tip awoke soon after dawn, but the scarecrow had already risen and plucked, with his clumsy fingers, a double-handful of ripe berries from some bushes near by. these the boy ate greedily, finding them an ample breakfast, and afterward the little party resumed its journey.

after an hour's ride they reached the summit of a hill from whence they espied the city of the winkies and noted the tall domes of the emperor's palace rising from the clusters of more modest dwellings.

the scarecrow became greatly animated at this sight, and exclaimed:

"how delighted i shall be to see my old friend the tin woodman again! i hope that he rules his people more successfully than i have ruled mine!"

"is the tin woodman the emperor of the winkies?" asked the horse.

"yes, indeed. they invited him to rule over them soon after the wicked witch was destroyed; and as nick chopper has the best heart in all the world i am sure he has proved an excellent and able emperor."

"i thought that 'emperor' was the title of a person who rules an empire," said tip, "and the country of the winkies is only a kingdom."

"don't mention that to the tin woodman!" exclaimed the scarecrow, earnestly. "you would hurt his feelings terribly. he is a proud man, as he has every reason to be, and it pleases him to be termed emperor rather than king."

"i'm sure it makes no difference to me," replied the boy.