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passed around the foot of this river； where there was a
great waterfall。〃
〃Did the river make a bend； after the waterfall？〃 asked
Cap'n Bill。
〃No； the river disappeared。 Only a pool of whirling
water showed what had become of the river； but I suppose
it is under ground； somewhere； and will come to the
surface again in another part of the country。〃
〃Well；〃 suggested Trot； as she finished her luncheon；
〃as there is no way to cross this river； I s'pose we'll
have to find that waterfall； and go around it。〃
〃Exactly；〃 replied the Scarecrow； so they soon renewed
their journey； following the river for a long time until
the roar of the waterfall sounded in their ears。 By and
by they came to the waterfall itself； a sheet of silver
dropping far； far down into a tiny lake which seemed to
have no outlet。 From the top of the fall； where they
stood； the banks gradually sloped away； so that the
descent by land was quite easy； while the river could do
nothing but glide over an edge of rock and tumble
straight down to the depths below。
〃You see；〃 said the Scarecrow； leaning over the brink；
〃this is called by our Oz people the Great Waterfall；
because it is certainly the highest one in all the land；
but I think Help！〃
He had lost his balance and pitched headforemost into
the river。 They saw a flash of straw and blue clothes；
and the painted face looking upward in surprise。 The
next moment the Scarecrow was swept over the waterfall
and plunged into the basin below。
The accident had happened so suddenly that for a moment
they were all too horrified to speak or move。
〃Quick！ We must go to help him or he will be drowned；〃
Trot exclaimed。
Even while speaking she began to descend the bank to
the pool below； and Cap'n Bill followed as swiftly as his
wooden leg would let him。 Button…Bright came more slowly；
calling to the girl：
〃He can't drown； Trot； he's a Scarecrow。〃
But she wasn't sure a Scarecrow couldn't drown and
never relaxed her speed until she stood on the edge of
the pool； with the spray dashing in her face。 Cap'n Bill；
puffing and panting； had just voice enough to ask； as he
reached her side：
〃See him； Trot？〃
〃Not a speck of him。 Oh； Cap'n； what do you s'pose has
become of him？〃
〃I s'pose；〃 replied the sailor； 〃that he's in that
water； more or less far down； and I'm 'fraid it'll make
his straw pretty soggy。 But as fer his bein' drowned； I
agree with Button…Bright that it can't be done。〃
There was small comfort in this assurance and Trot
stood for some time searching with her eyes the bubbling
water； in the hope that the Scarecrow would finally come
to the surface。 Presently she heard Button…Bright
calling： 〃Come here； Trot！〃 and looking around she saw
that the boy had crept over the wet rocks to the edge of
the waterfall and seemed to be peering behind it。 Making
her way toward him； she asked：
〃What do you see？〃
〃A cave；〃 he answered。 〃Let's go in。 P'r'aps we'll find
the Scarecrow there。〃
She was a little doubtful of that； but the cave
interested her； and so did it Cap'n Bill。 There was just
space enough at the edge of the sheet of water for them
to crowd in behind it； but after that dangerous entrance
they found room enough to walk upright and after a time
they came to an opening in the wall of rock。 Approaching
this opening； they gazed within it and found a series of
steps； cut so that they might easily descend into the
cavern。
Trot turned to look inquiringly at her companions。 The
falling water made such din and roaring that her voice
could not be heard。 Cap'n Bill nodded his head； but
before he could enter the cave； Button…Bright was before
him； clambering down the steps without a particle of
fear。 So the others followed the boy。
The first steps were wet with spray； and slippery； but
the remainder were quite dry。 A rosy light seemed to come
from the interior of the cave； and this lighted their
way。 After the steps there was a short tunnel； high
enough for them to walk erect in。 and then they reached
the cave itself and paused in wonder and admiration。
They stood on the edge of a vast cavern； the walls
and domed roof of which were lined with countless
rubies； exquisitely cut and flashing sparkling rays
from one to another。 This caused a radiant light that
permitted the entire cavern to be distinctly seen； and
the effect was so marvelous that Trot drew in her
breath with a sort of a gasp； and stood quite still in
wonder。
But the walls and roof of the cavern were merely a
setting for a more wonderful scene。 In the center was a
bubbling caldron of water； for here the river rose again；
splashing and dashing till its spray rose high in the
air； where it took the ruby color of the jewels and
seemed like a seething mass of flame。 And while they
gazed into the tumbling； tossing water； the body of the
Scarecrow suddenly rose in the center； struggling and
kicking； and the next instant wholly disappeared from
view。
〃My； but he's wet！〃 exclaimed Button…Bright； but none
of the others heard him。
Trot and Cap'n Bill discovered that a broad ledge
covered； like the walls； with glittering rubies ran
all around the cavern； so they followed this gorgeous
path to the rear and found where the water made its final
dive underground； before it disappeared entirely。 Where
it plunged into this dim abyss the river was black and
dreary looking； and they stood gazing in awe until just
beside them the body of the Scarecrow again popped up
from the water。
Chapter Twenty Three
The Land of Oz
The straw man's appearance on the water was so sudden
that it startled Trot； but Cap'n Bill had the presence of
mind to stick his wooden leg out over the water and the
Scarecrow made a desperate clutch and grabbed the leg
with both hands。 He managed to hold on until Trot and
Button…Bright knelt down and seized his clothing； but the
children would have been powerless to drag the soaked
Scarecrow ashore had not Cap'n Bill now assisted them。
When they laid him on the ledge of rubies he was the most
useless looking Scarecrow you can imagine his straw
sodden and dripping with water； his clothing wet and
crumpled； while even the sack upon which his face was
painted had become so w