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"Because his tongue is a tape measure, and he has to measure his words!"

cried the Scarecrow, snapping his clumsy fingers. "And that's a good one, if I

did make it myself. I must remember to tell it to Dorothy!"

Then he sobered quite suddenly, for the thought of Dorothy brought back

the purpose of his journey. Interrupting the Rattlesnake in the midst of a

new riddle, he explained how anxious he was to return to the little farm

where he had been discovered and try to find some traces of his family.

"And the real riddle," he sighed with a wave of his hand, "is how to cross this

river."

"That's easy and no riddle at all," rumbled the A-B-Sea Serpent, who had

been listening attentively to the Scarecrow's remarks. "I'll stretch across,

and you can walk over." Suiting the action to the word, he began backing

very cautiously toward the river so as not to shake the Scarecrow off his

feet.

Mind your P's and Q's!" called the Rattlesnake warningly. It was well that

he spoke, for the A-B-Sea Serpent had doubled the P and Q blocks under,

and they were ready to snap off. Finally, however, he managed to make a

bridge of himself, and the Scarecrow stepped easily over the blocks, the

huge serpent holding himself rigid. Just as he reached Y, the unfortunate

creature sneezed, and all the blocks rattled together. Up flew the Scarecrow

and escaped falling into the stream only by the narrowest margin.

"Blockhead!" shrilled the Rattlesnake, who had taken a great fancy to the

Scarecrow.

"I'm all right," cried the Scarecrow rather breathlessly. "Thank you very

much!" He sprang nimbly up the bank. "Hope you have a pleasant vacation!"

"Can't, with a rattlepate like that." The A-B-Sea Serpent nodded glumly in

the Rattlesnake's direction.

"Now don't quarrel," begged the Scarecrow. "You are both charming and

unusual, and if you follow that Yellow Road, you will come to the Emerald

City, and Ozma will be delighted to welcome you."

"The Emerald City! We must see that, my dear Rattles." Forgetting his

momentary displeasure, the A-B-Sea Serpent pulled himself out of the river,

and waving his X Y Z blocks in farewell to the Scarecrow, went clattering

down the road, the little Rattlesnake rattling along behind him.

The Royal Book of Oz