great weight hold it down indefinitely

"We'll have to slide to earth," muttered the Scarecrow, after an earnest glance all around " stand sliding, my dear ? I tell you ! " as Trot looked uncertainly down the curving surface huge wooden roof "Let me sit in Benny's lap and you, Trot, shall sit in mine, then altogether we'll slide The splinters won't hurt Benny "

"Better hurry up," advised the stone man, blinking his round eyes furiously thumps trap door grew more and more determined "Hurry up ! "

"You mean hurry down, don't you ? " smiled the Scarecrow, dropping into Benny's lap Then Trot sat carefully on top, Benny clasped his arms around them both and shoved off Next instant they were tobogganing down the round house roof, faster and faster and faster ! reached the edge they had gained such speed and momentum shot over an entire forest came to stop Stunned terrific force landing, but thanks Scarecrow, quite unhurt, Trot sat up and looked inquiringly around

"Well, we're still Munchkin Country," panted the little girl, pointing to blue farm house not far away

"And we certainly covered lot of ground, I mean air," coughed the Scarecrow, making an unsuccessful effort to arise "Shake me up Trot, I'm flat as fritter all right, Benny, my boulder ? "

"My coat tails are bit chipped," answered the stone man calmly, "but small price for freedom curious country, my dear," he observed, turning to Trot "Everyone wishes us into being like himself "

"A fault with people everywhere, even in your own world," puffed the Scarecrow, as Trot shook and pounded him into shape "Everybody thinks his way right way

"Let's take straight road ," interrupted Trot, who disliked long arguments and, giving the Scarecrow final pat, pulled him expertly feet "Have we lost our way, Scarecrow ? " The straw man looked long and earnestly in every direction

"There's road," finally, waving toward the East, "and I'll wager it leads right to Jinjur's door "

"Come on then," rumbled Benny impatiently " like to meet the girl who conquered city "

CHAPTER 14

Meeting of Celebrities

CONQUERING city ," observed the Scarecrow started across the blue field "Trot conquered an island sky and has whole book of history written about her adventures there "

"Did you really ? " Staring down little girl with wonder and admiration, Benny begged her the story So, hurried on blue cottage, Trot told how she and Button Bright and Cap'n Bill had flown on magic umbrella to Sky Island, conquered the Pinks and Blues, and how she crowned Queen island She was trying to explain to Benny why she preferred being little girl Emerald City to Queen sky, Scarecrow gave sharp cry of alarm and sprang back road

Thunderous hoof beats came pounding along the highway, and as Trot and Benny jumped way most astonishing steed galloped pell mell It carried two riders, but were seated on level tree tops they were almost invisible About all Trot and her companions were High Boy's legs For, , High Boy, and never having seen high horse whole course lives the three travelers pressed back against the low wall, side road

"Hey ! " yelled the Scarecrow, torn between fright and curiosity

"Where ? " whinnied the high horse, stopping short and coming down so suddenly that Phil Medicine Man were nearly jolted saddle "Did you say hay ? " he repeated gently, his head now on level Scarecrow "Ah ! " Leaning forward, he snatched several wisps Scarecrow's shirt front and munched them up with great relish

"Stop ! " commanded Trot sharply, Scarecrow, clutching his shirt front together, began to climb over the wall "You mustn't eat the Scarecrow; he's alive ! "

"Oh, all right then ! " sighed High Boy, looking curiously down at Trot, "but he started it, never have lowered myself at all if he hollered 'Hay ! '

"What I really meant was 'How- ! ! " stuttered the Scarecrow, balancing himself top wall and ready to jump either way "How do ? " he finished, jerking off his hat nervously

"As I'm told sometimes, and as I please, others," sniffed High Boy, switching his tail impatiently "But 's how and not hay, get up and go on again "

"No, wait," directed Philador, greatly interested appearance three travelers The Scarecrow he had recognized at once from picture he had seen in history at home "This gentleman lives Emerald City, High Boy, and perhaps show us the way capital " little Prince's words, the Scarecrow quickly jumped down off the wall

" going Emerald City ourselves," he exclaimed in surprise "It's opposite direction one taking "

"We're hunting Queen," explained Benny, deciding about time he got conversation

"Why, so are we ! " cried the medicine man, leaning out side that his chest flew open and spilled half its contents road Trot Scarecrow were extremely shocked unexpected happening, but immediately went to Herby's assistance and last pill box was in place, the medicine man slammed his chest and, with wide wave arms, announced:

" Prince Philador Ozure Isles, on quest his royal mother and save his father's Kingdom medicine man and-"

" high horse ! " neighed High Boy, pawing up the dust hoof and tossing back his mane "The only high horse in Oz ! "

All announcements, well imagine, filled Trot and her companions with astonishment

"Why, we've just left the Ozure Isles," burst out Trot breathlessly "A bird-man carried us to Quiberon's cave and-"

"Let's all sit down," beamed the Scarecrow, "and talk this over comfortably " Before Philador or Herby could dismount, High Boy dropped down upon his haunches and, putting one hoof behind his ear, begged the Scarecrow story

"Why don't you tie yourself up ? " he muttered impatiently medicine man, who in rolling off his back had again upset his medicine chest

"I'll lend you my belt," volunteered Trot, as Phil, who had also fallen off High Boy, picked himself up and sat down beside the straw man

"Now then ! " exclaimed Trot, after she had again restored the contents of Herby's chest and fastened it securely with her belt, "tell us everything that has happened ! "