第33章

"In fact, Jinxland is a little slice taken off the Quadling Country, but separated from it by a range of high mountains, at the foot of which lies a wide, deep gulf that is supposed to be impassable.""Then Jinxland is really a part of the Land of Oz,"said he.

"Yes," returned Glinda, "but Oz people know nothing of it, except what is recorded here in my book.""What does the Book say about it?" asked the Scarecrow.

"It is ruled by a wicked man called King Krewl, although he has no right to the title.Most of the people are good, but they are very timid and live in constant fear of their fierce ruler.There are also several Wicked Witches who keep the inhabitants of Jinxland in a state of terror.""Do those witches have any magical powers?" inquired the Scarecrow.

"Yes, they seem to understand witchcraft in its most evil form, for one of them has just transformed a respectable and honest old sailor -- one of the strangers who arrived there -- into a grasshopper.This same witch, Blinkie by name, is also planning to freeze the heart of a beautiful Jinxland girl named Princess Gloria.""Why, that's a dreadful thing to do!" exclaimed the Scarecrow.

Glinda's face was very grave.She read in her book how Trot and Button-Bright were turned out of the King's castle, and how they found refuge in the hut of Pon, the gardener's boy"I'm afraid those helpless earth people will endure much suffering in Jinxland, even if the wicked King and the witches permit them to live," said the good Sorceress, thoughtfully."I wish I might help them.""Can I do anything?" asked the Scarecrow, anxiously.

"If so, tell me what to do, and I'll do it."For a few moments Glinda did not reply, but sat musing over the records.Then she said: "I am going to send you to Jinxland, to protect Trot and Button-Bright and Cap'n Bill.""All right," answered the Scarecrow in a cheerful voice."I know Button-Bright already, for he has been in the Land of Oz before.You remember he went away from the Land of Oz in one of our Wizard's big bubbles.""Yes," said Glinda, "I remember that." Then she carefully instructed the Scarecrow what to do and gave him certain magical things which he placed in the pockets of his ragged Munchkin coat.

"As you have no need to sleep," said she, "you may as well start at once.""The night is the same as day to me," he replied, "except that I cannot see my way so well in the dark.""I will furnish a light to guide you," promised the Sorceress.

So the Scarecrow bade her good-bye and at once started on his journey.By morning he had reached the mountains that separated the Quadling Country from Jinxland.The sides of these mountains were too steep to climb, but the Scarecrow took a small rope from his pocket and tossed one end upward, into the air.The rope unwound itself for hundreds of feet, until it caught upon a peak of rock at the very top of a mountain, for it was a magic rope furnished him by Glinda.The Scarecrow climbed the rope and, after pulling it up, let it down on the other side of the mountain range.When he descended the rope on this side he found himself in Jinxland, but at his feet yawned the Great Gulf, which must be crossed before he could proceed any farther.

The Scarecrow knelt down and examined the ground carefully, and in a moment he discovered a fuzzy brown spider that had rolled itself into a ball.So he took two tiny pills from his pocket and laid them beside the spider, which unrolled itself and quickly ate up the pills.Then the Scarecrow said in a voice of command:

"Spin!" and the spider obeyed instantly.

In a few moments the little creature had spun two slender but strong strands that reached way across the gulf, one being five or six feet above the other.When these were completed the Scarecrow started across the tiny bridge, walking upon one strand as a person walks upon a rope, and holding to the upper strand with his hands to prevent him from losing his balance and toppling over into the gulf.The tiny threads held him safely, thanks to the strength given them by the magic pills.

Presently he was safe across and standing on the plains of Jinxland.Far away he could see the towers of the King's castle and toward this he at once began to walk.