L.Frank Baum. The marvelous land of Oz -
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At once his expression changed from sadness to joy, and raising his hand
he quickly unbuttoned the front of his jacket.
This action did not pass unnoticed by the crowd of girls clustering
about him, but none of them suspected what he was doing until a tiny grey
mouse leaped from his bosom to the floor and scampered away between the
feet of the Army of Revolt. Another mouse quickly followed; then another
and another, in rapid succession. And suddenly such a scream of terror
went up from the Army that it might easily have filled the stoutest heart
with consternation. The flight that ensued turned to a stampede, and the
stampede to a panic.
For while the startled mice rushed wildly about the room the
Scarecrow had only time to note a whirl of skirts and a twinkling of feet
as the girls disappeared from the palace - pushing and crowding one
another in their mad efforts to escape.
The Queen, at the first alarm, stood up on the cushions of the throne
and began to dance frantically upon her tiptoes. Then a mouse ran up the
cushions, and with a terrified leap poor Jinjur shot clear over the head
of the Scarecrow and escaped through an archway - never pausing in her
wild career until she had reached the city gates.
So, in less time than I can explain, the throne room was deserted by
all save the Scarecrow and his friends, and the Woggle-Bug heaved a deep
sigh of relief as he exclaimed:
"Thank goodness, we are saved!"
"For a time, yes;" answered the Tin Woodman. "But the enemy will soon
return, I fear."
"Let us bar all the entrances to the palace!" said the Scarecrow.
"Then we shall have time to think what is best to be done."
So all except Jack Pumpkinhead, who was still tied fast to the