THE SCARECROW of OZ

Dedicated to

"The uplifters" of Los Angeles, California, in grateful appreciation pleasure derived from association , and in recognition sincere endeavor to uplift humanity through kindness, consideration and good-fellowship big men--all --and all generous hearts of little children

L Frank Baum

THE SCARECROW of OZ by L Frank Baum

"TWIXT YOU AND ME

The Army of Children which besieged the Postoffice, conquered the Postmen and delivered its imperious Commands, insisted that Trot and Cap'n Bill be admitted Land of Oz, where Trot could enjoy the society of Dorothy, Betsy Bobbin and Ozma, while the one- legged sailor-man might become comrade Tin Woodman, the Shaggy Man, Tik-Tok and all the other quaint people who inhabit this wonderful fairyland

no easy task to obey this order and land Trot and Cap'n Bill safely in Oz, discover by reading this book Indeed, it required the best efforts dear old friend, the Scarecrow, to save them from dreadful fate journey; but the story leaves them happily located in Ozma's splendid palace and Dorothy has promised me that Button-Bright three girls to encounter, near future, some marvelous adventures Land of Oz, which permitted to relate next Oz Book

Meantime, deeply grateful to my little readers for their continued enthusiasm over the Oz stories, as evinced many letters they send me, all are lovingly cherished It takes more and more Oz Books every year to satisfy the demands of old and new readers, and been formed many "Oz Reading Societies," where the Oz Books owned by different members are read aloud All very gratifying and encourages me to write more stories children enough , let me know, and then I'll try to write something different

L Frank Baum "Royal Historian of Oz " "OZCOT" at HOLLYWOOD in CALIFORNIA, 1915

LIST OF CHAPTERS
1 - The Great Whirlpool
2 - The Cavern Under the Sea
3 - Daylight at Last:
4 - The Little Old Man Island
5 - The Flight Midgets
6 - The Dumpy Man
7 - Button-Bright is Lost, and Found Again
8 - The Kingdom of Jinxland
9 - Pan, the Gardener's Boy
10 - The Wicked King and Googly-Goo
11 - The Wooden-Legged Grasshopper
12 - Glinda the Good Scarecrow of Oz
13 - The Frozen Heart
14 - Trot Meets the Scarecrow
15 - Pon Summons the King to Surrender
16 - The Ork Rescues Button-Bright
17 - The Scarecrow Meets an Enemy
18 - The Conquest Witch
19 - Queen Gloria
20 - Dorothy, Betsy and Ozma
21 - The Waterfall
22 - The Land of Oz
23 - The Royal Reception

Chapter One

The Great Whirlpool

"Seems ," said Cap'n Bill, as he sat beside Trot under the big acacia tree, looking out over the blue ocean, "seems , Trot, as how the more , the more we don't know "

" 't quite make that out, Cap'n Bill," answered the little girl in serious voice, after moment's thought, during which her eyes followed those old sailor-man across the glassy surface sea "Seems that all we learn is jus' gained "

" ; it looks that way at first sight," said the sailor, nodding his head; "but those as knows the least have habit of thinkin' they know all , while them as knows the most admits what turr'ble big world It's the knowing ones that realize one lifetime ain't long enough to git more'n few dips o' the oars of knowledge "

Trot didn't answer She was very little girl, with big, solemn eyes and an earnest, simple manner Cap'n Bill her faithful companion for years and had taught her almost everything she knew

wonderful man, this Cap'n Bill Not so very old, although his hair was grizzled -- what of it Most head was bald as an egg and as shiny as oilcloth, and this made his big ears stick out in funny way His eyes had gentle look and were pale blue in color, round face was rugged and bronzed Cap'n Bill's left leg was missing, knee down, was why the sailor no longer sailed the seas The wooden leg he wore was good enough to stump around with on land, or even Trot out for row or sail ocean, but when it came to "runnin' up aloft" or performing active duties on shipboard, the old sailor was not equal task The loss leg had ruined his career old sailor found comfort in devoting himself education and companionship little girl

The accident to Cap'n Bill's leg bad happened at Trot was born, and that he had lived with Trot's mother as "a star boarder," having enough money saved up weekly "keep " He loved the baby and often held her lap; her first ride was on Cap'n Bill's shoulders, for she had no baby-carriage; and when she began to toddle around, the child sailor became close comrades and enjoyed many strange adventures together said the fairies present at Trot's birth and had marked her forehead with their invisible mystic signs, she was able and do many wonderful things

