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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/960-h.zip b/960-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..40ff89a --- /dev/null +++ b/960-h.zip diff --git a/960-h/960-h.htm b/960-h/960-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e1add58 --- /dev/null +++ b/960-h/960-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,8374 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<HTML> +<HEAD> + +<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + +<TITLE> +The Project Gutenberg E-text of The Tin Woodman of Oz, by L. Frank Baum +</TITLE> + +<STYLE TYPE="text/css"> +BODY { color: Black; + background: White; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +P {text-indent: 4% } + +P.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +P.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-size: small } + +P.letter {font-size: small ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +P.finis { text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +</STYLE> + +</HEAD> + +<BODY> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tin Woodman of Oz, by L. Frank Baum + +<table summary="" style="margin-right: auto; margin-left: auto" cellpadding="4" border="3"> +<tr> +<td> +THIS EBOOK WAS ONE OF PROJECT GUTENBERG'S EARLY FILES, THERE IS +AN IMPROVED ILLUSTRATED EDITION OF THIS TITLE WHICH MAY VIEWED AT EBOOK <big><b><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/30852/30852-h/30852-h.htm"> +[ #30852 ]</a></b></big> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Tin Woodman of Oz + +Author: L. Frank Baum + +Posting Date: March 23, 2009 [EBook #960] +Release Date: June, 1997 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TIN WOODMAN OF OZ *** + + + + +Produced by Anthony Matonac + + + + + +</pre> + + +<BR><BR> + +<H1 ALIGN="center"> +THE TIN WOODMAN OF OZ +</H1> + +<BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +by +</H3> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +L. Frank Baum +</H2> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> + A Faithful Story of the Astonishing Adventure<BR> + Undertaken by the Tin Woodman, assisted<BR> + by Woot the Wanderer, the Scarecrow<BR> + of Oz, and Polychrome, the<BR> + Rainbow's Daughter<BR> +<BR> + by<BR> + L. FRANK BAUM<BR> + "Royal historian of Oz"<BR> +<BR> + This Book<BR> + is dedicated<BR> + to the son of<BR> + my son<BR> + Frank Alden Baum<BR> +</H4> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +TO MY READERS +</H3> + +<P> +I know that some of you have been waiting for this story of the Tin +Woodman, because many of my correspondents have asked me, time and +again what ever became of the "pretty Munchkin girl" whom Nick Chopper +was engaged to marry before the Wicked Witch enchanted his axe and he +traded his flesh for tin. I, too, have wondered what became of her, but +until Woot the Wanderer interested himself in the matter the Tin +Woodman knew no more than we did. However, he found her, after many +thrilling adventures, as you will discover when you have read this +story. +</P> + +<P> +I am delighted at the continued interest of both young and old in the +Oz stories. A learned college professor recently wrote me to ask: "For +readers of what age are your books intended?" It puzzled me to answer +that properly, until I had looked over some of the letters I have +received. One says: "I'm a little boy 5 years old, and I Just love your +Oz stories. My sister, who is writing this for me, reads me the Oz +books, but I wish I could read them myself." Another letter says: "I'm +a great girl 13 years old, so you'll be surprised when I tell you I am +not too old yet for the Oz stories." Here's another letter: "Since I +was a young girl I've never missed getting a Baum book for Christmas. +I'm married, now, but am as eager to get and read the Oz stories as +ever." And still another writes: "My good wife and I, both more than 70 +years of age, believe that we find more real enjoyment in your Oz books +than in any other books we read." Considering these statements, I wrote +the college professor that my books are intended for all those whose +hearts are young, no matter what their ages may be. +</P> + +<P> +I think I am justified in promising that there will be some astonishing +revelations about The Magic of Oz in my book for 1919. Always your +loving and grateful friend, +</P> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> +L. FRANK BAUM.<BR> + Royal Historian of Oz.<BR> +<BR> +"OZCOT"<BR> + at HOLLYWOOD<BR> + in CALIFORNIA<BR> + 1918.<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<H2 ALIGN="center"> +LIST OF CHAPTERS +</H2> + +<TABLE ALIGN="center" WIDTH="80%"> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">1 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap01">Woot the Wanderer</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">2 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap02">The Heart of the Tin Woodman</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">3 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap03">Roundabout</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">4 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap04">The Loons of Loonville</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">5 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap05">Mrs. Yoop, the Giantess</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">6 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap06">The Magic of a Yookoohoo</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">7 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap07">The Lace Apron</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">8 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap08">The Menace of the Forest</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">9 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap09">The Quarrelsome Dragons</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">10 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap10">Tommy Kwikstep</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">11 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap11">Jinjur's Ranch</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">12 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap12">Ozma and Dorothy</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">13 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap13">The Restoration</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">14 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap14">The Green Monkey</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">15 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap15">The Man of Tin</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">16 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap16">Captain Fyter</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">17 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap17">The Workshop of Ku-Klip</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">18 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap18">The Tin Woodman Talks to Himself</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">19 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap19">The Invisible Country</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">20 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap20">Over Night</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">21 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap21">Polychrome's Magic</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">22 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap22">Nimmie Amee</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">23 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap23">Through the Tunnel</A></TD> +</TR> + +<TR> +<TD ALIGN="right" VALIGN="top">24 </TD> +<TD ALIGN="left" VALIGN="top"> +<A HREF="#chap24">The Curtain Falls</A></TD> +</TR> + +</TABLE> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap01"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter One +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Woot the Wanderer +</H3> + +<P> +The Tin Woodman sat on his glittering tin throne in the handsome tin +hall of his splendid tin castle in the Winkie Country of the Land of +Oz. Beside him, in a chair of woven straw, sat his best friend, the +Scarecrow of Oz. At times they spoke to one another of curious things +they had seen and strange adventures they had known since first they +two had met and become comrades. But at times they were silent, for +these things had been talked over many times between them, and they +found themselves contented in merely being together, speaking now and +then a brief sentence to prove they were wide awake and attentive. But +then, these two quaint persons never slept. Why should they sleep, when +they never tired? +</P> + +<P> +And now, as the brilliant sun sank low over the Winkie Country of Oz, +tinting the glistening tin towers and tin minarets of the tin castle +with glorious sunset hues, there approached along a winding pathway +Woot the Wanderer, who met at the castle entrance a Winkie servant. +</P> + +<P> +The servants of the Tin Woodman all wore tin helmets and tin +breastplates and uniforms covered with tiny tin discs sewed closely +together on silver cloth, so that their bodies sparkled as beautifully +as did the tin castle—and almost as beautifully as did the Tin Woodman +himself. +</P> + +<P> +Woot the Wanderer looked at the man servant—all bright and +glittering—and at the magnificent castle—all bright and +glittering—and as he looked his eyes grew big with wonder. For Woot +was not very big and not very old and, wanderer though he was, this +proved the most gorgeous sight that had ever met his boyish gaze. +</P> + +<P> +"Who lives here?" he asked. +</P> + +<P> +"The Emperor of the Winkies, who is the famous Tin Woodman of Oz," +replied the servant, who had been trained to treat all strangers with +courtesy. +</P> + +<P> +"A Tin Woodman? How queer!" exclaimed the little wanderer. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, perhaps our Emperor is queer," admitted the servant; "but he is +a kind master and as honest and true as good tin can make him; so we, +who gladly serve him, are apt to forget that he is not like other +people." +</P> + +<P> +"May I see him?" asked Woot the Wanderer, after a moment's thought. +</P> + +<P> +"If it please you to wait a moment, I will go and ask him," said the +servant, and then he went into the hall where the Tin Woodman sat with +his friend the Scarecrow. Both were glad to learn that a stranger had +arrived at the castle, for this would give them something new to talk +about, so the servant was asked to admit the boy at once. +</P> + +<P> +By the time Woot the Wanderer had passed through the grand +corridors—all lined with ornamental tin—and under stately tin +archways and through the many tin rooms all set with beautiful tin +furniture, his eyes had grown bigger than ever and his whole little +body thrilled with amazement. But, astonished though he was, he was +able to make a polite bow before the throne and to say in a respectful +voice: "I salute your Illustrious Majesty and offer you my humble +services." +</P> + +<P> +"Very good!" answered the Tin Woodman in his accustomed cheerful +manner. "Tell me who you are, and whence you come." +</P> + +<P> +"I am known as Woot the Wanderer," answered the boy, "and I have come, +through many travels and by roundabout ways, from my former home in a +far corner of the Gillikin Country of Oz." +</P> + +<P> +"To wander from one's home," remarked the Scarecrow, "is to encounter +dangers and hardships, especially if one is made of meat and bone. Had +you no friends in that corner of the Gillikin Country? Was it not +homelike and comfortable?" +</P> + +<P> +To hear a man stuffed with straw speak, and speak so well, quite +startled Woot, and perhaps he stared a bit rudely at the Scarecrow. But +after a moment he replied: +</P> + +<P> +"I had home and friends, your Honorable Strawness, but they were so +quiet and happy and comfortable that I found them dismally stupid. +Nothing in that corner of Oz interested me, but I believed that in +other parts of the country I would find strange people and see new +sights, and so I set out upon my wandering journey. I have been a +wanderer for nearly a full year, and now my wanderings have brought me +to this splendid castle." +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose," said the Tin Woodman, "that in this year you have seen so +much that you have become very wise." +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied Woot, thoughtfully, "I am not at all wise, I beg to +assure your Majesty. The more I wander the less I find that I know, for +in the Land of Oz much wisdom and many things may be learned." +</P> + +<P> +"To learn is simple. Don't you ask questions?" inquired the Scarecrow. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I ask as many questions as I dare; but some people refuse to +answer questions." +</P> + +<P> +"That is not kind of them," declared the Tin Woodman. "If one does not +ask for information he seldom receives it; so I, for my part, make it a +rule to answer any civil question that is asked me." +</P> + +<P> +"So do I," added the Scarecrow, nodding. +</P> + +<P> +"I am glad to hear this," said the Wanderer, "for it makes me bold to +ask for something to eat." +</P> + +<P> +"Bless the boy!" cried the Emperor of the Winkies; "how careless of me +not to remember that wanderers are usually hungry. I will have food +brought you at once." +</P> + +<P> +Saying this he blew upon a tin whistle that was suspended from his tin +neck, and at the summons a servant appeared and bowed low. The Tin +Woodman ordered food for the stranger, and in a few minutes the servant +brought in a tin tray heaped with a choice array of good things to eat, +all neatly displayed on tin dishes that were polished till they shone +like mirrors. The tray was set upon a tin table drawn before the +throne, and the servant placed a tin chair before the table for the boy +to seat himself. +</P> + +<P> +"Eat, friend Wanderer," said the Emperor cordially, "and I trust the +feast will be to your liking. I, myself, do not eat, being made in such +manner that I require no food to keep me alive. Neither does my friend +the Scarecrow. But all my Winkie people eat, being formed of flesh, as +you are, and so my tin cupboard is never bare, and strangers are always +welcome to whatever it contains." +</P> + +<P> +The boy ate in silence for a time, being really hungry, but after his +appetite was somewhat satisfied, he said: +</P> + +<P> +"How happened your Majesty to be made of tin, and still be alive?" +</P> + +<P> +"That," replied the tin man, "is a long story." +</P> + +<P> +"The longer the better," said the boy. "Won't you please tell me the +story?" +</P> + +<P> +"If you desire it," promised the Tin Woodman, leaning back in his tin +throne and crossing his tin legs. "I haven't related my history in a +long while, because everyone here knows it nearly as well as I do. But +you, being a stranger, are no doubt curious to learn how I became so +beautiful and prosperous, so I will recite for your benefit my strange +adventures." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," said Woot the Wanderer, still eating. +</P> + +<P> +"I was not always made of tin," began the Emperor, "for in the +beginning I was a man of flesh and bone and blood and lived in the +Munchkin Country of Oz. There I was, by trade, a woodchopper, and +contributed my share to the comfort of the Oz people by chopping up the +trees of the forest to make firewood, with which the women would cook +their meals while the children warmed themselves about the fires. For +my home I had a little hut by the edge of the forest, and my life was +one of much content until I fell in love with a beautiful Munchkin girl +who lived not far away." +</P> + +<P> +"What was the Munchkin girl's name?" asked Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"Nimmie Amee. This girl, so fair that the sunsets blushed when their +rays fell upon her, lived with a powerful witch who wore silver shoes +and who had made the poor child her slave. Nimmie Amee was obliged to +work from morning till night for the old Witch of the East, scrubbing +and sweeping her hut and cooking her meals and washing her dishes. She +had to cut firewood, too, until I found her one day in the forest and +fell in love with her. After that, I always brought plenty of firewood +to Nimmie Amee and we became very friendly. Finally I asked her to +marry me, and she agreed to do so, but the Witch happened to overhear +our conversation and it made her very angry, for she did not wish her +slave to be taken away from her. The Witch commanded me never to come +near Nimmie Amee again, but I told her I was my own master and would do +as I pleased, not realizing that this was a careless way to speak to a +Witch. +</P> + +<P> +"The next day, as I was cutting wood in the forest, the cruel Witch +enchanted my axe, so that it slipped and cut off my right leg." +</P> + +<P> +"How dreadful!" cried Woot the Wanderer. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it was a seeming misfortune," agreed the Tin Man, "for a +one-legged woodchopper is of little use in his trade. But I would not +allow the Witch to conquer me so easily. I knew a very skillful +mechanic at the other side of the forest, who was my friend, so I +hopped on one leg to him and asked him to help me. He soon made me a +new leg out of tin and fastened it cleverly to my meat body. It had +joints at the knee and at the ankle and was almost as comfortable as +the leg I had lost." +</P> + +<P> +"Your friend must have been a wonderful workman!" exclaimed Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"He was, indeed," admitted the Emperor. "He was a tinsmith by trade and +could make anything out of tin. When I returned to Nimmie Amee, the +girl was delighted and threw her arms around my neck and kissed me, +declaring she was proud of me. The Witch saw the kiss and was more +angry than before. When I went to work in the forest, next day, my axe, +being still enchanted, slipped and cut off my other leg. Again I +hopped—on my tin leg—to my friend the tinsmith, who kindly made me +another tin leg and fastened it to my body. So I returned joyfully to +Nimmie Amee, who was much pleased with my glittering legs and promised +that when we were wed she would always keep them oiled and polished. +But the Witch was more furious than ever, and as soon as I raised my +axe to chop, it twisted around and cut off one of my arms. The tinsmith +made me a tin arm and I was not much worried, because Nimmie Amee +declared she still loved me." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap02"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Two +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Heart of the Tin Woodman +</H3> + +<P> +The Emperor of the Winkies paused in his story to reach for an oil-can, +with which he carefully oiled the joints in his tin throat, for his +voice had begun to squeak a little. Woot the Wanderer, having satisfied +his hunger, watched this oiling process with much curiosity, but begged +the Tin Man to go on with his tale. +</P> + +<P> +"The Witch with the Silver Shoes hated me for having defied her," +resumed the Emperor, his voice now sounding clear as a bell, "and she +insisted that Nimmie Amee should never marry me. Therefore she made +the enchanted axe cut off my other arm, and the tinsmith also replaced +that member with tin, including these finely-jointed hands that you see +me using. But, alas! after that, the axe, still enchanted by the cruel +Witch, cut my body in two, so that I fell to the ground. Then the +Witch, who was watching from a near-by bush, rushed up and seized the +axe and chopped my body into several small pieces, after which, +thinking that at last she had destroyed me, she ran away laughing in +wicked glee. +</P> + +<P> +"But Nimmie Amee found me. She picked up my arms and legs and head, and +made a bundle of them and carried them to the tinsmith, who set to work +and made me a fine body of pure tin. When he had joined the arms and +legs to the body, and set my head in the tin collar, I was a much +better man than ever, for my body could not ache or pain me, and I was +so beautiful and bright that I had no need of clothing. Clothing is +always a nuisance, because it soils and tears and has to be replaced; +but my tin body only needs to be oiled and polished. +</P> + +<P> +"Nimmie Amee still declared she would marry me, as she still loved me +in spite of the Witch's evil deeds. The girl declared I would make the +brightest husband in all the world, which was quite true. However, the +Wicked Witch was not yet defeated. When I returned to my work the axe +slipped and cut off my head, which was the only meat part of me then +remaining. Moreover, the old woman grabbed up my severed head and +carried it away with her and hid it. But Nimmie Amee came into the +forest and found me wandering around helplessly, because I could not +see where to go, and she led me to my friend the tinsmith. The faithful +fellow at once set to work to make me a tin head, and he had just +completed it when Nimmie Amee came running up with my old head, which +she had stolen from the Witch. But, on reflection, I considered the tin +head far superior to the meat one—I am wearing it yet, so you can see +its beauty and grace of outline—and the girl agreed with me that a man +all made of tin was far more perfect than one formed of different +materials. The tinsmith was as proud of his workmanship as I was, and +for three whole days, all admired me and praised my beauty. Being now +completely formed of tin, I had no more fear of the Wicked Witch, for +she was powerless to injure me. Nimmie Amee said we must be married at +once, for then she could come to my cottage and live with me and keep +me bright and sparkling. +</P> + +<P> +"'I am sure, my dear Nick,' said the brave and beautiful girl—my name +was then Nick Chopper, you should be told—'that you will make the best +husband any girl could have. I shall not be obliged to cook for you, +for now you do not eat; I shall not have to make your bed, for tin does +not tire or require sleep; when we go to a dance, you will not get +weary before the music stops and say you want to go home. All day long, +while you are chopping wood in the forest, I shall be able to amuse +myself in my own way—a privilege few wives enjoy. There is no temper +in your new head, so you will not get angry with me. Finally, I shall +take pride in being the wife of the only live Tin Woodman in all the +world!' Which shows that Nimmie Amee was as wise as she was brave and +beautiful." +</P> + +<P> +"I think she was a very nice girl," said Woot the Wanderer. "But, tell +me, please, why were you not killed when you were chopped to pieces?" +</P> + +<P> +"In the Land of Oz," replied the Emperor, "no one can ever be killed. A +man with a wooden leg or a tin leg is still the same man; and, as I +lost parts of my meat body by degrees, I always remained the same +person as in the beginning, even though in the end I was all tin and no +meat." +</P> + +<P> +"I see," said the boy, thoughtfully. "And did you marry Nimmie Amee?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," answered the Tin Woodman, "I did not. She said she still loved +me, but I found that I no longer loved her. My tin body contained no +heart, and without a heart no one can love. So the Wicked Witch +conquered in the end, and when I left the Munchkin Country of Oz, the +poor girl was still the slave of the Witch and had to do her bidding +day and night." +</P> + +<P> +"Where did you go?" asked Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I first started out to find a heart, so I could love Nimmie Amee +again; but hearts are more scarce than one would think. One day, in a +big forest that was strange to me, my joints suddenly became rusted, +because I had forgotten to oil them. There I stood, unable to move hand +or foot. And there I continued to stand—while days came and +went—until Dorothy and the Scarecrow came along and rescued me. They +oiled my joints and set me free, and I've taken good care never to rust +again." +</P> + +<P> +"Who was this Dorothy?" questioned the Wanderer. +</P> + +<P> +"A little girl who happened to be in a house when it was carried by a +cyclone all the way from Kansas to the Land of Oz. When the house fell, +in the Munchkin Country, it fortunately landed on the Wicked Witch and +smashed her flat. It was a big house, and I think the Witch is under it +yet." +</P> + +<P> +"No," said the Scarecrow, correcting him, "Dorothy says the Witch +turned to dust, and the wind scattered the dust in every direction." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," continued the Tin Woodman, "after meeting the Scarecrow and +Dorothy, I went with them to the Emerald City, where the Wizard of Oz +gave me a heart. But the Wizard's stock of hearts was low, and he gave +me a Kind Heart instead of a Loving Heart, so that I could not love +Nimmie Amee any more than I did when I was heartless." +</P> + +<P> +"Couldn't the Wizard give you a heart that was both Kind and Loving?" +asked the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"No; that was what I asked for, but he said he was so short on hearts, +just then, that there was but one in stock, and I could take that or +none at all. So I accepted it, and I must say that for its kind it is a +very good heart indeed." +</P> + +<P> +"It seems to me," said Woot, musingly, "that the Wizard fooled you. It +can't be a very Kind Heart, you know." +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" demanded the Emperor. +</P> + +<P> +"Because it was unkind of you to desert the girl who loved you, and who +had been faithful and true to you when you were in trouble. Had the +heart the Wizard gave you been a Kind Heart, you would have gone back +home and made the beautiful Munchkin girl your wife, and then brought +her here to be an Empress and live in your splendid tin castle." +</P> + +<P> +The Tin Woodman was so surprised at this frank speech that for a time +he did nothing but stare hard at the boy Wanderer. But the Scarecrow +wagged his stuffed head and said in a positive tone: +</P> + +<P> +"This boy is right. I've often wondered, myself, why you didn't go back +and find that poor Munchkin girl." +</P> + +<P> +Then the Tin Woodman stared hard at his friend the Scarecrow. But +finally he said in a serious tone of voice: +</P> + +<P> +"I must admit that never before have I thought of such a thing as +finding Nimmie Amee and making her Empress of the Winkies. But it is +surely not too late, even now, to do this, for the girl must still be +living in the Munchkin Country. And, since this strange Wanderer has +reminded me of Nimmie Amee, I believe it is my duty to set out and find +her. Surely it is not the girl's fault that I no longer love her, and +so, if I can make her happy, it is proper that I should do so, and in +this way reward her for her faithfulness." +</P> + +<P> +"Quite right, my friend!" agreed the Scarecrow. +</P> + +<P> +"Will you accompany me on this errand?" asked the Tin Emperor. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course," said the Scarecrow. +</P> + +<P> +"And will you take me along?" pleaded Woot the Wanderer in an eager +voice. +</P> + +<P> +"To be sure," said the Tin Woodman, "if you care to join our party. It +was you who first told me it was my duty to find and marry Nimmie Amee, +and I'd like you to know that Nick Chopper, the Tin Emperor of the +Winkies, is a man who never shirks his duty, once it is pointed out to +him." +</P> + +<P> +"It ought to be a pleasure, as well as a duty, if the girl is so +beautiful," said Woot, well pleased with the idea of the adventure. +</P> + +<P> +"Beautiful things may be admired, if not loved," asserted the Tin Man. +"Flowers are beautiful, for instance, but we are not inclined to marry +them. Duty, on the contrary, is a bugle call to action, whether you are +inclined to act, or not. In this case, I obey the bugle call of duty." +</P> + +<P> +"When shall we start?" inquired the Scarecrow, who was always glad to +embark upon a new adventure. "I don't hear any bugle, but when do we +go?" +</P> + +<P> +"As soon as we can get ready," answered the Emperor. "I'll call my +servants at once and order them to make preparations for our journey." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap03"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Three +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Roundabout +</H3> + +<P> +Woot the Wanderer slept that night in the tin castle of the Emperor of +the Winkies and found his tin bed quite comfortable. Early the next +morning he rose and took a walk through the gardens, where there were +tin fountains and beds of curious tin flowers, and where tin birds +perched upon the branches of tin trees and sang songs that sounded like +the notes of tin whistles. All these wonders had been made by the +clever Winkie tinsmiths, who wound the birds up every morning so that +they would move about and sing. +</P> + +<P> +After breakfast the boy went into the throne room, where the Emperor +was having his tin joints carefully oiled by a servant, while other +servants were stuffing sweet, fresh straw into the body of the +Scarecrow. +</P> + +<P> +Woot watched this operation with much interest, for the Scarecrow's +body was only a suit of clothes filled with straw. The coat was +buttoned tight to keep the packed straw from falling out and a rope was +tied around the waist to hold it in shape and prevent the straw from +sagging down. The Scarecrow's head was a gunnysack filled with bran, on +which the eyes, nose and mouth had been painted. His hands were white +cotton gloves stuffed with fine straw. Woot noticed that even when +carefully stuffed and patted into shape, the straw man was awkward in +his movements and decidedly wobbly on his feet, so the boy wondered if +the Scarecrow would be able to travel with them all the way to the +forests of the Munchkin Country of Oz. +</P> + +<P> +The preparations made for this important journey were very simple. A +knapsack was filled with food and given Woot the Wanderer to carry upon +his back, for the food was for his use alone. The Tin Woodman +shouldered an axe which was sharp and brightly polished, and the +Scarecrow put the Emperor's oil-can in his pocket, that he might oil +his friend's joints should they need it. +</P> + +<P> +"Who will govern the Winkie Country during your absence?" asked the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, the Country will run itself," answered the Emperor. "As a matter +of fact, my people do not need an Emperor, for Ozma of Oz watches over +the welfare of all her subjects, including the Winkies. Like a good +many kings and emperors, I have a grand title, but very little real +power, which allows me time to amuse myself in my own way. The people +of Oz have but one law to obey, which is: 'Behave Yourself,' so it is +easy for them to abide by this Law, and you'll notice they behave very +well. But it is time for us to be off, and I am eager to start because +I suppose that that poor Munchkin girl is anxiously awaiting my coming." +</P> + +<P> +"She's waited a long time already, seems to me," remarked the +Scarecrow, as they left the grounds of the castle and followed a path +that led eastward. +</P> + +<P> +"True," replied the Tin Woodman; "but I've noticed that the last end of +a wait, however long it has been, is the hardest to endure; so I must +try to make Nimmie Amee happy as soon as possible." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah; that proves you have a Kind heart," remarked the Scarecrow, +approvingly. +</P> + +<P> +"It's too bad he hasn't a Loving Heart," said Woot. "This Tin Man is +going to marry a nice girl through kindness, and not because he loves +her, and somehow that doesn't seem quite right." +</P> + +<P> +"Even so, I am not sure it isn't best for the girl," said the +Scarecrow, who seemed very intelligent for a straw man, "for a loving +husband is not always kind, while a kind husband is sure to make any +girl content." +</P> + +<P> +"Nimmie Amee will become an Empress!" announced the Tin Woodman, +proudly. "I shall have a tin gown made for her, with tin ruffles and +tucks on it, and she shall have tin slippers, and tin earrings and +bracelets, and wear a tin crown on her head. I am sure that will +delight Nimmie Amee, for all girls are fond of finery." +</P> + +<P> +"Are we going to the Munchkin Country by way of the Emerald City?" +inquired the Scarecrow, who looked upon the Tin Woodman as the leader +of the party. +</P> + +<P> +"I think not," was the reply. "We are engaged upon a rather delicate +adventure, for we are seeking a girl who fears her former lover has +forgotten her. It will be rather hard for me, you must admit, when I +confess to Nimmie Amee that I have come to marry her because it is my +duty to do so, and therefore the fewer witnesses there are to our +meeting the better for both of us. After I have found Nimmie Amee and +she has managed to control her joy at our reunion, I shall take her to +the Emerald City and introduce her to Ozma and Dorothy, and to Betsy +Bobbin and Tiny Trot, and all our other friends; but, if I remember +rightly, poor Nimmie Amee has a sharp tongue when angry, and she may be +a trifle angry with me, at first, because I have been so long in coming +to her." +</P> + +<P> +"I can understand that," said Woot gravely. "But how can we get to that +part of the Munchkin Country where you once lived without passing +through the Emerald City?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, that is easy," the Tin Man assured him. +</P> + +<P> +"I have a map of Oz in my pocket," persisted the boy, "and it shows +that the Winkie Country, where we now are, is at the west of Oz, and +the Munchkin Country at the east, while directly between them lies the +Emerald City." +</P> + +<P> +"True enough; but we shall go toward the north, first of all, into the +Gillikin Country, and so pass around the Emerald City," explained the +Tin Woodman. +</P> + +<P> +"That may prove a dangerous journey," replied the boy. "I used to live +in one of the top corners of the Gillikin Country, near to Oogaboo, and +I have been told that in this northland country are many people whom it +is not pleasant to meet. I was very careful to avoid them during my +journey south." +</P> + +<P> +"A Wanderer should have no fear," observed the Scarecrow, who was +wobbling along in a funny, haphazard manner, but keeping pace with his +friends. +</P> + +<P> +"Fear does not make one a coward," returned Woot, growing a little red +in the face, "but I believe it is more easy to avoid danger than to +overcome it. The safest way is the best way, even for one who is brave +and determined." +</P> + +<P> +"Do not worry, for we shall not go far to the north," said the Emperor. +"My one idea is to avoid the Emerald City without going out of our way +more than is necessary. Once around the Emerald City we will turn south +into the Munchkin Country, where the Scarecrow and I are well +acquainted and have many friends." +</P> + +<P> +"I have traveled some in the Gillikin Country," remarked the Scarecrow, +"and while I must say I have met some strange people there at times, I +have never yet been harmed by them." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, it's all the same to me," said Woot, with assumed carelessness. +"Dangers, when they cannot be avoided, are often quite interesting, and +I am willing to go wherever you two venture to go." +</P> + +<P> +So they left the path they had been following and began to travel +toward the northeast, and all that day they were in the pleasant Winkie +Country, and all the people they met saluted the Emperor with great +respect and wished him good luck on his journey. At night they stopped +at a house where they were well entertained and where Woot was given a +comfortable bed to sleep in. +</P> + +<P> +"Were the Scarecrow and I alone," said the Tin Woodman, "we would +travel by night as well as by day; but with a meat person in our party, +we must halt at night to permit him to rest." +</P> + +<P> +"Meat tires, after a day's travel," added the Scarecrow, "while straw +and tin never tire at all. Which proves," said he, "that we are +somewhat superior to people made in the common way." +</P> + +<P> +Woot could not deny that he was tired, and he slept soundly until +morning, when he was given a good breakfast, smoking hot. +</P> + +<P> +"You two miss a great deal by not eating," he said to his companions. +</P> + +<P> +"It is true," responded the Scarecrow. "We miss suffering from hunger, +when food cannot be had, and we miss a stomachache, now and then." +</P> + +<P> +As he said this, the Scarecrow glanced at the Tin Woodman, who nodded +his assent. +</P> + +<P> +All that second day they traveled steadily, entertaining one another +the while with stories of adventures they had formerly met and +listening to the Scarecrow recite poetry. He had learned a great many +poems from Professor Wogglebug and loved to repeat them whenever +anybody would listen to him. Of course Woot and the Tin Woodman now +listened, because they could not do otherwise—unless they rudely ran +away from their stuffed comrade. One of the Scarecrow's recitations was +like this: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "What sound is so sweet<BR> + As the straw from the wheat<BR> + When it crunkles so tender and low?<BR> + It is yellow and bright,<BR> + So it gives me delight<BR> + To crunkle wherever I go.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "Sweet, fresh, golden Straw!<BR> + There is surely no flaw<BR> + In a stuffing so clean and compact.<BR> + It creaks when I walk,<BR> + And it thrills when I talk,<BR> + And its fragrance is fine, for a fact.<BR> + "To cut me don't hurt,<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + For I've no blood to squirt,<BR> + And I therefore can suffer no pain;<BR> + The straw that I use<BR> + Doesn't lump up or bruise,<BR> + Though it's pounded again and again!<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "I know it is said<BR> + That my beautiful head<BR> + Has brains of mixed wheat-straw and bran,<BR> + But my thoughts are so good<BR> + I'd not change, if I could,<BR> + For the brains of a common meat man.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "Content with my lot,<BR> + I'm glad that I'm not<BR> + Like others I meet day by day;<BR> + If my insides get musty,<BR> + Or mussed-up, or dusty,<BR> + I get newly stuffed right away."<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap04"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Four +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Loons of Loonville +</H3> + +<P> +Toward evening, the travelers found there was no longer a path to guide +them, and the purple hues of the grass and trees warned them that they +were now in the Country of the Gillikins, where strange peoples dwelt +in places that were quite unknown to the other inhabitants of Oz. The +fields were wild and uncultivated and there were no houses of any sort +to be seen. But our friends kept on walking even after the sun went +down, hoping to find a good place for Woot the Wanderer to sleep; but +when it grew quite dark and the boy was weary with his long walk, they +halted right in the middle of a field and allowed Woot to get his +supper from the food he carried in his knapsack. Then the Scarecrow +laid himself down, so that Woot could use his stuffed body as a pillow, +and the Tin Woodman stood up beside them all night, so the dampness of +the ground might not rust his joints or dull his brilliant polish. +Whenever the dew settled on his body he carefully wiped it off with a +cloth, and so in the morning the Emperor shone as brightly as ever in +the rays of the rising sun. +</P> + +<P> +They wakened the boy at daybreak, the Scarecrow saying to him: +</P> + +<P> +"We have discovered something queer, and therefore we must counsel +together what to do about it." +</P> + +<P> +"What have you discovered?" asked Woot, rubbing the sleep from his eyes +with his knuckles and giving three wide yawns to prove he was fully +awake. +</P> + +<P> +"A Sign," said the Tin Woodman. "A Sign, and another path." +</P> + +<P> +"What does the Sign say?" inquired the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"It says that 'All Strangers are Warned not to Follow this Path to +Loonville,'" answered the Scarecrow, who could read very well when his +eyes had been freshly painted. +</P> + +<P> +"In that case," said the boy, opening his knapsack to get some +breakfast, "let us travel in some other direction." +</P> + +<P> +But this did not seem to please either of his companions. +</P> + +<P> +"I'd like to see what Loonville looks like," remarked the Tin Woodman. +</P> + +<P> +"When one travels, it is foolish to miss any interesting sight," added +the Scarecrow. +</P> + +<P> +"But a warning means danger," protested Woot the Wanderer, "and I +believe it sensible to keep out of danger whenever we can." +</P> + +<P> +They made no reply to this speech for a while. Then said the Scarecrow: +</P> + +<P> +"I have escaped so many dangers, during my lifetime, that I am not much +afraid of anything that can happen." +</P> + +<P> +"Nor am I!" exclaimed the Tin Woodman, swinging his glittering axe +around his tin head, in a series of circles. "Few things can injure +tin, and my axe is a powerful weapon to use against a foe. But our boy +friend," he continued, looking solemnly at Woot, "might perhaps be +injured if the people of Loonville are really dangerous; so I propose +he waits here while you and I, Friend Scarecrow, visit the forbidden +City of Loonville." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't worry about me," advised Woot, calmly. "Wherever you wish to go, +I will go, and share your dangers. During my wanderings I have found it +more wise to keep out of danger than to venture in, but at that time I +was alone, and now I have two powerful friends to protect me." +</P> + +<P> +So, when he had finished his breakfast, they all set out along the path +that led to Loonville. +</P> + +<P> +"It is a place I have never heard of before," remarked the Scarecrow, +as they approached a dense forest. "The inhabitants may be people, of +some sort, or they may be animals, but whatever they prove to be, we +will have an interesting story to relate to Dorothy and Ozma on our +return." +</P> + +<P> +The path led into the forest, but the big trees grew so closely +together and the vines and underbrush were so thick and matted that +they had to clear a path at each step in order to proceed. In one or +two places the Tin Man, who went first to clear the way, cut the +branches with a blow of his axe. Woot followed next, and last of the +three came the Scarecrow, who could not have kept the path at all had +not his comrades broken the way for his straw-stuffed body. +</P> + +<P> +Presently the Tin Woodman pushed his way through some heavy underbrush, +and almost tumbled headlong into a vast cleared space in the forest. +The clearing was circular, big and roomy, yet the top branches of the +tall trees reached over and formed a complete dome or roof for it. +Strangely enough, it was not dark in this immense natural chamber in +the woodland, for the place glowed with a soft, white light that seemed +to come from some unseen source. +</P> + +<P> +In the chamber were grouped dozens of queer creatures, and these so +astonished the Tin Man that Woot had to push his metal body aside, that +he might see, too. And the Scarecrow pushed Woot aside, so that the +three travelers stood in a row, staring with all their eyes. +</P> + +<P> +The creatures they beheld were round and ball-like; round in body, +round in legs and arms, round in hands and feet and round of head. The +only exception to the roundness was a slight hollow on the top of each +head, making it saucer-shaped instead of dome-shaped. They wore no +clothes on their puffy bodies, nor had they any hair. Their skins were +all of a light gray color, and their eyes were mere purple spots. Their +noses were as puffy as the rest of them. +</P> + +<P> +"Are they rubber, do you think?" asked the Scarecrow, who noticed that +the creatures bounded, as they moved, and seemed almost as light as air. +</P> + +<P> +"It is difficult to tell what they are," answered Woot, "they seem to +be covered with warts." +</P> + +<P> +The Loons—for so these folks were called—had been doing many things, +some playing together, some working at tasks and some gathered in +groups to talk; but at the sound of strange voices, which echoed rather +loudly through the clearing, all turned in the direction of the +intruders. Then, in a body, they all rushed forward, running and +bounding with tremendous speed. +</P> + +<P> +The Tin Woodman was so surprised by this sudden dash that he had no +time to raise his axe before the Loons were on them. The creatures +swung their puffy hands, which looked like boxing-gloves, and pounded +the three travelers as hard as they could, on all sides. The blows were +quite soft and did not hurt our friends at all, but the onslaught quite +bewildered them, so that in a brief period all three were knocked over +and fell flat upon the ground. Once down, many of the Loons held them, +to prevent their getting up again, while others wound long tendrils of +vines about them, binding their arms and legs to their bodies and so +rendering them helpless. +</P> + +<P> +"Aha!" cried the biggest Loon of all; "we've got 'em safe; so let's +carry 'em to King Bal and have 'em tried, and condemned and +perforated!" They had to drag their captives to the center of the domed +chamber, for their weight, as compared with that of the Loons, +prevented their being carried. Even the Scarecrow was much heavier than +the puffy Loons. But finally the party halted before a raised platform, +on which stood a sort of throne, consisting of a big, wide chair with a +string tied to one arm of it. This string led upward to the roof of the +dome. +</P> + +<P> +Arranged before the platform, the prisoners were allowed to sit up, +facing the empty throne. +</P> + +<P> +"Good!" said the big Loon who had commanded the party. "Now to get King +Bal to judge these terrible creatures we have so bravely captured." +</P> + +<P> +As he spoke he took hold of the string and began to pull as hard as he +could. One or two of the others helped him and pretty soon, as they +drew in the cord, the leaves above them parted and a Loon appeared at +the other end of the string. It didn't take long to draw him down to +the throne, where he seated himself and was tied in, so he wouldn't +float upward again. +</P> + +<P> +"Hello," said the King, blinking his purple eyes at his followers; +"what's up now!" +</P> + +<P> +"Strangers, your Majesty—strangers and captives," replied the big +Loon, pompously. +</P> + +<P> +"Dear me! I see 'em. I see 'em very plainly," exclaimed the King, his +purple eyes bulging out as he looked at the three prisoners. "What +curious animals! Are they dangerous, do you think, my good Panta?" +</P> + +<P> +"I'm 'fraid so, your Majesty. Of course, they may not be dangerous, but +we mustn't take chances. Enough accidents happen to us poor Loons as it +is, and my advice is to condemn and perforate 'em as quickly as +possible." +</P> + +<P> +"Keep your advice to yourself," said the monarch, in a peeved tone. +"Who's King here, anyhow? You or Me?" +</P> + +<P> +"We made you our King because you have less common sense than the rest +of us," answered Panta Loon, indignantly. "I could have been King +myself, had I wanted to, but I didn't care for the hard work and +responsibility." +</P> + +<P> +As he said this, the big Loon strutted back and forth in the space +between the throne of King Bal and the prisoners, and the other Loons +seemed much impressed by his defiance. But suddenly there came a sharp +report and Panta Loon instantly disappeared, to the great astonishment +of the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and Woot the Wanderer, who saw on the +spot where the big fellow had stood a little heap of flabby, wrinkled +skin that looked like a collapsed rubber balloon. +</P> + +<P> +"There!" exclaimed the King; "I expected that would happen. The +conceited rascal wanted to puff himself up until he was bigger than the +rest of you, and this is the result of his folly. Get the pump working, +some of you, and blow him up again." +</P> + +<P> +"We will have to mend the puncture first, your Majesty," suggested one +of the Loons, and the prisoners noticed that none of them seemed +surprised or shocked at the sad accident to Panta. +</P> + +<P> +"All right," grumbled the King. "Fetch Til to mend him." +</P> + +<P> +One or two ran away and presently returned, followed by a lady Loon +wearing huge, puffed-up rubber skirts. Also she had a purple feather +fastened to a wart on the top of her head, and around her waist was a +sash of fibre-like vines, dried and tough, that looked like strings. +</P> + +<P> +"Get to work, Til," commanded King Bal. "Panta has just exploded." +</P> + +<P> +The lady Loon picked up the bunch of skin and examined it carefully +until she discovered a hole in one foot. Then she pulled a strand of +string from her sash, and drawing the edges of the hole together, she +tied them fast with the string, thus making one of those curious warts +which the strangers had noticed on so many Loons. Having done this, Til +Loon tossed the bit of skin to the other Loons and was about to go away +when she noticed the prisoners and stopped to inspect them. +</P> + +<P> +"Dear me!" said Til; "what dreadful creatures. Where did they come +from?" +</P> + +<P> +"We captured them," replied one of the Loons. +</P> + +<P> +"And what are we going to do with them?" inquired the girl Loon. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps we'll condemn 'em and puncture 'em," answered the King. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," said she, still eyeing the "I'm not sure they'll puncture. +Let's try it, and see." +</P> + +<P> +One of the Loons ran to the forest's edge and quickly returned with a +long, sharp thorn. He glanced at the King, who nodded his head in +assent, and then he rushed forward and stuck the thorn into the leg of +the Scarecrow. The Scarecrow merely smiled and said nothing, for the +thorn didn't hurt him at all. +</P> + +<P> +Then the Loon tried to prick the Tin Woodman's leg, but the tin only +blunted the point of the thorn. +</P> + +<P> +"Just as I thought," said Til, blinking her purple eyes and shaking her +puffy head; but just then the Loon stuck the thorn into the leg of Woot +the Wanderer, and while it had been blunted somewhat, it was still +sharp enough to hurt. +</P> + +<P> +"Ouch!" yelled Woot, and kicked out his leg with so much energy that +the frail bonds that tied him burst apart. His foot caught the +Loon—who was leaning over him—full on his puffy stomach, and sent him +shooting up into the air. When he was high over their heads he exploded +with a loud "pop" and his skin fell to the ground. +</P> + +<P> +"I really believe," said the King, rolling his spotlike eyes in a +frightened way, "that Panta was right in claiming these prisoners are +dangerous. Is the pump ready?" +</P> + +<P> +Some of the Loons had wheeled a big machine in front of the throne and +now took Panta's skin and began to pump air into it. Slowly it swelled +out until the King cried "Stop!" +</P> + +<P> +"No, no!" yelled Panta, "I'm not big enough yet." +</P> + +<P> +"You're as big as you're going to be," declared the King. "Before you +exploded you were bigger than the rest of us, and that caused you to +be proud and overbearing. Now you're a little smaller than the rest, +and you will last longer and be more humble." +</P> + +<P> +"Pump me up—pump me up!" wailed Panta "If you don't you'll break my +heart." +</P> + +<P> +"If we do we'll break your skin," replied the King. +</P> + +<P> +So the Loons stopped pumping air into Panta, and pushed him away from +the pump. He was certainly more humble than before his accident, for he +crept into the background and said nothing more. +</P> + +<P> +"Now pump up the other one," ordered the King. Til had already mended +him, and the Loons set to work to pump him full of air. +</P> + +<P> +During these last few moments none had paid much attention to the +prisoners, so Woot, finding his legs free, crept over to the Tin +Woodman and rubbed the bonds that were still around his arms and body +against the sharp edge of the axe, which quickly cut them. +</P> + +<P> +The boy was now free, and the thorn which the Loon had stuck into his +leg was lying unnoticed on the ground, where the creature had dropped +it when he exploded. Woot leaned forward and picked up the thorn, and +while the Loons were busy watching the pump, the boy sprang to his feet +and suddenly rushed upon the group. +</P> + +<P> +"Pop"—"pop"—"pop!" went three of the Loons, when the Wanderer pricked +them with his thorn, and at the sounds the others looked around and saw +their danger. With yells of fear they bounded away in all directions, +scattering about the clearing, with Woot the Wanderer in full chase. +While they could run much faster than the boy, they often stumbled and +fell, or got in one another's way, so he managed to catch several and +prick them with his thorn. +</P> + +<P> +It astonished him to see how easily the Loons exploded. When the air +was let out of them they were quite helpless. Til Loon was one of those +who ran against his thorn and many others suffered the same fate. The +creatures could not escape from the enclosure, but in their fright many +bounded upward and caught branches of the trees, and then climbed out +of reach of the dreaded thorn. +</P> + +<P> +Woot was getting pretty tired chasing them, so he stopped and came +over, panting, to where his friends were sitting, still bound. +</P> + +<P> +"Very well done, my Wanderer," said the Tin Woodman. "It is evident +that we need fear these puffed-up creatures no longer, so be kind +enough to unfasten our bonds and we will proceed upon our journey." +</P> + +<P> +Woot untied the bonds of the Scarecrow and helped him to his feet. Then +he freed the Tin Woodman, who got up without help. Looking around them, +they saw that the only Loon now remaining within reach was Bal Loon, +the King, who had remained seated in his throne, watching the +punishment of his people with a bewildered look in his purple eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"Shall I puncture the King?" the boy asked his companions. +</P> + +<P> +King Bal must have overheard the question, for he fumbled with the cord +that fastened him to the throne and managed to release it. Then he +floated upward until he reached the leafy dome, and parting the +branches he disappeared from sight. But the string that was tied to his +body was still connected with the arm of the throne, and they knew they +could pull his Majesty down again, if they wanted to. +</P> + +<P> +"Let him alone," suggested the Scarecrow. "He seems a good enough king +for his peculiar people, and after we are gone, the Loons will have +something of a job to pump up all those whom Woot has punctured." +</P> + +<P> +"Every one of them ought to be exploded," declared Woot, who was angry +because his leg still hurt him. +</P> + +<P> +"No," said the Tin Woodman, "that would not be just fair. They were +quite right to capture us, because we had no business to intrude here, +having been warned to keep away from Loonville. This is their country, +not ours, and since the poor things can't get out of the clearing, they +can harm no one save those who venture here out of curiosity, as we +did." +</P> + +<P> +"Well said, my friend," agreed tile Scarecrow. "We really had no right +to disturb their peace and comfort; so let us go away." +</P> + +<P> +They easily found the place where they had forced their way into the +enclosure, so the Tin Woodman pushed aside the underbrush and started +first along the path. The Scarecrow followed next and last came Woot, +who looked back and saw that the Loons were still clinging to their +perches on the trees and watching their former captives with frightened +eyes. +</P> + +<P> +"I guess they're glad to see the last of us," remarked the boy, and +laughing at the happy ending of the adventure, he followed his comrades +along the path. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap05"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Five +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Mrs. Yoop, the Giantess +</H3> + +<P> +When they had reached the end of the path, where they had first seen +the warning sign, they set off across the country in an easterly +direction. Before long they reached Rolling Lands, which were a +succession of hills and valleys where constant climbs and descents were +required, and their journey now became tedious, because on climbing +each hill, they found before them nothing in the valley below it except +grass, or weeds or stones. +</P> + +<P> +Up and down they went for hours, with nothing to relieve the monotony +of the landscape, until finally, when they had topped a higher hill +than usual, they discovered a cup-shaped valley before them in the +center of which stood an enormous castle, built of purple stone. The +castle was high and broad and long, but had no turrets and towers. So +far as they could see, there was but one small window and one big door +on each side of the great building. +</P> + +<P> +"This is strange!" mused the Scarecrow. "I'd no idea such a big castle +existed in this Gillikin Country. I wonder who lives here?" +</P> + +<P> +"It seems to me, from this distance," remarked the Tin Woodman, "that +it's the biggest castle I ever saw. It is really too big for any use, +and no one could open or shut those big doors without a stepladder." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps, if we go nearer, we shall find out whether anybody lives +there or not," suggested Woot. "Looks to me as if nobody lived there." +</P> + +<P> +On they went, and when they reached the center of the valley, where the +great stone castle stood, it was beginning to grow dark. So they +hesitated as to what to do. +</P> + +<P> +"If friendly people happen to live here," said Woot. "I shall be glad +of a bed; but should enemies occupy the place, I prefer to sleep upon +the ground." +</P> + +<P> +"And if no one at all lives here," added the Scarecrow, "we can enter, +and take possession, and make ourselves at home." +</P> + +<P> +While speaking he went nearer to one of the great doors, which was +three times as high and broad as any he had ever seen in a house +before, and then he discovered, engraved in big letters upon a stone +over the doorway, the words: +</P> + +<H4 ALIGN="center"> + "YOOP CASTLE"<BR> +</H4> + +<P> +"Oho!" he exclaimed; "I know the place now. This was probably the home +of Mr. Yoop, a terrible giant whom I have seen confined in a cage, a +long way from here. Therefore this castle is likely to be empty and we +may use it in any way we please." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, yes," said the Tin Emperor, nodding; "I also remember Mr. Yoop. +But how are we to get into his deserted castle? The latch of the door +is so far above our heads that none of us can reach it." +</P> + +<P> +They considered this problem for a while, and then Woot said to the Tin +Man: +</P> + +<P> +"If I stand upon your shoulders, I think I can unlatch the door." +</P> + +<P> +"Climb up, then," was the reply, and when the boy was perched upon the +tin shoulders of Nick Chopper, he was just able to reach the latch and +raise it. +</P> + +<P> +At once the door swung open, its great hinges making a groaning sound +as if in protest, so Woot leaped down and followed his companions into +a big, bare hallway. Scarcely were the three inside, however, when they +heard the door slam shut behind them, and this astonished them because +no one had touched it. It had closed of its own accord, as if by magic. +Moreover, the latch was on the outside, and the thought occurred to +each one of them that they were now prisoners in this unknown castle. +</P> + +<P> +"However," mumbled the Scarecrow, "we are not to blame for what cannot +be helped; so let us push bravely ahead and see what may be seen." +</P> + +<P> +It was quite dark in the hallway, now that the outside door was shut, +so as they stumbled along a stone passage they kept close together, not +knowing what danger was likely to befall them. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly a soft glow enveloped them. It grew brighter, until they could +see their surroundings distinctly. They had reached the end of the +passage and before them was another huge door. This noiselessly swung +open before them, without the help of anyone, and through the doorway +they observed a big chamber, the walls of which were lined with plates +of pure gold, highly polished. +</P> + +<P> +This room was also lighted, although they could discover no lamps, and +in the center of it was a great table at which sat an immense woman. +She was clad in silver robes embroidered with gay floral designs, and +wore over this splendid raiment a short apron of elaborate lace-work. +Such an apron was no protection, and was not in keeping with the +handsome gown, but the huge woman wore it, nevertheless. The table at +which she sat was spread with a white cloth and had golden dishes upon +it, so the travelers saw that they had surprised the Giantess while she +was eating her supper. +</P> + +<P> +She had her back toward them and did not even turn around, but taking a +biscuit from a dish she began to butter it and said in a voice that was +big and deep but not especially unpleasant: +</P> + +<P> +"Why don't you come in and allow the door to shut? You're causing a +draught, and I shall catch cold and sneeze. When I sneeze, I get cross, +and when I get cross I'm liable to do something wicked. Come in, you +foolish strangers; come in!" +</P> + +<P> +Being thus urged, they entered the room and approached the table, until +they stood where they faced the great Giantess. She continued eating, +but smiled in a curious way as she looked at them. Woot noticed that +the door had closed silently after they had entered, and that didn't +please him at all. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," said the Giantess, "what excuse have you to offer?" +</P> + +<P> +"We didn't know anyone lived here, Madam," explained the Scarecrow; +"so, being travelers and strangers in these parts, and wishing to find +a place for our boy friend to sleep, we ventured to enter your castle." +</P> + +<P> +"You knew it was private property, I suppose?" said she, buttering +another biscuit. +</P> + +<P> +"We saw the words, 'Yoop Castle,' over the door, but we knew that Mr. +Yoop is a prisoner in a cage in a far-off part of the land of Oz, so we +decided there was no one now at home and that we might use the castle +for the night." +</P> + +<P> +"I see," remarked the Giantess, nodding her head and smiling again in +that curious way—a way that made Woot shudder. "You didn't know that +Mr. Yoop was married, or that after he was cruelly captured his wife +still lived in his castle and ran it to suit herself." +</P> + +<P> +"Who captured Mr. Yoop?" asked Woot, looking gravely at the big woman. +</P> + +<P> +"Wicked enemies. People who selfishly objected to Yoop's taking their +cows and sheep for his food. I must admit, however, that Yoop had a bad +temper, and had the habit of knocking over a few houses, now and then, +when he was angry. So one day the little folks came in a great crowd +and captured Mr. Yoop, and carried him away to a cage somewhere in the +mountains. I don't know where it is, and I don't care, for my husband +treated me badly at times, forgetting the respect a giant owes to a +giantess. Often he kicked me on my shins, when I wouldn't wait on him. +So I'm glad he is gone." +</P> + +<P> +"It's a wonder the people didn't capture you, too," remarked Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I was too clever for them," said she, giving a sudden laugh that +caused such a breeze that the wobbly Scarecrow was almost blown off his +feet and had to grab his friend Nick Chopper to steady himself. "I saw +the people coming," continued Mrs. Yoop, "and knowing they meant +mischief I transformed myself into a mouse and hid in a cupboard. After +they had gone away, carrying my shin-kicking husband with them, I +transformed myself back to my former shape again, and here I've lived +in peace and comfort ever since." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you a Witch, then?" inquired Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, not exactly a Witch," she replied, "but I'm an Artist in +Transformations. In other words, I'm more of a Yookoohoo than a Witch, +and of course you know that the Yookoohoos are the cleverest +magic-workers in the world." +</P> + +<P> +The travelers were silent for a time, uneasily considering this +statement and the effect it might have on their future. No doubt the +Giantess had wilfully made them her prisoners; yet she spoke so +cheerfully, in her big voice, that until now they had not been alarmed +in the least. +</P> + +<P> +By and by the Scarecrow, whose mixed brains had been working steadily, +asked the woman: +</P> + +<P> +"Are we to consider you our friend, Mrs. Yoop, or do you intend to be +our enemy?" +</P> + +<P> +"I never have friends," she said in a matter-of-fact tone, "because +friends get too familiar and always forget to mind their own business. +But I am not your enemy; not yet, anyhow. Indeed, I'm glad you've come, +for my life here is rather lonely. I've had no one to talk to since I +transformed Polychrome, the Daughter of the Rainbow, into a +canary-bird." +</P> + +<P> +"How did you manage to do that?" asked the Tin Woodman, in amazement. +"Polychrome is a powerful fairy!" +</P> + +<P> +"She was," said the Giantess; "but now she's a canary-bird. One day +after a rain, Polychrome danced off the Rainbow and fell asleep on a +little mound in this valley, not far from my castle. The sun came out +and drove the Rainbow away, and before Poly wakened, I stole out and +transformed her into a canary-bird in a gold cage studded with +diamonds. The cage was so she couldn't fly away. I expected she'd sing +and talk and we'd have good times together; but she has proved no +company for me at all. Ever since the moment of her transformation, she +has refused to speak a single word." +</P> + +<P> +"Where is she now?" inquired Woot, who had heard tales of lovely +Polychrome and was much interested in her. +</P> + +<P> +"The cage is hanging up in my bedroom," said the Giantess, eating +another biscuit. The travelers were now more uneasy and suspicious of +the Giantess than before. If Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter, who +was a real fairy, had been transformed and enslaved by this huge woman, +who claimed to be a Yookoohoo, what was liable to happen to them? Said +the Scarecrow, twisting his stuffed head around in Mrs. Yoop's +direction: +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know, Ma'am, who we are?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course," said she; "a straw man, a tin man and a boy." +</P> + +<P> +"We are very important people," declared the Tin Woodman. +</P> + +<P> +"All the better," she replied. "I shall enjoy your society the more on +that account. For I mean to keep you here as long as I live, to amuse +me when I get lonely. And," she added slowly, "in this Valley no one +ever dies." +</P> + +<P> +They didn't like this speech at all, so the Scarecrow frowned in a way +that made Mrs. Yoop smile, while the Tin Woodman looked so fierce that +Mrs. Yoop laughed. The Scarecrow suspected she was going to laugh, so +he slipped behind his friends to escape the wind from her breath. From +this safe position he said warningly: +</P> + +<P> +"We have powerful friends who will soon come to rescue us." +</P> + +<P> +"Let them come," she returned, with an accent of scorn. "When they get +here they will find neither a boy, nor a tin man, nor a scarecrow, for +tomorrow morning I intend to transform you all into other shapes, so +that you cannot be recognized." +</P> + +<P> +This threat filled them with dismay. The good-natured Giantess was more +terrible than they had imagined. She could smile and wear pretty +clothes and at the same time be even more cruel than her wicked husband +had been. +</P> + +<P> +Both the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman tried to think of some way to +escape from the castle before morning, but she seemed to read their +thoughts and shook her head. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't worry your poor brains," said she. "You can't escape me, however +hard you try. But why should you wish to escape? I shall give you new +forms that are much better than the ones you now have. Be contented +with your fate, for discontent leads to unhappiness, and unhappiness, +in any form, is the greatest evil that can befall you." +</P> + +<P> +"What forms do you intend to give us?" asked Woot earnestly. +</P> + +<P> +"I haven't decided, as yet. I'll dream over it tonight, so in the +morning I shall have made up my mind how to transform you. Perhaps +you'd prefer to choose your own transformations?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," said Woot, "I prefer to remain as I am." +</P> + +<P> +"That's funny," she retorted. "You are little, and you're weak; as you +are, you're not much account, anyhow. The best thing about you is that +you're alive, for I shall be able to make of you some sort of live +creature which will be a great improvement on your present form." +</P> + +<P> +She took another biscuit from a plate and dipped it in a pot of honey +and calmly began eating it. +</P> + +<P> +The Scarecrow watched her thoughtfully. +</P> + +<P> +"There are no fields of grain in your Valley," said he; "where, then, +did you get the flour to make your biscuits?" +</P> + +<P> +"Mercy me! do you think I'd bother to make biscuits out of flour?" she +replied. "That is altogether too tedious a process for a Yookoohoo. I +set some traps this afternoon and caught a lot of field-mice, but as I +do not like to eat mice, I transformed them into hot biscuits for my +supper. The honey in this pot was once a wasp's nest, but since being +transformed it has become sweet and delicious. All I need do, when I +wish to eat, is to take something I don't care to keep, and transform +it into any sort of food I like, and eat it. Are you hungry?" +</P> + +<P> +"I don't eat, thank you," said the Scarecrow. +</P> + +<P> +"Nor do I," said the Tin Woodman. +</P> + +<P> +"I have still a little natural food in my knapsack," said Woot the +Wanderer, "and I'd rather eat that than any wasp's nest." +</P> + +<P> +"Every one to his taste," said the Giantess carelessly, and having now +finished her supper she rose to her feet, clapped her hands together, +and the supper table at once disappeared. