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more beautiful the palace appeared, and when finally the Scarecrow led them

up the great marble steps, even Button-Bright was filled 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. "We have

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 he

suddenly exclaimed:

Why, there's the Sawhorse and the Red Wagon! Hip, hooray!" and next

moment he was rushing down to throw his arms around the neck of the

wooden horse, which good-naturedly permitted this familiarity when it

recognized in the boy an old friend.

Button-Bright's shout had been heard inside the palace, so now Dorothy and

Betsy came running out to embrace their beloved friend, the Scarecrow, 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," said

Dorothy, "and Ozma has sent us to invite you to her own palace in the

Em'rald City. I don't know if you realize how lucky you are to get that

invitation, but you'll understand it better after you've seen the royal palace

and the Em'rald City."

Glinda now appeared in person to lead all the party into her Azure Reception

Room. Trot was a little afraid of the stately Sorceress, but gained courage by

holding fast to the hands of Betsy and Dorothy. Cap'n Bill had no one to help

him feel at ease, so the old sailor sat stiffly on the edge of his chair and said:

Yes, ma'am," or "No, ma'am," when he was 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--and then he asked

Dorothy and Betsy what had happened in the Emerald City since he had left

there.

The Scarecrow of Oz