"Highly Magnified, please ! " interrupted the insect

" cook green-turtle soup of you," continued the Queen, reflectively

The Woggle-Bug shuddered

"Or, won't do, use you for Hungarian goulash, stewed and highly spiced," she added, cruelly

This programme of extermination was so terrible prisoners looked upon one another in panic of fear The Scarecrow alone give way to despair He stood quietly Queen brow was wrinkled in deep thought as he strove some means to escape

While thus engaged the straw within his breast move gently At once his expression changed from sadness to joy, and raising his hand he quickly unbuttoned the front jacket

This action pass unnoticed crowd

177 of girls clustering about him, but suspected what doing until tiny grey mouse leaped bosom floor and scampered

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away feet Army of Revolt Another mouse quickly followed; then another and another, in rapid succession And suddenly such

178 scream of terror went up Army might easily have filled the stoutest heart with consternation The flight that ensued turned to stampede, stampede to panic

For while the startled mice rushed wildly room the Scarecrow had only time to note whirl of skirts and twinkling of feet girls disappeared palace -- pushing and crowding one another in their mad efforts to escape

The Queen, first alarm, stood up cushions throne and began to dance frantically upon her tiptoes Then mouse ran up the cushions, and with terrified leap poor Jinjur shot clear over the head Scarecrow and escaped through an archway -- never pausing in her wild career until she had reached the city gates

So, in less time than explain, the throne room was deserted by all save the Scarecrow friends, Woggle-Bug heaved deep sigh of relief as he exclaimed:

"Thank goodness, saved ! "

"For time, yes;" answered the Tin Woodman "But the enemy will soon return, "

" bar all the entrances palace ! " said the Scarecrow "Then time best "

179

So all except Jack Pumpkinhead, who was still tied fast Saw-Horse, ran various entrances royal palace and closed the heavy doors, bolting and locking them securely Then, knowing Army of Revolt batter down the barriers in , the adventurers gathered once more throne room for council of war

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180 Full page line-art drawing

181 The Scarecrow Takes Time

"It seems ," began the Scarecrow, when all were again assembled throne room, " girl Jinjur is quite right in claiming Queen And if right, then wrong, and no business occupying her palace "

"But you were the King until she came," said the Woggle-Bug, strutting up and down hands pockets; "so it appears that the interloper instead of you "

"Especially as just conquered her and put her to flight," added the Pumpkinhead, as he raised his hands his face toward the Scarecrow

"Have we really conquered her ? " asked the Scarecrow, quietly "Look window, and tell me what "

182

Tip ran window and looked out

"The palace is surrounded by double row of girl soldiers," he announced

" so," returned the Scarecrow " as truly their prisoners were mice frightened them palace "

"My friend is right," said Nick Chopper, who polishing his breast with bit of chamois-leather "Jinjur is still the Queen, and her prisoners "

"But get at us," exclaimed the Pumpkinhead, with shiver of fear "She threatened tarts of me, "

"Don't worry," said the Tin Woodman "It cannot matter greatly stay shut up here spoil , anyway good tart is far more admirable than decayed intellect "

"Very true," agreed the Scarecrow

"Oh, dear ! " moaned Jack; "what an unhappy lot is mine ! Why, dear father, did you not make me out of tin -- or even out of straw -- keep indefinitely "

"Shucks ! " returned Tip, indignantly "You glad that you at all " Then he added, reflectively, "everything has to an end, "

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"But I beg to remind you," broke Woggle-Bug, who had distressed look bulging, round eyes, " terrible Queen Jinjur suggested making goulash of me -- Me ! the only Highly Magnified and Thoroughly Educated Woggle-Bug wide, wide world ! "

" brilliant idea," remarked the Scarecrow, approvingly

"Don't you imagine make better soup ? " asked the Tin Woodman, turning toward his friend

"Well, perhaps," acknowledged the Scarecrow

The Woggle-Bug groaned

" , in my mind's eye," said he, mournfully, "the goats eating small pieces dear comrade, the Tin Woodman, while my soup is being cooked on bonfire built Saw-Horse and Jack Pumpkinhead's body, and Queen Jinjur watches me boil while she feeds the flames with my friend the Scarecrow ! "

This morbid picture cast gloom over the entire party, making them restless and anxious

"It can't happen for ," said the Tin Woodman, trying cheerfully; "for Jinjur palace until she manages to break down the doors "

184

"And meantime liable to starve to death, and so Woggle- Bug," announced Tip

"As ," said the Woggle-Bug, " that live for on Jack Pumpkinhead Not that I prefer pumpkins for food; but I believe somewhat nutritious, and Jack's head is large and plump "

"How heartless ! " exclaimed the Tin Woodman, greatly shocked "Are we cannibals, let me ask ? Or are we faithful friends ? "

" very clearly that stay shut up palace," said the Scarecrow, with decision "So end this mournful talk and try to discover means to escape "

suggestion they all gathered eagerly around the throne, wherein was seated the Scarecrow, and as Tip sat down upon stool there fell pocket pepper-box, which rolled floor

"What ? " asked Nick Chopper, picking up the box

"Be careful ! " cried the boy "That's my Powder of Life Don't spill it, is nearly gone "

"And the Powder of Life ? " enquired the Scarecrow, as Tip replaced the box carefully pocket

"It's some magical stuff old Mombi got from

185 crooked sorcerer," explained the boy "She brought Jack to life with it, and afterward I used it to bring the Saw-Horse to life I guess make anything live sprinkled with it; but there's only about one dose left "

"Then very precious," said the Tin Woodman

"Indeed ," agreed the Scarecrow "It may prove our best means of escape difficulties I believe think ; so , friend Tip, out your knife and rip this heavy crown from my forehead "

Tip soon cut the stitches that had fastened the crown Scarecrow's head, former monarch Emerald City removed it with sigh of relief and hung it on peg beside the throne

" my last memento of royalty" said he; "and I'm glad rid of it The former King City,

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186 who was named Pastoria, lost the crown Wonderful Wizard, who passed it on Now the girl Jinjur claims it, and I sincerely hope give her headache "

"A kindly thought, which I greatly admire," said the Tin Woodman, nodding approvingly

"And now indulge in quiet think," continued the Scarecrow, lying back throne

The others remained as silent and still as possible, so as not to disturb him; for all had great confidence extraordinary brains Scarecrow

And, after what seemed very indeed anxious watchers, the thinker sat up, looked upon his friends most whimsical expression, and said:

"My brains work beautifully today I'm quite proud Now, listen ! attempt to escape doors palace surely be captured And, 't escape ground, other thing escape air ! "

He paused to note the effect words; but all his hearers seemed puzzled and unconvinced

"The Wonderful Wizard escaped in balloon," he continued "We don't know how balloon, ; but any sort of thing