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〃All right；〃 answered the Scarecrow in a cheerful
voice。 〃I know Button…Bright already； for he has been in
the Land of Oz before。 You remember he went away from the
Land of Oz in one of our Wizard's big bubbles。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Glinda； 〃I remember that。〃 Then she
carefully instructed the Scarecrow what to do and gave
him certain magical things which he placed in the pockets
of his ragged Munchkin coat。
〃As you have no need to sleep；〃 said she； 〃you may as
well start at once。〃
〃The night is the same as day to me；〃 he replied；
〃except that I cannot see my way so well in the dark。〃
〃I will furnish a light to guide you；〃 promised the
Sorceress。
So the Scarecrow bade her good…bye and at once started
on his journey。 By morning he had reached the mountains
that separated the Quadling Country from Jinxland。 The
sides of these mountains were too steep to climb； but the
Scarecrow took a small rope from his pocket and tossed
one end upward； into the air。 The rope unwound itself for
hundreds of feet； until it caught upon a peak of rock at
the very top of a mountain； for it was a magic rope
furnished him by Glinda。 The Scarecrow climbed the rope
and； after pulling it up； let it down on the other side
of the mountain range。 When he descended the rope on this
side he found himself in Jinxland； but at his feet yawned
the Great Gulf； which must be crossed before he could
proceed any farther。
The Scarecrow knelt down and examined the ground
carefully； and in a moment he discovered a fuzzy brown
spider that had rolled itself into a ball。 So he took two
tiny pills from his pocket and laid them beside the
spider； which unrolled itself and quickly ate up the
pills。 Then the Scarecrow said in a voice of command：
〃Spin！〃 and the spider obeyed instantly。
In a few moments the little creature had spun two
slender but strong strands that reached way across the
gulf； one being five or six feet above the other。 When
these were completed the Scarecrow started across the
tiny bridge； walking upon one strand as a person walks
upon a rope； and holding to the upper strand with his
hands to prevent him from losing his balance and toppling
over into the gulf。 The tiny threads held him safely；
thanks to the strength given them by the magic pills。
Presently he was safe across and standing on the plains
of Jinxland。 Far away he could see the towers of the
King's castle and toward this he at once began to walk。
Chapter Fourteen
The Frozen Heart
In the hut of Pon； the gardener's boy； Button…Bright
was the first to waken in the morning。 Leaving his
companions still asleep； he went out into the fresh
morning air and saw some blackberries growing on bushes
in a field not far away。 Going to the bushes he found the
berries ripe and sweet； so he began eating them。 More
bushes were scattered over the fields； so the boy
wandered on； from bush to bush； without paying any heed
to where he was wandering。 Then a butterfly fluttered by。
He gave chase to it and followed it a long way。 When
finally he paused to look around him； Button…Bright could
see no sign of Pon's house； nor had he the slightest idea
in which direction it lay。
〃Well； I'm lost again；〃 he remarked to himself。 〃But
never mind； I've been lost lots of times。 Someone is sure
to find me。〃
Trot was a little worried about Button…Bright when she
awoke and found him gone。 Knowing how careless he was；
she believed that he had strayed away； but felt that he
would come back in time； because he had a habit of not
staying lost。 Pon got the little girl some food for her
breakfast and then together they went out of the hut and
stood in the sunshine。
Pon's house was some distance off the road； but they
could see it from where they stood and both gave a start
of surprise when they discovered two soldiers walking
along the roadway and escorting Princess Gloria between
them。 The poor girl had her hands bound together； to
prevent her from struggling； and the soldiers rudely
dragged her forward when her steps seemed to lag。
Behind this group came King Krewl； wearing his jeweled
crown and swinging in his hand a slender golden staff
with a ball of clustered gems at one end。
〃Where are they going？〃 asked Trot。 〃To the house of
the Wicked Witch； I fear；〃 Pon replied。 〃Come； let us
follow them； for I am sure they intend to harm my dear
Gloria。〃
〃Won't they see us？〃 she asked timidly。
〃We won't let them。 I know a short cut through the
trees to Blinkie's house；〃 said he。
So they hurried away through the trees and reached the
house of the witch ahead of the King and his soldiers。
Hiding themselves in the shrubbery； they watched the
approach of poor Gloria and her escort； all of whom
passed so near to them that Pon could have put out a hand
and touched his sweetheart； had he dared to。
Blinkie's house had eight sides； with a door and a
window in each side。 Smoke was coming out of the chimney
and as the guards brought Gloria to one of the doors it
was opened by the old witch in person。 She chuckled with
evil glee and rubbed her skinny hands together to show
the delight with which she greeted her victim； for
Blinkie was pleased to be able to perform her wicked
rites on one so fair and sweet as the Princess。
Gloria struggled to resist when they bade her enter the
house； so the soldiers forced her through the doorway and
even the King gave her a shove as he followed close
behind。 Pon was so incensed at the cruelty shown Gloria
that he forgot all caution and rushed forward to enter
the house also； but one of the soldiers prevented him；
pushing the gardener's boy away with violence and
slamming the door in his face。
〃Never mind；〃 said Trot soothingly； as Pon rose from
where he had fallen。 〃You couldn't do much to help the
poor Princess if you were inside。 How unfortunate it is
that you are in love with her！〃
〃True；〃 he answered sadly； 〃it is indeed my misfortune。
If I did not love her； it would be none of my business
what the King did to his niece Gloria； but the unlucky
circumstance of my loving her makes it my duty to defend
her。〃
〃I don't see how you can； duty or no duty；〃 observed
Trot。
〃No； I am powerless； for they are stronger than I。 But
we might peek in through the