"So it does," said Sir Hokus jovially "I'm branch of your family now Yet methinks I have swallowed that bean "

"Bean ? " questioned Dorothy "What bean ? " The Knight carefully explained how he had plucked handful of red beans beanstalk just before reaching the top tube and how he had eaten one

" 's what started you growing ! " exclaimed Dorothy in surprise

"Alas, yes ! " admitted the Knight "I've never felt more grown-up in my life," he finished solemnly "An adventurous country, this Oz ! "

" say ," chuckled the Scarecrow "But isn't it almost time we were reaching the Emerald City, Dorothy ? "

" I'm going right direction," answered the little girl, "but I'll fly little lower "

"Not too fast ! Not too fast ! " warned Sir Hokus, looking nervously over his shoulder at his long, wriggling stem

"There's Ozma's palace ! " cried the Scarecrow all at once

"And there's Ozma ! " screamed Dorothy, peering down delightedly "And Scraps and Tik-Tok and everybody ! "

She pointed the parasol straight down, when sharp tug from Sir Hokus jerked them all back They were going faster poor Knight was growing, so Dorothy lowered the parasol half way, and slowly they floated toward the earth, landing gently in flower beds of Ozma's lovely garden

"Come along and meet the folks," said the Scarecrow as Dorothy closed the parasol But Sir Hokus clutched him in alarm

"Hold ! Hold ! " gasped the Knight "I've stopped growing, but leave me I'll shoot up air again "

The Scarecrow and Dorothy looked at in dismay Sure enough, the Knight had stopped growing, and all do to hold him down to earth, stubborn branch of beanstalk was trying to straighten up They had fallen quite distance palace itself, and all the people of Oz had their backs turned, so seen their singular arrival

"Hello ! " called the Scarecrow loudly Then "Help ! Help ! " Knight jerked him twice air But Ozma, Trot, Jack Pumpkinhead and all the rest were staring upward and talking so busily among themselves that hear either Dorothy's or the Scarecrow's cries First one, then the other was snatched off his feet, and although Sir Hokus, with tears eyes, begged them to leave him fate, they held on with all their might Just as it looked as all three would fly air again, the little Wizard of Oz happened around

"Look ! Look ! " he cried, tugging Ozma's sleeve

"Why, it's Dorothy ! " gasped Ozma, rubbing her eyes "It's Dorothy and --"

"Help ! Help ! " screamed the Scarecrow, waving one arm wildly Without waiting another second, all the celebrities of Oz came running toward the three adventurers

"Somebody heavy come take hold ! " puffed Dorothy, out of breath with her efforts Sir Hokus ground

The Ozites, seeing that help was needed at once, suppressed their curiosity

"I'm heavy," said Tik-Tok solemnly, clasping the Knight's arm The Tin Woodman seized his other hand, and Dorothy sank down exhausted grass

Princess Ozma pressed forward

"What does it all mean ? Where did you come from ? " asked the little Queen of Oz, staring in amazement strange spectacle before her

"And who medieval person ? " asked Professor Wogglebug, pushing forward importantly (He had returned palace to collect more data Royal Book of Oz )

"He doesn't look evil ," giggled Scraps, dancing Sir Hokus, her suspender button eyes snapping with fun

"He isn't," said Dorothy indignantly, for Sir Hokus was too shaken about to answer "He's my Knight Errant "

"Ah, ," replied Professor Wogglebug "A case of 'When Knighthood was in flower '" And would you believe it -- the beanstalk minute burst into perfect shower of red blossoms that came tumbling down over everyone had recovered from their surprise, the branch snapped off close Knight's armor, and Tik-Tok, the Tin Woodman and Sir Hokus rolled over in heap The branch itself whistled air and disappeared

"Oh," cried Dorothy, hugging the Knight impulsively, "I'm so glad "

" all right ? " asked the Scarecrow anxiously

"Good as ever ! " announced Sir Hokus, and indeed all traces magic stalk had disappeared shoulders

"Dorothy ! " cried Ozma again "What does it all mean ? "

"Merely that I slid down my family tree Dorothy and this Knight rescued me," said the Scarecrow calmly

"And he's real Royalty -- so there ! " cried Dorothy with wave Scarecrow and making little face at Professor Wogglebug "Meet his Supreme Highness, Chang Wang Woe of Silver Island, who had abdicated his throne and returned plain Scarecrow in Oz ! "

Then, eminent Educator of Oz stood gaping Scarecrow, "Oh, Ozma, I've you ! "

"Begin ! Begin ! " cried the little Wizard "For everything's mighty mysterious First, the Cowardly Lion and two unknown beasts shoot air and stop just outside the third-story windows, and there they hang although I've tried all my magic them down Then you Scarecrow drop in with strange Knight ! "

"Oh, the poor Cowardly Lion ! " gasped Dorothy Wizard finished speaking "The magic fan ! " She felt hurriedly in her pocket "It's gone ! "

"It slipped out of your pocket and blown them here, 'll never come down till that fan is closed," cried the Scarecrow in an agitated voice

