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Dorothy. As for the Doubtful Dromedary, he was doubting everything in a
loud, bitter voice, while the Comfortable Camel fairly snorted with sorrow.
"
There! Now's your chance," whispered the Prince. The Scarecrow, with his
back to the crowd, was gesturing frantically.
Taking a firm hold on the neck of the vase and with a long incantation
which there is no use at all in repeating, the Gheewizard flung the bottle
straight at the Scarecrow's head. But scarcely had it left his hand before
there was a flash and a flutter and down came Dorothy and the magic
parasol right on top of the vase.
Zip! The vase flew in quite another direction, and next minute had burst
over the luckless heads of the three plotting Princes, while Dorothy floated
gently to earth.
Sir Hokus embraced the Scarecrow, and the Scarecrow hugged the Cowardly
Lion, and I don't wonder at all. For no sooner had the magic elixir touched
the Princes, than two of them became silver pigs and the eldest a weasel.
They had been turned to their true shapes instead of the Scarecrow. And
while the company hopped about in alarm, they ran squealing from the hall
and disappeared in the gardens.
"Seize the Gheewizard and take him to his cave," ordered the Scarecrow,
asserting his authority for the first time since the proceedings has started.
He had noticed the old man making queer signs and passes toward Sir
Hokus. A dozen took hold of the struggling Gheewizard and hurried him out
of the hall.
Sir Hokus, at the request of the Scarecrow, clapped his iron gauntlets for
silence.
"You will agree with me, I'm sure," said the Scarecrow in a slightly unsteady
voice, "that magic is a serious matter to meddle with. If you will all return
quietly to your homes, I will try to find a way out of our difficulties."
The Silver Islanders listened respectfully and after a little arguing among
themselves backed out of the throne room. To tell the truth, they were
anxious to spread abroad the tale of the morning's happenings.
Princess Orange Blossom, however, refused to depart. Magic or no magic,
she had come to marry the Emperor, and she would not leave till the
ceremony had been performed.
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