fifteen
fell dutifully on their noses. As soon as they were right side up,
the Scarecrow, beginning at the end of the row, addressed a joking
question to each in his most approved Oz style. But over they went
again, and answered merely:

"Yes, gracious Grand-papapapah!" or "No honorable Grandpapapapah!"
And the constant bobbing up and down and papahing so confused the
poor Scarecrow that he nearly gave up the conversation.

"It's no use trying to talk to these children," he wailed in disgust,
"they're so solemn. Don't you ever laugh?" he cried in exasperation,
for he had told them stories that would have sent the Oz youngsters
into hysterics.

"It is not permissible for a Prince to laugh at the remarks of his
honorable grandparent," whispered Happy Toko, while the fifteen
little Princes banged their heads solemnly on the floor.

"Honorable fiddlesticks!" exclaimed the Scarecrow, slumping back on
his throne. "Bring cushions." Happy Toko ran off nimbly, and soon the
fifteen little Princes were seated in a circle at the Scarecrow's
feet. "To prevent prostrations," said the Scarecrow.

"Yes, old Grandpapapapapah!" chorused the Princes, bending over as
far as they could.

"Wait!" said the Scarecrow hastily, "I'll tell you a story. Once upon
a time, to a beautiful country called Oz, which is surrounded on all
sides by a deadly desert, there came a little girl named Dorothy. A
terrible gale--Well, what's the matter now?" The Scarecrow stopped
short, for the oldest Prince had jerked a book out of his sleeve and
was flipping over the pages industriously.

"It is not on the map, great Grand papapapah," he announced solemnly,
and all of the other little Princes shook their heads and said dully,
"Not on the map."

"Not on the map--Oz? Of course it's not. Do you suppose we want all
the humans in creation coming there?" Calming down, the Scarecrow
tried to continue his story, but every time he mentioned Oz, the
little Princes shook their heads stubbornly and whispered, "Not on
the map," till the usually good-tempered Scarecrow flew into perfect
passion.

"Not on the map, you little villains!" he screamed, forgetting they
were his grandsons. "What difference does that make? Are your heads
solid silver?"

"We do not believe in Oz," announced the oldest Prince serenely.
"There is no such place."

"No such place as Oz--Happy, do you hear that?" The Scarecrow's voice
fairly crackled with indignation. "Why, I thought everyb