The Saw-Horse, finding himself alive, seemed even more astonished than Tip. He rolled his knotty eyes from side to side, taking a first wondering view of the world in which he had now so important an existence. Then he tried to look at himself; but he had, indeed, no neck to turn; so that in the endeavor to see his body he kept circling around and around, without catching even a glimpse of it. His legs were stiff and awkward, for there were no knee-joints in them; so that presently he bumped against Jack Pumpkinhead and sent that personage tumbling upon the moss that lined the roadside.
Tip and Liir became alarmed at this accident, as well as at the persistence of the Saw-Horse in prancing around in a circle; so Tip called out while Liir went to help Jack: "Whoa! Whoa, there!"
The Saw-Horse paid no attention whatever to this command, and the next instant brought one of his wooden legs down upon Tip's foot so forcibly that the boy danced away in pain to a safer distance, from where he again yelled: "Whoa! Whoa, I say!"
Jack, with the help of Liir, had now managed to raise himself to a sitting position, and he looked at the Saw-Horse with much interest. "I don't believe the animal can hear you," he remarked.
"I shout loud enough, don't I?" answered Tip, angrily.
"Yes; but the horse has no ears," said the smiling Pumpkinhead.
"Sure enough!" exclaimed Tip, noting the fact for the first time. "How, then, am I going to stop him?"
But at that instant the Saw-Horse stopped himself, having concluded it was impossible to see his own body. He saw Tip, however, and came close to the boy to observe him more fully.
It was really comical to see the creature walk; for it moved the legs on its right side together, and those on its left side together, as a pacing horse does; and that made its body rock sidewise, like a cradle.
Tip patted it upon the head, and said "Good boy! Good Boy!" in a coaxing tone; and the Saw-Horse pranced away to examine with its bulging eyes the forms of Jack Pumpkinhead and Liir Tigelaar-Thropp.
"I must find a halter for him," said Tip; and having made a search in his pocket he produced a roll of strong cord. Unwinding this, he approached the Saw-Horse and tied the cord around its neck, afterward fastening the other end to a large tree. The Saw-Horse, not understanding the action, stepped backward and snapped the string easily; but it made no attempt to run away.
"He's stronger than I thought," said the brown-haired boy, "and rather obstinate, too."
"Why don't you make him some ears?" asked Jack. "Then you can tell him what to do."
"That's a splendid idea!" said Tip. "How did you happen to think of it?"
"Why, I didn't think of it," answered the Pumpkinhead; "I didn't need to, for it's the simplest and easiest thing to do."
"That's something my dad would say." Liir stated, "Guess you take after him."
"That sounds wonderful." Jack said, "I wish to meet him."
Liir smiled at his son, "Oh, you soon shall. He lives in the Emerald City part of the year."
While Liir and Jack were talking, Tip got out his knife and fashioned some ears out of the bark of a small tree. "I mustn't make them too big," he said as he whittled, "or our horse would become a donkey."
"How is that?" inquired Jack, from the roadside.
"Why, a horse has bigger ears than a man; and a donkey has bigger ears than a horse," explained Tip.
"Then, if my ears were longer, would I be a horse?" asked Jack.
"My friend," said Tip, gravely, "you'll never be anything but a Pumpkinhead, no matter how big your ears are."
"Oh," returned Jack, nodding; "I think I understand."
"If you do, you're a wonder," remarked the playful boy, "but there's no harm in thinking you understand. I guess these ears are ready now. Liir, will you help me stick them on?"
"Certainly." Liir answered.
Tip smiled. "Now Jack, will you hold the horse while we stick them on?"
"Certainly, if you'll help me up," said Jack.
So Tip went to the roadside, and he and Liir raised Jack to his feet, and the Pumpkinhead went to the horse and held its head while the boys bored two holes in it with their knife-blades and inserted the ears.
"They make him look very handsome," said Jack, admiringly.
But those words, spoken close to the Saw-Horse, and being the first sounds he had ever heard, so startled the animal that he made a bound forward and tumbled Tip on one side, Liir on the other and Jack on yet another. Then he continued to rush forward as if frightened by the clatter of his own foot-steps.
"Whoa!" shouted Tip, picking himself up; "whoa! you idiot whoa!" The Saw-Horse would probably have paid no attention to this, but just then it stepped a leg into a gopher-hole and stumbled head-over-heels to the ground, where it lay upon its back, frantically waving its four legs in the air.
Tip ran up to it while Liir helped Jack.
"You're a nice sort of a horse, I must say!" he exclaimed. "Why didn't you stop when I yelled 'whoa?'"
"Does 'whoa' mean to stop?" asked the Saw-Horse, in a surprised voice, as it rolled its eyes upward to look at the boy.
"Of course it does," answered Tip.
"And a hole in the ground means to stop, also, doesn't it?" continued the horse.
"To be sure; unless you step over it," said Tip.
"What a strange place this is," the creature exclaimed, as if amazed. "What am I doing here, anyway?"
"Why, I've brought you to life," answered the boy, "but it won't hurt you any, if you mind me and do as I tell you."
"Then I will do as you tell me," replied the Saw-Horse, humbly. "But what happened to me, a moment ago? I don't seem to be just right, someway."
"You're upside down," explained Tip. "But just keep those legs still a minute and I'll set you right side up again."
"How many sides have I?" asked the creature, wonderingly.
"Several," said Tip, briefly. "But do keep those legs still."
The Saw-Horse now became quiet, and held its legs rigid; so that Tip, after several efforts, was able to roll him over and set him upright.
"Ah, I seem all right now," said the queer animal, with a sigh.
"One of your ears is broken," Tip announced, after a careful examination. "I'll have to make a new one." Then he thought for a moment, or Liir could fix it?"
