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That's right!" cried a voice from the crowd. "Let the Emperor be restored!"

I guess it's all over," gulped the Scarecrow. "Give my love to Ozma and tell

her I tried to come back."

In helpless terror, the little company watched the Gheewizard approach.

One could fight real enemies, but magic! Even Sir Hokus, brave as he was,

felt that nothing could be done.

"One move and you shall be so many prunes," shrilled the angry old man,

fixing the people from Oz with his wicked little eyes. The great room was so

still you could have heard a pin drop. Even the Doubtful Dromedary had not

the heart to doubt the wizard's power, but stood rigid as a statue.

The wizard advanced slowly, holding the sealed vase carefully over his head.

The poor Scarecrow regarded it with gloomy fascination. One more moment

and he would be an old, old Silverman. Better to be lost forever! He held

convulsively to Dorothy.

As for Dorothy herself, she was trembling with fright and grief. When the

Grand Gheewizard raised the vase higher and higher and made ready to

hurl it at the Scarecrow, disregarding his dire threat she gave a shrill

scream and threw up both hands.

Great grandmothers!" gasped the Scarecrow, jumping to his feet. As

Dorothy had thrown up her arms, the little parasol swinging at her wrist

had jerked open. Up, up, up, and out through the broken skylight in the

roof sailed the little Princess of Oz!

The Grand Gheewizard, startled as anyone, failed to throw the vase. Every

neck was craned upward, and everyone was gasping with astonishment.

The oldest Prince, as usual, was the first to recover. "Don't stand staring like

an idiot! Now's your chance!" he hissed angrily in the Gheewizard's ear.

"I didn't come here to be harried and hurried by foreigners," sobbed the little

man. "How is one to work magic when interrupted every other minute? I

want my little dragon."

"Oh, come on now, just throw it. I'll get you another dragon," begged the

Prince, his hands trembling with excitement.

In the face of this new disaster, the Scarecrow had forgotten all about the

Gheewizard. He and the Cowardly Lion and Sir Hokus were running

distractedly around the great throne trying to think up a way to rescue

114

The Royal Book of Oz