" , Immortal and Honored Master ! "

The Scarecrow help but be convinced truth Grand Chew Chew's story The pole Munchkin farmer's cornfield was none the magic beanstalk, and he, thrust pole farmer to scare away the crows, had received the spirit Emperor Chang Wang Woe "Which accounts cleverness," he thought gloomily Now, surely he pleased, for he had come in search of family, but the acquisition of an empire, sons and grandsons, and old age, all in trice, fairly took his breath away

"Does the prophecy say anything about restoring my imperial person ? " he asked anxiously, thought of looking like Chew Chew was not cheerful one

"Alas, no ! " sighed the Grand Chew Chew sorrowfully "But very clever wizards Island, and set them at work problem at once "

"Now don't be rush," begged the Scarecrow, secretly determined to lock up the wizards first opportunity "I'm rather fond shape , it requires no food and never grows tired -- or old ! "

"The royal robes will in measure conceal it," murmured the Grand Chew Chew politely, and clapped his hands little servitor bounced hall

"A royal robe, Quick Silver, Radiant Highness," snapped the Grand Chew Chew In moment Quick Silver had returned with magnificent purple satin robe embroidered in silver threads and heavy with jewels, and hat of silver cloth with upturned brim The Scarecrow wrapped himself purple robe, took off his old Munchkin hat, and substituted the Imperial headpiece

"How do I look, Chew ? " he asked anxiously

"Quite like your old Imperial Self, except --" The old Prime Minister ran unsteadily room muffled scream hall, next instant he returned with long, shiny, silver queue which he had evidently clipped head of servants Removing the Scarecrow's hat, he pinned the queue back, set it Scarecrow's head, and stood regarding him with great satisfaction "Ah, Empress could only see you ! " he murmured rapturously

"Where -- where is she ? " asked the Scarecrow, looking around nervously His long, care-free life in Oz had somewhat unfitted him, he reflected, for family life

"Alas ! " sighed the Grand Chew Chew, wiping his eyes sleeve kimono, "She has returned to her silver ancestors "

"Then show me her picture," commanded the Scarecrow, visibly affected The Grand Chew Chew stepped to side wall, and pulling on silken cord, disclosed the picture of large, gray lady with curiously small eyes and curiously large nose

"Is she not beautiful ? " asked the Grand Chew Chew, bowing his head

"Beautiful -- er -- er, beautiful ! " gulped the Scarecrow He thought of lovely little Ozma and dear little Dorothy, and all at once felt terribly upset and homesick He had no recollection Silver Island or his life here whatever Who was he, anyway -- the Scarecrow of Oz or Emperor Chang Wang Woe ? He couldn't be both

"Ah ! " whispered the Grand Chew Chew, seeing his agitation "You remember her ? " The Scarecrow shook his head, with an inward shudder

"Now show me myself, Chew," he asked curiously Pulling the cord of portrait beside the Empress, Chew Chew revealed the picture of Chang Wang Woe as he fifty His face was bland and jolly, and perfectly truthful, quite like the Scarecrow's in shape and expression " beside myself," murmured the Scarecrow dazedly -- which in truth

"You were -- er -- are very royal and handsome person," stammered the Grand Chew Chew

The Scarecrow, stepping off the throne to examine himself more closely, dropped the little fan and parasol He had really not had time to examine them since they snapped off the beanstalk, and now, looking at them carefully, them extremely pretty

"Dorothy will like these," thought the Scarecrow, slipping them into large inside pocket robe Already, back head, was queer notion that at or other return to Oz He started the Grand Chew Chew spirited description wonderful country, but the ancient gentleman yawned and, waving his hands toward the door, interrupted him with:

" your Supreme Highness care to inspect your present dominions ? "

"I suppose ! " With deep sigh, the Scarecrow took the Grand Chew Chew's arm and, holding up his royal kimono ( rather long) other hand, walked unsteadily down the great salon They were about garden when little fat Silverman slid around the door, huge silver drumstick upraised right hand and great drum hung about his neck

The drummer beamed Scarecrow

Chang Wang Woe, the Beautiful, The Beautiful ! Sublime and silver Scarecrow, Let sound the royal drum !

chanted the little man in high, thin voice, and started to bring the drumstick down huge head noisy instrument

"No you don't ! " cried the Scarecrow, leaping forward and catching his arm

"I positively forbid it ! "

"Then no work ! " screamed the drummer, falling face "Ah, Gracious Master, don't you remember me ? "

"Yes," said the Scarecrow kindly, "who ? "

"Oh, don't you remember little Happy Toko ? " wheezed the little man, the tears rolling down his cheeks " only boy, but you used fond of me "

"Why, , my dear Tappy," said the Scarecrow, not liking to hurt the little fellow's feelings "But why beat the drum ? "

" customary to sound the drum approach of your Royal Highness," put Grand Chew Chew importantly