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap06"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Six +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Magic of a Yookoohoo +</H3> + +<P> +Woot had seen very little of magic during his wanderings, while the +Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman had seen a great deal of many sorts in +their lives, yet all three were greatly impressed by Mrs. Yoop's +powers. She did not affect any mysterious airs or indulge in chants or +mystic rites, as most witches do, nor was the Giantess old and ugly or +disagreeable in face or manner. Nevertheless, she frightened her +prisoners more than any witch could have done. +</P> + +<P> +"Please be seated," she said to them, as she sat herself down in a +great arm-chair and spread her beautiful embroidered skirts for them to +admire. But all the chairs in the room were so high that our friends +could not climb to the seats of them. Mrs. Yoop observed this and waved +her hand, when instantly a golden ladder appeared leaning against a +chair opposite her own. +</P> + +<P> +"Climb up," said she, and they obeyed, the Tin Man and the boy +assisting the more clumsy Scarecrow. When they were all seated in a row +on the cushion of the chair, the Giantess continued: "Now tell me how +you happened to travel in this direction, and where you came from and +what your errand is." +</P> + +<P> +So the Tin Woodman told her all about Nimmie Amee, and how he had +decided to find her and marry her, although he had no Loving Heart. The +story seemed to amuse the big woman, who then began to ask the +Scarecrow questions and for the first time in her life heard of Ozma of +Oz, and of Dorothy and Jack Pumpkinhead and Dr. Pipt and Tik-tok and +many other Oz people who are well known in the Emerald City. Also Woot +had to tell his story, which was very simple and did not take long. The +Giantess laughed heartily when the boy related their adventure at +Loonville, but said she knew nothing of the Loons because she never +left her Valley. +</P> + +<P> +"There are wicked people who would like to capture me, as they did my +giant husband, Mr. Yoop," said she; "so I stay at home and mind my own +business." +</P> + +<P> +"If Ozma knew that you dared to work magic without her consent, she +would punish you severely," declared the Scarecrow, "for this castle is +in the Land of Oz, and no persons in the Land of Oz are permitted to +work magic except Glinda the Good and the little Wizard who lives with +Ozma in the Emerald City." +</P> + +<P> +"That for your Ozma!" exclaimed the Giantess, snapping her fingers in +derision. "What do I care for a girl whom I have never seen and who has +never seen me?" +</P> + +<P> +"But Ozma is a fairy," said the Tin Woodman, "and therefore she is very +powerful. Also, we are under Ozma's protection, and to injure us in any +way would make her extremely angry." +</P> + +<P> +"What I do here, in my own private castle in this secluded +Valley—where no one comes but fools like you—can never be known to +your fairy Ozma," returned the Giantess. "Do not seek to frighten me +from my purpose, and do not allow yourselves to be frightened, for it +is best to meet bravely what cannot be avoided. I am now going to bed, +and in the morning I will give you all new forms, such as will be more +interesting to me than the ones you now wear. Good night, and pleasant +dreams." +</P> + +<P> +Saying this, Mrs. Yoop rose from her chair and walked through a doorway +into another room. So heavy was the tread of the Giantess that even the +walls of the big stone castle trembled as she stepped. She closed the +door of her bedroom behind her, and then suddenly the light went out +and the three prisoners found themselves in total darkness. +</P> + +<P> +The Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow didn't mind the dark at all, but Woot +the Wanderer felt worried to be left in this strange place in this +strange manner, without being able to see any danger that might +threaten. +</P> + +<P> +"The big woman might have given me a bed, anyhow," he said to his +companions, and scarcely had he spoken when he felt something press +against his legs, which were then dangling from the seat of the chair. +Leaning down, he put out his hand and found that a bedstead had +appeared, with mattress, sheets and covers, all complete. He lost no +time in slipping down upon the bed and was soon fast asleep. +</P> + +<P> +During the night the Scarecrow and the Emperor talked in low tones +together, and they got out of the chair and moved all about the room, +feeling for some hidden spring that might open a door or window and +permit them to escape. +</P> + +<P> +Morning found them still unsuccessful in the quest and as soon as it +was daylight Woot's bed suddenly disappeared, and he dropped to the +floor with a thump that quickly wakened him. And after a time the +Giantess came from her bedroom, wearing another dress that was quite as +elaborate as the one in which she had been attired the evening before, +and also wearing the pretty lace apron. Having seated herself in a +chair, she said: +</P> + +<P> +"I'm hungry; so I'll have breakfast at once." +</P> + +<P> +She clapped her hands together and instantly the table appeared before +her, spread with snowy linen and laden with golden dishes. But there +was no food upon the table, nor anything else except a pitcher of +water, a bundle of weeds and a handful of pebbles. But the Giantess +poured some water into her coffee-pot, patted it once or twice with her +hand, and then poured out a cupful of steaming hot coffee. +</P> + +<P> +"Would you like some?" she asked Woot. +</P> + +<P> +He was suspicious of magic coffee, but it smelled so good that he could +not resist it; so he answered: "If you please, Madam." +</P> + +<P> +The Giantess poured out another cup and set it on the floor for Woot. +It was as big as a tub, and the golden spoon in the saucer beside the +cup was so heavy the boy could scarcely lift it. But Woot managed to +get a sip of the coffee and found it delicious. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Yoop next transformed the weeds into a dish of oatmeal, which she +ate with good appetite. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, then," said she, picking up the pebbles. "I'm wondering whether I +shall have fish-balls or lamb-chops to complete my meal. Which would +you prefer, Woot the Wanderer?" +</P> + +<P> +"If you please, I'll eat the food in my knapsack," answered the boy. +"Your magic food might taste good, but I'm afraid of it." +</P> + +<P> +The woman laughed at his fears and transformed the pebbles into +fish-balls. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose you think that after you had eaten this food it would turn +to stones again and make you sick," she remarked; "but that would be +impossible. Nothing I transform ever gets back to its former shape +again, so these fish-balls can never more be pebbles. That is why I +have to be careful of my transformations," she added, busily eating +while she talked, "for while I can change forms at will I can never +change them back again—which proves that even the powers of a clever +Yookoohoo are limited. When I have transformed you three people, you +must always wear the shapes that I have given you." +</P> + +<P> +"Then please don't transform us," begged Woot, "for we are quite +satisfied to remain as we are." +</P> + +<P> +"I am not expecting to satisfy you, but intend to please myself," she +declared, "and my pleasure is to give you new shapes. For, if by chance +your friends came in search of you, not one of them would be able to +recognize you." +</P> + +<P> +Her tone was so positive that they knew it would be useless to protest. +The woman was not unpleasant to look at; her face was not cruel; her +voice was big but gracious in tone; but her words showed that she +possessed a merciless heart and no pleadings would alter her wicked +purpose. +</P> + +<P> +Mrs. Yoop took ample time to finish her breakfast and the prisoners had +no desire to hurry her, but finally the meal was concluded and she +folded her napkin and made the table disappear by clapping her hands +together. Then she turned to her captives and said: +</P> + +<P> +"The next thing on the programme is to change your forms." +</P> + +<P> +"Have you decided what forms to give us?" asked the Scarecrow, uneasily. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I dreamed it all out while I was asleep. This Tin Man seems a +very solemn person "—indeed, the Tin Woodman was looking solemn, just +then, for he was greatly disturbed—"so I shall change him into an Owl." +</P> + +<P> +All she did was to point one finger at him as she spoke, but +immediately the form of the Tin Woodman began to change and in a few +seconds Nick Chopper, the Emperor of the Winkies, had been transformed +into an Owl, with eyes as big as saucers and a hooked beak and strong +claws. But he was still tin. He was a Tin Owl, with tin legs and beak +and eyes and feathers. When he flew to the back of a chair and perched +upon it, his tin feathers rattled against one another with a tinny +clatter. The Giantess seemed much amused by the Tin Owl's appearance, +for her laugh was big and jolly. +</P> + +<P> +"You're not liable to get lost," said she, "for your wings and feathers +will make a racket wherever you go. And, on my word, a Tin Owl is so +rare and pretty that it is an improvement on the ordinary bird. I did +not intend to make you tin, but I forgot to wish you to be meat. +However, tin you were, and tin you are, and as it's too late to change +you, that settles it." +</P> + +<P> +Until now the Scarecrow had rather doubted the possibility of Mrs. +Yoop's being able to transform him, or his friend the Tin Woodman, for +they were not made as ordinary people are. He had worried more over +what might happen to Woot than to himself, but now he began to worry +about himself. +</P> + +<P> +"Madam," he said hastily, "I consider this action very impolite. It may +even be called rude, considering we are your guests." +</P> + +<P> +"You are not guests, for I did not invite you here," she replied. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps not; but we craved hospitality. We threw ourselves upon your +mercy, so to speak, and we now find you have no mercy. Therefore, if +you will excuse the expression, I must say it is downright wicked to +take our proper forms away from us and give us others that we do not +care for." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you trying to make me angry?" she asked, frowning. +</P> + +<P> +"By no means," said the Scarecrow; "I'm just trying to make you act +more ladylike." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, indeed! In my opinion, Mr. Scarecrow, you are now acting like a +bear—so a Bear you shall be!" +</P> + +<P> +Again the dreadful finger pointed, this time in the Scarecrow's +direction, and at once his form began to change. In a few seconds he +had become a small Brown Bear, but he was stuffed with straw as he had +been before, and when the little Brown Bear shuffled across the floor +he was just as wobbly as the Scarecrow had been and moved just as +awkwardly. +</P> + +<P> +Woot was amazed, but he was also thoroughly frightened. +</P> + +<P> +"Did it hurt?" he asked the little Brown Bear. +</P> + +<P> +"No, of course not," growled the Scarecrow in the Bear's form; "but I +don't like walking on four legs; it's undignified." +</P> + +<P> +"Consider my humiliation!" chirped the Tin Owl, trying to settle its +tin feathers smoothly with its tin beak. "And I can't see very well, +either. The light seems to hurt my eyes." +</P> + +<P> +"That's because you are an Owl," said Woot. "I think you will see +better in the dark." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," remarked the Giantess, "I'm very well pleased with these new +forms, for my part, and I'm sure you will like them better when you get +used to them. So now," she added, turning to the boy, "it is your turn." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you think you'd better leave me as I am?" asked Woot in a +trembling voice. +</P> + +<P> +"No," she replied, "I'm going to make a Monkey of you. I love +monkeys—they're so cute!—and I think a Green Monkey will be lots of +fun and amuse me when I am sad." +</P> + +<P> +Woot shivered, for again the terrible magic finger pointed, and pointed +directly his way. He felt himself changing; not so very much, however, +and it didn't hurt him a bit. He looked down at his limbs and body and +found that his clothes were gone and his skin covered with a fine, +silk-like green fur. His hands and feet were now those of a monkey. He +realized he really was a monkey, and his first feeling was one of +anger. He began to chatter as monkeys do. He bounded to the seat of a +giant chair, and then to its back and with a wild leap sprang upon the +laughing Giantess. His idea was to seize her hair and pull it out by +the roots, and so have revenge for her wicked transformations. But she +raised her hand and said: +</P> + +<P> +"Gently, my dear Monkey—gently! You're not angry; you're happy as can +be!" +</P> + +<P> +Woot stopped short. No; he wasn't a bit angry now; he felt as +good-humored and gay as ever he did when a boy. Instead of pulling Mrs. +Yoop's hair, he perched on her shoulder and smoothed her soft cheek +with his hairy paw. In return, she smiled at the funny green animal and +patted his head. +</P> + +<P> +"Very good," said the Giantess. "Let us all become friends and be happy +together. How is my Tin Owl feeling?" +</P> + +<P> +"Quite comfortable," said the Owl. "I don't like it, to be sure, but +I'm not going to allow my new form to make me unhappy. But, tell me, +please: what is a Tin Owl good for?" +</P> + +<P> +"You are only good to make me laugh," replied the Giantess. +</P> + +<P> +"Will a stuffed Bear also make you laugh?" inquired the Scarecrow, +sitting back on his haunches to look up at her. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course," declared the Giantess; "and I have added a little magic to +your transformations to make you all contented with wearing your new +forms. I'm sorry I didn't think to do that when I transformed +Polychrome into a Canary-Bird. But perhaps, when she sees how cheerful +you are, she will cease to be silent and sullen and take to singing. I +will go get the bird and let you see her." +</P> + +<P> +With this, Mrs. Yoop went into the next room and soon returned bearing +a golden cage in which sat upon a swinging perch a lovely yellow +Canary. "Polychrome," said the Giantess, "permit me to introduce to you +a Green Monkey, which used to be a boy called Woot the Wanderer, and a +Tin Owl, which used to be a Tin Woodman named Nick Chopper, and a +straw-stuffed little Brown Bear which used to be a live Scarecrow." +</P> + +<P> +"We already know one another," declared the Scarecrow. "The bird is +Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter, and she and I used to be good +friends." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you really my old friend, the Scarecrow?" asked; the bird, in a +sweet, low voice. +</P> + +<P> +"There!" cried Mrs. Yoop; "that's the first time she has spoken since +she was transformed." +</P> + +<P> +"I am really your old friend," answered the Scarecrow; "but you must +pardon me for appearing just now in this brutal form." +</P> + +<P> +"I am a bird, as you are, dear Poly," said the Tin Woodman; "but, alas! +a Tin Owl is not as beautiful as a Canary-Bird." +</P> + +<P> +"How dreadful it all is!" sighed the Canary. "Couldn't you manage to +escape from this terrible Yookoohoo?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," answered the Scarecrow, "we tried to escape, but failed. She +first made us her prisoners and then transformed us. But how did she +manage to get you, Polychrome?" +</P> + +<P> +"I was asleep, and she took unfair advantage of me," answered the bird +sadly. "Had I been awake, I could easily have protected myself." +</P> + +<P> +"Tell me," said the Green Monkey earnestly, as he came close to the +cage, "what must we do, Daughter of the Rainbow, to escape from these +transformations? Can't you help us, being a Fairy?" +</P> + +<P> +"At present I am powerless to help even myself," replied the Canary. +</P> + +<P> +"That's the exact truth!" exclaimed the Giantess, who seemed pleased to +hear the bird talk, even though it complained; "you are all helpless +and in my power, so you may as well make up your minds to accept your +fate and be content. Remember that you are transformed for good, since +no magic on earth can break your enchantments. I am now going out for +my morning walk, for each day after breakfast I walk sixteen times +around my castle for exercise. Amuse yourselves while I am gone, and +when I return I hope to find you all reconciled and happy." +</P> + +<P> +So the Giantess walked to the door by which our friends had entered the +great hall and spoke one word: "Open!" Then the door swung open and +after Mrs. Yoop had passed out it closed again with a snap as its +powerful bolts shot into place. The Green Monkey had rushed toward the +opening, hoping to escape, but he was too late and only got a bump on +his nose as the door slammed shut. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap07"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Seven +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Lace Apron +</H3> + +<P> +"Now," said the Canary, in a tone more brisk than before, "we may talk +together more freely, as Mrs. Yoop cannot hear us. Perhaps we can +figure out a way to escape." +</P> + +<P> +"Open!" said Woot the Monkey, still facing the door; but his command +had no effect and he slowly rejoined the others. +</P> + +<P> +"You cannot open any door or window in this enchanted castle unless you +are wearing the Magic Apron," said the Canary. +</P> + +<P> +"What Magic Apron do you mean?" asked the Tin Owl, in a curious voice. +</P> + +<P> +"The lace one, which the Giantess always wears. I have been her +prisoner, in this cage, for several weeks, and she hangs my cage in her +bedroom every night, so that she can keep her eye on me," explained +Polychrome the Canary. "Therefore I have discovered that it is the +Magic Apron that opens the doors and windows, and nothing else can move +them. When she goes to bed, Mrs. Yoop hangs her apron on the bedpost, +and one morning she forgot to put it on when she commanded the door to +open, and the door would not move. So then she put on the lace apron +and the door obeyed her. That was how I learned the magic power of the +apron." +</P> + +<P> +"I see—I see!" said the little Brown Bear, wagging his stuffed head. +"Then, if we could get the apron from Mrs. Yoop, we could open the +doors and escape from our prison." +</P> + +<P> +"That is true, and it is the plan I was about to suggest," replied +Polychrome the Canary-Bird. "However, I don't believe the Owl could +steal the apron, or even the Bear, but perhaps the Monkey could hide in +her room at night and get the apron while she is asleep." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll try it!" cried Woot the Monkey. "I'll try it this very night, if +I can manage to steal into her bedroom." +</P> + +<P> +"You mustn't think about it, though," warned the bird, "for she can +read your thoughts whenever she cares to do so. And do not forget, +before you escape, to take me with you. Once I am out of the power of +the Giantess, I may discover a way to save us all." +</P> + +<P> +"We won't forget our fairy friend," promised the boy; "but perhaps you +can tell me how to get into the bedroom." +</P> + +<P> +"No," declared Polychrome, "I cannot advise you as to that. You must +watch for a chance, and slip in when Mrs. Yoop isn't looking." +</P> + +<P> +They talked it over for a while longer and then Mrs. Yoop returned. +When she entered, the door opened suddenly, at her command, and closed +as soon as her huge form had passed through the doorway. During that +day she entered her bedroom several times, on one errand or another, +but always she commanded the door to close behind her and her prisoners +found not the slightest chance to leave the big hall in which they were +confined. +</P> + +<P> +The Green Monkey thought it would be wise to make a friend of the big +woman, so as to gain her confidence, so he sat on the back of her chair +and chattered to her while she mended her stockings and sewed silver +buttons on some golden shoes that were as big as row-boats. This +pleased the Giantess and she would pause at times to pat the Monkey's +head. The little Brown Bear curled up in a corner and lay still all +day. The Owl and the Canary found they could converse together in the +bird language, which neither the Giantess nor the Bear nor the Monkey +could understand; so at times they twittered away to each other and +passed the long, dreary day quite cheerfully. +</P> + +<P> +After dinner Mrs. Yoop took a big fiddle from a big cupboard and played +such loud and dreadful music that her prisoners were all thankful when +at last she stopped and said she was going to bed. +</P> + +<P> +After cautioning the Monkey and Bear and Owl to behave themselves +during the night, she picked up the cage containing the Canary and, +going to the door of her bedroom, commanded it to open. Just then, +however, she remembered she had left her fiddle lying upon a table, so +she went back for it and put it away in the cupboard, and while her +back was turned the Green Monkey slipped through the open door into her +bedroom and hid underneath the bed. The Giantess, being sleepy, did not +notice this, and entering her room she made the door close behind her +and then hung the bird-cage on a peg by the window. Then she began to +undress, first taking off the lace apron and laying it over the +bedpost, where it was within easy reach of her hand. +</P> + +<P> +As soon as Mrs. Yoop was in bed the lights all went out, and Woot the +Monkey crouched under the bed and waited patiently until he heard the +Giantess snoring. Then he crept out and in the dark felt around until +he got hold of the apron, which he at once tied around his own waist. +</P> + +<P> +Next, Woot tried to find the Canary, and there was just enough +moonlight showing through the window to enable him to see where the +cage hung; but it was out of his reach. At first he was tempted to +leave Polychrome and escape with his other friends, but remembering his +promise to the Rainbow's Daughter Woot tried to think how to save her. +</P> + +<P> +A chair stood near the window, and this—showing dimly in the +moonlight—gave him an idea. By pushing against it with all his might, +he found he could move the giant chair a few inches at a time. So he +pushed and pushed until the chair was beneath the bird-cage, and then +he sprang noiselessly upon the seat—for his monkey form enabled him to +jump higher than he could do as a boy—and from there to the back of +the chair, and so managed to reach the cage and take it off the peg. +Then down he sprang to the floor and made his way to the door. "Open!" +he commanded, and at once the door obeyed and swung open, But his voice +wakened Mrs. Yoop, who gave a wild cry and sprang out of bed with one +bound. The Green Monkey dashed through the doorway, carrying the cage +with him, and before the Giantess could reach the door it slammed shut +and imprisoned her in her own bed-chamber! +</P> + +<P> +The noise she made, pounding upon the door, and her yells of anger and +dreadful threats of vengeance, filled all our friends with terror, and +Woot the Monkey was so excited that in the dark he could not find the +outer door of the hall. But the Tin Owl could see very nicely in the +dark, so he guided his friends to the right place and when all were +grouped before the door Woot commanded it to open. The Magic Apron +proved as powerful as when it had been worn by the Giantess, so a +moment later they had rushed through the passage and were standing in +the fresh night air outside the castle, free to go wherever they willed. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap08"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Eight +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Menace of the Forest +</H3> + +<P> +"Quick!" cried Polychrome the Canary; "we must hurry, or Mrs. Yoop may +find some way to recapture us, even now. Let us get out of her Valley +as soon as possible." +</P> + +<P> +So they set off toward the east, moving as swiftly as they could, and +for a long time they could hear the yells and struggles of the +imprisoned Giantess. The Green Monkey could run over the ground very +swiftly, and he carried with him the bird-cage containing Polychrome +the Rain-bow's Daughter. Also the Tin Owl could skip and fly along at a +good rate of speed, his feathers rattling against one another with a +tinkling sound as he moved. But the little Brown Bear, being stuffed +with straw, was a clumsy traveler and the others had to wait for him to +follow. +</P> + +<P> +However, they were not very long in reaching the ridge that led out of +Mrs. Yoop's Valley, and when they had passed this ridge and descended +into the next valley they stopped to rest, for the Green Monkey was +tired. +</P> + +<P> +"I believe we are safe, now," said Polychrome, when her cage was set +down and the others had all gathered around it, "for Mrs. Yoop dares +not go outside of her own Valley, for fear of being captured by her +enemies. So we may take our time to consider what to do next." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid poor Mrs. Yoop will starve to death, if no one lets her out +of her bedroom," said Woot, who had a heart as kind as that of the Tin +Woodman. "We've taken her Magic Apron away, and now the doors will +never open." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't worry about that," advised Polychrome. "Mrs. Yoop has plenty of +magic left to console her." +</P> + +<P> +"Are you sure of that?" asked the Green Monkey. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, for I've been watching her for weeks," said the Canary. "She has +six magic hairpins, which she wears in her hair, and a magic ring which +she wears on her thumb and which is invisible to all eyes except those +of a fairy, and magic bracelets on both her ankles. So I am positive +that she will manage to find a way out of her prison." +</P> + +<P> +"She might transform the door into an archway," suggested the little +Brown Bear. +</P> + +<P> +"That would be easy for her," said the Tin Owl; "but I'm glad she was +too angry to think of that before we got out of her Valley." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we have escaped the big woman, to be sure," remarked the Green +Monkey, "but we still wear the awful forms the cruel yookoohoo gave us. +How are we going to get rid of these shapes, and become ourselves +again?" +</P> + +<P> +None could answer that question. They sat around the cage, brooding +over the problem, until the Monkey fell asleep. Seeing this, the Canary +tucked her head under her wing and also slept, and the Tin Owl and the +Brown Bear did not disturb them until morning came and it was broad +daylight. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm hungry," said Woot, when he wakened, for his knapsack of food had +been left behind at the castle. +</P> + +<P> +"Then let us travel on until we can find something for you to eat," +returned the Scarecrow Bear. +</P> + +<P> +"There is no use in your lugging my cage any farther," declared the +Canary. "Let me out, and throw the cage away. Then I can fly with you +and find my own breakfast of seeds. Also I can search for water, and +tell you where to find it." +</P> + +<P> +So the Green Monkey unfastened the door of the golden cage and the +Canary hopped out. At first she flew high in the air and made great +circles overhead, but after a time she returned and perched beside them. +</P> + +<P> +"At the east in the direction we were following," announced the Canary, +"there is a fine forest, with a brook running through it. In the forest +there may be fruits or nuts growing, or berry bushes at its edge, so +let us go that way." +</P> + +<P> +They agreed to this and promptly set off, this time moving more +deliberately. The Tin Owl, which had guided their way during the night, +now found the sunshine very trying to his big eyes, so he shut them +tight and perched upon the back of the little Brown Bear, which carried +the Owl's weight with ease. The Canary sometimes perched upon the Green +Monkey's shoulder and sometimes fluttered on ahead of the party, and in +this manner they traveled in good spirits across that valley and into +the next one to the east of it. +</P> + +<P> +This they found to be an immense hollow, shaped like a saucer, and on +its farther edge appeared the forest which Polychrome had seen from the +sky. +</P> + +<P> +"Come to think of it," said the Tin Owl, waking up and blinking +comically at his friends, "there's no object, now, in our traveling to +the Munchkin Country. My idea in going there was to marry Nimmie Amee, +but however much the Munchkin girl may have loved a Tin Woodman, I +cannot reasonably expect her to marry a Tin Owl." +</P> + +<P> +"There is some truth in that, my friend," remarked the Brown Bear. "And +to think that I, who was considered the handsomest Scarecrow in the +world, am now condemned to be a scrubby, no-account beast, whose only +redeeming feature is that he is stuffed with straw!" +</P> + +<P> +"Consider my case, please," said Woot. "The cruel Giantess has made a +Monkey of a Boy, and that is the most dreadful deed of all!" +</P> + +<P> +"Your color is rather pretty," said the Brown Bear, eyeing Woot +critically. "I have never seen a pea-green monkey before, and it +strikes me you are quite gorgeous." +</P> + +<P> +"It isn't so bad to be a bird," asserted the Canary, fluttering from +one to another with a free and graceful motion, "but I long to enjoy my +own shape again." +</P> + +<P> +"As Polychrome, you were the loveliest maiden I have ever seen—except, +of course, Ozma," said the Tin Owl; "so the Giantess did well to +transform you into the loveliest of all birds, if you were to be +transformed at all. But tell me, since you are a fairy, and have a +fairy wisdom: do you think we shall be able to break these +enchantments?" +</P> + +<P> +"Queer things happen in the Land of Oz," replied the Canary, again +perching on the Green Monkey's shoulder and turning one bright eye +thoughtfully toward her questioner. "Mrs. Yoop has declared that none +of her transformations can ever be changed, even by herself, but I +believe that if we could get to Glinda the Good Sorceress, she might +find a way to restore us to our natural shapes. Glinda, as you know, is +the most powerful Sorceress in the world, and there are few things she +cannot do if she tries." +</P> + +<P> +"In that case," said the Little Brown Bear, "let us return southward +and try to get to Glinda's castle. It lies in the Quadling Country, you +know, so it is a good way from here." +</P> + +<P> +"First, however, let us visit the forest and search for something to +eat," pleaded Woot. So they continued on to the edge of the forest, +which consisted of many tall and beautiful trees. They discovered no +fruit trees, at first, so the Green Monkey pushed on into the forest +depths and the others followed close behind him. +</P> + +<P> +They were traveling quietly along, under the shade of the trees, when +suddenly an enormous jaguar leaped upon them from a limb and with one +blow of his paw sent the little Brown Bear tumbling over and over until +he was stopped by a tree-trunk. Instantly they all took alarm. The Tin +Owl shrieked: "Hoot—hoot!" and flew straight up to the branch of a +tall tree, although he could scarcely see where he was going. The +Canary swiftly darted to a place beside the Owl, and the Green Monkey +sprang up, caught a limb, and soon scrambled to a high perch of safety. +</P> + +<P> +The Jaguar crouched low and with hungry eyes regarded the little Brown +Bear, which slowly got upon its feet and asked reproachfully: +</P> + +<P> +"For goodness' sake, Beast, what were you trying to do?" +</P> + +<P> +"Trying to get my breakfast," answered the Jaguar with a snarl, "and I +believe I've succeeded. You ought to make a delicious meal—unless you +happen to be old and tough." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm worse than that, considered as a breakfast," said the Bear, "for +I'm only a skin stuffed with straw, and therefore not fit to eat." +</P> + +<P> +"Indeed!" cried the Jaguar, in a disappointed voice; "then you must be +a magic Bear, or enchanted, and I must seek my breakfast from among +your companions." +</P> + +<P> +With this he raised his lean head to look up at the Tin Owl and the +Canary and the Monkey, and he lashed his tail upon the ground and +growled as fiercely as any jaguar could. +</P> + +<P> +"My friends are enchanted, also," said the little Brown Bear. +</P> + +<P> +"All of them?" asked the Jaguar. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes. The Owl is tin, so you couldn't possibly eat him. The Canary is a +fairy—Polychrome, the Daughter of the Rainbow—and you never could +catch her because she can easily fly out of your reach." +</P> + +<P> +"There still remains the Green Monkey," remarked the Jaguar hungrily. +"He is neither made of tin nor stuffed with straw, nor can he fly. I'm +pretty good at climbing trees, myself, so I think I'll capture the +Monkey and eat him for my breakfast." +</P> + +<P> +Woot the Monkey, hearing this speech from his perch on the tree, became +much frightened, for he knew the nature of jaguars and realized they +could climb trees and leap from limb to limb with the agility of cats. +So he at once began to scamper through the forest as fast as he could +go, catching at a branch with his long monkey arms and swinging his +green body through space to grasp another branch in a neighboring tree, +and so on, while the Jaguar followed him from below, his eyes fixed +steadfastly on his prey. But presently Woot got his feet tangled in the +Lace Apron, which he was still wearing, and that tripped him in his +flight and made him fall to the ground, where the Jaguar placed one +huge paw upon him and said grimly: +</P> + +<P> +"I've got you, now!" +</P> + +<P> +The fact that the Apron had tripped him made Woot remember its magic +powers, and in his terror he cried out: "Open!" without stopping to +consider how this command might save him. But, at the word, the earth +opened at the exact spot where he lay under the Jaguar's paw, and his +body sank downward, the earth closing over it again. The last thing +Woot the Monkey saw, as he glanced upward, was the Jaguar peering into +the hole in astonishment. +</P> + +<P> +"He's gone!" cried the beast, with a long-drawn sigh of disappointment; +"he's gone, and now I shall have no breakfast." +</P> + +<P> +The clatter of the Tin Owl's wings sounded above him, and the little +Brown Bear came trotting up and asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Where is the monkey? Have you eaten him so quickly?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed," answered the Jaguar. "He disappeared into the earth +before I could take one bite of him!" +</P> + +<P> +And now the Canary perched upon a stump, a little way from the forest +beast, and said: +</P> + +<P> +"I am glad our friend has escaped you; but, as it is natural for a +hungry beast to wish his breakfast, I will try to give you one." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you," replied the Jaguar. "You're rather small for a full meal, +but it's kind of you to sacrifice yourself to my appetite." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, I don't intend to be eaten, I assure you," said the Canary, "but +as I am a fairy I know something of magic, and though I am now +transformed into a bird's shape, I am sure I can conjure up a breakfast +that will satisfy you." +</P> + +<P> +"If you can work magic, why don't you break the enchantment you are +under and return to your proper form?" inquired the beast doubtingly. +</P> + +<P> +"I haven't the power to do that," answered the Canary, "for Mrs. Yoop, +the Giantess who transformed me, used a peculiar form of yookoohoo +magic that is unknown to me. However, she could not deprive me of my +own fairy knowledge, so I will try to get you a breakfast." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think a magic breakfast would taste good, or relieve the pangs +of hunger I now suffer?" asked the Jaguar. +</P> + +<P> +"I am sure it would. What would you like to eat?" +</P> + +<P> +"Give me a couple of fat rabbits," said the beast. +</P> + +<P> +"Rabbits! No, indeed. I'd not allow you to eat the dear little things," +declared Polychrome the Canary. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, three or four squirrels, then," pleaded the Jaguar. +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think me so cruel?" demanded the Canary, indignantly. "The +squirrels are my especial friends." +</P> + +<P> +"How about a plump owl?" asked the beast. "Not a tin one, you know, but +a real meat owl." +</P> + +<P> +"Neither beast nor bird shall you have," said Polychrome in a positive +voice. +</P> + +<P> +"Give me a fish, then; there's a river a little way off," proposed the +Jaguar. +</P> + +<P> +"No living thing shall be sacrificed to feed you," returned the Canary. +</P> + +<P> +"Then what in the world do you expect me to eat?" said the Jaguar in a +scornful tone. +</P> + +<P> +"How would mush-and-milk do?" asked the Canary. +</P> + +<P> +The Jaguar snarled in derision and lashed his tail against the ground +angrily. +</P> + +<P> +"Give him some scrambled eggs on toast, Poly," suggested the Bear +Scarecrow. "He ought to like that." +</P> + +<P> +"I will," responded the Canary, and fluttering her wings she made a +flight of three circles around the stump. Then she flew up to a tree +and the Bear and the Owl and the Jaguar saw that upon the stump had +appeared a great green leaf upon which was a large portion of scrambled +eggs on toast, smoking hot. +</P> + +<P> +"There!" said the Bear; "eat your breakfast, friend Jaguar, and be +content." +</P> + +<P> +The Jaguar crept closer to the stump and sniffed the fragrance of the +scrambled eggs. They smelled so good that he tasted them, and they +tasted so good that he ate the strange meal in a hurry, proving he had +been really hungry. +</P> + +<P> +"I prefer rabbits," he muttered, licking his chops, "but I must admit +the magic breakfast has filled my stomach full, and brought me comfort. +So I'm much obliged for the kindness, little Fairy, and I'll now leave +you in peace." +</P> + +<P> +Saying this, he plunged into the thick underbrush and soon disappeared, +although they could hear his great body crashing through the bushes +until he was far distant. +</P> + +<P> +"That was a good way to get rid of the savage beast, Poly," said the +Tin Woodman to the Canary; "but I'm surprised that you didn't give our +friend Woot a magic breakfast, when you knew he was hungry." +</P> + +<P> +"The reason for that," answered Polychrome, "was that my mind was so +intent on other things that I quite forgot my power to produce food by +magic. But where is the monkey boy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Gone!" said the Scarecrow Bear, solemnly. "The earth has swallowed him +up." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap09"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Nine +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Quarrelsome Dragons +</H3> + +<P> +The Green Monkey sank gently into the earth for a little way and then +tumbled swiftly through space, landing on a rocky floor with a thump +that astonished him. Then he sat up, found that no bones were broken, +and gazed around him. +</P> + +<P> +He seemed to be in a big underground cave, which was dimly lighted by +dozens of big round discs that looked like moons. They were not moons, +however, as Woot discovered when he had examined the place more +carefully. They were eyes. The eyes were in the heads of enormous +beasts whose bodies trailed far behind them. Each beast was bigger than +an elephant, and three times as long, and there were a dozen or more of +the creatures scattered here and there about the cavern. On their +bodies were big scales, as round as pie-plates, which were beautifully +tinted in shades of green, purple and orange. On the ends of their long +tails were clusters of jewels. Around the great, moon-like eyes were +circles of diamonds which sparkled in the subdued light that glowed +from the eyes. +</P> + +<P> +Woot saw that the creatures had wide mouths and rows of terrible teeth +and, from tales he had heard of such beings, he knew he had fallen into +a cavern inhabited by the great Dragons that had been driven from the +surface of the earth and were only allowed to come out once in a +hundred years to search for food. Of course he had never seen Dragons +before, yet there was no mistaking them, for they were unlike any other +living creatures. +</P> + +<P> +Woot sat upon the floor where he had fallen, staring around, and the +owners of the big eyes returned his look, silently and motionless. +Finally one of the Dragons which was farthest away from him asked, in a +deep, grave voice: +</P> + +<P> +"What was that?" +</P> + +<P> +And the greatest Dragon of all, who was just in front of the Green +Monkey, answered in a still deeper voice: +</P> + +<P> +"It is some foolish animal from Outside." +</P> + +<P> +"Is it good to eat?" inquired a smaller Dragon beside the great one. +"I'm hungry." +</P> + +<P> +"Hungry!" exclaimed all the Dragons, in a reproachful chorus; and then +the great one said chidingly: "Tut-tut, my son! You've no reason to be +hungry at this time." +</P> + +<P> +"Why not?" asked the little Dragon. "I haven't eaten anything in eleven +years." +</P> + +<P> +"Eleven years is nothing," remarked another Dragon, sleepily opening +and closing his eyes; "I haven't feasted for eighty-seven years, and I +dare not get hungry for a dozen or so years to come. Children who eat +between meals should be broken of the habit." +</P> + +<P> +"All I had, eleven years ago, was a rhinoceros, and that's not a full +meal at all," grumbled the young one. "And, before that, I had waited +sixty-two years to be fed; so it's no wonder I'm hungry." +</P> + +<P> +"How old are you now?" asked Woot, forgetting his own dangerous +position in his interest in the conversation. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, I'm—I'm—How old am I, Father?" asked the little Dragon. +</P> + +<P> +"Goodness gracious! what a child to ask questions. Do you want to keep +me thinking all the time? Don't you know that thinking is very bad for +Dragons?" returned the big one, impatiently. +</P> + +<P> +"How old am I, Father?" persisted the small Dragon. +</P> + +<P> +"About six hundred and thirty, I believe. Ask your mother." +</P> + +<P> +"No; don't!" said an old Dragon in the background; "haven't I enough +worries, what with being wakened in the middle of a nap, without being +obliged to keep track of my children's ages?" +</P> + +<P> +"You've been fast asleep for over sixty years, Mother," said the child +Dragon. "How long a nap do you wish?" +</P> + +<P> +"I should have slept forty years longer. And this strange little green +beast should be punished for falling into our cavern and disturbing us." +</P> + +<P> +"I didn't know you were here, and I didn't know I was going to fall +in," explained Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"Nevertheless, here you are," said the great Dragon, "and you have +carelessly wakened our entire tribe; so it stands to reason you must be +punished." +</P> + +<P> +"In what way?" inquired the Green Monkey, trembling a little. +</P> + +<P> +"Give me time and I'll think of a way. You're in no hurry, are you?" +asked the great Dragon. +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed," cried Woot. "Take your time. I'd much rather you'd all go +to sleep again, and punish me when you wake up in a hundred years or +so." +</P> + +<P> +"Let me eat him!" pleaded the littlest Dragon. +</P> + +<P> +"He is too small," said the father. "To eat this one Green Monkey would +only serve to make you hungry for more, and there are no more." +</P> + +<P> +"Quit this chatter and let me get to sleep," protested another Dragon, +yawning in a fearful manner, for when he opened his mouth a sheet of +flame leaped forth from it and made Woot jump back to get out of its +way. +</P> + +<P> +In his jump he bumped against the nose of a Dragon behind him, which +opened its mouth to growl and shot another sheet of flame at him. The +flame was bright, but not very hot, yet Woot screamed with terror and +sprang forward with a great bound. This time he landed on the paw of +the great Chief Dragon, who angrily raised his other front paw and +struck the Green Monkey a fierce blow. Woot went sailing through the +air and fell sprawling upon the rocky floor far beyond the place where +the Dragon Tribe was grouped. +</P> + +<P> +All the great beasts were now thoroughly wakened and aroused, and they +blamed the monkey for disturbing their quiet. The littlest Dragon +darted after Woot and the others turned their unwieldy bodies in his +direction and followed, flashing from their eyes and mouths flames +which lighted up the entire cavern. Woot almost gave himself up for +lost, at that moment, but he scrambled to his feet and dashed away to +the farthest end of the cave, the Dragons following more leisurely +because they were too clumsy to move fast. Perhaps they thought there +was no need of haste, as the monkey could not escape from the cave. +But, away up at the end of the place, the cavern floor was heaped with +tumbled rocks, so Woot, with an agility born of fear, climbed from rock +to rock until he found himself crouched against the cavern roof. There +he waited, for he could go no farther, while on over the tumbled rocks +slowly crept the Dragons—the littlest one coming first because he was +hungry as well as angry. +</P> + +<P> +The beasts had almost reached him when Woot, remembering his lace +apron—now sadly torn and soiled—recovered his wits and shouted: +"Open!" At the cry a hole appeared in the roof of the cavern, just over +his head, and through it the sunlight streamed full upon the Green +Monkey. +</P> + +<P> +The Dragons paused, astonished at the magic and blinking at the +sunlight, and this gave Woot time to climb through the opening. As soon +as he reached the surface of the earth the hole closed again, and the +boy monkey realized, with a thrill of joy, that he had seen the last of +the dangerous Dragon family. +</P> + +<P> +He sat upon the ground, still panting hard from his exertions, when the +bushes before him parted and his former enemy, the Jaguar, appeared. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't run," said the woodland beast, as Woot sprang up; "you are +perfectly safe, so far as I am concerned, for since you so mysteriously +disappeared I have had my breakfast. I am now on my way home to sleep +the rest of the day." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, indeed!" returned the Green Monkey, in a tone both sorry and +startled. "Which of my friends did you manage to eat?" +</P> + +<P> +"None of them," returned the Jaguar, with a sly grin "I had a dish of +magic scrambled eggs—on toast—and it wasn't a bad feast, at all. +There isn't room in me for even you, and I don't regret it because I +judge, from your green color, that you are not ripe, and would make an +indifferent meal. We jaguars have to be careful of our digestions. +Farewell, Friend Monkey. Follow the path I made through the bushes and +you will find your friends." +</P> + +<P> +With this the Jaguar marched on his way and Woot took his advice and +followed the trail he had made until he came to the place where the +little Brown Bear, and the Tin Owl, and the Canary were conferring +together and wondering what had become of their comrade, the Green +Monkey. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap10"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Ten +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Tommy Kwikstep +</H3> + +<P> +"Our best plan," said the Scarecrow Bear, when the Green Monkey had +related the story of his adventure with the Dragons, "is to get out of +this Gillikin Country as soon as we can and try to find our way to the +castle of Glinda, the Good Sorceress. There are too many dangers +lurking here to suit me, and Glinda may be able to restore us to our +proper forms." +</P> + +<P> +"If we turn south now," the Tin Owl replied, "we might go straight into +the Emerald City. That's a place I wish to avoid, for I'd hate to have +my friends see me in this sad plight," and he blinked his eyes and +fluttered his tin wings mournfully. +</P> + +<P> +"But I am certain we have passed beyond Emerald City," the Canary +assured him, sailing lightly around their heads. "So, should we turn +south from here, we would pass into the Munchkin Country, and +continuing south we would reach the Quadling Country where Glinda's +castle is located." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, since you're sure of that, let's start right away," proposed the +Bear. "It's a long journey, at the best, and I'm getting tired of +walking on four legs." +</P> + +<P> +"I thought you never tired, being stuffed with straw," said Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"I mean that it annoys me, to be obliged to go on all fours, when two +legs are my proper walking equipment," replied the Scarecrow. "I +consider it beneath my dignity. In other words, my remarkable brains +can tire, through humiliation, although my body cannot tire." +</P> + +<P> +"That is one of the penalties of having brains," remarked the Tin Owl +with a sigh. "I have had no brains since I was a man of meat, and so I +never worry. Nevertheless, I prefer my former manly form to this owl's +shape and would be glad to break Mrs. Yoop's enchantment as soon as +possible. I am so noisy, just now, that I disturb myself," and he +fluttered his wings with a clatter that echoed throughout the forest. +</P> + +<P> +So, being all of one mind, they turned southward, traveling steadily on +until the woods were left behind and the landscape turned from purple +tints to blue tints, which assured them they had entered the Country of +the Munchkins. +</P> + +<P> +"Now I feel myself more safe," said the Scarecrow Bear. "I know this +country pretty well, having been made here by a Munchkin farmer and +having wandered over these lovely blue lands many times. Seems to me, +indeed, that I even remember that group of three tall trees ahead of +us; and, if I do, we are not far from the home of my friend Jinjur." +</P> + +<P> +"Who is Jinjur?" asked Woot, the Green Monkey. +</P> + +<P> +"Haven't you heard of Jinjur?" exclaimed the Scarecrow, in surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"No," said Woot. "Is Jinjur a man, a woman, a beast or a bird?" +</P> + +<P> +"Jinjur is a girl," explained the Scarecrow Bear. "She's a fine girl, +too, although a bit restless and liable to get excited. Once, a long +time ago, she raised an army of girls and called herself 'General +Jinjur.' With her army she captured the Emerald City, and drove me out +of it, because I insisted that an army in Oz was highly improper. But +Ozma punished the rash girl, and afterward Jinjur and I became fast +friends. Now Jinjur lives peacefully on a farm, near here, and raises +fields of cream-puffs, chocolate-caramels and macaroons. They say she's +a pretty good farmer, and in addition to that she's an artist, and +paints pictures so perfect that one can scarcely tell them from nature. +She often repaints my face for me, when it gets worn or mussy, and the +lovely expression I wore when the Giantess transformed me was painted +by Jinjur only a month or so ago." +</P> + +<P> +"It was certainly a pleasant expression," agreed Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"Jinjur can paint anything," continued the Scarecrow Bear, with +enthusiasm, as they walked along together. "Once, when I came to her +house, my straw was old and crumpled, so that my body sagged +dreadfully. I needed new straw to replace the old, but Jinjur had no +straw on all her ranch and I was really unable to travel farther until +I had been restuffed. When I explained this to Jinjur, the girl at once +painted a straw-stack which was so natural that I went to it and +secured enough straw to fill all my body. It was a good quality of +straw, too, and lasted me a long time." +</P> + +<P> +This seemed very wonderful to Woot, who knew that such a thing could +never happen in any place but a fairy country like Oz. +</P> + +<P> +The Munchkin Country was much nicer than the Gillikin Country, and all +the fields were separated by blue fences, with grassy lanes and paths +of blue ground, and the land seemed well cultivated. They were on a +little hill looking down upon this favored country, but had not quite +reached the settled parts, when on turning a bend in the path they were +halted by a form that barred their way. +</P> + +<P> +A more curious creature they had seldom seen, even in the Land of Oz, +where curious creatures abound. It had the head of a young +man—evidently a Munchkin—with a pleasant face and hair neatly combed. +But the body was very long, for it had twenty legs—ten legs on each +side—and this caused the body to stretch out and lie in a horizontal +position, so that all the legs could touch the ground and stand firm. +From the shoulders extended two small arms; at least, they seemed small +beside so many legs. +</P> + +<P> +This odd creature was dressed in the regulation clothing of the +Munchkin people, a dark blue coat neatly fitting the long body and each +pair of legs having a pair of sky-blue trousers, with blue-tinted +stockings and blue leather shoes turned up at the pointed toes. +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder who you are?" said Polychrome the Canary, fluttering above +the strange creature, who had probably been asleep on the path. +</P> + +<P> +"I sometimes wonder, myself, who I am," replied the many-legged young +man; "but, in reality, I am Tommy Kwikstep, and I live in a hollow tree +that fell to the ground with age. I have polished the inside of it, and +made a door at each end, and that's a very comfortable residence for me +because it just fits my shape." +</P> + +<P> +"How did you happen to have such a shape?" asked the Scarecrow Bear, +sitting on his haunches and regarding Tommy Kwikstep with a serious +look. "Is the shape natural?" +</P> + +<P> +"No; it was wished on me," replied Tommy, with a sigh. "I used to be +very active and loved to run errands for anyone who needed my services. +That was how I got my name of Tommy Kwikstep. I could run an errand +more quickly than any other boy, and so I was very proud of myself. One +day, however, I met an old lady who was a fairy, or a witch, or +something of the sort, and she said if I would run an errand for +her—to carry some magic medicine to another old woman—she would grant +me just one Wish, whatever the Wish happened to be. Of course I +consented and, taking the medicine, I hurried away. It was a long +distance, mostly up hill, and my legs began to grow weary. Without +thinking what I was doing I said aloud: 'Dear me; I wish I had twenty +legs!' and in an instant I became the unusual creature you see beside +you. Twenty legs! Twenty on one man! You may count them, if you doubt +my word." +</P> + +<P> +"You've got 'em, all right," said Woot the Monkey, who had already +counted them. +</P> + +<P> +"After I had delivered the magic medicine to the old woman, I returned +and tried to find the witch, or fairy, or whatever she was, who had +given me the unlucky wish, so she could take it away again. I've been +searching for her ever since, but never can I find her," continued poor +Tommy Kwikstep, sadly. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose," said the Tin Owl, blinking at him, "you can travel very +fast, with those twenty legs." +</P> + +<P> +"At first I was able to," was the reply; "but I traveled so much, +searching for the fairy, or witch, or whatever she was, that I soon got +corns on my toes. Now, a corn on one toe is not so bad, but when you +have a hundred toes—as I have—and get corns on most of them, it is +far from pleasant. Instead of running, I now painfully crawl, and +although I try not to be discouraged I do hope I shall find that witch +or fairy, or whatever she was, before long." +</P> + +<P> +"I hope so, too," said the Scarecrow. "But, after all, you have the +pleasure of knowing you are unusual, and therefore remarkable among the +people of Oz. To be just like other persons is small credit to one, +while to be unlike others is a mark of distinction." +</P> + +<P> +"That sounds very pretty," returned Tommy Kwikstep, "but if you had to +put on ten pair of trousers every morning, and tie up twenty shoes, you +would prefer not to be so distinguished." +</P> + +<P> +"Was the witch, or fairy, or whatever she was, an old person, with +wrinkled skin and half her teeth gone?" inquired the Tin Owl. +</P> + +<P> +"No," said Tommy Kwikstep. +</P> + +<P> +"Then she wasn't Old Mombi," remarked the transformed Emperor. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not interested in who it wasn't, so much as I am in who it was," +said the twenty-legged young man. "And, whatever or whomsoever she was, +she has managed to keep out of my way." +</P> + +<P> +"If you found her, do you suppose she'd change you back into a +two-legged boy?" asked Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps so, if I could run another errand for her and so earn another +wish." +</P> + +<P> +"Would you really like to be as you were before?" asked Polychrome the +Canary, perching upon the Green Monkey's shoulder to observe Tommy +Kwikstep more attentively. +</P> + +<P> +"I would, indeed," was the earnest reply. +</P> + +<P> +"Then I will see what I can do for you," promised the Rainbow's +Daughter, and flying to the ground she took a small twig in her bill +and with it made several mystic figures on each side of Tommy Kwikstep. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you a witch, or fairy, or something of the sort?" he asked as he +watched her wonderingly. +</P> + +<P> +The Canary made no answer, for she was busy, but the Scarecrow Bear +replied: "Yes; she's something of the sort, and a bird of a magician." +</P> + +<P> +The twenty-legged boy's transformation happened so queerly that they +were all surprised at its method. First, Tommy Kwikstep's last two legs +disappeared; then the next two, and the next, and as each pair of legs +vanished his body shortened. All this while Polychrome was running +around him and chirping mystical words, and when all the young man's +legs had disappeared but two he noticed that the Canary was still busy +and cried out in alarm: +</P> + +<P> +"Stop—stop! Leave me two of my legs, or I shall be worse off than +before." +</P> + +<P> +"I know," said the Canary. "I'm only removing with my magic the corns +from your last ten toes." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you for being so thoughtful," he said gratefully, and now they +noticed that Tommy Kwikstep was quite a nice looking young fellow. +</P> + +<P> +"What will you do now?" asked Woot the Monkey. +</P> + +<P> +"First," he answered, "I must deliver a note which I've carried in my +pocket ever since the witch, or fairy, or whatever she was, granted my +foolish wish. And I am resolved never to speak again without taking +time to think carefully on what I am going to say, for I realize that +speech without thought is dangerous. And after I've delivered the note, +I shall run errands again for anyone who needs my services." +</P> + +<P> +So he thanked Polychrome again and started away in a different +direction from their own, and that was the last they saw of Tommy +Kwikstep. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap11"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Eleven +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Jinjur's Ranch +</H3> + +<P> +As they followed a path down the blue-grass hillside, the first house +that met the view of the travelers was joyously recognized by the +Scarecrow Bear as the one inhabited by his friend Jinjur, so they +increased their speed and hurried toward it. +</P> + +<P> +On reaching the place, how ever, they found the house deserted. The +front door stood open, but no one was inside. In the garden surrounding +the house were neat rows of bushes bearing cream-puffs and macaroons, +some of which were still green, but others ripe and ready to eat. +Farther back were fields of caramels, and all the land seemed well +cultivated and carefully tended. They looked through the fields for the +girl farmer, but she was nowhere to be seen. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," finally remarked the little Brown Bear, "let us go into the +house and make ourselves at home. That will be sure to please my friend +Jinjur, who happens to be away from home just now. When she returns, +she will be greatly surprised." +</P> + +<P> +"Would she care if I ate some of those ripe cream-puffs?" asked the +Green Monkey. +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed; Jinjur is very generous. Help yourself to all you want," +said the Scarecrow Bear. +</P> + +<P> +So Woot gathered a lot of the cream-puffs that were golden yellow and +filled with a sweet, creamy substance, and ate until his hunger was +satisfied. Then he entered the house with his friends and sat in a +rocking-chair—just as he was accustomed to do when a boy. The Canary +perched herself upon the mantel and daintily plumed her feathers; the +Tin Owl sat on the back of another chair; the Scarecrow squatted on his +hairy haunches in the middle of the room. +</P> + +<P> +"I believe I remember the girl Jinjur," remarked the Canary, in her +sweet voice. "She cannot help us very much, except to direct us on our +way to Glinda's castle, for she does not understand magic. But she's a +good girl, honest and sensible, and I'll be glad to see her." +</P> + +<P> +"All our troubles," said the Owl with a deep sigh, "arose from my +foolish resolve to seek Nimmie Amee and make her Empress of the +Winkies, and while I wish to reproach no one, I must say that it was +Woot the Wanderer who put the notion into my head." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, for my part, I am glad he did," responded the Canary. "Your +journey resulted in saving me from the Giantess, and had you not +traveled to the Yoop Valley, I would still be Mrs. Yoop's prisoner. It +is much nicer to be free, even though I still bear the enchanted form +of a Canary-Bird." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you think we shall ever be able to get our proper forms back +again?" asked the Green Monkey earnestly. +</P> + +<P> +Polychrome did not make reply at once to this important question, but +after a period of thoughtfulness she said: +</P> + +<P> +"I have been taught to believe that there is an antidote for every +magic charm, yet Mrs. Yoop insists that no power can alter her +transformations. I realize that my own fairy magic cannot do it, +although I have thought that we Sky Fairies have more power than is +accorded to Earth Fairies. The yookoohoo magic is admitted to be very +strange in its workings and different from the magic usually practiced, +but perhaps Glinda or Ozma may understand it better than I. In them +lies our only hope. Unless they can help us, we must remain forever as +we are." +</P> + +<P> +"A Canary-Bird on a Rainbow wouldn't be so bad," asserted the Tin Owl, +winking and blinking with his round tin eyes, "so if you can manage to +find your Rainbow again you need have little to worry about." +</P> + +<P> +"That's nonsense, Friend Chopper," exclaimed Woot. "I know just how +Polychrome feels. A beautiful girl is much superior to a little yellow +bird, and a boy—such as I was—far better than a Green Monkey. Neither +of us can be happy again unless we recover our rightful forms." +</P> + +<P> +"I feel the same way," announced the stuffed Bear. "What do you suppose +my friend the Patchwork Girl would think of me, if she saw me wearing +this beastly shape?" +</P> + +<P> +"She'd laugh till she cried," admitted the Tin Owl. "For my part, I'll +have to give up the notion of marrying Nimmie Amee, but I'll try not to +let that make me unhappy. If it's my duty, I'd like to do my duty, but +if magic prevents my getting married I'll flutter along all by myself +and be just as contented." +</P> + +<P> +Their serious misfortunes made them all silent for a time, and as their +thoughts were busy in dwelling upon the evils with which fate had +burdened them, none noticed that Jinjur had suddenly appeared in the +doorway and was looking at them in astonishment. The next moment her +astonishment changed to anger, for there, in her best rocking-chair, +sat a Green Monkey. A great shiny Owl perched upon another chair and a +Brown Bear squatted upon her parlor rug. Jinjur did not notice the +Canary, but she caught up a broomstick and dashed into the room, +shouting as she came: +</P> + +<P> +"Get out of here, you wild creatures! How dare you enter my house?" +</P> + +<P> +With a blow of her broom she knocked the Brown Bear over, and the Tin +Owl tried to fly out of her reach and made a great clatter with his tin +wings. The Green Monkey was so startled by the sudden attack that he +sprang into the fireplace—where there was fortunately no fire—and +tried to escape by climbing up the chimney. But he found the opening +too small, and so was forced to drop down again. Then he crouched +trembling in the fireplace, his pretty green hair all blackened with +soot and covered with ashes. From this position Woot watched to see +what would happen next. +</P> + +<P> +"Stop, Jinjur—stop!" cried the Brown Bear, when the broom again +threatened him. "Don't you know me? I'm your old friend the Scarecrow?" +</P> + +<P> +"You're trying to deceive me, you naughty beast! I can see plainly that +you are a bear, and a mighty poor specimen of a bear, too," retorted +the girl. +</P> + +<P> +"That's because I'm not properly stuffed," he assured her. "When Mrs. +Yoop transformed me, she didn't realize I should have more stuffing." +</P> + +<P> +"Who is Mrs. Yoop?" inquired Jinjur, pausing with the broom still +upraised. +</P> + +<P> +"A Giantess in the Gillikin Country." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh; I begin to understand. And Mrs. Yoop transformed you? You are +really the famous Scarecrow of Oz." +</P> + +<P> +"I was, Jinjur. Just now I'm as you see me—a miserable little Brown +Bear with a poor quality of stuffing. That Tin Owl is none other than +our dear Tin Woodman—Nick Chopper, the Emperor of the Winkies—while +this Green Monkey is a nice little boy we recently became acquainted +with, Woot the Wanderer." +</P> + +<P> +"And I," said the Canary, flying close to Jinjur, "am Polychrome, the +Daughter of the Rainbow, in the form of a bird." +</P> + +<P> +"Goodness me!" cried Jinjur, amazed; "that Giantess must be a powerful +Sorceress, and as wicked as she is powerful." +</P> + +<P> +"She's a yookoohoo," said Polychrome. "Fortunately, we managed to +escape from her castle, and we are now on our way to Glinda the Good to +see if she possesses the power to restore us to our former shapes." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I must beg your pardons; all of you must forgive me," said +Jinjur, putting away the broom. "I took you to be a lot of wild, +unmannerly animals, as was quite natural. You are very welcome to my +home and I'm sorry I haven't the power to help you out of your +troubles. Please use my house and all that I have, as if it were your +own." +</P> + +<P> +At this declaration of peace, the Bear got upon his feet and the Owl +resumed his perch upon the chair and the Monkey crept out of the +fireplace. Jinjur looked at Woot critically, and scowled. +</P> + +<P> +"For a Green Monkey," said she, "you're the blackest creature I ever +saw. And you'll get my nice clean room all dirty with soot and ashes. +Whatever possessed you to jump up the chimney?" +</P> + +<P> +"I—I was scared," explained Woot, somewhat ashamed. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you need renovating, and that's what will happen to you, right +away. Come with me!" she commanded. +</P> + +<P> +"What are you going to do?" asked Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"Give you a good scrubbing," said Jinjur. +</P> + +<P> +Now, neither boys nor monkeys relish being scrubbed, so Woot shrank +away from the energetic girl, trembling fearfully. But Jinjur grabbed +him by his paw and dragged him out to the back yard, where, in spite of +his whines and struggles, she plunged him into a tub of cold water and +began to scrub him with a stiff brush and a cake of yellow soap. +</P> + +<P> +This was the hardest trial that Woot had endured since he became a +monkey, but no protest had any influence with Jinjur, who lathered and +scrubbed him in a business-like manner and afterward dried him with a +coarse towel. +</P> + +<P> +The Bear and the Owl gravely watched this operation and nodded approval +when Woot's silky green fur shone clear and bright in the afternoon +sun. The Canary seemed much amused and laughed a silvery ripple of +laughter as she said: +</P> + +<P> +"Very well done, my good Jinjur; I admire your energy and judgment. But +I had no idea a monkey could look so comical as this monkey did while +he was being bathed." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not a monkey!" declared Woot, resentfully; "I'm just a boy in a +monkey's shape, that's all." +</P> + +<P> +"If you can explain to me the difference," said Jinjur, "I'll agree not +to wash you again—that is, unless you foolishly get into the +fireplace. All persons are usually judged by the shapes in which they +appear to the eyes of others. Look at me, Woot; what am I?" +</P> + +<P> +Woot looked at her. +</P> + +<P> +"You're as pretty a girl as I've ever seen," he replied. +</P> + +<P> +Jinjur frowned. That is, she tried hard to frown. +</P> + +<P> +"Come out into the garden with me," she said, "and I'll give you some +of the most delicious caramels you ever ate. They're a new variety, +that no one can grow but me, and they have a heliotrope flavor." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap12"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Twelve +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Ozma and Dorothy +</H3> + +<P> +In her magnificent palace in the Emerald City, the beautiful girl Ruler +of all the wonderful Land of Oz sat in her dainty boudoir with her +friend Princess Dorothy beside her. Ozma was studying a roll of +manuscript which she had taken from the Royal Library, while Dorothy +worked at her embroidery and at times stooped to pat a shaggy little +black dog that lay at her feet. The little dog's name was Toto, and he +was Dorothy's faithful companion. +</P> + +<P> +To judge Ozma of Oz by the standards of our world, you would think her +very young—perhaps fourteen or fifteen years of age—yet for years she +had ruled the Land of Oz and had never seemed a bit older. Dorothy +appeared much younger than Ozma. She had been a little girl when first +she came to the Land of Oz, and she was a little girl still, and would +never seem to be a day older while she lived in this wonderful +fairyland. +</P> + +<P> +Oz was not always a fairyland, I am told. Once it was much like other +lands, except it was shut in by a dreadful desert of sandy wastes that +lay all around it, thus preventing its people from all contact with the +rest of the world. Seeing this isolation, the fairy band of Queen +Lurline, passing over Oz while on a journey, enchanted the country and +so made it a Fairyland. And Queen Lurline left one of her fairies to +rule this enchanted Land of Oz, and then passed on and forgot all about +it. +</P> + +<P> +From that moment no one in Oz ever died. Those who were old remained +old; those who were young and strong did not change as years passed +them by; the children remained children always, and played and romped +to their hearts' content, while all the babies lived in their cradles +and were tenderly cared for and never grew up. So people in Oz stopped +counting how old they were in years, for years made no difference in +their appearance and could not alter their station. They did not get +sick, so there were no doctors among them. Accidents might happen to +some, on rare occasions, it is true, and while no one could die +naturally, as other people do, it was possible that one might be +totally destroyed. Such incidents, however, were very unusual, and so +seldom was there anything to worry over that the Oz people were as +happy and contented as can be. +</P> + +<P> +Another strange thing about this fairy Land of Oz was that whoever +managed to enter it from the outside world came under the magic spell +of the place and did not change in appearance as long as they lived +there. So Dorothy, who now lived with Ozma, seemed just the same sweet +little girl she had been when first she came to this delightful +fairyland. +</P> + +<P> +Perhaps all parts of Oz might not be called truly delightful, but it +was surely delightful in the neighborhood of the Emerald City, where +Ozma reigned. Her loving influence was felt for many miles around, but +there were places in the mountains of the Gillikin Country, and the +forests of the Quadling Country, and perhaps in far-away parts of the +Munchkin and Winkie Countries, where the inhabitants were somewhat rude +and uncivilized and had not yet come under the spell of Ozma's wise and +kindly rule. Also, when Oz first became a fairyland, it harbored +several witches and magicians and sorcerers and necromancers, who were +scattered in various parts, but most of these had been deprived of +their magic powers, and Ozma had issued a royal edict forbidding anyone +in her dominions to work magic except Glinda the Good and the Wizard of +Oz. Ozma herself, being a real fairy, knew a lot of magic, but she only +used it to benefit her subjects. +</P> + +<P> +This little explanation will help you to understand better the story +you are reaching, but most of it is already known to those who are +familiar with the Oz people whose adventures they have followed in +other Oz books. +</P> + +<P> +Ozma and Dorothy were fast friends and were much together. Everyone in +Oz loved Dorothy almost as well as they did their lovely Ruler, for the +little Kansas girl's good fortune had not spoiled her or rendered her +at all vain. She was just the same brave and true and adventurous child +as before she lived in a royal palace and became the chum of the fairy +Ozma. +</P> + +<P> +In the room in which the two sat—which was one of Ozma's private suite +of apartments—hung the famous Magic Picture. This was the source of +constant interest to little Dorothy. One had but to stand before it and +wish to see what any person was doing, and at once a scene would flash +upon the magic canvas which showed exactly where that person was, and +like our own moving pictures would reproduce the actions of that person +as long as you cared to watch them. So today, when Dorothy tired of her +embroidery, she drew the curtains from before the Magic Picture and +wished to see what her friend Button Bright was doing. Button Bright, +she saw, was playing ball with Ojo, the Munchkin boy, so Dorothy next +wished to see what her Aunt Em was doing. The picture showed Aunt Em +quietly engaged in darning socks for Uncle Henry, so Dorothy wished to +see what her old friend the Tin Woodman was doing. +</P> + +<P> +The Tin Woodman was then just leaving his tin castle in the company of +the Scarecrow and Woot the Wanderer. Dorothy had never seen this boy +before, so she wondered who he was. Also she was curious to know where +the three were going, for she noticed Woot's knapsack and guessed they +had started on a long journey. She asked Ozma about it, but Ozma did +not know. +</P> + +<P> +That afternoon Dorothy again saw the travelers in the Magic Picture, +but they were merely tramping through the country and Dorothy was not +much interested in them. A couple of days later, however, the girl, +being again with Ozma, wished to see her friends, the Scarecrow and the +Tin Woodman in the Magic Picture, and on this occasion found them in +the great castle of Mrs. Yoop, the Giantess, who was at the time about +to transform them. Both Dorothy and Ozma now became greatly interested +and watched the transformations with indignation and horror. +</P> + +<P> +"What a wicked Giantess!" exclaimed Dorothy. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered Ozma, "she must be punished for this cruelty to our +friends, and to the poor boy who is with them." +</P> + +<P> +After this they followed the adventure of the little Brown Bear and the +Tin Owl and the Green Monkey with breathless interest, and were +delighted when they escaped from Mrs. Yoop. They did not know, then, +who the Canary was, but realized it must be the transformation of some +person of consequence, whom the Giantess had also enchanted. +</P> + +<P> +When, finally, the day came when the adventurers headed south into the +Munchkin Country, Dorothy asked anxiously: +</P> + +<P> +"Can't something be done for them, Ozma? Can't you change 'em back into +their own shapes? They've suffered enough from these dreadful +transformations, seems to me." +</P> + +<P> +"I've been studying ways to help them, ever since they were +transformed," replied Ozma. "Mrs. Yoop is now the only yookoohoo in my +dominions, and the yookoohoo magic is very peculiar and hard for others +to understand, yet I am resolved to make the attempt to break these +enchantments. I may not succeed, but I shall do the best I can. From +the directions our friends are taking, I believe they are going to pass +by Jinjur's Ranch, so if we start now we may meet them there. Would you +like to go with me, Dorothy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Of course," answered the little girl; "I wouldn't miss it for +anything." +</P> + +<P> +"Then order the Red Wagon," said Ozma of Oz, "and we will start at +once." +</P> + +<P> +Dorothy ran to do as she was bid, while Ozma went to her Magic Room to +make ready the things she believed she would need. In half an hour the +Red Wagon stood before the grand entrance of the palace, and before it +was hitched the Wooden Sawhorse, which was Ozma's favorite steed. +</P> + +<P> +This Sawhorse, while made of wood, was very much alive and could travel +swiftly and without tiring. To keep the ends of his wooden legs from +wearing down short, Ozma had shod the Sawhorse with plates of pure +gold. His harness was studded with brilliant emeralds and other jewels +and so, while he himself was not at all handsome, his outfit made a +splendid appearance. +</P> + +<P> +Since the Sawhorse could understand her spoken words, Ozma used no +reins to guide him. She merely told him where to go. When she came from +the palace with Dorothy, they both climbed into the Red Wagon and then +the little dog, Toto, ran up and asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Are you going to leave me behind, Dorothy?" Dorothy looked at Ozma, +who smiled in return and said: +</P> + +<P> +"Toto may go with us, if you wish him to." +</P> + +<P> +So Dorothy lifted the little dog into the wagon, for, while he could +run fast, he could not keep up with the speed of the wonderful Sawhorse. +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +Away they went, over hills and through meadows, covering the ground +with astonishing speed. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Red +Wagon arrived before Jinjur's house just as that energetic young lady +had finished scrubbing the Green Monkey and was about to lead him to +the caramel patch. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap13"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Thirteen +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Restoration +</H3> + +<P> +The Tin Owl gave a hoot of delight when he saw the Red Wagon draw up +before Jinjur's house, and the Brown Bear grunted and growled with glee +and trotted toward Ozma as fast as he could wobble. As for the Canary, +it flew swiftly to Dorothy's shoulder and perched there, saying in her +ear: +</P> + +<P> +"Thank goodness you have come to our rescue!" +</P> + +<P> +"But who are you?" asked Dorothy +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you know?" returned the Canary. +</P> + +<P> +"No; for the first time we noticed you in the Magic Picture, you were +just a bird, as you are now. But we've guessed that the giant woman had +transformed you, as she did the others." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I'm Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter," announced the Canary. +</P> + +<P> +"Goodness me!" cried Dorothy. "How dreadful." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I make a rather pretty bird, I think," returned Polychrome, "but +of course I'm anxious to resume my own shape and get back upon my +rainbow." +</P> + +<P> +"Ozma will help you, I'm sure," said Dorothy. "How does it feel, +Scarecrow, to be a Bear?" she asked, addressing her old friend. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't like it," declared the Scarecrow Bear. "This brutal form is +quite beneath the dignity of a wholesome straw man." +</P> + +<P> +"And think of me," said the Owl, perching upon the dashboard of the Red +Wagon with much noisy clattering of his tin feathers. "Don't I look +horrid, Dorothy, with eyes several sizes too big for my body, and so +weak that I ought to wear spectacles?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well," said Dorothy critically, as she looked him over, "you're +nothing to brag of, I must confess. But Ozma will soon fix you up +again." +</P> + +<P> +The Green Monkey had hung back, bashful at meeting two lovely girls +while in the form of a beast; but Jinjur now took his hand and led him +forward while she introduced him to Ozma, and Woot managed to make a +low bow, not really ungraceful, before her girlish Majesty, the Ruler +of Oz. +</P> + +<P> +"You have all been forced to endure a sad experience," said Ozma, "and +so I am anxious to do all in my power to break Mrs. Yoop's +enchantments. But first tell me how you happened to stray into that +lonely Valley where Yoop Castle stands." +</P> + +<P> +Between them they related the object of their journey, the Scarecrow +Bear telling of the Tin Woodman's resolve to find Nimmie Amee and marry +her, as a just reward for her loyalty to him. Woot told of their +adventures with the Loons of Loonville, and the Tin Owl described the +manner in which they had been captured and transformed by the Giantess. +Then Polychrome related her story, and when all had been told, and +Dorothy had several times reproved Toto for growling at the Tin Owl, +Ozma remained thoughtful for a while, pondering upon what she had +heard. Finally she looked up, and with one of her delightful smiles, +said to the anxious group: +</P> + +<P> +"I am not sure my magic will be able to restore every one of you, +because your transformations are of such a strange and unusual +character. Indeed, Mrs. Yoop was quite justified in believing no power +could alter her enchantments. However, I am sure I can restore the +Scarecrow to his original shape. He was stuffed with straw from the +beginning, and even the yookoohoo magic could not alter that. The +Giantess was merely able to make a bear's shape of a man's shape, but +the bear is stuffed with straw, just as the man was. So I feel +confident I can make a man of the bear again." +</P> + +<P> +"Hurrah!" cried the Brown Bear, and tried clumsily to dance a jig of +delight. +</P> + +<P> +"As for the Tin Woodman, his case is much the same," resumed Ozma, +still smiling. "The power of the Giantess could not make him anything +but a tin creature, whatever shape she transformed him into, so it will +not be impossible to restore him to his manly form. Anyhow, I shall +test my magic at once, and see if it will do what I have promised." +</P> + +<P> +She drew from her bosom a small silver Wand and, making passes with the +Wand over the head of the Bear, she succeeded in the brief space of a +moment in breaking his enchantment. The original Scarecrow of Oz again +stood before them, well stuffed with straw and with his features nicely +painted upon the bag which formed his head. +</P> + +<P> +The Scarecrow was greatly delighted, as you may suppose, and he +strutted proudly around while the powerful fairy, Ozma of Oz, broke the +enchantment that had transformed the Tin Woodman and made a Tin Owl +into a Tin Man again. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, then," chirped the Canary, eagerly; "I'm next, Ozma!" +</P> + +<P> +"But your case is different," replied Ozma, no longer smiling but +wearing a grave expression on her sweet face. "I shall have to +experiment on you, Polychrome, and I may fail in all my attempts." +</P> + +<P> +She then tried two or three different methods of magic, hoping one of +them would succeed in breaking Polychrome's enchantment, but still the +Rainbow's Daughter remained a Canary-Bird. Finally, however, she +experimented in another way. She transformed the Canary into a Dove, +and then transformed the Dove into a Speckled Hen, and then changed the +Speckled Hen into a rabbit, and then the rabbit into a Fawn. And at the +last, after mixing several powders and sprinkling them upon the Fawn, +the yookoohoo enchantment was suddenly broken and before them stood one +of the daintiest and loveliest creatures in any fairyland in the world. +Polychrome was as sweet and merry in disposition as she was beautiful, +and when she danced and capered around in delight, her beautiful hair +floated around her like a golden mist and her many-hued raiment, as +soft as cobwebs, reminded one of drifting clouds in a summer sky. +</P> + +<P> +Woot was so awed by the entrancing sight of this exquisite Sky Fairy +that he quite forgot his own sad plight until be noticed Ozma gazing +upon him with an intent expression that denoted sympathy and sorrow. +Dorothy whispered in her friend's ear, but the Ruler of Oz shook her +head sadly. +</P> + +<P> +Jinjur, noticing this and understanding Ozma's looks, took the paw of +the Green Monkey in her own hand and patted it softly. +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind," she said to him. "You are a very beautiful color, and a +monkey can climb better than a boy and do a lot of other things no boy +can ever do." +</P> + +<P> +"What's the matter?" asked Woot, a sinking feeling at his heart. "Is +Ozma's magic all used up?" +</P> + +<P> +Ozma herself answered him. +</P> + +<P> +"Your form of enchantment, my poor boy," she said pityingly, "is +different from that of the others. Indeed, it is a form that is +impossible to alter by any magic known to fairies or yookoohoos. The +wicked Giantess was well aware, when she gave you the form of a Green +Monkey, that the Green Monkey must exist in the Land of Oz for all +future time." +</P> + +<P> +Woot drew a long sigh. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, that's pretty hard luck," he said bravely, "but if it can't be +helped I must endure it; that's all. I don't like being a monkey, but +what's the use of kicking against my fate?" +</P> + +<P> +They were all very sorry for him, and Dorothy anxiously asked Ozma: +</P> + +<P> +"Couldn't Glinda save him?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," was the reply. "Glinda's power in transformations is no greater +than my own. Before I left my palace I went to my Magic Room and +studied Woot's case very carefully. I found that no power can do away +with the Green Monkey. He might transfer, or exchange his form with +some other person, it is true; but the Green Monkey we cannot get rid +of by any magic arts known to science." +</P> + +<P> +"But—see here," said the Scarecrow, who had listened intently to this +explanation, "why not put the monkey's form on some one else?" +</P> + +<P> +"Who would agree to make the change?" asked Ozma. "If by force we +caused anyone else to become a Green Monkey, we would be as cruel and +wicked as Mrs. Yoop. And what good would an exchange do?" she +continued. "Suppose, for instance, we worked the enchantment, and made +Toto into a Green Monkey. At the same moment Woot would become a little +dog." +</P> + +<P> +"Leave me out of your magic, please," said Toto, with a reproachful +growl. "I wouldn't become a Green Monkey for anything." +</P> + +<P> +"And I wouldn't become a dog," said Woot. "A green monkey is much +better than a dog, it seems to me." +</P> + +<P> +"That is only a matter of opinion," answered Toto. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, here's another idea," said the Scarecrow. "My brains are working +finely today, you must admit. Why not transform Toto into Woot the +Wanderer, and then have them exchange forms? The dog would become a +green monkey and the monkey would have his own natural shape again." +</P> + +<P> +"To be sure!" cried Jinjur. "That's a fine idea." +</P> + +<P> +"Leave me out of it," said Toto. "I won't do it." +</P> + +<P> +"Wouldn't you be willing to become a green monkey—see what a pretty +color it is—so that this poor boy could be restored to his own shape?" +asked Jinjur, pleadingly. +</P> + +<P> +"No," said Toto. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't like that plan the least bit," declared Dorothy, "for then I +wouldn't have any little dog." +</P> + +<P> +"But you'd have a green monkey in his place," persisted Jinjur, who +liked Woot and wanted to help him. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't want a green monkey," said Dorothy positively. +</P> + +<P> +"Don't speak of this again, I beg of you," said Woot. "This is my own +misfortune and I would rather suffer it alone than deprive Princess +Dorothy of her dog, or deprive the dog of his proper shape. And perhaps +even her Majesty, Ozma of Oz, might not be able to transform anyone +else into the shape of Woot the Wanderer." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I believe I might do that," Ozma returned; "but Woot is quite +right; we are not justified in inflicting upon anyone—man or dog—the +form of a green monkey. Also it is certain that in order to relieve the +boy of the form he now wears, we must give it to someone else, who +would be forced to wear it always." +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder," said Dorothy, thoughtfully, "if we couldn't find someone in +the Land of Oz who would be willing to become a green monkey? Seems to +me a monkey is active and spry, and he can climb trees and do a lot of +clever things, and green isn't a bad color for a monkey—it makes him +unusual." +</P> + +<P> +"I wouldn't ask anyone to take this dreadful form," said Woot; "it +wouldn't be right, you know. I've been a monkey for some time, now, and +I don't like it. It makes me ashamed to be a beast of this sort when by +right of birth I'm a boy; so I'm sure it would be wicked to ask anyone +else to take my place." +</P> + +<P> +They were all silent, for they knew he spoke the truth. Dorothy was +almost ready to cry with pity and Ozma's sweet face was sad and +disturbed. The Scarecrow rubbed and patted his stuffed head to try to +make it think better, while the Tin Woodman went into the house and +began to oil his tin joints so that the sorrow of his friends might not +cause him to weep. Weeping is liable to rust tin, and the Emperor +prided himself upon his highly polished body—now doubly dear to him +because for a time he had been deprived of it. +</P> + +<P> +Polychrome had danced down the garden paths and back again a dozen +times, for she was seldom still a moment, yet she had heard Ozma's +speech and understood very well Woot's unfortunate position. But the +Rainbow's Daughter, even while dancing, could think and reason very +clearly, and suddenly she solved the problem in the nicest possible +way. Coming close to Ozma, she said: +</P> + +<P> +"Your Majesty, all this trouble was caused by the wickedness of Mrs. +Yoop, the Giantess. Yet even now that cruel woman is living in her +secluded castle, enjoying the thought that she has put this terrible +enchantment on Woot the Wanderer. Even now she is laughing at our +despair because we can find no way to get rid of the green monkey. Very +well, we do not wish to get rid of it. Let the woman who created the +form wear it herself, as a just punishment for her wickedness. I am +sure your fairy power can give to Mrs. Yoop the form of Woot the +Wanderer—even at this distance from her—and then it will be possible +to exchange the two forms. Mrs. Yoop will become the Green Monkey, and +Woot will recover his own form again." +</P> + +<P> +Ozma's face brightened as she listened to this clever proposal. +</P> + +<P> +"Thank you, Polychrome," said she. "The task you propose is not so easy +as you suppose, but I will make the attempt, and perhaps I may succeed." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap14"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Fourteen +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Green Monkey +</H3> + +<P> +They now entered the house, and as an interested group, watched Jinjur, +at Ozma's command, build a fire and put a kettle of water over to boil. +The Ruler of Oz stood before the fire silent and grave, while the +others, realizing that an important ceremony of magic was about to be +performed, stood quietly in the background so as not to interrupt +Ozma's proceedings. Only Polychrome kept going in and coming out, +humming softly to herself as she danced, for the Rainbow's Daughter +could not keep still for long, and the four walls of a room always made +her nervous and ill at ease. She moved so noiselessly, however, that +her movements were like the shifting of sunbeams and did not annoy +anyone. +</P> + +<P> +When the water in the kettle bubbled, Ozma drew from her bosom two tiny +packets containing powders. These powders she threw into the kettle and +after briskly stirring the contents with a branch from a macaroon bush, +Ozma poured the mystic broth upon a broad platter which Jinjur had +placed upon the table. As the broth cooled it became as silver, +reflecting all objects from its smooth surface like a mirror. +</P> + +<P> +While her companions gathered around the table, eagerly attentive—and +Dorothy even held little Toto in her arms that he might see—Ozma waved +her wand over the mirror-like surface. At once it reflected the +interior of Yoop Castle, and in the big hall sat Mrs. Yoop, in her best +embroidered silken robes, engaged in weaving a new lace apron to +replace the one she had lost. +</P> + +<P> +The Giantess seemed rather uneasy, as if she had a faint idea that +someone was spying upon her, for she kept looking behind her and this +way and that, as though expecting danger from an unknown source. +Perhaps some yookoohoo instinct warned her. Woot saw that she had +escaped from her room by some of the magical means at her disposal, +after her prisoners had escaped her. She was now occupying the big hall +of her castle as she used to do. Also Woot thought, from the cruel +expression on the face of the Giantess, that she was planning revenge +on them, as soon as her new magic apron was finished. +</P> + +<P> +But Ozma was now making passes over the platter with her silver Wand, +and presently the form of the Giantess began to shrink in size and to +change its shape. And now, in her place sat the form of Woot the +Wanderer, and as if suddenly realizing her transformation Mrs. Yoop +threw down her work and rushed to a looking-glass that stood against +the wall of her room. When she saw the boy's form reflected as her own, +she grew violently angry and dashed her head against the mirror, +smashing it to atoms. +</P> + +<P> +Just then Ozma was busy with her magic Wand, making strange figures, +and she had also placed her left hand firmly upon the shoulder of the +Green Monkey. So now, as all eyes were turned upon the platter, the +form of Mrs. Yoop gradually changed again. She was slowly transformed +into the Green Monkey, and at the same time Woot slowly regained his +natural form. +</P> + +<P> +It was quite a surprise to them all when they raised their eyes from +the platter and saw Woot the Wanderer standing beside Ozma. And, when +they glanced at the platter again, it reflected nothing more than the +walls of the room in Jinjur's house in which they stood. The magic +ceremonial was ended, and Ozma of Oz had triumphed over the wicked +Giantess. +</P> + +<P> +"What will become of her, I wonder?" said Dorothy, as she drew a long +breath. +</P> + +<P> +"She will always remain a Green Monkey," replied Ozma, "and in that +form she will be unable to perform any magical arts whatsoever. She +need not be unhappy, however, and as she lives all alone in her castle +she probably won't mind the transformation very much after she gets +used to it." +</P> + +<P> +"Anyhow, it serves her right," declared Dorothy, and all agreed with +her. +</P> + +<P> +"But," said the kind hearted Tin Woodman, "I'm afraid the Green Monkey +will starve, for Mrs. Yoop used to get her food by magic, and now that +the magic is taken away from her, what can she eat?" +</P> + +<P> +"Why, she'll eat what other monkeys do," returned the Scarecrow. "Even +in the form of a Green Monkey, she's a very clever person, and I'm sure +her wits will show her how to get plenty to eat." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't worry about her," advised Dorothy. "She didn't worry about you, +and her condition is no worse than the condition she imposed on poor +Woot. She can't starve to death in the Land of Oz, that's certain, and +if she gets hungry at times it's no more than the wicked thing +deserves. Let's forget Mrs. Yoop; for, in spite of her being a +yookoohoo, our fairy friends have broken all of her transformations." +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap15"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Fifteen +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Man of Tin +</H3> + +<P> +Ozma and Dorothy were quite pleased with Woot the Wanderer, whom they +found modest and intelligent and very well mannered. The boy was truly +grateful for his release from the cruel enchantment, and he promised to +love, revere and defend the girl Ruler of Oz forever afterward, as a +faithful subject. +</P> + +<P> +"You may visit me at my palace, if you wish," said Ozma, "where I will +be glad to introduce you to two other nice boys, Ojo the Munchkin and +Button-Bright." +</P> + +<P> +"Thank your Majesty," replied Woot, and then he turned to the Tin +Woodman and inquired: "What are your further plans, Mr. Emperor? Will +you still seek Nimmie Amee and marry her, or will you abandon the quest +and return to the Emerald City and your own castle?" +</P> + +<P> +The Tin Woodman, now as highly polished and well-oiled as ever, +reflected a while on this question and then answered: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I see no reason why I should not find Nimmie Amee. We are now in +the Munchkin Country, where we are perfectly safe, and if it was right +for me, before our enchantment, to marry Nimmie Amee and make her +Empress of the Winkies, it must be right now, when the enchantment has +been broken and I am once more myself. Am I correct, friend Scarecrow?" +</P> + +<P> +"You are, indeed," answered the Scarecrow. "No one can oppose such +logic." +</P> + +<P> +"But I'm afraid you don't love Nimmie Amee," suggested Dorothy. +</P> + +<P> +"That is just because I can't love anyone," replied the Tin Woodman. +"But, if I cannot love my wife, I can at least be kind to her, and all +husbands are not able to do that." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you s'pose Nimmie Amee still loves you, after all these years?" +asked Dorothy. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm quite sure of it, and that is why I am going to her to make her +happy. Woot the Wanderer thinks I ought to reward her for being +faithful to me after my meat body was chopped to pieces and I became +tin. What do you think, Ozma?" +</P> + +<P> +Ozma smiled as she said: +</P> + +<P> +"I do not know your Nimmie Amee, and so I cannot tell what she most +needs to make her happy. But there is no harm in your going to her and +asking her if she still wishes to marry you. If she does, we will give +you a grand wedding at the Emerald City and, afterward, as Empress of +the Winkies, Nimmie Amee would become one of the most important ladies +in all Oz." +</P> + +<P> +So it was decided that the Tin Woodman would continue his journey, and +that the Scarecrow and Woot the Wanderer should accompany him, as +before. Polychrome also decided to join their party, somewhat to the +surprise of all. +</P> + +<P> +"I hate to be cooped up in a palace," she said to Ozma, "and of course +the first time I meet my Rainbow I shall return to my own dear home in +the skies, where my fairy sisters are even now awaiting me and my +father is cross because I get lost so often. But I can find my Rainbow +just as quickly while traveling in the Munchkin Country as I could if +living in the Emerald City—or any other place in Oz—so I shall go +with the Tin Woodman and help him woo Nimmie Amee." +</P> + +<P> +Dorothy wanted to go, too, but as the Tin Woodman did not invite her to +join his party, she felt she might be intruding if she asked to be +taken. She hinted, but she found he didn't take the hint. It is quite a +delicate matter for one to ask a girl to marry him, however much she +loves him, and perhaps the Tin Woodman did not desire to have too many +looking on when he found his old sweetheart, Nimmie Amee. So Dorothy +contented herself with the thought that she would help Ozma prepare a +splendid wedding feast, to be followed by a round of parties and +festivities when the Emperor of the Winkies reached the Emerald City +with his bride. +</P> + +<P> +Ozma offered to take them all in the Red Wagon to a place as near to +the great Munchkin forest as a wagon could get. The Red Wagon was big +enough to seat them all, and so, bidding good-bye to Jinjur, who gave +Woot a basket of ripe cream-puffs and caramels to take with him, Ozma +commanded the Wooden Sawhorse to start, and the strange creature moved +swiftly over the lanes and presently came to the Road of Yellow Bricks. +This road led straight to a dense forest, where the path was too narrow +for the Red Wagon to proceed farther, so here the party separated. +</P> + +<P> +Ozma and Dorothy and Toto returned to the Emerald City, after wishing +their friends a safe and successful journey, while the Tin Woodman, the +Scarecrow, Woot the Wanderer and Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter, +prepared to push their way through the thick forest. However, these +forest paths were well known to the Tin Man and the Scarecrow, who felt +quite at home among the trees. +</P> + +<P> +"I was born in this grand forest," said Nick Chopper, the tin Emperor, +speaking proudly, "and it was here that the Witch enchanted my axe and +I lost different parts of my meat body until I became all tin. Here, +also—for it is a big forest—Nimmie Amee lived with the Wicked Witch, +and at the other edge of the trees stands the cottage of my friend +Ku-Klip, the famous tinsmith who made my present beautiful form." +</P> + +<P> +"He must be a clever workman," declared Woot, admiringly. +</P> + +<P> +"He is simply wonderful," declared the Tin Woodman. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall be glad to make his acquaintance," said Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"If you wish to meet with real cleverness," remarked the Scarecrow, +"you should visit the Munchkin farmer who first made me. I won't say +that my friend the Emperor isn't all right for a tin man, but any judge +of beauty can understand that a Scarecrow is far more artistic and +refined." +</P> + +<P> +"You are too soft and flimsy," said the Tin Woodman. +</P> + +<P> +"You are too hard and stiff," said the Scarecrow, and this was as near +to quarreling as the two friends ever came. Polychrome laughed at them +both, as well she might, and Woot hastened to change the subject. +</P> + +<P> +At night they all camped underneath the trees. The boy ate cream-puffs +for supper and offered Polychrome some, but she preferred other food +and at daybreak sipped the dew that was clustered thick on the forest +flowers. Then they tramped onward again, and presently the Scarecrow +paused and said: +</P> + +<P> +"It was on this very spot that Dorothy and I first met the Tin Woodman, +who was rusted so badly that none of his joints would move. But after +we had oiled him up, he was as good as new and accompanied us to the +Emerald City." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, that was a sad experience," asserted the Tin Woodman soberly. "I +was caught in a rainstorm while chopping down a tree for exercise, and +before I realized it, I was firmly rusted in every joint. There I +stood, axe in hand, but unable to move, for days and weeks and months! +Indeed, I have never known exactly how long the time was; but finally +along came Dorothy and I was saved. See! This is the very tree I was +chopping at the time I rusted." +</P> + +<P> +"You cannot be far from your old home, in that case," said Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"No; my little cabin stands not a great way off, but there is no +occasion for us to visit it. Our errand is with Nimmie Amee, and her +house is somewhat farther away, to the left of us." +</P> + +<P> +"Didn't you say she lives with a Wicked Witch, who makes her a slave?" +asked the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"She did, but she doesn't," was the reply. "I am told the Witch was +destroyed when Dorothy's house fell on her, so now Nimmie Amee must +live all alone. I haven't seen her, of course, since the Witch was +crushed, for at that time I was standing rusted in the forest and had +been there a long time, but the poor girl must have felt very happy to +be free from her cruel mistress." +</P> + +<P> +"Well," said the Scarecrow, "let's travel on and find Nimmie Amee. Lead +on, your Majesty, since you know the way, and we will follow." +</P> + +<P> +So the Tin Woodman took a path that led through the thickest part of +the forest, and they followed it for some time. The light was dim here, +because vines and bushes and leafy foliage were all about them, and +often the Tin Man had to push aside the branches that obstructed their +way, or cut them off with his axe. After they had proceeded some +distance, the Emperor suddenly stopped short and exclaimed: "Good +gracious!" +</P> + +<P> +The Scarecrow, who was next, first bumped into his friend and then +peered around his tin body, and said in a tone of wonder: +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I declare!" +</P> + +<P> +Woot the Wanderer pushed forward to see what was the matter, and cried +out in astonishment: "For goodness' sake!" +</P> + +<P> +Then the three stood motionless, staring hard, until Polychrome's merry +laughter rang out behind them and aroused them from their stupor. +</P> + +<P> +In the path before them stood a tin man who was the exact duplicate of +the Tin Woodman. He was of the same size, he was jointed in the same +manner, and he was made of shining tin from top to toe. But he stood +immovable, with his tin jaws half parted and his tin eyes turned +upward. In one of his hands was held a long, gleaming sword. Yes, there +was the difference, the only thing that distinguished him from the +Emperor of the Winkies. This tin man bore a sword, while the Tin +Woodman bore an axe. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a dream; it must be a dream!" gasped Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"That's it, of course," said the Scarecrow; "there couldn't be two Tin +Woodmen." +</P> + +<P> +"No," agreed Polychrome, dancing nearer to the stranger, "this one is a +Tin Soldier. Don't you see his sword?" +</P> + +<P> +The Tin Woodman cautiously put out one tin hand and felt of his +double's arm. Then he said in a voice that trembled with emotion: +</P> + +<P> +"Who are you, friend?" +</P> + +<P> +There was no reply +</P> + +<P> +"Can't you see he's rusted, just as you were once?" asked Polychrome, +laughing again. "Here, Nick Chopper, lend me your oil-can a minute!" +</P> + +<P> +The Tin Woodman silently handed her his oil-can, without which he never +traveled, and Polychrome first oiled the stranger's tin jaws and then +worked them gently to and fro until the Tin Soldier said: +</P> + +<P> +"That's enough. Thank you. I can now talk. But please oil my other +joints." +</P> + +<P> +Woot seized the oil-can and did this, but all the others helped wiggle +the soldier's joints as soon as they were oiled, until they moved +freely. +</P> + +<P> +The Tin Soldier seemed highly pleased at his release. He strutted up +and down the path, saying in a high, thin voice: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "The Soldier is a splendid man<BR> + When marching on parade,<BR> + And when he meets the enemy<BR> + He never is afraid.<BR> +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + He rights the wrongs of nations,<BR> + His country's flag defends,<BR> + The foe he'll fight with great delight,<BR> + But seldom fights his friends."<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap16"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Sixteen +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Captain Fyter +</H3> + +<P> +"Are you really a soldier?" asked Woot, when they had all watched this +strange tin person parade up and down the path and proudly flourish his +sword. +</P> + +<P> +"I was a soldier," was the reply, "but I've been a prisoner to Mr. Rust +so long that I don't know exactly what I am." +</P> + +<P> +"But—dear me!" cried the Tin Woodman, sadly perplexed; "how came you +to be made of tin?" +</P> + +<P> +"That," answered the Soldier, "is a sad, sad story I was in love with a +beautiful Munchkin girl, who lived with a Wicked Witch. The Witch did +not wish me to marry the girl, so she enchanted my sword, which began +hacking me to pieces. When I lost my legs I went to the tinsmith, +Ku-Klip, and he made me some tin legs. When I lost my arms, Ku-Klip +made me tin arms, and when I lost my head he made me this fine one out +of tin. It was the same way with my body, and finally I was all tin. +But I was not unhappy, for Ku-Klip made a good job of me, having had +experience in making another tin man before me." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," observed the Tin Woodman, "it was Ku-Klip who made me. But, tell +me, what was the name of the Munchkin girl you were in love with?" +</P> + +<P> +"She is called Nimmie Amee," said the Tin Soldier. +</P> + +<P> +Hearing this, they were all so astonished that they were silent for a +time, regarding the stranger with wondering looks. Finally the Tin +Woodman ventured to ask: +</P> + +<P> +"And did Nimmie Amee return your love?" +</P> + +<P> +"Not at first," admitted the Soldier. "When first I marched into the +forest and met her, she was weeping over the loss of her former +sweetheart, a woodman whose name was Nick Chopper." +</P> + +<P> +"That is me," said the Tin Woodman. +</P> + +<P> +"She told me he was nicer than a soldier, because he was all made of +tin and shone beautifully in the sun. She said a tin man appealed to +her artistic instincts more than an ordinary meat man, as I was then. +But I did not despair, because her tin sweetheart had disappeared, and +could not be found. And finally Nimmie Amee permitted me to call upon +her and we became friends. It was then that the Wicked Witch discovered +me and became furiously angry when I said I wanted to marry the girl. +She enchanted my sword, as I said, and then my troubles began. When I +got my tin legs, Nimmie Amee began to take an interest in me; when I +got my tin arms, she began to like me better than ever, and when I was +all made of tin, she said I looked like her dear Nick Chopper and she +would be willing to marry me. +</P> + +<P> +"The day of our wedding was set, and it turned out to be a rainy day. +Nevertheless I started out to get Nimmie Amee, because the Witch had +been absent for some time, and we meant to elope before she got back. +As I traveled the forest paths the rain wetted my joints, but I paid no +attention to this because my thoughts were all on my wedding with +beautiful Nimmie Amee and I could think of nothing else until suddenly +my legs stopped moving. Then my arms rusted at the joints and I became +frightened and cried for help, for now I was unable to oil myself. No +one heard my calls and before long my jaws rusted, and I was unable to +utter another sound. So I stood helpless in this spot, hoping some +wanderer would come my way and save me. But this forest path is seldom +used, and I have been standing here so long that I have lost all track +of time. In my mind I composed poetry and sang songs, but not a sound +have I been able to utter. But this desperate condition has now been +relieved by your coming my way and I must thank you for my rescue." +</P> + +<P> +"This is wonderful!" said the Scarecrow, heaving a stuffy, long sigh. +"I think Ku-Klip was wrong to make two tin men, just alike, and the +strangest thing of all is that both you tin men fell in love with the +same girl." +</P> + +<P> +"As for that," returned the Soldier, seriously, "I must admit I lost my +ability to love when I lost my meat heart. Ku-Klip gave me a tin heart, +to be sure, but it doesn't love anything, as far as I can discover, and +merely rattles against my tin ribs, which makes me wish I had no heart +at all." +</P> + +<P> +"Yet, in spite of this condition, you were going to marry Nimmie Amee?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, you see I had promised to marry her, and I am an honest man and +always try to keep my promises. I didn't like to disappoint the poor +girl, who had been disappointed by one tin man already." +</P> + +<P> +"That was not my fault," declared the Emperor of the Winkies, and then +he related how he, also, had rusted in the forest and after a long time +had been rescued by Dorothy and the Scarecrow and had traveled with +them to the Emerald City in search of a heart that could love. +</P> + +<P> +"If you have found such a heart, sir," said the Soldier, "I will gladly +allow you to marry Nimmie Amee in my place." +</P> + +<P> +"If she loves you best, sir," answered the Woodman, "I shall not +interfere with your wedding her. For, to be quite frank with you, I +cannot yet love Nimmie Amee as I did before I became tin." +</P> + +<P> +"Still, one of you ought to marry the poor girl," remarked Woot; "and, +if she likes tin men, there is not much choice between you. Why don't +you draw lots for her?" +</P> + +<P> +"That wouldn't be right," said the Scarecrow. +</P> + +<P> +"The girl should be permitted to choose her own husband," asserted +Polychrome. "You should both go to her and allow her to take her +choice. Then she will surely be happy." +</P> + +<P> +"That, to me, seems a very fair arrangement," said the Tin Soldier. +</P> + +<P> +"I agree to it," said the Tin Woodman, shaking the hand of his twin to +show the matter was settled. "May I ask your name, sir?" he continued. +</P> + +<P> +"Before I was so cut up," replied the other, "I was known as Captain +Fyter, but afterward I was merely called 'The Tin Soldier.'" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, Captain, if you are agreeable, let us now go to Nimmie Amee's +house and let her choose between us." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well; and if we meet the Witch, we will both fight her—you with +your axe and I with my sword." +</P> + +<P> +"The Witch is destroyed," announced the Scarecrow, and as they walked +away he told the Tin Soldier of much that had happened in the Land of +Oz since he had stood rusted in the forest. +</P> + +<P> +"I must have stood there longer than I had imagined," he said +thoughtfully. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap17"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Seventeen +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Workshop of Ku-Klip +</H3> + +<P> +It was not more than a two hours' journey to the house where Nimmie +Amee had lived, but when our travelers arrived there they found the +place deserted. The door was partly off its hinges, the roof had fallen +in at the rear and the interior of the cottage was thick with dust. Not +only was the place vacant, but it was evident that no one had lived +there for a long time. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose," said the Scarecrow, as they all stood looking wonderingly +at the ruined house, "that after the Wicked Witch was destroyed, Nimmie +Amee became lonely and went somewhere else to live." +</P> + +<P> +"One could scarcely expect a young girl to live all alone in a forest," +added Woot. "She would want company, of course, and so I believe she +has gone where other people live." +</P> + +<P> +"And perhaps she is still crying her poor little heart out because no +tin man comes to marry her," suggested Polychrome. +</P> + +<P> +"Well, in that case, it is the clear duty of you two tin persons to +seek Nimmie Amee until you find her," declared the Scarecrow. +</P> + +<P> +"I do not know where to look for the girl," said the Tin Soldier, "for +I am almost a stranger to this part of the country." +</P> + +<P> +"I was born here," said the Tin Woodman, "but the forest has few +inhabitants except the wild beasts. I cannot think of anyone living +near here with whom Nimmie Amee might care to live." +</P> + +<P> +"Why not go to Ku-Klip and ask him what has become of the girl?" +proposed Polychrome. +</P> + +<P> +That struck them all as being a good suggestion, so once more they +started to tramp through the forest, taking the direct path to +Ku-Klip's house, for both the tin twins knew the way, having followed +it many times. +</P> + +<P> +Ku-Klip lived at the far edge of the great forest, his house facing the +broad plains of the Munchkin Country that lay to the eastward. But, +when they came to this residence by the forest's edge, the tinsmith was +not at home. +</P> + +<P> +It was a pretty place, all painted dark blue with trimmings of lighter +blue. There was a neat blue fence around the yard and several blue +benches had been placed underneath the shady blue trees which marked +the line between forest and plain. There was a blue lawn before the +house, which was a good sized building. Ku-Klip lived in the front part +of the house and had his work-shop in the back part, where he had also +built a lean-to addition, in order to give him more room. +</P> + +<P> +Although they found the tinsmith absent on their arrival, there was +smoke coming out of his chimney, which proved that he would soon return. +</P> + +<P> +"And perhaps Nimmie Amee will be with him," said the Scarecrow in a +cheerful voice. +</P> + +<P> +While they waited, the Tin Woodman went to the door of the workshop +and, finding it unlocked, entered and looked curiously around the room +where he had been made. +</P> + +<P> +"It seems almost like home to me," hie told his friends, who had +followed him in. "The first time I came here I had lost a leg, so I had +to carry it in my hand while I hopped on the other leg all the way from +the place in the forest where the enchanted axe cut me. I remember that +old Ku-Klip carefully put my meat leg into a barrel—I think that is +the same barrel, still standing in the corner yonder—and then at once +he began to make a tin leg for me. He worked fast and with skill, and I +was much interested in the job." +</P> + +<P> +"My experience was much the same," said the Tin Soldier. "I used to +bring all the parts of me, which the enchanted sword had cut away, here +to the tinsmith, and Ku-Klip would put them into the barrel." +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder," said Woot, "if those cast-off parts of you two unfortunates +are still in that barrel in the corner?" +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose so." replied the Tin Woodman. "In the Land of Oz no part of +a living creature can ever be destroyed." +</P> + +<P> +"If that is true, how was that Wicked Witch destroyed?" inquired Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, she was very old and was all dried up and withered before Oz +became a fairyland," explained the Scarecrow. "Only her magic arts had +kept her alive so long, and when Dorothy's house fell upon her she just +turned to dust, and was blown away and scattered by the wind. I do not +think, however, that the parts cut away from these two young men could +ever be entirely destroyed and, if they are still in those barrels, +they are likely to be just the same as when the enchanted axe or sword +severed them." +</P> + +<P> +"It doesn't matter, however," said the Tin Woodman; "our tin bodies are +more brilliant and durable, and quite satisfy us." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, the tin bodies are best," agreed the Tin Soldier. "Nothing can +hurt them." +</P> + +<P> +"Unless they get dented or rusted," said Woot, but both the tin men +frowned on him. +</P> + +<P> +Scraps of tin, of all shapes and sizes, lay scattered around the +workshop. Also there were hammers and anvils and soldering irons and a +charcoal furnace and many other tools such as a tinsmith works with. +Against two of the side walls had been built stout work-benches and in +the center of the room was a long table. At the end of the shop, which +adjoined the dwelling, were several cupboards. +</P> + +<P> +After examining the interior of the workshop until his curiosity was +satisfied, Woot said: +</P> + +<P> +"I think I will go outside until Ku-Klip comes. It does not seem quite +proper for us to take possession of his house while he is absent." +</P> + +<P> +"That is true," agreed the Scarecrow, and they were all about to leave +the room when the Tin Woodman said: "Wait a minute," and they halted in +obedience to the command. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap18"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Eighteen +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Tin Woodman Talks to Himself +</H3> + +<P> +The Tin Woodman had just noticed the cupboards and was curious to know +what they contained, so he went to one of them and opened the door. +There were shelves inside, and upon one of the shelves which was about +on a level with his tin chin the Emperor discovered a Head—it looked +like a doll's head, only it was larger, and he soon saw it was the Head +of some person. It was facing the Tin Woodman and as the cupboard door +swung back, the eyes of the Head slowly opened and looked at him. The +Tin Woodman was not at all surprised, for in the Land of Oz one runs +into magic at every turn. +</P> + +<P> +"Dear me!" said the Tin Woodman, staring hard. "It seems as if I had +met you, somewhere, before. Good morning, sir!" +</P> + +<P> +"You have the advantage of me," replied the Head. "I never saw you +before in my life." +</P> + +<P> +"Still, your face is very familiar," persisted the Tin Woodman. "Pardon +me, but may I ask if you—eh—eh—if you ever had a Body?" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, at one time," answered the Head, "but that is so long ago I can't +remember it. Did you think," with a pleasant smile, "that I was born +just as I am? That a Head would be created without a Body?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, of course not," said the other. "But how came you to lose your +body?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, I can't recollect the details; you'll have to ask Ku-Klip about +it," returned the Head. "For, curious as it may seem to you, my memory +is not good since my separation from the rest of me. I still possess my +brains and my intellect is as good as ever, but my memory of some of +the events I formerly experienced is quite hazy." +</P> + +<P> +"How long have you been in this cupboard?" asked the Emperor. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't know." +</P> + +<P> +"Haven't you a name?" +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes," said the Head; "I used to be called Nick Chopper, when I was +a woodman and cut down trees for a living." +</P> + +<P> +"Good gracious!" cried the Tin Woodman in astonishment. "If you are +Nick Chopper's Head, then you are Me—or I'm You—or—or—What relation +are we, anyhow?" +</P> + +<P> +"Don't ask me," replied the Head. "For my part, I'm not anxious to +claim relationship with any common, manufactured article, like you. You +may be all right in your class, but your class isn't my class. You're +tin." +</P> + +<P> +The poor Emperor felt so bewildered that for a time he could only stare +at his old Head in silence. Then he said: +</P> + +<P> +"I must admit that I wasn't at all bad looking before I became tin. +You're almost handsome—for meat. If your hair was combed, you'd be +quite attractive." +</P> + +<P> +"How do you expect me to comb my hair without help?" demanded the Head, +indignantly. "I used to keep it smooth and neat, when I had arms, but +after I was removed from the rest of me, my hair got mussed, and old +Ku-Klip never has combed it for me." +</P> + +<P> +"I'll speak to him about it," said the Tin Woodman. "Do you remember +loving a pretty Munchkin girl named Nimmie Amee?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," answered the Head. "That is a foolish question. The heart in my +body—when I had a body—might have loved someone, for all I know, but +a head isn't made to love; it's made to think." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh; do you think, then?" +</P> + +<P> +"I used to think." +</P> + +<P> +"You must have been shut up in this cupboard for years and years. What +have you thought about, in all that time?" +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing. That's another foolish question. A little reflection will +convince you that I have had nothing to think about, except the boards +on the inside of the cupboard door, and it didn't take me long to think +of everything about those boards that could be thought of. Then, of +course, I quit thinking." +</P> + +<P> +"And are you happy?" +</P> + +<P> +"Happy? What's that?" +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you know what happiness is?" inquired the Tin Woodman. +</P> + +<P> +"I haven't the faintest idea whether it's round or square, or black or +white, or what it is. And, if you will pardon my lack of interest in +it, I will say that I don't care." +</P> + +<P> +The Tin Woodman was much puzzled by these answers. His traveling +companions had grouped themselves at his back, and had fixed their eyes +on the Head and listened to the conversation with much interest, but +until now, they had not interrupted because they thought the Tin +Woodman had the best right to talk to his own head and renew +acquaintance with it. +</P> + +<P> +But now the Tin Soldier remarked: +</P> + +<P> +"I wonder if my old head happens to be in any of these cupboards," and +he proceeded to open all the cupboard doors. But no other head was to +be found on any of the shelves. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, well; never mind," said Woot the Wanderer; "I can't imagine what +anyone wants of a cast-off head, anyhow." +</P> + +<P> +"I can understand the Soldier's interest," asserted Polychrome, dancing +around the grimy workshop until her draperies formed a cloud around her +dainty form. "For sentimental reasons a man might like to see his old +head once more, just as one likes to revisit an old home." +</P> + +<P> +"And then to kiss it good-bye," added the Scarecrow. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope that tin thing won't try to kiss me good-bye!" exclaimed the +Tin Woodman's former head. "And I don't see what right you folks have +to disturb my peace and comfort, either." +</P> + +<P> +"You belong to me," the Tin Woodman declared. +</P> + +<P> +"I do not!" +</P> + +<P> +"You and I are one." +</P> + +<P> +"We've been parted," asserted the Head. "It would be unnatural for me +to have any interest in a man made of tin. Please close the door and +leave me alone." +</P> + +<P> +"I did not think that my old Head could be so disagreeable," said the +Emperor. "I—I'm quite ashamed of myself; meaning you." +</P> + +<P> +"You ought to be glad that I've enough sense to know what my rights +are," retorted the Head. "In this cupboard I am leading a simple life, +peaceful and dignified, and when a mob of people in whom I am not +interested disturb me, they are the disagreeable ones; not I." +</P> + +<P> +With a sigh the Tin Woodman closed and latched the cupboard door and +turned away. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," said the Tin Soldier, "if my old head would have treated me as +coldly and in so unfriendly a manner as your old head has treated you, +friend Chopper, I'm glad I could not find it." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I'm rather surprised at my head, myself," replied the Tin +Woodman, thoughtfully. "I thought I had a more pleasant disposition +when I was made of meat." +</P> + +<P> +But just then old Ku-Klip the Tinsmith arrived, and he seemed surprised +to find so many visitors. Ku-Klip was a stout man and a short man. He +had his sleeves rolled above his elbows, showing muscular arms, and he +wore a leathern apron that covered all the front of him, and was so +long that Woot was surprised he didn't step on it and trip whenever he +walked. And Ku-Klip had a gray beard that was almost as long as his +apron, and his head was bald on top and his ears stuck out from his +head like two fans. Over his eyes, which were bright and twinkling, he +wore big spectacles. It was easy to see that the tinsmith was a kind +hearted man, as well as a merry and agreeable one. "Oh-ho!" he cried in +a joyous bass voice; "here are both my tin men come to visit me, and +they and their friends are welcome indeed. I'm very proud of you two +characters, I assure you, for you are so perfect that you are proof +that I'm a good workman. Sit down. Sit down, all of you—if you can +find anything to sit on—and tell me why you are here." +</P> + +<P> +So they found seats and told him all of their adventures that they +thought he would like to know. Ku-Klip was glad to learn that Nick +Chopper, the Tin Woodman, was now Emperor of the Winkies and a friend +of Ozma of Oz, and the tinsmith was also interested in the Scarecrow +and Polychrome. +</P> + +<P> +He turned the straw man around, examining him curiously, and patted him +on all sides, and then said: +</P> + +<P> +"You are certainly wonderful, but I think you would be more durable and +steady on your legs if you were made of tin. Would you like me to—" +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed!" interrupted the Scarecrow hastily; "I like myself better +as I am." +</P> + +<P> +But to Polychrome the tinsmith said: +</P> + +<P> +"Nothing could improve you, my dear, for you are the most beautiful +maiden I have ever seen. It is pure happiness just to look at you." +</P> + +<P> +"That is praise, indeed, from so skillful a workman," returned the +Rainbow's Daughter, laughing and dancing in and out the room. +</P> + +<P> +"Then it must be this boy you wish me to help," said Ku-Klip, looking +at Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"No," said Woot, "we are not here to seek your skill, but have merely +come to you for information." +</P> + +<P> +Then, between them, they related their search for Nimmie Amee, whom the +Tin Woodman explained he had resolved to marry, yet who had promised to +become the bride of the Tin Soldier before he unfortunately became +rusted. And when the story was told, they asked Ku-Klip if he knew what +had become of Nimmie Amee. +</P> + +<P> +"Not exactly," replied the old man, "but I know that she wept bitterly +when the Tin Soldier did not come to marry her, as he had promised to +do. The old Witch was so provoked at the girl's tears that she beat +Nimmie Amee with her crooked stick and then hobbled away to gather some +magic herbs, with which she intended to transform the girl into an old +hag, so that no one would again love her or care to marry her. It was +while she was away on this errand that Dorothy's house fell on the +Wicked Witch, and she turned to dust and blew away. When I heard this +good news, I sent Nimmie Amee to find the Silver Shoes which the Witch +had worn, but Dorothy had taken them with her to the Emerald City." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, we know all about those Silver Shoes," said the Scarecrow. +</P> + +<P> +"Well," continued Ku-Klip, "after that, Nimmie Amee decided to go away +from the forest and live with some people she was acquainted with who +had a house on Mount Munch. I have never seen the girl since." +</P> + +<P> +"Do you know the name of the people on Mount Munch, with whom she went +to live?" asked the Tin Woodman. +</P> + +<P> +"No, Nimmie Amee did not mention her friend's name, and I did not ask +her. She took with her all that she could carry of the goods that were +in the Witch's house, and she told me I could have the rest. But when I +went there I found nothing worth taking except some magic powders that +I did not know how to use, and a bottle of Magic Glue." +</P> + +<P> +"What is Magic Glue?" asked Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"It is a magic preparation with which to mend people when they cut +themselves. One time, long ago, I cut off one of my fingers by +accident, and I carried it to the Witch, who took down her bottle and +glued it on again for me. See!" showing them his finger, "it is as good +as ever it was. No one else that I ever heard of had this Magic Glue, +and of course when Nick Chopper cut himself to pieces with his +enchanted axe and Captain Fyter cut himself to pieces with his +enchanted sword, the Witch would not mend them, or allow me to glue +them together, because she had herself wickedly enchanted the axe and +sword. Nothing remained but for me to make them new parts out of tin; +but, as you see, tin answered the purpose very well, and I am sure +their tin bodies are a great improvement on their meat bodies." +</P> + +<P> +"Very true," said the Tin Soldier. +</P> + +<P> +"I quite agree with you," said the Tin Woodman. "I happened to find my +old head in your cupboard, a while ago, and certainly it is not as +desirable a head as the tin one I now wear." +</P> + +<P> +"By the way," said the Tin Soldier, "what ever became of my old head, +Ku-Klip?" +</P> + +<P> +"And of the different parts of our bodies?" added the Tin Woodman. +</P> + +<P> +"Let me think a minute," replied Ku-Klip. "If I remember right, you two +boys used to bring me most of your parts, when they were cut off, and I +saved them in that barrel in the corner. You must not have brought me +all the parts, for when I made Chopfyt I had hard work finding enough +pieces to complete the job. I finally had to finish him with one arm." +</P> + +<P> +"Who is Chopfyt?" inquired Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, haven't I told you about Chopfyt?" exclaimed Ku-Klip. "Of course +not! And he's quite a curiosity, too. You'll be interested in hearing +about Chopfyt. This is how he happened: +</P> + +<P> +"One day, after the Witch had been destroyed and Nimmie Amee had gone +to live with her friends on Mount Munch, I was looking around the shop +for something and came upon the bottle of Magic Glue which I had +brought from the old Witch's house. It occurred to me to piece together +the odds and ends of you two people, which of course were just as good +as ever, and see if I couldn't make a man out of them. If I succeeded, +I would have an assistant to help me with my work, and I thought it +would be a clever idea to put to some practical use the scraps of Nick +Chopper and Captain Fyter. There were two perfectly good heads in my +cupboard, and a lot of feet and legs and parts of bodies in the barrel, +so I set to work to see what I could do. +</P> + +<P> +"First, I pieced together a body, gluing it with the Witch's Magic +Glue, which worked perfectly. That was the hardest part of my job, +however, because the bodies didn't match up well and some parts were +missing. But by using a piece of Captain Fyter here and a piece of Nick +Chopper there, I finally got together a very decent body, with heart +and all the trimmings complete." +</P> + +<P> +"Whose heart did you use in making the body?" asked the Tin Woodman +anxiously. +</P> + +<P> +"I can't tell, for the parts had no tags on them and one heart looks +much like another. After the body was completed, I glued two fine legs +and feet onto it. One leg was Nick Chopper's and one was Captain +Fyter's and, finding one leg longer than the other, I trimmed it down +to make them match. I was much disappointed to find that I had but one +arm. There was an extra leg in the barrel, but I could find only one +arm. Having glued this onto the body, I was ready for the head, and I +had some difficulty in making up my mind which head to use. Finally I +shut my eyes and reached out my hand toward the cupboard shelf, and the +first head I touched I glued upon my new man." +</P> + +<P> +"It was mine!" declared the Tin Soldier, gloomily. +</P> + +<P> +"No, it was mine," asserted Ku-Klip, "for I had given you another in +exchange for it—the beautiful tin head you now wear. When the glue had +dried, my man was quite an interesting fellow. I named him Chopfyt, +using a part of Nick Chopper's name and a part of Captain Fyter's name, +because he was a mixture of both your cast-off parts. Chopfyt was +interesting, as I said, but he did not prove a very agreeable +companion. He complained bitterly because I had given him but one +arm—as if it were my fault!—and he grumbled because the suit of blue +Munchkin clothes, which I got for him from a neighbor, did not fit him +perfectly." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, that was because he was wearing my old head," remarked the Tin +Soldier. "I remember that head used to be very particular about its +clothes." +</P> + +<P> +"As an assistant," the old tinsmith continued, "Chopfyt was not a +success. He was awkward with tools and was always hungry. He demanded +something to eat six or eight times a day, so I wondered if I had +fitted his insides properly. Indeed, Chopfyt ate so much that little +food was left for myself; so, when he proposed, one day, to go out into +the world and seek adventures, I was delighted to be rid of him. I even +made him a tin arm to take the place of the missing one, and that +pleased him very much, so that we parted good friends." +</P> + +<P> +"What became of Chopfyt after that?" the Scarecrow inquired. +</P> + +<P> +"I never heard. He started off toward the east, into the plains of the +Munchkin Country, and that was the last I ever saw of him." +</P> + +<P> +"It seems to me," said the Tin Woodman reflectively, "that you did +wrong in making a man out of our cast-off parts. It is evident that +Chopfyt could, with justice, claim relationship with both of us." +</P> + +<P> +"Don't worry about that," advised Ku-Klip cheerfully; "it is not likely +that you will ever meet the fellow. And, if you should meet him, he +doesn't know who he is made of, for I never told him the secret of his +manufacture. Indeed, you are the only ones who know of it, and you may +keep the secret to yourselves, if you wish to." +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind Chopfyt," said the Scarecrow. "Our business now is to find +poor Nimmie Amee and let her choose her tin husband. To do that, it +seems, from the information Ku-Klip has given us, we must travel to +Mount Munch." +</P> + +<P> +"If that's the programme, let us start at once," suggested Woot. +</P> + +<P> +So they all went outside, where they found Polychrome dancing about +among the trees and talking with the birds and laughing as merrily as +if she had not lost her Rainbow and so been separated from all her +fairy sisters. +</P> + +<P> +They told her they were going to Mount Munch, and she replied: +</P> + +<P> +"Very well; I am as likely to find my Rainbow there as here, and any +other place is as likely as there. It all depends on the weather. Do +you think it looks like rain?" +</P> + +<P> +They shook their heads, and Polychrome laughed again and danced on +after them when they resumed their journey. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap19"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Nineteen +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Invisible Country +</H3> + +<P> +They were proceeding so easily and comfortably on their way to Mount +Munch that Woot said in a serious tone of voice: +</P> + +<P> +"I'm afraid something is going to happen." +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" asked Polychrome, dancing around the group of travelers. +</P> + +<P> +"Because," said the boy, thoughtfully, "I've noticed that when we have +the least reason for getting into trouble, something is sure to go +wrong. Just now the weather is delightful; the grass is beautifully +blue and quite soft to our feet; the mountain we are seeking shows +clearly in the distance and there is no reason anything should happen +to delay us in getting there. Our troubles all seem to be over, +and—well, that's why I'm afraid," he added, with a sigh. +</P> + +<P> +"Dear me!" remarked the Scarecrow, "what unhappy thoughts you have, to +be sure. This is proof that born brains cannot equal manufactured +brains, for my brains dwell only on facts and never borrow trouble. +When there is occasion for my brains to think, they think, but I would +be ashamed of my brains if they kept shooting out thoughts that were +merely fears and imaginings, such as do no good, but are likely to do +harm." +</P> + +<P> +"For my part," said the Tin Woodman, "I do not think at all, but allow +my velvet heart to guide me at all times." +</P> + +<P> +"The tinsmith filled my hollow head with scraps and clippings of tin," +said the Soldier, "and he told me they would do nicely for brains, but +when I begin to think, the tin scraps rattle around and get so mixed +that I'm soon bewildered. So I try not to think. My tin heart is almost +as useless to me, for it is hard and cold, so I'm sure the red velvet +heart of my friend Nick Chopper is a better guide." +</P> + +<P> +"Thoughtless people are not unusual," observed the Scarecrow, "but I +consider them more fortunate than those who have useless or wicked +thoughts and do not try to curb them. Your oil can, friend Woodman, is +filled with oil, but you only apply the oil to your joints, drop by +drop, as you need it, and do not keep spilling it where it will do no +good. Thoughts should be restrained in the same way as your oil, and +only applied when necessary, and for a good purpose. If used carefully, +thoughts are good things to have." +</P> + +<P> +Polychrome laughed at him, for the Rainbow's Daughter knew more about +thoughts than the Scarecrow did. But the others were solemn, feeling +they had been rebuked, and tramped on in silence. +</P> + +<P> +Suddenly Woot, who was in the lead, looked around and found that all +his comrades had mysteriously disappeared. But where could they have +gone to? The broad plain was all about him and there were neither trees +nor bushes that could hide even a rabbit, nor any hole for one to fall +into. Yet there he stood, alone. +</P> + +<P> +Surprise had caused him to halt, and with a thoughtful and puzzled +expression on his face he looked down at his feet. It startled him anew +to discover that he had no feet. He reached out his hands, but he could +not see them. He could feel his hands and arms and body; he stamped his +feet on the grass and knew they were there, but in some strange way +they had become invisible. +</P> + +<P> +While Woot stood, wondering, a crash of metal sounded in his ears and +he heard two heavy bodies tumble to the earth just beside him. +</P> + +<P> +"Good gracious!" exclaimed the voice of the Tin Woodman. +</P> + +<P> +"Mercy me!" cried the voice of the Tin Soldier. +</P> + +<P> +"Why didn't you look where you were going?" asked the Tin Woodman +reproachfully. +</P> + +<P> +"I did, but I couldn't see you," said the Tin Soldier. "Something has +happened to my tin eyes. I can't see you, even now, nor can I see +anyone else!" +</P> + +<P> +"It's the same way with me," admitted the Tin Woodman. +</P> + +<P> +Woot couldn't see either of them, although he heard them plainly, and +just then something smashed against him unexpectedly and knocked him +over; but it was only the straw-stuffed body of the Scarecrow that fell +upon him and while he could not see the Scarecrow he managed to push +him off and rose to his feet just as Polychrome whirled against him and +made him tumble again. +</P> + +<P> +Sitting upon the ground, the boy asked: +</P> + +<P> +"Can you see us, Poly?" +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed," answered the Rainbow's Daughter; "we've all become +invisible." +</P> + +<P> +"How did it happen, do you suppose?" inquired the Scarecrow, lying +where he had fallen. +</P> + +<P> +"We have met with no enemy," answered Poly-chrome, "so it must be that +this part of the country has the magic quality of making people +invisible—even fairies falling under the charm. We can see the grass, +and the flowers, and the stretch of plain before us, and we can still +see Mount Munch in the distance; but we cannot see ourselves or one +another." +</P> + +<P> +"Well, what are we to do about it?" demanded Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"I think this magic affects only a small part of the plain," replied +Polychrome; "perhaps there is only a streak of the country where an +enchantment makes people become invisible. So, if we get together and +hold hands, we can travel toward Mount Munch until the enchanted streak +is passed." +</P> + +<P> +"All right," said Woot, jumping up, "give me your hand, Polychrome. +Where are you?" +</P> + +<P> +"Here," she answered. "Whistle, Woot, and keep whistling until I come +to you." +</P> + +<P> +So Woot whistled, and presently Polychrome found him and grasped his +hand. +</P> + +<P> +"Someone must help me up," said the Scarecrow, lying near them; so they +found the straw man and sat him upon his feet, after which he held fast +to Polychrome's other hand. +</P> + +<P> +Nick Chopper and the Tin Soldier had managed to scramble up without +assistance, but it was awkward for them and the Tin Woodman said: +</P> + +<P> +"I don't seem to stand straight, somehow. But my joints all work, so I +guess I can walk." +</P> + +<P> +Guided by his voice, they reached his side, where Woot grasped his tin +fingers so they might keep together. +</P> + +<P> +The Tin Soldier was standing near by and the Scarecrow soon touched him +and took hold of his arm. +</P> + +<P> +"I hope you're not wobbly," said the straw man, "for if two of us walk +unsteadily we will be sure to fall." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not wobbly," the Tin Soldier assured him, "but I'm certain that +one of my legs is shorter than the other. I can't see it, to tell +what's gone wrong, but I'll limp on with the rest of you until we are +out of this enchanted territory." +</P> + +<P> +They now formed a line, holding hands, and turning their faces toward +Mount Munch resumed their journey. They had not gone far, however, when +a terrible growl saluted their ears. The sound seemed to come from a +place just in front of them, so they halted abruptly and remained +silent, listening with all their ears. +</P> + +<P> +"I smell straw!" cried a hoarse, harsh voice, with more growls and +snarls. "I smell straw, and I'm a Hip-po-gy-raf who loves straw and +eats all he can find. I want to eat this straw! Where is it? Where is +it?" +</P> + +<P> +The Scarecrow, hearing this, trembled but kept silent. All the others +were silent, too, hoping that the invisible beast would be unable to +find them. But the creature sniffed the odor of the straw and drew +nearer and nearer to them until he reached the Tin Woodman, on one end +of the line. It was a big beast and it smelled of the Tin Woodman and +grated two rows of enormous teeth against the Emperor's tin body. +</P> + +<P> +"Bah! that's not straw," said the harsh voice, and the beast advanced +along the line to Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"Meat! Pooh, you're no good! I can't eat meat," grumbled the beast, and +passed on to Polychrome. +</P> + +<P> +"Sweetmeats and perfume—cobwebs and dew! Nothing to eat in a fairy +like you," said the creature. +</P> + +<P> +Now, the Scarecrow was next to Polychrome in the line, and he realized +if the beast devoured his straw he would be helpless for a long time, +because the last farmhouse was far behind them and only grass covered +the vast expanse of plain. So in his fright he let go of Polychrome's +hand and put the hand of the Tin Soldier in that of the Rainbow's +Daughter. Then he slipped back of the line and went to the other end, +where he silently seized the Tin Woodman's hand. +</P> + +<P> +Meantime, the beast had smelled the Tin Soldier and found he was the +last of the line. +</P> + +<P> +"That's funny!" growled the Hip-po-gy-raf; "I can smell straw, but I +can't find it. Well, it's here, somewhere, and I must hunt around until +I do find it, for I'm hungry." +</P> + +<P> +His voice was now at the left of them, so they started on, hoping to +avoid him, and traveled as fast as they could in the direction of Mount +Munch. +</P> + +<P> +"I don't like this invisible country," said Woot with a shudder. "We +can't tell how many dreadful, invisible beasts are roaming around us, +or what danger we'll come to next." +</P> + +<P> +"Quit thinking about danger, please," said the Scarecrow, warningly. +</P> + +<P> +"Why?" asked the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"If you think of some dreadful thing, it's liable to happen, but if you +don't think of it, and no one else thinks of it, it just can't happen. +Do you see?" +</P> + +<P> +"No," answered Woot. "I won't be able to see much of anything until we +escape from this enchantment." +</P> + +<P> +But they got out of the invisible strip of country as suddenly as they +had entered it, and the instant they got out they stopped short, for +just before them was a deep ditch, running at right angles as far as +their eyes could see and stopping all further progress toward Mount +Munch. +</P> + +<P> +"It's not so very wide," said Woot, "but I'm sure none of us can jump +across it." +</P> + +<P> +Polychrome began to laugh, and the Scarecrow said: "What's the matter?" +</P> + +<P> +"Look at the tin men!" she said, with another burst of merry laughter. +</P> + +<P> +Woot and the Scarecrow looked, and the tin men looked at themselves. +</P> + +<P> +"It was the collision," said the Tin Woodman regretfully. "I knew +something was wrong with me, and now I can see that my side is dented +in so that I lean over toward the left. It was the Soldier's fault; he +shouldn't have been so careless." +</P> + +<P> +"It is your fault that my right leg is bent, making it shorter than the +other, so that I limp badly," retorted the Soldier. "You shouldn't have +stood where I was walking." +</P> + +<P> +"You shouldn't have walked where I was standing," replied the Tin +Woodman. +</P> + +<P> +It was almost a quarrel, so Polychrome said soothingly: +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind, friends; as soon as we have time I am sure we can +straighten the Soldier's leg and get the dent out of the Woodman's +body. The Scarecrow needs patting into shape, too, for he had a bad +tumble, but our first task is to get over this ditch." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, the ditch is the most important thing, just now," added Woot. +</P> + +<P> +They were standing in a row, looking hard at the unexpected barrier, +when a fierce growl from behind them made them all turn quickly. Out of +the invisible country marched a huge beast with a thick, leathery skin +and a surprisingly long neck. The head on the top of this neck was +broad and flat and the eyes and mouth were very big and the nose and +ears very small. When the head was drawn down toward the beast's +shoulders, the neck was all wrinkles, but the head could shoot up very +high indeed, if the creature wished it to. +</P> + +<P> +"Dear me!" exclaimed the Scarecrow, "this must be the Hip-po-gy-raf." +</P> + +<P> +"Quite right," said the beast; "and you're the straw which I'm to eat +for my dinner. Oh, how I love straw! I hope you don't resent my +affectionate appetite?" +</P> + +<P> +With its four great legs it advanced straight toward the Scarecrow, but +the Tin Woodman and the Tin Soldier both sprang in front of their +friend and flourished their weapons. +</P> + +<P> +"Keep off!" said the Tin Woodman, warningly, "or I'll chop you with my +axe." +</P> + +<P> +"Keep off!" said the Tin Soldier, "or I'll cut you with my sword." +</P> + +<P> +"Would you really do that?" asked the Hip-po-gy-raf, in a disappointed +voice. +</P> + +<P> +"We would," they both replied, and the Tin Woodman added: "The +Scarecrow is our friend, and he would be useless without his straw +stuffing. So, as we are comrades, faithful and true, we will defend our +friend's stuffing against all enemies." +</P> + +<P> +The Hip-po-gy-raf sat down and looked at them sorrowfully. +</P> + +<P> +"When one has made up his mind to have a meal of delicious straw, and +then finds he can't have it, it is certainly hard luck," he said. "And +what good is the straw man to you, or to himself, when the ditch keeps +you from going any further?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, we can go back again," suggested Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"True," said the Hip-po; "and if you do, you'll be as disappointed as I +am. That's some comfort, anyhow." +</P> + +<P> +The travelers looked at the beast, and then they looked across the +ditch at the level plain beyond. On the other side the grass had grown +tall, and the sun had dried it, so there was a fine crop of hay that +only needed to be cut and stacked. +</P> + +<P> +"Why don't you cross over and eat hay?" the boy asked the beast. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not fond of hay," replied the Hip-po-gy-raf; "straw is much more +delicious, to my notion, and it's more scarce in this neighborhood, +too. Also I must confess that I can't get across the ditch, for my body +is too heavy and clumsy for me to jump the distance. I can stretch my +neck across, though, and you will notice that I've nibbled the hay on +the farther edge—not because I liked it, but because one must eat, and +if one can't get the sort of food he desires, he must take what is +offered or go hungry." +</P> + +<P> +"Ah, I see you are a philosopher," remarked the Scarecrow. +</P> + +<P> +"No, I'm just a Hip-po-gy-raf," was the reply. +</P> + +<P> +Polychrome was not afraid of the big beast. She danced close to him and +said: +</P> + +<P> +"If you can stretch your neck across the ditch, why not help us over? +We can sit on your big head, one at a time, and then you can lift us +across." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; I can, it is true," answered the Hip-po; "but I refuse to do it. +Unless—" he added, and stopped short. +</P> + +<P> +"Unless what?" asked Polychrome. +</P> + +<P> +"Unless you first allow me to eat the straw with which the Scarecrow is +stuffed." +</P> + +<P> +"No," said the Rainbow's Daughter, "that is too high a price to pay. +Our friend's straw is nice and fresh, for he was restuffed only a +little while ago." +</P> + +<P> +"I know," agreed the Hip-po-gy-raf. "That's why I want it. If it was +old, musty straw, I wouldn't care for it." +</P> + +<P> +"Please lift us across," pleaded Polychrome. +</P> + +<P> +"No," replied the beast; "since you refuse my generous offer, I can be +as stubborn as you are." +</P> + +<P> +After that they were all silent for a time, but then the Scarecrow said +bravely: +</P> + +<P> +"Friends, let us agree to the beast's terms. Give him my straw, and +carry the rest of me with you across the ditch. Once on the other side, +the Tin Soldier can cut some of the hay with his sharp sword, and you +can stuff me with that material until we reach a place where there is +straw. It is true I have been stuffed with straw all my life and it +will be somewhat humiliating to be filled with common hay, but I am +willing to sacrifice my pride in a good cause. Moreover, to abandon our +errand and so deprive the great Emperor of the Winkies—or this noble +Soldier—of his bride, would be equally humiliating, if not more so." +</P> + +<P> +"You're a very honest and clever man!" exclaimed the Hip-po-gy-raf, +admiringly. "When I have eaten your head, perhaps I also will become +clever." +</P> + +<P> +"You're not to eat my head, you know," returned the Scarecrow hastily. +"My head isn't stuffed with straw and I cannot part with it. When one +loses his head he loses his brains." +</P> + +<P> +"Very well, then; you may keep your head," said the beast. +</P> + +<P> +The Scarecrow's companions thanked him warmly for his loyal sacrifice +to their mutual good, and then he laid down and permitted them to pull +the straw from his body. As fast as they did this, the Hip-po-gy-raf +ate up the straw, and when all was consumed Polychrome made a neat +bundle of the clothes and boots and gloves and hat and said she would +carry them, while Woot tucked the Scarecrow's head under his arm and +promised to guard its safety. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, then," said the Tin Woodman, "keep your promise, Beast, and lift +us over the ditch." +</P> + +<P> +"M-m-m-mum, but that was a fine dinner!" said the Hip-po, smacking his +thick lips in satisfaction, "and I'm as good as my word. Sit on my +head, one at a time, and I'll land you safely on the other side." +</P> + +<P> +He approached close to the edge of the ditch and squatted down. +Polychrome climbed over his big body and sat herself lightly upon the +flat head, holding the bundle of the Scarecrow's raiment in her hand. +Slowly the elastic neck stretched out until it reached the far side of +the ditch, when the beast lowered his head and permitted the beautiful +fairy to leap to the ground. +</P> + +<P> +Woot made the queer journey next, and then the Tin Soldier and the Tin +Woodman went over, and all were well pleased to have overcome this +serious barrier to their progress. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, Soldier, cut the hay," said the Scarecrow's head, which was still +held by Woot the Wanderer. +</P> + +<P> +"I'd like to, but I can't stoop over, with my bent leg, without +falling," replied Captain Fyter. +</P> + +<P> +"What can we do about that leg, anyhow?" asked Woot, appealing to +Polychrome. +</P> + +<P> +She danced around in a circle several times without replying, and the +boy feared she had not heard him; but the Rainbow's Daughter was merely +thinking upon the problem, and presently she paused beside the Tin +Soldier and said: +</P> + +<P> +"I've been taught a little fairy magic, but I've never before been +asked to mend tin legs with it, so I'm not sure I can help you. It all +depends on the good will of my unseen fairy guardians, so I'll try, and +if I fail, you will be no worse off than you are now." +</P> + +<P> +She danced around the circle again, and then laid both hands upon the +twisted tin leg and sang in her sweet voice: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "Fairy Powers, come to my aid!<BR> + This bent leg of tin is made;<BR> + Make it straight and strong and true,<BR> + And I'll render thanks to you."<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Ah!" murmured Captain Fyter in a glad voice, as she withdrew her hands +and danced away, and they saw he was standing straight as ever, because +his leg was as shapely and strong as it had been before his accident. +</P> + +<P> +The Tin Woodman had watched Polychrome with much interest, and he now +said: +</P> + +<P> +"Please take the dent out of my side, Poly, for I am more crippled than +was the Soldier." +</P> + +<P> +So the Rainbow's Daughter touched his side lightly and sang: +</P> + +<P CLASS="poem"> + "Here's a dent by accident;<BR> + Such a thing was never meant.<BR> + Fairy Powers, so wondrous great,<BR> + Make our dear Tin Woodman straight!"<BR> +</P> + +<BR> + +<P> +"Good!" cried the Emperor, again standing erect and strutting around to +show his fine figure. "Your fairy magic may not be able to accomplish +all things, sweet Polychrome, but it works splendidly on tin. Thank you +very much." +</P> + +<P> +"The hay—the hay!" pleaded the Scarecrow's head. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, yes; the hay," said Woot. "What are you waiting for, Captain +Fyter?" +</P> + +<P> +At once the Tin Soldier set to work cutting hay with his sword and in a +few minutes there was quite enough with which to stuff the Scarecrow's +body. Woot and Polychrome did this and it was no easy task because the +hay packed together more than straw and as they had little experience +in such work their job, when completed, left the Scarecrow's arms and +legs rather bunchy. Also there was a hump on his back which made Woot +laugh and say it reminded him of a camel, but it was the best they +could do and when the head was fastened on to the body they asked the +Scarecrow how he felt. +</P> + +<P> +"A little heavy, and not quite natural," he cheerfully replied; "but +I'll get along somehow until we reach a straw-stack. Don't laugh at me, +please, because I'm a little ashamed of myself and I don't want to +regret a good action." +</P> + +<P> +They started at once in the direction of Mount Munch, and as the +Scarecrow proved very clumsy in his movements, Woot took one of his +arms and the Tin Woodman the other and so helped their friend to walk +in a straight line. +</P> + +<P> +And the Rainbow's Daughter, as before, danced ahead of them and behind +them and all around them, and they never minded her odd ways, because +to them she was like a ray of sunshine. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap20"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Twenty +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Over Night +</H3> + +<P> +The Land of the Munchkins is full of surprises, as our travelers had +already learned, and although Mount Munch was constantly growing larger +as they advanced toward it, they knew it was still a long way off and +were not certain, by any means, that they had escaped all danger or +encountered their last adventure. +</P> + +<P> +The plain was broad, and as far as the eye could see, there seemed to +be a level stretch of country between them and the mountain, but toward +evening they came upon a hollow, in which stood a tiny blue Munchkin +dwelling with a garden around it and fields of grain filling in all the +rest of the hollow. +</P> + +<P> +They did not discover this place until they came close to the edge of +it, and they were astonished at the sight that greeted them because +they had imagined that this part of the plain had no inhabitants. +</P> + +<P> +"It's a very small house," Woot declared. "I wonder who lives there?" +</P> + +<P> +"The way to find out is to knock on the door and ask," replied the Tin +Woodman. "Perhaps it is the home of Nimmie Amee." +</P> + +<P> +"Is she a dwarf?" asked the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"No, indeed; Nimmie Amee is a full sized woman." +</P> + +<P> +"Then I'm sure she couldn't live in that little house," said Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"Let's go down," suggested the Scarecrow. "I'm almost sure I can see a +straw-stack in the back yard." +</P> + +<P> +They descended the hollow, which was rather steep at the sides, and +soon came to the house, which was indeed rather small. Woot knocked +upon a door that was not much higher than his waist, but got no reply. +He knocked again, but not a sound was heard. +</P> + +<P> +"Smoke is coming out of the chimney," announced Polychrome, who was +dancing lightly through the garden, where cabbages and beets and +turnips and the like were growing finely. +</P> + +<P> +"Then someone surely lives here," said Woot, and knocked again. +</P> + +<P> +Now a window at the side of the house opened and a queer head appeared. +It was white and hairy and had a long snout and little round eyes. The +ears were hidden by a blue sunbonnet tied under the chin. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh; it's a pig!" exclaimed Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"Pardon me; I am Mrs. Squealina Swyne, wife of Professor Grunter Swyne, +and this is our home," said the one in the window. "What do you want?" +</P> + +<P> +"What sort of a Professor is your husband?" inquired the Tin Woodman +curiously. +</P> + +<P> +"He is Professor of Cabbage Culture and Corn Perfection. He is very +famous in his own family, and would be the wonder of the world if he +went abroad," said Mrs. Swyne in a voice that was half proud and half +irritable. "I must also inform you intruders that the Professor is a +dangerous individual, for he files his teeth every morning until they +are sharp as needles. If you are butchers, you'd better run away and +avoid trouble." +</P> + +<P> +"We are not butchers," the Tin Woodman assured her. +</P> + +<P> +"Then what are you doing with that axe? And why has the other tin man +a sword?" +</P> + +<P> +"They are the only weapons we have to defend our friends from their +enemies," explained the Emperor of the Winkies, and Woot added: +</P> + +<P> +"Do not be afraid of us, Mrs. Swyne, for we are harmless travelers. The +tin men and the Scarecrow never eat anything and Polychrome feasts only +on dewdrops. As for me, I'm rather hungry, but there is plenty of food +in your garden to satisfy me." +</P> + +<P> +Professor Swyne now joined his wife at the window, looking rather +scared in spite of the boy's assuring speech. He wore a blue Munchkin +hat, with pointed crown and broad brim, and big spectacles covered his +eyes. He peeked around from behind his wife and after looking hard at +the strangers, he said: +</P> + +<P> +"My wisdom assures me that you are merely travelers, as you say, and +not butchers. Butchers have reason to be afraid of me, but you are +safe. We cannot invite you in, for you are too big for our house, but +the boy who eats is welcome to all the carrots and turnips he wants. +Make yourselves at home in the garden and stay all night, if you like; +but in the morning you must go away, for we are quiet people and do not +care for company." +</P> + +<P> +"May I have some of your straw?" asked the Scarecrow. +</P> + +<P> +"Help yourself," replied Professor Swyne. +</P> + +<P> +"For pigs, they're quite respectable," remarked Woot, as they all went +toward the straw-stack. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm glad they didn't invite us in," said Captain Fyter. "I hope I'm +not too particular about my associates, but I draw the line at pigs." +</P> + +<P> +The Scarecrow was glad to be rid of his hay, for during the long walk +it had sagged down and made him fat and squatty and more bumpy than at +first. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not specially proud," he said, "but I love a manly figure, such as +only straw stuffing can create. I've not felt like myself since that +hungry Hip-po ate my last straw." +</P> + +<P> +Polychrome and Woot set to work removing the hay and then they selected +the finest straw, crisp and golden, and with it stuffed the Scarecrow +anew. He certainly looked better after the operation, and he was so +pleased at being reformed that he tried to dance a little jig, and +almost succeeded. +</P> + +<P> +"I shall sleep under the straw-stack tonight," Woot decided, after he +had eaten some of the vegetables from the garden, and in fact he slept +very well, with the two tin men and the Scarecrow sitting silently +beside him and Polychrome away somewhere in the moonlight dancing her +fairy dances. +</P> + +<P> +At daybreak the Tin Woodman and the Tin Soldier took occasion to polish +their bodies and oil their joints, for both were exceedingly careful of +their personal appearance. They had forgotten the quarrel due to their +accidental bumping of one another in the invisible country, and being +now good friends the Tin Woodman polished the Tin Soldier's back for +him and then the Tin Soldier polished the Tin Woodman's back. +</P> + +<P> +For breakfast the Wanderer ate crisp lettuce and radishes, and the +Rainbow's Daughter, who had now returned to her friends, sipped the +dewdrops that had formed on the petals of the wild-flowers. +</P> + +<P> +As they passed the little house to renew their journey, Woot called out: +</P> + +<P> +"Good-bye, Mr. and Mrs. Swyne!" +</P> + +<P> +The window opened and the two pigs looked out. +</P> + +<P> +"A pleasant journey," said the Professor. +</P> + +<P> +"Have you any children?" asked the Scarecrow, who was a great friend of +children. +</P> + +<P> +"We have nine," answered the Professor; "but they do not live with us, +for when they were tiny piglets the Wizard of Oz came here and offered +to care for them and to educate them. So we let him have our nine tiny +piglets, for he's a good Wizard and can be relied upon to keep his +promises." +</P> + +<P> +"I know the Nine Tiny Piglets," said the Tin Woodman. +</P> + +<P> +"So do I," said the Scarecrow. "They still live in the Emerald City, +and the Wizard takes good care of them and teaches them to do all sorts +of tricks." +</P> + +<P> +"Did they ever grow up?" inquired Mrs. Squealina Swyne, in an anxious +voice. +</P> + +<P> +"No," answered the Scarecrow; "like all other children in the Land of +Oz, they will always remain children, and in the case of the tiny +piglets that is a good thing, because they would not be nearly so cute +and cunning if they were bigger." +</P> + +<P> +"But are they happy?" asked Mrs. Swyne. +</P> + +<P> +"Everyone in the Emerald City is happy," said the Tin Woodman. "They +can't help it." +</P> + +<P> +Then the travelers said good-bye, and climbed the side of the basin +that was toward Mount Munch. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap21"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Twenty-One +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Polychrome's Magic +</H3> + +<P> +On this morning, which ought to be the last of this important journey, +our friends started away as bright and cheery as could be, and Woot +whistled a merry tune so that Polychrome could dance to the music. +</P> + +<P> +On reaching the top of the hill, the plain spread out before them in +all its beauty of blue grasses and wildflowers, and Mount Munch seemed +much nearer than it had the previous evening. They trudged on at a +brisk pace, and by noon the mountain was so close that they could +admire its appearance. Its slopes were partly clothed with pretty +evergreens, and its foot-hills were tufted with a slender waving +bluegrass that had a tassel on the end of every blade. And, for the +first time, they perceived, near the foot of the mountain, a charming +house, not of great size but neatly painted and with many flowers +surrounding it and vines climbing over the doors and windows. +</P> + +<P> +It was toward this solitary house that our travelers now directed their +steps, thinking to inquire of the people who lived there where Nimmie +Amee might be found. +</P> + +<P> +There were no paths, but the way was quite open and clear, and they +were drawing near to the dwelling when Woot the Wanderer, who was then +in the lead of the little party, halted with such an abrupt jerk that +he stumbled over backward and lay flat on his back in the meadow. The +Scarecrow stopped to look at the boy. +</P> + +<P> +"Why did you do that?" he asked in surprise. +</P> + +<P> +Woot sat up and gazed around him in amazement. +</P> + +<P> +"I—I don't know!" he replied. +</P> + +<P> +The two tin men, arm in arm, started to pass them when both halted and +tumbled, with a great clatter, into a heap beside Woot. Polychrome, +laughing at the absurd sight, came dancing up and she, also, came to a +sudden stop, but managed to save herself from falling. +</P> + +<P> +Everyone of them was much astonished, and the Scarecrow said with a +puzzled look: +</P> + +<P> +"I don't see anything." +</P> + +<P> +"Nor I," said Woot; "but something hit me, just the same." +</P> + +<P> +"Some invisible person struck me a heavy blow," declared the Tin +Woodman, struggling to separate himself from the Tin Soldier, whose +legs and arms were mixed with his own. +</P> + +<P> +"I'm not sure it was a person," said Polychrome, looking more grave +than usual. "It seems to me that I merely ran into some hard substance +which barred my way. In order to make sure of this, let me try another +place." +</P> + +<P> +She ran back a way and then with much caution advanced in a different +place, but when she reached a position on a line with the others she +halted, her arms outstretched before her. +</P> + +<P> +"I can feel something hard—something smooth as glass," she said, "but +I'm sure it is not glass." +</P> + +<P> +"Let me try," suggested Woot, getting up; but when he tried to go +forward, he discovered the same barrier that Polychrome had encountered. +</P> + +<P> +"No," he said, "it isn't glass. But what is it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Air," replied a small voice beside him. "Solid air; that's all." +</P> + +<P> +They all looked downward and found a sky-blue rabbit had stuck his head +out of a burrow in the ground. The rabbit's eyes were a deeper blue +than his fur, and the pretty creature seemed friendly and unafraid. +</P> + +<P> +"Air!" exclaimed Woot, staring in astonishment into the rabbit's blue +eyes; "whoever heard of air so solid that one cannot push it aside?" +</P> + +<P> +"You can't push this air aside," declared the rabbit, "for it was made +hard by powerful sorcery, and it forms a wall that is intended to keep +people from getting to that house yonder." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh; it's a wall, is it?" said the Tin Woodman. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, it is really a wall," answered the rabbit, "and it is fully six +feet thick." +</P> + +<P> +"How high is it?" inquired Captain Fyter, the Tin Soldier. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, ever so high; perhaps a mile," said the rabbit. +</P> + +<P> +"Couldn't we go around it?" asked Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course, for the wall is a circle," explained the rabbit. "In the +center of the circle stands the house, so you may walk around the Wall +of Solid Air, but you can't get to the house." +</P> + +<P> +"Who put the air wall around the house?" was the Scarecrow's question. +</P> + +<P> +"Nimmie Amee did that." +</P> + +<P> +"Nimmie Amee!" they all exclaimed in surprise. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," answered the rabbit. "She used to live with an old Witch, who +was suddenly destroyed, and when Nimmie Amee ran away from the Witch's +house, she took with her just one magic formula—pure sorcery it +was—which enabled her to build this air wall around her house—the +house yonder. It was quite a clever idea, I think, for it doesn't mar +the beauty of the landscape, solid air being invisible, and yet it +keeps all strangers away from the house." +</P> + +<P> +"Does Nimmie Amee live there now?" asked the Tin Woodman anxiously. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, indeed," said the rabbit. +</P> + +<P> +"And does she weep and wail from morning till night?" continued the +Emperor. +</P> + +<P> +"No; she seems quite happy," asserted the rabbit. +</P> + +<P> +The Tin Woodman seemed quite disappointed to hear this report of his +old sweetheart, but the Scarecrow reassured his friend, saying: +</P> + +<P> +"Never mind, your Majesty; however happy Nimmie Amee is now, I'm sure +she will be much happier as Empress of the Winkies." +</P> + +<P> +"Perhaps," said Captain Fyter, somewhat stiffly, "she will be still +more happy to become the bride of a Tin Soldier." +</P> + +<P> +"She shall choose between us, as we have agreed," the Tin Woodman +promised; "but how shall we get to the poor girl?" +</P> + +<P> +Polychrome, although dancing lightly back and forth, had listened to +every word of the conversation. Now she came forward and sat herself +down just in front of the Blue Rabbit, her many-hued draperies giving +her the appearance of some beautiful flower. The rabbit didn't back +away an inch. Instead, he gazed at the Rainbow's Daughter admiringly. +</P> + +<P> +"Does your burrow go underneath this Wall of Air?" asked Polychrome. +</P> + +<P> +"To be sure," answered the Blue Rabbit; "I dug it that way so I could +roam in these broad fields, by going out one way, or eat the cabbages +in Nimmie Amee's garden by leaving my burrow at the other end. I don't +think Nimmie Amee ought to mind the little I take from her garden, or +the hole I've made under her magic wall. A rabbit may go and come as he +pleases, but no one who is bigger than I am could get through my +burrow." +</P> + +<P> +"Will you allow us to pass through it, if we are able to?" inquired +Polychrome. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, indeed," answered the Blue Rabbit. "I'm no especial friend of +Nimmie Amee, for once she threw stones at me, just because I was +nibbling some lettuce, and only yesterday she yelled 'Shoo!' at me, +which made me nervous. You're welcome to use my burrow in any way you +choose." +</P> + +<P> +"But this is all nonsense!" declared Woot the Wanderer. "We are every +one too big to crawl through a rabbit's burrow." +</P> + +<P> +"We are too big now," agreed the Scarecrow, "but you must remember that +Polychrome is a fairy, and fairies have many magic powers." +</P> + +<P> +Woot's face brightened as he turned to the lovely Daughter of the +Rainbow. +</P> + +<P> +"Could you make us all as small as that rabbit?" he asked eagerly. +</P> + +<P> +"I can try," answered Polychrome, with a smile. And presently she did +it—so easily that Woot was not the only one astonished. As the now +tiny people grouped themselves before the rabbit's burrow the hole +appeared to them like the entrance to a tunnel, which indeed it was. +</P> + +<P> +"I'll go first," said wee Polychrome, who had made herself grow as +small as the others, and into the tunnel she danced without hesitation. +A tiny Scarecrow went next and then the two funny little tin men. +</P> + +<P> +"Walk in; it's your turn," said the Blue Rabbit to Woot the Wanderer. +"I'm coming after, to see how you get along. This will be a regular +surprise party to Nimmie Amee." +</P> + +<P> +So Woot entered the hole and felt his way along its smooth sides in the +dark until he finally saw the glimmer of daylight ahead and knew the +journey was almost over. Had he remained his natural size, the distance +could have been covered in a few steps, but to a thumb-high Woot it was +quite a promenade. When he emerged from the burrow he found himself but +a short distance from the house, in the center of the vegetable garden, +where the leaves of rhubarb waving above his head seemed like trees. +Outside the hole, and waiting for him, he found all his friends. +</P> + +<P> +"So far, so good!" remarked the Scarecrow cheerfully. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes; so far, but no farther," returned the Tin Woodman in a plaintive +and disturbed tone of voice. "I am now close to Nimmie Amee, whom I +have come ever so far to seek, but I cannot ask the girl to marry such +a little man as I am now." +</P> + +<P> +"I'm no bigger than a toy soldier!" said Captain Fyter, sorrowfully. +"Unless Polychrome can make us big again, there is little use in our +visiting Nimmie Amee at all, for I'm sure she wouldn't care for a +husband she might carelessly step on and ruin." +</P> + +<P> +Polychrome laughed merrily. +</P> + +<P> +"If I make you big, you can't get out of here again," said she, "and if +you remain little Nimmie Amee will laugh at you. So make your choice." +</P> + +<P> +"I think we'd better go back," said Woot seriously +</P> + +<P> +"No," said the Tin Woodman, stoutly, "I have decided that it's my duty +to make Nimmie Amee happy, in case she wishes to marry me." +</P> + +<P> +"So have I," announced Captain Fyter. "A good soldier never shrinks +from doing his duty." +</P> + +<P> +"As for that," said the Scarecrow, "tin doesn't shrink any to speak of, +under any circumstances. But Woot and I intend to stick to our +comrades, whatever they decide to do, so we will ask Polychrome to make +us as big as we were before." +</P> + +<P> +Polychrome agreed to this request and in half a minute all of them, +including herself, had been enlarged again to their natural sizes. They +then thanked the Blue Rabbit for his kind assistance, and at once +approached the house of Nimme Amee. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap22"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Twenty-Two +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Nimmie Amee +</H3> + +<P> +We may be sure that at this moment our friends were all anxious to see +the end of the adventure that had caused them so many trials and +troubles. Perhaps the Tin Woodman's heart did not beat any faster, +because it was made of red velvet and stuffed with sawdust, and the Tin +Soldier's heart was made of tin and reposed in his tin bosom without a +hint of emotion. However, there is little doubt that they both knew +that a critical moment in their lives had arrived, and that Nimmie +Amee's decision was destined to influence the future of one or the +other. +</P> + +<P> +As they assumed their natural sizes and the rhubarb leaves that had +before towered above their heads now barely covered their feet, they +looked around the garden and found that no person was visible save +themselves. No sound of activity came from the house, either, but they +walked to the front door, which had a little porch built before it, and +there the two tinmen stood side by side while both knocked upon the +door with their tin knuckles. +</P> + +<P> +As no one seemed eager to answer the summons they knocked again; and +then again. Finally they heard a stir from within and someone coughed. +</P> + +<P> +"Who's there?" called a girl's voice. +</P> + +<P> +"It's I!" cried the tin twins, together. +</P> + +<P> +"How did you get there?" asked the voice. +</P> + +<P> +They hesitated how to reply, so Woot answered for them: +</P> + +<P> +"By means of magic." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh," said the unseen girl. "Are you friends, or foes?" +</P> + +<P> +"Friends!" they all exclaimed. +</P> + +<P> +Then they heard footsteps approach the door, which slowly opened and +revealed a very pretty Munchkin girl standing in the doorway. +</P> + +<P> +"Nimmie Amee!" cried the tin twins. +</P> + +<P> +"That's my name," replied the girl, looking at them in cold surprise. +"But who can you be?" +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you know me, Nimmie?" said the Tin Woodman. "I'm your old +sweetheart, Nick Chopper!" +</P> + +<P> +"Don't you know me, my dear?" said the Tin Soldier. "I'm your old +sweetheart, Captain Fyter!" +</P> + +<P> +Nimmie Amee smiled at them both. Then she looked beyond them at the +rest of the party and smiled again. However, she seemed more amused +than pleased. +</P> + +<P> +"Come in," she said, leading the way inside. "Even sweethearts are +forgotten after a time, but you and your friends are welcome." +</P> + +<P> +The room they now entered was cosy and comfortable, being neatly +furnished and well swept and dusted. But they found someone there +besides Nimmie Amee. A man dressed in the attractive Munchkin costume +was lazily reclining in an easy chair, and he sat up and turned his +eves on the visitors with a cold and indifferent stare that was almost +insolent. He did not even rise from his seat to greet the strangers, +but after glaring at them he looked away with a scowl, as if they were +of too little importance to interest him. +</P> + +<P> +The tin men returned this man's stare with interest, but they did not +look away from him because neither of them seemed able to take his eyes +off this Munchkin, who was remarkable in having one tin arm quite like +their own tin arms. +</P> + +<P> +"Seems to me," said Captain Fyter, in a voice that sounded harsh and +indignant, "that you, sir, are a vile impostor!" +</P> + +<P> +"Gently—gently!" cautioned the Scarecrow; "don't be rude to strangers, +Captain." +</P> + +<P> +"Rude?" shouted the Tin Soldier, now very much provoked; "why, he's a +scoundrel—a thief! The villain is wearing my own head!" +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," added the Tin Woodman, "and he's wearing my right arm! I can +recognize it by the two warts on the little finger." +</P> + +<P> +"Good gracious!" exclaimed Woot. "Then this must be the man whom old +Ku-Klip patched together and named Chopfyt." +</P> + +<P> +The man now turned toward them, still scowling. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes, that is my name," he said in a voice like a growl, "and it is +absurd for you tin creatures, or for anyone else, to claim my head, or +arm, or any part of me, for they are my personal property." +</P> + +<P> +"You? You're a Nobody!" shouted Captain Fyter. +</P> + +<P> +"You're just a mix-up," declared the Emperor. +</P> + +<P> +"Now, now, gentlemen," interrupted Nimmie Amee, "I must ask you to be +more respectful to poor Chopfyt. For, being my guests, it is not polite +for you to insult my husband." +</P> + +<P> +"Your husband!" the tin twins exclaimed in dismay. +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," said she. "I married Chopfyt a long time ago, because my other +two sweethearts had deserted me." +</P> + +<P> +This reproof embarrassed both Nick Chopper and Captain Fyter. They +looked down, shamefaced, for a moment, and then the Tin Woodman +explained in an earnest voice: +</P> + +<P> +"I rusted." +</P> + +<P> +"So did I," said the Tin Soldier. +</P> + +<P> +"I could not know that, of course," asserted Nimmie Amee. "All I knew +was that neither of you came to marry me, as you had promised to do. +But men are not scarce in the Land of Oz. After I came here to live, I +met Mr. Chopfyt, and he was the more interesting because he reminded +me strongly of both of you, as you were before you became tin. He even +had a tin arm, and that reminded me of you the more. +</P> + +<P> +"No wonder!" remarked the Scarecrow. +</P> + +<P> +"But, listen, Nimmie Amee!" said the astonished Woot; "he really is +both of them, for he is made of their cast-off parts." +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, you're quite wrong," declared Polychrome, laughing, for she was +greatly enjoying the confusion of the others. "The tin men are still +themselves, as they will tell you, and so Chopfyt must be someone else." +</P> + +<P> +They looked at her bewildered, for the facts in the case were too +puzzling to be grasped at once. +</P> + +<P> +"It is all the fault of old Ku-Klip," muttered the Tin Woodman. "He had +no right to use our castoff parts to make another man with." +</P> + +<P> +"It seems he did it, however," said Nimmie Amee calmly, "and I married +him because he resembled you both. I won't say he is a husband to be +proud of, because he has a mixed nature and isn't always an agreeable +companion. There are times when I have to chide him gently, both with +my tongue and with my broomstick. But he is my husband, and I must make +the best of him." +</P> + +<P> +"If you don't like him," suggested the Tin Woodman, "Captain Fyter and +I can chop him up with our axe and sword, and each take such parts of +the fellow as belong to him. Then we are willing for you to select one +of us as your husband." +</P> + +<P> +"That is a good idea," approved Captain Fyter, drawing his sword. +</P> + +<P> +"No," said Nimmie Amee; "I think I'll keep the husband I now have. He +is now trained to draw the water and carry in the wood and hoe the +cabbages and weed the flower-beds and dust the furniture and perform +many tasks of a like character. A new husband would have to be +scolded—and gently chided—until he learns my ways. So I think it will +be better to keep my Chopfyt, and I see no reason why you should object +to him. You two gentlemen threw him away when you became tin, because +you had no further use for him, so you cannot justly claim him now. I +advise you to go back to your own homes and forget me, as I have +forgotten you." +</P> + +<P> +"Good advice!" laughed Polychrome, dancing. +</P> + +<P> +"Are you happy?" asked the Tin Soldier. +</P> + +<P> +"Of course I am," said Nimmie Amee; "I'm the mistress of all I +survey—the queen of my little domain." +</P> + +<P> +"Wouldn't you like to be the Empress of the Winkies?" asked the Tin +Woodman. +</P> + +<P> +"Mercy, no," she answered. "That would be a lot of bother. I don't care +for society, or pomp, or posing. All I ask is to be left alone and not +to be annoyed by visitors." +</P> + +<P> +The Scarecrow nudged Woot the Wanderer. +</P> + +<P> +"That sounds to me like a hint," he said. +</P> + +<P> +"Looks as if we'd had our journey for nothing," remarked Woot, who was +a little ashamed and disappointed because he had proposed the journey. +</P> + +<P> +"I am glad, however," said the Tin Woodman, "that I have found Nimmie +Amee, and discovered that she is already married and happy. It will +relieve me of any further anxiety concerning her." +</P> + +<P> +"For my part," said the Tin Soldier, "I am not sorry to be free. The +only thing that really annoys me is finding my head upon Chopfyt's +body." +</P> + +<P> +"As for that, I'm pretty sure it is my body, or a part of it, anyway," +remarked the Emperor of the Winkies. "But never mind, friend Soldier; +let us be willing to donate our cast-off members to insure the +happiness of Nimmie Amee, and be thankful it is not our fate to hoe +cabbages and draw water—and be chided—in the place of this creature +Chopfyt." +</P> + +<P> +"Yes," agreed the Soldier, "we have much to be thankful for." +</P> + +<P> +Polychrome, who had wandered outside, now poked her pretty head through +an open window and exclaimed in a pleased voice: +</P> + +<P> +"It's getting cloudy. Perhaps it is going to rain!" +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap23"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Twenty-Three +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Through the Tunnel +</H3> + +<P> +It didn't rain just then, although the clouds in the sky grew thicker +and more threatening. Polychrome hoped for a thunder-storm, followed by +her Rainbow, but the two tin men did not relish the idea of getting +wet. They even preferred to remain in Nimmie Amee's house, although +they felt they were not welcome there, rather than go out and face the +coming storm. But the Scarecrow, who was a very thoughtful person, said +to his friends: +</P> + +<P> +"If we remain here until after the storm, and Polychrome goes away on +her Rainbow, then we will be prisoners inside the Wall of Solid Air; so +it seems best to start upon our return journey at once. If I get wet, +my straw stuffing will be ruined, and if you two tin gentlemen get wet, +you may perhaps rust again, and become useless. But even that is better +than to stay here. Once we are free of the barrier, we have Woot the +Wanderer to help us, and he can oil your joints and restuff my body, if +it becomes necessary, for the boy is made of meat, which neither rusts +nor gets soggy or moldy." +</P> + +<P> +"Come along, then!" cried Polychrome from the window, and the others, +realizing the wisdom of the Scarecrow's speech, took leave of Nimmie +Amee, who was glad to be rid of them, and said good-bye to her husband, +who merely scowled and made no answer, and then they hurried from the +house. +</P> + +<P> +"Your old parts are not very polite, I must say," remarked the +Scarecrow, when they were in the garden. +</P> + +<P> +"No," said Woot, "Chopfyt is a regular grouch. He might have wished us +a pleasant journey, at the very least." +</P> + +<P> +"I beg you not to hold us responsible for that creature's actions," +pleaded the Tin Woodman. "We are through with Chopfyt and shall have +nothing further to do with him." +</P> + +<P> +Polychrome danced ahead of the party and led them straight to the +burrow of the Blue Rabbit, which they might have had some difficulty in +finding without her. There she lost no time in making them all small +again. The Blue Rabbit was busy nibbling cabbage leaves in Nimmie +Amee's garden, so they did not ask his permission but at once entered +the burrow. +</P> + +<P> +Even now the raindrops were beginning to fall, but it was quite dry +inside the tunnel and by the time they had reached the other end, +outside the circular Wall of Solid Air, the storm was at its height and +the rain was coming down in torrents. +</P> + +<P> +"Let us wait here," proposed Polychrome, peering out of the hole and +then quickly retreating. "The Rainbow won't appear until after the +storm and I can make you big again in a jiffy, before I join my sisters +on our bow." +</P> + +<P> +"That's a good plan," said the Scarecrow approvingly. "It will save me +from getting soaked and soggy." +</P> + +<P> +"It will save me from rusting," said the Tin Soldier. +</P> + +<P> +"It will enable me to remain highly polished," said the Tin Woodman. +</P> + +<P> +"Oh, as for that, I myself prefer not to get my pretty clothes wet," +laughed the Rainbow's daughter. +</P> + +<P> +"But while we wait I will bid you all adieu. I must also thank you for +saving me from that dreadful Giantess, Mrs. Yoop. You have been good +and patient comrades and I have enjoyed our adventures together, but I +am never so happy as when on my dear Rainbow." +</P> + +<P> +"Will your father scold you for getting left on the earth?" asked Woot. +</P> + +<P> +"I suppose so," said Polychrome gaily; "I'm always getting scolded for +my mad pranks, as they are called. My sisters are so sweet and lovely +and proper that they never dance off our Rainbow, and so they never +have any adventures. Adventures to me are good fun, only I never like +to stay too long on earth, because I really don't belong here. I shall +tell my Father the Rainbow that I'll try not to be so careless again, +and he will forgive me because in our sky mansions there is always joy +and happiness." +</P> + +<P> +They were indeed sorry to part with their dainty and beautiful +companion and assured her of their devotion if they ever chanced to +meet again. She shook hands with the Scarecrow and the Tin Men and +kissed Woot the Wanderer lightly upon his forehead. +</P> + +<P> +And then the rain suddenly ceased, and as the tiny people left the +burrow of the Blue Rabbit, a glorious big Rainbow appeared in the sky +and the end of its arch slowly descended and touched the ground just +where they stood. +</P> + +<P> +Woot was so busy watching a score of lovely maidens—sisters of +Polychrome—who were leaning over the edge of the bow, and another +score who danced gaily amid the radiance of the splendid hues, that he +did not notice he was growing big again. But now Polychrome joined her +sisters on the Rainbow and the huge arch lifted and slowly melted away +as the sun burst from the clouds and sent its own white beams dancing +over the meadows. +</P> + +<P> +"Why, she's gone!" exclaimed the boy, and turned to see his companions +still waving their hands in token of adieu to the vanished Polychrome. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR> + +<A NAME="chap24"></A> +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +Chapter Twenty-Four +</H3> + +<H3 ALIGN="center"> +The Curtain Falls +</H3> + +<P> +Well, the rest of the story is quickly told, for the return Journey of +our adventurers was without any important incident. The Scarecrow was +so afraid of meeting the Hip-po-gy-raf, and having his straw eaten +again, that he urged his comrades to select another route to the +Emerald City, and they willingly consented, so that the Invisible +Country was wholly avoided. +</P> + +<P> +Of course, when they reached the Emerald City their first duty was to +visit Ozma's palace, where they were royally entertained. The Tin +Soldier and Woot the Wanderer were welcomed as warmly as any strangers +might be who had been the traveling companions of Ozma's dear old +friends, the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman. +</P> + +<P> +At the banquet table that evening they related the manner in which they +had discovered Nimmie Amee, and told how they had found her happily +married to Chopfyt, whose relationship to Nick Chopper and Captain +Fyter was so bewildering that they asked Ozma's advice what to do about +it. +</P> + +<P> +"You need not consider Chopfyt at all," replied the beautiful girl +Ruler of Oz. "If Nimmie Amee is content with that misfit man for a +husband, we have not even just cause to blame Ku-Klip for gluing him +together." +</P> + +<P> +"I think it was a very good idea," added little Dorothy, "for if +Ku-Klip hadn't used up your castoff parts, they would have been wasted. +It's wicked to be wasteful, isn't it?" +</P> + +<P> +"Well, anyhow," said Woot the Wanderer, "Chopfyt, being kept a prisoner +by his wife, is too far away from anyone to bother either of you tin +men in any way. If you hadn't gone where he is and discovered him, you +would never have worried about him." +</P> + +<P> +"What do you care, anyhow," Betsy Bobbin asked the Tin Woodman, "so +long as Nimmie Amee is satisfied?" +</P> + +<P> +"And just to think," remarked Tiny Trot, "that any girl would rather +live with a mixture like Chopfyt, on far-away Mount Munch, than to be +the Empress of the Winkies!" +</P> + +<P> +"It is her own choice," said the Tin Woodman contentedly; "and, after +all, I'm not sure the Winkies would care to have an Empress." +</P> + +<P> +It puzzled Ozma, for a time, to decide what to do with the Tin Soldier. +If he went with the Tin Woodman to the Emperor's castle, she felt that +the two tin men might not be able to live together in harmony, and +moreover the Emperor would not be so distinguished if he had a double +constantly beside him. So she asked Captain Fyter if he was willing to +serve her as a soldier, and he promptly declared that nothing would +please him more. After he had been in her service for some time, Ozma +sent him into the Gillikin Country, with instructions to keep order +among the wild people who inhabit some parts of that unknown country of +Oz. +</P> + +<P> +As for Woot, being a Wanderer by profession, he was allowed to wander +wherever he desired, and Ozma promised to keep watch over his future +journeys and to protect the boy as well as she was able, in case he +ever got into more trouble. +</P> + +<P> +All this having been happily arranged, the Tin Woodman returned to his +tin castle, and his chosen comrade, the Scarecrow, accompanied him on +the way. The two friends were sure to pass many pleasant hours together +in talking over their recent adventures, for as they neither ate nor +slept they found their greatest amusement in conversation. +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + +<H4> +THE FAMOUS OZ BOOKS +<BR> +By L. Frank Baum: +</H4> + +<P CLASS="noindent"> + The Wizard of Oz<BR> + The Land of Oz<BR> + Ozma of Oz<BR> + Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz<BR> + The Road to Oz<BR> + The Emerald City of Oz<BR> + The Patchwork Girl of Oz<BR> + Tik-Tok of Oz<BR> + The Scarecrow of Oz<BR> + Rinkitink in Oz<BR> + The Lost Princess of Oz<BR> + The Tin Woodman of Oz<BR> + The Magic Of Oz<BR> + Glinda of Oz<BR> +</P> + +<BR><BR><BR><BR> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tin Woodman of Oz, by L. Frank Baum + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TIN WOODMAN OF OZ *** + +***** This file should be named 960-h.htm or 960-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/9/6/960/ + +Produced by Anthony Matonac + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. 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Frank Baum + +Posting Date: March 23, 2009 [EBook #960] +Release Date: June, 1997 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TIN WOODMAN OF OZ *** + + + + +Produced by Anthony Matonac + + + + + + + + + +THE TIN WOODMAN OF OZ + + +by + +L. Frank Baum + + + + A Faithful Story of the Astonishing Adventure + Undertaken by the Tin Woodman, assisted + by Woot the Wanderer, the Scarecrow + of Oz, and Polychrome, the + Rainbow's Daughter + + by + L. FRANK BAUM + "Royal historian of Oz" + + This Book + is dedicated + to the son of + my son + Frank Alden Baum + + + + +TO MY READERS + +I know that some of you have been waiting for this story of the Tin +Woodman, because many of my correspondents have asked me, time and +again what ever became of the "pretty Munchkin girl" whom Nick Chopper +was engaged to marry before the Wicked Witch enchanted his axe and he +traded his flesh for tin. I, too, have wondered what became of her, but +until Woot the Wanderer interested himself in the matter the Tin +Woodman knew no more than we did. However, he found her, after many +thrilling adventures, as you will discover when you have read this +story. + +I am delighted at the continued interest of both young and old in the +Oz stories. A learned college professor recently wrote me to ask: "For +readers of what age are your books intended?" It puzzled me to answer +that properly, until I had looked over some of the letters I have +received. One says: "I'm a little boy 5 years old, and I Just love your +Oz stories. My sister, who is writing this for me, reads me the Oz +books, but I wish I could read them myself." Another letter says: "I'm +a great girl 13 years old, so you'll be surprised when I tell you I am +not too old yet for the Oz stories." Here's another letter: "Since I +was a young girl I've never missed getting a Baum book for Christmas. +I'm married, now, but am as eager to get and read the Oz stories as +ever." And still another writes: "My good wife and I, both more than 70 +years of age, believe that we find more real enjoyment in your Oz books +than in any other books we read." Considering these statements, I wrote +the college professor that my books are intended for all those whose +hearts are young, no matter what their ages may be. + +I think I am justified in promising that there will be some astonishing +revelations about The Magic of Oz in my book for 1919. Always your +loving and grateful friend, + +L. FRANK BAUM. + Royal Historian of Oz. + +"OZCOT" + at HOLLYWOOD + in CALIFORNIA + 1918. + + + + +LIST OF CHAPTERS + + 1 Woot the Wanderer + 2 The Heart of the Tin Woodman + 3 Roundabout + 4 The Loons of Loonville + 5 Mrs. Yoop, the Giantess + 6 The Magic of a Yookoohoo + 7 The Lace Apron + 8 The Menace of the Forest + 9 The Quarrelsome Dragons + 10 Tommy Kwikstep + 11 Jinjur's Ranch + 12 Ozma and Dorothy + 13 The Restoration + 14 The Green Monkey + 15 The Man of Tin + 16 Captain Fyter + 17 The Workshop of Ku-Klip + 18 The Tin Woodman Talks to Himself + 19 The Invisible Country + 20 Over Night + 21 Polychrome's Magic + 22 Nimmie Amee + 23 Through the Tunnel + 24 The Curtain Falls + + + + +Chapter One + +Woot the Wanderer + + +The Tin Woodman sat on his glittering tin throne in the handsome tin +hall of his splendid tin castle in the Winkie Country of the Land of +Oz. Beside him, in a chair of woven straw, sat his best friend, the +Scarecrow of Oz. At times they spoke to one another of curious things +they had seen and strange adventures they had known since first they +two had met and become comrades. But at times they were silent, for +these things had been talked over many times between them, and they +found themselves contented in merely being together, speaking now and +then a brief sentence to prove they were wide awake and attentive. But +then, these two quaint persons never slept. Why should they sleep, when +they never tired? + +And now, as the brilliant sun sank low over the Winkie Country of Oz, +tinting the glistening tin towers and tin minarets of the tin castle +with glorious sunset hues, there approached along a winding pathway +Woot the Wanderer, who met at the castle entrance a Winkie servant. + +The servants of the Tin Woodman all wore tin helmets and tin +breastplates and uniforms covered with tiny tin discs sewed closely +together on silver cloth, so that their bodies sparkled as beautifully +as did the tin castle--and almost as beautifully as did the Tin Woodman +himself. + +Woot the Wanderer looked at the man servant--all bright and +glittering--and at the magnificent castle--all bright and +glittering--and as he looked his eyes grew big with wonder. For Woot +was not very big and not very old and, wanderer though he was, this +proved the most gorgeous sight that had ever met his boyish gaze. + +"Who lives here?" he asked. + +"The Emperor of the Winkies, who is the famous Tin Woodman of Oz," +replied the servant, who had been trained to treat all strangers with +courtesy. + +"A Tin Woodman? How queer!" exclaimed the little wanderer. + +"Well, perhaps our Emperor is queer," admitted the servant; "but he is +a kind master and as honest and true as good tin can make him; so we, +who gladly serve him, are apt to forget that he is not like other +people." + +"May I see him?" asked Woot the Wanderer, after a moment's thought. + +"If it please you to wait a moment, I will go and ask him," said the +servant, and then he went into the hall where the Tin Woodman sat with +his friend the Scarecrow. Both were glad to learn that a stranger had +arrived at the castle, for this would give them something new to talk +about, so the servant was asked to admit the boy at once. + +By the time Woot the Wanderer had passed through the grand +corridors--all lined with ornamental tin--and under stately tin +archways and through the many tin rooms all set with beautiful tin +furniture, his eyes had grown bigger than ever and his whole little +body thrilled with amazement. But, astonished though he was, he was +able to make a polite bow before the throne and to say in a respectful +voice: "I salute your Illustrious Majesty and offer you my humble +services." + +"Very good!" answered the Tin Woodman in his accustomed cheerful +manner. "Tell me who you are, and whence you come." + +"I am known as Woot the Wanderer," answered the boy, "and I have come, +through many travels and by roundabout ways, from my former home in a +far corner of the Gillikin Country of Oz." + +"To wander from one's home," remarked the Scarecrow, "is to encounter +dangers and hardships, especially if one is made of meat and bone. Had +you no friends in that corner of the Gillikin Country? Was it not +homelike and comfortable?" + +To hear a man stuffed with straw speak, and speak so well, quite +startled Woot, and perhaps he stared a bit rudely at the Scarecrow. But +after a moment he replied: + +"I had home and friends, your Honorable Strawness, but they were so +quiet and happy and comfortable that I found them dismally stupid. +Nothing in that corner of Oz interested me, but I believed that in +other parts of the country I would find strange people and see new +sights, and so I set out upon my wandering journey. I have been a +wanderer for nearly a full year, and now my wanderings have brought me +to this splendid castle." + +"I suppose," said the Tin Woodman, "that in this year you have seen so +much that you have become very wise." + +"No," replied Woot, thoughtfully, "I am not at all wise, I beg to +assure your Majesty. The more I wander the less I find that I know, for +in the Land of Oz much wisdom and many things may be learned." + +"To learn is simple. Don't you ask questions?" inquired the Scarecrow. + +"Yes; I ask as many questions as I dare; but some people refuse to +answer questions." + +"That is not kind of them," declared the Tin Woodman. "If one does not +ask for information he seldom receives it; so I, for my part, make it a +rule to answer any civil question that is asked me." + +"So do I," added the Scarecrow, nodding. + +"I am glad to hear this," said the Wanderer, "for it makes me bold to +ask for something to eat." + +"Bless the boy!" cried the Emperor of the Winkies; "how careless of me +not to remember that wanderers are usually hungry. I will have food +brought you at once." + +Saying this he blew upon a tin whistle that was suspended from his tin +neck, and at the summons a servant appeared and bowed low. The Tin +Woodman ordered food for the stranger, and in a few minutes the servant +brought in a tin tray heaped with a choice array of good things to eat, +all neatly displayed on tin dishes that were polished till they shone +like mirrors. The tray was set upon a tin table drawn before the +throne, and the servant placed a tin chair before the table for the boy +to seat himself. + +"Eat, friend Wanderer," said the Emperor cordially, "and I trust the +feast will be to your liking. I, myself, do not eat, being made in such +manner that I require no food to keep me alive. Neither does my friend +the Scarecrow. But all my Winkie people eat, being formed of flesh, as +you are, and so my tin cupboard is never bare, and strangers are always +welcome to whatever it contains." + +The boy ate in silence for a time, being really hungry, but after his +appetite was somewhat satisfied, he said: + +"How happened your Majesty to be made of tin, and still be alive?" + +"That," replied the tin man, "is a long story." + +"The longer the better," said the boy. "Won't you please tell me the +story?" + +"If you desire it," promised the Tin Woodman, leaning back in his tin +throne and crossing his tin legs. "I haven't related my history in a +long while, because everyone here knows it nearly as well as I do. But +you, being a stranger, are no doubt curious to learn how I became so +beautiful and prosperous, so I will recite for your benefit my strange +adventures." + +"Thank you," said Woot the Wanderer, still eating. + +"I was not always made of tin," began the Emperor, "for in the +beginning I was a man of flesh and bone and blood and lived in the +Munchkin Country of Oz. There I was, by trade, a woodchopper, and +contributed my share to the comfort of the Oz people by chopping up the +trees of the forest to make firewood, with which the women would cook +their meals while the children warmed themselves about the fires. For +my home I had a little hut by the edge of the forest, and my life was +one of much content until I fell in love with a beautiful Munchkin girl +who lived not far away." + +"What was the Munchkin girl's name?" asked Woot. + +"Nimmie Amee. This girl, so fair that the sunsets blushed when their +rays fell upon her, lived with a powerful witch who wore silver shoes +and who had made the poor child her slave. Nimmie Amee was obliged to +work from morning till night for the old Witch of the East, scrubbing +and sweeping her hut and cooking her meals and washing her dishes. She +had to cut firewood, too, until I found her one day in the forest and +fell in love with her. After that, I always brought plenty of firewood +to Nimmie Amee and we became very friendly. Finally I asked her to +marry me, and she agreed to do so, but the Witch happened to overhear +our conversation and it made her very angry, for she did not wish her +slave to be taken away from her. The Witch commanded me never to come +near Nimmie Amee again, but I told her I was my own master and would do +as I pleased, not realizing that this was a careless way to speak to a +Witch. + +"The next day, as I was cutting wood in the forest, the cruel Witch +enchanted my axe, so that it slipped and cut off my right leg." + +"How dreadful!" cried Woot the Wanderer. + +"Yes, it was a seeming misfortune," agreed the Tin Man, "for a +one-legged woodchopper is of little use in his trade. But I would not +allow the Witch to conquer me so easily. I knew a very skillful +mechanic at the other side of the forest, who was my friend, so I +hopped on one leg to him and asked him to help me. He soon made me a +new leg out of tin and fastened it cleverly to my meat body. It had +joints at the knee and at the ankle and was almost as comfortable as +the leg I had lost." + +"Your friend must have been a wonderful workman!" exclaimed Woot. + +"He was, indeed," admitted the Emperor. "He was a tinsmith by trade and +could make anything out of tin. When I returned to Nimmie Amee, the +girl was delighted and threw her arms around my neck and kissed me, +declaring she was proud of me. The Witch saw the kiss and was more +angry than before. When I went to work in the forest, next day, my axe, +being still enchanted, slipped and cut off my other leg. Again I +hopped--on my tin leg--to my