The cheers were given with will, and Happy in acknowledgement made speech that has since been written Royal Book of state as masterpiece of eloquence

Having arranged affairs so satisfactorily, the Scarecrow embraced Happy Toko with deep emotion Dorothy and Sir Hokus shook hands and wished him every success and happiness Then the little party from Oz walked deliberately bean pole center hall

The Silver Islanders were still bit dazed turn affairs had taken and stared in astonishment Scarecrow and Sir Hokus fastened thick ropes around the Cowardly Lion, the Doubtful Dromedary Comfortable Camel Similar ropes they tied around their own waists and Dorothy's, ends of all were fastened securely handle magic parasol, which Dorothy held carefully

"Goodbye, everybody ! " called the little girl, suddenly opening the parasol

"Goodbye ! " cried the genial Scarecrow, waving his hand

Too stupefied for speech, the assemblage gaped with amazement party floated gently upward Up -- up -- and out of sight whirled the entire party

CHAPTER 22

THE FLIGHT PARASOL

Holding the handle parasol, Dorothy steered it with all the skill of an aviator, and in several minutes after their start the party had entered the deep, black passage down which the Scarecrow had fallen Each adventurers was fastened parasol with ropes of different length bumped together, but even with all the care not possible them from bumping the sides tube The Comfortable Camel grunted plaintively , and Dorothy could hear the Doubtful Dromedary complaining bitterly darkness pitch dark, but by keeping one hand in touch bean pole, Dorothy managed to hold the parasol center

"How long will it take ? " she called breathlessly Scarecrow, who was dangling just below

"Hours ! " wheezed the Scarecrow, holding fast hat " parties line hear us," he added nervously, thinking Middlings

"What recks it ? " blustered Sir Hokus "Hast forgotten my trusty sword ? " But his words were completely drowned rattle armor

"Hush ! " warned the Scarecrow, "Or we'll be pulled in " So for almost an hour, they flew up the dark, chimney-like tube with only an occasional groan as one or another scraped against the rough sides passage Then, knew happening, the parasol crashed into something, half closed, whole party started head over heels over helmets

"O ! " gasped Dorothy, turning complete somersault, "catch hold bean pole, somebody ! "

"Put up the parasol ! " shrieked the Scarecrow Just then Dorothy, finding herself right side up, grasped the pole herself and snapped the parasol wide open Up, up, up they soared again, faster than ever !

"We're flying up much faster than I fell down top ! " called the Scarecrow hoarsely, "and somebody has closed the opening ! "

CHAPTER 23

SAFE AT LAST LAND OF OZ

"Must we keep bumping until we bump through ? " panted Dorothy anxiously

"No, by my hilts ! " roared Sir Hokus, and setting his foot in notch beanstalk, he cut sword the rope that bound him parasol "Put the parasol down half way, and I'll climb ahead and cut an opening "

With great difficulty Dorothy partially lowered the parasol, and instantly their speed diminished Indeed, they barely moved at all, Knight had soon passed them climb top

" there ? " rumbled the Cowardly Lion anxiously great clod of earth landed head, filling his eyes and mouth with mud

"Ugh ! " roared the lion

"It's getting light ! It's getting light ! " screamed Dorothy, and in her excitement snapped the parasol up

Sir Hokus, having cut sword large circular hole thin crust of earth covering the tube, was about to step out parasol, hurling up from below, caught him neatly on its top, and out burst the whole party and sailed up almost clouds !

"Welcome to Oz ! " cried Dorothy, looking down happily dear familiar Munchkin landscape

"Home at last ! " exulted the Scarecrow, wafting kiss downward

"Let's get down to earth before we knock the sun into cocked hat," gasped the Cowardly Lion, for Dorothy, in her excitement, had forgotten to lower the parasol

Now the little girl lowered the parasol carefully at first, then faster and faster and finally shut it altogether

Sir Hokus took high dive top Down tumbled the others, over and over But fortunately for all, great haystack below, and they landed in jumbled heap close magic bean pole As it happened, no one in sight Up they jumped in trice, and while the Comfortable Camel and Doubtful Dromedary munched contentedly hay, Sir Hokus Scarecrow placed some loose boards over the opening around the bean pole and covered them with dirt and cornstalks

" get Ozma to close it properly Magic Belt," said the Scarecrow gravely "It wouldn't do people sliding down my family tree and scaring poor Tappy As , never leave Oz again ! "

" not," growled the Cowardly Lion, tenderly examining his scratched hide

"But hadn't, I'd never such lovely adventures or found Sir Hokus Comfortable Camel and Doubtful Dromedary," said Dorothy "And what lot Ozma ! Let's go straight Emerald City "

"It's quite journey," explained the Scarecrow to Sir Hokus, who was cleaning off his armor with handful of straw

"I go where Lady Dot goes," replied the Knight, smiling affectionately little girl and straightening the ragged hair ribbon which he still wore arm

