Glinda's castle was a long way from the mountains, butthe Scarecrow began the journey cheerfully, since timewas of no great importance in the Land of Oz and he hadrecently made the trip and knew the way. It nevermattered much to Button-Bright where he was or what hewas doing; the boy was content in being alive and havinggood companions to share his wanderings. As for Trot andCap'n Bill, they now found themselves so comfortable andfree from danger, in this fine fairyland, and they wereso awed and amazed by the adventures they wereencountering, that the journey to Glinda's castle wasmore like a pleasure trip than a hardship, so manywonderful things were there to see.

Button-Bright had been in Oz before, but never in thispart of it, so the Scarecrow was the only one who knewthe paths and could lead them. They had eaten a heartybreakfast, which they found already prepared for them andawaiting them on the table when they arose from theirrefreshing sleep, so they left the magic house in acontented mood and with hearts lighter and more happythan they had known for many a day. As they marchedalong through the fields, the sun shone brightly and thebreeze was laden with delicious fragrance, for it carriedwith it the breath of millions of wildflowers.

At noon, when they stopped to rest by the bank of apretty river, Trot said with a long-drawn breath that wasmuch like a sigh:

"I wish we'd brought with us some of the food that wasleft from our breakfast, for I'm getting hungry again."

Scarcely had she spoken when a table rose up beforethem, as if from the ground itself, and it was loadedwith fruits and nuts and cakes and many other good thingsto eat. The little girl's eyes opened wide at thisdisplay of magic, and Cap'n Bill was not sure that thethings were actually there and fit to eat until he hadtaken them in his hand and tasted them. But the Scarecrowsaid with a laugh:

"Someone is looking after your welfare, that iscertain, and from the looks of this table I suspect myfriend the Wizard has taken us in his charge. I've knownhim to do things like this before, and if we are in theWizard's care you need not worry about your future."

"Who's worrying?" inquired Button-Bright, already atthe table and busily eating.

The Scarecrow looked around the place while the otherswere feasting, and finding many things unfamiliar to himhe shook his head and remarked:

"I must have taken the wrong path, back in that lastvalley, for on my way to Jinxland I remember that Ipassed around the foot of this river, where there was agreat waterfall."

"Did the river make a bend, after the waterfall?" askedCap'n Bill.

"No, the river disappeared. Only a pool of whirlingwater showed what had become of the river; but I supposeit is under ground, somewhere, and will come to thesurface again in another part of the country."

"Well," suggested Trot, as she finished her luncheon,"as there is no way to cross this river, I s'pose we'llhave to find that waterfall, and go around it."

"Exactly," replied the Scarecrow; so they soon renewedtheir journey, following the river for a long time untilthe roar of the waterfall sounded in their ears. By andby they came to the waterfall itself, a sheet of silverdropping far, far down into a tiny lake which seemed tohave no outlet. From the top of the fall, where theystood, the banks gradually sloped away, so that thedescent by land was quite easy, while the river could donothing but glide over an edge of rock and tumblestraight down to the depths below.

"You see," said the Scarecrow, leaning over the brink,"this is called by our Oz people the Great Waterfall,because it is certainly the highest one in all the land;but I think -- Help!"

He had lost his balance and pitched headforemost intothe river. They saw a flash of straw and blue clothes,and the painted face looking upward in surprise. Thenext moment the Scarecrow was swept over the waterfalland plunged into the basin below.

The accident had happened so suddenly that for a momentthey were all too horrified to speak or move.

"Quick! We must go to help him or he will be drowned,"Trot exclaimed.

Even while speaking she began to descend the bank tothe pool below, and Cap'n Bill followed as swiftly as hiswooden leg would let him. Button-Bright came more slowly,calling to the girl:

"He can't drown, Trot; he's a Scarecrow."

But she wasn't sure a Scarecrow couldn't drown andnever relaxed her speed until she stood on the edge ofthe pool, with the spray dashing in her face. Cap'n Bill,puffing and panting, had just voice enough to ask, as hereached her side:

"See him, Trot?"

"Not a speck of him. Oh, Cap'n, what do you s'pose hasbecome of him?"

"I s'pose," replied the sailor, "that he's in thatwater, more or less far down, and I'm 'fraid it'll makehis straw pretty soggy. But as fer his bein' drowned, Iagree with Button-Bright that it can't be done."

There was small comfort in this assurance and Trotstood for some time searching with her eyes the bubblingwater, in the hope that the Scarecrow would finally cometo the surface. Presently she heard Button-Brightcalling: "Come here, Trot!" and looking around she sawthat the boy had crept over the wet rocks to the edge ofthe waterfall and seemed to be peering behind it. Makingher way toward him, she asked:

"What do you see?"

"A cave," he answered. "Let's go in. P'r'aps we'll findthe Scarecrow there."

She was a little doubtful of that, but the caveinterested her, and so did it Cap'n Bill. There was justspace enough at the edge of the sheet of water for themto crowd in behind it, but after that dangerous entrancethey found room enough to walk upright and after a timethey came to an opening in the wall of rock. Approachingthis opening, they gazed within it and found a series ofsteps, cut so that they might easily descend into thecavern.

Trot turned to look inquiringly at her companions. Thefalling water made such din and roaring that her voicecould not be heard. Cap'n Bill nodded his head, butbefore he could enter the cave, Button-Bright was beforehim, clambering down the steps without a particle offear. So the others followed the boy.

The first steps were wet with spray, and slippery, butthe remainder were quite dry. A rosy light seemed to comefrom the interior of the cave, and this lighted theirway. After the steps there was a short tunnel, highenough for them to walk erect in. and then they reachedthe cave itself and paused in wonder and admiration.

They stood on the edge of a vast cavern, the wallsand domed roof of which were lined with countlessrubies, exquisitely cut and flashing sparkling raysfrom one to another. This caused a radiant light thatpermitted the entire cavern to be distinctly seen, andthe effect was so marvelous that Trot drew in herbreath with a sort of a gasp, and stood quite still inwonder.

But the walls and roof of the cavern were merely asetting for a more wonderful scene. In the center was abubbling caldron of water, for here the river rose again,splashing and dashing till its spray rose high in theair, where it took the ruby color of the jewels andseemed like a seething mass of flame. And while theygazed into the tumbling, tossing water, the body of theScarecrow suddenly rose in the center, struggling andkicking, and the next instant wholly disappeared fromview.

"My, but he's wet!" exclaimed Button-Bright; but noneof the others heard him.

Trot and Cap'n Bill discovered that a broad ledge --covered, like the walls, with glittering rubies -- ranall around the cavern; so they followed this gorgeouspath to the rear and found where the water made its finaldive underground, before it disappeared entirely. Whereit plunged into this dim abyss the river was black anddreary looking, and they stood gazing in awe until justbeside them the body of the Scarecrow again popped upfrom the water.