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expecting every minute to bump against the iron
bars。 The Shaggy Man also had his eyes closed； but
marched straight ahead； nevertheless； and after
he had taken one hundred steps； by actual count；
he stopped and said：
〃Now you may open your eyes。〃
They did so； and to their astonishment found
the wall and the gateway far behind them；
while in front the former Blue Country of the
Munchkins had given way to green fields； with
pretty farm…houses scattered among them。
〃That wall；〃 explained the Shaggy Man； 〃is
what is called an optical illusion。 It is quite real
while you have your eyes open； but if you are
not looking at it the barrier doesn't exist at all。
It's the same way with many other evils in life；
they seem to exist； and yet it's all seeming and
not true。 You will notice that the wallor what
we thought was a wallseparates the Munchkin
Country from the green country that surrounds
the Emerald City； which lies exactly in the
center of Oz。 There are two roads of yellow
bricks through the Munchkin Country； but the
one we followed is the best of the two。 Dorothy
once traveled the other way； and met with more
dangers than we did。 But all our troubles are
over for the present； as another day's journey
will bring us to the great Emerald City。〃
They were delighted to know this； and proceeded
with new courage。 In a couple of hours they
stopped at a farmhouse； where the people were very
hospitable and invited them to dinner。 The farm
folk regarded Scraps with much curiosity but no
great astonishment； for they were accustomed to
seeing extraordinary people in the Land of Oz。
The woman of this house got her needle and
thread and sewed up the holes made by the
porcupine quills in the Patchwork Girl's body；
after which Scraps was assured she looked as
beautiful as ever。
〃You ought to have a hat to wear；〃 remarked
the woman； 〃for that would keep the sun from
fading the colors of your face。 I have some
patches and scraps put away； and if you will
wait two or three days I'll make you a lovely
hat that will match the rest of you。〃
〃Never mind the hat；〃 said Scraps； shaking
her yarn braids； 〃it's a kind offer； but we can't
stop。 I can't see that my colors have faded a
particle； as yet； can you？〃
〃Not much；〃 replied the woman。 〃You are still
very gorgeous； in spite of your long journey。〃
The children of the house wanted to keep the
Class Cat to play with； so Bungle was offered
a good home if she would remain； but the cat
was too much interested in Ojo's adventures and
refused to stop。
〃Children are rough playmates；〃 she remarked to
the Shaggy Man； 〃and although this home is more
pleasant than that of the Crooked Magician I fear
I would soon be smashed to pieces by the boys and
girls。〃
After they had rested themselves they renewed
their journey； finding the road now smooth and
pleasant to walk upon and the country growing more
beautiful the nearer they drew to the Emerald
City。
By and by Ojo began to walk on the green
grass； looking carefully around him。
〃What are you trying to find？〃 asked Scraps。
〃A six…leaved clover；〃 said he。
〃Don't do that！〃 exclaimed the Shaggy Man；
earnestly。 〃It's against the Law to pick a six…
leaved clover。 You must wait until you get Ozma's
consent。〃
〃She wouldn't know it；〃 declared the boy。
〃Ozma knows many things；〃 said the Shaggy Man。
〃In her room is a Magic Picture that shows any
scene in the Land of Oz where strangers or
travelers happen to be。 She may be watching the
picture of us even now； and noticing everything
that we do。〃
〃Does she always watch the Magic Picture？〃
asked Ojo。
〃Not always； for she has many other things
to do； but； as I said； she may be watching us
this very minute。〃
〃I don't care；〃 said Ojo； in an obstinate tone
of voice； 〃Ozma's only a girl。〃
The Shaggy Man looked at him in surprise。
〃You ought to care for Ozma；〃 said he； 〃if you
expect to save your uncle。 For； if you displease
our powerful Ruler； your journey will surely prove
a failure； whereas； if you make a friend of Ozma；
she will gladly assist you。 As for her being a
girl； that is another reason why you should obey
her laws； if you are courteous and polite。
Everyone in Oz loves Ozma and hates her enemies；
for she is as just as she is powerful。〃
Ojo sulked a while； but finally returned to the
road and kept away from the green clover。 The
boy was moody and bad tempered for an hour
or two afterward； because he could really see
no harm in picking a six…leaved clover； if he
found one； and in spite of what the Shaggy
Man had said he considered Ozma's law to be
unjust。
They presently came to a beautiful grove of tall
and stately trees； through which the road wound in
sharp curvesfirst one way and then another。 As
they were walking through this grove they heard
some one in the distance singing； and the sounds
grew nearer and nearer until they could
distinguish the words； although the bend in the
road still hid the singer。 The song was something
like this：
〃Here's to the hale old bale of straw
That's cut from the waving grain；
The sweetest sight man ever saw
In forest； dell or plain。
It fills me with a crunkling joy
A straw…stack to behold；
For then I pad this lucky boy
With strands of yellow gold。〃
〃Ah！〃 exclaimed the Shaggy Man； 〃here comes my
friend the Scarecrow。
〃What； a live Scarecrow？〃 asked Ojo。
〃Yes； the one I told you of。 He's a splendid
fellow； and very intelligent。 You'll like him；
I'm sure。
Just then the famous Scarecrow of Oz came
around the bend in the road； riding astride a
wooden Sawhorse which was so small that its
rider's legs nearly touched the ground。
The Scarecrow wore the blue dress of the
Munchkins； in which country he was made；
and on his head was set a peaked hat with a flat
brim trimmed with tinkling bells。 A rope was
tied around his waist to hold him in shape。 for
he was stuffed with straw in every part of him
except the top of his head； where at one time
the Wizard of Oz had placed sawdust； mixed
with needles and pins； to sharpen his wits。 The
head itself was merely a bag of cloth； fastened
to the body at the neck； and on the front of this
bag was painted the faceears； eyes； nose and
mouth。
The Scarecrow's face was very interesting； for
it bore a comical and yet winning expression；
although one eye was a bit larger than the other
and ears were not mates。 The Munchkin farmer who
had made the Scarecrow had neglected to sew him
together with close stitches and therefore some of
the straw with which he was stuffed was inclined
to stick out between the seams。 His hands
consisted of padded white gloves； with the fingers
long and rather limp； and on his feet he wore
Munchkin boots of blue leather with broad turns at
the tops of them。
The Sawhorse was almost as curious as its rider。
It had been rudely made； in the beginning； to saw
logs upon； so that its body was a short length of
a log； and its legs were stout branches fitted
into four holes made in the body。 The tail was
formed by a small branch that had been left on the
log； while the head was a gnarled bump on one end
of the body。 Two knots of wood formed the eyes；
and the mouth was a gash chopped in the log。 When
the Sawhorse first came to life it had no ears at
all； and so could not hear； but the boy who then
owned him had whittled two ears out of bark and
stuck them in the head； after which the Sawhorse
heard very distinctly。
This queer wooden horse was a great favorite
with Princess Ozma； who had caused the bottoms of
its legs to be shod with plates of gold； so the
wood would not wear away。 Its saddle was made of
cloth…of…gold richly encrusted with precious gems。
It had never worn a bridle。
As the Scarecrow came in sight of the party of
travelers； he reined in his wooden steed and
dismounted； greeting the Shaggy Man with a smiling
nod。 Then