The Scarecrow of Oz
Page 24
CHAPTER 22
The Waterfall
Glinda's castle was a long way from the mountains, but the Scarecrowbegan the journey cheerfully, since time was of no great importance inthe Land of Oz and he had recently made the trip and knew the way. Itnever mattered much to Button-Bright where he was or what he was doing;the boy was content in being alive and having good companions to sharehis wanderings. As for Trot and Cap'n Bill, they now found themselvesso comfortable and free from danger, in this fine fairyland, and theywere so awed and amazed by the adventures they were encountering, thatthe journey to Glinda's castle was more like a pleasure trip than ahardship, so many wonderful things were there to see.
Button-Bright had been in Oz before, but never in this part of it, sothe Scarecrow was the only one who knew the paths and could lead them.They had eaten a hearty breakfast, which they found already prepared forthem and awaiting them on the table when they arose from their refreshingsleep, so they left the magic house in a contented mood and with heartslighter and more happy than they had known for many a day. As theymarched along through the fields, the sun shone brightly and the breezewas laden with delicious fragrance, for it carried with it the breath ofmillions of wildflowers.
At noon, when they stopped to rest by the banks of a pretty river, Trotsaid with a long-drawn breath that was much like a sigh:
"I wish we'd brought with us some of the food that was left from ourbreakfast, for I'm getting hungry again."
Scarcely had she spoken when a table rose up before them, as if fromthe ground itself, and it was loaded with fruits and nuts and cakes andmany other good things to eat. The little girl's eyes opened wide atthis display of magic, and Cap'n Bill was not sure that the things wereactually there and fit to eat until he had taken them in his hand andtasted them. But the Scarecrow said with a laugh:
"Someone is looking after your welfare, that is certain, and from thelooks of this table I suspect my friend the Wizard has taken us in hischarge. I've known him to do things like this before, and if we are inthe Wizard's care you need not worry about your future."
"Who's worrying?" inquired Button-Bright, already at the table and busilyeating.
The Scarecrow looked around the place while the others were feasting, andfinding many things unfamiliar to him he shook his head and remarked:
"I must have taken the wrong path, back in that last valley, for on myway to Jinxland I remember that I passed around the foot of this river,where there was a great waterfall."
"Did the river make a bend, after the waterfall?" asked Cap'n Bill.
"No, the river disappeared. Only a pool of whirling water showed what hadbecome of the river; but I suppose it is under ground, somewhere, andwill come to the surface again in another part of the country."
"Well," suggested Trot, as she finished her luncheon, "as there is no wayto cross this river, I s'pose we'll have to find that waterfall, and goaround it."
"Exactly," replied the Scarecrow; so they soon renewed their journey,following the river for a long time until the roar of the waterfallsounded in their ears. By and by they came to the waterfall itself, asheet of silver dropping far, far down into a tiny lake which seemed tohave no outlet. From the top of the fall, where they stood, the banksgradually sloped away, so that the descent by land was quite easy, whilethe river could do nothing but glide over an edge of rock and tumblestraight down to the depths below.
"You see," said the Scarecrow, leaning over the brink, "this is called byour Oz people the Great Waterfall, because it is certainly the highestone in all the land; but I think--Help!"
He had lost his balance and pitched headforemost into the river. They sawa flash of straw and blue clothes, and the painted face looking upward insurprise. The next moment the Scarecrow was swept over the waterfall andplunged into the basin below.
The accident had happened so suddenly that for a moment they were all toohorrified to speak or move.
"Quick! We must go to help him or he will be drowned," Trot exclaimed.
Even while speaking she began to descend the bank to the pool below,and Cap'n Bill followed as swiftly as his wooden leg would let him.Button-Bright came more slowly, calling to the girl:
"He can't drown, Trot; he's a Scarecrow."
But she wasn't sure a Scarecrow couldn't drown and never relaxed herspeed until she stood on the edge of the pool, with the spray dashing inher face. Cap'n Bill, puffing and panting, had just voice enough to ask,as he reached her side:
"See him, Trot?"
"Not a speck of him. Oh, Cap'n, what do you s'pose has become of him?"
"I s'pose," replied the sailor, "that he's in that water, more or lessfar down, and I'm 'fraid it'll make his straw pretty soggy. But as ferhis bein' drowned, I agree with Button-Bright that it can't be done."
There was small comfort in this assurance and Trot stood for sometime searching with her eyes the bubbling water, in the hope thatthe Scarecrow would finally come to the surface. Presently she heardButton-Bright calling: "Come here, Trot!" and looking around she saw thatthe boy had crept over the wet rocks to the edge of the waterfall andseemed to be peering behind it. Making her way toward him, she asked:
"What do you see?"
"A cave," he answered. "Let's go in. Perhaps we'll find the Scarecrowthere."
She was a little doubtful of that, but the cave interested her, andso did it Cap'n Bill. There was just space enough at the edge of thesheet of water for them to crowd in behind it, but after that dangerousentrance they found room enough to walk upright and after a time theycame to an opening in the w r all of rock. Approaching this opening,they gazed within it and found a series of steps, cut so that they mighteasily descend into the cavern.
Trot turned to look inquiringly at her companions. The falling water madesuch din and roaring that her voice could not be heard. Cap'n Bill noddedhis head, but before he could enter the cave, Button-Bright was beforehim, clambering down the steps without a particle of fear. So the othersfollowed the boy.
The first steps were wet with spray, and slippery, but the remainder werequite dry. A rosy light seemed to come from the interior of the cave, andthis lighted their way. After the steps there was a short tunnel, highenough for them to walk erect in, and then they reached the cave itselfand paused in wonder and admiration.
They stood on the edge of a vast cavern, the walls and domed roof ofwhich were lined with countless rubies, exquisitely cut and flashingsparkling rays from one to another. This caused a radiant light thatpermitted the entire cavern to be distinctly seen, and the effect was somarvelous that Trot drew in her breath with a sort of a gasp, and stoodquite still in wonder.
But the walls and roof of the cavern were merely a setting for a morewonderful scene. In the center was a bubbling cauldron of water, for herethe river rose again, splashing and dashing till its spray rose high inthe air, where it took the ruby color of the jewels and seemed like aseething mass of flame. And while they gazed into the tumbling, tossingwater, the body of the Scarecrow suddenly rose in the center, strugglingand kicking, and the next instant wholly disappeared from view.
"My, but he's wet!" exclaimed Button-Bright; but none of the others heardhim.
Trot and Cap'n Bill discovered that a broad ledge--covered, like thewalls, with glittering rubies--ran all around the cavern; so theyfollowed this gorgeous path to the rear and found where the water madeits final dive underground, before it disappeared entirely. Where itplunged into this dim abyss the river was black and dreary looking, andthey stood gazing in awe until just beside them the body of the Scarecrowagain popped up from the water.