"Saving your Imperial Presence, permitted," said Tappy uneasily

"Never mind Imperial Presence," chuckled the Scarecrow "Tell me Imperial Past "

"Ah ! " said Tappy Oko, rolling up his eyes, "You were magnificent and magnanimous of monarchs "

"Was I ? " asked the Scarecrow in pleased voice

"You distributed rice poor, and advice rich, and fought many glorious battles," continued the little man "I composed little song about you Perhaps like to hear it ? "

The Scarecrow nodded, and Tappy, throwing back his head, chanted with will:

Chang Wang Woe did draw the bow - And twist the queues of thousand foe !

"In Oz," murmured the Scarecrow reflectively as Tappy finished, "I twisted the necks of flock of wild crows -- that was before I had my excellent brains, too Oh, I'm fighting man, there's But tell me, Tappy, where did I meet my wife ? "

" water ! " chuckled Tappy Oko, screwing up his eyes

"Never ! " The Scarecrow looked out over the harbor and then down at his lumpy figure

"Your Majesty forgets you were then man like me -- er -- not stuffed with straw, I mean," exclaimed Happy, looking embarrassed "She was fishing," continued the little Punster, "when huge silver fish became entangled in her line She stood up, the fish gave mighty leap and pulled her boat Your Majesty, having seen the whole affair bank, plunged bravely water and, swimming out, rescued her, freed the fish, and in due time made her your bride I've made song , also "

"Let's hear it," said the Scarecrow And what Happy sung:

Tsing Tsing, Silver Fisher's daughter, Was fishing silver water The moon shone on her silver hair And there were fishes everywhere !

Then came mighty silver fish, It seized her line and with swish Of silver fins upset her boat Tsing Tsing could neither swim nor float

She raised her silver voice in fear And who her call of help should hear But Chang Wang Woe, the Emperor, Who saved and married her, what's more !

"Did I really ? " asked the Scarecrow, feeling quite flattered by Happy's song

"Yes," said Happy positively, "and invited me wedding, though only small boy "

"Was Chew Chew there ? " The Scarecrow couldn't help wondering how the old Nobleman had taken his marriage with poor fisherman's daughter

Happy chuckled memory "He had Princess all picked out ," he confided merrily:

And there he stood in awful pride And scorned the father bride !

"Hoh ! " roared the Scarecrow, falling off the bench "That's the Ozziest thing I've heard since I landed Silver Islands Tappy, my boy, I believe going friends ! But let's forget the past and think present ! "

The Scarecrow embraced his Imperial Punster spot "Let's find something jolly ," he suggested

"Would your Extreme Highness care for kites ? " asked Happy 'Tis favorite sport here ! "

"Would I ! But wait, disguise myself " Hiding his royal hat under the bench, he put on Happy Toko's broad-rimmed (sic) peasant hat It turned down all 'round and almost hid his face Then he turned his robe inside out and declared himself ready

They passed through small silver town reached the field where the kites were flown, Scarecrow was delighted with its picturesque and quaint appearance The streets were narrow and full of queer shops Silver lanterns and little pennants hung from each door, the merchants and maidens in their gay sedans people afoot made bright and lively picture

"If just live here instead of palace," mused the Scarecrow, pausing before modest rice shop dangerous to stop narrow streets, and Happy jerked his master aside just his being trodden on by huge camel It sniffed Scarecrow suspiciously, were forced to flatten themselves against wall to let it pass Happy anxiously hurried the Emperor town, soon arrived kite flying field great throng had gathered to watch the exhibition, and there were more kites than one would see in lifetime here Huge fish, silver paper dragons, birds -- every sort and shape of kite was tugging at its string, and hundreds of Silver Islanders -- boys, girls and grown-ups -- were looking on

"How interesting," said the Scarecrow, fascinated by huge dragon that floated just over his head " Dorothy this, indeed ! "

But the dragon kite seemed almost alive, and horrors ! Just as it swooped down, hook tail caught Scarecrow's collar, and before Happy Toko could even wink, the Emperor Silver Islands was sailing towards the clouds The Scarecrow, know, weighs almost nothing, people shouted with glee, for they thought him dummy man and part performance But Happy Toko ran kite as fast as his fat little legs would carry him

"Alas, alas, lose my position ! " wailed Happy Toko, quite convinced Scarecrow dashed to pieces rocks "Oh, putty head that to set myself against the Grand Chew Chew ! "

The Scarecrow, however, after recovering first shock, began to enjoy himself Holding fast dragon's tail, he looked down with great interest upon his dominions Rocks, mountains, tall silver pagodas, drooping willow trees, flashed beneath him Truly beautiful island ! His gaze strayed over the silver waters surrounding the island, and astonished great fleet sailing harbor -- great fleet of singular vessels with silken sails