"Who's Liir?" The Saw-Horse asked.
"My best friend." Tip answered, "He's a very powerful sorcerer." Then he led the Saw-Horse back to where Liir was helping Jack get back on his feet.
"Liir, remember that repair spell you used on Betsey's horn last week?" Tip asked.
"That was a horn, not wood." Liir answered.
"This is living wood. I'm sure it will be the same."
Liir shook his head. "Not chancing it." Then he reached into his bag, "I'll look for a spell." And with that he pulled out his own copy of the Grimmerie, and searched through its pages.
"What is that?" asked the Pumkinhead.
"A copy of the Grimmerie." Tip answered, "A powerful spell book written in a weird language that only Liir and his mother can understand."
"Did they write it?" Jack asked.
Tip shook his head. "No, but they can read it. It was a gift."
"Ah-ha!" Liir said when he found a spell. Then he carefully grabbed the Saw-Horse and fixed his ear. There was a magic green mist that surrounded the horse, but no one seemed to mind. In an instant, the ear was as good as new.
"You truly are a gifted sorcerer father." Jack said.
"Thanks." Liir answered.
Tip clapped his friend on the back, "Knew you could do it." Then he addressed his steed, "Now, pay attention to what I'm going to tell you. 'Whoa!' means to stop; 'Get-Up!' means to walk forward; 'Trot!' means to go as fast as you can. Understand?"
"I believe I do," returned the horse.
"Very good. We are all going on a journey to the Emerald City, to see His Majesty, the Scarecrow; and Jack Pumpkinhead is going to ride on your back, so he won't wear out his joints."
"I don't mind," said the Saw-Horse. "Anything that suits you suits me."
Then Tip and Liir assisted Jack to get upon the horse.
"Hold on tight," Tip cautioned, "or you may fall off and crack your pumpkin head."
"That would be horrible!" said Jack, with a shudder. "What shall I hold on to?"
"Why, hold on to his ears," replied Tip, after a moment's hesitation.
"Don't do that!" remonstrated the Saw-Horse; "for then I can't hear."
That seemed reasonable, so the boys tried to think of something else.
"I'll fix it!" said Tip, at length. He went into the wood and cut a short length of limb from a young, stout tree. One end of this he sharpened to a point, and then he dug a hole in the back of the Saw-Horse, just behind its head. Next he brought a piece of rock from the road and hammered the post firmly into the animal's back.
"Stop! Stop!" shouted the horse; "you're jarring me terribly."
"Does it hurt?" asked the slow-aging boy.
"Not exactly hurt," answered the animal; "but it makes me quite nervous to be jarred."
"Well, it's all over now" said Tip, encouragingly. "Now, Jack, be sure to hold fast to this post and then you can't fall off and get smashed."
So Jack held on tight, and Tip said to the horse: "Get up."
The obedient creature at once walked forward, rocking from side to side as he raised his feet from the ground.
Tip and Liir walked on either side of the Saw-Horse, quite content with this addition to their party. Presently the boys began to whistle.
"What does that sound mean?" asked the horse.
"Don't pay any attention to it," said Tip. "I'm just whistling, and that only means I'm pretty well satisfied."
"When we whistle that way." Liir added. "When we whistle like this," the magical boy then gave a quick, sharp whistle, "it means 'Pay attention'."
"Oh." The Saw-Horse said, "That is good to know."
"I'd whistle myself, if I could push my lips together," remarked Jack. "I fear, dear fathers, that in some respects I am sadly lacking."
After journeying on for some distance the narrow path they were following turned into a broad roadway, paved with yellow brick. By the side of the road Tip noticed a sign-post that read:
"NINE MILES TO THE EMERALD CITY."
"The Yellow Brick Road!" Liir exclaimed! "My father's told me all about his journey along here."
"And who is he?" The Saw-Horse asked.
If Liir's parents hadn't drilled into him how to answer such questions, he would've stumbled for words. But instead he said, "A farmer from the Winkie Country. He traveled along here during the time of The 'Great Wizard'. He later became a solider for the Home Guard."
"He sounds very brave." The Saw-Horse asked. "I'd wish to meet him."
"Tomorrow." Tip said to prevent any awkward questions, "It's growing dark."
"Let's camp by the roadside." Liir suggested, "I brought supplies to keep us safe."
"You're so your mom." Tip said with a shake of his head.
Liir smiled. And with his eyes and a touch of his skin, said, "My skin's too normal for that."
Tip gave a chuckle, which soon made Liir laugh.
When their laugh was had, Tip led the Saw-Horse to a grassy mound upon which grew several bushy trees, while Liir carefully assisted the Pumpkinhead to alight.
"I think I'll lay you upon the ground, overnight," said the magical boy. "You will be safer that way."
"How about me?" asked the Saw-Horse.
"It won't hurt you to stand," replied Tip; "and, as you can't sleep, you may as well watch out and see that no one comes near to disturb us."
"And this should help." Liir said as he put a blanket over the wooden horse. "It will keep you safe from thieves."
"Oh. Thank you." The Saw-Horse said.
"You're welcome." Liir said, then he wrapped himself and Tip in another magical blanket, and together they stretched themselves upon the grass beside the Pumpkinhead, who was also wearing a magical blanket. The boys were greatly wearied by the journey, but Liir had something he was desperate to say. When Tip was almost asleep, Liir whispered in his friend's ear, "There's no telling if we'll make it there first."
"I know." Tip drowsily answered, "We just have to be hopeful."
Liir placed a soft kiss on Tip's forehead, something they did from time to time. "I don't know what I would do if I lost you."
"Neither would I." Tip said, then snuggled his head against Liir's and placed a kiss on his chin, "Now get some sleep."
Liir smiled, and both of them were soon fast asleep.