<h2><SPAN name="8">CHAPTER 8</SPAN></h2><h3>THE SCARECROW STUDIES THE SILVER ISLAND</h3>
<p>Two days had passed since the Scarecrow had fallen into his Kingdom. He was
not finding his royal duties as pleasant as he had anticipated. The country
was beautiful enough, but being Emperor of the Silver Islands was not the
simple affair that ruling Oz had been. The pigtail on the back of his hat
was terribly distracting, and he was always tripping over his kimono, to
which he could not seem to accustom himself. His subjects were extremely
quarrelsome, always pulling one another's queues or stealing fruit,
umbrellas, and silver polish. His ministers, the Grand Chew Chew, the Chief
Chow Chow, and General Mugwump, were no better, and keeping peace in the
palace took all the Scarecrow's cleverness.</p>
<p>In the daytime he tried culprits in the royal court, interviewed his seventeen
secretaries, rode out in the royal palanquin, and made speeches to visiting
princes. At night he sat in the great silver salon and by the light of the
lanterns studied the Book of Ceremonies. His etiquette, the Grand Chew Chew
informed him, was shocking. He was always doing something wrong, dodging the
Imperial Umbrella, speaking kindly to a palace servant, or walking unattended
in the gardens.</p>
<p>The royal palace itself was richly furnished, and the Scarecrow had more than
five hundred robes of state. The gardens, with their sparkling waterfalls,
glowing orange trees, silver temples, towers and bridges, were too lovely for
words. Poppies, roses, lotus and other lilies perfumed the air, and at night a
thousand silver lanterns turned them to a veritable fairyland.</p>
<p>The grass and trees were green as in other lands, but the sky as always full
of tiny silver clouds, the waters surrounding the island were of a lovely
liquid silver, and as all the houses and towers were of this gleaming metal,
the effect was bewildering and beautiful.</p>
<p>But the Silver Islanders themselves were too stupid to appreciate this
beauty. "And what use is it all when I have no one to enjoy it with me,"
sighed the Scarecrow. "And no time to <i>play!"</i></p>
<p>In Oz no one thought it queer if Ozma, the little Queen, jumped rope with
Dorothy or Betsy Bobbin, or had a quiet game of croquet with the palace cook.
But here, alas, everything was different. If the Scarecrow so much as ventured
a game of ball with the gardener's boy, the whole court was thrown into an
uproar. At first, the Scarecrow tried to please everybody, but finding that
nothing pleased the people in the palace, he decided to please himself.</p>
<p>"I don't care a kinkajou if I am the Emperor, I'm going to talk to
whom I please!" he exclaimed on the second night, and shaking his glove at
a bronze statue, he threw the Book of Ceremonies into the fountain. The
next morning, therefore, he ascended the throne with great firmness.
