"She can't fight shadows," answered the King calmly. "Fetch the blue ray, Ozeerus."
Backing along the wall, the blue shade thus addressed left the cavern, returning presently with a flaming blue torch. As the weird blue light danced all over the ceiling and walls, Trot seized her two friends by the hands.
"Run!" panted Trot frantically. But at their first step, the same invisible force that had swept them into the King's presence, thrust them back against the left wall of the cave.
"This ray," explained the King, smiling icily, "will destroy those clumsy bodies of yours and transform you into fine, useful shades. Quick, best sides out."
"Am I to become a shadow before I become a man?" groaned Benny, glancing about desperately.
"Will I be the shadow of myself?" moaned the Scarecrow, putting both hands before his face and crouching back against the wall.
"Never mind," comforted Trot. "Maybe it won't hurt much and we won't have to be shadows long, for Ozma will soon miss us and then this silly old King will be sorry as well as silly."