"Was customary," said the Scarecrow firmly "My dear Tappy Oko, never sound it in my presence again; too upsetting " true enough, blow drum sent the flimsy Scarecrow flying air

"You're dismissed, Happy," snapped the Grand Chew Chew , the little Silver Islander began weeping and roaring with distress

"Stop ! What else do besides beat drum ? " asked the Scarecrow kindly

" sing, stand on my head, and tell jokes," sniffed Happy Toko, shuffling from one foot other

" ," said the Scarecrow " henceforth Imperial Punster to my Person Come along, we're going to look over the Island "

The Grand Chew Chew frowned so terribly that Happy Toko's knees shook with terror

" fitting for slave to accompany the Grand Chew Chew Emperor," he hissed angrily

The Scarecrow looked surprised, Kingdom of Oz is quite democratic, and no one is considered better than another But seeing not the time to argue, he winked broadly behind the Grand Chew Chew's back

"I'll see you again, Tappy my boy," genially, and passed out garden, where magnificent silver palanquin, surrounded by pikemen and shieldbearers, awaited him

CHAPTER 8

THE SCARECROW STUDIES THE SILVER ISLAND

Two days had passed Scarecrow had fallen into his Kingdom not finding his royal duties as pleasant as he had anticipated The country was beautiful enough, but being Emperor Silver Islands was not the simple affair that ruling Oz The pigtail back hat was terribly distracting, and always tripping over his kimono, seem to accustom himself His subjects were extremely quarrelsome, always pulling one another's queues or stealing fruit, umbrellas, and silver polish His ministers, the Grand Chew Chew, the Chief Chow Chow, and General Mugwump, were no better, and keeping peace palace took all the Scarecrow's cleverness

daytime he tried culprits royal court, interviewed his seventeen secretaries, rode out royal palanquin, and made speeches to visiting princes At night he sat great silver salon and light lanterns studied the Book of Ceremonies His etiquette, the Grand Chew Chew informed him, was shocking always doing something wrong, dodging the Imperial Umbrella, speaking kindly to palace servant, or walking unattended gardens

The royal palace itself was richly furnished, Scarecrow had more than five hundred robes of state The gardens, with their sparkling waterfalls, glowing orange trees, silver temples, towers and bridges, were too lovely for words Poppies, roses, lotus and other lilies perfumed the air, and at night thousand silver lanterns turned them to veritable fairyland

The grass and trees were green as in other lands, but the sky as always full of tiny silver clouds, the waters surrounding the island were of lovely liquid silver, and as all the houses and towers were gleaming metal, the effect was bewil-dering and beautiful

But the Silver Islanders themselves were too stupid to appreciate this beauty "And what use all when no one to enjoy it with me," sighed the Scarecrow "And no time to play ! "

In Oz no one thought it queer if Ozma, the little Queen, jumped rope with Dorothy or Betsy Bobbin, or had quiet game of croquet palace cook But here, alas, everything was different Scarecrow as ventured game of ball gardener's boy, the whole court was thrown into an uproar At first, the Scarecrow tried everybody, but finding that nothing pleased the people palace, he decided himself

"I don't care kinkajou if the Emperor, I'm going I please ! " he exclaimed second night, and shaking his glove at bronze statue, he threw the Book of Ceremonies fountain The next morning, therefore, he ascended the throne with great firmness Immediately, the courtiers prostrated themselves, Scarecrow's arms and legs blew about wildly

"Stand up at once," puffed the Scarecrow when he had regained his balance

" giving me nervous prostration Chew, kindly issue an edict forbidding prostrations Anyone caught bowing in my presence again shall lose --" the courtiers looked alarmed "-- his pigtail ! " finished the Scarecrow

"And now, Chew, take my place, please going for walk with Tappy Oko "

The Grand Chew Chew's mouth fell open with surprise, but seeing the Scarecrow's determined expression, he dared not disobey, and he immediately began making strange marks on long, red parchment Happy Toko trembled Scarecrow Emperor took his arm, courtiers stared at one another in dismay two walked quietly out garden

Nothing happened, however, and Tappy, regaining his composure, took out little silver flute and started lively tune

"I had matters into my own hands, Tappy," said the Scarecrow, listening music with pleased expression "Are there any words song ? "

"Yes, illustrious and Supreme Sir ! "

Two spoons went down Por-ce-Lane, To meet China saucer, 'talking China in way To break white man's jaw, Sir !

sang Happy, and finished by standing gravely head

"Your Majesty used very fond song," spluttered Happy ( difficult while upside down, and don't think so, try it ! )

"Ah ! " said the Scarecrow, beginning more cheerful, "Tell me something about myself and my family, Tappy Oko "

"Happy Toko, pleases your Supreme Amiability," corrected the little silver man, somersaulting to standstill beside the Scarecrow

"It does and it doesn't," murmured the Scarecrow " something about you that reminds me of pudding, and you tapped the drum, didn't you ? I believe call you Tappy Oko, don't mind ! "