CHAPTER 23
The Land of Oz
The straw man's appearance on the water was so sudden that it startledTrot, but Cap'n Bill had the presence of mind to stick his wooden leg outover the water and the Scarecrow made a desperate clutch and grabbed theleg with both hands. He managed to hold on until Trot and Button-Brightknelt down and seized his clothing, but the children would have beenpowerless to drag the soaked Scarecrow ashore had not Cap'n Bill nowassisted them. When they laid him on the ledge of rubies he was the mostuseless looking Scarecrow you can imagine--his straw sodden and drippingwith water, his clothing wet and crumpled, while even the sack uponwhich his face was painted had become so wrinkled that the old jollyexpression of their stuffed friend's features was entirely gone. But hecould still speak, and when Trot bent down her ear she heard him say:
"Get me out of here as soon as you can."
That seemed a wise thing to do, so Cap'n Bill lifted his head andshoulders, and Trot and Button-Bright each took a leg; among them theypartly carried and partly dragged the damp Scarecrow out of the RubyCavern, along the tunnel, and up the flight of rock steps. It wassomewhat difficult to get him past the edge of the waterfall, but theysucceeded, after much effort, and a few minutes later laid their poorcomrade on a grassy bank where the sun shone upon him freely and he wasbeyond the reach of the spray.
Cap'n Bill now knelt down and examined the straw that the Scarecrow wasstuffed with.
"I don't believe it'll be of much use to him, any more," said he, "forit's full of polliwogs an' fish eggs, an' the water has took all thecrinkle out o' the straw an' ruined it. I guess, Trot, that the bestthing for us to do is to empty out all his body an' carry his head an'clothes along the road till we come to a field or a house where we canget some fresh straw."
"Yes, Cap'n," she agreed, "there's nothing else to be done. But how shallwe ever find the road to Glinda's palace, without the Scarecrow to guideus?"
"That's easy," said the Scarecrow, speaking in a rather feeble butdistinct voice. "If Cap'n Bill will carry my head on his shoulders, eyesfront, I can tell him which way to go."
So they followed that plan and emptied all the old, wet straw out of theScarecrow's body. Then the sailor-man wrung out the clothes and laid themin the sun till they were quite dry. Trot took charge of the head andpressed the wrinkles out of the face as it dried, so that after a whilethe Scarecrow's expression became natural again, and as jolly as before.
This work consumed some time, but when it was completed they againstarted upon their journey, Button-Bright carrying the boots and hat,Trot the bundle of clothes, and Cap'n Bill the head. The Scarecrow,having regained his composure and being now in a good humor, despite hisrecent mishaps, beguiled their way with stories of the Land of Oz.
It was not until the next morning, however, that they found straw withwhich to restuff the Scarecrow. That evening they came to the same littlehouse they had slept in before, only now it was magically transferred toa new place. The same bountiful supper as before was found smoking hotupon the table and the same cosy beds were ready for them to sleep in.
They rose early and after breakfast went out of doors, and there, lyingjust beside the house, was a heap of clean, crisp straw. Ozma had noticedthe Scarecrow's accident in her Magic Picture and had notified the Wizardto provide the straw, for she knew the adventurers were not likely tofind straw in the country through which they were now traveling.
They lost no time in stuffing the Scarecrow anew, and he was greatlydelighted at being able to walk around again and to assume the leadershipof the little party.
"Really," said Trot, "I think you're better than you were before, for youare fresh and sweet all through and rustle beautifully when you move."
"Thank you, my dear," he replied gratefully. "I always feel like a newman when I'm freshly stuffed. No one likes to get musty, you know, andeven good straw may be spoiled by age."
"It was water that spoiled you, the last time," remarked Button-Bright,"which proves that too much bathing is as bad as too little. But, afterall, Scarecrow, water is not as dangerous for you as fire."
"All things are good in moderation," declared the Scarecrow. "But now,let us hurry on, or we shall not reach Glinda's palace by nightfall."
CHAPTER 24
The Royal Reception
At about four o'clock of that same day the Red Wagon drew up at theentrance to Glinda's palace and Dorothy and Betsy jumped out. Ozma's RedWagon was almost a chariot, being inlaid with rubies and pearls, and itwas drawn by Ozma's favorite steed, the wooden Sawhorse.
