28. How They Drank at the Forbidden Fountain

           TheScarecrowhadnoneedtosleep;neitherhadtheTinWoodmanorTiktokorJackPumpkinhead.SotheyallwanderedoutintothepalacegroundsandstoodbesidethesparklingwateroftheForbiddenFountainuntildaybreak.Duringthistimetheyindulgedinoccasionalconversation.

           "NothingcouldmakemeforgetwhatIknow,"remarkedtheScarecrow,gazingintothefountain,"forIcannotdrinktheWaterofOblivionorwaterofanykind.AndIamgladthatthisisso,forIconsidermywisdomunexcelled."

           "Youarecer-tain-lyve-rywise,"agreedTiktok."Formypart,Icanon-lythinkbyma-chin-er-y,soIdonotpre-tendtoknowasmuchasyoudo."

           "Mytinbrainsareverybright,butthatisallIclaimforthem,"saidNickChopper,modestly."YetIdonotaspiretobeingverywise,forIhavenoticedthatthehappiestpeoplearethosewhodonotlettheirbrainsoppressthem."

           "Mineneverworryme,"JackPumpkinheadacknowledged."Therearemanyseedsofthoughtinmyhead,buttheydonotsprouteasily.Iamgladthatitisso,forifIoccupiedmydaysinthinkingIshouldhavenotimeforanythingelse."

           Inthischeerymoodtheypassedthehoursuntilthefirstgoldenstreaksofdawnappearedinthesky.ThenOzmajoinedthem,asfreshandlovelyaseverandrobedinoneofherprettiestgowns.

           "Ourenemieshavenotyetarrived,"saidtheScarecrow,aftergreetingaffectionatelythesweetandgirlishRuler.

           "Theywillsoonbehere,"shesaid,"forIhavejustglancedatmyMagicPicture,andhaveseenthemcoughingandchokingwiththedustinthetunnel."

           "Oh,istheredustinthetunnel?"askedtheTinWoodman.