Immediately, the courtiers prostrated themselves, and the Scarecrow's arms
and legs blew about wildly.</p>
<p>"Stand up at once," puffed the Scarecrow when he had regained his balance.</p>
<p>"You are giving me nervous prostration. Chew, kindly issue an edict forbidding
prostrations. Anyone caught bowing in my presence again shall lose—" the
courtiers looked alarmed "—his pigtail!" finished the Scarecrow.</p>
<p>"And now, Chew, you will take my place, please. I am going for a walk with
Tappy Oko."</p>
<p>The Grand Chew Chew's mouth fell open with surprise, but seeing the
Scarecrow's determined expression, he dared not disobey, and he immediately
began making strange marks on a long, red parchment. Happy Toko trembled as
the Scarecrow Emperor took his arm, and the courtiers stared at one another
in dismay as the two walked quietly out into the garden.</p>
<p>Nothing happened, however, and Tappy, regaining his composure, took out a
little silver flute and started a lively tune.</p>
<p>"I had to take matters into my own hands, Tappy," said the Scarecrow,
listening to the music with a pleased expression. "Are there any words to
that song?"</p>
<p>"Yes, illustrious and Supreme Sir!"</p>
<p align="center"><ANTIMG src="images/117.jpg" alt="Tappy played a lively tune"></p>
<p class="poetry">
Two spoons went down a Por-ce-Lane,<br/>
To meet a China saucer,<br/>
A 'talking China in a way<br/>
To break a white man's jaw, Sir!</p>
<p>sang Happy, and finished by standing gravely on his head.</p>
<p>"Your Majesty used to be very fond of this song," spluttered Happy. (It is
difficult to speak while upside down, and if you don't think so, try it!)</p>
<p>"Ah!" said the Scarecrow, beginning to feel more cheerful, "Tell me
something about myself and my family, Tappy Oko."</p>
<p>"Happy Toko, if it pleases your Supreme Amiability," corrected the little
silver man, somersaulting to a standstill beside the Scarecrow.</p>
<p>"It does and it doesn't," murmured the Scarecrow. "There is something about
you that reminds me of a pudding, and you tapped the drum, didn't you? I
believe I shall call you Tappy Oko, if you don't mind!"</p>
<p>The Scarecrow seated himself on a silver bench and motioned for the Imperial
Punster to sit down beside him. Tappy Oko sat down fearfully, first making
sure that he was not observed.</p>
<p>"Saving your Imperial Presence, this is not permitted," said Tappy uneasily.</p>
<p>"Never mind about my Imperial Presence," chuckled the Scarecrow. "Tell me
about my Imperial Past."</p>
<p>"Ah!" said Tappy Oko, rolling up his eyes, "You were one of the most
magnificent and magnanimous of monarchs."</p>
<p>"Was I?" asked the Scarecrow in a pleased voice.</p>
<p>"You distributed rice among the poor, and advice among the rich, and fought
many glorious battles," continued the little man. "I composed a little song
about you. Perhaps you would like to hear it?"</p>
<p>The Scarecrow nodded, and Tappy, throwing back his head, chanted with a will:</p>
<p class="poetry">
Chang Wang Woe did draw the bow—<br/>
And twist the queues of a thousand foe!</p>
<p>"In Oz," murmured the Scarecrow reflectively as Tappy finished, "I twisted
the necks of a flock of wild crows—that was before I had my excellent
brains, too. Oh, I'm a fighting man, there's no doubt about it. But tell
me, Tappy, where did I meet my wife?"</p>
<p>"In the water!" chuckled Tappy Oko, screwing up his eyes.</p>
<p>"Never!" The Scarecrow looked out over the harbor and then down at his lumpy
figure.</p>
<p>"Your Majesty forgets you were then a man like me—er—not stuffed with
straw, I mean," exclaimed Happy, looking embarrassed. "She was fishing,"
continued the little Punster, "when a huge silver fish became entangled in
her line. She stood up, the fish gave a mighty leap and pulled her out of
the boat. Your Majesty, having seen the whole affair from the bank, plunged
bravely into the water and, swimming out, rescued her, freed the fish, and
in due time made her your bride. I've made a song about that, also."</p>
<p>"Let's hear it," said the Scarecrow. And this is what Happy sung:</p>
<p class="poetry">
Tsing Tsing, a Silver Fisher's daughter,<br/>
Was fishing in the silver water.<br/>
The moon shone on her silver hair<br/>
