L.Frank Baum. The marvelous land of Oz -
46 >
And please sit as close to the horse's neck as possible."
Tip climbed quickly to his place, and the Soldier and the Scarecrow
managed to hoist the Pumpkinhead to a seat just behind him. There remained
so little space for the King that he was liable to fall off as soon as the
horse started.
"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."
"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 lashing 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
passage 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 passage 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 for breath and hold firmly to the post he