Page:The Royal Book of Oz.djvu/41

 serpent holding himself rigid. Just as he reached Y, the unfortunate creature sneezed and all the blocks rattled together. Up flew the Scarecrow and escaped falling into the stream only by the narrowest margin.

"Blockhead!" shrilled the Rattlesnake, who had taken a great fancy to the Scarecrow.

"I'm all right," cried the Scarecrow rather breathlessly. "Thank you very much!" He sprang nimbly up the bank. "Hope you have a pleasant vacation!"

"Can't, with a rattle pate like that." The A-B-Sea Serpent nodded glumly in the Rattlesnake's direction.

"Now don't quarrel," begged the Scarecrow. "You are both charming and unusual and if you follow that Yellow Road you will come to the Emerald City and Ozma will be delighted to welcome you."

"The Emerald City! We must see that, my dear Rattles." Forgetting his momentary displeasure the A-B-Sea Serpent pulled himself out of the river and waving his X Y Z blocks in farewell to the Scarecrow went clattering down the road, the little Rattlesnake rattling along behind him.

As for the Scarecrow he continued his journey and the day was so delightful and the country so pleasant that he almost forgot he had no family. He was treated everywhere with the greatest courtesy and