"Trot -- Trot ! Look at me I'm Cap'n Bill ! See what the Wicked Witch "

The voice was small, , but it reached Trot's ears and startled her greatly She looked intently grasshopper, her eyes wide with fear at first; then she knelt down and, noticing the wooden leg, she began to weep sorrowfully

"Oh, Cap'n Bill -- dear Cap'n Bill ! What cruel thing ! " she sobbed

"Don't cry, Trot," begged the grasshopper "It didn't hurt any, and it doesn't hurt now But it's mighty inconvenient an' humiliatin', the least "

" ," said the girl indignantly, while trying hard to restrain her tears, "that big 'nough an' strong 'nough that horrid witch good beating She turned into toad for doing this , Cap'n Bill ! "

"Never mind," urged the Scarecrow, in comforting voice, "such transformation doesn't last always, and as general thing there's some way to break the enchantment I'm sure Glinda could , in jiffy "

" Glinda ? " inquired Cap'n Bill

Then the Scarecrow told them all about Glinda, not forgetting to mention her beauty and goodness and her wonderful powers of magic He also explained how the Royal Sorceress had sent him to Jinxland especially to help the strangers, whom she knew in danger because wiles cruel King Wicked Witch

Chapter Sixteen

Pon Summons the King to Surrender

Gloria had drawn near group to listen talk, and it seemed to interest her of her frigid manner They knew, , poor Princess help being cold and reserved, so they tried not to blame her

"I come here little sooner," said the Scarecrow, regretfully; "but Glinda sent me she discovered you were here and were likely into trouble And now that all together -- except Button-Bright, over whom useless to worry -- I propose we hold council of war, to decide best "

That seemed wise thing , so they all sat down grass, including Gloria, grasshopper perched upon Trot's shoulder and allowed her to stroke him gently with her hand

" first place," began the Scarecrow, "this King Krewl is usurper and has no right to rule this Kingdom of Jinxland "

" true," said Pon, eagerly "My father was King before him, and I --"

" gardener's boy," interrupted the Scarecrow "Your father had no right to rule, either, rightful King land father of Princess Gloria, and only entitled to sit throne of Jinxland "

"Good ! " exclaimed Trot "But what'll with King Krewl ? I s'pose he won't give up the throne unless he "

"No, not," said the Scarecrow "Therefore our duty him give up the throne "

"How ? " asked Trot

" time ," reply "That's what my brains are for I don't know whether you people ever think, or not, but my brains are the best Wizard of Oz ever turned out, and if them plenty to work, the result usually surprises me "

"Take your time, then," suggested Trot "There's no hurry "

" ," said the straw man, and sat perfectly still for half an hour During this interval the grasshopper whispered in Trot's ear, very close, and Trot whispered back grasshopper sitting upon her shoulder Pon cast loving glances at Gloria, who paid not the slightest heed

Finally the Scarecrow laughed aloud

"Brains working ? " inquired Trot

"Yes They seem in fine order to-day conquer King Krewl and put Gloria upon his throne as Queen of Jinxland "

"Fine ! " cried the little girl, clapping her hands together gleefully "But how ? "

"Leave the how ," said the Scarecrow proudly

As conqueror I'm wonder , first of all, write message to send to King Krewl, asking him to surrender If he refuses, then make him surrender "

"Why ask him when he'll refuse ? " inquired Pon

"Why, polite, whatever ," explained the Scarecrow "It very rude to conquer King without proper notice "

They found it difficult to write message without paper, pen and ink, none of at hand; so decided to send Pon as messenger, with instructions to King, politely but firmly, to surrender

Pon was not anxious the messenger Indeed, he hinted might prove dangerous mission But the Scarecrow was now the acknowledged head Army of Conquest, and listen to no refusal So off Pon started King's castle, others accompanied him as far as his hut, where they had decided to await the gardener's boy's return

because Pon had known the Scarecrow such short time that he lacked confidence straw man's wisdom easy : " conquer King Krewl," but when Pon drew near great castle he began to doubt the ability of straw-stuffed man, girl, grasshopper and frozen-hearted Princess As for himself, he had never thought of defying the King before

That was why the gardener's boy was not very bold when he entered the castle and passed through enclosed court where the King was just then seated, favorite courtiers around him None prevented Pon's entrance, because known the gardener's boy, but King saw him he began to frown fiercely He considered Pon to blame for all his trouble with Princess Gloria, who since her heart frozen had escaped to some unknown place, instead of returning castle to wed Goqgly-Goo, as she expected So the King bared his teeth angrily as he demanded:

"What done with Princess Gloria ? "

"Nothing, your Majesty ! nothing at all," answered Pon in faltering voice "She love me any more and even refuses "

"Then why here, you rascal ? " roared the King

Pon looked first and then another, but saw no means of escape; so he plucked up courage

" here to summon your Majesty to surrender "

"What ! " shouted the King "Surrender ? Surrender ? "

Pon's heart sank boots

" Scarecrow," he replied

courtiers began to titter, but King Krewl was greatly annoyed He sprang up and began to beat poor Pon golden staff he carried Pon howled lustily and run away two soldiers held him until his Majesty was exhausted with punishing the boy Then they let him go and he left the castle and returned along the road, sobbing at every step because his body was so sore and aching

"Well," said the Scarecrow, "did the King surrender ? "

"No; but he good drubbing ! " sobbed poor Pon

Trot was very sorry for Pon, but Gloria seem affected in by her lover's anguish The grasshopper leaped Scarecrow's shoulder and asked him what going next

"Conquer," reply "But go alone, , for beatings cannot hurt me at all; nor can lance thrusts -- or sword cuts -- or arrow pricks "

"Why ? " inquired Trot

"Because no nerves, such meat people possess Even grasshoppers have nerves, but straw doesn't; so whatever -- except just -- injure me Therefore I expect to conquer King Krewl with ease "

"What you excepted ? " asked Trot

" never think of it, so never mind And now, kindly excuse me for time, I'll go over castle and do my conquering "

" no weapons," Pon reminded him

"True," said the Scarecrow "But if I carried weapons injure someone -- perhaps seriously -- and make me unhappy just borrow that riding- whip, which corner of your hut, don't mind It isn't exactly proper to walk with riding-whip, but I trust excuse the inconsistency "

Pon handed him the whip Scarecrow bowed to all the party and left the hut, proceeding leisurely along the way King's castle

Chapter Seventeen

The Ork Rescues Button-Bright

now tell you what had become of Button-Bright since he wandered away morning and got lost This small boy, as perhaps discovered, was almost as destitute of nerves Scarecrow Nothing ever astonished him much; nothing ever worried him or made him unhappy Good fortune or bad fortune he accepted with quiet smile, never complaining, whatever happened one reason why Button-Bright was favorite with all who knew him -- and perhaps it reason why he so often got into difficulties, or found himself lost

To-day, as he wandered here and there, over hill and down dale, he missed Trot and Cap'n Bill, of whom fond, but nevertheless not unhappy The birds sang merrily wildflowers were beautiful breeze had fragrance of new-mown hay

"The only bad thing country is its King," he reflected; "but the country isn't to blame "

prairie-dog stuck its round head out of mound of earth and looked boy with bright eyes

"Walk around my house, please," it said, "and then you won't harm it or disturb the babies "

"All right," answered Button-Bright, and took care not to step mound He went on, whistling merrily, until petulant voice cried:

"Oh, stop it ! Please stop that noise It gets on my nerves "