honorable Papa has reappeared in. I hear
that it never wears out," muttered one. "He may continue just as he
is for years and years. How am I ever to succeed him, I'd like to
know. Why, he may outlive us all!"

"We might throw him into the silver river," said the second
hopefully.

"No use," choked the third. "I was just talking to the Imperial
Soothsayer, and he tells me that no one from this miserable Kingdom
of Oz can be destroyed. But I have a plan. Incline your Royal ears--
listen." The voices dropped to such a low whisper that neither Happy
nor the Scarecrow could hear one word.

"Treason!" spluttered Happy, making ready to spring through the
hedge, but the Scarecrow seized him by the arm and drew him away.

"I don't believe they like their poor papa," exclaimed the Scarecrow
when they were safely back in the throne room. "I'm feeling older
than a Kinkajou. Ah, Happy Oko, why did I ever slide down my family
tree? It has brought me nothing but unhappiness."

CHAPTER 15

THE THREE PRINCES PLOT TO UNDO THE EMPEROR

"Let me help your Imperial Serenity!"

"Bring a cane!"

"Carefully, now!"

The three royal Princes, with every show of affection, were
supporting the Scarecrow to the silver bench in the garden where he
usually sat during luncheon.

"Are you quite comfortable?" asked the elder. "Here, Happy, you
rogue, fetch a scarf for his Imperial Highness. You must be careful,
dear Papa Scarecrow. At your age, drafts are dangerous." The rascally
Prince wound the scarf about the Scarecrow's neck.

"What do you suppose they are up to?" asked the Scarecrow, staring
after the three suspiciously. "Why this sudden devotion? It upsets my
Imperial Serenity a lot."

"Trying to make you feel old," grumbled Happy. Several hours had
passed since they had overheard the conversation in the garden. The
Scarecrow had decided to watch his sons closely and fall in with any
plan they suggested so they would suspect nothing. Then, when the
time came, he would act. Just what he would do he did not know, but
his excellent brains would not, he felt sure, desert him. Happy Toko
sat as close to the Scarecrow as he could and scowled terribly
whenever the Princes approached, which was every minute or so during
the afternoon.

"How is the Scarecrow's celestial old head?"

"Does he suffer from honorable gout?"

"Should they fetch the Imperial Doctor?"

The Scarecrow, who had never thought of age in his whole straw life,