"Shall I unharness you," asked Dorothy, "so you can come in and visit?"
"No," replied the Sawhorse. "Til just stand here and think. Take yourtime. Thinking doesn't seem to bore me at all."
"What will you think of?" inquired Betsy.
"Of the acorn that grew the tree from which I was made."
So they left the wooden animal and went in to see Glinda, who welcomedthe little girls in her most cordial manner.
"I knew you were on your way," said the good Sorceress when they wereseated in her library, "for I learned from my Record Book that youintended to meet Trot and Button-Bright on their arrival here."
"Is the strange little girl named Trot?' asked Dorothy.
"Yes; and her companion, the old sailor, is named Cap'n Bill. I think weshall like them very much, for they are just the kind of people to enjoyand appreciate our fairyland and I do not see any way, at present, forthem to return again to the outside world."
"Well, there's room enough here for them, I'm sure," said Dorothy. "Betsyand I are already eager to welcome Trot. It will keep us busy for a year,at least, showing her all the wonderful things in Oz."
Glinda smiled.
"I have lived here many years," said she, "and I have not seen all thewonders of Oz vet."
Meantime the travelers were drawing near to the palace, and when theyfirst caught sight of its towers Trot realized that it was far moregrand and imposing than was the King's castle in Jinxland. The nearerthey came, the more beautiful the palace appeared, and when finally theScarecrow led them up the great marble steps, even Button-Bright wasfilled with awe.
"I don't see any soldiers to guard the place," said the little girl.
"There is no need to guard Glinda's palace," replied the Scarecrow. "Wehave no wicked people in Oz, that we know of, and even if there were any,Glinda's magic would be powerful enough to protect her."
Button-Bright was now standing on the top steps of the entrance, and hesuddenly exclaimed:
"Why, there's the Sawhorse and the Red Wagon! Hip, hooray!" and nextmoment he was rushing down to throw his arms around the neck of thewooden horse, which good-naturedly permitted this familiarity when itrecognized in the boy an old friend.
Button-Bright's shout had been heard inside the palace, so now Dorothyand Betsy came running out to embrace their beloved friend, theScarecrow, and to welcome Trot and Cap'n Bill to the Land of Oz.
"We've been watching you for a long time, in Ozma's Magic Picture," saidDorothy, "and Ozma has sent us to invite you to her own palace in theEm'rald City. I don't know if you realize how lucky you are to get thatinvitation, but you'll understand it better after you've seen the royalpalace and the Em'rald City."
Glinda now appeared in person to lead all the party into her AzureReception Room. Trot was a little afraid of the stately Sorceress, butgained courage by holding fast to the hands of Betsy and Dorothy. Cap'nBill had no one to help him feel at ease, so the old sailor sat stifflyon the edge of his chair and said: "Yes, ma'am," or "No, ma'am," when hewas spoken to, and was greatly embarrassed by so much splendor.
The Scarecrow had lived so much in palaces that he felt quite at home,and he chatted to Glinda and the Oz girls in a merry, light-hearted way.He told all about his adventures in Jinxland, and at the Great Waterfall,and on the journey hither--most of which his hearers knew already--andthen he asked Dorothy and Betsy what had happened in the Emerald Citysince he had left there.
They all passed the evening and the night at Glinda's palace, and theSorceress was so gracious to Cap'n Bill that the old man by degreesregained his self-possession and began to enjoy himself. Trot hadalready come to the conclusion that in Dorothy and Betsy she had foundtwo delightful comrades, and Button-Bright was just as much at home hereas he had been in the fields of Jinxland or when he was buried in thepopcorn snow of the Land of Mo.
The next morning they arose bright and early and after breakfast badegood-bye to the kind Sorceress, whom Trot and Cap'n Bill thankedearnestly for sending the Scarecrow to Jinxland to rescue them. Then theyall climbed into the Red Wagon.
