Part 15 (1/2)
”Fetch a clothesline,” said the King to his Army, ”and tie us all together.
Then if one falls off we will all fall off.”
And while the Soldier was gone for the clothesline his Majesty continued, ”it is well for me to be careful, for my very existence is in danger.”
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”I have to be as careful as you do,” said Jack.
”Not exactly,” replied the Scarecrow. ”for if anything happened to me, that would be the end of me. But if anything happened to you, they could use you for seed.”
The Soldier now returned with a long line and tied all three firmly together, also las.h.i.+ng them to the body of the Saw-Horse; so there seemed little danger of their tumbling off.
”Now throw open the gates,” commanded the Scarecrow, ”and we will make a dash to liberty or to death.”
The courtyard in which they were standing was located in the center of the great palace, which surrounded it on all sides. But in one place a pa.s.sage led to an outer gateway, which the Soldier had barred by order of his sovereign. It was through this gateway his Majesty proposed to escape, and the Royal Army now led the Saw-Horse along the pa.s.sage and unbarred the gate, which swung backward with a loud crash.
”Now,” said Tip to the horse, ”you must save us all. Run as fast as you can for the gate of the City, and don't let anything stop you.”
”All right!” answered the Saw-Horse, gruffly, and dashed away so suddenly that Tip had to gasp
105 Full page line-art drawing.
”WE WILL MAKE A DASH TO LIBERTY OR TO DEATH.”
106 for breath and hold firmly to the post he had driven into the creature's neck.
Several of the girls, who stood outside guarding the palace, were knocked over by the Saw-Horse's mad rush. Others ran screaming out of the way, and only one or two jabbed their knitting-needles frantically at the escaping prisoners. Tip got one small p.r.i.c.k in his left arm, which smarted for an hour afterward; but the needles had no effect upon the Scarecrow or Jack Pumpkinhead, who never even suspected they were being prodded.
As for the Saw-Horse, he made a wonderful record upsetting a fruit cart, overturning several meek looking men, and finally bowling over the new Guardian of the Gate--a fussy little fat woman appointed by General Jinjur.
Nor did the impetuous charger stop then. Once outside the walls of the Emerald City he dashed along the road to the West with fast and violent leaps that shook the breath out of the boy and filled the Scarecrow with wonder.
Jack had ridden at this mad rate once before, so he devoted every effort to holding, with both hands, his pumpkin head upon its stick, enduring meantime the dreadful jolting with the courage of a philosopher.
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THE WOODEN STEED GAVE ONE FINAL LEAP
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”Slow him up! Slow him up!” shouted the Scarecrow. ”My straw is all shaking down into my legs.”