The Scarecrow, stuffed straw person, with marvelous set of mixed brains given to him Wizard of Oz, was Dorothy's favorite she had discovered him herself upon Munchkin farm, lifted him down bean pole and brought him Emerald City Tik Tok was wonderful man made entirely of copper, talk, think and act next fellow when properly wound amazed to hear the giant story ticking off very minute As for Scraps, she made by magician's wife out of old pieces of patch-work and magically brought to life Her bright patches, yarn hair and silver suspender button eyes gave Scraps so comical an expression that just to look at her tickled one's funny bone Her head was full of nonsense rhymes and she was so amusing and cheerful that Ozma insisted upon her living rest celebrities Emerald City

Sir Hokus of Pokes was comparative newcomer capital city of Oz Yet the Knight was so old would lumbago just to count up his birthdays He dated back to King Arthur, , and wished Land of Oz centuries before by an enemy sorcerer Dorothy had found and rescued him, Cowardly Lion's help, from Pokes, the dullest Kingdom of Oz As there were no other Knights Emerald City, Sir Hokus was much stared at and admired Even the Soldier Green Whiskers, the one and only soldier and entire army of Oz-yes, even the soldier Green Whiskers saluted Sir Hokus when he passed Ozma, herself, felt more secure Knight had come to live palace well versed in adventure and always courageous and courteous, withal

But, while I've been telling you all this, Tik Tok had finished his story of three-legged giant who lived in Ev

"And where is Ev ? " puffed Sir Hokus, planting himself before Tik Tok

"Ev," began Tik Tok precise fashion, "is north-west of here other side im-" whirr and click copper man stood motionless and soundless, his round eyes fixed solemnly Knight

"Pass-able desert," finished the Scarecrow, jumping up and kindly winding all of Tik Tok's keys nothing had happened

"Pass-able desert," continued the Copper Man

"That's where the old Gnome King used to live," piped Betsy Bobbin, bouncing up and down sofa, "under the mountains of Ev, and he threw us down tube and tried to melt you in crucible, didn't he, Tok Tok ? "

" ve-ry bad per-son," said the Copper Man

"Ruggedo was wicked King, 'Tho' now he's good as pie, But none the less, confess, He has wicked eye ! "

burst out Scraps, who was tired of sitting still listening to giant Stories

But Sir Hokus got off the subject of giants "To Ev ! " thundered the Knight, raising his sword "To-morrow I'm off to Ev to conquer this terrible monster Large as mountain, you say, Tik Tok ? Well, what care I for mountains ? I, Sir Hokus of Pokes, will slay him ! "

"Hurrah giant killer ! " giggled Scraps, turning somersault and nearly falling fire

"Let's go to bed ! " said Dorothy uneasily She had been hearing strange rumbles it giants; still the conversation, she concluded, had better be finished by sunlight

But it never was, for moment deafening crash The lights went out; the whole castle shivered; furniture fell every Down clattered Sir Hokus, falling with terrible clangor on top Copper Man Down rolled the little girls Scarecrow and Scraps Down tumbled every-body

"Cyclone ! " gasped Dorothy, who had experienced several in Kansas

"Giants ! " stuttered Betsy Bobbin, clutching Trot

The Wizard of Oz tried to reassure the agitated company them no cause for alarm, soon find out the trouble The soothing words Wizard were scarcely heard

What the others said was lost noise that followed Thumps-bangs-rashes-screams came from every room rocking palace

"We're flying ! The whole castle's flying up air ! " screamed Dorothy Then she subsided, as an emerald clock and three pictures came thumping down on her head

What had happened ? No one Dorothy, Betsy Bobbin and Trot had fainted dead away The Scarecrow and Sir Hokus were tangled up floor, clasped in 's arms

The confusion was terrific Only the Wizard was still calm and smiling

CHAPTER 8

Woe Emerald City

The Soldier Green Whiskers finished his breakfast slowly, combed his beard, pinned on all medals and solemnly issued forth little house garden gates

"Forward march ! " snapped the soldier He had himself orders, being the only man, general or private army And forward march his custom to report to Ozma every morning to receive his orders day When he had gone little patch of trees that separated his cottage palace, the Soldier Green Whiskers gave great leap