And there were fishes everywhere!</p>
<p class="poetry">
Then came a mighty silver fish,<br/>
It seized her line and with a swish<br/>
Of silver fins upset her boat.<br/>
Tsing Tsing could neither swim nor float.</p>
<p class="poetry">
She raised her silver voice in fear<br/>
And who her call of help should hear<br/>
But Chang Wang Woe, the Emperor,<br/>
Who saved and married her, what's more!</p>
<p>"Did I really?" asked the Scarecrow, feeling quite flattered by Happy's song.</p>
<p>"Yes," said Happy positively, "and invited me to the wedding, though I was
only a small boy."</p>
<p>"Was Chew Chew there?" The Scarecrow couldn't help wondering how the old
Nobleman had taken his marriage with a poor fisherman's daughter.</p>
<p>Happy chuckled at the memory. "He had a Princess all picked out for you," he
confided merrily:</p>
<p class="poetry">
And there he stood in awful pride<br/>
And scorned the father of the bride!</p>
<p>"Hoh!" roared the Scarecrow, falling off the bench. "That's the Ozziest
thing I've heard since I landed in the Silver Islands. Tappy, my boy, I
believe we are going to be friends! But let's forget the past and think of
the present!"</p>
<p>The Scarecrow embraced his Imperial Punster on the spot. "Let's find something
jolly to do," he suggested.</p>
<p>"Would your Extreme Highness care for kites?" asked Happy. "'Tis a favorite
sport here!"</p>
<p>"Would I! But wait, I will disguise myself." Hiding his royal hat under the
bench, he put on Happy Toko's broad-rimmed peasant hat. It turned
down all 'round and almost hid his face. Then he turned his robe inside out
and declared himself ready.</p>
<p>They passed through a small silver town before they reached the field where
the kites were to be flown, and the Scarecrow was delighted with its
picturesque and quaint appearance. The streets were narrow and full of
queer shops. Silver lanterns and little pennants hung from each door, the
merchants and maidens in their gay sedans and the people afoot made a
bright and lively picture.</p>
<p>"If I could just live here instead of in the palace," mused the Scarecrow,
pausing before a modest rice shop. It is dangerous to stop in the narrow
streets, and Happy jerked his master aside just in time to prevent his being
trodden on by a huge camel. It sniffed at the Scarecrow suspiciously, and they
were forced to flatten themselves against a wall to let it pass. Happy
anxiously hurried the Emperor through the town, and they soon arrived at the
kite flying field. A great throng had gathered to watch the exhibition, and
there were more kites than one would see in a lifetime here. Huge fish, silver
paper dragons, birds—every sort and shape of kite was tugging at its
string, and hundreds of Silver Islanders—boys, girls and grown-ups—were
looking on.</p>
<p>"How interesting," said the Scarecrow, fascinated by a huge dragon that
floated just over his head. "I wish Dorothy could see this, I do indeed!"</p>
<p>But the dragon kite seemed almost alive, and horrors! Just as it swooped
down, a hook in the tail caught in the Scarecrow's collar, and before Happy
Toko could even wink, the Emperor of the Silver Islands was sailing towards
the clouds. The Scarecrow, as you must know, weighs almost nothing, and the
people shouted with glee, for they thought him a dummy man and part of the
performance. But Happy Toko ran after the kite as fast as his fat little
legs would carry him.</p>
<p align="center"><ANTIMG src="images/123.jpg" alt="The dragon kite"></p>
<p>"Alas, alas, I shall lose my position!" wailed Happy Toko, quite convinced
that the Scarecrow would be dashed to pieces on the rocks. "Oh, putty head
that I am to set myself against the Grand Chew Chew!"</p>
<p>The Scarecrow, however, after recovering from the first shock, began to
enjoy himself. Holding fast to the dragon's tail, he looked down with great
interest upon his dominions. Rocks, mountains, tall silver pagodas,
drooping willow trees, flashed beneath him. Truly a beautiful island! His
gaze strayed over the silver waters surrounding the island, and he was
astonished to see a great fleet sailing into the harbor—a great fleet
of singular vessels with silken sails.</p>
<p>"What's this?" thought the Scarecrow. But just then the dragon kite became