There was room for all on the broad seats, and when all had takentheir places--Dorothy, Trot and Betsy on the rear seat and Cap'n Bill,Button-Bright and the Scarecrow in front--they called "Gid-dap!" to theSawhorse and the wooden steed moved briskly away, pulling the Red Wagonwith ease.
It was now that the strangers began to perceive the real beauties of theLand of Oz, for they were passing through a more thickly settled partof the country and the population grew more dense as they drew nearerto the Emerald City. Everyone they met had a cheery word or a smile forthe Scarecrow, Dorothy and Betsy Bobbin, and some of them rememberedButton-Bright and welcomed him back to their country.
It was a happy party, indeed, that journeyed in the Red Wagon to theEmerald City, and Trot already began to hope that Ozma would permit herand Cap'n Bill to live always in the Land of Oz.
When they reached the great city they were more amazed than ever, both bythe concourse of people in their quaint and picturesque costumes, and bythe splendor of the city itself. But the magnificence of the Royal Palacequite took their breath away, until Ozma received them in her own prettyapartment and by her charming manners and assuring smiles made them feelthey were no longer strangers.
Trot was given a lovely little room next to that of Dorothy, while Cap'nBill had the cosiest sort of a room next to Trot's and overlooking thegardens. And that evening Ozma gave a grand banquet and reception inhonor of the new arrivals. While Trot had read of many of the people shethen met, Cap'n Bill was less familiar with them and many of the unusualcharacters introduced to him that evening caused the old sailor to openhis eyes wide in astonishment.
He had thought the live Scarecrow about as curious as anyone could be,but now he met the Tin Woodman, who was all made of tin, even to hisheart, and carried a gleaming axe over his shoulder wherever he went.Then there was Jack Pumpkinhead, whose head was a real pumpkin with theface carved upon it; and Professor Wogglebug, who had the shape of anenormous bug but was dressed in neat fitting garments. The Professor wasan interesting talker and had very polite manners, but his face was socomical that it made Cap'n Bill smile to look at it. A great friend ofDorothy and Ozma seemed to be a machine man called Tik-Tok, who ran downseveral times during the evening and had to be wound up again by someonebefore he could move or speak.
At the reception appeared the Shaggy Man and his brother, both verypopular in Oz, as well as Dorothy's Uncle Henry and Aunt Em, two happyold people who lived in a pretty cottage near the palace.
But what perhaps seemed most surprising to both Trot and Cap'n Bill wasthe number of peculiar animals admitted into Ozma's parlors, where theynot only conducted themselves quite properly but were able to talk aswell as anyone.
There was the Cowardly Lion, an immense beast with a beautiful mane; andthe Hungry Tiger, who smiled continually; and Eureka the Pink Kitten, wholay curled upon a cushion and had rather supercilious manners; and thewooden Sawhorse; and nine tiny piglets that belonged to the Wizard; anda mule named Hank, who belonged to Betsy Bobbin. A fuzzy little terrierdog, named Toto, lay at Dorothy's feet but seldom took part in theconversation, although he listened to every word that was said. But themost wonderful of all to Trot was a square beast with a winning smile,that squatted in a corner of the room and wagged his square head ateveryone in quite a jolly way. Betsy told Trot that this unique beast wascalled the Woozy, and there was no other like him in all the world.
Cap'n Bill and Trot had both looked around expectantly for the Wizard ofOz, but the evening was far advanced before the famous little man enteredthe room. But he went up to the strangers at once and said:
"I know you, but you don't know me; so let's get acquainted."
And they did get acquainted, in a very short time, and before the eveningwas over Trot felt that she knew every person and animal present at thereception, and that they were all her good friends.
Suddenly they looked around for Button-Bright, but he was nowhere to befound.
"Dear me!" cried Trot. "He's lost again."
"Never mind, my dear," said Ozma, with her charming smile, "no onecan go far astray in the Land of Oz, and if Button-Bright isn't lostoccasionally, he isn't happy."
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Transcriber Notes
All illustrations were placed so as to not split paragraphs. The colorillustrations were grouped together (between pages 32 and 33) in theprinted version; but have been moved to the relevent point within thestory. Minor typos corrected.
The Scarecrow of Oz Page 25