13. The Nome King Laughs

           InamomenttheKingreturnedtohisthroneandrelightedhispipe,andtherestofthelittlebandofadventurerssettledthemselvesforanotherlongwait.TheyweregreatlydisheartenedbythefailureoftheirgirlRuler,andtheknowledgethatshewasnowanornamentintheNomeKing’spalace--adreadful,creepyplaceinspiteofallitsmagnificence.Withouttheirlittleleadertheydidnotknowwhattodonext,andeachone,downtothetremblingprivateofthearmy,begantofearhewouldsoonbemoreornamentalthanuseful.

           SuddenlytheNomeKingbeganlaughing.

           "Ha,ha,ha!He,he,he!Ho,ho,ho!"

           "What’shappened?"askedtheScarecrow.

           "Why,yourfriend,theTinWoodman,hasbecomethefunniestthingyoucanimagine,"repliedtheKing,wipingthetearsofmerrimentfromhiseyes."Noonewouldeverbelievehecouldmakesuchanamusingornament.Next!"

           Theygazedateachotherwithsinkinghearts.Oneofthegeneralsbegantoweepdolefully.

           "Whatareyoucryingfor?"askedtheScarecrow,indignantatsuchadisplayofweakness.

           "Heowedmesixweeksbackpay,"saidthegeneral,"andIhatetolosehim."

           "Thenyoushallgoandfindhim,"declaredtheScarecrow.

           "Me!"criedthegeneral,greatlyalarmed.

           "Certainly.Itisyourdutytofollowyourcommander.March!"

           "Iwon’t,"saidthegeneral."I’dliketo,ofcourse;butIjustsimplyWON’T."

           TheScarecrowlookedenquiringlyattheNomeKing.

           "Nevermind,"saidthejollymonarch."Ifhedoesn’tcaretoenterthepalaceandmakehisguessesI’llthrowhimintooneofmyfieryfurnaces.