friend the tinsmith, who kindly made me +another tin leg and fastened it to my body. So I returned joyfully to +Nimmie Amee, who was much pleased with my glittering legs and promised +that when we were wed she would always keep them oiled and polished. +But the Witch was more furious than ever, and as soon as I raised my +axe to chop, it twisted around and cut off one of my arms. The tinsmith +made me a tin arm and I was not much worried, because Nimmie Amee +declared she still loved me." + + + + +Chapter Two + +The Heart of the Tin Woodman + + +The Emperor of the Winkies paused in his story to reach for an oil-can, +with which he carefully oiled the joints in his tin throat, for his +voice had begun to squeak a little. Woot the Wanderer, having satisfied +his hunger, watched this oiling process with much curiosity, but begged +the Tin Man to go on with his tale. + +"The Witch with the Silver Shoes hated me for having defied her," +resumed the Emperor, his voice now sounding clear as a bell, "and she +insisted that Nimmie Amee should never marry me. Therefore she made +the enchanted axe cut off my other arm, and the tinsmith also replaced +that member with tin, including these finely-jointed hands that you see +me using. But, alas! after that, the axe, still enchanted by the cruel +Witch, cut my body in two, so that I fell to the ground. Then the +Witch, who was watching from a near-by bush, rushed up and seized the +axe and chopped my body into several small pieces, after which, +thinking that at last she had destroyed me, she ran away laughing in +wicked glee. + +"But Nimmie Amee found me. She picked up my arms and legs and head, and +made a bundle of them and carried them to the tinsmith, who set to work +and made me a fine body of pure tin. When he had joined the arms and +legs to the body, and set my head in the tin collar, I was a much +better man than ever, for my body could not ache or pain me, and I was +so beautiful and bright that I had no need of clothing. Clothing is +always a nuisance, because it soils and tears and has to be replaced; +but my tin body only needs to be oiled and polished. + +"Nimmie Amee still declared she would marry me, as she still loved me +in spite of the Witch's evil deeds. The girl declared I would make the +brightest husband in all the world, which was quite true. However, the +Wicked Witch was not yet defeated. When I returned to my work the axe +slipped and cut off my head, which was the only meat part of me then +remaining. Moreover, the old woman grabbed up my severed head and +carried it away with her and hid it. But Nimmie Amee came into the +forest and found me wandering around helplessly, because I could not +see where to go, and she led me to my friend the tinsmith. The faithful +fellow at once set to work to make me a tin head, and he had just +completed it when Nimmie Amee came running up with my old head, which +she had stolen from the Witch. But, on reflection, I considered the tin +head far superior to the meat one--I am wearing it yet, so you can see +its beauty and grace of outline--and the girl agreed with me that a man +all made of tin was far more perfect than one formed of different +materials. The tinsmith was as proud of his workmanship as I was, and +for three whole days, all admired me and praised my beauty. Being now +completely formed of tin, I had no more fear of the Wicked Witch, for +she was powerless to injure me. Nimmie Amee said we must be married at +once, for then she could come to my cottage and live with me and keep +me bright and sparkling. + +"'I am sure, my dear Nick,' said the brave and beautiful girl--my name +was then Nick Chopper, you should be told--'that you will make the best +husband any girl could have. I shall not be obliged to cook for you, +for now you do not eat; I shall not have to make your bed, for tin does +not tire or require sleep; when we go to a dance, you will not get +weary before the music stops and say you want to go home. All day long, +while you are chopping wood in the forest, I shall be able to amuse +myself in my own way--a privilege few wives enjoy. There is no temper +in your new head, so you will not get angry with me. Finally, I shall +take pride in being the wife of the only live Tin Woodman in all the +world!' Which shows that Nimmie Amee was as wise as she was brave and +beautiful." + +"I think she was a very nice girl," said Woot the Wanderer. "But, tell +me, please, why were you not killed when you were chopped to pieces?" + +"In the Land of Oz," replied the Emperor, "no one can ever be killed. A +man with a wooden leg or a tin leg is still the same man; and, as I +lost parts of my meat body by degrees, I always remained the same +person as in the beginning, even though in the end I was all tin and no +meat." + +"I see," said the boy, thoughtfully. "And did you marry Nimmie Amee?" + +"No," answered the Tin Woodman, "I did not. She said she still loved +me, but I found that I no longer loved her. My tin body contained no +heart, and without a heart no one can love. So the Wicked Witch +conquered in the end, and when I left the Munchkin Country of Oz, the +poor girl was still the slave of the Witch and had to do her bidding +day and night." + +"Where did you go?" asked Woot. + +"Well, I first started out to find a heart, so I could love Nimmie Amee +again; but hearts are more scarce than one would think. One day, in a +big forest that was strange to me, my joints suddenly became rusted, +because I had forgotten to oil them. There I stood, unable to move hand +or foot. And there I continued to stand--while days came and +went--until Dorothy and the Scarecrow came along and rescued me. They +oiled my joints and set me free, and I've taken good care never to rust +again." + +"Who was this Dorothy?" questioned the Wanderer. + +"A little girl who happened to be in a house when it was carried by a +cyclone all the way from Kansas to the Land of Oz. When the house fell, +in the Munchkin Country, it fortunately landed on the Wicked Witch and +smashed her flat. It was a big house, and I think the Witch is under it +yet." + +"No," said the Scarecrow, correcting him, "Dorothy says the Witch +turned to dust, and the wind scattered the dust in every direction." + +"Well," continued the Tin Woodman, "after meeting the Scarecrow and +Dorothy, I went with them to the Emerald City, where the Wizard of Oz +gave me a heart. But the Wizard's stock of hearts was low, and he gave +me a Kind Heart instead of a Loving Heart, so that I could not love +Nimmie Amee any more than I did when I was heartless." + +"Couldn't the Wizard give you a heart that was both Kind and Loving?" +asked the boy. + +"No; that was what I asked for, but he said he was so short on hearts, +just then, that there was but one in stock, and I could take that or +none at all. So I accepted it, and I must say that for its kind it is a +very good heart indeed." + +"It seems to me," said Woot, musingly, "that the Wizard fooled you. It +can't be a very Kind Heart, you know." + +"Why not?" demanded the Emperor. + +"Because it was unkind of you to desert the girl who loved you, and who +had been faithful and true to you when you were in trouble. Had the +heart the Wizard gave you been a Kind Heart, you would have gone back +home and made the beautiful Munchkin girl your wife, and then brought +her here to be an Empress and live in your splendid tin castle." + +The Tin Woodman was so surprised at this frank speech that for a time +he did nothing but stare hard at the boy Wanderer. But the Scarecrow +wagged his stuffed head and said in a positive tone: + +"This boy is right. I've often wondered, myself, why you didn't go back +and find that poor Munchkin girl." + +Then the Tin Woodman stared hard at his friend the Scarecrow. But +finally he said in a serious tone of voice: + +"I must admit that never before have I thought of such a thing as +finding Nimmie Amee and making her Empress of the Winkies. But it is +surely not too late, even now, to do this, for the girl must still be +living in the Munchkin Country. And, since this strange Wanderer has +reminded me of Nimmie Amee, I believe it is my duty to set out and find +her. Surely it is not the girl's fault that I no longer love her, and +so, if I can make her happy, it is proper that I should do so, and in +this way reward her for her faithfulness." + +"Quite right, my friend!" agreed the Scarecrow. + +"Will you accompany me on this errand?" asked the Tin Emperor. + +"Of course," said the Scarecrow. + +"And will you take me along?" pleaded Woot the Wanderer in an eager +voice. + +"To be sure," said the Tin Woodman, "if you care to join our party. It +was you who first told me it was my duty to find and marry Nimmie Amee, +and I'd like you to know that Nick Chopper, the Tin Emperor of the +Winkies, is a man who never shirks his duty, once it is pointed out to +him." + +"It ought to be a pleasure, as well as a duty, if the girl is so +beautiful," said Woot, well pleased with the idea of the adventure. + +"Beautiful things may be admired, if not loved," asserted the Tin Man. +"Flowers are beautiful, for instance, but we are not inclined to marry +them. Duty, on the contrary, is a bugle call to action, whether you are +inclined to act, or not. In this case, I obey the bugle call of duty." + +"When shall we start?" inquired the Scarecrow, who was always glad to +embark upon a new adventure. "I don't hear any bugle, but when do we +go?" + +"As soon as we can get ready," answered the Emperor. "I'll call my +servants at once and order them to make preparations for our journey." + + + + +Chapter Three + +Roundabout + + +Woot the Wanderer slept that night in the tin castle of the Emperor of +the Winkies and found his tin bed quite comfortable. Early the next +morning he rose and took a walk through the gardens, where there were +tin fountains and beds of curious tin flowers, and where tin birds +perched upon the branches of tin trees and sang songs that sounded like +the notes of tin whistles. All these wonders had been made by the +clever Winkie tinsmiths, who wound the birds up every morning so that +they would move about and sing. + +After breakfast the boy went into the throne room, where the Emperor +was having his tin joints carefully oiled by a servant, while other +servants were stuffing sweet, fresh straw into the body of the +Scarecrow. + +Woot watched this operation with much interest, for the Scarecrow's +body was only a suit of clothes filled with straw. The coat was +buttoned tight to keep the packed straw from falling out and a rope was +tied around the waist to hold it in shape and prevent the straw from +sagging down. The Scarecrow's head was a gunnysack filled with bran, on +which the eyes, nose and mouth had been painted. His hands were white +cotton gloves stuffed with fine straw. Woot noticed that even when +carefully stuffed and patted into shape, the straw man was awkward in +his movements and decidedly wobbly on his feet, so the boy wondered if +the Scarecrow would be able to travel with them all the way to the +forests of the Munchkin Country of Oz. + +The preparations made for this important journey were very simple. A +knapsack was filled with food and given Woot the Wanderer to carry upon +his back, for the food was for his use alone. The Tin Woodman +shouldered an axe which was sharp and brightly polished, and the +Scarecrow put the Emperor's oil-can in his pocket, that he might oil +his friend's joints should they need it. + +"Who will govern the Winkie Country during your absence?" asked the boy. + +"Why, the Country will run itself," answered the Emperor. "As a matter +of fact, my people do not need an Emperor, for Ozma of Oz watches over +the welfare of all her subjects, including the Winkies. Like a good +many kings and emperors, I have a grand title, but very little real +power, which allows me time to amuse myself in my own way. The people +of Oz have but one law to obey, which is: 'Behave Yourself,' so it is +easy for them to abide by this Law, and you'll notice they behave very +well. But it is time for us to be off, and I am eager to start because +I suppose that that poor Munchkin girl is anxiously awaiting my coming." + +"She's waited a long time already, seems to me," remarked the +Scarecrow, as they left the grounds of the castle and followed a path +that led eastward. + +"True," replied the Tin Woodman; "but I've noticed that the last end of +a wait, however long it has been, is the hardest to endure; so I must +try to make Nimmie Amee happy as soon as possible." + +"Ah; that proves you have a Kind heart," remarked the Scarecrow, +approvingly. + +"It's too bad he hasn't a Loving Heart," said Woot. "This Tin Man is +going to marry a nice girl through kindness, and not because he loves +her, and somehow that doesn't seem quite right." + +"Even so, I am not sure it isn't best for the girl," said the +Scarecrow, who seemed very intelligent for a straw man, "for a loving +husband is not always kind, while a kind husband is sure to make any +girl content." + +"Nimmie Amee will become an Empress!" announced the Tin Woodman, +proudly. "I shall have a tin gown made for her, with tin ruffles and +tucks on it, and she shall have tin slippers, and tin earrings and +bracelets, and wear a tin crown on her head. I am sure that will +delight Nimmie Amee, for all girls are fond of finery." + +"Are we going to the Munchkin Country by way of the Emerald City?" +inquired the Scarecrow, who looked upon the Tin Woodman as the leader +of the party. + +"I think not," was the reply. "We are engaged upon a rather delicate +adventure, for we are seeking a girl who fears her former lover has +forgotten her. It will be rather hard for me, you must admit, when I +confess to Nimmie Amee that I have come to marry her because it is my +duty to do so, and therefore the fewer witnesses there are to our +meeting the better for both of us. After I have found Nimmie Amee and +she has managed to control her joy at our reunion, I shall take her to +the Emerald City and introduce her to Ozma and Dorothy, and to Betsy +Bobbin and Tiny Trot, and all our other friends; but, if I remember +rightly, poor Nimmie Amee has a sharp tongue when angry, and she may be +a trifle angry with me, at first, because I have been so long in coming +to her." + +"I can understand that," said Woot gravely. "But how can we get to that +part of the Munchkin Country where you once lived without passing +through the Emerald City?" + +"Why, that is easy," the Tin Man assured him. + +"I have a map of Oz in my pocket," persisted the boy, "and it shows +that the Winkie Country, where we now are, is at the west of Oz, and +the Munchkin Country at the east, while directly between them lies the +Emerald City." + +"True enough; but we shall go toward the north, first of all, into the +Gillikin Country, and so pass around the Emerald City," explained the +Tin Woodman. + +"That may prove a dangerous journey," replied the boy. "I used to live +in one of the top corners of the Gillikin Country, near to Oogaboo, and +I have been told that in this northland country are many people whom it +is not pleasant to meet. I was very careful to avoid them during my +journey south." + +"A Wanderer should have no fear," observed the Scarecrow, who was +wobbling along in a funny, haphazard manner, but keeping pace with his +friends. + +"Fear does not make one a coward," returned Woot, growing a little red +in the face, "but I believe it is more easy to avoid danger than to +overcome it. The safest way is the best way, even for one who is brave +and determined." + +"Do not worry, for we shall not go far to the north," said the Emperor. +"My one idea is to avoid the Emerald City without going out of our way +more than is necessary. Once around the Emerald City we will turn south +into the Munchkin Country, where the Scarecrow and I are well +acquainted and have many friends." + +"I have traveled some in the Gillikin Country," remarked the Scarecrow, +"and while I must say I have met some strange people there at times, I +have never yet been harmed by them." + +"Well, it's all the same to me," said Woot, with assumed carelessness. +"Dangers, when they cannot be avoided, are often quite interesting, and +I am willing to go wherever you two venture to go." + +So they left the path they had been following and began to travel +toward the northeast, and all that day they were in the pleasant Winkie +Country, and all the people they met saluted the Emperor with great +respect and wished him good luck on his journey. At night they stopped +at a house where they were well entertained and where Woot was given a +comfortable bed to sleep in. + +"Were the Scarecrow and I alone," said the Tin Woodman, "we would +travel by night as well as by day; but with a meat person in our party, +we must halt at night to permit him to rest." + +"Meat tires, after a day's travel," added the Scarecrow, "while straw +and tin never tire at all. Which proves," said he, "that we are +somewhat superior to people made in the common way." + +Woot could not deny that he was tired, and he slept soundly until +morning, when he was given a good breakfast, smoking hot. + +"You two miss a great deal by not eating," he said to his companions. + +"It is true," responded the Scarecrow. "We miss suffering from hunger, +when food cannot be had, and we miss a stomachache, now and then." + +As he said this, the Scarecrow glanced at the Tin Woodman, who nodded +his assent. + +All that second day they traveled steadily, entertaining one another +the while with stories of adventures they had formerly met and +listening to the Scarecrow recite poetry. He had learned a great many +poems from Professor Wogglebug and loved to repeat them whenever +anybody would listen to him. Of course Woot and the Tin Woodman now +listened, because they could not do otherwise--unless they rudely ran +away from their stuffed comrade. One of the Scarecrow's recitations was +like this: + + "What sound is so sweet + As the straw from the wheat + When it crunkles so tender and low? + It is yellow and bright, + So it gives me delight + To crunkle wherever I go. + + "Sweet, fresh, golden Straw! + There is surely no flaw + In a stuffing so clean and compact. + It creaks when I walk, + And it thrills when I talk, + And its fragrance is fine, for a fact. + "To cut me don't hurt, + + For I've no blood to squirt, + And I therefore can suffer no pain; + The straw that I use + Doesn't lump up or bruise, + Though it's pounded again and again! + + "I know it is said + That my beautiful head + Has brains of mixed wheat-straw and bran, + But my thoughts are so good + I'd not change, if I could, + For the brains of a common meat man. + + "Content with my lot, + I'm glad that I'm not + Like others I meet day by day; + If my insides get musty, + Or mussed-up, or dusty, + I get newly stuffed right away." + + + + +Chapter Four + +The Loons of Loonville + + +Toward evening, the travelers found there was no longer a path to guide +them, and the purple hues of the grass and trees warned them that they +were now in the Country of the Gillikins, where strange peoples dwelt +in places that were quite unknown to the other inhabitants of Oz. The +fields were wild and uncultivated and there were no houses of any sort +to be seen. But our friends kept on walking even after the sun went +down, hoping to find a good place for Woot the Wanderer to sleep; but +when it grew quite dark and the boy was weary with his long walk, they +halted right in the middle of a field and allowed Woot to get his +supper from the food he carried in his knapsack. Then the Scarecrow +laid himself down, so that Woot could use his stuffed body as a pillow, +and the Tin Woodman stood up beside them all night, so the dampness of +the ground might not rust his joints or dull his brilliant polish. +Whenever the dew settled on his body he carefully wiped it off with a +cloth, and so in the morning the Emperor shone as brightly as ever in +the rays of the rising sun. + +They wakened the boy at daybreak, the Scarecrow saying to him: + +"We have discovered something queer, and therefore we must counsel +together what to do about it." + +"What have you discovered?" asked Woot, rubbing the sleep from his eyes +with his knuckles and giving three wide yawns to prove he was fully +awake. + +"A Sign," said the Tin Woodman. "A Sign, and another path." + +"What does the Sign say?" inquired the boy. + +"It says that 'All Strangers are Warned not to Follow this Path to +Loonville,'" answered the Scarecrow, who could read very well when his +eyes had been freshly painted. + +"In that case," said the boy, opening his knapsack to get some +breakfast, "let us travel in some other direction." + +But this did not seem to please either of his companions. + +"I'd like to see what Loonville looks like," remarked the Tin Woodman. + +"When one travels, it is foolish to miss any interesting sight," added +the Scarecrow. + +"But a warning means danger," protested Woot the Wanderer, "and I +believe it sensible to keep out of danger whenever we can." + +They made no reply to this speech for a while. Then said the Scarecrow: + +"I have escaped so many dangers, during my lifetime, that I am not much +afraid of anything that can happen." + +"Nor am I!" exclaimed the Tin Woodman, swinging his glittering axe +around his tin head, in a series of circles. "Few things can injure +tin, and my axe is a powerful weapon to use against a foe. But our boy +friend," he continued, looking solemnly at Woot, "might perhaps be +injured if the people of Loonville are really dangerous; so I propose +he waits here while you and I, Friend Scarecrow, visit the forbidden +City of Loonville." + +"Don't worry about me," advised Woot, calmly. "Wherever you wish to go, +I will go, and share your dangers. During my wanderings I have found it +more wise to keep out of danger than to venture in, but at that time I +was alone, and now I have two powerful friends to protect me." + +So, when he had finished his breakfast, they all set out along the path +that led to Loonville. + +"It is a place I have never heard of before," remarked the Scarecrow, +as they approached a dense forest. "The inhabitants may be people, of +some sort, or they may be animals, but whatever they prove to be, we +will have an interesting story to relate to Dorothy and Ozma on our +return." + +The path led into the forest, but the big trees grew so closely +together and the vines and underbrush were so thick and matted that +they had to clear a path at each step in order to proceed. In one or +two places the Tin Man, who went first to clear the way, cut the +branches with a blow of his axe. Woot followed next, and last of the +three came the Scarecrow, who could not have kept the path at all had +not his comrades broken the way for his straw-stuffed body. + +Presently the Tin Woodman pushed his way through some heavy underbrush, +and almost tumbled headlong into a vast cleared space in the forest. +The clearing was circular, big and roomy, yet the top branches of the +tall trees reached over and formed a complete dome or roof for it. +Strangely enough, it was not dark in this immense natural chamber in +the woodland, for the place glowed with a soft, white light that seemed +to come from some unseen source. + +In the chamber were grouped dozens of queer creatures, and these so +astonished the Tin Man that Woot had to push his metal body aside, that +he might see, too. And the Scarecrow pushed Woot aside, so that the +three travelers stood in a row, staring with all their eyes. + +The creatures they beheld were round and ball-like; round in body, +round in legs and arms, round in hands and feet and round of head. The +only exception to the roundness was a slight hollow on the top of each +head, making it saucer-shaped instead of dome-shaped. They wore no +clothes on their puffy bodies, nor had they any hair. Their skins were +all of a light gray color, and their eyes were mere purple spots. Their +noses were as puffy as the rest of them. + +"Are they rubber, do you think?" asked the Scarecrow, who noticed that +the creatures bounded, as they moved, and seemed almost as light as air. + +"It is difficult to tell what they are," answered Woot, "they seem to +be covered with warts." + +The Loons--for so these folks were called--had been doing many things, +some playing together, some working at tasks and some gathered in +groups to talk; but at the sound of strange voices, which echoed rather +loudly through the clearing, all turned in the direction of the +intruders. Then, in a body, they all rushed forward, running and +bounding with tremendous speed. + +The Tin Woodman was so surprised by this sudden dash that he had no +time to raise his axe before the Loons were on them. The creatures +swung their puffy hands, which looked like boxing-gloves, and pounded +the three travelers as hard as they could, on all sides. The blows were +quite soft and did not hurt our friends at all, but the onslaught quite +bewildered them, so that in a brief period all three were knocked over +and fell flat upon the ground. Once down, many of the Loons held them, +to prevent their getting up again, while others wound long tendrils of +vines about them, binding their arms and legs to their bodies and so +rendering them helpless. + +"Aha!" cried the biggest Loon of all; "we've got 'em safe; so let's +carry 'em to King Bal and have 'em tried, and condemned and +perforated!" They had to drag their captives to the center of the domed +chamber, for their weight, as compared with that of the Loons, +prevented their being carried. Even the Scarecrow was much heavier than +the puffy Loons. But finally the party halted before a raised platform, +on which stood a sort of throne, consisting of a big, wide chair with a +string tied to one arm of it. This string led upward to the roof of the +dome. + +Arranged before the platform, the prisoners were allowed to sit up, +facing the empty throne. + +"Good!" said the big Loon who had commanded the party. "Now to get King +Bal to judge these terrible creatures we have so bravely captured." + +As he spoke he took hold of the string and began to pull as hard as he +could. One or two of the others helped him and pretty soon, as they +drew in the cord, the leaves above them parted and a Loon appeared at +the other end of the string. It didn't take long to draw him down to +the throne, where he seated himself and was tied in, so he wouldn't +float upward again. + +"Hello," said the King, blinking his purple eyes at his followers; +"what's up now!" + +"Strangers, your Majesty--strangers and captives," replied the big +Loon, pompously. + +"Dear me! I see 'em. I see 'em very plainly," exclaimed the King, his +purple eyes bulging out as he looked at the three prisoners. "What +curious animals! Are they dangerous, do you think, my good Panta?" + +"I'm 'fraid so, your Majesty. Of course, they may not be dangerous, but +we mustn't take chances. Enough accidents happen to us poor Loons as it +is, and my advice is to condemn and perforate 'em as quickly as +possible." + +"Keep your advice to yourself," said the monarch, in a peeved tone. +"Who's King here, anyhow? You or Me?" + +"We made you our King because you have less common sense than the rest +of us," answered Panta Loon, indignantly. "I could have been King +myself, had I wanted to, but I didn't care for the hard work and +responsibility." + +As he said this, the big Loon strutted back and forth in the space +between the throne of King Bal and the prisoners, and the other Loons +seemed much impressed by his defiance. But suddenly there came a sharp +report and Panta Loon instantly disappeared, to the great astonishment +of the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and Woot the Wanderer, who saw on the +spot where the big fellow had stood a little heap of flabby, wrinkled +skin that looked like a collapsed rubber balloon. + +"There!" exclaimed the King; "I expected that would happen. The +conceited rascal wanted to puff himself up until he was bigger than the +rest of you, and this is the result of his folly. Get the pump working, +some of you, and blow him up again." + +"We will have to mend the puncture first, your Majesty," suggested one +of the Loons, and the prisoners noticed that none of them seemed +surprised or shocked at the sad accident to Panta. + +"All right," grumbled the King. "Fetch Til to mend him." + +One or two ran away and presently returned, followed by a lady Loon +wearing huge, puffed-up rubber skirts. Also she had a purple feather +fastened to a wart on the top of her head, and around her waist was a +sash of fibre-like vines, dried and tough, that looked like strings. + +"Get to work, Til," commanded King Bal. "Panta has just exploded." + +The lady Loon picked up the bunch of skin and examined it carefully +until she discovered a hole in one foot. Then she pulled a strand of +string from her sash, and drawing the edges of the hole together, she +tied them fast with the string, thus making one of those curious warts +which the strangers had noticed on so many Loons. Having done this, Til +Loon tossed the bit of skin to the other Loons and was about to go away +when she noticed the prisoners and stopped to inspect them. + +"Dear me!" said Til; "what dreadful creatures. Where did they come +from?" + +"We captured them," replied one of the Loons. + +"And what are we going to do with them?" inquired the girl Loon. + +"Perhaps we'll condemn 'em and puncture 'em," answered the King. + +"Well," said she, still eyeing the "I'm not sure they'll puncture. +Let's try it, and see." + +One of the Loons ran to the forest's edge and quickly returned with a +long, sharp thorn. He glanced at the King, who nodded his head in +assent, and then he rushed forward and stuck the thorn into the leg of +the Scarecrow. The Scarecrow merely smiled and said nothing, for the +thorn didn't hurt him at all. + +Then the Loon tried to prick the Tin Woodman's leg, but the tin only +blunted the point of the thorn. + +"Just as I thought," said Til, blinking her purple eyes and shaking her +puffy head; but just then the Loon stuck the thorn into the leg of Woot +the Wanderer, and while it had been blunted somewhat, it was still +sharp enough to hurt. + +"Ouch!" yelled Woot, and kicked out his leg with so much energy that +the frail bonds that tied him burst apart. His foot caught the +Loon--who was leaning over him--full on his puffy stomach, and sent him +shooting up into the air. When he was high over their heads he exploded +with a loud "pop" and his skin fell to the ground. + +"I really believe," said the King, rolling his spotlike eyes in a +frightened way, "that Panta was right in claiming these prisoners are +dangerous. Is the pump ready?" + +Some of the Loons had wheeled a big machine in front of the throne and +now took Panta's skin and began to pump air into it. Slowly it swelled +out until the King cried "Stop!" + +"No, no!" yelled Panta, "I'm not big enough yet." + +"You're as big as you're going to be," declared the King. "Before you +exploded you were bigger than the rest of us, and that caused you to +be proud and overbearing. Now you're a little smaller than the rest, +and you will last longer and be more humble." + +"Pump me up--pump me up!" wailed Panta "If you don't you'll break my +heart." + +"If we do we'll break your skin," replied the King. + +So the Loons stopped pumping air into Panta, and pushed him away from +the pump. He was certainly more humble than before his accident, for he +crept into the background and said nothing more. + +"Now pump up the other one," ordered the King. Til had already mended +him, and the Loons set to work to pump him full of air. + +During these last few moments none had paid much attention to the +prisoners, so Woot, finding his legs free, crept over to the Tin +Woodman and rubbed the bonds that were still around his arms and body +against the sharp edge of the axe, which quickly cut them. + +The boy was now free, and the thorn which the Loon had stuck into his +leg was lying unnoticed on the ground, where the creature had dropped +it when he exploded. Woot leaned forward and picked up the thorn, and +while the Loons were busy watching the pump, the boy sprang to his feet +and suddenly rushed upon the group. + +"Pop"--"pop"--"pop!" went three of the Loons, when the Wanderer pricked +them with his thorn, and at the sounds the others looked around and saw +their danger. With yells of fear they bounded away in all directions, +scattering about the clearing, with Woot the Wanderer in full chase. +While they could run much faster than the boy, they often stumbled and +fell, or got in one another's way, so he managed to catch several and +prick them with his thorn. + +It astonished him to see how easily the Loons exploded. When the air +was let out of them they were quite helpless. Til Loon was one of those +who ran against his thorn and many others suffered the same fate. The +creatures could not escape from the enclosure, but in their fright many +bounded upward and caught branches of the trees, and then climbed out +of reach of the dreaded thorn. + +Woot was getting pretty tired chasing them, so he stopped and came +over, panting, to where his friends were sitting, still bound. + +"Very well done, my Wanderer," said the Tin Woodman. "It is evident +that we need fear these puffed-up creatures no longer, so be kind +enough to unfasten our bonds and we will proceed upon our journey." + +Woot untied the bonds of the Scarecrow and helped him to his feet. Then +he freed the Tin Woodman, who got up without help. Looking around them, +they saw that the only Loon now remaining within reach was Bal Loon, +the King, who had remained seated in his throne, watching the +punishment of his people with a bewildered look in his purple eyes. + +"Shall I puncture the King?" the boy asked his companions. + +King Bal must have overheard the question, for he fumbled with the cord +that fastened him to the throne and managed to release it. Then he +floated upward until he reached the leafy dome, and parting the +branches he disappeared from sight. But the string that was tied to his +body was still connected with the arm of the throne, and they knew they +could pull his Majesty down again, if they wanted to. + +"Let him alone," suggested the Scarecrow. "He seems a good enough king +for his peculiar people, and after we are gone, the Loons will have +something of a job to pump up all those whom Woot has punctured." + +"Every one of them ought to be exploded," declared Woot, who was angry +because his leg still hurt him. + +"No," said the Tin Woodman, "that would not be just fair. They were +quite right to capture us, because we had no business to intrude here, +having been warned to keep away from Loonville. This is their country, +not ours, and since the poor things can't get out of the clearing, they +can harm no one save those who venture here out of curiosity, as we +did." + +"Well said, my friend," agreed tile Scarecrow. "We really had no right +to disturb their peace and comfort; so let us go away." + +They easily found the place where they had forced their way into the +enclosure, so the Tin Woodman pushed aside the underbrush and started +first along the path. The Scarecrow followed next and last came Woot, +who looked back and saw that the Loons were still clinging to their +perches on the trees and watching their former captives with frightened +eyes. + +"I guess they're glad to see the last of us," remarked the boy, and +laughing at the happy ending of the adventure, he followed his comrades +along the path. + + + + +Chapter Five + +Mrs. Yoop, the Giantess + + +When they had reached the end of the path, where they had first seen +the warning sign, they set off across the country in an easterly +direction. Before long they reached Rolling Lands, which were a +succession of hills and valleys where constant climbs and descents were +required, and their journey now became tedious, because on climbing +each hill, they found before them nothing in the valley below it except +grass, or weeds or stones. + +Up and down they went for hours, with nothing to relieve the monotony +of the landscape, until finally, when they had topped a higher hill +than usual, they discovered a cup-shaped valley before them in the +center of which stood an enormous castle, built of purple stone. The +castle was high and broad and long, but had no turrets and towers. So +far as they could see, there was but one small window and one big door +on each side of the great building. + +"This is strange!" mused the Scarecrow. "I'd no idea such a big castle +existed in this Gillikin Country. I wonder who lives here?" + +"It seems to me, from this distance," remarked the Tin Woodman, "that +it's the biggest castle I ever saw. It is really too big for any use, +and no one could open or shut those big doors without a stepladder." + +"Perhaps, if we go nearer, we shall find out whether anybody lives +there or not," suggested Woot. "Looks to me as if nobody lived there." + +On they went, and when they reached the center of the valley, where the +great stone castle stood, it was beginning to grow dark. So they +hesitated as to what to do. + +"If friendly people happen to live here," said Woot. "I shall be glad +of a bed; but should enemies occupy the place, I prefer to sleep upon +the ground." + +"And if no one at all lives here," added the Scarecrow, "we can enter, +and take possession, and make ourselves at home." + +While speaking he went nearer to one of the great doors, which was +three times as high and broad as any he had ever seen in a house +before, and then he discovered, engraved in big letters upon a stone +over the doorway, the words: + + "YOOP CASTLE" + +"Oho!" he exclaimed; "I know the place now. This was probably the home +of Mr. Yoop, a terrible giant whom I have seen confined in a cage, a +long way from here. Therefore this castle is likely to be empty and we +may use it in any way we please." + +"Yes, yes," said the Tin Emperor, nodding; "I also remember Mr. Yoop. +But how are we to get into his deserted castle? The latch of the door +is so far above our heads that none of us can reach it." + +They considered this problem for a while, and then Woot said to the Tin +Man: + +"If I stand upon your shoulders, I think I can unlatch the door." + +"Climb up, then," was the reply, and when the boy was perched upon the +tin shoulders of Nick Chopper, he was just able to reach the latch and +raise it. + +At once the door swung open, its great hinges making a groaning sound +as if in protest, so Woot leaped down and followed his companions into +a big, bare hallway. Scarcely were the three inside, however, when they +heard the door slam shut behind them, and this astonished them because +no one had touched it. It had closed of its own accord, as if by magic. +Moreover, the latch was on the outside, and the thought occurred to +each one of them that they were now prisoners in this unknown castle. + +"However," mumbled the Scarecrow, "we are not to blame for what cannot +be helped; so let us push bravely ahead and see what may be seen." + +It was quite dark in the hallway, now that the outside door was shut, +so as they stumbled along a stone passage they kept close together, not +knowing what danger was likely to befall them. + +Suddenly a soft glow enveloped them. It grew brighter, until they could +see their surroundings distinctly. They had reached the end of the +passage and before them was another huge door. This noiselessly swung +open before them, without the help of anyone, and through the doorway +they observed a big chamber, the walls of which were lined with plates +of pure gold, highly polished. + +This room was also lighted, although they could discover no lamps, and +in the center of it was a great table at which sat an immense woman. +She was clad in silver robes embroidered with gay floral designs, and +wore over this splendid raiment a short apron of elaborate lace-work. +Such an apron was no protection, and was not in keeping with the +handsome gown, but the huge woman wore it, nevertheless. The table at +which she sat was spread with a white cloth and had golden dishes upon +it, so the travelers saw that they had surprised the Giantess while she +was eating her supper. + +She had her back toward them and did not even turn around, but taking a +biscuit from a dish she began to butter it and said in a voice that was +big and deep but not especially unpleasant: + +"Why don't you come in and allow the door to shut? You're causing a +draught, and I shall catch cold and sneeze. When I sneeze, I get cross, +and when I get cross I'm liable to do something wicked. Come in, you +foolish strangers; come in!" + +Being thus urged, they entered the room and approached the table, until +they stood where they faced the great Giantess. She continued eating, +but smiled in a curious way as she looked at them. Woot noticed that +the door had closed silently after they had entered, and that didn't +please him at all. + +"Well," said the Giantess, "what excuse have you to offer?" + +"We didn't know anyone lived here, Madam," explained the Scarecrow; +"so, being travelers and strangers in these parts, and wishing to find +a place for our boy friend to sleep, we ventured to enter your castle." + +"You knew it was private property, I suppose?" said she, buttering +another biscuit. + +"We saw the words, 'Yoop Castle,' over the door, but we knew that Mr. +Yoop is a prisoner in a cage in a far-off part of the land of Oz, so we +decided there was no one now at home and that we might use the castle +for the night." + +"I see," remarked the Giantess, nodding her head and smiling again in +that curious way--a way that made Woot shudder. "You didn't know that +Mr. Yoop was married, or that after he was cruelly captured his wife +still lived in his castle and ran it to suit herself." + +"Who captured Mr. Yoop?" asked Woot, looking gravely at the big woman. + +"Wicked enemies. People who selfishly objected to Yoop's taking their +cows and sheep for his food. I must admit, however, that Yoop had a bad +temper, and had the habit of knocking over a few houses, now and then, +when he was angry. So one day the little folks came in a great crowd +and captured Mr. Yoop, and carried him away to a cage somewhere in the +mountains. I don't know where it is, and I don't care, for my husband +treated me badly at times, forgetting the respect a giant owes to a +giantess. Often he kicked me on my shins, when I wouldn't wait on him. +So I'm glad he is gone." + +"It's a wonder the people didn't capture you, too," remarked Woot. + +"Well, I was too clever for them," said she, giving a sudden laugh that +caused such a breeze that the wobbly Scarecrow was almost blown off his +feet and had to grab his friend Nick Chopper to steady himself. "I saw +the people coming," continued Mrs. Yoop, "and knowing they meant +mischief I transformed myself into a mouse and hid in a cupboard. After +they had gone away, carrying my shin-kicking husband with them, I +transformed myself back to my former shape again, and here I've lived +in peace and comfort ever since." + +"Are you a Witch, then?" inquired Woot. + +"Well, not exactly a Witch," she replied, "but I'm an Artist in +Transformations. In other words, I'm more of a Yookoohoo than a Witch, +and of course you know that the Yookoohoos are the cleverest +magic-workers in the world." + +The travelers were silent for a time, uneasily considering this +statement and the effect it might have on their future. No doubt the +Giantess had wilfully made them her prisoners; yet she spoke so +cheerfully, in her big voice, that until now they had not been alarmed +in the least. + +By and by the Scarecrow, whose mixed brains had been working steadily, +asked the woman: + +"Are we to consider you our friend, Mrs. Yoop, or do you intend to be +our enemy?" + +"I never have friends," she said in a matter-of-fact tone, "because +friends get too familiar and always forget to mind their own business. +But I am not your enemy; not yet, anyhow. Indeed, I'm glad you've come, +for my life here is rather lonely. I've had no one to talk to since I +transformed Polychrome, the Daughter of the Rainbow, into a +canary-bird." + +"How did you manage to do that?" asked the Tin Woodman, in amazement. +"Polychrome is a powerful fairy!" + +"She was," said the Giantess; "but now she's a canary-bird. One day +after a rain, Polychrome danced off the Rainbow and fell asleep on a +little mound in this valley, not far from my castle. The sun came out +and drove the Rainbow away, and before Poly wakened, I stole out and +transformed her into a canary-bird in a gold cage studded with +diamonds. The cage was so she couldn't fly away. I expected she'd sing +and talk and we'd have good times together; but she has proved no +company for me at all. Ever since the moment of her transformation, she +has refused to speak a single word." + +"Where is she now?" inquired Woot, who had heard tales of lovely +Polychrome and was much interested in her. + +"The cage is hanging up in my bedroom," said the Giantess, eating +another biscuit. The travelers were now more uneasy and suspicious of +the Giantess than before. If Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter, who +was a real fairy, had been transformed and enslaved by this huge woman, +who claimed to be a Yookoohoo, what was liable to happen to them? Said +the Scarecrow, twisting his stuffed head around in Mrs. Yoop's +direction: + +"Do you know, Ma'am, who we are?" + +"Of course," said she; "a straw man, a tin man and a boy." + +"We are very important people," declared the Tin Woodman. + +"All the better," she replied. "I shall enjoy your society the more on +that account. For I mean to keep you here as long as I live, to amuse +me when I get lonely. And," she added slowly, "in this Valley no one +ever dies." + +They didn't like this speech at all, so the Scarecrow frowned in a way +that made Mrs. Yoop smile, while the Tin Woodman looked so fierce that +Mrs. Yoop laughed. The Scarecrow suspected she was going to laugh, so +he slipped behind his friends to escape the wind from her breath. From +this safe position he said warningly: + +"We have powerful friends who will soon come to rescue us." + +"Let them come," she returned, with an accent of scorn. "When they get +here they will find neither a boy, nor a tin man, nor a scarecrow, for +tomorrow morning I intend to transform you all into other shapes, so +that you cannot be recognized." + +This threat filled them with dismay. The good-natured Giantess was more +terrible than they had imagined. She could smile and wear pretty +clothes and at the same time be even more cruel than her wicked husband +had been. + +Both the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman tried to think of some way to +escape from the castle before morning, but she seemed to read their +thoughts and shook her head. + +"Don't worry your poor brains," said she. "You can't escape me, however +hard you try. But why should you wish to escape? I shall give you new +forms that are much better than the ones you now have. Be contented +with your fate, for discontent leads to unhappiness, and unhappiness, +in any form, is the greatest evil that can befall you." + +"What forms do you intend to give us?" asked Woot earnestly. + +"I haven't decided, as yet. I'll dream over it tonight, so in the +morning I shall have made up my mind how to transform you. Perhaps +you'd prefer to choose your own transformations?" + +"No," said Woot, "I prefer to remain as I am." + +"That's funny," she retorted. "You are little, and you're weak; as you +are, you're not much account, anyhow. The best thing about you is that +you're alive, for I shall be able to make of you some sort of live +creature which will be a great improvement on your present form." + +She took another biscuit from a plate and dipped it in a pot of honey +and calmly began eating it. + +The Scarecrow watched her thoughtfully. + +"There are no fields of grain in your Valley," said he; "where, then, +did you get the flour to make your biscuits?" + +"Mercy me! do you think I'd bother to make biscuits out of flour?" she +replied. "That is altogether too tedious a process for a Yookoohoo. I +set some traps this afternoon and caught a lot of field-mice, but as I +do not like to eat mice, I transformed them into hot biscuits for my +supper. The honey in this pot was once a wasp's nest, but since being +transformed it has become sweet and delicious. All I need do, when I +wish to eat, is to take something I don't care to keep, and transform +it into any sort of food I like, and eat it. Are you hungry?" + +"I don't eat, thank you," said the Scarecrow. + +"Nor do I," said the Tin Woodman. + +"I have still a little natural food in my knapsack," said Woot the +Wanderer, "and I'd rather eat that than any wasp's nest." + +"Every one to his taste," said the Giantess carelessly, and having now +finished her supper she rose to her feet, clapped her hands together, +and the supper table at once disappeared. + + + + +Chapter Six + +The Magic of a Yookoohoo + + +Woot had seen very little of magic during his wanderings, while the +Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman had seen a great deal of many sorts in +their lives, yet all three were greatly impressed by Mrs. Yoop's +powers. She did not affect any mysterious airs or indulge in chants or +mystic rites, as most witches do, nor was the Giantess old and ugly or +disagreeable in face or manner. Nevertheless, she frightened her +prisoners more than any witch could have done. + +"Please be seated," she said to them, as she sat herself down in a +great arm-chair and spread her beautiful embroidered skirts for them to +admire. But all the chairs in the room were so high that our friends +could not climb to the seats of them. Mrs. Yoop observed this and waved +her hand, when instantly a golden ladder appeared leaning against a +chair opposite her own. + +"Climb up," said she, and they obeyed, the Tin Man and the boy +assisting the more clumsy Scarecrow. When they were all seated in a row +on the cushion of the chair, the Giantess continued: "Now tell me how +you happened to travel in this direction, and where you came from and +what your errand is." + +So the Tin Woodman told her all about Nimmie Amee, and how he had +decided to find her and marry her, although he had no Loving Heart. The +story seemed to amuse the big woman, who then began to ask the +Scarecrow questions and for the first time in her life heard of Ozma of +Oz, and of Dorothy and Jack Pumpkinhead and Dr. Pipt and Tik-tok and +many other Oz people who are well known in the Emerald City. Also Woot +had to tell his story, which was very simple and did not take long. The +Giantess laughed heartily when the boy related their adventure at +Loonville, but said she knew nothing of the Loons because she never +left her Valley. + +"There are wicked people who would like to capture me, as they did my +giant husband, Mr. Yoop," said she; "so I stay at home and mind my own +business." + +"If Ozma knew that you dared to work magic without her consent, she +would punish you severely," declared the Scarecrow, "for this castle is +in the Land of Oz, and no persons in the Land of Oz are permitted to +work magic except Glinda the Good and the little Wizard who lives with +Ozma in the Emerald City." + +"That for your Ozma!" exclaimed the Giantess, snapping her fingers in +derision. "What do I care for a girl whom I have never seen and who has +never seen me?" + +"But Ozma is a fairy," said the Tin Woodman, "and therefore she is very +powerful. Also, we are under Ozma's protection, and to injure us in any +way would make her extremely angry." + +"What I do here, in my own private castle in this secluded +Valley--where no one comes but fools like you--can never be known to +your fairy Ozma," returned the Giantess. "Do not seek to frighten me +from my purpose, and do not allow yourselves to be frightened, for it +is best to meet bravely what cannot be avoided. I am now going to bed, +and in the morning I will give you all new forms, such as will be more +interesting to me than the ones you now wear. Good night, and pleasant +dreams." + +Saying this, Mrs. Yoop rose from her chair and walked through a doorway +into another room. So heavy was the tread of the Giantess that even the +walls of the big stone castle trembled as she stepped. She closed the +door of her bedroom behind her, and then suddenly the light went out +and the three prisoners found themselves in total darkness. + +The Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow didn't mind the dark at all, but Woot +the Wanderer felt worried to be left in this strange place in this +strange manner, without being able to see any danger that might +threaten. + +"The big woman might have given me a bed, anyhow," he said to his +companions, and scarcely had he spoken when he felt something press +against his legs, which were then dangling from the seat of the chair. +Leaning down, he put out his hand and found that a bedstead had +appeared, with mattress, sheets and covers, all complete. He lost no +time in slipping down upon the bed and was soon fast asleep. + +During the night the Scarecrow and the Emperor talked in low tones +together, and they got out of the chair and moved all about the room, +feeling for some hidden spring that might open a door or window and +permit them to escape. + +Morning found them still unsuccessful in the quest and as soon as it +was daylight Woot's bed suddenly disappeared, and he dropped to the +floor with a thump that quickly wakened him. And after a time the +Giantess came from her bedroom, wearing another dress that was quite as +elaborate as the one in which she had been attired the evening before, +and also wearing the pretty lace apron. Having seated herself in a +chair, she said: + +"I'm hungry; so I'll have breakfast at once." + +She clapped her hands together and instantly the table appeared before +her, spread with snowy linen and laden with golden dishes. But there +was no food upon the table, nor anything else except a pitcher of +water, a bundle of weeds and a handful of pebbles. But the Giantess +poured some water into her coffee-pot, patted it once or twice with her +hand, and then poured out a cupful of steaming hot coffee. + +"Would you like some?" she asked Woot. + +He was suspicious of magic coffee, but it smelled so good that he could +not resist it; so he answered: "If you please, Madam." + +The Giantess poured out another cup and set it on the floor for Woot. +It was as big as a tub, and the golden spoon in the saucer beside the +cup was so heavy the boy could scarcely lift it. But Woot managed to +get a sip of the coffee and found it delicious. + +Mrs. Yoop next transformed the weeds into a dish of oatmeal, which she +ate with good appetite. + +"Now, then," said she, picking up the pebbles. "I'm wondering whether I +shall have fish-balls or lamb-chops to complete my meal. Which would +you prefer, Woot the Wanderer?" + +"If you please, I'll eat the food in my knapsack," answered the boy. +"Your magic food might taste good, but I'm afraid of it." + +The woman laughed at his fears and transformed the pebbles into +fish-balls. + +"I suppose you think that after you had eaten this food it would turn +to stones again and make you sick," she remarked; "but that would be +impossible. Nothing I transform ever gets back to its former shape +again, so these fish-balls can never more be pebbles. That is why I +have to be careful of my transformations," she added, busily eating +while she talked, "for while I can change forms at will I can never +change them back again--which proves that even the powers of a clever +Yookoohoo are limited. When I have transformed you three people, you +must always wear the shapes that I have given you." + +"Then please don't transform us," begged Woot, "for we are quite +satisfied to remain as we are." + +"I am not expecting to satisfy you, but intend to please myself," she +declared, "and my pleasure is to give you new shapes. For, if by chance +your friends came in search of you, not one of them would be able to +recognize you." + +Her tone was so positive that they knew it would be useless to protest. +The woman was not unpleasant to look at; her face was not cruel; her +voice was big but gracious in tone; but her words showed that she +possessed a merciless heart and no pleadings would alter her wicked +purpose. + +Mrs. Yoop took ample time to finish her breakfast and the prisoners had +no desire to hurry her, but finally the meal was concluded and she +folded her napkin and made the table disappear by clapping her hands +together. Then she turned to her captives and said: + +"The next thing on the programme is to change your forms." + +"Have you decided what forms to give us?" asked the Scarecrow, uneasily. + +"Yes; I dreamed it all out while I was asleep. This Tin Man seems a +very solemn person "--indeed, the Tin Woodman was looking solemn, just +then, for he was greatly disturbed--"so I shall change him into an Owl." + +All she did was to point one finger at him as she spoke, but +immediately the form of the Tin Woodman began to change and in a few +seconds Nick Chopper, the Emperor of the Winkies, had been transformed +into an Owl, with eyes as big as saucers and a hooked beak and strong +claws. But he was still tin. He was a Tin Owl, with tin legs and beak +and eyes and feathers. When he flew to the back of a chair and perched +upon it, his tin feathers rattled against one another with a tinny +clatter. The Giantess seemed much amused by the Tin Owl's appearance, +for her laugh was big and jolly. + +"You're not liable to get lost," said she, "for your wings and feathers +will make a racket wherever you go. And, on my word, a Tin Owl is so +rare and pretty that it is an improvement on the ordinary bird. I did +not intend to make you tin, but I forgot to wish you to be meat. +However, tin you were, and tin you are, and as it's too late to change +you, that settles it." + +Until now the Scarecrow had rather doubted the possibility of Mrs. +Yoop's being able to transform him, or his friend the Tin Woodman, for +they were not made as ordinary people are. He had worried more over +what might happen to Woot than to himself, but now he began to worry +about himself. + +"Madam," he said hastily, "I consider this action very impolite. It may +even be called rude, considering we are your guests." + +"You are not guests, for I did not invite you here," she replied. + +"Perhaps not; but we craved hospitality. We threw ourselves upon your +mercy, so to speak, and we now find you have no mercy. Therefore, if +you will excuse the expression, I must say it is downright wicked to +take our proper forms away from us and give us others that we do not +care for." + +"Are you trying to make me angry?" she asked, frowning. + +"By no means," said the Scarecrow; "I'm just trying to make you act +more ladylike." + +"Oh, indeed! In my opinion, Mr. Scarecrow, you are now acting like a +bear--so a Bear you shall be!" + +Again the dreadful finger pointed, this time in the Scarecrow's +direction, and at once his form began to change. In a few seconds he +had become a small Brown Bear, but he was stuffed with straw as he had +been before, and when the little Brown Bear shuffled across the floor +he was just as wobbly as the Scarecrow had been and moved just as +awkwardly. + +Woot was amazed, but he was also thoroughly frightened. + +"Did it hurt?" he asked the little Brown Bear. + +"No, of course not," growled the Scarecrow in the Bear's form; "but I +don't like walking on four legs; it's undignified." + +"Consider my humiliation!" chirped the Tin Owl, trying to settle its +tin feathers smoothly with its tin beak. "And I can't see very well, +either. The light seems to hurt my eyes." + +"That's because you are an Owl," said Woot. "I think you will see +better in the dark." + +"Well," remarked the Giantess, "I'm very well pleased with these new +forms, for my part, and I'm sure you will like them better when you get +used to them. So now," she added, turning to the boy, "it is your turn." + +"Don't you think you'd better leave me as I am?" asked Woot in a +trembling voice. + +"No," she replied, "I'm going to make a Monkey of you. I love +monkeys--they're so cute!--and I think a Green Monkey will be lots of +fun and amuse me when I am sad." + +Woot shivered, for again the terrible magic finger pointed, and pointed +directly his way. He felt himself changing; not so very much, however, +and it didn't hurt him a bit. He looked down at his limbs and body and +found that his clothes were gone and his skin covered with a fine, +silk-like green fur. His hands and feet were now those of a monkey. He +realized he really was a monkey, and his first feeling was one of +anger. He began to chatter as monkeys do. He bounded to the seat of a +giant chair, and then to its back and with a wild leap sprang upon the +laughing Giantess. His idea was to seize her hair and pull it out by +the roots, and so have revenge for her wicked transformations. But she +raised her hand and said: + +"Gently, my dear Monkey--gently! You're not angry; you're happy as can +be!" + +Woot stopped short. No; he wasn't a bit angry now; he felt as +good-humored and gay as ever he did when a boy. Instead of pulling Mrs. +Yoop's hair, he perched on her shoulder and smoothed her soft cheek +with his hairy paw. In return, she smiled at the funny green animal and +patted his head. + +"Very good," said the Giantess. "Let us all become friends and be happy +together. How is my Tin Owl feeling?" + +"Quite comfortable," said the Owl. "I don't like it, to be sure, but +I'm not going to allow my new form to make me unhappy. But, tell me, +please: what is a Tin Owl good for?" + +"You are only good to make me laugh," replied the Giantess. + +"Will a stuffed Bear also make you laugh?" inquired the Scarecrow, +sitting back on his haunches to look up at her. + +"Of course," declared the Giantess; "and I have added a little magic to +your transformations to make you all contented with wearing your new +forms. I'm sorry I didn't think to do that when I transformed +Polychrome into a Canary-Bird. But perhaps, when she sees how cheerful +you are, she will cease to be silent and sullen and take to singing. I +will go get the bird and let you see her." + +With this, Mrs. Yoop went into the next room and soon returned bearing +a golden cage in which sat upon a swinging perch a lovely yellow +Canary. "Polychrome," said the Giantess, "permit me to introduce to you +a Green Monkey, which used to be a boy called Woot the Wanderer, and a +Tin Owl, which used to be a Tin Woodman named Nick Chopper, and a +straw-stuffed little Brown Bear which used to be a live Scarecrow." + +"We already know one another," declared the Scarecrow. "The bird is +Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter, and she and I used to be good +friends." + +"Are you really my old friend, the Scarecrow?" asked; the bird, in a +sweet, low voice. + +"There!" cried Mrs. Yoop; "that's the first time she has spoken since +she was transformed." + +"I am really your old friend," answered the Scarecrow; "but you must +pardon me for appearing just now in this brutal form." + +"I am a bird, as you are, dear Poly," said the Tin Woodman; "but, alas! +a Tin Owl is not as beautiful as a Canary-Bird." + +"How dreadful it all is!" sighed the Canary. "Couldn't you manage to +escape from this terrible Yookoohoo?" + +"No," answered the Scarecrow, "we tried to escape, but failed. She +first made us her prisoners and then transformed us. But how did she +manage to get you, Polychrome?" + +"I was asleep, and she took unfair advantage of me," answered the bird +sadly. "Had I been awake, I could easily have protected myself." + +"Tell me," said the Green Monkey earnestly, as he came close to the +cage, "what must we do, Daughter of the Rainbow, to escape from these +transformations? Can't you help us, being a Fairy?" + +"At present I am powerless to help even myself," replied the Canary. + +"That's the exact truth!" exclaimed the Giantess, who seemed pleased to +hear the bird talk, even though it complained; "you are all helpless +and in my power, so you may as well make up your minds to accept your +fate and be content. Remember that you are transformed for good, since +no magic on earth can break your enchantments. I am now going out for +my morning walk, for each day after breakfast I walk sixteen times +around my castle for exercise. Amuse yourselves while I am gone, and +when I return I hope to find you all reconciled and happy." + +So the Giantess walked to the door by which our friends had entered the +great hall and spoke one word: "Open!" Then the door swung open and +after Mrs. Yoop had passed out it closed again with a snap as its +powerful bolts shot into place. The Green Monkey had rushed toward the +opening, hoping to escape, but he was too late and only got a bump on +his nose as the door slammed shut. + + + + +Chapter Seven + +The Lace Apron + + +"Now," said the Canary, in a tone more brisk than before, "we may talk +together more freely, as Mrs. Yoop cannot hear us. Perhaps we can +figure out a way to escape." + +"Open!" said Woot the Monkey, still facing the door; but his command +had no effect and he slowly rejoined the others. + +"You cannot open any door or window in this enchanted castle unless you +are wearing the Magic Apron," said the Canary. + +"What Magic Apron do you mean?" asked the Tin Owl, in a curious voice. + +"The lace one, which the Giantess always wears. I have been her +prisoner, in this cage, for several weeks, and she hangs my cage in her +bedroom every night, so that she can keep her eye on me," explained +Polychrome the Canary. "Therefore I have discovered that it is the +Magic Apron that opens the doors and windows, and nothing else can move +them. When she goes to bed, Mrs. Yoop hangs her apron on the bedpost, +and one morning she forgot to put it on when she commanded the door to +open, and the door would not move. So then she put on the lace apron +and the door obeyed her. That was how I learned the magic power of the +apron." + +"I see--I see!" said the little Brown Bear, wagging his stuffed head. +"Then, if we could get the apron from Mrs. Yoop, we could open the +doors and escape from our prison." + +"That is true, and it is the plan I was about to suggest," replied +Polychrome the Canary-Bird. "However, I don't believe the Owl could +steal the apron, or even the Bear, but perhaps the Monkey could hide in +her room at night and get the apron while she is asleep." + +"I'll try it!" cried Woot the Monkey. "I'll try it this very night, if +I can manage to steal into her bedroom." + +"You mustn't think about it, though," warned the bird, "for she can +read your thoughts whenever she cares to do so. And do not forget, +before you escape, to take me with you. Once I am out of the power of +the Giantess, I may discover a way to save us all." + +"We won't forget our fairy friend," promised the boy; "but perhaps you +can tell me how to get into the bedroom." + +"No," declared Polychrome, "I cannot advise you as to that. You must +watch for a chance, and slip in when Mrs. Yoop isn't looking." + +They talked it over for a while longer and then Mrs. Yoop returned. +When she entered, the door opened suddenly, at her command, and closed +as soon as her huge form had passed through the doorway. During that +day she entered her bedroom several times, on one errand or another, +but always she commanded the door to close behind her and her prisoners +found not the slightest chance to leave the big hall in which they were +confined. + +The Green Monkey thought it would be wise to make a friend of the big +woman, so as to gain her confidence, so he sat on the back of her chair +and chattered to her while she mended her stockings and sewed silver +buttons on some golden shoes that were as big as row-boats. This +pleased the Giantess and she would pause at times to pat the Monkey's +head. The little Brown Bear curled up in a corner and lay still all +day. The Owl and the Canary found they could converse together in the +bird language, which neither the Giantess nor the Bear nor the Monkey +could understand; so at times they twittered away to each other and +passed the long, dreary day quite cheerfully. + +After dinner Mrs. Yoop took a big fiddle from a big cupboard and played +such loud and dreadful music that her prisoners were all thankful when +at last she stopped and said she was going to bed. + +After cautioning the Monkey and Bear and Owl to behave themselves +during the night, she picked up the cage containing the Canary and, +going to the door of her bedroom, commanded it to open. Just then, +however, she remembered she had left her fiddle lying upon a table, so +she went back for it and put it away in the cupboard, and while her +back was turned the Green Monkey slipped through the open door into her +bedroom and hid underneath the bed. The Giantess, being sleepy, did not +notice this, and entering her room she made the door close behind her +and then hung the bird-cage on a peg by the window. Then she began to +undress, first taking off the lace apron and laying it over the +bedpost, where it was within easy reach of her hand. + +As soon as Mrs. Yoop was in bed the lights all went out, and Woot the +Monkey crouched under the bed and waited patiently until he heard the +Giantess snoring. Then he crept out and in the dark felt around until +he got hold of the apron, which he at once tied around his own waist. + +Next, Woot tried to find the Canary, and there was just enough +moonlight showing through the window to enable him to see where the +cage hung; but it was out of his reach. At first he was tempted to +leave Polychrome and escape with his other friends, but remembering his +promise to the Rainbow's Daughter Woot tried to think how to save her. + +A chair stood near the window, and this--showing dimly in the +moonlight--gave him an idea. By pushing against it with all his might, +he found he could move the giant chair a few inches at a time. So he +pushed and pushed until the chair was beneath the bird-cage, and then +he sprang noiselessly upon the seat--for his monkey form enabled him to +jump higher than he could do as a boy--and from there to the back of +the chair, and so managed to reach the cage and take it off the peg. +Then down he sprang to the floor and made his way to the door. "Open!" +he commanded, and at once the door obeyed and swung open, But his voice +wakened Mrs. Yoop, who gave a wild cry and sprang out of bed with one +bound. The Green Monkey dashed through the doorway, carrying the cage +with him, and before the Giantess could reach the door it slammed shut +and imprisoned her in her own bed-chamber! + +The noise she made, pounding upon the door, and her yells of anger and +dreadful threats of vengeance, filled all our friends with terror, and +Woot the Monkey was so excited that in the dark he could not find the +outer door of the hall. But the Tin Owl could see very nicely in the +dark, so he guided his friends to the