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occupying as a throne, are of very superior quality and do a lot of very clever

thinking. But whether that is being alive, or not, I cannot prove to you; for one

who lives is liable to death, while I am only liable to destruction."

Seems to me," said the grasshopper, rubbing his nose with his front legs,

that in your case it doesn't matter--unless you're destroyed already."

I am not; all I need is re-stuffing," declared the Scarecrow; "and if Pon and

Trot escape the witch, and come back here, I am sure they will do me that

favor."

Tell me! Are Trot and Pon around here?" inquired the grasshopper, its small

voice trembling with excitement.

The Scarecrow did not answer at once, for both his eyes were staring straight

upward at a beautiful face that was slightly bent over his head. It was, indeed,

Princess Gloria, who had wandered to this spot, very much surprised when

she heard the Scarecrow's head talk and the tiny gray grasshopper answer it.

This," said the Scarecrow, still staring at her, "must be the Princess who loves

Pon, the gardener's boy."

Oh, indeed!" exclaimed the grasshopper--who of course was Cap'n Bill--as he

examined the young lady curiously.

No," said Gloria frigidly, "I do not love Pon, or anyone else, for the Wicked

Witch has frozen my heart."

What a shame!" cried the Scarecrow. "One so lovely should be able to love.

But would you mind, my dear, stuffing that straw into my body again?"

The dainty Princess glanced at the straw and at the well-worn blue Munchkin

clothes and shrank back in disdain. But she was spared from refusing the

Scarecrow's request by the appearance of Trot and Pon, who had hidden in

some bushes just over the brow of the hill and waited until old Blinkie had

passed them by. Their hiding place was on the same side as the witch's blind

eye, and she rushed on in the chase of the girl and the youth without being

aware that they had tricked her.

Trot was shocked at the Scarecrow's sad condition and at once began putting

the straw back into his body. Pon, at sight of Gloria, again appealed to her to

take pity on him, but the frozen-hearted Princess turned coldly away and with

a sigh the gardener's boy began to assist Trot.

The Scarecrow of Oz