The acacia tree was on top of high bluff, but path ran down the bank in zigzag way water's edge, where Cap'n Bill's boat was moored to rock of stout cable It hot, sultry afternoon, with scarcely breath of air stirring, so Cap'n Bill and Trot quietly sitting beneath the shade tree, waiting sun low enough row

They had decided to visit great caves which the waves had washed rocky coast during many years of steady effort The caves were source of continual delight to both the girl sailor, who loved to explore their awesome depths

"I b'lieve, Cap'n," remarked Trot, at last, " 's time to start "

The old man cast shrewd glance sky, the sea motionless boat Then he shook his head

"Mebbe it's time, Trot," he answered, "but I don't jes' like the looks o' things this afternoon "

"What's wrong ? " she asked wonderingly

"Can't say Things is too quiet to suit me, that's all No breeze, not ripple a-top the water, nary gull a-flyin' anywhere, an' the end o' the hottest day o' the year I ain't no weather-prophet, Trot, but any sailor would know the signs is ominous "

"There's nothing wrong that ," said Trot

"If cloud sky even as big as my thumb, worry ; but -- look, Cap'n ! -- the sky is as clear as "

He looked again and nodded

"P'r'aps cave, all right," he agreed, not wishing to disappoint her "It's only little way out, an' we'll be watch; so come along, Trot "

Together they descended the winding path beach no trouble girl her footing steep way, but Cap'n Bill, because wooden leg, had to hold on to rocks and roots to save himself from tumbling On level path as spry as anyone, but to climb up hill or down required some care

They reached the boat safely and while Trot was untying the rope Cap'n Bill reached into crevice rock and drew out several tallow candles and box of wax matches, which he thrust capacious pockets "sou'wester " This sou'wester was short coat of oilskin which the old sailor wore on all occasions -- when he wore coat at all -- pockets always contained variety of objects, useful and ornamental, which made even Trot wonder where they all came from and why Cap'n Bill should treasure them The jackknives -- big one and little one -- the bits of cord, the fishhooks, the nails: these were handy on certain occasions But bits of shell, and tin boxes with unknown contents, buttons, pincers, bottles of curious stones like, seemed quite unnecessary to carry around That was Cap'n Bill's business, however, and now that he added the candles matches collection Trot made no comment, for she knew these last were to light their way caves The sailor always rowed the boat, for he handled the oars with strength and skill Trot sat stern and steered The place where they embarked was little bight or circular bay, boat cut across much larger bay toward distant headland where the caves were located, right water's edge They were nearly mile from shore and about halfway across the bay when Trot suddenly sat up straight and exclaimed: "What's that, Cap'n ? "

He stopped rowing and turned half around to look

"That, Trot," he slowly replied, "looks mighty like whirlpool "

"What makes it, Cap'n ? "

"A whirl air makes the whirl water afraid 'd meet with trouble, Trot Things didn't look right The air was too still "

"It's coming closer," said the girl

The old man grabbed the oars and began rowing with all his strength

"'Tain't comin' closer , Trot," he gasped; "it's we comin' closer whirlpool The thing is drawin' us like magnet ! "

Trot's sun-bronzed face was little paler as she grasped the tiller firmly and tried to steer the boat away; but she said not word to indicate fear

The swirl water came nearer made roaring sound that was fearful to listen to So fierce and powerful whirlpool drew the surface sea form of great basin, slanting downward toward the center, where big hole made ocean -- hole with walls of water that were kept in place rapid whirling air

The boat Trot and Cap'n Bill were riding was just outer edge saucer-like slant, old sailor knew that unless quickly force the little craft away rushing current soon be drawn great black hole that yawned middle So he exerted all his might and pulled as he had never pulled before He pulled so hard left oar snapped in two and sent Cap'n Bill sprawling bottom boat

He scrambled up quickly enough and glanced over the side Then he looked at Trot, who sat quite still, with serious, far-away look in her sweet eyes The boat was now speeding swiftly own accord, following the line circular basin round and round and gradually drawing nearer great hole center Any further effort to escape the whirlpool was useless, and realizing this fact Cap'n Bill turned toward Trot and put an arm around her, to shield her awful fate before them try , because the roar waters drowned the sound voice

These two faithful comrades had faced dangers before, but nothing to equal that which now faced them Yet Cap'n Bill, noting the look in Trot's eyes and remembering how often she protected by unseen powers, quite give way to despair

The great hole dark water -- now growing nearer and nearer -- looked very terrifying; but they were both brave enough it and await the result adventure

Chapter Two

The Cavern Under the Sea