"Great Goodness ! " cried the Tin Woodman, "What calamity ! They surely complain of your wise and gracious rule ? "

"No; but they say poor rule that don't work both ways," answered the Scarecrow; "and these females are also opinion that men have ruled the land long enough So captured my city, robbed the treasury of all its jewels, running things to suit themselves "

"Dear me ! What an extraordinary idea ! " cried the Emperor, who was both shocked and surprised

"And I heard say," said Tip, " intend to march here and capture the castle and city Tin Woodman "

"Ah ! not give them time to ," said the Emperor, quickly; " go at once and

130 Full page line-art drawing

RENOVATING HIS MAJESTY, THE SCARECROW

131 recapture the Emerald City and place the Scarecrow again upon his throne "

" sure help me," remarked the Scarecrow in pleased voice "How large an army assemble ? "

" need an army," replied the Woodman "We four, aid gleaming axe, are enough to strike terror hearts rebels "

"We five," corrected the Pumpkinhead

"Five ? " repeated the Tin Woodman

"Yes; the Saw-Horse is brave and fearless," answered Jack, forgetting his recent quarrel quadruped

The Tin Woodman looked around him in puzzled way, Saw-Horse had until now remained quietly standing in corner, where the Emperor noticed him Tip immediately called the odd-looking creature , and it approached so awkwardly nearly upset the beautiful center-table engraved oil-can

"I begin ," remarked the Tin Woodman as he looked earnestly Saw-Horse, "that wonders will never cease ! How came this creature alive ? "

" it with magic powder," modestly asserted the boy " Saw- Horse very useful "

132

"He enabled us to escape the rebels," added the Scarecrow

"Then surely accept him as comrade," declared the emperor "A live Saw-Horse is distinct novelty, and should prove an interesting study Does he know anything ? "

"Well, claim any great experience in life," the Saw-Horse answered for himself "but I seem to learn very quickly, and often it occurs that more than any around me "

"Perhaps ," said the emperor; "for experience always mean wisdom But time is precious Just now, so quickly make preparations to start upon our Journey

The emperor called his Lord High Chancellor and instructed him how to run the kingdom during his absence Meanwhile the Scarecrow was taken apart painted sack that served him for head was carefully laundered and restuffed brains originally given him great Wizard His clothes were also cleaned and pressed Imperial tailors, crown polished and again sewed upon his head, Tin Woodman insisted renounce this badge of royalty The Scarecrow now presented very respectable appearance, and although in no way addicted to vanity he

133 was quite pleased with himself and strutted trifle as he walked While being done Tip mended the wooden limbs of Jack Pumpkinhead and made them stronger than before, Saw-Horse was also inspected if in good working order

Then bright and early the next morning they set out return Journey emerald City, the Tin Woodman bearing upon his shoulder gleaming axe and leading the way, while the Pumpkinhead rode Saw-Horse and Tip Scarecrow walked upon either side sure that he didn't fall off or become damaged

Line-Art Drawing

134 Full page line-art drawing

135 Mr H M Woggle-Bug, T E

Now, General Jinjur -- who, remember, commanded the Army of Revolt -- was rendered very uneasy escape Scarecrow Emerald City She feared, and with good reason, that if his Majesty Tin Woodman Joined forces, it would mean danger to her and her entire army; people of Oz yet forgotten the deeds famous heroes, who had passed successfully through startling adventures

So Jinjur sent post-haste for old Mombi, the witch, and promised her large rewards if come assistance rebel army

Mombi was furious trick Tip had played upon her as at his escape theft precious Powder of Life; so she needed no urging

136 to induce her to travel Emerald City to assist Jinjur in defeating the Scarecrow Tin Woodman, who had made Tip one friends

Mombi had no sooner arrived royal palace than she discovered, of her secret magic, adventurers were starting upon their Journey Emerald City; so she retired to small room high up in tower and locked herself in while she practised such arts as command the return Scarecrow companions

That was why the Tin Woodman presently stopped and said:

"Something very curious has happened I ought by heart and every step Journey, yet already lost our way "

