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Neither of them at first noticed the small grasshopper, which at their
appearance had skipped off the Scarecrow's nose and was now clinging to a
wisp of grass beside the path, where he was not likely to be stepped upon. Not
until the Scarecrow had been neatly restuffed and set upon his feet again--
when he bowed to his restorers and expressed his thanks--did the
grasshopper move from his perch. Then he leaped lightly into the path and
called out:
"
Trot--Trot! Look at me. I'm Cap'n Bill! See what the Wicked Witch has done to
me."
The voice was small, to be sure, but it reached Trot's ears and startled her
greatly. She looked intently at the grasshopper, her eyes wide with fear at
first; then she knelt down and, noticing the wooden leg, she began to weep
sorrowfully.
"
"
Oh, Cap'n Bill--dear Cap'n Bill! What a cruel thing to do!" she sobbed.
Don't cry, Trot," begged the grasshopper. "It didn't hurt any, and it doesn't
hurt now. But it's mighty inconvenient an' humiliatin', to say the least."
"
I wish," said the girl indignantly, while trying hard to restrain her tears, "that
I was big 'nough an' strong 'nough to give that horrid witch a good beating.
She ought to be turned into a toad for doing this to you, Cap'n Bill!"
"
Never mind," urged the Scarecrow, in a comforting voice, "such a
transformation doesn't last always, and as a general thing there's some way to
break the enchantment. I'm sure Glinda could do it, in a jiffy."
"
Who is Glinda?" inquired Cap'n Bill.
Then the Scarecrow told them all about Glinda, not forgetting to mention her
beauty and goodness and her wonderful powers of magic. He also explained
how the Royal Sorceress had sent him to Jinxland especially to help the
strangers, whom she knew to be in danger because of the wiles of the cruel
King and the Wicked Witch.
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