Page:The Royal Book of Oz.djvu/264

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The Royal Book of Oz

"The sun will do that in a minute or more and then— we shall all be thrown into prison!" wailed Happy Toko dismally.

"We were going to escape in a small boat," explained the Scarecrow, "but—" It was not necessary for him to finish. A boat large enough to hold Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, the Scarecrow, Happy Toko, the camel and the dromedary could not very well be launched in secret.

"Oh dear!" sighed Dorothy, "if I'd only wished you and all of us back in the Emerald City!"

"You wished very well, Lady Dot," said the Knight. "When I think of what I was going to wish for—!"

"For a dragon!" faltered the Knight, looking terribly ashamed.

"A dragon!" gasped Dorothy. "Why what good would that have done us?"

"Wait!" interrupted the Scarecrow. "I have thought of something! Why not clumb my family tree? It is a long, long way, but at the top lies Oz!"

"Grammercy—a pretty plan!" exclaimed Sir Hokus, peering up at the bean pole.

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