suddenly possessed. It jerked him up, it jerked him down, and shook him
this way and that. His hat flew off, his arms and legs whirled wildly, and
pieces of straw began to float downward. Then the hook ripped and tore
through his coat and, making a terrible slit in his back, came out. Down,
down, down flashed the Scarecrow and landed in a heap on the rocks. Poor
Happy Toko rushed toward him with streaming eyes.</p>
<p>"Oh radiant and immortal Scarecrowcus, what have they done to you?" he
moaned, dropping on his knees beside the flimsy shape of the Emperor.</p>
<p>"Merely knocked out my honorable stuffing," mumbled the Scarecrow. "Now
Tappy, my dear fellow, will you just turn me over? There's a rock in my eye
that keeps me from thinking."</p>
<p>Happy Toko, at the sound of a voice from the rumpled heap of clothing, gave
a great leap.</p>
<p>"Is there any straw about?" asked the Scarecrow anxiously. "Why don't you
turn me over?"</p>
<p>"It's his ghost," moaned Happy Toko, and because he dared not disobey a
royal ghost, he turned the Scarecrow over with trembling hands.</p>
<p>"Don't be alarmed," said the Scarecrow, smiling reassuringly. "I'm not
breakable like you meat people. A little straw will make me good as new. A
little straw—straw, do you hear?" For Happy's pigtail was still on end,
and he was shaking so that his silver shoes clattered on the rocks.</p>
<p>"I command you to fetch straw!" cried the Scarecrow at last, in an angry
voice. Happy dashed away.</p>
<p>When he returned with an arm full of straw, the Scarecrow managed to convince
him that he was quite alive. "It is impossible to kill a person from Oz," he
explained proudly, "and that is why my present figure is so much more
satisfactory than yours. I do not have to eat or sleep and can always be
repaired. Have you some safety pins?" Happy produced several and under the
Scarecrow's direction stuffed out his chest and pinned up his rents.</p>
<p>"Let us return," said the Scarecrow. "I've had enough pleasure for one day,
and can't you sing something, Tappy?" Running and fright had somewhat
affected Happy's voice, but he squeaked out a funny little song, and the
two, keeping time to the tune, came without further mishap to the Imperial
gardens. Happy had just set the royal hat upon the Scarecrow's head and
brushed off his robes when a company of courtiers dashed out of the palace
door and came running toward them.</p>
<p>"Great Cornstarch!" exclaimed the Scarecrow, sitting heavily down on the
silver bench. "What's the matter now? Here are all the Pig-heads on the
Island, and look how old Chew Chew is puffing!"</p>
<p>"One would expect a Chew Chew to puff," observed Happy slyly. "One
would—" But he got no further, for the whole company was upon them.</p>
<p>"Save us! Save us!" wailed the courtiers, forgetting the royal edict and
falling on their faces.</p>
<p>"What from?" asked the Scarecrow, holding fast to the silver bench.</p>
<p>"The King—the King of the Golden Islands!" shrieked the Grand Chew Chew.</p>
<p>"Ah yes!" murmured the Scarecrow, frowning thoughtfully. "Was that his fleet
coming into the harbor?"</p>
<p>The Grand Chew Chew jumped up in astonishment. "How could your Highness see
the fleet from here?" he stuttered.</p>
<p>"Not from here—there," said the Scarecrow, pointing upward and winking
at Happy Toko. "My Highness goes very high, you see!"</p>
<p>"Your Majesty does not seem to realize the seriousness of the matter,"
choked the Grand Chew Chew. "He will set fire to the island and make us all
slaves." At this, the courtiers began banging their heads distractedly on
the grass.</p>
<p>"Set fire to the island!" exclaimed the Scarecrow, jumping to his feet. "Then
peace to <i>my</i> ashes! Tappy, will you see that they are sent back to Oz?"</p>
<p>"Save us! Save us!" screamed the frightened Silvermen.</p>
<p>"The prophecy of the beanstalk has promised that you would save us. You are
the Emperor Chang Wang Woe," persisted the Grand Chew Chew, waving his long
arms.</p>
<p>"Woe is me," murmured the Scarecrow, clasping his yellow gloves. "But let me
think."</p>
<br/>
<p align="center"><ANTIMG src="images/129.jpg" alt="Save us!"></p>
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