" quite impossible ! " protested the Scarecrow "Why , my dear friend, that we astray ? "

"Why, here is great field of sunflowers -- and I never saw this field before in all my life "

words they all looked around, only were indeed surrounded by field of tall stalks, every stalk bearing at its top gigantic sunflower And were these flowers almost

137 blinding in their vivid hues of red and gold, but whirled around upon its stalk like miniature wind-mill, completely dazzling the vision beholders and so mystifying them knew not

"It's witchcraft ! " exclaimed Tip

While they paused, hesitating and wondering, the Tin Woodman uttered cry of impatience and advanced with swinging axe to cut down the stalks before him But now the sunflowers suddenly stopped their rapid whirling, travelers plainly saw girl's face appear center of each flower These lovely faces looked astonished band with mocking smiles, and then burst into chorus of merry laughter dismay their appearance caused

"Stop ! stop ! " cried Tip, seizing the Woodman's arm; "they're alive ! they're girls ! "

moment the flowers began whirling again, faces faded away and were lost rapid revolutions

The Tin Woodman dropped his axe and sat down ground

"It heartless to chop down those pretty creatures," said he, despondently "and yet know how else proceed upon our way"

"They looked strangely like the faces of

138 the Army of Revolt," mused the Scarecrow "But conceive how the girls followed us here so quickly "

"I believe it's magic," said Tip, positively, " someone is playing trick upon us I've known old Mombi do things like that before Probably it's nothing more than an illusion, and no sunflowers here at all "

"Then shut our eyes and walk forward," suggested the Woodman

"Excuse me," replied the Scarecrow "My eyes painted to shut Because you happen tin eyelids, not imagine all built same way "

" eyes Saw-Horse are knot eyes," said Jack, leaning forward to examine them

"Nevertheless, ride quickly forward," commanded Tip, "and follow after you and so try to escape My eyes are already so dazzled that scarcely see "

So the Pumpkinhead rode boldly forward, and Tip grasped the stub tail Saw-Horse and followed with closed eyes The Scarecrow Tin Woodman brought up the rear, and had gone many yards Joyful shout from Jack announced way was clear before them

139

Then all paused to look backward, but not trace field of sunflowers remained

More cheerfully, now they proceeded upon their Journey; but old Mombi had so changed the appearance landscape that surely lost the Scarecrow wisely concluded their direction sun For no witch-craft could change the course sun, and therefore safe guide

However, other difficulties lay before them The Saw-Horse stepped into rabbit hole and fell ground The Pumpkinhead was pitched high air, history would probably have ended exact moment the Tin Woodman skillfully caught the pumpkin as it descended and saved it from injury

Tip soon had it fitted neck again and replaced Jack upon his feet But the Saw-Horse escape so easily For when his leg was pulled rabbit hole found broken short off, and replaced or repaired before go step farther

" quite serious," said the Tin Woodman " If there were trees near by soon manufacture another leg animal; but I even shrub for miles around "

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THE TIN WOODMAN SKILLFULLY CAUGHT THE PUMPKIN

141

"And neither fences nor houses part land of Oz," added the Scarecrow, disconsolately

"Then what shall ? " enquired the boy

"I suppose start my brains working," replied his Majesty the Scarecrow; "for experience has, taught me that do anything if I but take time it out "

" all think," said Tip; "and perhaps find way to repair the Saw-Horse "

So they sat in row grass and began , while the Saw-Horse occupied itself by gazing curiously upon its broken limb

"Does it hurt ? " asked the Tin Woodman, in soft, sympathetic voice

"Not least," returned the Saw-Horse; "but my pride is injured that my anatomy is so brittle "

For time the little group remained in silent thought Presently the Tin Woodman raised his head and looked over the fields

"What sort of creature which approaches us ? " he asked, wonderingly

The others followed his gaze, and discovered coming toward them the most extraordinary object they had ever beheld It advanced quickly and

142 noiselessly over the soft grass and stood adventurers and regarded them with an astonishment equal own