"Halt ! Break ranks ! " roared the Grand Army of Oz, clutching his beard in terror "Great Goulashes ! " He rubbed his eyes and looked again Yes, the gorgeous emerald-studded palace had disappeared, leaving not as gold brick where it had stood Trembling in every knee, the Grand Army of Oz approached great black hole, the exact shape palace, yawned at his feet one look down that awful cavity, then shot palace gardens like green comet

Like Paul Revere he had gone the alarm, and Paul Revere himself never made better time He thumped on windows and banged on doors and dashed sleeping city like whirlwind In five minutes not man, woman or child who know terrible calamity They rushed palace gardens in panic Some stared up air; others peered down the dark hole; still others ran about wildly trying to discover some trace missing castle

"What shall ? " they wailed dismally For their lovely little Queen Wizard and all the most important people in Oz disappear at once was simply terrifying They were gentle and kindly folk, used to obeying orders, and now no one them what

At last Unk Nunkie, an old Munchkin who had taken up residence Emerald City, pushed crowd Unk was man of few words, but wise old chap for all that, so they made way for him respectfully First Unk Nunkie stroked his beard; then pointing long lean finger toward the south he snapped out one word-"GLINDA ! "

! tell Glinda Why had they not thought of it themselves ? Glinda would know just what and how Three cheers for Unk Nunkie ! Glinda, , good Sorceress of Oz, who knows more magic than anyone Kingdom, but who only practices it people's good Indeed, Glinda Wizard of Oz are the only ones permitted to practice magic, for harm had come of it that Ozma made law forbidding sorcery in all branches But even in fairy country people always obey the laws and everyone felt that magic was bottom disaster

So away to fetch Glinda dashed the Grand Army, his green whiskers streaming behind him Fortunately the royal stables disappeared palace, so the gallant army sprang back Saw Horse, and without stopping to explain other royal beasts, bade it carry him to Glinda as fast as it could gallop Being made of wood with gold shod feet and magically brought to life, the Saw Horse can run faster than any animal in Oz It never tired or needed food and when it understood palace and its dear little Mistress had disappeared it fairly flew; Saw Horse loved Ozma with all its saw dust and was devoted as only wooden beast

In an hour they had reached Glinda's shining marble palace southern part Quadling country, and lovely Sorceress had heard the soldier's story, she hurried magic Book of Records most valuable book in Oz and kept padlocked with many golden chains to gold table, for great volume appear all the events happening in and world

Now, Glinda so occupied trying to discover the cause of frowns that she referred book for and naturally there were many pages over There were hundreds of entries concerning automobile accidents United States and elsewhere These Glinda passed over hurriedly, till she came to three sentences printed in red, for Oz news always appeared book in red letters The first sentence seem important It merely stated Prince of Pumperdink was journeying toward the Emerald City The other two entries seemed serious

"Glegg's box of Mixed Magic discovered," said the second, and "Ruggedo has something mind," stated the third Glinda pored over the book whether any more information given but not another red sentence appeared With sigh, Glinda turned Soldier Green Whiskers

"The old Gnome King mixed up ," she said anxiously, "and as last seen Emerald City, return at once " So Glinda Soldier Green Whiskers flew back Emerald City drawn in Glinda's chariot by swift flying swans little Saw Horse trotted back by himself reached the gardens great crowd had gathered Fountain of Oblivion and tall green grocer was speaking excitedly

" it ? " asked Glinda, shuddering as she passed the dreadful hole where Ozma's lovely palace had once stood Everyone started explaining at once Glinda was obliged to clap her hands for silence

"Foot print ! " Unk Nunkie stood upon his tip toes and whispered it in Glinda's ear and when she looked where Unk pointed she saw huge, shallow cave- crushed the flower beds for as far as she

"Foot print ! " gasped Glinda in amazement

"Uh huh ! " Unk Nunkie wagged his head determinedly and then, pulling his hat down over his eyes, spoke his last word : "GIANT ! "

"A giant foot print ! Why so ! " cried Glinda

"What shall ? " cried the frightened inhabitants Emerald City, wringing their hands