"
"I suspected it," said Tip. "Did you get hurt? Are you cracked at all?"
"No, I arrived safely," answered Jack, "and his Majesty has been very kind
indeed to me.
At this moment the Soldier with the Green Whiskers returned, and the
Scarecrow asked:
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"By the way, who has conquered me?"
"A regiment of girls, gathered from the four corners of the Land of Oz,"
replied the Soldier, still pale with fear.
"But where was my Standing Army at the time?" inquired his Majesty, looking
at the Soldier, gravely.
"Your Standing Army was running," answered the fellow, honestly; "for no man
could face the terrible weapons of the invaders."
"Well," said the Scarecrow, after a moment's thought, "I don't mind much the
loss of my throne, for it's a tiresome job to rule over the Emerald City.
And this crown is so heavy that it makes my head ache. But I hope the
Conquerors have no intention of injuring me, just because I happen to be the
King."
"I heard them, say" remarked Tip, with some hesitation, "that they intend to
make a rag carpet of your outside and stuff their sofa-cushions with your
inside."
"Then I am really in danger," declared his Majesty, positively, "and it will
be wise for me to consider a means to escape."
"Where can you go?" asked Jack Pumpkinhead.
"Why, to my friend the Tin Woodman, who
100 Line-Art Drawing
rules over the Winkies, and calls himself their Emperor," was the answer.
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