"There's shiny dagger in my left-hand saddlesack whether like it," coughed the Doubtful Dromedary, pressing close Knight

"On ceremony ! " cried the eldest Prince, seeing excitement was giving the Scarecrow's friends time "The son of an iron pot shall be punished later ! "

"That's right ! " cried voice crowd "Let the Emperor be restored ! "

"I guess it's all over," gulped the Scarecrow "Give my love to Ozma and tell her I tried back "

In helpless terror, the little company watched the Gheewizard approach One could fight real enemies, but magic ! Even Sir Hokus, brave as , felt that nothing

"One move and you shall be prunes," shrilled the angry old man, fixing the people from Oz wicked little eyes The great room was so still heard pin drop Even the Doubtful Dromedary the heart to doubt the wizard's power, but stood rigid as statue

The wizard advanced slowly, holding the sealed vase carefully over his head The poor Scarecrow regarded it with gloomy fascination One more moment and an old, old Silverman Better lost forever ! He held convulsively to Dorothy

As for Dorothy herself, she was trembling with fright and grief Grand Gheewizard raised the vase higher and higher and made ready to hurl it Scarecrow, disregarding his dire threat she gave shrill scream and threw up both hands

"Great grandmothers ! " gasped the Scarecrow, jumping feet As Dorothy had thrown up her arms, the little parasol swinging at her wrist had jerked open Up, up, up, and out broken skylight roof sailed the little Princess of Oz !

The Grand Gheewizard, startled as anyone, failed to throw the vase Every neck was craned upward, and everyone was gasping with astonishment

The oldest Prince, as usual, first to recover "Don't stand staring like an idiot ! Now's your chance ! " he hissed angrily Gheewizard's ear

"I didn't come here harried and hurried by foreigners," sobbed the little man "How is one to work magic when interrupted minute ? my little dragon "

"Oh, come on now, just throw it I'll get you another dragon," begged the Prince, his hands trembling with excitement

face new disaster, the Scarecrow had forgotten all Gheewizard He Cowardly Lion and Sir Hokus were running distractedly around the great throne trying up way to rescue Dorothy As Doubtful Dromedary, doubting everything in loud, bitter voice, while the Comfortable Camel fairly snorted with sorrow

"There ! Now's your chance," whispered the Prince The Scarecrow, back crowd, was gesturing frantically

Taking firm hold neck vase and with long incantation which no use at all in repeating, the Gheewizard flung the bottle straight Scarecrow's head But scarcely had it left his hand before flash and flutter and down came Dorothy magic parasol right on top vase

Zip ! The vase flew in quite another direction, and next minute had burst over the luckless heads three plotting Princes, while Dorothy floated gently to earth

Sir Hokus embraced the Scarecrow, Scarecrow hugged the Cowardly Lion, and I don't wonder at all For no sooner had the magic elixir touched the Princes, than two became silver pigs eldest weasel They turned true shapes instead Scarecrow And while the company hopped about in alarm, they ran squealing hall and disappeared gardens

"Seize the Gheewizard and take him cave," ordered the Scarecrow, asserting his authority first time proceedings has started He had noticed the old man making queer signs and passes toward Sir Hokus dozen took hold struggling Gheewizard and hurried him hall

Sir Hokus, request Scarecrow, clapped his iron gauntlets for silence

" agree with me, I'm sure," said the Scarecrow in slightly unsteady voice, "that magic is serious matter to meddle with all return quietly to your homes, try way out difficulties "

The Silver Islanders listened respectfully and after little arguing among themselves backed throne room the truth, they were anxious to spread abroad the tale morning's happenings

Princess Orange Blossom, however, refused to depart Magic or no magic, she had come to marry the Emperor, and not leave till the ceremony performed

"But my dear old Lady, would you wish to marry Scarecrow ? " coaxed the Emperor

"All men are Scarecrows," snapped the Princess sourly

"Then why marry at all ? " rumbled the Cowardly Lion, making playful leap at her palanquin The Princess swooned spot, Scarecrow, taking advantage of her unconscious condition, ordered her chair bearers to carry her away as far and as fast as run

"Now," said the Scarecrow last company had disappeared, " talk this over "

CHAPTER 21

THE ESCAPE SILVER ISLAND

"Well ! " gasped Dorothy, fanning herself with her hat, "I never was so s'prised in my life ! "

"Nor I," exclaimed the Scarecrow "The Grand Gheewizard suing you for parassault and battery But how did it happen ? "

