Herby Made a Lengthy Speech
"Every time he comes near, you can hear his pills rattle," observed High Boy in a low voice to the Saw Horse. One end of the table had been reserved for the palace pets and High Boy had the seat of honor at the head. Next to him stood the Saw Horse, Ozma's little wooden, gold-shod steed, taking in everything but the refreshments and making short sharp answers to High Boy's remarks. High Boy secretly thought him a poor looking creature, but as he wisely kept this thought to himself they got along famously.
The Hungry Tiger's appetite amazed High Boy. After several bowls of horse-radish, two bales of hay and a pail of yummy jummy, High Boy himself could not eat another morsel. But the tiger kept sleepily and competently on cleaning his plate. As soon as it was empty it was hastily replenished with rare roasts and undone steak and mutton. The Hungry Tiger, as many of you know, has lived in the Emerald City for many years and is great company for the Cowardly Lion, who came to the capital with Dorothy on her very first visit. This big beast, with long sighs, and with tears in his voice, explained how dreadfully cowardly he was and High Boy, to see if this really were so, trumpeted suddenly in the Cowardly Lion's ear.
With a terrible squeal, the Cowardly Lion slid under the table and they were just pulling him out, when the Tin Woodman arose and rapped loudly for order. The Wizard had left the banquet hall a few minutes before and, now returning, whispered a few words to Ozma. At once the little fairy stood up and, facing the King and Queen of the Ozure Isles, began to speak.
"Our Wizard," explained Ozma in her gentle voice, "has been trying to discover the whereabouts of Cheeriobed's father. But all of his questions have brought no change in the magic picture, showing that Mombi has utterly destroyed the good King of the Munchkins. As Mombi is no longer here to remedy what has been done and we ourselves are powerless to remedy it either, I now pronounce you, Cheeriobed, and you, Orin, King and Queen of the East, and rulers of all of the Munchkins and the Sapphire City of Oz shall be your capital."
The applause brought forth by this announcement was simply deafening. When it had subsided somewhat, the Scarecrow, jumping up, held out his hand to Orin and then the King.
"May I be the first to congratulate Your Majesties?" cried the straw man, impulsively. "I, myself, am a Munchkin and hereafter please consider me a loyal friend and subject."