s way
back to Oz, family or no family! He bowed graciously to Princess
Orange Blossom, to the Grand Chew Chew, and to his sons.

"Let everything be made ready for the ceremony, and may tomorrow
indeed bring me to myself," he repeated solemnly. Nothing was talked
of that evening but the Emperor's impending marriage and the Grand
Gheewizard's discovery. The Scarecrow seemed the least excited person
in the palace. Sitting on his throne, he pretended to read the Royal
Silver Journal, but he was really waiting impatiently for the
courtiers to retire. Finally, when the last one had bowed himself out
and only Happy Toko remained in the throne room, the Scarecrow began
making his plans.

"It's no use, Tappy," said he, tying up a few little trinkets for
Dorothy in a silk handkerchief, "I'd rather be straw than meat. I'd
rather be a plain Scarecrow in Oz than Emperor of the Earth! They may
be my sons, but all they want is my death. I'm going back to my old
friends. I'd rather--". He got no farther. A huge slave seized him
suddenly from behind, while another caught Happy Toko around his fat
little waist.

"Tie them fast," said the eldest Prince, smiling wickedly at the
Scarecrow. "Here, tie him to the beanstalk. Merely a part of the
Grand Gheewizard's formula," he exclaimed maliciously as the
struggling Scarecrow was bound securely to his family tree. "Good
night, dear papa Scarecrow. Tomorrow you will be your old self again,
and in a few short years _I_ will be Emperor of the Silver Islands!"

"This rather upsets our plans, eh Tappy?" wheezed the Scarecrow after
a struggle with his bonds.

"Pigs! Weasels!" choked Tappy. "What are we to do?"

"Alas!" groaned the Scarecrow. "Tomorrow there will be no Scarecrow
in Oz. What will Dorothy and Ozma think? And once I am changed into
my old Imperial self, I can never make the journey to the Emerald
City. Eighty-six is too old for traveling."

"Has your Majesty forgotten the wonderful brains given to you by the
Wizard of Oz?"

"I had--for a moment," confessed the Scarecrow. "Be quiet, Tappy,
while I think." Pressing his head against the magic beanpole, the
Scarecrow thought and thought, harder than he had ever done in the
course of his adventurous life, and in the great, silent hall Happy
Toko struggled to set himself free.

CHAPTER 16

DOROTHY AND HER GUARDIANS MEET NEW FRIENDS

While all these exciting things were happening to the poor Scarecrow,
Dorothy, Sir Hokus an