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17. The Scarecrow Wins the Fight
Andatthattheprivateleveledhisspearanddashedfuriouslyuponthefoe.
ThecaptainoftheNomeswassosurprisedbythissuddenonslaughtthatheforgottocommandhiswarriorstofight,sothatthetenmeninthefirstrow,whostoodinfrontoftheprivate’sspear,felloverlikesomanytoysoldiers.Thespearcouldnotgothroughtheirsteelarmor,however,sothewarriorsscrambledtotheirfeetagain,andbythattimetheprivatehadknockedoveranotherrowofthem.
Thenthecaptainbroughtdownhisbattle-axewithsuchastrongblowthattheprivate’sspearwasshatteredandknockedfromhisgrasp,andhewashelplesstofightanylonger.
TheNomeKinghadlefthisthroneandpressedthroughhiswarriorstothefrontranks,sohecouldseewhatwasgoingon;butashefacedOzmaandherfriendstheScarecrow,asifarousedtoactionbythevaloroftheprivate,drewoneofBillina’seggsfromhisrightjacketpocketandhurleditstraightatthelittlemonarch’shead.
Itstruckhimsquarelyinhislefteye,wheretheeggsmashedandscattered,aseggswill,andcoveredhisfaceandhairandbeardwithitsstickycontents.
"Help,help!"screamedtheKing,clawingwithhisfingersattheegg,inastruggletoremoveit.
"Anegg!anegg!Runforyourlives!"shoutedthecaptainoftheNomes,inavoiceofhorror.
AndhowtheyDIDrun!Thewarriorsfairlytumbledoveroneanotherintheireffortstoescapethefatalpoisonofthatawfulegg,andthosewhocouldnotrushdownthewindingstairfelloffthebalconyintothegreatcavernbeneath,knockingoverthosewhostoodbelowthem