All of Greek to Ozma others, but when Dorothy begged the little Queen to send for her Magic Belt, she did it without question This belt Dorothy had captured Gnome King, and it enabled the wearer to wish people and objects wherever one wanted them

" the magic fan to close and safely back ," said Dorothy she had clasped the belt around her waist No sooner were the words out before loud crash and series of roars and groans Everybody started on run palace, Sir Hokus ahead of all the rest The fan had mysteriously returned to Dorothy's pocket

The three animals had fallen into huge cluster of rose bushes and, though badly scratched and frightened, were really unhurt

" that I'll like Oz," quavered the Doubtful Dromedary, lurching toward Sir Hokus

"You more careful fan," growled the Cowardly Lion reproachfully, plucking thorns hide The Comfortable Camel was so overjoyed the Knight that he rested his head on Sir Hokus's shoulder and began weeping down his armor

And now that their adventures seemed really over, what explanations were made ! Sitting top step palace with all around her, Dorothy told the whole wonderful story Scarecrow's family tree When her breath gave out, the Scarecrow took up the tale himself, and all realized how nearly they had lost their jolly comrade, party shed real tears Indeed, Nick Chopper hugged the Scarecrow till not whole straw body

"Never leave us again," begged Ozma, Scarecrow, crossing Nick Chopper's heart (he had none own), promised that he never would

And what welcome they gave Sir Hokus, the Doubtful Dromedary Comfortable Camel ! Only Professor Wogglebug seemed disturbed During the strange recital, he had grown quieter and quieter and finally, with an embarrassed cough, had excused himself and hurried palace

He went directly study, and seating himself at desk opened large book, none The Royal Book of Oz Dipping an emerald pen ink, he began new chapter headed thus:

HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY, THE SCARECROW

Late Emperor and Imperial Sovereign of Silver Island

Then, flipping over several pages to chapter headed "Princess Dorothy ! ", he wrote carefully end, "Dorothy, Princess and Royal Discoverer of Oz "

Meanwhile, below stairs, the Scarecrow was distributing his gifts There were silver chains for everyone palace and shining silver slippers for Ozma, Betsy Bobbin, Trot and Dorothy, and bottle of silver polish for Nick Chopper

Dorothy presented Ozma magic fan and parasol, were safely put away by Jellia Jamb other magic treasures of Oz

Next, because they were all curious the Scarecrow's wonderful Kingdom, they hurried upstairs to look Magic Picture

"Show us the Emperor of Silver Island," commanded Ozma Immediately the beautiful silver throne room appeared Happy Toko had removed his imperial hat and was standing head great delight whole court, and host of little Silver Islander boys were peeking in windows

"Now doesn't that look cheerful ? " asked the Scarecrow delightedly " he'd make good Emperor "

" hear what he's saying," said Dorothy "Oh, do look at Chew Chew ! " The Grand Chew Chew was standing beside the throne scowling horribly

" arrange to hear," muttered the Wizard of Oz, and taking queer magic instrument pocket, he whispered "Aohbeeobbuy "

Instantly they heard the jolly voice of Happy Toko singing:

Oh shine his shoes of silver, And brush his silver queue, For but an Emperor And he's the Grand Chew Chew !

Ozma laughed heartily picture faded away, and so did the others Indeed, to ask and wonder it seemed as never would finish talking

"Let's have party -- an old-fashioned Oz party," proposed Ozma excitement had calmed down bit And an old-fashioned party , with places for everybody and special table Cowardly Lion, the Hungry Tiger, Toto, the Glass Cat, the Comfortable Camel, the Doubtful Drome-dary and all the other dear creatures amazing Kingdom

Sir Hokus insisted upon stirring up huge pasty occasion, and there were songs, speeches and cheers for everyone, not forgetting the Doubtful Dromedary

cheering he rose with an embarrassed jerk long neck "In my left-hand saddle-sack," gruffly, " quantity of silken shawls and jewels whether good enough, but like Dorothy and Queen Ozma them "

"Hear ! Hear ! " cried the Scarecrow, pounding table knife Then everything grew quiet as Ozma told how she, help of Glinda, the Good Sorceress, had stopped the war Horners and Hoppers

When she had finished, Sir Hokus sprang up impulsively "I prithee, lovely Lady, never trouble your royal head about wars again From now on, do battle and little Dorothy and Oz, your good Knight every day " , the applause was tremendous

Ye good Knight of Oz, full of courage and vim, Will do battle , and we'll take care of him !

shouted Scraps, who was becoming more excited

"I'll lend you some polish for your armor, old fellow," said Nick Chopper Knight sat down, beaming with pleasure

"Well," said Ozma with smile when everyone had feasted and talked to heart's content, "is everybody happy ? "

" ! " cried the Comfortable Camel "For here perfectly comfortable "

" ! " cried Dorothy, putting her arm around the Scarecrow, who sat next to her "For found my old friend and made some new ones "

"I'm happy ! " cried the Scarecrow, waving his glass, "because no age in Oz, and still my old Ozish self "

"As ," said the Knight, " happy, for served Lady, gone on Quest, and Slain Dragon ! Ozma, and Oz forever !