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down, down flashed the Scarecrow and landed in a heap on the rocks. Poor
Happy Toko rushed toward him with streaming eyes.
"Oh radiant and immortal Scarecrowcus, what have they done to you?" he
moaned, dropping on his knees beside the flimsy shape of the Emperor.
"Merely knocked out my honorable stuffing," mumbled the Scarecrow. "Now
Tappy, my dear fellow, will you just turn me over? There's a rock in my eye
that keeps me from thinking."
Happy Toko, at the sound of a voice from the rumpled heap of clothing, gave
a great leap.
"Is there any straw about?" asked the Scarecrow anxiously. "Why don't you
turn me over?"
"It's his ghost," moaned Happy Toko, and because he dared not disobey a
royal ghost, he turned the Scarecrow over with trembling hands.
"
Don't be alarmed," said the Scarecrow, smiling reassuringly. "I'm not
breakable like you meat people. A little straw will make me good as new. A
little straw--straw, do you hear?" For Happy's pigtail was still on end, and he
was shaking so that his silver shoes clattered on the rocks.
"I command you to fetch straw!" cried the Scarecrow at last, in an angry
voice. Happy dashed away.
When he returned with an arm full of straw, the Scarecrow managed to
convince him that he was quite alive. "It is impossible to kill a person from
Oz," he explained proudly, "and that is why my present figure is so much
more satisfactory than yours. I do not have to eat or sleep and can always be
repaired. Have you some safety pins?" Happy produced several and under
the Scarecrow's direction stuffed out his chest and pinned up his rents.
"Let us return," said the Scarecrow. "I've had enough pleasure for one day,
and can't you sing something, Tappy?" Running and fright had somewhat
affected Happy's voice, but he squeaked out a funny little song, and the two,
keeping time to the tune, came without further mishap to the Imperial
gardens. Happy had just set the royal hat upon the Scarecrow's head and
brushed off his robes when a company of courtiers dashed out of the palace
door and came running toward them.
"
Great Cornstarch!" exclaimed the Scarecrow, sitting heavily down on the
silver bench. "What's the matter now? Here are all the Pig-heads on the
Island, and look how old Chew Chew is puffing!"
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