L.Frank Baum. The marvelous land of Oz -
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stood her ground and said, reproachfully:
"Why, how now? Would you shoot a poor, defenceless girl?"
"No," replied the soldier. "for my gun isn't loaded."
"Not loaded?"
"No; for fear of accidents. And I've forgotten where I hid the powder
and shot to load it with. But if you'll wait a short time I'll try to hunt
them up."
"Don't trouble yourself," said Jinjur, cheerfully. Then she turned to
her Army and cried:
"Girls, the gun isn't loaded!"
"Hooray," shrieked the rebels, delighted at this good news, and they
proceeded to rush upon the Soldier with the Green Whiskers in such a crowd
that it was a wonder they didn't stick the knitting-needles into one
another.
But the Royal Army of Oz was too much afraid of women to meet the
onslaught. He simply turned about and ran with all his might through the
gate and toward the royal palace, while General Jinjur and her mob flocked
into the unprotected City.
In this way was the Emerald City captured without a drop of blood
being spilled. The Army of Revolt had become an Army of Conquerors!
Tip slipped away from the girls and followed swiftly after the
Soldier with the Green Whiskers. The invading army entered the City more
slowly, for they stopped to dig emeralds out of the walls and
paving-stones with the points of their knitting-needles. So the Soldier
and the boy reached the palace before the news had spread that the City
was conquered.
The Scarecrow and Jack Pumpkinhead were still playing at quoits in
the courtyard when the game was interrupted by the abrupt entrance of the
Royal Army of Oz, who came flying in without his hat or gun, his clothes
in sad disarray and his long beard floating a yard behind him as he ran.