Nevertheless, the wise Sorceress despair of finding way to liberate her friends Finally she concluded best thing was Skeezer country and examine the lake While there she was more likely to discover solution problem that bothered her, and to work out plan rescue of Ozma and Dorothy

So Glinda summoned her storks and her aerial chariot, and telling her maids she was going on journey and soon return, she entered the chariot and was carried swiftly Emerald City

In Princess Ozma's palace the Scarecrow was now acting as Ruler Land of Oz There wasn't much for him , because all the affairs of state moved so smoothly, but there anything unforeseen should happen

Glinda found the Scarecrow playing croquet with Trot and Betsy Bobbin, two little girls who lived palace under Ozma's protection and were great friends of Dorothy and much loved by all the Oz people

"Something's happened ! " cried Trot, chariot Sorceress descended near them "Glinda never comes here 'cept something's gone wrong "

" no harm to Ozma, or Dorothy," said Betsy anxiously, lovely Sorceress stepped down from her chariot

Glinda approached the Scarecrow and told him dilemma of Ozma and Dorothy and she added: " save them, somehow, Scarecrow "

" ," replied the Scarecrow, stumbling over wicket and falling flat painted face

The girls picked him up and patted his straw stuffing into shape, and he continued, nothing had occurred: "But you'll have me what , for I never have raised sunken island in all my life "

" Council of State ," proposed the Sorceress "Please send messengers to summon all of Ozma's counsellors palace Then decide best "

The Scarecrow lost no time in doing this Fortunately most royal counsellors were Emerald City or near , so they all met throne room palace that same evening

Chapter Fourteen

Ozma's Counsellors

No Ruler ever had such queer assortment of advisers Princess Ozma had gathered about her throne Indeed, in no other country could such amazing people exist But Ozma loved them for their peculiarities and could trust

First the Tin Woodman Every bit of him was tin, brightly polished All his joints were kept well oiled and moved smoothly He carried gleaming axe woodman, but seldom had cause to use it because he lived in magnificent tin castle Winkie Country of Oz and Emperor of all the Winkies The Tin Woodman's name was Nick Chopper He had mind, but his heart was not of much account, so very careful nothing unkind or to hurt anyone's feelings

Another counsellor was Scraps, the Patchwork Girl of Oz, who of gaudy patchwork quilt, cut into shape and stuffed with cotton This Patchwork Girl was very intelligent, but so full of fun and mad pranks that lot of more stupid folks thought be crazy Scraps was jolly under all conditions, however grave , but her laughter and good spirits were of value in cheering others and in her seemingly careless remarks much wisdom could often be found

Then the Shaggy Man -- shaggy from head to foot, hair and whiskers, clothes and shoes -- but very kind and gentle and one of Ozma's most loyal supporters

Tik-Tok was there, copper man with machinery inside him, so cleverly constructed that he moved, spoke and thought by three separate clock-works Tik-Tok was very reliable because he always did exactly what wound up , but his machinery was liable to run down at times and then quite helpless until wound up again

different sort of person was Jack Pumpkinhead, one of Ozma's oldest friends and her companion on many adventures Jack's body was very crude and awkward, being formed of limbs of trees of different sizes, jointed with wooden pegs But substantial body and not likely to break or wear out, and when dressed the clothes covered much roughness The head of Jack Pumpkinhead was, guessed, ripe pumpkin, eyes, nose and mouth carved upon one side The pumpkin was stuck on Jack's wooden neck and was liable turned sidewise or backward and then to straighten it wooden hands

The worst thing sort of head it keep well and was sure to spoil sooner or later So Jack's main business was to grow field of fine pumpkins each year, and always before his old head spoiled select fresh pumpkin field and carve the features very neatly, it ready to replace the old head whenever it became necessary He didn't always carve it the same way, so his friends never knew exactly what sort of an expression find face But no mistaking him, because he only pumpkin- headed man alive Land of Oz

one-legged sailor-man was member of Ozma's council His name was Cap'n Bill and he had come Land of Oz with Trot, and made welcome on account cleverness, honesty and good nature He wore wooden leg to replace the one he had lost and was great friend of all the children in Oz because whittle all sorts of toys out of wood big jack-knife

Professor H M Wogglebug, T E , was another member council The "H M " meant Highly Magnified, Professor was once little bug, who became magnified size of man and always remained so The "T E " meant that Thoroughly Educated head of Princess Ozma's Royal Athletic College, and so students have to study and so lose much time that devoted to athletic sports, such as football, baseball like, Professor Wogglebug had invented the famous Educational Pills If college students took Geography Pill after breakfast, his geography lesson in an instant; if Spelling Pill he at once knew his spelling lesson, and an Arithmetic Pill enabled the student any kind of sum without having

These useful pills made the college very popular and taught the boys and girls of Oz their lessons easiest possible way , Professor Wogglebug was not favorite outside his college, for very conceited and admired himself and displayed his cleverness and learning so constantly, that no one cared to associate Ozma found him of value in her councils, nevertheless

Perhaps the most splendidly dressed of all those present was great frog as large as man, called the Frogman, who was noted wise sayings He had come Emerald City Yip Country of Oz and was guest of honor His long-tailed coat was of velvet, his vest of satin trousers of finest silk There were diamond buckles shoes and he carried gold-headed cane and high silk hat All bright colors were represented rich attire, so it tired one's eyes to look at him for long, until one became used splendor

The best farmer in all Oz was Uncle Henry, who was Dorothy's own uncle, and who now lived near the Emerald City wife Aunt Em Uncle Henry taught the Oz people how to grow the finest vegetables and fruits and grains and was of much use to Ozma in keeping the Royal Storehouses well filled He, too, was counsellor

The reason I mention the little Wizard of Oz last is because he most important man Land of Oz He wasn't big man in size but man in power and intelligence and second only to Glinda the Good in all the mystic arts of magic Glinda had taught him, Wizard Sorceress were the only ones in Oz permitted by law to practice wizardry and sorcery, which they applied only to good uses and benefit people

The Wizard wasn't exactly handsome but pleasant to look at His bald head was as shiny it varnished; always merry twinkle eyes and as spry as schoolboy Dorothy says the reason the Wizard as powerful as Glinda is because Glinda didn't teach him all she knows, but what the Wizard knows and so he performs some very remarkable magic The ten mentioned assembled, Scarecrow and Glinda, in Ozma's throne room, right after dinner that evening, Sorceress told them all she knew plight of Ozma and Dorothy

" rescue them," she continued, " sooner rescued the better pleased ; but what now determine is how saved why called you together in council "

"The easiest way," remarked the Shaggy Man, "is to raise the sunken island Skeezers top water again "

"Tell me how ? " said Glinda

"I don't know how, your Highness, for never raised sunken island "

" all get under it and lift," suggested Professor Wogglebug

"How can we get under it when it rests bottom lake ? " asked the Sorceress

"Couldn't we throw rope around it and pull it ashore ? " inquired Jack Pumpkinhead

" pump the water lake ? " suggested the Patchwork Girl with laugh

"Do be sensible ! " pleaded Glinda " serious matter, and give it serious thought "

"How big lake and how big island ? " Frogman's question

"None of us can tell, for there "

" case," said the Scarecrow, "it appears we ought Skeezer country and examine it carefully "

"Quite right," agreed the Tin Woodman

"We-will-have-to-go-there-any-how," remarked Tik-Tok jerky machine voice

"The question is which of us shall go, and of us ? " said the Wizard