"What's this ? " thought the Scarecrow But just then the dragon kite became suddenly possessed It jerked him up, it jerked him down, and shook him His hat flew off, his arms and legs whirled wildly, and pieces of straw began to float downward Then the hook ripped and tore through his coat and, making terrible slit back, came out Down, down, down flashed the Scarecrow and landed in heap rocks Poor Happy Toko rushed toward him with streaming eyes

"Oh radiant and immortal Scarecrowcus, what have they done ? " he moaned, dropping knees beside the flimsy shape Emperor

"Merely knocked out my honorable stuffing," mumbled the Scarecrow "Now Tappy, my dear fellow, just turn me over ? There's rock in my eye that keeps me from thinking "

Happy Toko, sound of voice rumpled heap of clothing, gave great leap

" any straw about ? " asked the Scarecrow anxiously "Why don't you turn me over ? "

"It's his ghost," moaned Happy Toko, and because he dared not disobey royal ghost, he turned the Scarecrow over with trembling hands

"Don't be alarmed," said the Scarecrow, smiling reassuringly "I'm not breakable like you meat people little straw will make me good as new little straw -- straw, hear ? " For Happy's pigtail was still on end, and shaking his silver shoes clattered rocks

"I command you to fetch straw ! " cried the Scarecrow at last, in an angry voice Happy dashed away

When he returned with an arm full of straw, the Scarecrow managed him that quite alive " impossible to kill person from Oz," he explained proudly, " is why my present figure is more satisfactory than yours I to eat or sleep and can always be repaired some safety pins ? " Happy produced several and under the Scarecrow's direction stuffed out his chest and pinned up his rents

" return," said the Scarecrow "I've had enough pleasure day, and can't you sing something, Tappy ? " Running and fright had somewhat affected Happy's voice, but he squeaked out funny little song, two, keeping time tune, came without further mishap Imperial gardens Happy had just set the royal hat Scarecrow's head and brushed off his robes when company of courtiers dashed palace door and came running toward them

"Great Cornstarch ! " exclaimed the Scarecrow, sitting heavily down silver bench "What's the matter now ? Here are all the Pig-heads Island, and look how old Chew Chew is puffing ! "

"One would expect Chew Chew to puff," observed Happy slyly "One would --" But he got no further, whole company was upon them

"Save us ! Save us ! " wailed the courtiers, forgetting the royal edict and falling on their faces

"What from ? " asked the Scarecrow, holding fast silver bench

"The King -- the King Golden Islands ! " shrieked the Grand Chew Chew

"Ah yes ! " murmured the Scarecrow, frowning thoughtfully " his fleet coming harbor ? "

The Grand Chew Chew jumped up in astonishment "How could your Highness see the fleet from here ? " he stuttered

"Not from here -- there," said the Scarecrow, pointing upward and winking at Happy Toko "My Highness goes very high, ! "

"Your Majesty seem to realize the seriousness matter," choked the Grand Chew Chew " set fire island and make us all slaves " , the courtiers began banging their heads distractedly grass

"Set fire island ! " exclaimed the Scarecrow, jumping feet "Then peace to my ashes ! Tappy, see sent back to Oz ? "

"Save us ! Save us ! " screamed the frightened Silvermen

"The prophecy beanstalk has promised that save us the Emperor Chang Wang Woe," persisted the Grand Chew Chew, waving his long arms

"Woe is me," murmured the Scarecrow, clasping his yellow gloves "But let me think "

CHAPTER 9

"SAVE US WITH YOUR MAGIC, EXALTED ONE ! "

For several minutes, the Scarecrow sat perfectly still while the company stood shaking in their shoes Then he asked loudly, "Where Imperial Army ? "

"It has retired caves end Island," quavered the Grand Chew Chew

" ," said the Scarecrow "But never mind, quite lot of us "

"Us ! " spluttered tall Silverman indignantly " common soldiers "

"No, very uncommon ones, but hard heads and long nails, and I dare say will manage somehow Come on, let's go Chew, lead "

"Go ! " shrieked the Grand Chew Chew "Us ? " The Courtiers began backing away in alarm "Where -- er -- what -- are your Highness' plans ? "

"Why, just to conquer the King Golden Islands and back home," said the Scarecrow, smiling engagingly "That's what , isn't it ? "

"But honorable for noblemen to fight It --"

"Oh, , prefer burning --" The Scarecrow rose unsteadily and started garden gates Not person stirred The Scarecrow looked back, reproachful face was for Happy Toko

"I'll come, exalted and radiant Scarecrowcus ! Wait, hon-orable and valiant Sir ! "

"Bring watering can, love me," called the Scarecrow over his shoulder, and Happy, snatching one from frightened gardener, dashed after his Master

"If things get too hot, I'd like that put me out," said the Scarecrow, his voice quivering with emotion "You shall be rewarded , my brave Tappy "