They could hear the Skeezers cheering lustily in the
streets of the village as they realized that they were
saved.
"Come," said Ozma eagerly, "let us go down and join
the people."
"Not just yet," returned Glinda, a happy smile upon
her lovely face, for she was overjoyed at their
success. "First let us extend the bridge to the
mainland, where our friends from the Emerald City are
waiting."
It didn't take long to put more powder in the basin,
light it and utter the syllable "EE!" The result was
that a door in the basement opened and the steel bridge
moved out, extended itself joint by joint, and finally
rested its far end on the shore of the lake just in
front of the encampment.
"Now," said Glinda, "we can go up and receive the
congratulations of the Skeezers and of our friends of
the Rescue Expedition."
Across the water, on the shore of the lake, the
Patchwork Girl was waving them a welcome.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Glinda's Triumph
Of course all those who had joined Glinda's
expedition at once crossed the bridge to the island,
where they were warmly welcomed by the Skeezers. Before
all the concourse of people Princess Ozma made a speech
from a porch of the palace and demanded that they
recognize her as their lawful Ruler and promise to obey
the laws of the Land of Oz.
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