"Don't forget me, dear Karwan Bashi," wheezed the Comfortable Camel, putting his head Knight's shoulder

"You're sentimental dunce, Camy whether they'll take us at all ! " The Doubtful Dromedary looked wistfully at Dorothy

"Go to, now ! " cried Sir Hokus, putting an arm around each neck "You're just like two family ! "

" very comfortable to now," sighed the camel

"We're all big, jolly family here," said the Scarecrow, smiling brightly, "and Oz friendliest country "

"Right," said the Cowardly Lion, "but let's get started ! " He stretched his tired muscles and began limping stiffly toward the yellow brick road

"Wait," cried Dorothy, " forgotten the parasol ? "

" ," groaned the Cowardly Lion, rolling his eyes

Sir Hokus, with folded arms, was gazing regretfully bean pole " brave quest," he sighed, "but now, I take it, our adventures are over ! " Absently, the Knight felt boot-top and drawing out small red bean popped it into his mouth Just before reaching the top tube, he had pulled handful beanstalk, but the others had fallen out when he dove hay

"Shall we use the parasol again, Lady Dot ? " he asked, still staring pensively bean pole "Shall-- ? "

He got no farther, nor did Dorothy answer his question Instead, she gave loud scream and clutched the Scarecrow's arm The Scarecrow, taken by surprise, fell over backward, Comfortable Camel, raising his head inquiringly, gave bellow of terror Knight's shoulders green branch had sprung, and while the company gazed in round-eyed amazement it stretched toward the bean pole, attached itself firmly, and then shot straight up air, the Knight kicking and struggling end In another second, out of sight

"Come back ! Come back ! " screamed the Comfortable Camel, running around distractedly

" we'll ever see him again ! " groaned the Doubtful Dromedary, craning his neck upward

"Do something ! Do something ! " begged Dorothy At which the Scarecrow jumped up and dashed toward the little farmhouse

"I'll get an ax," over his shoulder, "and chop down the bean pole "

"No, don't ! " roared the Cowardly Lion, starting after him " to break him to pieces ? "

"Oh ! Oh ! Can't of something else ? " cried Dorothy "And hurry, or he'll be moon ! "

The Scarecrow put both hands head and stared around wildly Then, with triumphant wave hat, declared himself ready to act

"The parasol ! " cried the late Emperor of Silver Island "Quick, Dorothy, put up the parasol ! "

Snatching the parasol, which lay foot bean pole, Dorothy snapped it open, Scarecrow just had time flying leap and seize the handle before it soared upward, and in trice they, too, had disappeared

"Doubty ! Doubty ! " wailed the Comfortable Camel, crowding up humpbacked friend, "we're having pack of trouble My knees are all a-tremble ! "

"Now don't you worry," advised the Cowardly Lion, sitting down resignedly "I'm frightened myself, but that's because I'm so cowardly Queer things happen in Oz, but they usually turn out all right Why, Hokus is just growing up country, that's all, just growing up country "

"Doubt that," sniffed the Doubtful Dromedary faintly " grown up beginning "

"But think Scarecrow's brains You leave things Scarecrow " But no use Both beasts began to roar dismally

"I don't want plant my Karwan Bashi," sobbed the Comfortable Camel broken-heartedly

"Well, don't drown me," begged the Cowardly Lion, moving way camel's tears "Say, what's that draft ? "

What indeed ? trees overhead, very cyclone whistled, and three had even time to catch their breath, they were blown high air next instant were hurtling toward the Emerald City like three furry cannonballs, faster and faster

CHAPTER 24

HOMEWARD BOUND EMERALD CITY

Dorothy Scarecrow, clinging fast magic parasol, had followed the Knight almost clouds At first, it looked as never catch up , so swiftly branch growing, but not long little umbrella began to gain, and in several minutes more they were beside Sir Hokus himself

"Beshrew me, now ! " gasped the Knight, stretching out his hand toward Dorothy "Can'st stop this reckless plant ? "

" your sword," commanded the Scarecrow, "and I'll cut you off "

Dorothy, with great difficulty, kept the parasol close Knight while the Scarecrow reached sword But Sir Hokus backed away in alarm "

'Tis part of me, an' you cut it off, cut off, too 'Tis rooted in my back," he puffed

"What shall ? " cried Dorothy in distress "Maybe take hold hands keep him from going any higher "

The Scarecrow, jamming down his hat so it wouldn't blow off, nodded approvingly, and each holding the parasol with one hand gave the other Knight And when Dorothy pointed the parasol down, to her great delight Sir Hokus came also, the thin green branch growing just about as fast moved

Just then the little fan, which rolling around merrily in Dorothy's pocket, slipped out and fell straight down toward the three unsuspecting beasts below Draft ! No wonder !

But Dorothy never missed it, and quite unconscious calamity anxiously talked over the Knight's predicament Scarecrow They both decided best plan was to fly straight Emerald City Ozma release the Knight enchanted beanstalk