"Well," began Dorothy, " parasol opened, I flew up so fast that hardly breathe Then, after I'd gone ever , it came that parasol went up when up, it would come down when down I couldn't leave you all fix -- so I closed it, and --"

"Came down ! " finished the Scarecrow with wave hand "You always right thing right place, my dear "

" lucky I hit the vase, wasn't it ? " sighed Dorothy "But I'm rather sorry Princes "

"Served 'em right," growled the Cowardly Lion "They'll make pigs ! "

"But who's to rule the island ? " demanded Sir Hokus, turning his gaze reluctantly smoking dragonskin

" require thought," said the Scarecrow pensively " all think "

" that ever think again " The Doubtful Dromedary wagged his head from side to side in dazed fashion

"Just leave it to our dear Karwan Bashi " The Comfortable Camel nodded complacently Knight and began plucking sly wisps Scarecrow's boot top For short time absolute silence

Then Sir Hokus, who thinking tremendously elbows knees, burst out, " Sir Pudding, here ? this honest Punster ? Who but Happy Toko deserves the throne ? "

"The very person ! " cried the Scarecrow, clasping his yellow gloves, and taking off his silver hat, he set it impulsively head fat little Silver Islander

"He'll make lovely Emperor," said Dorothy "He's so kind-hearted and jolly And now the Scarecrow can abdicate and come home to Oz "

They all looked triumphantly Imperial Punster, but Happy Toko, snatching off the royal hat, burst into tears

"Don't leave me behind, amiable Master ! " he sobbed disconsolately "Oh, how miss you ! "

"But don't ," coaxed Dorothy, "the Scarecrow needs you here more than anyplace, and think of all the fine clothes and how rich ! "

"And Tappy, my dear boy," said the Scarecrow, putting his arm around Happy Toko, "you like Oz any more than I like Silver Island Then think -- if everything goes well, visit me -- just as one Emperor visits another ! "

"And you won't forget me ? " sniffed Happy, beginning to like the idea of being Emperor

"Never ! " cried the Scarecrow with an impressive wave

"And if anything goes wrong, help me out ? " questioned Happy uncertainly

"We'll look Magic Picture of Oz ," declared Dorothy, "and us we'll surely find some way to "

"An' you ever require trusty sword, Odds Bodikins ! " exclaimed Sir Hokus, pressing Tappy's hand, "I'm your man ! "

"All right, dear Master ! " Happy slowly picked up the Imperial hat and set it sideways head "I'll do my best "

"I don't doubt it at all," said the Doubtful Dromedary to everyone's surprise

"Three cheers Emperor ! Long live the Emperor Silver Island," rumbled the Cowardly Lion, and everybody from Oz, even the camel and dromedary, fell upon their knees before Happy Toko

" my bride, too, Tappy," chuckled the Scarecrow with wink at Dorothy "And Tappy," he asked, sobering suddenly, "will my grandsons brought up like real children ? Just I return, all the Books of Oz "

Happy bowed, too confused and excited for speech

"Now," said the Scarecrow, seizing Dorothy's hand, " return to Oz with an easy mind "

"Doubt that," said the Doubtful Dromedary

"You needn't ! " announced Dorothy "I've thought it all out " In few short sentences she outlined her plan

"Bravo ! " roared the Cowardly Lion, and now the little party began in real earnest the preparation journey back to Oz

First, Happy brought them delicious luncheon, with plenty of twigs and hay camel and dromedary and meat Cowardly Lion The Scarecrow packed camel's sacks few little souvenirs people of Oz Then they dressed Happy Toko Scarecrow's most splendid robe and ordered him to sit throne Next, the Scarecrow rang for palace servants and ordered the people Silver Islands to assemble hall

Presently the Silvermen began trooping in, packing the great throne room until it could hold no more Everyone was chattering excitedly

quite different company that greeted them The Scarecrow, cheerful and witty old Munchkin suit, Dorothy and Sir Hokus smiling happily, three animal members party fairly blinking with contentment

"This," said the Scarecrow pleasantly when everyone was quiet, "is your new Emperor, I to pledge allegiance " He waved proudly direction of Happy Toko, who, the truth, presented truly royal appearance " possible to remain , but always watch over this delightful island and magic fan vanquish all its enemies and punish all offenders "

Happy Toko bowed subjects

The Silver Islanders exchanged startled glances, then, Scarecrow carelessly lifted the fan, they fell prostrate earth