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grasshopper yet if it hadn't been for you； an' I might
remark that bein' a grasshopper isn't much fun。〃
〃If it hadn't been for you； friend Ork；〃 said the
Scarecrow； 〃I fear I could not have conquered King
Krewl。〃
〃No；〃 agreed Trot； 〃you'd have been just a heap of
ashes by this time。〃
And I might have been lost yet；〃 added Button…Bright。
〃Much obliged； Mr。 Ork。〃
〃Oh； that's all right；〃 replied the Ork。 〃Friends must
stand together； you know； or they wouldn't be friends。
But now I must leave you and be off to my own country；
where there's going to be a surprise party on my uncle；
and I've promised to attend it。〃
〃Dear me；〃 said the Scarecrow； regretfully。 〃That is
very unfortunate。〃
〃Why so？〃 asked the Ork。
〃I hoped you would consent to carry us over those
mountains； into the Land of Oz。 My mission here is now
finished and I want to get back to the Emerald City。〃
〃How did you cross the mountains before？〃 inquired the
Ork。
〃I scaled the cliffs by means of a rope； and crossed
the Great Gulf on a strand of spider web。 Of course I can
return in the same manner； but it would be a hard journey
and perhaps an impossible one for Trot and Button…
Bright and Cap'n Bill。 So I thought that if you had the
time you and your people would carry us over the
mountains and land us all safely on the other side； in
the Land of Oz。〃
The Ork thoughtfully considered the matter for a while。
Then he said：
〃I mustn't break my promise to be present at the
surprise party； but； tell me； could you go to Oz to…
night？〃
〃What； now？〃 exclaimed Trot。
〃It is a fine moonlight night；〃 said the Ork； 〃and I've
found in my experience that there's no time so good as
right away。 The fact is；〃 he explained； 〃it's a long
journey to Orkland and I and my cousins here are all
rather tired by our day's work。 But if you will start
now； and be content to allow us to carry you over the
mountains and dump you on the other side； just say the
word and off we go！〃
Cap'n Bill and Trot looked at one another
questioningly。 The little girl was eager to visit the
famous fairyland of Oz and the old sailor had endured
such hardships in Jinxland that he would be glad to be
out of it。
〃It's rather impolite of us not to say good…bye to the
new King and Queen；〃 remarked the Scarecrow； 〃but I'm
sure they're too happy to miss us； and I assure you it
will be much easier to fly on the backs of the Orks over
those steep mountains than to climb them as I did。〃
〃All right； let's go！〃 Trot decided。 〃But where's
Button…Bright？〃
Just at this important moment Button…Bright was lost
again； and they all scattered in search of him。 He had
been standing beside them just a few minutes before； but
his friends had an exciting hunt for him before they
finally discovered the boy seated among the members of
the band； beating the end of the bass drum with the bone
of a turkey…leg that he had taken from the table in the
banquet room。
〃Hello； Trot；〃 he said； looking up at the little girl
when she found him。 〃This is the first chance I ever had
to pound a drum with a reg'lar drum stick。 And I ate all
the meat off the bone myself。〃
〃Come quick。 We're going to the Land of Oz。〃
〃Oh； what's the hurry？〃 said Button…Bright； but she
seized his arm and dragged him away to the park； where
the others were waiting。
Trot climbed upon the back of her old friend； the Ork
leader； and the others took their seats on the backs of
his three cousins。 As soon as all were placed and
clinging to the skinny necks of the creatures； the
revolving tails began to whirl and up rose the four
monster Orks and sailed away toward the mountains。 They
were so high in the air that when they passed the crest
of the highest peak it seemed far below them。 No sooner
were they well across the barrier than the Orks swooped
downward and landed their passengers upon the ground。
〃Here we are； safe in the Land of Oz！〃 cried the
Scarecrow joyfully。
〃Oh； are we？〃 asked Trot； looking around her curiously。
She could see the shadows of stately trees and the
outlines of rolling hills； beneath her feet was soft
turf； but otherwise the subdued light of the moon
disclosed nothing clearly。
〃Seems jus' like any other country；〃 was Cap'n Bill's
comment。
〃But it isn't；〃 the Scarecrow assured him。 〃You are now
within the borders of the most glorious fairyland in all
the world。 This part of it is just a corner of the
Quadling Country； and the least interesting portion of
it。 It's not very thickly settled； around here； I'll
admit； but 〃
He was interrupted by a sudden whir and a rush of air
as the four Orks mounted into the sky。
〃Good night！〃 called the shrill voices of the strange
creatures； and although Trot shouted 〃Good night！〃 as
loudly as she could； the little girl was almost ready to
cry because the Orks had not waited to be properly
thanked for all their kindness to her and to Cap'n Bill。
But the Orks were gone； and thanks for good deeds do
not amount to much except to prove one's politeness。
〃Well； friends；〃 said the Scarecrow； 〃we mustn't stay
here in the meadows all night； so let us find a pleasant
place to sleep。 Not that it matters to me； in the least；
for I never sleep； but I know that meat people like to
shut their eyes and lie still during the dark hours。〃
〃I'm pretty tired；〃 admitted Trot； yawning as she
followed the straw man along a tiny path； 〃so； if you
don't find a house handy； Cap'n Bill and I will sleep
under the trees； or even on this soft grass。〃
But a house was not very far off； although when the
Scarecrow stumbled upon it there was no light in it
whatever。 Cap'n Bill knocked on the door several times；
and there being no response the Scarecrow boldly lifted
the latch and walked in； followed by the others。 And no
sooner had they entered than a soft light filled the
room。 Trot couldn't tell where it came from； for no lamp
of any sort was visible； but she did not waste much time
on this problem； because directly in the center of the
room stood a table set for three； with lots of good food
on it and several of the dishes smoking hot。
The little girl and Button…Bright both uttered
exclamations of pleasure； but they looked i