right place and when all were +grouped before the door Woot commanded it to open. The Magic Apron +proved as powerful as when it had been worn by the Giantess, so a +moment later they had rushed through the passage and were standing in +the fresh night air outside the castle, free to go wherever they willed. + + + + +Chapter Eight + +The Menace of the Forest + + +"Quick!" cried Polychrome the Canary; "we must hurry, or Mrs. Yoop may +find some way to recapture us, even now. Let us get out of her Valley +as soon as possible." + +So they set off toward the east, moving as swiftly as they could, and +for a long time they could hear the yells and struggles of the +imprisoned Giantess. The Green Monkey could run over the ground very +swiftly, and he carried with him the bird-cage containing Polychrome +the Rain-bow's Daughter. Also the Tin Owl could skip and fly along at a +good rate of speed, his feathers rattling against one another with a +tinkling sound as he moved. But the little Brown Bear, being stuffed +with straw, was a clumsy traveler and the others had to wait for him to +follow. + +However, they were not very long in reaching the ridge that led out of +Mrs. Yoop's Valley, and when they had passed this ridge and descended +into the next valley they stopped to rest, for the Green Monkey was +tired. + +"I believe we are safe, now," said Polychrome, when her cage was set +down and the others had all gathered around it, "for Mrs. Yoop dares +not go outside of her own Valley, for fear of being captured by her +enemies. So we may take our time to consider what to do next." + +"I'm afraid poor Mrs. Yoop will starve to death, if no one lets her out +of her bedroom," said Woot, who had a heart as kind as that of the Tin +Woodman. "We've taken her Magic Apron away, and now the doors will +never open." + +"Don't worry about that," advised Polychrome. "Mrs. Yoop has plenty of +magic left to console her." + +"Are you sure of that?" asked the Green Monkey. + +"Yes, for I've been watching her for weeks," said the Canary. "She has +six magic hairpins, which she wears in her hair, and a magic ring which +she wears on her thumb and which is invisible to all eyes except those +of a fairy, and magic bracelets on both her ankles. So I am positive +that she will manage to find a way out of her prison." + +"She might transform the door into an archway," suggested the little +Brown Bear. + +"That would be easy for her," said the Tin Owl; "but I'm glad she was +too angry to think of that before we got out of her Valley." + +"Well, we have escaped the big woman, to be sure," remarked the Green +Monkey, "but we still wear the awful forms the cruel yookoohoo gave us. +How are we going to get rid of these shapes, and become ourselves +again?" + +None could answer that question. They sat around the cage, brooding +over the problem, until the Monkey fell asleep. Seeing this, the Canary +tucked her head under her wing and also slept, and the Tin Owl and the +Brown Bear did not disturb them until morning came and it was broad +daylight. + +"I'm hungry," said Woot, when he wakened, for his knapsack of food had +been left behind at the castle. + +"Then let us travel on until we can find something for you to eat," +returned the Scarecrow Bear. + +"There is no use in your lugging my cage any farther," declared the +Canary. "Let me out, and throw the cage away. Then I can fly with you +and find my own breakfast of seeds. Also I can search for water, and +tell you where to find it." + +So the Green Monkey unfastened the door of the golden cage and the +Canary hopped out. At first she flew high in the air and made great +circles overhead, but after a time she returned and perched beside them. + +"At the east in the direction we were following," announced the Canary, +"there is a fine forest, with a brook running through it. In the forest +there may be fruits or nuts growing, or berry bushes at its edge, so +let us go that way." + +They agreed to this and promptly set off, this time moving more +deliberately. The Tin Owl, which had guided their way during the night, +now found the sunshine very trying to his big eyes, so he shut them +tight and perched upon the back of the little Brown Bear, which carried +the Owl's weight with ease. The Canary sometimes perched upon the Green +Monkey's shoulder and sometimes fluttered on ahead of the party, and in +this manner they traveled in good spirits across that valley and into +the next one to the east of it. + +This they found to be an immense hollow, shaped like a saucer, and on +its farther edge appeared the forest which Polychrome had seen from the +sky. + +"Come to think of it," said the Tin Owl, waking up and blinking +comically at his friends, "there's no object, now, in our traveling to +the Munchkin Country. My idea in going there was to marry Nimmie Amee, +but however much the Munchkin girl may have loved a Tin Woodman, I +cannot reasonably expect her to marry a Tin Owl." + +"There is some truth in that, my friend," remarked the Brown Bear. "And +to think that I, who was considered the handsomest Scarecrow in the +world, am now condemned to be a scrubby, no-account beast, whose only +redeeming feature is that he is stuffed with straw!" + +"Consider my case, please," said Woot. "The cruel Giantess has made a +Monkey of a Boy, and that is the most dreadful deed of all!" + +"Your color is rather pretty," said the Brown Bear, eyeing Woot +critically. "I have never seen a pea-green monkey before, and it +strikes me you are quite gorgeous." + +"It isn't so bad to be a bird," asserted the Canary, fluttering from +one to another with a free and graceful motion, "but I long to enjoy my +own shape again." + +"As Polychrome, you were the loveliest maiden I have ever seen--except, +of course, Ozma," said the Tin Owl; "so the Giantess did well to +transform you into the loveliest of all birds, if you were to be +transformed at all. But tell me, since you are a fairy, and have a +fairy wisdom: do you think we shall be able to break these +enchantments?" + +"Queer things happen in the Land of Oz," replied the Canary, again +perching on the Green Monkey's shoulder and turning one bright eye +thoughtfully toward her questioner. "Mrs. Yoop has declared that none +of her transformations can ever be changed, even by herself, but I +believe that if we could get to Glinda the Good Sorceress, she might +find a way to restore us to our natural shapes. Glinda, as you know, is +the most powerful Sorceress in the world, and there are few things she +cannot do if she tries." + +"In that case," said the Little Brown Bear, "let us return southward +and try to get to Glinda's castle. It lies in the Quadling Country, you +know, so it is a good way from here." + +"First, however, let us visit the forest and search for something to +eat," pleaded Woot. So they continued on to the edge of the forest, +which consisted of many tall and beautiful trees. They discovered no +fruit trees, at first, so the Green Monkey pushed on into the forest +depths and the others followed close behind him. + +They were traveling quietly along, under the shade of the trees, when +suddenly an enormous jaguar leaped upon them from a limb and with one +blow of his paw sent the little Brown Bear tumbling over and over until +he was stopped by a tree-trunk. Instantly they all took alarm. The Tin +Owl shrieked: "Hoot--hoot!" and flew straight up to the branch of a +tall tree, although he could scarcely see where he was going. The +Canary swiftly darted to a place beside the Owl, and the Green Monkey +sprang up, caught a limb, and soon scrambled to a high perch of safety. + +The Jaguar crouched low and with hungry eyes regarded the little Brown +Bear, which slowly got upon its feet and asked reproachfully: + +"For goodness' sake, Beast, what were you trying to do?" + +"Trying to get my breakfast," answered the Jaguar with a snarl, "and I +believe I've succeeded. You ought to make a delicious meal--unless you +happen to be old and tough." + +"I'm worse than that, considered as a breakfast," said the Bear, "for +I'm only a skin stuffed with straw, and therefore not fit to eat." + +"Indeed!" cried the Jaguar, in a disappointed voice; "then you must be +a magic Bear, or enchanted, and I must seek my breakfast from among +your companions." + +With this he raised his lean head to look up at the Tin Owl and the +Canary and the Monkey, and he lashed his tail upon the ground and +growled as fiercely as any jaguar could. + +"My friends are enchanted, also," said the little Brown Bear. + +"All of them?" asked the Jaguar. + +"Yes. The Owl is tin, so you couldn't possibly eat him. The Canary is a +fairy--Polychrome, the Daughter of the Rainbow--and you never could +catch her because she can easily fly out of your reach." + +"There still remains the Green Monkey," remarked the Jaguar hungrily. +"He is neither made of tin nor stuffed with straw, nor can he fly. I'm +pretty good at climbing trees, myself, so I think I'll capture the +Monkey and eat him for my breakfast." + +Woot the Monkey, hearing this speech from his perch on the tree, became +much frightened, for he knew the nature of jaguars and realized they +could climb trees and leap from limb to limb with the agility of cats. +So he at once began to scamper through the forest as fast as he could +go, catching at a branch with his long monkey arms and swinging his +green body through space to grasp another branch in a neighboring tree, +and so on, while the Jaguar followed him from below, his eyes fixed +steadfastly on his prey. But presently Woot got his feet tangled in the +Lace Apron, which he was still wearing, and that tripped him in his +flight and made him fall to the ground, where the Jaguar placed one +huge paw upon him and said grimly: + +"I've got you, now!" + +The fact that the Apron had tripped him made Woot remember its magic +powers, and in his terror he cried out: "Open!" without stopping to +consider how this command might save him. But, at the word, the earth +opened at the exact spot where he lay under the Jaguar's paw, and his +body sank downward, the earth closing over it again. The last thing +Woot the Monkey saw, as he glanced upward, was the Jaguar peering into +the hole in astonishment. + +"He's gone!" cried the beast, with a long-drawn sigh of disappointment; +"he's gone, and now I shall have no breakfast." + +The clatter of the Tin Owl's wings sounded above him, and the little +Brown Bear came trotting up and asked: + +"Where is the monkey? Have you eaten him so quickly?" + +"No, indeed," answered the Jaguar. "He disappeared into the earth +before I could take one bite of him!" + +And now the Canary perched upon a stump, a little way from the forest +beast, and said: + +"I am glad our friend has escaped you; but, as it is natural for a +hungry beast to wish his breakfast, I will try to give you one." + +"Thank you," replied the Jaguar. "You're rather small for a full meal, +but it's kind of you to sacrifice yourself to my appetite." + +"Oh, I don't intend to be eaten, I assure you," said the Canary, "but +as I am a fairy I know something of magic, and though I am now +transformed into a bird's shape, I am sure I can conjure up a breakfast +that will satisfy you." + +"If you can work magic, why don't you break the enchantment you are +under and return to your proper form?" inquired the beast doubtingly. + +"I haven't the power to do that," answered the Canary, "for Mrs. Yoop, +the Giantess who transformed me, used a peculiar form of yookoohoo +magic that is unknown to me. However, she could not deprive me of my +own fairy knowledge, so I will try to get you a breakfast." + +"Do you think a magic breakfast would taste good, or relieve the pangs +of hunger I now suffer?" asked the Jaguar. + +"I am sure it would. What would you like to eat?" + +"Give me a couple of fat rabbits," said the beast. + +"Rabbits! No, indeed. I'd not allow you to eat the dear little things," +declared Polychrome the Canary. + +"Well, three or four squirrels, then," pleaded the Jaguar. + +"Do you think me so cruel?" demanded the Canary, indignantly. "The +squirrels are my especial friends." + +"How about a plump owl?" asked the beast. "Not a tin one, you know, but +a real meat owl." + +"Neither beast nor bird shall you have," said Polychrome in a positive +voice. + +"Give me a fish, then; there's a river a little way off," proposed the +Jaguar. + +"No living thing shall be sacrificed to feed you," returned the Canary. + +"Then what in the world do you expect me to eat?" said the Jaguar in a +scornful tone. + +"How would mush-and-milk do?" asked the Canary. + +The Jaguar snarled in derision and lashed his tail against the ground +angrily. + +"Give him some scrambled eggs on toast, Poly," suggested the Bear +Scarecrow. "He ought to like that." + +"I will," responded the Canary, and fluttering her wings she made a +flight of three circles around the stump. Then she flew up to a tree +and the Bear and the Owl and the Jaguar saw that upon the stump had +appeared a great green leaf upon which was a large portion of scrambled +eggs on toast, smoking hot. + +"There!" said the Bear; "eat your breakfast, friend Jaguar, and be +content." + +The Jaguar crept closer to the stump and sniffed the fragrance of the +scrambled eggs. They smelled so good that he tasted them, and they +tasted so good that he ate the strange meal in a hurry, proving he had +been really hungry. + +"I prefer rabbits," he muttered, licking his chops, "but I must admit +the magic breakfast has filled my stomach full, and brought me comfort. +So I'm much obliged for the kindness, little Fairy, and I'll now leave +you in peace." + +Saying this, he plunged into the thick underbrush and soon disappeared, +although they could hear his great body crashing through the bushes +until he was far distant. + +"That was a good way to get rid of the savage beast, Poly," said the +Tin Woodman to the Canary; "but I'm surprised that you didn't give our +friend Woot a magic breakfast, when you knew he was hungry." + +"The reason for that," answered Polychrome, "was that my mind was so +intent on other things that I quite forgot my power to produce food by +magic. But where is the monkey boy?" + +"Gone!" said the Scarecrow Bear, solemnly. "The earth has swallowed him +up." + + + + +Chapter Nine + +The Quarrelsome Dragons + + +The Green Monkey sank gently into the earth for a little way and then +tumbled swiftly through space, landing on a rocky floor with a thump +that astonished him. Then he sat up, found that no bones were broken, +and gazed around him. + +He seemed to be in a big underground cave, which was dimly lighted by +dozens of big round discs that looked like moons. They were not moons, +however, as Woot discovered when he had examined the place more +carefully. They were eyes. The eyes were in the heads of enormous +beasts whose bodies trailed far behind them. Each beast was bigger than +an elephant, and three times as long, and there were a dozen or more of +the creatures scattered here and there about the cavern. On their +bodies were big scales, as round as pie-plates, which were beautifully +tinted in shades of green, purple and orange. On the ends of their long +tails were clusters of jewels. Around the great, moon-like eyes were +circles of diamonds which sparkled in the subdued light that glowed +from the eyes. + +Woot saw that the creatures had wide mouths and rows of terrible teeth +and, from tales he had heard of such beings, he knew he had fallen into +a cavern inhabited by the great Dragons that had been driven from the +surface of the earth and were only allowed to come out once in a +hundred years to search for food. Of course he had never seen Dragons +before, yet there was no mistaking them, for they were unlike any other +living creatures. + +Woot sat upon the floor where he had fallen, staring around, and the +owners of the big eyes returned his look, silently and motionless. +Finally one of the Dragons which was farthest away from him asked, in a +deep, grave voice: + +"What was that?" + +And the greatest Dragon of all, who was just in front of the Green +Monkey, answered in a still deeper voice: + +"It is some foolish animal from Outside." + +"Is it good to eat?" inquired a smaller Dragon beside the great one. +"I'm hungry." + +"Hungry!" exclaimed all the Dragons, in a reproachful chorus; and then +the great one said chidingly: "Tut-tut, my son! You've no reason to be +hungry at this time." + +"Why not?" asked the little Dragon. "I haven't eaten anything in eleven +years." + +"Eleven years is nothing," remarked another Dragon, sleepily opening +and closing his eyes; "I haven't feasted for eighty-seven years, and I +dare not get hungry for a dozen or so years to come. Children who eat +between meals should be broken of the habit." + +"All I had, eleven years ago, was a rhinoceros, and that's not a full +meal at all," grumbled the young one. "And, before that, I had waited +sixty-two years to be fed; so it's no wonder I'm hungry." + +"How old are you now?" asked Woot, forgetting his own dangerous +position in his interest in the conversation. + +"Why, I'm--I'm--How old am I, Father?" asked the little Dragon. + +"Goodness gracious! what a child to ask questions. Do you want to keep +me thinking all the time? Don't you know that thinking is very bad for +Dragons?" returned the big one, impatiently. + +"How old am I, Father?" persisted the small Dragon. + +"About six hundred and thirty, I believe. Ask your mother." + +"No; don't!" said an old Dragon in the background; "haven't I enough +worries, what with being wakened in the middle of a nap, without being +obliged to keep track of my children's ages?" + +"You've been fast asleep for over sixty years, Mother," said the child +Dragon. "How long a nap do you wish?" + +"I should have slept forty years longer. And this strange little green +beast should be punished for falling into our cavern and disturbing us." + +"I didn't know you were here, and I didn't know I was going to fall +in," explained Woot. + +"Nevertheless, here you are," said the great Dragon, "and you have +carelessly wakened our entire tribe; so it stands to reason you must be +punished." + +"In what way?" inquired the Green Monkey, trembling a little. + +"Give me time and I'll think of a way. You're in no hurry, are you?" +asked the great Dragon. + +"No, indeed," cried Woot. "Take your time. I'd much rather you'd all go +to sleep again, and punish me when you wake up in a hundred years or +so." + +"Let me eat him!" pleaded the littlest Dragon. + +"He is too small," said the father. "To eat this one Green Monkey would +only serve to make you hungry for more, and there are no more." + +"Quit this chatter and let me get to sleep," protested another Dragon, +yawning in a fearful manner, for when he opened his mouth a sheet of +flame leaped forth from it and made Woot jump back to get out of its +way. + +In his jump he bumped against the nose of a Dragon behind him, which +opened its mouth to growl and shot another sheet of flame at him. The +flame was bright, but not very hot, yet Woot screamed with terror and +sprang forward with a great bound. This time he landed on the paw of +the great Chief Dragon, who angrily raised his other front paw and +struck the Green Monkey a fierce blow. Woot went sailing through the +air and fell sprawling upon the rocky floor far beyond the place where +the Dragon Tribe was grouped. + +All the great beasts were now thoroughly wakened and aroused, and they +blamed the monkey for disturbing their quiet. The littlest Dragon +darted after Woot and the others turned their unwieldy bodies in his +direction and followed, flashing from their eyes and mouths flames +which lighted up the entire cavern. Woot almost gave himself up for +lost, at that moment, but he scrambled to his feet and dashed away to +the farthest end of the cave, the Dragons following more leisurely +because they were too clumsy to move fast. Perhaps they thought there +was no need of haste, as the monkey could not escape from the cave. +But, away up at the end of the place, the cavern floor was heaped with +tumbled rocks, so Woot, with an agility born of fear, climbed from rock +to rock until he found himself crouched against the cavern roof. There +he waited, for he could go no farther, while on over the tumbled rocks +slowly crept the Dragons--the littlest one coming first because he was +hungry as well as angry. + +The beasts had almost reached him when Woot, remembering his lace +apron--now sadly torn and soiled--recovered his wits and shouted: +"Open!" At the cry a hole appeared in the roof of the cavern, just over +his head, and through it the sunlight streamed full upon the Green +Monkey. + +The Dragons paused, astonished at the magic and blinking at the +sunlight, and this gave Woot time to climb through the opening. As soon +as he reached the surface of the earth the hole closed again, and the +boy monkey realized, with a thrill of joy, that he had seen the last of +the dangerous Dragon family. + +He sat upon the ground, still panting hard from his exertions, when the +bushes before him parted and his former enemy, the Jaguar, appeared. + +"Don't run," said the woodland beast, as Woot sprang up; "you are +perfectly safe, so far as I am concerned, for since you so mysteriously +disappeared I have had my breakfast. I am now on my way home to sleep +the rest of the day." + +"Oh, indeed!" returned the Green Monkey, in a tone both sorry and +startled. "Which of my friends did you manage to eat?" + +"None of them," returned the Jaguar, with a sly grin "I had a dish of +magic scrambled eggs--on toast--and it wasn't a bad feast, at all. +There isn't room in me for even you, and I don't regret it because I +judge, from your green color, that you are not ripe, and would make an +indifferent meal. We jaguars have to be careful of our digestions. +Farewell, Friend Monkey. Follow the path I made through the bushes and +you will find your friends." + +With this the Jaguar marched on his way and Woot took his advice and +followed the trail he had made until he came to the place where the +little Brown Bear, and the Tin Owl, and the Canary were conferring +together and wondering what had become of their comrade, the Green +Monkey. + + + + +Chapter Ten + +Tommy Kwikstep + + +"Our best plan," said the Scarecrow Bear, when the Green Monkey had +related the story of his adventure with the Dragons, "is to get out of +this Gillikin Country as soon as we can and try to find our way to the +castle of Glinda, the Good Sorceress. There are too many dangers +lurking here to suit me, and Glinda may be able to restore us to our +proper forms." + +"If we turn south now," the Tin Owl replied, "we might go straight into +the Emerald City. That's a place I wish to avoid, for I'd hate to have +my friends see me in this sad plight," and he blinked his eyes and +fluttered his tin wings mournfully. + +"But I am certain we have passed beyond Emerald City," the Canary +assured him, sailing lightly around their heads. "So, should we turn +south from here, we would pass into the Munchkin Country, and +continuing south we would reach the Quadling Country where Glinda's +castle is located." + +"Well, since you're sure of that, let's start right away," proposed the +Bear. "It's a long journey, at the best, and I'm getting tired of +walking on four legs." + +"I thought you never tired, being stuffed with straw," said Woot. + +"I mean that it annoys me, to be obliged to go on all fours, when two +legs are my proper walking equipment," replied the Scarecrow. "I +consider it beneath my dignity. In other words, my remarkable brains +can tire, through humiliation, although my body cannot tire." + +"That is one of the penalties of having brains," remarked the Tin Owl +with a sigh. "I have had no brains since I was a man of meat, and so I +never worry. Nevertheless, I prefer my former manly form to this owl's +shape and would be glad to break Mrs. Yoop's enchantment as soon as +possible. I am so noisy, just now, that I disturb myself," and he +fluttered his wings with a clatter that echoed throughout the forest. + +So, being all of one mind, they turned southward, traveling steadily on +until the woods were left behind and the landscape turned from purple +tints to blue tints, which assured them they had entered the Country of +the Munchkins. + +"Now I feel myself more safe," said the Scarecrow Bear. "I know this +country pretty well, having been made here by a Munchkin farmer and +having wandered over these lovely blue lands many times. Seems to me, +indeed, that I even remember that group of three tall trees ahead of +us; and, if I do, we are not far from the home of my friend Jinjur." + +"Who is Jinjur?" asked Woot, the Green Monkey. + +"Haven't you heard of Jinjur?" exclaimed the Scarecrow, in surprise. + +"No," said Woot. "Is Jinjur a man, a woman, a beast or a bird?" + +"Jinjur is a girl," explained the Scarecrow Bear. "She's a fine girl, +too, although a bit restless and liable to get excited. Once, a long +time ago, she raised an army of girls and called herself 'General +Jinjur.' With her army she captured the Emerald City, and drove me out +of it, because I insisted that an army in Oz was highly improper. But +Ozma punished the rash girl, and afterward Jinjur and I became fast +friends. Now Jinjur lives peacefully on a farm, near here, and raises +fields of cream-puffs, chocolate-caramels and macaroons. They say she's +a pretty good farmer, and in addition to that she's an artist, and +paints pictures so perfect that one can scarcely tell them from nature. +She often repaints my face for me, when it gets worn or mussy, and the +lovely expression I wore when the Giantess transformed me was painted +by Jinjur only a month or so ago." + +"It was certainly a pleasant expression," agreed Woot. + +"Jinjur can paint anything," continued the Scarecrow Bear, with +enthusiasm, as they walked along together. "Once, when I came to her +house, my straw was old and crumpled, so that my body sagged +dreadfully. I needed new straw to replace the old, but Jinjur had no +straw on all her ranch and I was really unable to travel farther until +I had been restuffed. When I explained this to Jinjur, the girl at once +painted a straw-stack which was so natural that I went to it and +secured enough straw to fill all my body. It was a good quality of +straw, too, and lasted me a long time." + +This seemed very wonderful to Woot, who knew that such a thing could +never happen in any place but a fairy country like Oz. + +The Munchkin Country was much nicer than the Gillikin Country, and all +the fields were separated by blue fences, with grassy lanes and paths +of blue ground, and the land seemed well cultivated. They were on a +little hill looking down upon this favored country, but had not quite +reached the settled parts, when on turning a bend in the path they were +halted by a form that barred their way. + +A more curious creature they had seldom seen, even in the Land of Oz, +where curious creatures abound. It had the head of a young +man--evidently a Munchkin--with a pleasant face and hair neatly combed. +But the body was very long, for it had twenty legs--ten legs on each +side--and this caused the body to stretch out and lie in a horizontal +position, so that all the legs could touch the ground and stand firm. +From the shoulders extended two small arms; at least, they seemed small +beside so many legs. + +This odd creature was dressed in the regulation clothing of the +Munchkin people, a dark blue coat neatly fitting the long body and each +pair of legs having a pair of sky-blue trousers, with blue-tinted +stockings and blue leather shoes turned up at the pointed toes. + +"I wonder who you are?" said Polychrome the Canary, fluttering above +the strange creature, who had probably been asleep on the path. + +"I sometimes wonder, myself, who I am," replied the many-legged young +man; "but, in reality, I am Tommy Kwikstep, and I live in a hollow tree +that fell to the ground with age. I have polished the inside of it, and +made a door at each end, and that's a very comfortable residence for me +because it just fits my shape." + +"How did you happen to have such a shape?" asked the Scarecrow Bear, +sitting on his haunches and regarding Tommy Kwikstep with a serious +look. "Is the shape natural?" + +"No; it was wished on me," replied Tommy, with a sigh. "I used to be +very active and loved to run errands for anyone who needed my services. +That was how I got my name of Tommy Kwikstep. I could run an errand +more quickly than any other boy, and so I was very proud of myself. One +day, however, I met an old lady who was a fairy, or a witch, or +something of the sort, and she said if I would run an errand for +her--to carry some magic medicine to another old woman--she would grant +me just one Wish, whatever the Wish happened to be. Of course I +consented and, taking the medicine, I hurried away. It was a long +distance, mostly up hill, and my legs began to grow weary. Without +thinking what I was doing I said aloud: 'Dear me; I wish I had twenty +legs!' and in an instant I became the unusual creature you see beside +you. Twenty legs! Twenty on one man! You may count them, if you doubt +my word." + +"You've got 'em, all right," said Woot the Monkey, who had already +counted them. + +"After I had delivered the magic medicine to the old woman, I returned +and tried to find the witch, or fairy, or whatever she was, who had +given me the unlucky wish, so she could take it away again. I've been +searching for her ever since, but never can I find her," continued poor +Tommy Kwikstep, sadly. + +"I suppose," said the Tin Owl, blinking at him, "you can travel very +fast, with those twenty legs." + +"At first I was able to," was the reply; "but I traveled so much, +searching for the fairy, or witch, or whatever she was, that I soon got +corns on my toes. Now, a corn on one toe is not so bad, but when you +have a hundred toes--as I have--and get corns on most of them, it is +far from pleasant. Instead of running, I now painfully crawl, and +although I try not to be discouraged I do hope I shall find that witch +or fairy, or whatever she was, before long." + +"I hope so, too," said the Scarecrow. "But, after all, you have the +pleasure of knowing you are unusual, and therefore remarkable among the +people of Oz. To be just like other persons is small credit to one, +while to be unlike others is a mark of distinction." + +"That sounds very pretty," returned Tommy Kwikstep, "but if you had to +put on ten pair of trousers every morning, and tie up twenty shoes, you +would prefer not to be so distinguished." + +"Was the witch, or fairy, or whatever she was, an old person, with +wrinkled skin and half her teeth gone?" inquired the Tin Owl. + +"No," said Tommy Kwikstep. + +"Then she wasn't Old Mombi," remarked the transformed Emperor. + +"I'm not interested in who it wasn't, so much as I am in who it was," +said the twenty-legged young man. "And, whatever or whomsoever she was, +she has managed to keep out of my way." + +"If you found her, do you suppose she'd change you back into a +two-legged boy?" asked Woot. + +"Perhaps so, if I could run another errand for her and so earn another +wish." + +"Would you really like to be as you were before?" asked Polychrome the +Canary, perching upon the Green Monkey's shoulder to observe Tommy +Kwikstep more attentively. + +"I would, indeed," was the earnest reply. + +"Then I will see what I can do for you," promised the Rainbow's +Daughter, and flying to the ground she took a small twig in her bill +and with it made several mystic figures on each side of Tommy Kwikstep. + +"Are you a witch, or fairy, or something of the sort?" he asked as he +watched her wonderingly. + +The Canary made no answer, for she was busy, but the Scarecrow Bear +replied: "Yes; she's something of the sort, and a bird of a magician." + +The twenty-legged boy's transformation happened so queerly that they +were all surprised at its method. First, Tommy Kwikstep's last two legs +disappeared; then the next two, and the next, and as each pair of legs +vanished his body shortened. All this while Polychrome was running +around him and chirping mystical words, and when all the young man's +legs had disappeared but two he noticed that the Canary was still busy +and cried out in alarm: + +"Stop--stop! Leave me two of my legs, or I shall be worse off than +before." + +"I know," said the Canary. "I'm only removing with my magic the corns +from your last ten toes." + +"Thank you for being so thoughtful," he said gratefully, and now they +noticed that Tommy Kwikstep was quite a nice looking young fellow. + +"What will you do now?" asked Woot the Monkey. + +"First," he answered, "I must deliver a note which I've carried in my +pocket ever since the witch, or fairy, or whatever she was, granted my +foolish wish. And I am resolved never to speak again without taking +time to think carefully on what I am going to say, for I realize that +speech without thought is dangerous. And after I've delivered the note, +I shall run errands again for anyone who needs my services." + +So he thanked Polychrome again and started away in a different +direction from their own, and that was the last they saw of Tommy +Kwikstep. + + + + +Chapter Eleven + +Jinjur's Ranch + + +As they followed a path down the blue-grass hillside, the first house +that met the view of the travelers was joyously recognized by the +Scarecrow Bear as the one inhabited by his friend Jinjur, so they +increased their speed and hurried toward it. + +On reaching the place, how ever, they found the house deserted. The +front door stood open, but no one was inside. In the garden surrounding +the house were neat rows of bushes bearing cream-puffs and macaroons, +some of which were still green, but others ripe and ready to eat. +Farther back were fields of caramels, and all the land seemed well +cultivated and carefully tended. They looked through the fields for the +girl farmer, but she was nowhere to be seen. + +"Well," finally remarked the little Brown Bear, "let us go into the +house and make ourselves at home. That will be sure to please my friend +Jinjur, who happens to be away from home just now. When she returns, +she will be greatly surprised." + +"Would she care if I ate some of those ripe cream-puffs?" asked the +Green Monkey. + +"No, indeed; Jinjur is very generous. Help yourself to all you want," +said the Scarecrow Bear. + +So Woot gathered a lot of the cream-puffs that were golden yellow and +filled with a sweet, creamy substance, and ate until his hunger was +satisfied. Then he entered the house with his friends and sat in a +rocking-chair--just as he was accustomed to do when a boy. The Canary +perched herself upon the mantel and daintily plumed her feathers; the +Tin Owl sat on the back of another chair; the Scarecrow squatted on his +hairy haunches in the middle of the room. + +"I believe I remember the girl Jinjur," remarked the Canary, in her +sweet voice. "She cannot help us very much, except to direct us on our +way to Glinda's castle, for she does not understand magic. But she's a +good girl, honest and sensible, and I'll be glad to see her." + +"All our troubles," said the Owl with a deep sigh, "arose from my +foolish resolve to seek Nimmie Amee and make her Empress of the +Winkies, and while I wish to reproach no one, I must say that it was +Woot the Wanderer who put the notion into my head." + +"Well, for my part, I am glad he did," responded the Canary. "Your +journey resulted in saving me from the Giantess, and had you not +traveled to the Yoop Valley, I would still be Mrs. Yoop's prisoner. It +is much nicer to be free, even though I still bear the enchanted form +of a Canary-Bird." + +"Do you think we shall ever be able to get our proper forms back +again?" asked the Green Monkey earnestly. + +Polychrome did not make reply at once to this important question, but +after a period of thoughtfulness she said: + +"I have been taught to believe that there is an antidote for every +magic charm, yet Mrs. Yoop insists that no power can alter her +transformations. I realize that my own fairy magic cannot do it, +although I have thought that we Sky Fairies have more power than is +accorded to Earth Fairies. The yookoohoo magic is admitted to be very +strange in its workings and different from the magic usually practiced, +but perhaps Glinda or Ozma may understand it better than I. In them +lies our only hope. Unless they can help us, we must remain forever as +we are." + +"A Canary-Bird on a Rainbow wouldn't be so bad," asserted the Tin Owl, +winking and blinking with his round tin eyes, "so if you can manage to +find your Rainbow again you need have little to worry about." + +"That's nonsense, Friend Chopper," exclaimed Woot. "I know just how +Polychrome feels. A beautiful girl is much superior to a little yellow +bird, and a boy--such as I was--far better than a Green Monkey. Neither +of us can be happy again unless we recover our rightful forms." + +"I feel the same way," announced the stuffed Bear. "What do you suppose +my friend the Patchwork Girl would think of me, if she saw me wearing +this beastly shape?" + +"She'd laugh till she cried," admitted the Tin Owl. "For my part, I'll +have to give up the notion of marrying Nimmie Amee, but I'll try not to +let that make me unhappy. If it's my duty, I'd like to do my duty, but +if magic prevents my getting married I'll flutter along all by myself +and be just as contented." + +Their serious misfortunes made them all silent for a time, and as their +thoughts were busy in dwelling upon the evils with which fate had +burdened them, none noticed that Jinjur had suddenly appeared in the +doorway and was looking at them in astonishment. The next moment her +astonishment changed to anger, for there, in her best rocking-chair, +sat a Green Monkey. A great shiny Owl perched upon another chair and a +Brown Bear squatted upon her parlor rug. Jinjur did not notice the +Canary, but she caught up a broomstick and dashed into the room, +shouting as she came: + +"Get out of here, you wild creatures! How dare you enter my house?" + +With a blow of her broom she knocked the Brown Bear over, and the Tin +Owl tried to fly out of her reach and made a great clatter with his tin +wings. The Green Monkey was so startled by the sudden attack that he +sprang into the fireplace--where there was fortunately no fire--and +tried to escape by climbing up the chimney. But he found the opening +too small, and so was forced to drop down again. Then he crouched +trembling in the fireplace, his pretty green hair all blackened with +soot and covered with ashes. From this position Woot watched to see +what would happen next. + +"Stop, Jinjur--stop!" cried the Brown Bear, when the broom again +threatened him. "Don't you know me? I'm your old friend the Scarecrow?" + +"You're trying to deceive me, you naughty beast! I can see plainly that +you are a bear, and a mighty poor specimen of a bear, too," retorted +the girl. + +"That's because I'm not properly stuffed," he assured her. "When Mrs. +Yoop transformed me, she didn't realize I should have more stuffing." + +"Who is Mrs. Yoop?" inquired Jinjur, pausing with the broom still +upraised. + +"A Giantess in the Gillikin Country." + +"Oh; I begin to understand. And Mrs. Yoop transformed you? You are +really the famous Scarecrow of Oz." + +"I was, Jinjur. Just now I'm as you see me--a miserable little Brown +Bear with a poor quality of stuffing. That Tin Owl is none other than +our dear Tin Woodman--Nick Chopper, the Emperor of the Winkies--while +this Green Monkey is a nice little boy we recently became acquainted +with, Woot the Wanderer." + +"And I," said the Canary, flying close to Jinjur, "am Polychrome, the +Daughter of the Rainbow, in the form of a bird." + +"Goodness me!" cried Jinjur, amazed; "that Giantess must be a powerful +Sorceress, and as wicked as she is powerful." + +"She's a yookoohoo," said Polychrome. "Fortunately, we managed to +escape from her castle, and we are now on our way to Glinda the Good to +see if she possesses the power to restore us to our former shapes." + +"Then I must beg your pardons; all of you must forgive me," said +Jinjur, putting away the broom. "I took you to be a lot of wild, +unmannerly animals, as was quite natural. You are very welcome to my +home and I'm sorry I haven't the power to help you out of your +troubles. Please use my house and all that I have, as if it were your +own." + +At this declaration of peace, the Bear got upon his feet and the Owl +resumed his perch upon the chair and the Monkey crept out of the +fireplace. Jinjur looked at Woot critically, and scowled. + +"For a Green Monkey," said she, "you're the blackest creature I ever +saw. And you'll get my nice clean room all dirty with soot and ashes. +Whatever possessed you to jump up the chimney?" + +"I--I was scared," explained Woot, somewhat ashamed. + +"Well, you need renovating, and that's what will happen to you, right +away. Come with me!" she commanded. + +"What are you going to do?" asked Woot. + +"Give you a good scrubbing," said Jinjur. + +Now, neither boys nor monkeys relish being scrubbed, so Woot shrank +away from the energetic girl, trembling fearfully. But Jinjur grabbed +him by his paw and dragged him out to the back yard, where, in spite of +his whines and struggles, she plunged him into a tub of cold water and +began to scrub him with a stiff brush and a cake of yellow soap. + +This was the hardest trial that Woot had endured since he became a +monkey, but no protest had any influence with Jinjur, who lathered and +scrubbed him in a business-like manner and afterward dried him with a +coarse towel. + +The Bear and the Owl gravely watched this operation and nodded approval +when Woot's silky green fur shone clear and bright in the afternoon +sun. The Canary seemed much amused and laughed a silvery ripple of +laughter as she said: + +"Very well done, my good Jinjur; I admire your energy and judgment. But +I had no idea a monkey could look so comical as this monkey did while +he was being bathed." + +"I'm not a monkey!" declared Woot, resentfully; "I'm just a boy in a +monkey's shape, that's all." + +"If you can explain to me the difference," said Jinjur, "I'll agree not +to wash you again--that is, unless you foolishly get into the +fireplace. All persons are usually judged by the shapes in which they +appear to the eyes of others. Look at me, Woot; what am I?" + +Woot looked at her. + +"You're as pretty a girl as I've ever seen," he replied. + +Jinjur frowned. That is, she tried hard to frown. + +"Come out into the garden with me," she said, "and I'll give you some +of the most delicious caramels you ever ate. They're a new variety, +that no one can grow but me, and they have a heliotrope flavor." + + + + +Chapter Twelve + +Ozma and Dorothy + + +In her magnificent palace in the Emerald City, the beautiful girl Ruler +of all the wonderful Land of Oz sat in her dainty boudoir with her +friend Princess Dorothy beside her. Ozma was studying a roll of +manuscript which she had taken from the Royal Library, while Dorothy +worked at her embroidery and at times stooped to pat a shaggy little +black dog that lay at her feet. The little dog's name was Toto, and he +was Dorothy's faithful companion. + +To judge Ozma of Oz by the standards of our world, you would think her +very young--perhaps fourteen or fifteen years of age--yet for years she +had ruled the Land of Oz and had never seemed a bit older. Dorothy +appeared much younger than Ozma. She had been a little girl when first +she came to the Land of Oz, and she was a little girl still, and would +never seem to be a day older while she lived in this wonderful +fairyland. + +Oz was not always a fairyland, I am told. Once it was much like other +lands, except it was shut in by a dreadful desert of sandy wastes that +lay all around it, thus preventing its people from all contact with the +rest of the world. Seeing this isolation, the fairy band of Queen +Lurline, passing over Oz while on a journey, enchanted the country and +so made it a Fairyland. And Queen Lurline left one of her fairies to +rule this enchanted Land of Oz, and then passed on and forgot all about +it. + +From that moment no one in Oz ever died. Those who were old remained +old; those who were young and strong did not change as years passed +them by; the children remained children always, and played and romped +to their hearts' content, while all the babies lived in their cradles +and were tenderly cared for and never grew up. So people in Oz stopped +counting how old they were in years, for years made no difference in +their appearance and could not alter their station. They did not get +sick, so there were no doctors among them. Accidents might happen to +some, on rare occasions, it is true, and while no one could die +naturally, as other people do, it was possible that one might be +totally destroyed. Such incidents, however, were very unusual, and so +seldom was there anything to worry over that the Oz people were as +happy and contented as can be. + +Another strange thing about this fairy Land of Oz was that whoever +managed to enter it from the outside world came under the magic spell +of the place and did not change in appearance as long as they lived +there. So Dorothy, who now lived with Ozma, seemed just the same sweet +little girl she had been when first she came to this delightful +fairyland. + +Perhaps all parts of Oz might not be called truly delightful, but it +was surely delightful in the neighborhood of the Emerald City, where +Ozma reigned. Her loving influence was felt for many miles around, but +there were places in the mountains of the Gillikin Country, and the +forests of the Quadling Country, and perhaps in far-away parts of the +Munchkin and Winkie Countries, where the inhabitants were somewhat rude +and uncivilized and had not yet come under the spell of Ozma's wise and +kindly rule. Also, when Oz first became a fairyland, it harbored +several witches and magicians and sorcerers and necromancers, who were +scattered in various parts, but most of these had been deprived of +their magic powers, and Ozma had issued a royal edict forbidding anyone +in her dominions to work magic except Glinda the Good and the Wizard of +Oz. Ozma herself, being a real fairy, knew a lot of magic, but she only +used it to benefit her subjects. + +This little explanation will help you to understand better the story +you are reaching, but most of it is already known to those who are +familiar with the Oz people whose adventures they have followed in +other Oz books. + +Ozma and Dorothy were fast friends and were much together. Everyone in +Oz loved Dorothy almost as well as they did their lovely Ruler, for the +little Kansas girl's good fortune had not spoiled her or rendered her +at all vain. She was just the same brave and true and adventurous child +as before she lived in a royal palace and became the chum of the fairy +Ozma. + +In the room in which the two sat--which was one of Ozma's private suite +of apartments--hung the famous Magic Picture. This was the source of +constant interest to little Dorothy. One had but to stand before it and +wish to see what any person was doing, and at once a scene would flash +upon the magic canvas which showed exactly where that person was, and +like our own moving pictures would reproduce the actions of that person +as long as you cared to watch them. So today, when Dorothy tired of her +embroidery, she drew the curtains from before the Magic Picture and +wished to see what her friend Button Bright was doing. Button Bright, +she saw, was playing ball with Ojo, the Munchkin boy, so Dorothy next +wished to see what her Aunt Em was doing. The picture showed Aunt Em +quietly engaged in darning socks for Uncle Henry, so Dorothy wished to +see what her old friend the Tin Woodman was doing. + +The Tin Woodman was then just leaving his tin castle in the company of +the Scarecrow and Woot the Wanderer. Dorothy had never seen this boy +before, so she wondered who he was. Also she was curious to know where +the three were going, for she noticed Woot's knapsack and guessed they +had started on a long journey. She asked Ozma about it, but Ozma did +not know. + +That afternoon Dorothy again saw the travelers in the Magic Picture, +but they were merely tramping through the country and Dorothy was not +much interested in them. A couple of days later, however, the girl, +being again with Ozma, wished to see her friends, the Scarecrow and the +Tin Woodman in the Magic Picture, and on this occasion found them in +the great castle of Mrs. Yoop, the Giantess, who was at the time about +to transform them. Both Dorothy and Ozma now became greatly interested +and watched the transformations with indignation and horror. + +"What a wicked Giantess!" exclaimed Dorothy. + +"Yes," answered Ozma, "she must be punished for this cruelty to our +friends, and to the poor boy who is with them." + +After this they followed the adventure of the little Brown Bear and the +Tin Owl and the Green Monkey with breathless interest, and were +delighted when they escaped from Mrs. Yoop. They did not know, then, +who the Canary was, but realized it must be the transformation of some +person of consequence, whom the Giantess had also enchanted. + +When, finally, the day came when the adventurers headed south into the +Munchkin Country, Dorothy asked anxiously: + +"Can't something be done for them, Ozma? Can't you change 'em back into +their own shapes? They've suffered enough from these dreadful +transformations, seems to me." + +"I've been studying ways to help them, ever since they were +transformed," replied Ozma. "Mrs. Yoop is now the only yookoohoo in my +dominions, and the yookoohoo magic is very peculiar and hard for others +to understand, yet I am resolved to make the attempt to break these +enchantments. I may not succeed, but I shall do the best I can. From +the directions our friends are taking, I believe they are going to pass +by Jinjur's Ranch, so if we start now we may meet them there. Would you +like to go with me, Dorothy?" + +"Of course," answered the little girl; "I wouldn't miss it for +anything." + +"Then order the Red Wagon," said Ozma of Oz, "and we will start at +once." + +Dorothy ran to do as she was bid, while Ozma went to her Magic Room to +make ready the things she believed she would need. In half an hour the +Red Wagon stood before the grand entrance of the palace, and before it +was hitched the Wooden Sawhorse, which was Ozma's favorite steed. + +This Sawhorse, while made of wood, was very much alive and could travel +swiftly and without tiring. To keep the ends of his wooden legs from +wearing down short, Ozma had shod the Sawhorse with plates of pure +gold. His harness was studded with brilliant emeralds and other jewels +and so, while he himself was not at all handsome, his outfit made a +splendid appearance. + +Since the Sawhorse could understand her spoken words, Ozma used no +reins to guide him. She merely told him where to go. When she came from +the palace with Dorothy, they both climbed into the Red Wagon and then +the little dog, Toto, ran up and asked: + +"Are you going to leave me behind, Dorothy?" Dorothy looked at Ozma, +who smiled in return and said: + +"Toto may go with us, if you wish him to." + +So Dorothy lifted the little dog into the wagon, for, while he could +run fast, he could not keep up with the speed of the wonderful Sawhorse. + + +Away they went, over hills and through meadows, covering the ground +with astonishing speed. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Red +Wagon arrived before Jinjur's house just as that energetic young lady +had finished scrubbing the Green Monkey and was about to lead him to +the caramel patch. + + + + +Chapter Thirteen + +The Restoration + + +The Tin Owl gave a hoot of delight when he saw the Red Wagon draw up +before Jinjur's house, and the Brown Bear grunted and growled with glee +and trotted toward Ozma as fast as he could wobble. As for the Canary, +it flew swiftly to Dorothy's shoulder and perched there, saying in her +ear: + +"Thank goodness you have come to our rescue!" + +"But who are you?" asked Dorothy + +"Don't you know?" returned the Canary. + +"No; for the first time we noticed you in the Magic Picture, you were +just a bird, as you are now. But we've guessed that the giant woman had +transformed you, as she did the others." + +"Yes; I'm Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter," announced the Canary. + +"Goodness me!" cried Dorothy. "How dreadful." + +"Well, I make a rather pretty bird, I think," returned Polychrome, "but +of course I'm anxious to resume my own shape and get back upon my +rainbow." + +"Ozma will help you, I'm sure," said Dorothy. "How does it feel, +Scarecrow, to be a Bear?" she asked, addressing her old friend. + +"I don't like it," declared the Scarecrow Bear. "This brutal form is +quite beneath the dignity of a wholesome straw man." + +"And think of me," said the Owl, perching upon the dashboard of the Red +Wagon with much noisy clattering of his tin feathers. "Don't I look +horrid, Dorothy, with eyes several sizes too big for my body, and so +weak that I ought to wear spectacles?" + +"Well," said Dorothy critically, as she looked him over, "you're +nothing to brag of, I must confess. But Ozma will soon fix you up +again." + +The Green Monkey had hung back, bashful at meeting two lovely girls +while in the form of a beast; but Jinjur now took his hand and led him +forward while she introduced him to Ozma, and Woot managed to make a +low bow, not really ungraceful, before her girlish Majesty, the Ruler +of Oz. + +"You have all been forced to endure a sad experience," said Ozma, "and +so I am anxious to do all in my power to break Mrs. Yoop's +enchantments. But first tell me how you happened to stray into that +lonely Valley where Yoop Castle stands." + +Between them they related the object of their journey, the Scarecrow +Bear telling of the Tin Woodman's resolve to find Nimmie Amee and marry +her, as a just reward for her loyalty to him. Woot told of their +adventures with the Loons of Loonville, and the Tin Owl described the +manner in which they had been captured and transformed by the Giantess. +Then Polychrome related her story, and when all had been told, and +Dorothy had several times reproved Toto for growling at the Tin Owl, +Ozma remained thoughtful for a while, pondering upon what she had +heard. Finally she looked up, and with one of her delightful smiles, +said to the anxious group: + +"I am not sure my magic will be able to restore every one of you, +because your transformations are of such a strange and unusual +character. Indeed, Mrs. Yoop was quite justified in believing no power +could alter her enchantments. However, I am sure I can restore the +Scarecrow to his original shape. He was stuffed with straw from the +beginning, and even the yookoohoo magic could not alter that. The +Giantess was merely able to make a bear's shape of a man's shape, but +the bear is stuffed with straw, just as the man was. So I feel +confident I can make a man of the bear again." + +"Hurrah!" cried the Brown Bear, and tried clumsily to dance a jig of +delight. + +"As for the Tin Woodman, his case is much the same," resumed Ozma, +still smiling. "The power of the Giantess could not make him anything +but a tin creature, whatever shape she transformed him into, so it will +not be impossible to restore him to his manly form. Anyhow, I shall +test my magic at once, and see if it will do what I have promised." + +She drew from her bosom a small silver Wand and, making passes with the +Wand over the head of the Bear, she succeeded in the brief space of a +moment in breaking his enchantment. The original Scarecrow of Oz again +stood before them, well stuffed with straw and with his features nicely +painted upon the bag which formed his head. + +The Scarecrow was greatly delighted, as you may suppose, and he +strutted proudly around while the powerful fairy, Ozma of Oz, broke the +enchantment that had transformed the Tin Woodman and made a Tin Owl +into a Tin Man again. + +"Now, then," chirped the Canary, eagerly; "I'm next, Ozma!" + +"But your case is different," replied Ozma, no longer smiling but +wearing a grave expression on her sweet face. "I shall have to +experiment on you, Polychrome, and I may fail in all my attempts." + +She then tried two or three different methods of magic, hoping one of +them would succeed in breaking Polychrome's enchantment, but still the +Rainbow's Daughter remained a Canary-Bird. Finally, however, she +experimented in another way. She transformed the Canary into a Dove, +and then transformed the Dove into a Speckled Hen, and then changed the +Speckled Hen into a rabbit, and then the rabbit into a Fawn. And at the +last, after mixing several powders and sprinkling them upon the Fawn, +the yookoohoo enchantment was suddenly broken and before them stood one +of the daintiest and loveliest creatures in any fairyland in the world. +Polychrome was as sweet and merry in disposition as she was beautiful, +and when she danced and capered around in delight, her beautiful hair +floated around her like a golden mist and her many-hued raiment, as +soft as cobwebs, reminded one of drifting clouds in a summer sky. + +Woot was so awed by the entrancing sight of this exquisite Sky Fairy +that he quite forgot his own sad plight until be noticed Ozma gazing +upon him with an intent expression that denoted sympathy and sorrow. +Dorothy whispered in her friend's ear, but the Ruler of Oz shook her +head sadly. + +Jinjur, noticing this and understanding Ozma's looks, took the paw of +the Green Monkey in her own hand and patted it softly. + +"Never mind," she said to him. "You are a very beautiful color, and a +monkey can climb better than a boy and do a lot of other things no boy +can ever do." + +"What's the matter?" asked Woot, a sinking feeling at his heart. "Is +Ozma's magic all used up?" + +Ozma herself answered him. + +"Your form of enchantment, my poor boy," she said pityingly, "is +different from that of the others. Indeed, it is a form that is +impossible to alter by any magic known to fairies or yookoohoos. The +wicked Giantess was well aware, when she gave you the form of a Green +Monkey, that the Green Monkey must exist in the Land of Oz for all +future time." + +Woot drew a long sigh. + +"Well, that's pretty hard luck," he said bravely, "but if it can't be +helped I must endure it; that's all. I don't like being a monkey, but +what's the use of kicking against my fate?" + +They were all very sorry for him, and Dorothy anxiously asked Ozma: + +"Couldn't Glinda save him?" + +"No," was the reply. "Glinda's power in transformations is no greater +than my own. Before I left my palace I went to my Magic Room and +studied Woot's case very carefully. I found that no power can do away +with the Green Monkey. He might transfer, or exchange his form with +some other person, it is true; but the Green Monkey we cannot get rid +of by any magic arts known to science." + +"But--see here," said the Scarecrow, who had listened intently to this +explanation, "why not put the monkey's form on some one else?" + +"Who would agree to make the change?" asked Ozma. "If by force we +caused anyone else to become a Green Monkey, we would be as cruel and +wicked as Mrs. Yoop. And what good would an exchange do?" she +continued. "Suppose, for instance, we worked the enchantment, and made +Toto into a Green Monkey. At the same moment Woot would become a little +dog." + +"Leave me out of your magic, please," said Toto, with a reproachful +growl. "I wouldn't become a Green Monkey for anything." + +"And I wouldn't become a dog," said Woot. "A green monkey is much +better than a dog, it seems to me." + +"That is only a matter of opinion," answered Toto. + +"Now, here's another idea," said the Scarecrow. "My brains are working +finely today, you must admit. Why not transform Toto into Woot the +Wanderer, and then have them exchange forms? The dog would become a +green monkey and the monkey would have his own natural shape again." + +"To be sure!" cried Jinjur. "That's a fine idea." + +"Leave me out of it," said Toto. "I won't do it." + +"Wouldn't you be willing to become a green monkey--see what a pretty +color it is--so that this poor boy could be restored to his own shape?" +asked Jinjur, pleadingly. + +"No," said Toto. + +"I don't like that plan the least bit," declared Dorothy, "for then I +wouldn't have any little dog." + +"But you'd have a green monkey in his place," persisted Jinjur, who +liked Woot and wanted to help him. + +"I don't want a green monkey," said Dorothy positively. + +"Don't speak of this again, I beg of you," said Woot. "This is my own +misfortune and I would rather suffer it alone than deprive Princess +Dorothy of her dog, or deprive the dog of his proper shape. And perhaps +even her Majesty, Ozma of Oz, might not be able to transform anyone +else into the shape of Woot the Wanderer." + +"Yes; I believe I might do that," Ozma returned; "but Woot is quite +right; we are not justified in inflicting upon anyone--man or dog--the +form of a green monkey. Also it is certain that in order to relieve the +boy of the form he now wears, we must give it to someone else, who +would be forced to wear it always." + +"I wonder," said Dorothy, thoughtfully, "if we couldn't find someone in +the Land of Oz who would be willing to become a green monkey? Seems to +me a monkey is active and spry, and he can climb trees and do a lot of +clever things, and green isn't a bad color for a monkey--it makes him +unusual." + +"I wouldn't ask anyone to take this dreadful form," said Woot; "it +wouldn't be right, you know. I've been a monkey for some time, now, and +I don't like it. It makes me ashamed to be a beast of this sort when by +right of birth I'm a boy; so I'm sure it would be wicked to ask anyone +else to take my place." + +They were all silent, for they knew he spoke the truth. Dorothy was +almost ready to cry with pity and Ozma's sweet face was sad and +disturbed. The Scarecrow rubbed and patted his stuffed head to try to +make it think better, while the Tin Woodman went into the house and +began to oil his tin joints so that the sorrow of his friends might not +cause him to weep. Weeping is liable to rust tin, and the Emperor +prided himself upon his highly polished body--now doubly dear to him +because for a time he had been deprived of it. + +Polychrome had danced down the garden paths and back again a dozen +times, for she was seldom still a moment, yet she had heard Ozma's +speech and understood very well Woot's unfortunate position. But the +Rainbow's Daughter, even while dancing, could think and reason very +clearly, and suddenly she solved the problem in the nicest possible +way. Coming close to Ozma, she said: + +"Your Majesty, all this trouble was caused by the wickedness of Mrs. +Yoop, the Giantess. Yet even now that cruel woman is living in her +secluded castle, enjoying the thought that she has put this terrible +enchantment on Woot the Wanderer. Even now she is laughing at our +despair because we can find no way to get rid of the green monkey. Very +well, we do not wish to get rid of it. Let the woman who created the +form wear it herself, as a just punishment for her wickedness. I am +sure your fairy power can give to Mrs. Yoop the form of Woot the +Wanderer--even at this distance from her--and then it will be possible +to exchange the two forms. Mrs. Yoop will become the Green Monkey, and +Woot will recover his own form again." + +Ozma's face brightened as she listened to this clever proposal. + +"Thank you, Polychrome," said she. "The task you propose is not so easy +as you suppose, but I will make the attempt, and perhaps I may succeed." + + + + +Chapter Fourteen + +The Green Monkey + + +They now entered the house, and as an interested group, watched Jinjur, +at Ozma's command, build a fire and put a kettle of water over to boil. +The Ruler of Oz stood before the fire silent and grave, while the +others, realizing that an important ceremony of magic was about to be +performed, stood quietly in the background so as not to interrupt +Ozma's proceedings. Only Polychrome kept going in and coming out, +humming softly to herself as she danced, for the Rainbow's Daughter +could not keep still for long, and the four walls of a room always made +her nervous and ill at ease. She moved so noiselessly, however, that +her movements were like the shifting of sunbeams and did not annoy +anyone. + +When the water in the kettle bubbled, Ozma drew from her bosom two tiny +packets containing powders. These powders she threw into the kettle and +after briskly stirring the contents with a branch from a macaroon bush, +Ozma poured the mystic broth upon a broad platter which Jinjur had +placed upon the table. As the broth cooled it became as silver, +reflecting all objects from its smooth surface like a mirror. + +While her companions gathered around the table, eagerly attentive--and +Dorothy even held little Toto in her arms that he might see--Ozma waved +her wand over the mirror-like surface. At once it reflected the +interior of Yoop Castle, and in the big hall sat Mrs. Yoop, in her best +embroidered silken robes, engaged in weaving a new lace apron to +replace the one she had lost. + +The Giantess seemed rather uneasy, as if she had a faint idea that +someone was spying upon her, for she kept looking behind her and this +way and that, as though expecting danger from an unknown source. +Perhaps some yookoohoo instinct warned her. Woot saw that she had +escaped from her room by some of the magical means at her disposal, +after her prisoners had escaped her. She was now occupying the big hall +of her castle as she used to do. Also Woot thought, from the cruel +expression on the face of the Giantess, that she was planning revenge +on them, as soon as her new magic apron was finished. + +But Ozma was now making passes over the platter with her silver Wand, +and presently the form of the Giantess began to shrink in size and to +change its shape. And now, in her place sat the form of Woot the +Wanderer, and as if suddenly realizing her transformation Mrs. Yoop +threw down her work and rushed to a looking-glass that stood against +the wall of her room. When she saw the boy's form reflected as her own, +she grew violently angry and dashed her head against the mirror, +smashing it to atoms. + +Just then Ozma was busy with her magic Wand, making strange figures, +and she had also placed her left hand firmly upon the shoulder of the +Green Monkey. So now, as all eyes were turned upon the platter, the +form of Mrs. Yoop gradually changed again. She was slowly transformed +into the Green Monkey, and at the same time Woot slowly regained his +natural form. + +It was quite a surprise to them all when they raised their eyes from +the platter and saw Woot the Wanderer standing beside Ozma. And, when +they glanced at the platter again, it reflected nothing more than the +walls of the room in Jinjur's house in which they stood. The magic +ceremonial was ended, and Ozma of Oz had triumphed over the wicked +Giantess. + +"What will become of her, I wonder?" said Dorothy, as she drew a long +breath. + +"She will always remain a Green Monkey," replied Ozma, "and in that +form she will be unable to perform any magical arts whatsoever. She +need not be unhappy, however, and as she lives all alone in her castle +she probably won't mind the transformation very much after she gets +used to it." + +"Anyhow, it serves her right," declared Dorothy, and all agreed with +her. + +"But," said the kind hearted Tin Woodman, "I'm afraid the Green Monkey +will starve, for Mrs. Yoop used to get her food by magic, and now that +the magic is taken away from her, what can she eat?" + +"Why, she'll eat what other monkeys do," returned the Scarecrow. "Even +in the form of a Green Monkey, she's a very clever person, and I'm sure +her wits will show her how to get plenty to eat." + +"Don't worry about her," advised Dorothy. "She didn't worry about you, +and her condition is no worse than the condition she imposed on poor +Woot. She can't starve to death in the Land of Oz, that's certain, and +if she gets hungry at times it's no more than the wicked thing +deserves. Let's forget Mrs. Yoop; for, in spite of her being a +yookoohoo, our fairy friends have broken all of her transformations." + + + + +Chapter Fifteen + +The Man of Tin + + +Ozma and Dorothy were quite pleased with Woot the Wanderer, whom they +found modest and intelligent and very well mannered. The boy was truly +grateful for his release from the cruel enchantment, and he promised to +love, revere and defend the girl Ruler of Oz forever afterward, as a +faithful subject. + +"You may visit me at my palace, if you wish," said Ozma, "where I will +be glad to introduce you to two other nice boys, Ojo the Munchkin and +Button-Bright." + +"Thank your Majesty," replied Woot, and then he turned to the Tin +Woodman and inquired: "What are your further plans, Mr. Emperor? Will +you still seek Nimmie Amee and marry her, or will you abandon the quest +and return to the Emerald City and your own castle?" + +The Tin Woodman, now as highly polished and well-oiled as ever, +reflected a while on this question and then answered: + +"Well, I see no reason why I should not find Nimmie Amee. We are now in +the Munchkin Country, where we are perfectly safe, and if it was right +for me, before our enchantment, to marry Nimmie Amee and make her +Empress of the Winkies, it must be right now, when the enchantment has +been broken and I am once more myself. Am I correct, friend Scarecrow?" + +"You are, indeed," answered the Scarecrow. "No one can oppose such +logic." + +"But I'm afraid you don't love Nimmie Amee," suggested Dorothy. + +"That is just because I can't love anyone," replied the Tin Woodman. +"But, if I cannot love my wife, I can at least be kind to her, and all +husbands are not able to do that." + +"Do you s'pose Nimmie Amee still loves you, after all these years?" +asked Dorothy. + +"I'm quite sure of it, and that is why I am going to her to make her +happy. Woot the Wanderer thinks I ought to reward her for being +faithful to me after my meat body was chopped to pieces and I became +tin. What do you think, Ozma?" + +Ozma smiled as she said: + +"I do not know your Nimmie Amee, and so I cannot tell what she most +needs to make her happy. But there is no harm in your going to her and +asking her if she still wishes to marry you. If she does, we will give +you a grand wedding at the Emerald City and, afterward, as Empress of +the Winkies, Nimmie Amee would become one of the most important ladies +in all Oz." + +So it was decided that the Tin Woodman would continue his journey, and +that the Scarecrow and Woot the Wanderer should accompany him, as +before. Polychrome also decided to join their party, somewhat to the +surprise of all. + +"I hate to be cooped up in a palace," she said to Ozma, "and of course +the first time I meet my Rainbow I shall return to my own dear home in +the skies, where my fairy sisters are even now awaiting me and my +father is cross because