The Scarecrow of Oz
Page 20
CHAPTER 18
The Scarecrow Meets an Enemy
The Scarecrow was not a bit afraid of King Krewl. Indeed, he ratherenjoyed the prospect of conquering the evil King and putting Gloria onthe throne of Jinxland in his place. So he advanced boldly to the royalcastle and demanded admittance.
Seeing that he was a stranger, the soldiers allowed him to enter. He madehis way straight to the throne room, where at that time his Majesty wassettling the disputes among his subjects.
"Who are you?" demanded the King.
"I'm the Scarecrow of Oz, and I command you to surrender yourself myprisoner."
"Why should I do that?" inquired the King, much astonished at the strawman's audacity.
"Because I've decided you are too cruel a King to rule so beautiful acountry. You must remember that Jinxland is a part of Oz, and thereforeyou owe allegiance to Ozma of Oz, whose friend and servant I am."
Now, when he heard this, King Krewl was much disturbed in mind, for heknew the Scarecrow spoke the truth. But no one had ever before come toJinxland from the Land of Oz and the King did not intend to be put out ofhis throne if he could help it. Therefore he gave a harsh, wicked laughof derision and said:
"I'm busy, now. Stand out of my way, Scarecrow, and I'll talk with you byand by."
But the Scarecrow turned to the assembled courtiers and people and calledin a loud voice:
"I hereby declare, in the name of Ozma of Oz, that this man is no longerruler of Jinxland. From this moment Princess Gloria is your rightfulQueen, and I ask all of you to be loyal to her and to obey her commands."
The people looked fearfully at the King, whom they all hated in theirhearts, but likewise feared. Krewl was now in a terrible rage and heraised his golden sceptre and struck the Scarecrow so heavy a blow thathe fell to the floor.
But he was up again, in an instant, and with Pon's riding-whip heswitched the King so hard that the wicked monarch roared with pain asmuch as with rage, calling on his soldiers to capture the Scarecrow.
They tried to do that, and thrust their lances and swords into thestraw body, but without doing any damage except to make holes in theScarecrow's clothes. However, they were many against one and finally oldGoogly-Goo brought a rope which he wound around the Scarecrow, bindinghis legs together and his arms to his sides, and after that the fight wasover.
The King stormed and danced around in a dreadful fury, for he had neverbeen so switched since he was a boy--and perhaps not then. He ordered theScarecrow thrust into the castle prison, which was no task at all becauseone man could carry him easily, bound as he was.
Even after the prisoner was removed the King could not control his anger.He tried to figure out some way to be revenged upon the straw man, butcould think of nothing that could hurt him.
At last, when the terrified people and the frightened courtiers had allslunk away, old Googly-Goo approached the king with a malicious grin uponhis face.
"I'll tell you what to do," said he. "Build a big bonfire and burn theScarecrow up, and that will be the end of him."
The King was so delighted with this suggestion that he hugged oldGoogly-Goo in his joy.
"Of course!" he cried. "The very thing. Why did I not think of it myself?"
So he summoned his soldiers and retainers and bade them prepare a greatbonfire in an open space in the castle park. Also he sent word to all hispeople to assemble and witness the destruction of the Scarecrow who haddared to defy his power. Before long a vast throng gathered in the parkand the servants had heaped up enough fuel to make a fire that might beseen for miles away--even in the daytime.
When all was prepared, the King had his throne brought out for him to situpon and enjoy the spectacle, and then he sent his soldiers to fetch theScarecrow.
Now the one thing in all the world that the straw man really feared wasfire. He knew he would burn very easily and that his ashes wouldn'tamount to much afterward. It wouldn't hurt him to be destroyed in sucha manner, but he realized that many people in the Land of Oz, andespecially Dorothy and the Royal Ozma, would feel sad if they learnedthat their old friend the Scarecrow was no longer in existence.
In spite of this, the straw man was brave and faced his fiery fate like ahero. When they marched him out before the concourse of people he turnedto the King with great calmness and said:
"This wicked deed will cost you your throne, as well as much suffering,for my friends will avenge my destruction."
"Your friends are not here, nor will they know what I have done to you,when you are gone and cannot tell them," answered the King in a scornfulvoice.
Then he ordered the Scarecrow bound to a stout stake that he had haddriven into the ground, and the materials for the fire were heaped allaround him. When this had been done, the King's brass band struck up alively tune and old Googly-Goo came forward with a lighted match and setfire to the pile.
At once the flames shot up and crept closer and closer toward theScarecrow. The King and all his people were so intent upon this terriblespectacle that none of them noticed how the sky grew suddenly dark.Perhaps they thought that the loud buzzing sound--like the noise of adozen moving railway trains--came from the blazing fagots; that the rushof wind was merely a breeze. But suddenly down swept a flock of Orks,half a hundred of them at the least, and the powerful currents of aircaused by their revolving tails sent the bonfire scattering in everydirection, so that not one burning brand ever touched the Scarecrow.
But that was not the only effect of this sudden tornado. King Krewl wasblown out of his throne and went tumbling heels over head until he landedwith a bump against the stone wall of his own castle, and before he couldrise a big Ork sat upon him and held him pressed flat to the ground. OldGoogly-Goo shot up into the air like a rocket and landed on a tree, wherehe hung by the middle on a high limb, kicking the air with his feet andclawing the air with his hands, and howling for mercy like the coward hewas.
The people pressed back until they were jammed close together, whileall the soldiers were knocked over and sent sprawling to the earth. Theexcitement was great for a few minutes, and every frightened inhabitantof Jinxland looked with awe and amazement at the great Orks whose descenthad served to rescue the Scarecrow and conquer King Krewl at one and thesame time.
The Ork, who was the leader of the band, soon had the Scarecrow free ofhis bonds. Then he said: "Well, we were just in time to save you, whichis better than being a minute too late. You are now the master here, andwe are determined to see your orders obeyed."
With this the Ork picked up Krewl's golden crown, which had fallen offhis head, and placed it upon the head of the Scarecrow, who in hisawkward way then shuffled over to the throne and sat down in it.
Seeing this, a rousing cheer broke from the crowd of people, who tossedtheir hats and waved their handkerchiefs and hailed the Scarecrow astheir King. The soldiers joined the people in the cheering, for now theyfully realized that their hated master was conquered and it would be wiseto show their good will to the conqueror. Some of them bound Krewl withropes and dragged him forward, dumping his body on the ground before theScarecrow's throne. Googly-Goo struggled until he finally slid off thelimb of the tree and came tumbling to the ground. He then tried to sneakaway and escape, but the soldiers seized and bound him beside Krewl.
"The tables are turned," said the Scarecrow, swelling out his chest untilthe straw within it crackled pleasantly, for he was highly pleased; "butit was you and your people who did it, friend Ork, and from this time youmay count me your humble servant."