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Chapter Fourteen - The Frozen Heart

In the hut of Pon, the gardener's boy, Button-Bright was the first to waken in

the morning. Leaving his companions still asleep, he went out into the fresh

morning air and saw some blackberries growing on bushes in a field not far

away. Going to the bushes he found the berries ripe and sweet, so he began

eating them. More bushes were scattered over the fields, so the boy wandered

on, from bush to bush, without paying any heed to where he was wandering.

Then a butterfly fluttered by. He gave chase to it and followed it a long way.

When finally he paused to look around him, Button-Bright could see no sign

of Pon's house, nor had he the slightest idea in which direction it lay.

Well, I'm lost again," he remarked to himself. "But never mind; I've been lost

lots of times. Someone is sure to find me."

Trot was a little worried about Button-Bright when she awoke and found him

gone. Knowing how careless he was, she believed that he had strayed away,

but felt that he would come back in time, because he had a habit of not

staying lost. Pon got the little girl some food for her breakfast and then

together they went out of the hut and stood in the sunshine.

Pon's house was some distance off the road, but they could see it from where

they stood and both gave a start of surprise when they discovered two soldiers

walking along the roadway and escorting Princess Gloria between them. The

poor girl had her hands bound together, to prevent her from struggling, and

the soldiers rudely dragged her forward when her steps seemed to lag.

Behind this group came King Krewl, wearing his jeweled crown and swinging

in his hand a slender golden staff with a ball of clustered gems at one end.

Where are they going?" asked Trot. "To the house of the Wicked Witch, I fear,"

Pon replied. "Come, let us follow them, for I am sure they intend to harm my

dear Gloria."

Won't they see us?" she asked timidly.

We won't let them. I know a short cut through the trees to Blinkie's house,"

said he.

So they hurried away through the trees and reached the house of the witch

ahead of the King and his soldiers. Hiding themselves in the shrubbery, they

watched the approach of poor Gloria and her escort, all of whom passed so

The Scarecrow of Oz