I get lost so often. But I can find my Rainbow +just as quickly while traveling in the Munchkin Country as I could if +living in the Emerald City--or any other place in Oz--so I shall go +with the Tin Woodman and help him woo Nimmie Amee." + +Dorothy wanted to go, too, but as the Tin Woodman did not invite her to +join his party, she felt she might be intruding if she asked to be +taken. She hinted, but she found he didn't take the hint. It is quite a +delicate matter for one to ask a girl to marry him, however much she +loves him, and perhaps the Tin Woodman did not desire to have too many +looking on when he found his old sweetheart, Nimmie Amee. So Dorothy +contented herself with the thought that she would help Ozma prepare a +splendid wedding feast, to be followed by a round of parties and +festivities when the Emperor of the Winkies reached the Emerald City +with his bride. + +Ozma offered to take them all in the Red Wagon to a place as near to +the great Munchkin forest as a wagon could get. The Red Wagon was big +enough to seat them all, and so, bidding good-bye to Jinjur, who gave +Woot a basket of ripe cream-puffs and caramels to take with him, Ozma +commanded the Wooden Sawhorse to start, and the strange creature moved +swiftly over the lanes and presently came to the Road of Yellow Bricks. +This road led straight to a dense forest, where the path was too narrow +for the Red Wagon to proceed farther, so here the party separated. + +Ozma and Dorothy and Toto returned to the Emerald City, after wishing +their friends a safe and successful journey, while the Tin Woodman, the +Scarecrow, Woot the Wanderer and Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter, +prepared to push their way through the thick forest. However, these +forest paths were well known to the Tin Man and the Scarecrow, who felt +quite at home among the trees. + +"I was born in this grand forest," said Nick Chopper, the tin Emperor, +speaking proudly, "and it was here that the Witch enchanted my axe and +I lost different parts of my meat body until I became all tin. Here, +also--for it is a big forest--Nimmie Amee lived with the Wicked Witch, +and at the other edge of the trees stands the cottage of my friend +Ku-Klip, the famous tinsmith who made my present beautiful form." + +"He must be a clever workman," declared Woot, admiringly. + +"He is simply wonderful," declared the Tin Woodman. + +"I shall be glad to make his acquaintance," said Woot. + +"If you wish to meet with real cleverness," remarked the Scarecrow, +"you should visit the Munchkin farmer who first made me. I won't say +that my friend the Emperor isn't all right for a tin man, but any judge +of beauty can understand that a Scarecrow is far more artistic and +refined." + +"You are too soft and flimsy," said the Tin Woodman. + +"You are too hard and stiff," said the Scarecrow, and this was as near +to quarreling as the two friends ever came. Polychrome laughed at them +both, as well she might, and Woot hastened to change the subject. + +At night they all camped underneath the trees. The boy ate cream-puffs +for supper and offered Polychrome some, but she preferred other food +and at daybreak sipped the dew that was clustered thick on the forest +flowers. Then they tramped onward again, and presently the Scarecrow +paused and said: + +"It was on this very spot that Dorothy and I first met the Tin Woodman, +who was rusted so badly that none of his joints would move. But after +we had oiled him up, he was as good as new and accompanied us to the +Emerald City." + +"Ah, that was a sad experience," asserted the Tin Woodman soberly. "I +was caught in a rainstorm while chopping down a tree for exercise, and +before I realized it, I was firmly rusted in every joint. There I +stood, axe in hand, but unable to move, for days and weeks and months! +Indeed, I have never known exactly how long the time was; but finally +along came Dorothy and I was saved. See! This is the very tree I was +chopping at the time I rusted." + +"You cannot be far from your old home, in that case," said Woot. + +"No; my little cabin stands not a great way off, but there is no +occasion for us to visit it. Our errand is with Nimmie Amee, and her +house is somewhat farther away, to the left of us." + +"Didn't you say she lives with a Wicked Witch, who makes her a slave?" +asked the boy. + +"She did, but she doesn't," was the reply. "I am told the Witch was +destroyed when Dorothy's house fell on her, so now Nimmie Amee must +live all alone. I haven't seen her, of course, since the Witch was +crushed, for at that time I was standing rusted in the forest and had +been there a long time, but the poor girl must have felt very happy to +be free from her cruel mistress." + +"Well," said the Scarecrow, "let's travel on and find Nimmie Amee. Lead +on, your Majesty, since you know the way, and we will follow." + +So the Tin Woodman took a path that led through the thickest part of +the forest, and they followed it for some time. The light was dim here, +because vines and bushes and leafy foliage were all about them, and +often the Tin Man had to push aside the branches that obstructed their +way, or cut them off with his axe. After they had proceeded some +distance, the Emperor suddenly stopped short and exclaimed: "Good +gracious!" + +The Scarecrow, who was next, first bumped into his friend and then +peered around his tin body, and said in a tone of wonder: + +"Well, I declare!" + +Woot the Wanderer pushed forward to see what was the matter, and cried +out in astonishment: "For goodness' sake!" + +Then the three stood motionless, staring hard, until Polychrome's merry +laughter rang out behind them and aroused them from their stupor. + +In the path before them stood a tin man who was the exact duplicate of +the Tin Woodman. He was of the same size, he was jointed in the same +manner, and he was made of shining tin from top to toe. But he stood +immovable, with his tin jaws half parted and his tin eyes turned +upward. In one of his hands was held a long, gleaming sword. Yes, there +was the difference, the only thing that distinguished him from the +Emperor of the Winkies. This tin man bore a sword, while the Tin +Woodman bore an axe. + +"It's a dream; it must be a dream!" gasped Woot. + +"That's it, of course," said the Scarecrow; "there couldn't be two Tin +Woodmen." + +"No," agreed Polychrome, dancing nearer to the stranger, "this one is a +Tin Soldier. Don't you see his sword?" + +The Tin Woodman cautiously put out one tin hand and felt of his +double's arm. Then he said in a voice that trembled with emotion: + +"Who are you, friend?" + +There was no reply + +"Can't you see he's rusted, just as you were once?" asked Polychrome, +laughing again. "Here, Nick Chopper, lend me your oil-can a minute!" + +The Tin Woodman silently handed her his oil-can, without which he never +traveled, and Polychrome first oiled the stranger's tin jaws and then +worked them gently to and fro until the Tin Soldier said: + +"That's enough. Thank you. I can now talk. But please oil my other +joints." + +Woot seized the oil-can and did this, but all the others helped wiggle +the soldier's joints as soon as they were oiled, until they moved +freely. + +The Tin Soldier seemed highly pleased at his release. He strutted up +and down the path, saying in a high, thin voice: + + "The Soldier is a splendid man + When marching on parade, + And when he meets the enemy + He never is afraid. + + He rights the wrongs of nations, + His country's flag defends, + The foe he'll fight with great delight, + But seldom fights his friends." + + + + +Chapter Sixteen + +Captain Fyter + + +"Are you really a soldier?" asked Woot, when they had all watched this +strange tin person parade up and down the path and proudly flourish his +sword. + +"I was a soldier," was the reply, "but I've been a prisoner to Mr. Rust +so long that I don't know exactly what I am." + +"But--dear me!" cried the Tin Woodman, sadly perplexed; "how came you +to be made of tin?" + +"That," answered the Soldier, "is a sad, sad story I was in love with a +beautiful Munchkin girl, who lived with a Wicked Witch. The Witch did +not wish me to marry the girl, so she enchanted my sword, which began +hacking me to pieces. When I lost my legs I went to the tinsmith, +Ku-Klip, and he made me some tin legs. When I lost my arms, Ku-Klip +made me tin arms, and when I lost my head he made me this fine one out +of tin. It was the same way with my body, and finally I was all tin. +But I was not unhappy, for Ku-Klip made a good job of me, having had +experience in making another tin man before me." + +"Yes," observed the Tin Woodman, "it was Ku-Klip who made me. But, tell +me, what was the name of the Munchkin girl you were in love with?" + +"She is called Nimmie Amee," said the Tin Soldier. + +Hearing this, they were all so astonished that they were silent for a +time, regarding the stranger with wondering looks. Finally the Tin +Woodman ventured to ask: + +"And did Nimmie Amee return your love?" + +"Not at first," admitted the Soldier. "When first I marched into the +forest and met her, she was weeping over the loss of her former +sweetheart, a woodman whose name was Nick Chopper." + +"That is me," said the Tin Woodman. + +"She told me he was nicer than a soldier, because he was all made of +tin and shone beautifully in the sun. She said a tin man appealed to +her artistic instincts more than an ordinary meat man, as I was then. +But I did not despair, because her tin sweetheart had disappeared, and +could not be found. And finally Nimmie Amee permitted me to call upon +her and we became friends. It was then that the Wicked Witch discovered +me and became furiously angry when I said I wanted to marry the girl. +She enchanted my sword, as I said, and then my troubles began. When I +got my tin legs, Nimmie Amee began to take an interest in me; when I +got my tin arms, she began to like me better than ever, and when I was +all made of tin, she said I looked like her dear Nick Chopper and she +would be willing to marry me. + +"The day of our wedding was set, and it turned out to be a rainy day. +Nevertheless I started out to get Nimmie Amee, because the Witch had +been absent for some time, and we meant to elope before she got back. +As I traveled the forest paths the rain wetted my joints, but I paid no +attention to this because my thoughts were all on my wedding with +beautiful Nimmie Amee and I could think of nothing else until suddenly +my legs stopped moving. Then my arms rusted at the joints and I became +frightened and cried for help, for now I was unable to oil myself. No +one heard my calls and before long my jaws rusted, and I was unable to +utter another sound. So I stood helpless in this spot, hoping some +wanderer would come my way and save me. But this forest path is seldom +used, and I have been standing here so long that I have lost all track +of time. In my mind I composed poetry and sang songs, but not a sound +have I been able to utter. But this desperate condition has now been +relieved by your coming my way and I must thank you for my rescue." + +"This is wonderful!" said the Scarecrow, heaving a stuffy, long sigh. +"I think Ku-Klip was wrong to make two tin men, just alike, and the +strangest thing of all is that both you tin men fell in love with the +same girl." + +"As for that," returned the Soldier, seriously, "I must admit I lost my +ability to love when I lost my meat heart. Ku-Klip gave me a tin heart, +to be sure, but it doesn't love anything, as far as I can discover, and +merely rattles against my tin ribs, which makes me wish I had no heart +at all." + +"Yet, in spite of this condition, you were going to marry Nimmie Amee?" + +"Well, you see I had promised to marry her, and I am an honest man and +always try to keep my promises. I didn't like to disappoint the poor +girl, who had been disappointed by one tin man already." + +"That was not my fault," declared the Emperor of the Winkies, and then +he related how he, also, had rusted in the forest and after a long time +had been rescued by Dorothy and the Scarecrow and had traveled with +them to the Emerald City in search of a heart that could love. + +"If you have found such a heart, sir," said the Soldier, "I will gladly +allow you to marry Nimmie Amee in my place." + +"If she loves you best, sir," answered the Woodman, "I shall not +interfere with your wedding her. For, to be quite frank with you, I +cannot yet love Nimmie Amee as I did before I became tin." + +"Still, one of you ought to marry the poor girl," remarked Woot; "and, +if she likes tin men, there is not much choice between you. Why don't +you draw lots for her?" + +"That wouldn't be right," said the Scarecrow. + +"The girl should be permitted to choose her own husband," asserted +Polychrome. "You should both go to her and allow her to take her +choice. Then she will surely be happy." + +"That, to me, seems a very fair arrangement," said the Tin Soldier. + +"I agree to it," said the Tin Woodman, shaking the hand of his twin to +show the matter was settled. "May I ask your name, sir?" he continued. + +"Before I was so cut up," replied the other, "I was known as Captain +Fyter, but afterward I was merely called 'The Tin Soldier.'" + +"Well, Captain, if you are agreeable, let us now go to Nimmie Amee's +house and let her choose between us." + +"Very well; and if we meet the Witch, we will both fight her--you with +your axe and I with my sword." + +"The Witch is destroyed," announced the Scarecrow, and as they walked +away he told the Tin Soldier of much that had happened in the Land of +Oz since he had stood rusted in the forest. + +"I must have stood there longer than I had imagined," he said +thoughtfully. + + + + +Chapter Seventeen + +The Workshop of Ku-Klip + + +It was not more than a two hours' journey to the house where Nimmie +Amee had lived, but when our travelers arrived there they found the +place deserted. The door was partly off its hinges, the roof had fallen +in at the rear and the interior of the cottage was thick with dust. Not +only was the place vacant, but it was evident that no one had lived +there for a long time. + +"I suppose," said the Scarecrow, as they all stood looking wonderingly +at the ruined house, "that after the Wicked Witch was destroyed, Nimmie +Amee became lonely and went somewhere else to live." + +"One could scarcely expect a young girl to live all alone in a forest," +added Woot. "She would want company, of course, and so I believe she +has gone where other people live." + +"And perhaps she is still crying her poor little heart out because no +tin man comes to marry her," suggested Polychrome. + +"Well, in that case, it is the clear duty of you two tin persons to +seek Nimmie Amee until you find her," declared the Scarecrow. + +"I do not know where to look for the girl," said the Tin Soldier, "for +I am almost a stranger to this part of the country." + +"I was born here," said the Tin Woodman, "but the forest has few +inhabitants except the wild beasts. I cannot think of anyone living +near here with whom Nimmie Amee might care to live." + +"Why not go to Ku-Klip and ask him what has become of the girl?" +proposed Polychrome. + +That struck them all as being a good suggestion, so once more they +started to tramp through the forest, taking the direct path to +Ku-Klip's house, for both the tin twins knew the way, having followed +it many times. + +Ku-Klip lived at the far edge of the great forest, his house facing the +broad plains of the Munchkin Country that lay to the eastward. But, +when they came to this residence by the forest's edge, the tinsmith was +not at home. + +It was a pretty place, all painted dark blue with trimmings of lighter +blue. There was a neat blue fence around the yard and several blue +benches had been placed underneath the shady blue trees which marked +the line between forest and plain. There was a blue lawn before the +house, which was a good sized building. Ku-Klip lived in the front part +of the house and had his work-shop in the back part, where he had also +built a lean-to addition, in order to give him more room. + +Although they found the tinsmith absent on their arrival, there was +smoke coming out of his chimney, which proved that he would soon return. + +"And perhaps Nimmie Amee will be with him," said the Scarecrow in a +cheerful voice. + +While they waited, the Tin Woodman went to the door of the workshop +and, finding it unlocked, entered and looked curiously around the room +where he had been made. + +"It seems almost like home to me," hie told his friends, who had +followed him in. "The first time I came here I had lost a leg, so I had +to carry it in my hand while I hopped on the other leg all the way from +the place in the forest where the enchanted axe cut me. I remember that +old Ku-Klip carefully put my meat leg into a barrel--I think that is +the same barrel, still standing in the corner yonder--and then at once +he began to make a tin leg for me. He worked fast and with skill, and I +was much interested in the job." + +"My experience was much the same," said the Tin Soldier. "I used to +bring all the parts of me, which the enchanted sword had cut away, here +to the tinsmith, and Ku-Klip would put them into the barrel." + +"I wonder," said Woot, "if those cast-off parts of you two unfortunates +are still in that barrel in the corner?" + +"I suppose so." replied the Tin Woodman. "In the Land of Oz no part of +a living creature can ever be destroyed." + +"If that is true, how was that Wicked Witch destroyed?" inquired Woot. + +"Why, she was very old and was all dried up and withered before Oz +became a fairyland," explained the Scarecrow. "Only her magic arts had +kept her alive so long, and when Dorothy's house fell upon her she just +turned to dust, and was blown away and scattered by the wind. I do not +think, however, that the parts cut away from these two young men could +ever be entirely destroyed and, if they are still in those barrels, +they are likely to be just the same as when the enchanted axe or sword +severed them." + +"It doesn't matter, however," said the Tin Woodman; "our tin bodies are +more brilliant and durable, and quite satisfy us." + +"Yes, the tin bodies are best," agreed the Tin Soldier. "Nothing can +hurt them." + +"Unless they get dented or rusted," said Woot, but both the tin men +frowned on him. + +Scraps of tin, of all shapes and sizes, lay scattered around the +workshop. Also there were hammers and anvils and soldering irons and a +charcoal furnace and many other tools such as a tinsmith works with. +Against two of the side walls had been built stout work-benches and in +the center of the room was a long table. At the end of the shop, which +adjoined the dwelling, were several cupboards. + +After examining the interior of the workshop until his curiosity was +satisfied, Woot said: + +"I think I will go outside until Ku-Klip comes. It does not seem quite +proper for us to take possession of his house while he is absent." + +"That is true," agreed the Scarecrow, and they were all about to leave +the room when the Tin Woodman said: "Wait a minute," and they halted in +obedience to the command. + + + + +Chapter Eighteen + +The Tin Woodman Talks to Himself + + +The Tin Woodman had just noticed the cupboards and was curious to know +what they contained, so he went to one of them and opened the door. +There were shelves inside, and upon one of the shelves which was about +on a level with his tin chin the Emperor discovered a Head--it looked +like a doll's head, only it was larger, and he soon saw it was the Head +of some person. It was facing the Tin Woodman and as the cupboard door +swung back, the eyes of the Head slowly opened and looked at him. The +Tin Woodman was not at all surprised, for in the Land of Oz one runs +into magic at every turn. + +"Dear me!" said the Tin Woodman, staring hard. "It seems as if I had +met you, somewhere, before. Good morning, sir!" + +"You have the advantage of me," replied the Head. "I never saw you +before in my life." + +"Still, your face is very familiar," persisted the Tin Woodman. "Pardon +me, but may I ask if you--eh--eh--if you ever had a Body?" + +"Yes, at one time," answered the Head, "but that is so long ago I can't +remember it. Did you think," with a pleasant smile, "that I was born +just as I am? That a Head would be created without a Body?" + +"No, of course not," said the other. "But how came you to lose your +body?" + +"Well, I can't recollect the details; you'll have to ask Ku-Klip about +it," returned the Head. "For, curious as it may seem to you, my memory +is not good since my separation from the rest of me. I still possess my +brains and my intellect is as good as ever, but my memory of some of +the events I formerly experienced is quite hazy." + +"How long have you been in this cupboard?" asked the Emperor. + +"I don't know." + +"Haven't you a name?" + +"Oh, yes," said the Head; "I used to be called Nick Chopper, when I was +a woodman and cut down trees for a living." + +"Good gracious!" cried the Tin Woodman in astonishment. "If you are +Nick Chopper's Head, then you are Me--or I'm You--or--or--What relation +are we, anyhow?" + +"Don't ask me," replied the Head. "For my part, I'm not anxious to +claim relationship with any common, manufactured article, like you. You +may be all right in your class, but your class isn't my class. You're +tin." + +The poor Emperor felt so bewildered that for a time he could only stare +at his old Head in silence. Then he said: + +"I must admit that I wasn't at all bad looking before I became tin. +You're almost handsome--for meat. If your hair was combed, you'd be +quite attractive." + +"How do you expect me to comb my hair without help?" demanded the Head, +indignantly. "I used to keep it smooth and neat, when I had arms, but +after I was removed from the rest of me, my hair got mussed, and old +Ku-Klip never has combed it for me." + +"I'll speak to him about it," said the Tin Woodman. "Do you remember +loving a pretty Munchkin girl named Nimmie Amee?" + +"No," answered the Head. "That is a foolish question. The heart in my +body--when I had a body--might have loved someone, for all I know, but +a head isn't made to love; it's made to think." + +"Oh; do you think, then?" + +"I used to think." + +"You must have been shut up in this cupboard for years and years. What +have you thought about, in all that time?" + +"Nothing. That's another foolish question. A little reflection will +convince you that I have had nothing to think about, except the boards +on the inside of the cupboard door, and it didn't take me long to think +of everything about those boards that could be thought of. Then, of +course, I quit thinking." + +"And are you happy?" + +"Happy? What's that?" + +"Don't you know what happiness is?" inquired the Tin Woodman. + +"I haven't the faintest idea whether it's round or square, or black or +white, or what it is. And, if you will pardon my lack of interest in +it, I will say that I don't care." + +The Tin Woodman was much puzzled by these answers. His traveling +companions had grouped themselves at his back, and had fixed their eyes +on the Head and listened to the conversation with much interest, but +until now, they had not interrupted because they thought the Tin +Woodman had the best right to talk to his own head and renew +acquaintance with it. + +But now the Tin Soldier remarked: + +"I wonder if my old head happens to be in any of these cupboards," and +he proceeded to open all the cupboard doors. But no other head was to +be found on any of the shelves. + +"Oh, well; never mind," said Woot the Wanderer; "I can't imagine what +anyone wants of a cast-off head, anyhow." + +"I can understand the Soldier's interest," asserted Polychrome, dancing +around the grimy workshop until her draperies formed a cloud around her +dainty form. "For sentimental reasons a man might like to see his old +head once more, just as one likes to revisit an old home." + +"And then to kiss it good-bye," added the Scarecrow. + +"I hope that tin thing won't try to kiss me good-bye!" exclaimed the +Tin Woodman's former head. "And I don't see what right you folks have +to disturb my peace and comfort, either." + +"You belong to me," the Tin Woodman declared. + +"I do not!" + +"You and I are one." + +"We've been parted," asserted the Head. "It would be unnatural for me +to have any interest in a man made of tin. Please close the door and +leave me alone." + +"I did not think that my old Head could be so disagreeable," said the +Emperor. "I--I'm quite ashamed of myself; meaning you." + +"You ought to be glad that I've enough sense to know what my rights +are," retorted the Head. "In this cupboard I am leading a simple life, +peaceful and dignified, and when a mob of people in whom I am not +interested disturb me, they are the disagreeable ones; not I." + +With a sigh the Tin Woodman closed and latched the cupboard door and +turned away. + +"Well," said the Tin Soldier, "if my old head would have treated me as +coldly and in so unfriendly a manner as your old head has treated you, +friend Chopper, I'm glad I could not find it." + +"Yes; I'm rather surprised at my head, myself," replied the Tin +Woodman, thoughtfully. "I thought I had a more pleasant disposition +when I was made of meat." + +But just then old Ku-Klip the Tinsmith arrived, and he seemed surprised +to find so many visitors. Ku-Klip was a stout man and a short man. He +had his sleeves rolled above his elbows, showing muscular arms, and he +wore a leathern apron that covered all the front of him, and was so +long that Woot was surprised he didn't step on it and trip whenever he +walked. And Ku-Klip had a gray beard that was almost as long as his +apron, and his head was bald on top and his ears stuck out from his +head like two fans. Over his eyes, which were bright and twinkling, he +wore big spectacles. It was easy to see that the tinsmith was a kind +hearted man, as well as a merry and agreeable one. "Oh-ho!" he cried in +a joyous bass voice; "here are both my tin men come to visit me, and +they and their friends are welcome indeed. I'm very proud of you two +characters, I assure you, for you are so perfect that you are proof +that I'm a good workman. Sit down. Sit down, all of you--if you can +find anything to sit on--and tell me why you are here." + +So they found seats and told him all of their adventures that they +thought he would like to know. Ku-Klip was glad to learn that Nick +Chopper, the Tin Woodman, was now Emperor of the Winkies and a friend +of Ozma of Oz, and the tinsmith was also interested in the Scarecrow +and Polychrome. + +He turned the straw man around, examining him curiously, and patted him +on all sides, and then said: + +"You are certainly wonderful, but I think you would be more durable and +steady on your legs if you were made of tin. Would you like me to--" + +"No, indeed!" interrupted the Scarecrow hastily; "I like myself better +as I am." + +But to Polychrome the tinsmith said: + +"Nothing could improve you, my dear, for you are the most beautiful +maiden I have ever seen. It is pure happiness just to look at you." + +"That is praise, indeed, from so skillful a workman," returned the +Rainbow's Daughter, laughing and dancing in and out the room. + +"Then it must be this boy you wish me to help," said Ku-Klip, looking +at Woot. + +"No," said Woot, "we are not here to seek your skill, but have merely +come to you for information." + +Then, between them, they related their search for Nimmie Amee, whom the +Tin Woodman explained he had resolved to marry, yet who had promised to +become the bride of the Tin Soldier before he unfortunately became +rusted. And when the story was told, they asked Ku-Klip if he knew what +had become of Nimmie Amee. + +"Not exactly," replied the old man, "but I know that she wept bitterly +when the Tin Soldier did not come to marry her, as he had promised to +do. The old Witch was so provoked at the girl's tears that she beat +Nimmie Amee with her crooked stick and then hobbled away to gather some +magic herbs, with which she intended to transform the girl into an old +hag, so that no one would again love her or care to marry her. It was +while she was away on this errand that Dorothy's house fell on the +Wicked Witch, and she turned to dust and blew away. When I heard this +good news, I sent Nimmie Amee to find the Silver Shoes which the Witch +had worn, but Dorothy had taken them with her to the Emerald City." + +"Yes, we know all about those Silver Shoes," said the Scarecrow. + +"Well," continued Ku-Klip, "after that, Nimmie Amee decided to go away +from the forest and live with some people she was acquainted with who +had a house on Mount Munch. I have never seen the girl since." + +"Do you know the name of the people on Mount Munch, with whom she went +to live?" asked the Tin Woodman. + +"No, Nimmie Amee did not mention her friend's name, and I did not ask +her. She took with her all that she could carry of the goods that were +in the Witch's house, and she told me I could have the rest. But when I +went there I found nothing worth taking except some magic powders that +I did not know how to use, and a bottle of Magic Glue." + +"What is Magic Glue?" asked Woot. + +"It is a magic preparation with which to mend people when they cut +themselves. One time, long ago, I cut off one of my fingers by +accident, and I carried it to the Witch, who took down her bottle and +glued it on again for me. See!" showing them his finger, "it is as good +as ever it was. No one else that I ever heard of had this Magic Glue, +and of course when Nick Chopper cut himself to pieces with his +enchanted axe and Captain Fyter cut himself to pieces with his +enchanted sword, the Witch would not mend them, or allow me to glue +them together, because she had herself wickedly enchanted the axe and +sword. Nothing remained but for me to make them new parts out of tin; +but, as you see, tin answered the purpose very well, and I am sure +their tin bodies are a great improvement on their meat bodies." + +"Very true," said the Tin Soldier. + +"I quite agree with you," said the Tin Woodman. "I happened to find my +old head in your cupboard, a while ago, and certainly it is not as +desirable a head as the tin one I now wear." + +"By the way," said the Tin Soldier, "what ever became of my old head, +Ku-Klip?" + +"And of the different parts of our bodies?" added the Tin Woodman. + +"Let me think a minute," replied Ku-Klip. "If I remember right, you two +boys used to bring me most of your parts, when they were cut off, and I +saved them in that barrel in the corner. You must not have brought me +all the parts, for when I made Chopfyt I had hard work finding enough +pieces to complete the job. I finally had to finish him with one arm." + +"Who is Chopfyt?" inquired Woot. + +"Oh, haven't I told you about Chopfyt?" exclaimed Ku-Klip. "Of course +not! And he's quite a curiosity, too. You'll be interested in hearing +about Chopfyt. This is how he happened: + +"One day, after the Witch had been destroyed and Nimmie Amee had gone +to live with her friends on Mount Munch, I was looking around the shop +for something and came upon the bottle of Magic Glue which I had +brought from the old Witch's house. It occurred to me to piece together +the odds and ends of you two people, which of course were just as good +as ever, and see if I couldn't make a man out of them. If I succeeded, +I would have an assistant to help me with my work, and I thought it +would be a clever idea to put to some practical use the scraps of Nick +Chopper and Captain Fyter. There were two perfectly good heads in my +cupboard, and a lot of feet and legs and parts of bodies in the barrel, +so I set to work to see what I could do. + +"First, I pieced together a body, gluing it with the Witch's Magic +Glue, which worked perfectly. That was the hardest part of my job, +however, because the bodies didn't match up well and some parts were +missing. But by using a piece of Captain Fyter here and a piece of Nick +Chopper there, I finally got together a very decent body, with heart +and all the trimmings complete." + +"Whose heart did you use in making the body?" asked the Tin Woodman +anxiously. + +"I can't tell, for the parts had no tags on them and one heart looks +much like another. After the body was completed, I glued two fine legs +and feet onto it. One leg was Nick Chopper's and one was Captain +Fyter's and, finding one leg longer than the other, I trimmed it down +to make them match. I was much disappointed to find that I had but one +arm. There was an extra leg in the barrel, but I could find only one +arm. Having glued this onto the body, I was ready for the head, and I +had some difficulty in making up my mind which head to use. Finally I +shut my eyes and reached out my hand toward the cupboard shelf, and the +first head I touched I glued upon my new man." + +"It was mine!" declared the Tin Soldier, gloomily. + +"No, it was mine," asserted Ku-Klip, "for I had given you another in +exchange for it--the beautiful tin head you now wear. When the glue had +dried, my man was quite an interesting fellow. I named him Chopfyt, +using a part of Nick Chopper's name and a part of Captain Fyter's name, +because he was a mixture of both your cast-off parts. Chopfyt was +interesting, as I said, but he did not prove a very agreeable +companion. He complained bitterly because I had given him but one +arm--as if it were my fault!--and he grumbled because the suit of blue +Munchkin clothes, which I got for him from a neighbor, did not fit him +perfectly." + +"Ah, that was because he was wearing my old head," remarked the Tin +Soldier. "I remember that head used to be very particular about its +clothes." + +"As an assistant," the old tinsmith continued, "Chopfyt was not a +success. He was awkward with tools and was always hungry. He demanded +something to eat six or eight times a day, so I wondered if I had +fitted his insides properly. Indeed, Chopfyt ate so much that little +food was left for myself; so, when he proposed, one day, to go out into +the world and seek adventures, I was delighted to be rid of him. I even +made him a tin arm to take the place of the missing one, and that +pleased him very much, so that we parted good friends." + +"What became of Chopfyt after that?" the Scarecrow inquired. + +"I never heard. He started off toward the east, into the plains of the +Munchkin Country, and that was the last I ever saw of him." + +"It seems to me," said the Tin Woodman reflectively, "that you did +wrong in making a man out of our cast-off parts. It is evident that +Chopfyt could, with justice, claim relationship with both of us." + +"Don't worry about that," advised Ku-Klip cheerfully; "it is not likely +that you will ever meet the fellow. And, if you should meet him, he +doesn't know who he is made of, for I never told him the secret of his +manufacture. Indeed, you are the only ones who know of it, and you may +keep the secret to yourselves, if you wish to." + +"Never mind Chopfyt," said the Scarecrow. "Our business now is to find +poor Nimmie Amee and let her choose her tin husband. To do that, it +seems, from the information Ku-Klip has given us, we must travel to +Mount Munch." + +"If that's the programme, let us start at once," suggested Woot. + +So they all went outside, where they found Polychrome dancing about +among the trees and talking with the birds and laughing as merrily as +if she had not lost her Rainbow and so been separated from all her +fairy sisters. + +They told her they were going to Mount Munch, and she replied: + +"Very well; I am as likely to find my Rainbow there as here, and any +other place is as likely as there. It all depends on the weather. Do +you think it looks like rain?" + +They shook their heads, and Polychrome laughed again and danced on +after them when they resumed their journey. + + + + +Chapter Nineteen + +The Invisible Country + + +They were proceeding so easily and comfortably on their way to Mount +Munch that Woot said in a serious tone of voice: + +"I'm afraid something is going to happen." + +"Why?" asked Polychrome, dancing around the group of travelers. + +"Because," said the boy, thoughtfully, "I've noticed that when we have +the least reason for getting into trouble, something is sure to go +wrong. Just now the weather is delightful; the grass is beautifully +blue and quite soft to our feet; the mountain we are seeking shows +clearly in the distance and there is no reason anything should happen +to delay us in getting there. Our troubles all seem to be over, +and--well, that's why I'm afraid," he added, with a sigh. + +"Dear me!" remarked the Scarecrow, "what unhappy thoughts you have, to +be sure. This is proof that born brains cannot equal manufactured +brains, for my brains dwell only on facts and never borrow trouble. +When there is occasion for my brains to think, they think, but I would +be ashamed of my brains if they kept shooting out thoughts that were +merely fears and imaginings, such as do no good, but are likely to do +harm." + +"For my part," said the Tin Woodman, "I do not think at all, but allow +my velvet heart to guide me at all times." + +"The tinsmith filled my hollow head with scraps and clippings of tin," +said the Soldier, "and he told me they would do nicely for brains, but +when I begin to think, the tin scraps rattle around and get so mixed +that I'm soon bewildered. So I try not to think. My tin heart is almost +as useless to me, for it is hard and cold, so I'm sure the red velvet +heart of my friend Nick Chopper is a better guide." + +"Thoughtless people are not unusual," observed the Scarecrow, "but I +consider them more fortunate than those who have useless or wicked +thoughts and do not try to curb them. Your oil can, friend Woodman, is +filled with oil, but you only apply the oil to your joints, drop by +drop, as you need it, and do not keep spilling it where it will do no +good. Thoughts should be restrained in the same way as your oil, and +only applied when necessary, and for a good purpose. If used carefully, +thoughts are good things to have." + +Polychrome laughed at him, for the Rainbow's Daughter knew more about +thoughts than the Scarecrow did. But the others were solemn, feeling +they had been rebuked, and tramped on in silence. + +Suddenly Woot, who was in the lead, looked around and found that all +his comrades had mysteriously disappeared. But where could they have +gone to? The broad plain was all about him and there were neither trees +nor bushes that could hide even a rabbit, nor any hole for one to fall +into. Yet there he stood, alone. + +Surprise had caused him to halt, and with a thoughtful and puzzled +expression on his face he looked down at his feet. It startled him anew +to discover that he had no feet. He reached out his hands, but he could +not see them. He could feel his hands and arms and body; he stamped his +feet on the grass and knew they were there, but in some strange way +they had become invisible. + +While Woot stood, wondering, a crash of metal sounded in his ears and +he heard two heavy bodies tumble to the earth just beside him. + +"Good gracious!" exclaimed the voice of the Tin Woodman. + +"Mercy me!" cried the voice of the Tin Soldier. + +"Why didn't you look where you were going?" asked the Tin Woodman +reproachfully. + +"I did, but I couldn't see you," said the Tin Soldier. "Something has +happened to my tin eyes. I can't see you, even now, nor can I see +anyone else!" + +"It's the same way with me," admitted the Tin Woodman. + +Woot couldn't see either of them, although he heard them plainly, and +just then something smashed against him unexpectedly and knocked him +over; but it was only the straw-stuffed body of the Scarecrow that fell +upon him and while he could not see the Scarecrow he managed to push +him off and rose to his feet just as Polychrome whirled against him and +made him tumble again. + +Sitting upon the ground, the boy asked: + +"Can you see us, Poly?" + +"No, indeed," answered the Rainbow's Daughter; "we've all become +invisible." + +"How did it happen, do you suppose?" inquired the Scarecrow, lying +where he had fallen. + +"We have met with no enemy," answered Poly-chrome, "so it must be that +this part of the country has the magic quality of making people +invisible--even fairies falling under the charm. We can see the grass, +and the flowers, and the stretch of plain before us, and we can still +see Mount Munch in the distance; but we cannot see ourselves or one +another." + +"Well, what are we to do about it?" demanded Woot. + +"I think this magic affects only a small part of the plain," replied +Polychrome; "perhaps there is only a streak of the country where an +enchantment makes people become invisible. So, if we get together and +hold hands, we can travel toward Mount Munch until the enchanted streak +is passed." + +"All right," said Woot, jumping up, "give me your hand, Polychrome. +Where are you?" + +"Here," she answered. "Whistle, Woot, and keep whistling until I come +to you." + +So Woot whistled, and presently Polychrome found him and grasped his +hand. + +"Someone must help me up," said the Scarecrow, lying near them; so they +found the straw man and sat him upon his feet, after which he held fast +to Polychrome's other hand. + +Nick Chopper and the Tin Soldier had managed to scramble up without +assistance, but it was awkward for them and the Tin Woodman said: + +"I don't seem to stand straight, somehow. But my joints all work, so I +guess I can walk." + +Guided by his voice, they reached his side, where Woot grasped his tin +fingers so they might keep together. + +The Tin Soldier was standing near by and the Scarecrow soon touched him +and took hold of his arm. + +"I hope you're not wobbly," said the straw man, "for if two of us walk +unsteadily we will be sure to fall." + +"I'm not wobbly," the Tin Soldier assured him, "but I'm certain that +one of my legs is shorter than the other. I can't see it, to tell +what's gone wrong, but I'll limp on with the rest of you until we are +out of this enchanted territory." + +They now formed a line, holding hands, and turning their faces toward +Mount Munch resumed their journey. They had not gone far, however, when +a terrible growl saluted their ears. The sound seemed to come from a +place just in front of them, so they halted abruptly and remained +silent, listening with all their ears. + +"I smell straw!" cried a hoarse, harsh voice, with more growls and +snarls. "I smell straw, and I'm a Hip-po-gy-raf who loves straw and +eats all he can find. I want to eat this straw! Where is it? Where is +it?" + +The Scarecrow, hearing this, trembled but kept silent. All the others +were silent, too, hoping that the invisible beast would be unable to +find them. But the creature sniffed the odor of the straw and drew +nearer and nearer to them until he reached the Tin Woodman, on one end +of the line. It was a big beast and it smelled of the Tin Woodman and +grated two rows of enormous teeth against the Emperor's tin body. + +"Bah! that's not straw," said the harsh voice, and the beast advanced +along the line to Woot. + +"Meat! Pooh, you're no good! I can't eat meat," grumbled the beast, and +passed on to Polychrome. + +"Sweetmeats and perfume--cobwebs and dew! Nothing to eat in a fairy +like you," said the creature. + +Now, the Scarecrow was next to Polychrome in the line, and he realized +if the beast devoured his straw he would be helpless for a long time, +because the last farmhouse was far behind them and only grass covered +the vast expanse of plain. So in his fright he let go of Polychrome's +hand and put the hand of the Tin Soldier in that of the Rainbow's +Daughter. Then he slipped back of the line and went to the other end, +where he silently seized the Tin Woodman's hand. + +Meantime, the beast had smelled the Tin Soldier and found he was the +last of the line. + +"That's funny!" growled the Hip-po-gy-raf; "I can smell straw, but I +can't find it. Well, it's here, somewhere, and I must hunt around until +I do find it, for I'm hungry." + +His voice was now at the left of them, so they started on, hoping to +avoid him, and traveled as fast as they could in the direction of Mount +Munch. + +"I don't like this invisible country," said Woot with a shudder. "We +can't tell how many dreadful, invisible beasts are roaming around us, +or what danger we'll come to next." + +"Quit thinking about danger, please," said the Scarecrow, warningly. + +"Why?" asked the boy. + +"If you think of some dreadful thing, it's liable to happen, but if you +don't think of it, and no one else thinks of it, it just can't happen. +Do you see?" + +"No," answered Woot. "I won't be able to see much of anything until we +escape from this enchantment." + +But they got out of the invisible strip of country as suddenly as they +had entered it, and the instant they got out they stopped short, for +just before them was a deep ditch, running at right angles as far as +their eyes could see and stopping all further progress toward Mount +Munch. + +"It's not so very wide," said Woot, "but I'm sure none of us can jump +across it." + +Polychrome began to laugh, and the Scarecrow said: "What's the matter?" + +"Look at the tin men!" she said, with another burst of merry laughter. + +Woot and the Scarecrow looked, and the tin men looked at themselves. + +"It was the collision," said the Tin Woodman regretfully. "I knew +something was wrong with me, and now I can see that my side is dented +in so that I lean over toward the left. It was the Soldier's fault; he +shouldn't have been so careless." + +"It is your fault that my right leg is bent, making it shorter than the +other, so that I limp badly," retorted the Soldier. "You shouldn't have +stood where I was walking." + +"You shouldn't have walked where I was standing," replied the Tin +Woodman. + +It was almost a quarrel, so Polychrome said soothingly: + +"Never mind, friends; as soon as we have time I am sure we can +straighten the Soldier's leg and get the dent out of the Woodman's +body. The Scarecrow needs patting into shape, too, for he had a bad +tumble, but our first task is to get over this ditch." + +"Yes, the ditch is the most important thing, just now," added Woot. + +They were standing in a row, looking hard at the unexpected barrier, +when a fierce growl from behind them made them all turn quickly. Out of +the invisible country marched a huge beast with a thick, leathery skin +and a surprisingly long neck. The head on the top of this neck was +broad and flat and the eyes and mouth were very big and the nose and +ears very small. When the head was drawn down toward the beast's +shoulders, the neck was all wrinkles, but the head could shoot up very +high indeed, if the creature wished it to. + +"Dear me!" exclaimed the Scarecrow, "this must be the Hip-po-gy-raf." + +"Quite right," said the beast; "and you're the straw which I'm to eat +for my dinner. Oh, how I love straw! I hope you don't resent my +affectionate appetite?" + +With its four great legs it advanced straight toward the Scarecrow, but +the Tin Woodman and the Tin Soldier both sprang in front of their +friend and flourished their weapons. + +"Keep off!" said the Tin Woodman, warningly, "or I'll chop you with my +axe." + +"Keep off!" said the Tin Soldier, "or I'll cut you with my sword." + +"Would you really do that?" asked the Hip-po-gy-raf, in a disappointed +voice. + +"We would," they both replied, and the Tin Woodman added: "The +Scarecrow is our friend, and he would be useless without his straw +stuffing. So, as we are comrades, faithful and true, we will defend our +friend's stuffing against all enemies." + +The Hip-po-gy-raf sat down and looked at them sorrowfully. + +"When one has made up his mind to have a meal of delicious straw, and +then finds he can't have it, it is certainly hard luck," he said. "And +what good is the straw man to you, or to himself, when the ditch keeps +you from going any further?" + +"Well, we can go back again," suggested Woot. + +"True," said the Hip-po; "and if you do, you'll be as disappointed as I +am. That's some comfort, anyhow." + +The travelers looked at the beast, and then they looked across the +ditch at the level plain beyond. On the other side the grass had grown +tall, and the sun had dried it, so there was a fine crop of hay that +only needed to be cut and stacked. + +"Why don't you cross over and eat hay?" the boy asked the beast. + +"I'm not fond of hay," replied the Hip-po-gy-raf; "straw is much more +delicious, to my notion, and it's more scarce in this neighborhood, +too. Also I must confess that I can't get across the ditch, for my body +is too heavy and clumsy for me to jump the distance. I can stretch my +neck across, though, and you will notice that I've nibbled the hay on +the farther edge--not because I liked it, but because one must eat, and +if one can't get the sort of food he desires, he must take what is +offered or go hungry." + +"Ah, I see you are a philosopher," remarked the Scarecrow. + +"No, I'm just a Hip-po-gy-raf," was the reply. + +Polychrome was not afraid of the big beast. She danced close to him and +said: + +"If you can stretch your neck across the ditch, why not help us over? +We can sit on your big head, one at a time, and then you can lift us +across." + +"Yes; I can, it is true," answered the Hip-po; "but I refuse to do it. +Unless--" he added, and stopped short. + +"Unless what?" asked Polychrome. + +"Unless you first allow me to eat the straw with which the Scarecrow is +stuffed." + +"No," said the Rainbow's Daughter, "that is too high a price to pay. +Our friend's straw is nice and fresh, for he was restuffed only a +little while ago." + +"I know," agreed the Hip-po-gy-raf. "That's why I want it. If it was +old, musty straw, I wouldn't care for it." + +"Please lift us across," pleaded Polychrome. + +"No," replied the beast; "since you refuse my generous offer, I can be +as stubborn as you are." + +After that they were all silent for a time, but then the Scarecrow said +bravely: + +"Friends, let us agree to the beast's terms. Give him my straw, and +carry the rest of me with you across the ditch. Once on the other side, +the Tin Soldier can cut some of the hay with his sharp sword, and you +can stuff me with that material until we reach a place where there is +straw. It is true I have been stuffed with straw all my life and it +will be somewhat humiliating to be filled with common hay, but I am +willing to sacrifice my pride in a good cause. Moreover, to abandon our +errand and so deprive the great Emperor of the Winkies--or this noble +Soldier--of his bride, would be equally humiliating, if not more so." + +"You're a very honest and clever man!" exclaimed the Hip-po-gy-raf, +admiringly. "When I have eaten your head, perhaps I also will become +clever." + +"You're not to eat my head, you know," returned the Scarecrow hastily. +"My head isn't stuffed with straw and I cannot part with it. When one +loses his head he loses his brains." + +"Very well, then; you may keep your head," said the beast. + +The Scarecrow's companions thanked him warmly for his loyal sacrifice +to their mutual good, and then he laid down and permitted them to pull +the straw from his body. As fast as they did this, the Hip-po-gy-raf +ate up the straw, and when all was consumed Polychrome made a neat +bundle of the clothes and boots and gloves and hat and said she would +carry them, while Woot tucked the Scarecrow's head under his arm and +promised to guard its safety. + +"Now, then," said the Tin Woodman, "keep your promise, Beast, and lift +us over the ditch." + +"M-m-m-mum, but that was a fine dinner!" said the Hip-po, smacking his +thick lips in satisfaction, "and I'm as good as my word. Sit on my +head, one at a time, and I'll land you safely on the other side." + +He approached close to the edge of the ditch and squatted down. +Polychrome climbed over his big body and sat herself lightly upon the +flat head, holding the bundle of the Scarecrow's raiment in her hand. +Slowly the elastic neck stretched out until it reached the far side of +the ditch, when the beast lowered his head and permitted the beautiful +fairy to leap to the ground. + +Woot made the queer journey next, and then the Tin Soldier and the Tin +Woodman went over, and all were well pleased to have overcome this +serious barrier to their progress. + +"Now, Soldier, cut the hay," said the Scarecrow's head, which was still +held by Woot the Wanderer. + +"I'd like to, but I can't stoop over, with my bent leg, without +falling," replied Captain Fyter. + +"What can we do about that leg, anyhow?" asked Woot, appealing to +Polychrome. + +She danced around in a circle several times without replying, and the +boy feared she had not heard him; but the Rainbow's Daughter was merely +thinking upon the problem, and presently she paused beside the Tin +Soldier and said: + +"I've been taught a little fairy magic, but I've never before been +asked to mend tin legs with it, so I'm not sure I can help you. It all +depends on the good will of my unseen fairy guardians, so I'll try, and +if I fail, you will be no worse off than you are now." + +She danced around the circle again, and then laid both hands upon the +twisted tin leg and sang in her sweet voice: + + "Fairy Powers, come to my aid! + This bent leg of tin is made; + Make it straight and strong and true, + And I'll render thanks to you." + + +"Ah!" murmured Captain Fyter in a glad voice, as she withdrew her hands +and danced away, and they saw he was standing straight as ever, because +his leg was as shapely and strong as it had been before his accident. + +The Tin Woodman had watched Polychrome with much interest, and he now +said: + +"Please take the dent out of my side, Poly, for I am more crippled than +was the Soldier." + +So the Rainbow's Daughter touched his side lightly and sang: + + "Here's a dent by accident; + Such a thing was never meant. + Fairy Powers, so wondrous great, + Make our dear Tin Woodman straight!" + + +"Good!" cried the Emperor, again standing erect and strutting around to +show his fine figure. "Your fairy magic may not be able to accomplish +all things, sweet Polychrome, but it works splendidly on tin. Thank you +very much." + +"The hay--the hay!" pleaded the Scarecrow's head. + +"Oh, yes; the hay," said Woot. "What are you waiting for, Captain +Fyter?" + +At once the Tin Soldier set to work cutting hay with his sword and in a +few minutes there was quite enough with which to stuff the Scarecrow's +body. Woot and Polychrome did this and it was no easy task because the +hay packed together more than straw and as they had little experience +in such work their job, when completed, left the Scarecrow's arms and +legs rather bunchy. Also there was a hump on his back which made Woot +laugh and say it reminded him of a camel, but it was the best they +could do and when the head was fastened on to the body they asked the +Scarecrow how he felt. + +"A little heavy, and not quite natural," he cheerfully replied; "but +I'll get along somehow until we reach a straw-stack. Don't laugh at me, +please, because I'm a little ashamed of myself and I don't want to +regret a good action." + +They started at once in the direction of Mount Munch, and as the +Scarecrow proved very clumsy in his movements, Woot took one of his +arms and the Tin Woodman the other and so helped their friend to walk +in a straight line. + +And the Rainbow's Daughter, as before, danced ahead of them and behind +them and all around them, and they never minded her odd ways, because +to them she was like a ray of sunshine. + + + + +Chapter Twenty + +Over Night + + +The Land of the Munchkins is full of surprises, as our travelers had +already learned, and although Mount Munch was constantly growing larger +as they advanced toward it, they knew it was still a long way off and +were not certain, by any means, that they had escaped all danger or +encountered their last adventure. + +The plain was broad, and as far as the eye could see, there seemed to +be a level stretch of country between them and the mountain, but toward +evening they came upon a hollow, in which stood a tiny blue Munchkin +dwelling with a garden around it and fields of grain filling in all the +rest of the hollow. + +They did not discover this place until they came close to the edge of +it, and they were astonished at the sight that greeted them because +they had imagined that this part of the plain had no inhabitants. + +"It's a very small house," Woot declared. "I wonder who lives there?" + +"The way to find out is to knock on the door and ask," replied the Tin +Woodman. "Perhaps it is the home of Nimmie Amee." + +"Is she a dwarf?" asked the boy. + +"No, indeed; Nimmie Amee is a full sized woman." + +"Then I'm sure she couldn't live in that little house," said Woot. + +"Let's go down," suggested the Scarecrow. "I'm almost sure I can see a +straw-stack in the back yard." + +They descended the hollow, which was rather steep at the sides, and +soon came to the house, which was indeed rather small. Woot knocked +upon a door that was not much higher than his waist, but got no reply. +He knocked again, but not a sound was heard. + +"Smoke is coming out of the chimney," announced Polychrome, who was +dancing lightly through the garden, where cabbages and beets and +turnips and the like were growing finely. + +"Then someone surely lives here," said Woot, and knocked again. + +Now a window at the side of the house opened and a queer head appeared. +It was white and hairy and had a long snout and little round eyes. The +ears were hidden by a blue sunbonnet tied under the chin. + +"Oh; it's a pig!" exclaimed Woot. + +"Pardon me; I am Mrs. Squealina Swyne, wife of Professor Grunter Swyne, +and this is our home," said the one in the window. "What do you want?" + +"What sort of a Professor is your husband?" inquired the Tin Woodman +curiously. + +"He is Professor of Cabbage Culture and Corn Perfection. He is very +famous in his own family, and would be the wonder of the world if he +went abroad," said Mrs. Swyne in a voice that was half proud and half +irritable. "I must also inform you intruders that the Professor is a +dangerous individual, for he files his teeth every morning until they +are sharp as needles. If you are butchers, you'd better run away and +avoid trouble." + +"We are not butchers," the Tin Woodman assured her. + +"Then what are you doing with that axe? And why has the other tin man +a sword?" + +"They are the only weapons we have to defend our friends from their +enemies," explained the Emperor of the Winkies, and Woot added: + +"Do not be afraid of us, Mrs. Swyne, for we are harmless travelers. The +tin men and the Scarecrow never eat anything and Polychrome feasts only +on dewdrops. As for me, I'm rather hungry, but there is plenty of food +in your garden to satisfy me." + +Professor Swyne now joined his wife at the window, looking rather +scared in spite of the boy's assuring speech. He wore a blue Munchkin +hat, with pointed crown and broad brim, and big spectacles covered his +eyes. He peeked around from behind his wife and after looking hard at +the strangers, he said: + +"My wisdom assures me that you are merely travelers, as you say, and +not butchers. Butchers have reason to be afraid of me, but you are +safe. We cannot invite you in, for you are too big for our house, but +the boy who eats is welcome to all the carrots and turnips he wants. +Make yourselves at home in the garden and stay all night, if you like; +but in the morning you must go away, for we are quiet people and do not +care for company." + +"May I have some of your straw?" asked the Scarecrow. + +"Help yourself," replied Professor Swyne. + +"For pigs, they're quite respectable," remarked Woot, as they all went +toward the straw-stack. + +"I'm glad they didn't invite us in," said Captain Fyter. "I hope I'm +not too particular about my associates, but I draw the line at pigs." + +The Scarecrow was glad to be rid of his hay, for during the long walk +it had sagged down and made him fat and squatty and more bumpy than at +first. + +"I'm not specially proud," he said, "but I love a manly figure, such as +only straw stuffing can create. I've not felt like myself since that +hungry Hip-po ate my last straw." + +Polychrome and Woot set to work removing the hay and then they selected +the finest straw, crisp and golden, and with it stuffed the Scarecrow +anew. He certainly looked better after the operation, and he was so +pleased at being reformed that he tried to dance a little jig, and +almost succeeded. + +"I shall sleep under the straw-stack tonight," Woot decided, after he +had eaten some of the vegetables from the garden, and in fact he slept +very well, with the two tin men and the Scarecrow sitting silently +beside him and Polychrome away somewhere in the moonlight dancing her +fairy dances. + +At daybreak the Tin Woodman and the Tin Soldier took occasion to polish +their bodies and oil their joints, for both were exceedingly careful of +their personal appearance. They had forgotten the quarrel due to their +accidental bumping of one another in the invisible country, and being +now good friends the Tin Woodman polished the Tin Soldier's back for +him and then the Tin Soldier polished the Tin Woodman's back. + +For breakfast the Wanderer ate crisp lettuce and radishes, and the +Rainbow's Daughter, who had now returned to her friends, sipped the +dewdrops that had formed on the petals of the wild-flowers. + +As they passed the little house to renew their journey, Woot called out: + +"Good-bye, Mr. and Mrs. Swyne!" + +The window opened and the two pigs looked out. + +"A pleasant journey," said the Professor. + +"Have you any children?" asked the Scarecrow, who was a great friend of +children. + +"We have nine," answered the Professor; "but they do not live with us, +for when they were tiny piglets the Wizard of Oz came here and offered +to care for them and to educate them. So we let him have our nine tiny +piglets, for he's a good Wizard and can be relied upon to keep his +promises." + +"I know the Nine Tiny Piglets," said the Tin Woodman. + +"So do I," said the Scarecrow. "They still live in the Emerald City, +and the Wizard takes good care of them and teaches them to do all sorts +of tricks." + +"Did they ever grow up?" inquired Mrs. Squealina Swyne, in an anxious +voice. + +"No," answered the Scarecrow; "like all other children in the Land of +Oz, they will always remain children, and in the case of the tiny +piglets that is a good thing, because they would not be nearly so cute +and cunning if they were bigger." + +"But are they happy?" asked Mrs. Swyne. + +"Everyone in the Emerald City is happy," said the Tin Woodman. "They +can't help it." + +Then the travelers said good-bye, and climbed the side of the basin +that was toward Mount Munch. + + + + +Chapter Twenty-One + +Polychrome's Magic + + +On this morning, which ought to be the last of this important journey, +our friends started away as bright and cheery as could be, and Woot +whistled a merry tune so that Polychrome could dance to the music. + +On reaching the top of the hill, the plain spread out before them in +all its beauty of blue grasses and wildflowers, and Mount Munch seemed +much nearer than it had the previous evening. They trudged on at a +brisk pace, and by noon the mountain was so close that they could +admire its appearance. Its slopes were partly clothed with pretty +evergreens, and its foot-hills were tufted with a slender waving +bluegrass that had a tassel on the end of every blade. And, for the +first time, they perceived, near the foot of the mountain, a charming +house, not of great size but neatly painted and with many flowers +surrounding it and vines climbing over the doors and windows. + +It was toward this solitary house that our travelers now directed their +steps, thinking to inquire of the people who lived there where Nimmie +Amee might be found. + +There were no paths, but the way was quite open and clear, and they +were drawing near to the dwelling when Woot the Wanderer, who was then +in the lead of the little party, halted with such an abrupt jerk that +he stumbled over backward and lay flat on his back in the meadow. The +Scarecrow stopped to look at the boy. + +"Why did you do that?" he asked in surprise. + +Woot sat up and gazed around him in amazement. + +"I--I don't know!" he replied. + +The two tin men, arm in arm, started to pass them when both halted and +tumbled, with a great clatter, into a heap beside Woot. Polychrome, +laughing at the absurd sight, came dancing up and she, also, came to a +sudden stop, but managed to save herself from falling. + +Everyone of them was much astonished, and the Scarecrow said with a +puzzled look: + +"I don't see anything." + +"Nor I," said Woot; "but something hit me, just the same." + +"Some invisible person struck me a heavy blow," declared the Tin +Woodman, struggling to separate himself from the Tin Soldier, whose +legs and arms were mixed with his own. + +"I'm not sure it was a person," said Polychrome, looking more grave +than usual. "It seems to me that I merely ran into some hard substance +which barred my way. In order to make sure of this, let me try another +place." + +She ran back a way and then with much caution advanced in a different +place, but when she reached a position on a line with the others she +halted, her arms outstretched before her. + +"I can feel something hard--something smooth as glass," she said, "but +I'm sure it is not glass." + +"Let me try," suggested Woot, getting up; but when he tried to go +forward, he discovered the same barrier that Polychrome had encountered. + +"No," he said, "it isn't glass. But what is it?" + +"Air," replied a small voice beside him. "Solid air; that's all." + +They all looked downward and found a sky-blue rabbit had stuck his head +out of a burrow in the ground. The rabbit's eyes were a deeper blue +than his fur, and the pretty creature seemed friendly and unafraid. + +"Air!" exclaimed Woot, staring in astonishment into the rabbit's blue +eyes; "whoever heard of air so solid that one cannot push it aside?" + +"You can't push this air aside," declared the rabbit, "for it was made +hard by powerful sorcery, and it forms a wall that is intended to keep +people from getting to that house yonder." + +"Oh; it's a wall, is it?" said the Tin Woodman. + +"Yes, it is really a wall," answered the rabbit, "and it is fully six +feet thick." + +"How high is it?" inquired Captain Fyter, the Tin Soldier. + +"Oh, ever so high; perhaps a mile," said the rabbit. + +"Couldn't we go around it?" asked Woot. + +"Of course, for the wall is a circle," explained the rabbit. "In the +center of the circle stands the house, so you may walk around the Wall +of Solid Air, but you can't get to the house." + +"Who put the air wall around the house?" was the Scarecrow's question. + +"Nimmie Amee did that." + +"Nimmie Amee!" they all exclaimed in surprise. + +"Yes," answered the rabbit. "She used to live with an old Witch, who +was suddenly destroyed, and when Nimmie Amee ran away from the Witch's +house, she took with her just one magic formula--pure sorcery it +was--which enabled her to build this air wall around her house--the +house yonder. It was quite a clever idea, I think, for it doesn't mar +the beauty of the landscape, solid air being invisible, and yet it +keeps all strangers away from the house." + +"Does Nimmie Amee live there now?" asked the Tin Woodman anxiously. + +"Yes, indeed," said the rabbit. + +"And does she weep and wail from morning till night?" continued the +Emperor. + +"No; she seems quite happy," asserted the rabbit. + +The Tin Woodman seemed quite disappointed to hear this report of his +old sweetheart, but the Scarecrow reassured his friend, saying: + +"Never mind, your Majesty; however happy Nimmie Amee is now, I'm sure +she will be much happier as Empress of the Winkies." + +"Perhaps," said Captain Fyter, somewhat stiffly, "she will be still +more happy to become the bride of a Tin Soldier." + +"She shall choose between us, as we have agreed," the Tin Woodman +promised; "but how shall we get to the poor girl?" + +Polychrome, although dancing lightly back and forth, had listened to +every word of the conversation. Now she came forward and sat herself +down just in front of the Blue Rabbit, her many-hued draperies giving +her the appearance of some beautiful flower. The rabbit didn't back +away an inch. Instead, he gazed at the Rainbow's Daughter admiringly. + +"Does your burrow go underneath this Wall of Air?" asked Polychrome. + +"To be sure," answered the Blue Rabbit; "I dug it that way so I could +roam in these broad fields, by going out one way, or eat the cabbages +in Nimmie Amee's garden by leaving my burrow at the other end. I don't +think Nimmie Amee ought to mind the little I take from her garden, or +the hole I've made under her magic wall. A rabbit may go and come as he +pleases, but no one who is bigger than I am could get through my +burrow." + +"Will you allow us to pass through it, if we are able to?" inquired +Polychrome. + +"Yes, indeed," answered the Blue Rabbit. "I'm no especial friend of +Nimmie Amee, for once she threw stones at me, just because I was +nibbling some lettuce, and only yesterday she yelled 'Shoo!' at me, +which made me nervous. You're welcome to use my burrow in any way you +choose." + +"But this is all nonsense!" declared Woot the Wanderer. "We are every +one too big to crawl through a rabbit's burrow." + +"We are too big now," agreed the Scarecrow, "but you must remember that +Polychrome is a fairy, and fairies have many magic powers." + +Woot's face brightened as he turned to the lovely Daughter of the +Rainbow. + +"Could you make us all as small as that rabbit?" he asked eagerly. + +"I can try," answered Polychrome, with a smile. And presently she did +it--so easily that Woot was not the only one astonished. As the now +tiny people grouped themselves before the rabbit's burrow the hole +appeared to them like the entrance to a tunnel, which indeed it was. + +"I'll go first," said wee Polychrome, who had made herself grow as +small as the others, and into the tunnel she danced without hesitation. +A tiny Scarecrow went next and then the two funny little tin men. + +"Walk in; it's your turn," said the Blue Rabbit to Woot the Wanderer. +"I'm coming after, to see how you get along. This will be a regular +surprise party to Nimmie Amee." + +So Woot entered the hole and felt his way along its smooth sides in the +dark until he finally saw the glimmer of daylight ahead and knew the +journey was almost over. Had he remained his natural size, the distance +could have been covered in a few steps, but to a thumb-high Woot it was +quite a promenade. When he emerged from the burrow he found himself but +a short distance from the house, in the center of the vegetable garden, +where the leaves of rhubarb waving above his head seemed like trees. +Outside the hole, and waiting for him, he found all his friends. + +"So far, so good!" remarked the Scarecrow cheerfully. + +"Yes; so far, but no farther," returned the Tin Woodman in a plaintive +and disturbed tone of voice. "I am now close to Nimmie Amee, whom I +have come ever so far to seek, but I cannot ask the girl to marry such +a little man as I am now." + +"I'm no bigger than a toy soldier!" said Captain Fyter, sorrowfully. +"Unless Polychrome can make us big again, there is little use in our +visiting Nimmie Amee at all, for I'm sure she wouldn't care for a +husband she might carelessly step on and ruin." + +Polychrome laughed merrily. + +"If I make you big, you can't get out of here again," said she, "and if +you remain little Nimmie Amee will laugh at you. So make your choice." + +"I think we'd better go back," said Woot seriously + +"No," said the Tin Woodman, stoutly, "I have decided that it's my duty +to make Nimmie Amee happy, in case she wishes to marry me." + +"So have I," announced Captain Fyter. "A good soldier never shrinks +from doing his duty." + +"As for that," said the Scarecrow, "tin doesn't shrink any to speak of, +under any circumstances. But Woot and I intend to stick to our +comrades, whatever they decide to do, so we will ask Polychrome to make +us as big as we were before." + +Polychrome agreed to this request and in half a minute all of them, +including herself, had been enlarged again to their natural sizes. They +then thanked the Blue Rabbit for his kind assistance, and at once +approached the house of Nimme Amee. + + + + +Chapter Twenty-Two + +Nimmie Amee + + +We may be sure that at this moment our friends were all anxious to see +the end of the adventure that had caused them so many trials and +troubles. Perhaps the Tin Woodman's heart did not beat any faster, +because it was made of red velvet and stuffed with sawdust, and the Tin +Soldier's heart was made of tin and reposed in his tin bosom without a +hint of emotion. However, there is little doubt that they both knew +that a critical moment in their lives had arrived, and that Nimmie +Amee's decision was destined to influence the future of one or the +other. + +As they assumed their natural sizes and the rhubarb leaves that had +before towered above their heads now barely covered their feet, they +looked around the garden and found that no person was visible save +themselves. No sound of activity came from the house, either, but they +walked to the front door, which had a little porch built before it, and +there the two tinmen stood side by side while both knocked upon the +door with their tin knuckles. + +As no one seemed eager to answer the summons they knocked again; and +then again. Finally they heard a stir from within and someone coughed. + +"Who's there?" called a girl's voice. + +"It's I!" cried the tin twins, together. + +"How did you get there?" asked the voice. + +They hesitated how to reply, so Woot answered for them: + +"By means of magic." + +"Oh," said the unseen girl. "Are you friends, or foes?" + +"Friends!" they all exclaimed. + +Then they heard footsteps approach the door, which slowly opened and +revealed a very pretty Munchkin girl standing in the doorway. + +"Nimmie Amee!" cried the tin twins. + +"That's my name," replied the girl, looking at them in cold surprise. +"But who can you be?" + +"Don't you know me, Nimmie?" said the Tin Woodman. "I'm your old +sweetheart, Nick Chopper!" + +"Don't you know me, my dear?" said the Tin Soldier. "I'm your old +sweetheart, Captain Fyter!" + +Nimmie Amee smiled at them both. Then she looked beyond them at the +rest of the party and smiled again. However, she seemed more amused +than pleased. + +"Come in," she said, leading the way inside. "Even sweethearts are +forgotten after a time, but you and your friends are welcome." + +The room they now entered was cosy and comfortable, being neatly +furnished and well swept and dusted. But they found someone there +besides Nimmie Amee. A man dressed in the attractive Munchkin costume +was lazily reclining in an easy chair, and he sat up and turned his +eves on the visitors with a cold and indifferent stare that was almost +insolent. He did not even rise from his seat to greet the strangers, +but after glaring at them he looked away with a scowl, as if they were +of too little importance to interest him. + +The tin men returned this man's stare with interest, but they did not +look away from him because neither of them seemed able to take his eyes +off this Munchkin, who was remarkable in having one tin arm quite like +their own tin arms. + +"Seems to me," said Captain Fyter, in a voice that sounded harsh and +indignant, "that you, sir, are a vile impostor!" + +"Gently--gently!" cautioned the Scarecrow; "don't be rude to strangers, +Captain." + +"Rude?" shouted the Tin Soldier, now very much provoked; "why, he's a +scoundrel--a thief! The villain is wearing my own head!" + +"Yes," added the Tin Woodman, "and he's wearing my right arm! I can +recognize it by the two warts on the little finger." + +"Good gracious!" exclaimed Woot. "Then this must be the man whom old +Ku-Klip patched together and named Chopfyt." + +The man now turned toward them, still scowling. + +"Yes, that is my name," he said in a voice like a growl, "and it is +absurd for you tin creatures, or for anyone else, to claim my head, or +arm, or any part of me, for they are my personal property." + +"You? You're a Nobody!" shouted Captain Fyter. + +"You're just a mix-up," declared the Emperor. + +"Now, now, gentlemen," interrupted Nimmie Amee, "I must ask you to be +more respectful to poor Chopfyt. For, being my guests, it is not polite +for you to insult my husband." + +"Your husband!" the tin twins exclaimed in dismay. + +"Yes," said she. "I married Chopfyt a long time ago, because my other +two sweethearts had deserted me." + +This reproof embarrassed both Nick Chopper and Captain Fyter. They +looked down, shamefaced, for a moment, and then the Tin Woodman +explained in an earnest voice: + +"I rusted." + +"So did I," said the Tin Soldier. + +"I could not know that, of course," asserted Nimmie Amee. "All I knew +was that neither of you came to marry me, as you had promised to do. +But men are not scarce in the Land of Oz. After I came here to live, I +met Mr. Chopfyt, and he was the more interesting because he reminded +me strongly of both of you, as you were before you became tin. He even +had a tin arm, and that reminded me of you the more. + +"No wonder!" remarked the Scarecrow. + +"But, listen, Nimmie Amee!" said the astonished Woot; "he really is +both of them, for he is made of their cast-off parts." + +"Oh, you're quite wrong," declared Polychrome, laughing, for she was +greatly enjoying the confusion of the others. "The tin men are still +themselves, as they will tell you, and so Chopfyt must be someone else." + +They looked at her bewildered, for the facts in the case were too +puzzling to be grasped at once. + +"It is all the fault of old Ku-Klip," muttered the Tin Woodman. "He had +no right to use our castoff parts to make another man with." + +"It seems he did it, however," said Nimmie Amee calmly, "and I married +him because he resembled you both. I won't say he is a husband to be +proud of, because he has a mixed nature and isn't always an agreeable +companion. There are times when I have to chide him gently, both with +my tongue and with my broomstick. But he is my husband, and I must make +the best of him." + +"If you don't like him," suggested the Tin Woodman, "Captain Fyter and +I can chop him up with our axe and sword, and each take such parts of +the fellow as belong to him. Then we are willing for you to select one +of us as your husband." + +"That is a good idea," approved Captain Fyter, drawing his sword. + +"No," said Nimmie Amee; "I think I'll keep the husband I now have. He +is now trained to draw the water and carry in the wood and hoe the +cabbages and weed the flower-beds and dust the furniture and perform +many tasks of a like character. A new husband would have to be +scolded--and gently chided--until he learns my ways. So I think it will +be better to keep my Chopfyt, and I see no reason why you should object +to him. You two gentlemen threw him away when you became tin, because +you had no further use for him, so you cannot justly claim him now. I +advise you to go back to your own homes and forget me, as I have +forgotten you." + +"Good advice!" laughed Polychrome, dancing. + +"Are you happy?" asked the Tin Soldier. + +"Of course I am," said Nimmie Amee; "I'm the mistress of all I +survey--the queen of my little domain." + +"Wouldn't you like to be the Empress of the Winkies?" asked the Tin +Woodman. + +"Mercy, no," she answered. "That would be a lot of bother. I don't care +for society, or pomp, or posing. All I ask is to be left alone and not +to be annoyed by visitors." + +The Scarecrow nudged Woot the Wanderer. + +"That sounds to me like a hint," he said. + +"Looks as if we'd had our journey for nothing," remarked Woot, who was +a little ashamed and disappointed because he had proposed the journey. + +"I am glad, however," said the Tin Woodman, "that I have found Nimmie +Amee, and discovered that she is already married and happy. It will +relieve me of any further anxiety concerning her." + +"For my part," said the Tin Soldier, "I am not sorry to be free. The +only thing that really annoys me is finding my head upon Chopfyt's +body." + +"As for that, I'm pretty sure it is my body, or a part of it, anyway," +remarked the Emperor of the Winkies. "But never mind, friend Soldier; +let us be willing to donate our cast-off members to insure the +happiness of Nimmie Amee, and be thankful it is not our fate to hoe +cabbages and draw water--and be chided--in the place of this creature +Chopfyt." + +"Yes," agreed the Soldier, "we have much to be thankful for." + +Polychrome, who had wandered outside, now poked her pretty head through +an open window and exclaimed in a pleased voice: + +"It's getting cloudy. Perhaps it is going to rain!" + + + + +Chapter Twenty-Three + +Through the Tunnel + + +It didn't rain just then, although the clouds in the sky grew thicker +and more threatening. Polychrome hoped for a thunder-storm, followed by +her Rainbow, but the two tin men did not relish the idea of getting +wet. They even preferred to remain in Nimmie Amee's house, although +they felt they were not welcome there, rather than go out and face the +coming storm. But the Scarecrow, who was a very thoughtful person, said +to his friends: + +"If we remain here until after the storm, and Polychrome goes away on +her Rainbow, then we will be prisoners inside the Wall of Solid Air; so +it seems best to start upon our return journey at once. If I get wet, +my straw stuffing will be ruined, and if you two tin gentlemen get wet, +you may perhaps rust again, and become useless. But even that is better +than to stay here. Once we are free of the barrier, we have Woot the +Wanderer to help us, and he can oil your joints and restuff my body, if +it becomes necessary, for the boy is made of meat, which neither rusts +nor gets soggy or moldy." + +"Come along, then!" cried Polychrome from the window, and the others, +realizing the wisdom of the Scarecrow's speech, took leave of Nimmie +Amee, who was glad to be rid of them, and said good-bye to her husband, +who merely scowled and made no answer, and then they hurried from the +house. + +"Your old parts are not very polite, I must say," remarked the +Scarecrow, when they were in the garden. + +"No," said Woot, "Chopfyt is a regular grouch. He might have wished us +a pleasant journey, at the very least." + +"I beg you not to hold us responsible for that creature's actions," +pleaded the Tin Woodman. "We are through with Chopfyt and shall have +nothing further to do with him." + +Polychrome danced ahead of the party and led them straight to the +burrow of the Blue Rabbit, which they might have had some difficulty in +finding without her. There she lost no time in making them all small +again. The Blue Rabbit was busy nibbling cabbage leaves in Nimmie +Amee's garden, so they did not ask his permission but at once entered +the burrow. + +Even now the raindrops were beginning to fall, but it was quite dry +inside the tunnel and by the time they had reached the other end, +outside the circular Wall of Solid Air, the storm was at its height and +the rain was coming down in torrents. + +"Let us wait here," proposed Polychrome, peering out of the hole and +then quickly retreating. "The Rainbow won't appear until after the +storm and I can make you big again in a jiffy, before I join my sisters +on our bow." + +"That's a good plan," said the Scarecrow approvingly. "It will save me +from getting soaked and soggy." + +"It will save me from rusting," said the Tin Soldier. + +"It will enable me to remain highly polished," said the Tin Woodman. + +"Oh, as for that, I myself prefer not to get my pretty clothes wet," +laughed the Rainbow's daughter. + +"But while we wait I will bid you all adieu. I must also thank you for +saving me from that dreadful Giantess, Mrs. Yoop. You have been good +and patient comrades and I have enjoyed our adventures together, but I +am never so happy as when on my dear Rainbow." + +"Will your father scold you for getting left on the earth?" asked Woot. + +"I suppose so," said Polychrome gaily; "I'm always getting scolded for +my mad pranks, as they are called. My sisters are so sweet and lovely +and proper that they never dance off our Rainbow, and so they never +have any adventures. Adventures to me are good fun, only I never like +to stay too long on earth, because I really don't belong here. I shall +tell my Father the Rainbow that I'll try not to be so careless again, +and he will forgive me because in our sky mansions there is always joy +and happiness." + +They were indeed sorry to part with their dainty and beautiful +companion and assured her of their devotion if they ever chanced to +meet again. She shook hands with the Scarecrow and the Tin Men and +kissed Woot the Wanderer lightly upon his forehead. + +And then the rain suddenly ceased, and as the tiny people left the +burrow of the Blue Rabbit, a glorious big Rainbow appeared in the sky +and the end of its arch slowly descended and touched the ground just +where they stood. + +Woot was so busy watching a score of lovely maidens--sisters of +Polychrome--who were leaning over the edge of the bow, and another +score who danced gaily amid the radiance of the splendid hues, that he +did not notice he was growing big again. But now Polychrome joined her +sisters on the Rainbow and the huge arch lifted and slowly melted away +as the sun burst from the clouds and sent its own white beams dancing +over the meadows. + +"Why, she's gone!" exclaimed the boy, and turned to see his companions +still waving their hands in token of adieu to the vanished Polychrome. + + + + +Chapter Twenty-Four + +The Curtain Falls + + +Well, the rest of the story is quickly told, for the return Journey of +our adventurers was without any important incident. The Scarecrow was +so afraid of meeting the Hip-po-gy-raf, and having his straw eaten +again, that he urged his comrades to select another route to the +Emerald City, and they willingly consented, so that the Invisible +Country was wholly avoided. + +Of course, when they reached the Emerald City their first duty was to +visit Ozma's palace, where they were royally entertained. The Tin +Soldier and Woot the Wanderer were welcomed as warmly as any strangers +might be who had been the traveling companions of Ozma's dear old +friends, the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman. + +At the banquet table that evening they related the manner in which they +had discovered Nimmie Amee, and told how they had found her happily +married to Chopfyt, whose relationship to Nick Chopper and Captain +Fyter was so bewildering that they asked Ozma's advice what to do about +it. + +"You need not consider Chopfyt at all," replied the beautiful girl +Ruler of Oz. "If Nimmie Amee is content with that misfit man for a +husband, we have not even just cause to blame Ku-Klip for gluing him +together." + +"I think it was a very good idea," added little Dorothy, "for if +Ku-Klip hadn't used up your castoff parts, they would have been wasted. +It's wicked to be wasteful, isn't it?" + +"Well, anyhow," said Woot the Wanderer, "Chopfyt, being kept a prisoner +by his wife, is too far away from anyone to bother either of you tin +men in any way. If you hadn't gone where he is and discovered him, you +would never have worried about him." + +"What do you care, anyhow," Betsy Bobbin asked the Tin Woodman, "so +long as Nimmie Amee is satisfied?" + +"And just to think," remarked Tiny Trot, "that any girl would rather +live with a mixture like Chopfyt, on far-away Mount Munch, than to be +the Empress of the Winkies!" + +"It is her own choice," said the Tin Woodman contentedly; "and, after +all, I'm not sure the Winkies would care to have an Empress." + +It puzzled Ozma, for a time, to decide what to do with the Tin Soldier. +If he went with the Tin Woodman to the Emperor's castle, she felt that +the two tin men might not be able to live together in harmony, and +moreover the Emperor would not be so distinguished if he had a double +constantly beside him. So she asked Captain Fyter if he was willing to +serve her as a soldier, and he promptly declared that nothing would +please him more. After he had been in her service for some time, Ozma +sent him into the Gillikin Country, with instructions to keep order +among the wild people who inhabit some parts of that unknown country of +Oz. + +As for Woot, being a Wanderer by profession, he was allowed to wander +wherever he desired, and Ozma promised to keep watch over his future +journeys and to protect the boy as well as she was able, in case he +ever got into more trouble. + +All this having been happily arranged, the Tin Woodman returned to his +tin castle, and his chosen comrade, the Scarecrow, accompanied him on +the way. The two friends were sure to pass many pleasant hours together +in talking over their recent adventures, for as they neither ate nor +slept they found their greatest amusement in conversation. + + + + + +THE FAMOUS OZ BOOKS + +By L. Frank Baum: + + The Wizard of Oz + The Land of Oz + Ozma of Oz + Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz + The Road to Oz + The Emerald City of Oz + The Patchwork Girl of Oz + Tik-Tok of Oz + The Scarecrow of Oz + Rinkitink in Oz + The Lost Princess of Oz + The Tin Woodman of Oz + The Magic Of Oz + Glinda of Oz + + + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Tin Woodman of Oz, by L. 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If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association/Carnegie-Mellon + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Carnegie-Mellon University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + + THE TIN WOODMAN OF OZ + +A Faithful Story of the Astonishing Adventure + Undertaken by the Tin Woodman, assisted + by Woot the Wanderer, the Scarecrow + of Oz, and Polychrome, the + Rainbow's Daughter + + by + L. FRANK BAUM + "Royal historian of Oz" + + This Book + is dedicated + to the son of + my son + Frank Alden Baum + + + +TO MY READERS + +I know that some of you have been waiting for this +story of the Tin Woodman, because many of my +correspondents have asked me, time and again what ever +became of the "pretty Munchkin girl" whom Nick Chopper +was engaged to marry before the Wicked Witch enchanted +his axe and he traded his flesh for tin. I, too, have +wondered what became of her, but until Woot the +Wanderer interested himself in the matter the Tin +Woodman knew no more than we did. However, he found +her, after many thrilling adventures, as you will +discover when you have read this story. + +I am delighted at the continued interest of both +young and old in the Oz stories. A learned college +professor recently wrote me to ask: "For readers of +what age are your books intended?" It puzzled me to +answer that properly, until I had looked over some of +the letters I have received. One says: "I'm a little +boy 5 years old, and I Just love your Oz stories. My +sister, who is writing this for me, reads me the Oz +books, but I wish I could read them myself." Another +letter says: "I'm a great girl 13 years old, so you'll +be surprised when I tell you I am not too old yet for +the Oz stories." Here's another letter: "Since I was a +young girl I've never missed getting a Baum book for +Christmas. I'm married, now, but am as eager to get and +read the Oz stories as ever." And still another writes: +"My good wife and I, both more than 70 years of age, +believe that we find more real enjoyment in your Oz +books than in any other books we read." Considering +these statements, I wrote the college professor that my +books are intended for all those whose hearts are +young, no matter what their ages may be. + +I think I am justified in promising that there will +be some astonishing revelations about The Magic of Oz +in my book for 1919. Always your loving and grateful +friend, + + L. FRANK BAUM. + + Royal Historian of Oz. + + + "OZCOT" +at HOLLYWOOD +in CALIFORNIA + + 1918. + +LIST OF CHAPTERS + 1 Woot the Wanderer + 2 The Heart of the Tin Woodman + 3 Roundabout + 4 The Loons of Loonville + 5 Mrs. Yoop, the Giantess + 6 The Magic of a Yookoohoo + 7 The Lace Apron + 8 The Menace of the Forest + 9 The Quarrelsome Dragons +10 Tommy Kwikstep +11 Jinjur's Ranch +12 Ozma and Dorothy +13 The Restoration +14 The Green Monkey +15 The Man of Tin +16 Captain Fyter +17 The Workshop of Ku-Klip +18 The Tin Woodman Talks to Himself +19 The Invisible Country +20 Over Night +21 Polychrome's Magic +22 Nimmie Amee +23 Through the Tunnel +24 The Curtain Falls + + + + +Chapter One + +Woot the Wanderer + + +The Tin Woodman sat on his glittering tin throne in the +handsome tin hall of his splendid tin castle in the +Winkie Country of the Land of Oz. Beside him, in a +chair of woven straw, sat his best friend, the +Scarecrow of Oz. At times they spoke to one another of +curious things they had seen and strange adventures +they had known since first they two had met and become +comrades. But at times they were silent, for these +things had been talked over many times between them, +and they found themselves contented in merely being +together, speaking now and then a brief sentence to +prove they were wide awake and attentive. But then, +these two quaint persons never slept. Why should they +sleep, when they never tired? + +And now, as the brilliant sun sank low over the Winkie +Country of Oz, tinting the glistening tin towers and +tin minarets of the tin castle with glorious sunset +hues, there approached along a winding pathway Woot the +Wanderer, who met at the castle entrance a Winkie +servant. + +The servants of the Tin Woodman all wore tin helmets +and tin breastplates and uniforms covered with tiny tin +discs sewed closely together on silver cloth, so that +their bodies sparkled as beautifully as did the tin +castle -- and almost as beautifully as did the Tin +Woodman himself. + +Woot the Wanderer looked at the man servant --all +bright and glittering -- and at the magnificent castle +-- all bright and glittering -- and as he looked his +eyes grew big with wonder. For Woot was not very big +and not very old and, wanderer though he was, this +proved the most gorgeous sight that had ever met his +boyish gaze. + +"Who lives here?" he asked. + +"The Emperor of the Winkies, who is the famous Tin +Woodman of Oz," replied the servant, who had been +trained to treat all strangers with courtesy. + +"A Tin Woodman? How queer!" exclaimed the little +wanderer. + +"Well, perhaps our Emperor is queer," admitted the +servant; "but he is a kind master and as honest and +true as good tin can make him; so we, who gladly serve +him, are apt to forget that he is not like other +people." + +"May I see him?" asked Woot the Wanderer, after a +moment's thought. + +"If it please you to wait a moment, I will go and ask +him," said the servant, and then he went into the hall +where the Tin Woodman sat with his friend the +Scarecrow. Both were glad to learn that a stranger had +arrived at the castle, for this would give them +something new to talk about, so the servant was asked +to admit the boy at once. + +By the time Woot the Wanderer had passed through the +grand corridors -- all lined with ornamental tin -- and +under stately tin archways and through the many tin +rooms all set with beautiful tin furniture, his eyes +had grown bigger than ever and his whole little body +thrilled with amazement. But, astonished though he was, +he was able to make a polite bow before the throne and +to say in a respectful voice: "I salute your +Illustrious Majesty and offer you my humble services." + +"Very good!" answered the Tin Woodman in his +accustomed cheerful manner. "Tell me who you are, and +whence you come." + +"I am known as Woot the Wanderer," answered the boy, +"and I have come, through many travels and by +roundabout ways, from my former home in a far corner of +the Gillikin Country of Oz." + +"To wander from one's home," remarked the Scarecrow, +"is to encounter dangers and hardships, especially if +one is made of meat and bone. Had you no friends in +that corner of the Gillikin Country? Was it not +homelike and comfortable?" + +To hear a man stuffed with straw speak, and speak so +well, quite startled Woot, and perhaps he stared a bit +rudely at the Scarecrow. But after a moment he replied: + +"I had home and friends, your Honorable Strawness, +but they were so quiet and happy and comfortable that I +found them dismally stupid. Nothing in that corner of +Oz interested me, but I believed that in other parts of +the country I would find strange people and see new +sights, and so I set out upon my wandering journey. I +have been a wanderer for nearly a full year, and now my +wanderings have brought me to this splendid castle." + +"I suppose," said the Tin Woodman, "that in this year +you have seen so much that you have become very wise." + +"No," replied Woot, thoughtfully, "I am not at all +wise, I beg to assure your Majesty. The more I wander +the less I find that I know, for in the Land of Oz much +wisdom and many things may be learned." + +"To learn is simple. Don't you ask questions?" +inquired the Scarecrow. + +"Yes; I ask as many questions as I dare; but some +people refuse to answer questions." + +"That is not kind of them," declared the Tin Woodman. +"If one does not ask for information he seldom receives +it; so I, for my part, make it a rule to answer any +civil question that is asked me." + +"So do I," added the Scarecrow, nodding. + +"I am glad to hear this," said the Wanderer, "for it +makes me bold to ask for something to eat." + +"Bless the boy!" cried the Emperor of the Winkies; +"how careless of me not to remember that wanderers are +usually hungry. I will have food brought you at once." + +Saying this he blew upon a tin whistle that was +suspended from his tin neck, and at the summons a +servant appeared and bowed low. The Tin Woodman +ordered food for the stranger, and in a few minutes the +servant brought in a tin tray heaped with a choice +array of good things to eat, all neatly displayed on +tin dishes that were polished till they shone like +mirrors. The tray was set upon a tin table drawn +before the throne, and the servant placed a tin chair +before the table for the boy to seat himself. + +"Eat, friend Wanderer," said the Emperor cordially, +"and I trust the feast will be to your liking. I, +myself, do not eat, being made in such manner that I +require no food to keep me alive. Neither does my +friend the Scarecrow. But all my Winkie people eat, +being formed of flesh, as you are, and so my tin +cupboard is never bare, and strangers are always +welcome to whatever it contains." + +The boy ate in silence for a time, being really +hungry, but after his appetite was somewhat satisfied, +he said: + +"How happened your Majesty to be made of tin, and +still be alive?" + +"That," replied the tin man, "is a long story." + +"The longer the better," said the boy. "Won't you +please tell me the story?" + +"If you desire it," promised the Tin Woodman, leaning +back in his tin throne and crossing his tin legs. "I +haven't related my history in a long while, because +everyone here knows it nearly as well as I do. But you, +being a stranger, are no doubt curious to learn how I +became so beautiful and prosperous, so I will recite +for your benefit my strange adventures." + +"Thank you," said Woot the Wanderer, still eating. + +"I was not always made of tin," began the Emperor, +"for in the beginning I was a man of flesh and bone and +blood and lived in the Munchkin Country of Oz. There I +was, by trade, a woodchopper, and contributed my share +to the comfort of the Oz people by chopping up the +trees of the forest to make firewood, with which the +women would cook their meals while the children warmed +themselves about the fires. For my home I had a little +hut by the edge of the forest, and my life was one of +much content until I fell in love with a beautiful +Munchkin girl who lived not far away." + +"What was the Munchkin girl's name?" asked Woot. + +"Nimmie Amee. This girl, so fair that the sunsets +blushed when their rays fell upon her, lived with a +powerful witch who wore silver shoes and who had made +the poor child her slave. Nimmie Amee was obliged to +work from morning till night for the old Witch of the +East, scrubbing and sweeping her hut and cooking her +meals and washing her dishes. She had to cut firewood, +too, until I found her one day in the forest and fell +in love with her. After that, I always brought plenty +of firewood to Nimmie Amee and we became very friendly. +Finally I asked her to marry me, and she agreed to do +so, but the Witch happened to overhear our conversation +and it made her very angry, for she did not wish her +slave to be taken away from her. The Witch commanded me +never to come near Nimmie Amee again, but I told her I +was my own master and would do as I pleased, not +realizing that this was a careless way to speak to a +Witch. + +"The next day, as I was cutting wood in the forest, +the cruel Witch enchanted my axe, so that it slipped +and cut off my right leg." + +"How dreadful!" cried Woot the Wanderer. + +"Yes, it was a seeming misfortune," agreed the Tin +Man, "for a one-legged woodchopper is of little use in +his trade. But I would not allow the Witch to conquer +me so easily. I knew a very skillful mechanic at the +other side of the forest, who was my friend, so I +hopped on one leg to him and asked him to help me. He +soon made me a new leg out of tin and fastened it +cleverly to my meat body. It had joints at the knee and +at the ankle and was almost as comfortable as the leg I +had lost." + +"Your friend must have been a wonderful workman!" +exclaimed Woot. + +"He was, indeed," admitted the Emperor. "He was a +tinsmith by trade and could make anything out of tin. +When I returned to Nimmie Amee, the girl was delighted +and threw her arms around my neck and kissed me, +declaring she was proud of me. The Witch saw the kiss +and was more angry than before. When I went to work in +the forest, next day, my axe, being still enchanted, +slipped and cut off my other leg. Again I hopped -- on +my tin leg -- to my friend the tinsmith, who kindly +made me another tin leg and fastened it to my body. So +I returned joyfully to Nimmie Amee, who was much +pleased with my glittering legs and promised that when +we were wed she would always keep them oiled and +polished. But the Witch was more furious than ever, and +as soon as I raised my axe to chop, it twisted around +and cut off one of my arms. The tinsmith made me a tin +arm and I was not much worried, because Nimmie Amee +declared she still loved me." + + + + +Chapter Two + +The Heart of the Tin Woodman + + +The Emperor of the Winkies paused in his story to +reach for an oil-can, with which he carefully oiled the +joints in his tin throat, for his voice had begun to +squeak a little. Woot the Wanderer, having satisfied +his hunger, watched this oiling process with much +curiosity, but begged the Tin Man to go on with his +tale. + +"The Witch with the Silver Shoes hated me for having +defied her," resumed the Emperor, his voice now +sounding clear as a bell, "and she insisted that Nimmie +Amee should never marry me. Therefore she made the +enchanted axe cut off my other arm, and the tinsmith +also replaced that member with tin, including these +finely-jointed hands that you see me using. But, alas! +after that, the axe, still enchanted by the cruel +Witch, cut my body in two, so that I fell to the +ground. Then the Witch, who was watching from a near-by +bush, rushed up and seized the axe and chopped my body +into several small pieces, after which, thinking that +at last she had destroyed me, she ran away laughing in +wicked glee. + +"But Nimmie Amee found me. She picked up my arms and +legs and head, and made a bundle of them and carried +them to the tinsmith, who set to work and made me a +fine body of pure tin. When he had joined the arms and +legs to the body, and set my head in the tin collar, I +was a much better man than ever, for my body could not +ache or pain me, and I was so beautiful and bright that +I had no need of clothing. Clothing is always a +nuisance, because it soils and tears and has to be +replaced; but my tin body only needs to be oiled and +polished. + +"Nimmie Amee still declared she would marry me, as +she still loved me in spite of the Witch's evil deeds. +The girl declared I would make the brightest husband in +all the world, which was quite true. However, the +Wicked Witch was not yet defeated. When I returned to +my work the axe slipped and cut off my head, which was +the only meat part of me then remaining. Moreover, the +old woman grabbed up my severed head and carried it +away with her and hid it. But Nimmie Amee came into the +forest and found me wandering around helplessly, +because I could not see where to go, and she led me to +my friend the tinsmith. The faithful fellow at once set +to work to make me a tin head, and he had just +completed it when Nimmie Amee came running up with my +old head, which she had stolen from the Witch. But, on +reflection, I considered the tin head far superior to +the meat one -- I am wearing it yet, so you can see its +beauty and grace of outline -- and the girl agreed with +me that a man all made of tin was far more perfect than +one formed of different materials. The tinsmith was as +proud of his workmanship as I was, and for three whole +days, all admired me and praised my beauty. "Being now +completely formed of tin, I had no more fear of the +Wicked Witch, for she was powerless to injure me. +Nimmie Amee said we must be married at once, for then +she could come to my cottage and live with me and keep +me bright and sparkling. + +"'I am sure, my dear Nick,' said the brave and +beautiful girl -- my name was then Nick Chopper, you +should be told -- 'that you will make the best husband +any girl could have. I shall not be obliged to cook for +you, for now you do not eat; I shall not have to make +your bed, for tin does not tire or require sleep; when +we go to a dance, you will not get weary before the +music stops and say you want to go home. All day long, +while you are chopping wood in the forest, I shall be +able to amuse myself in my own way -- a privilege few +wives enjoy. There is no temper in your new head, so +you will not get angry with me. Finally, I shall take +pride in being the wife of the only live Tin Woodman in +all the world!' Which shows that Nimmie Amee was as +wise as she was brave and beautiful." + +"I think she was a very nice girl," said Woot the +Wanderer. "But, tell me, please, why were you not +killed when you were chopped to pieces?" + +"In the Land of Oz," replied the Emperor, "no one can +ever be killed. A man with a wooden leg or a tin leg is +still the same man; and, as I lost parts of my meat +body by degrees, I always remained the same person as +in the beginning, even though in the end I was all tin +and no meat." + +"I see," said the boy, thoughtfully. "And did you +marry Nimmie Amee?" + +"No," answered the Tin Woodman, "I did not. She said +she still loved me, but I found that I no longer loved +her. My tin body contained no heart, and without a +heart no one can love. So the Wicked Witch conquered in +the end, and when I left the Munchkin Country of Oz, +the poor girl was still the slave of the Witch and had +to do her bidding day and night." + +"Where did you go?" asked Woot. + +"Well, I first started out to find a heart, so I +could love Nimmie Amee again; but hearts are more +scarce than one would think. One day, in a big forest +that was strange to me, my joints suddenly became +rusted, because I had forgotten to oil them. There I +stood, unable to move hand or foot. And there I +continued to stand -- while days came and went -- until +Dorothy and the Scarecrow came along and rescued me. +They oiled my joints and set me free, and I've taken +good care never to rust again." + +"Who was this Dorothy?" questioned the Wanderer. + +"A little girl who happened to be in a house when it +was carried by a cyclone all the way from Kansas to the +Land of Oz. When the house fell, in the Munchkin +Country, it fortunately landed on the Wicked Witch and +smashed her flat. It was a big house, and I think the +Witch is under it yet." + +"No," said the Scarecrow, correcting him, "Dorothy +says the Witch turned to dust, and the wind scattered +the dust in every direction." + +"Well," continued the Tin Woodman, "after meeting the +Scarecrow and Dorothy, I went with them to the Emerald +City, where the Wizard of Oz gave me a heart. But the +Wizard's stock of hearts was low, and he gave me a Kind +Heart instead of a Loving Heart, so that I could not +love Nimmie Amee any more than I did when I was +heartless." + +"Couldn't the Wizard give you a heart that was both +Kind and Loving?" asked the boy. + +"No; that was what I asked for, but he said he was so +short on hearts, just then, that there was but one in +stock, and I could take that or none at all. So I +accepted it, and I must say that for its kind it is a +very good heart indeed." + +"It seems to me," said Woot, musingly, "that the +Wizard fooled you. It can't be a very Kind Heart, you +know." + +"Why not?" demanded the Emperor. + +"Because it was unkind of you to desert the girl who +loved you, and who had been faithful and true to you +when you were in trouble. Had the heart the Wizard gave +you been a Kind Heart, you would have gone back home +and made the beautiful Munchkin girl your wife, and +then brought her here to be an Empress and live in your +splendid tin castle." + +The Tin Woodman was so surprised at this frank speech +that for a time he did nothing but stare hard at the +boy Wanderer. But the Scarecrow wagged his stuffed head +and said in a positive tone: + +"This boy is right. I've often wondered, myself, why +you didn't go back and find that poor Munchkin girl." + +Then the Tin Woodman stared hard at his friend the +Scarecrow. But finally he said in a serious tone of +voice: + +"I must admit that never before have I thought of +such a thing as finding Nimmie Amee and making her +Empress of the Winkies. But it is surely not too late, +even now, to do this, for the girl must still be living +in the Munchkin Country. And, since this strange +Wanderer has reminded me of Nimmie Amee, I believe it +is my duty to set out and find her. Surely it is not +the girl's fault that I no longer love her, and so, if +I can make her happy, it is proper that I should do so, +and in this way reward her for her faithfulness." + +"Quite right, my friend!" agreed the Scarecrow. + +"Will you accompany me on this errand?" asked the Tin +Emperor. + +"Of course," said the Scarecrow. + +"And will you take me along?" pleaded Woot the +Wanderer in an eager voice. + +"To be sure," said the Tin Woodman, "if you care to +join our party. It was you who first told me it was my +duty to find and marry Nimmie Amee, and I'd like you to +know that Nick Chopper, the Tin Emperor of the Winkies, +is a man who never shirks his duty, once it is pointed +out to him." + +"It ought to be a pleasure, as well as a duty, if the +girl is so beautiful," said Woot, well pleased with the +idea of the adventure. + +"Beautiful things may be admired, if not loved," +asserted the Tin Man. "Flowers are beautiful, for +instance, but we are not inclined to marry them. Duty, +on the contrary, is a bugle call to action, whether you +are inclined to act, or not. In this case, I obey the +bugle call of duty." + +"When shall we start?" inquired the Scarecrow, who +was always glad to embark upon a new adventure. "I +don't hear any bugle, but when do we go?" + +"As soon as we can get ready," answered the Emperor. +"I'll call my servants at once and order them to make +preparations for our journey." + + + + +Chapter Three + +Roundabout + + +Woot the Wanderer slept that night in the tin castle of +the Emperor of the Winkies and found his tin bed quite +comfortable. Early the next morning he rose and took a +walk through the gardens, where there were tin +fountains and beds of curious tin flowers, and where +tin birds perched upon the branches of tin trees and +sang songs that sounded like the notes of tin whistles. +All these wonders had been made by the clever Winkie +tinsmiths, who wound the birds up every morning so that +they would move about and sing. + +After breakfast the boy went into the throne room, +where the Emperor was having his tin joints carefully +oiled by a servant, while other servants were stuffing +sweet, fresh straw into the body of the Scarecrow. + +Woot watched this operation with much interest, for +the Scarecrow's body was only a suit of clothes filled +with straw. The coat was buttoned tight to keep the +packed straw from falling out and a rope was tied +around the waist to hold it in shape and prevent the +straw from sagging down. The Scarecrow's head was a +gunnysack filled with bran, on which the eyes, nose and +mouth had been painted. His hands were white cotton +gloves stuffed with fine straw. Woot noticed that even +when carefully stuffed and patted into shape, the straw +man was awkward in his movements and decidedly wobbly +on his feet, so the boy wondered if the Scarecrow would +be able to travel with them all the way to the forests +of the Munchkin Country of Oz. + +The preparations made for this important journey were +very simple. A knapsack was filled with food and given +Woot the Wanderer to carry upon his back, for the food +was for his use alone. The Tin Woodman shouldered an +axe which was sharp and brightly polished, and the +Scarecrow put the Emperor's oil-can in his pocket, that +he might oil his friend's joints should they need it. + +"Who will govern the Winkie Country during your +absence?" asked the boy. + +"Why, the Country will run itself," answered the +Emperor. "As a matter of fact, my people do not need an +Emperor, for Ozma of Oz watches over the welfare of all +her subjects, including the Winkies. Like a good many +kings and emperors, I have a grand title, but very +little real power, which allows me time to amuse myself +in my own way. The people of Oz have but one law to +obey, which is: 'Behave Yourself,' so it is easy for +them to abide by this Law, and you'll notice they +behave very well. But it is time for us to be off, and +I am eager to start because I suppose that that poor +Munchkin girl is anxiously awaiting my coming." + +"She's waited a long time already, seems to me," +remarked the Scarecrow, as they left the grounds of the +castle and followed a path that led eastward. + +"True," replied the Tin Woodman; "but I've noticed +that the last end of a wait, however long it has been, +is the hardest to endure; so I must try to make Nimmie +Amee happy as soon as possible." + +"Ah; that proves you have a Kind heart," remarked the +Scarecrow, approvingly. + +"It's too bad he hasn't a Loving Heart," said Woot. +"This Tin Man is going to marry a nice girl through +kindness, and not because he loves her, and somehow +that doesn't seem quite right." + +"Even so, I am not sure it isn't best for the girl," +said the Scarecrow, who seemed very intelligent for a +straw man, "for a loving husband is not always kind, +while a kind husband is sure to make any girl content." + +"Nimmie Amee will become an Empress!" announced the +Tin Woodman, proudly. "I shall have a tin gown made for +her, with tin ruffles and tucks on it, and she shall +have tin slippers, and tin earrings and bracelets, and +wear a tin crown on her head. I am sure that will +delight Nimmie Amee, for all girls are fond of finery." + +"Are we going to the Munchkin Country by way of the +Emerald City?" inquired the Scarecrow, who looked upon +the Tin Woodman as the leader of the party. + +"I think not," was the reply. "We are engaged upon a +rather delicate adventure, for we are seeking a girl +who fears her former lover has forgotten her. It will +be rather hard for me, you must admit, when I confess +to Nimmie Amee that I have come to marry her because it +is my duty to do so, and therefore the fewer witnesses +there are to our meeting the better for both of us. +After I have found Nimmie Amee and she has managed to +control her joy at our reunion, I shall take her to the +Emerald City and introduce her to Ozma and Dorothy, and +to Betsy Bobbin and Tiny Trot, and all our other +friends; but, if I remember rightly, poor Nimmie Amee +has a sharp tongue when angry, and she may be a trifle +angry with me, at first, because I have been so long in +coming to her." + +"I can understand that," said Woot gravely. "But how +can we get to that part of the Munchkin Country where +you once lived without passing through the Emerald +City?" + +"Why, that is easy," the Tin Man assured him. + +"I have a map of Oz in my pocket," persisted the boy, +"and it shows that the Winkie Country, where we now +are, is at the west of Oz, and the Munchkin Country at +the east, while directly between them lies the Emerald +City." + +"True enough; but we shall go toward the north, first +of all, into the Gillikin Country, and so pass around +the Emerald City," explained the Tin Woodman. + +"That may prove a dangerous journey," replied the +boy. "I used to live in one of the top corners of the +Gillikin Country, near to Oogaboo, and I have been told +that in this northland country are many people whom it +is not pleasant to meet. I was very careful to avoid +them during my journey south." + +"A Wanderer should have no fear," observed the +Scarecrow, who was wobbling along in a funny, haphazard +manner, but keeping pace with his friends. + +"Fear does not make one a coward," returned Woot, +growing a little red in the face, "but I believe it is +more easy to avoid danger than to overcome it. The +safest way is the best way, even for one who is brave +and determined." + +"Do not worry, for we shall not go far to the north," +said the Emperor. "My one idea is to avoid the Emerald +City without going out of our way more than is +necessary. Once around the Emerald City we will turn +south into the Munchkin Country, where the Scarecrow +and I are well acquainted and have many friends." + +"I have traveled some in the Gillikin Country," +remarked the Scarecrow, "and while I must say I have +met some strange people there at times, I have never +yet been harmed by them." + +"Well, it's all the same to me," said Woot, with +assumed carelessness. "Dangers, when they cannot be +avoided, are often quite interesting, and I am willing +to go wherever you two venture to go." + +So they left the path they had been following and +began to travel toward the northeast, and all that day +they were in the pleasant Winkie Country, and all the +people they met saluted the Emperor with great respect +and wished him good luck on his journey. At night they +stopped at a house where they were well entertained and +where Woot was given a comfortable bed to sleep in. + +"Were the Scarecrow and I alone," said the Tin +Woodman, "we would travel by night as well as by day; +but with a meat person in our party, we must halt at +night to permit him to rest." + +"Meat tires, after a day's travel," added the +Scarecrow, "while straw and tin never tire at all. +Which proves," said he, "that we are somewhat superior +to people made in the common way." + +Woot could not deny that he was tired, and he slept +soundly until morning, when he was given a good +breakfast, smoking hot. + +"You two miss a great deal by not eating," he said to +his companions. + +"It is true," responded the Scarecrow. "We miss +suffering from hunger, when food cannot be had, and we +miss a stomachache, now and then." + +As he said this, the Scarecrow glanced at the Tin +Woodman, who nodded his assent. + +All that second day they traveled steadily, +entertaining one another the while with stories of +adventures they had formerly met and listening to the +Scarecrow recite poetry. He had learned a great many +poems from Professor Wogglebug and loved to repeat them +whenever anybody would listen to him. Of course Woot +and the Tin Woodman now listened, because they could +not do otherwise -- unless they rudely ran away from +their stuffed comrade. One of the Scarecrow's +recitations was like this: + + "What sound is so sweet + As the straw from the wheat +When it crunkles so tender and low? + It is yellow and bright, + So it gives me delight +To crunkle wherever I go. + + + "Sweet, fresh, golden Straw! + There is surely no flaw +In a stuffing so clean and compact. + It creaks when I walk, + And it thrills when I talk, +And its fragrance is fine, for a fact. + "To cut me don't hurt, + + For I've no blood to squirt, +And I therefore can suffer no pain; + The straw that I use + Doesn't lump up or bruise, +Though it's pounded again and again! + + + "I know it is said + That my beautiful head +Has brains of mixed wheat-straw and bran, + But my thoughts are so good + I'd not change, if I could, +For the brains of a common meat man. + + + "Content with my lot, + I'm glad that I'm not +Like others I meet day by day; + If my insides get musty, + Or mussed-up, or dusty, +I get newly stuffed right away." + + + + +Chapter Four + +The Loons of Loonville + + +Toward evening, the travelers found there was no longer +a path to guide them, and the purple hues of the grass +and trees warned them that they were now in the Country +of the Gillikins, where strange peoples dwelt in places +that were quite unknown to the other inhabitants of Oz. +The fields were wild and uncultivated and there were no +houses of any sort to be seen. But our friends kept on +walking even after the sun went down, hoping to find a +good place for Woot the Wanderer to sleep; but when it +grew quite dark and the boy was weary with his long +walk, they halted right in the middle of a field and +allowed Woot to get his supper from the food he carried +in his knapsack. Then the Scarecrow laid himself down, +so that Woot could use his stuffed body as a pillow, +and the Tin Woodman stood up beside them all night, so +the dampness of the ground might not rust his joints or +dull his brilliant polish. Whenever the dew settled on +his body he carefully wiped it off with a cloth, and so +in the morning the Emperor shone as brightly as ever in +the rays of the rising sun. + +They wakened the boy at daybreak, the Scarecrow +saying to him: + +"We have discovered something queer, and therefore we +must counsel together what to do about it." + +"What have you discovered?" asked Woot, rubbing the +sleep from his eyes with his knuckles and giving three +wide yawns to prove he was fully awake. + +"A Sign," said the Tin Woodman. "A Sign, and another path." + +"What does the Sign say?" inquired the boy. + +"It says that 'All Strangers are Warned not to Follow +this Path to Loonville,'" answered the Scarecrow, who +could read very well when his eyes had been freshly +painted. + +"In that case," said the boy, opening his knapsack to +get some breakfast, "let us travel in some other +direction." + +But this did not seem to please either of his +companions. + +"I'd like to see what Loonville looks like," remarked +the Tin Woodman. + +"When one travels, it is foolish to miss any +interesting sight," added the Scarecrow. + +"But a warning means danger," protested Woot the +Wanderer, "and I believe it sensible to keep out of +danger whenever we can." + +They made no reply to this speech for a while. Then +said the Scarecrow: + +"I have escaped so many dangers, during my lifetime, +that I am not much afraid of anything that can happen." + +"Nor am I!" exclaimed the Tin Woodman, swinging his +glittering axe around his tin head, in a series of +circles. "Few things can injure tin, and my axe is a +powerful weapon to use against a foe. But our boy +friend," he continued, looking solemnly at Woot, "might +perhaps be injured if the people of Loonville are +really dangerous; so I propose he waits here while you +and I, Friend Scarecrow, visit the forbidden City of +Loonville." + +"Don't worry about me," advised Woot, calmly. +"Wherever you wish to go, I will go, and share your +dangers. During my wanderings I have found it more wise +to keep out of danger than to venture in, but at that +time I was alone, and now I have two powerful friends +to protect me." + +So, when he had finished his breakfast, they all set +out along the path that led to Loonville. + +"It is a place I have never heard of before," +remarked the Scarecrow, as they approached a dense +forest. "The inhabitants may be people, of some sort, +or they may be animals, but whatever they prove to be, +we will have an interesting story to relate to Dorothy +and Ozma on our return." + +The path led into the forest, but the big trees grew +so closely together and the vines and underbrush were +so thick and matted that they had to clear a path at +each step in order to proceed. In one or two places the +Tin Man, who went first to clear the way, cut the +branches with a blow of his axe. Woot followed next, +and last of the three came the Scarecrow, who could not +have kept the path at all had not his comrades broken +the way for his straw-stuffed body. + +Presently the Tin Woodman pushed his way through some +heavy underbrush, and almost tumbled headlong into a +vast cleared space in the forest. The clearing was +circular, big and roomy, yet the top branches of the +tall trees reached over and formed a complete dome or +roof for it. Strangely enough, it was not dark in this +immense natural chamber in the woodland, for the place +glowed with a soft, white light that seemed to come +from some unseen source. + +In the chamber were grouped dozens of queer +creatures, and these so astonished the Tin Man that +Woot had to push his metal body aside, that he might +see, too. And the Scarecrow pushed Woot aside, so that +the three travelers stood in a row, staring with all +their eyes. + +The creatures they beheld were round and ball-like; +round in body, round in legs and arms, round in hands +and feet and round of head. The only exception to the +roundness was a slight hollow on the top of each head, +making it saucer-shaped instead of dome-shaped. They +wore no clothes on their puffy bodies, nor had they any +hair. Their skins were all of a light gray color, and +their eyes were mere purple spots. Their noses were as +puffy as the rest of them. + +"Are they rubber, do you think?" asked the Scarecrow, +who noticed that the creatures bounded, as they moved, +and seemed almost as light as air. + +"It is difficult to tell what they are," answered +Woot, "they seem to be covered with warts." + +The Loons -- for so these folks were called -- had +been doing many things, some playing together, some +working at tasks and some gathered in groups to talk; +but at the sound of strange voices, which echoed rather +loudly through the clearing, all turned in the +direction of the intruders. Then, in a body, they all +rushed forward, running and bounding with tremendous +speed. + +The Tin Woodman was so surprised by this sudden dash +that he had no time to raise his axe before the Loons +were on them. The creatures swung their puffy hands, +which looked like boxing-gloves, and pounded the three +travelers as hard as they could, on all sides. The +blows were quite soft and did not hurt our friends at +all, but the onslaught quite bewildered them, so that +in a brief period all three were knocked over and fell +flat upon the ground. Once down, many of the Loons +held them, to prevent their getting up again, while +others wound long tendrils of vines about them, binding +their arms and legs to their bodies and so rendering +them helpless. + +"Aha!" cried the biggest Loon of all; "we've got 'em +safe; so let's carry 'em to King Bal and have 'em +tried, and condemned and perforated!" They had to drag +their captives to the center of the domed chamber, for +their weight, as compared with that of the Loons, +prevented their being carried. Even the Scarecrow was +much heavier than the puffy Loons. But finally the +party halted before a raised platform, on which stood a +sort of throne, consisting of a big, wide chair with a +string tied to one arm of it. This string led upward to +the roof of the dome. + +Arranged before the platform, the prisoners were +allowed to sit up, facing the empty throne. + +"Good!" said the big Loon who had commanded the +party. "Now to get King Bal to judge these terrible +creatures we have so bravely captured." + +As he spoke he took hold of the string and began to +pull as hard as he could. One or two of the others +helped him and pretty soon, as they drew in the cord, +the leaves above them parted and a Loon appeared at the +other end of the string. It didn't take long to draw +him down to the throne, where he seated himself and was +tied in, so he wouldn't float upward again. + +"Hello," said the King, blinking his purple eyes at +his followers; "what's up now!" + +"Strangers, your Majesty -- strangers and captives," +replied the big Loon, pompously + +"Dear me! I see 'em. I see 'em very plainly," +exclaimed the King, his purple eyes bulging out as he +looked at the three prisoners. "What curious animals! +Are they dangerous, do you think, my good Panta?" + +"I'm 'fraid so, your Majesty. Of course, they may not +be dangerous, but we mustn't take chances. Enough +accidents happen to us poor Loons as it is, and my +advice is to condemn and perforate 'em as quickly as +possible." + +"Keep your advice to yourself," said the monarch, in +a peeved tone. "Who's King here, anyhow? You or Me?" + +"We made you our King because you have less common +sense than the rest of us," answered Panta Loon, +indignantly. "I could have been King myself, had I +wanted to, but I didn't care for the hard work and +responsibility." + +As he said this, the big Loon strutted back and forth +in the space between the throne of King Bal and the +prisoners, and the other Loons seemed much impressed by +his defiance. But suddenly there came a sharp report +and Panta Loon instantly disappeared, to the great +astonishment of the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and Woot +the Wanderer, who saw on the spot where the big fellow +had stood a little heap of flabby, wrinkled skin that +looked like a collapsed rubber balloon. + +"There!" exclaimed the King; "I expected that would +happen. The conceited rascal wanted to puff himself up +until he was bigger than the rest of you, and this is +the result of his folly. Get the pump working, some of +you, and blow him up again." + +"We will have to mend the puncture first, your +Majesty," suggested one of the Loons, and the prisoners +noticed that none of them seemed surprised or shocked +at the sad accident to Panta. + +"All right," grumbled the King. "Fetch Til to mend +him." + +One or two ran away and presently returned, followed +by a lady Loon wearing huge, puffed-up rubber skirts. +Also she had a purple feather fastened to a wart on the +top of her head, and around her waist was a sash of +fibre-like vines, dried and tough, that looked like +strings. + +"Get to work, Til," commanded King Bal. "Panta has +just exploded." + +The lady Loon picked up the bunch of skin and +examined it carefully until she discovered a hole in +one foot. Then she pulled a strand of string from her +sash, and drawing the edges of the hole together. she +tied them fast with the string, thus making one of +those curious warts which the strangers had noticed on +so many Loons. Having done this, Til Loon tossed the +bit of skin to the other Loons and was about to go away +when she noticed the prisoners and stopped to inspect +them. + +"Dear me!" said Til; "what dreadful creatures. Where +did they come from?" + +"We captured them," replied one of the Loons. + +"And what are we going to do with them?" inquired the +girl Loon. + +"Perhaps we'll condemn 'em and puncture 'em," +answered the King. + +"Well," said she, still eyeing the "I'm not sure +they'll puncture. Let's try it, and see." + +One of the Loons ran to the forest's edge and quickly +returned with a long, sharp thorn. He glanced at the +King, who nodded his head in assent, and then he rushed +forward and stuck the thorn into the leg of the +Scarecrow. The Scarecrow merely smiled and said +nothing, for the thorn didn't hurt him at all. + +Then the Loon tried to prick the Tin Woodman's leg, +but the tin only blunted the point of the thorn. + +"Just as I thought," said Til, blinking her purple +eyes and shaking her puffy head; but just then the Loon +stuck the thorn into the leg of Woot the Wanderer, and +while it had been blunted somewhat, it was still sharp +enough to hurt. + +"Ouch!" yelled Woot, and kicked out his leg with so +much energy that the frail bonds that tied him burst +apart. His foot caught the Loon -- who was leaning over +him -- full on his puffy stomach, and sent him shooting +up into the air. When he was high over their heads he +exploded with a loud "pop" and his skin fell to the +ground. + +"I really believe," said the King, rolling his +spotlike eyes in a frightened way, "that Panta was +right in claiming these prisoners are dangerous. Is +the pump ready?" + +Some of the Loons had wheeled a big machine in front +of the throne and now took Panta's skin and began to +pump air into it. Slowly it swelled out until the King +cried "Stop!" + +"No, no!" yelled Panta, "I'm not big enough yet." +"You're as big as you're going to be," declared the +King. "Before you exploded you were bigger than the +rest of us, and that caused you to be proud and +overbearing. Now you're a little smaller than the rest, +and you will last longer and be more humble." + +"Pump me up -- pump me up!" wailed Panta "If you +don't you'll break my heart." + +"If we do we'll break your skin," replied the King. + +So the Loons stopped pumping air into Panta, and +pushed him away from the pump. He was certainly more +humble than before his accident, for he crept into the +background and said nothing more. + +"Now pump up the other one," ordered the King. Til +had already mended him, and the Loons set to work to +pump him full of air. + +During these last few moments none had paid much +attention to the prisoners, so Woot, finding his legs +free, crept over to the Tin Woodman and rubbed the +bonds that were still around his arms and body against +the sharp edge of the axe, which quickly cut them. + +The boy was now free, and the thorn which the Loon +had stuck into his leg was lying unnoticed on the +ground, where the creature had dropped it when he +exploded. Woot leaned forward and picked up the thorn, +and while the Loons were busy watching the pump, the +boy sprang to his feet and suddenly rushed upon the +group. + +"Pop" -- "pop" -- "pop!" went three of the Loons, +when the Wanderer pricked them with his thorn, and at +the sounds the others looked around and saw their +danger. With yells of fear they bounded away in all +directions, scattering about the clearing, with Woot +the Wanderer in full chase. While they could run much +faster than the boy, they often stumbled and fell, or +got in one another's way, so he managed to catch +several and prick them with his thorn. + +It astonished him to see how easily the Loons +exploded. When the air was let out of them they were +quite helpless. Til Loon was one of those who ran +against his thorn and many others suffered the same +fate. The creatures could not escape from the +enclosure, but in their fright many bounded upward and +caught branches of the trees, and then climbed out of +reach of the dreaded thorn. + +Woot was getting pretty tired chasing them, so he +stopped and came over, panting, to where his friends +were sitting, still bound. + +"Very well done, my Wanderer," said the Tin Woodman. +"It is evident that we need fear these puffed-up +creatures no longer, so be kind enough to unfasten our +bonds and we will proceed upon our journey." + +Woot untied the bonds of the Scarecrow and helped him +to his feet. Then he freed the Tin Woodman, who got up +without help. Looking around them, they saw that the +only Loon now remaining within reach was Bal Loon, the +King, who had remained seated in his throne, watching +the punishment of his people with a bewildered look in +his purple eyes. + +"Shall I puncture the King?" the boy asked his +companions. + +King Bal must have overheard the question, for he +fumbled with the cord that fastened him to the throne +and managed to release it. Then he floated upward until +he reached the leafy dome, and parting the branches he +disappeared from sight. But the string that was tied to +his body was still connected with the arm of the +throne, and they knew they could pull his Majesty down +again, if they wanted to. + +"Let him alone," suggested the Scarecrow. "He seems a +good enough king for his peculiar people, and after we +are gone, the Loons will have something of a job to +pump up all those whom Woot has punctured." + +"Every one of them ought to be exploded," declared +Woot, who was angry because his leg still hurt him. + +"No," said the Tin Woodman, "that would not be just +fair. They were quite right to capture us, because we +had no business to intrude here, having been warned to +keep away from Loonville. This is their country, not +ours, and since the poor things can't get out of the +clearing, they can harm no one save those who venture +here out of curiosity, as we did." + +"Well said, my friend," agreed tile Scarecrow. "We +really had no right to disturb their peace and comfort; +so let us go away." + +They easily found the place where they had forced +their way into the enclosure, so the Tin Woodman pushed +aside the underbrush and started first along the path. +The Scarecrow followed next and last came Woot, who +looked back and saw that the Loons were still clinging +to their perches on the trees and watching their former +captives with frightened eyes. + +"I guess they're glad to see the last of us," +remarked the boy, and laughing at the happy ending of +the adventure, he followed his comrades along the path. + + + + +Chapter Five + +Mrs. Yoop, the Giantess + + +When they had reached the end of the path, where they +had first seen the warning sign, they set off across +the country in an easterly direction. Before long they +reached Rolling Lands, which were a succession of hills +and valleys where constant climbs and descents were +required, and their journey now became tedious, because +on climbing each hill, they found before them nothing +in the valley below it except grass, or weeds or +stones. + +Up and down they went for hours, with nothing to +relieve the monotony of the landscape, until finally, +when they had topped a higher hill than usual, they +discovered a cup-shaped valley before them in the +center of which stood an enormous castle, built of +purple stone. The castle was high and broad and +long, but had no turrets and towers. So far as they +could see, there was but one small window and one +big door on each side of the great building. + +"This is strange!" mused the Scarecrow. "I'd no idea +such a big castle existed in this Gillikin Country. I +wonder who lives here?" + +"It seems to me, from this distance," remarked the +Tin Woodman, "that it's the biggest castle I ever saw. +It is really too big for any use, and no one could open +or shut those big doors without a stepladder." + +"Perhaps, if we go nearer, we shall find out whether +anybody lives there or not," suggested Woot. "Looks to +me as if nobody lived there." + +On they went, and when they reached the center of the +valley, where the great stone castle stood, it was +beginning to grow dark. So they hesitated as to what to +do. + +"If friendly people happen to live here," said Woot. +I shall be glad of a bed; but should enemies occupy the +place, I prefer to sleep upon the ground." + +"And if no one at all lives here," added the +Scarecrow, "we can enter, and take possession, and +make ourselves at home." + +While speaking he went nearer to one of the great +doors, which was three times as high and broad as any +he had ever seen in a house before, and then he +discovered, engraved in big letters upon a stone over +the doorway, the words: + +"YOOP CASTLE" + +"Oho!" he exclaimed; "I know the place now. This was +probably the home of Mr. Yoop, a terrible giant whom I +have seen confined in a cage, a long way from here. +Therefore this castle is likely to be empty and we may +use it in any way we please." + +"Yes, yes," said the Tin Emperor, nodding; "I also +remember Mr. Yoop. But how are we to get into his +deserted castle? The latch of the door is so far above +our heads that none of us can reach it." + +They considered this problem for a while, and then +Woot said to the Tin Man: + +"If I stand upon your shoulders, I think I can +unlatch the door." + +"Climb up, then," was the reply, and when the boy was +perched upon the tin shoulders of Nick Chopper, he was +just able to reach the latch and raise it. + +At once the door swung open, its great hinges making +a groaning sound as if in protest, so Woot leaped down +and followed his companions into a big, bare hallway. +Scarcely were the three inside, however, when they +heard the door slam shut behind them, and this +astonished them because no one had touched it. It had +closed of its own accord, as if by magic. Moreover, +the latch was on the outside, and the thought occurred +to each one of them that they were now prisoners in +this unknown castle. + +"However," mumbled the Scarecrow, "we are not to +blame for what cannot be helped; so let us push bravely +ahead and see what may be seen." + +It was quite dark in the hallway, now that the +outside door was shut, so as they stumbled along a +stone passage they kept close together, not knowing +what danger was likely to befall them. + +Suddenly a soft glow enveloped them. It grew +brighter, until they could see their surroundings +distinctly. They had reached the end of the passage and +before them was another huge door. This noiselessly +swung open before them, without the help of anyone, and +through the doorway they observed a big chamber, the +walls of which were lined with plates of pure gold, +highly polished. + +This room was also lighted, although they could +discover no lamps, and in the center of it was a great +table at which sat an immense woman. She was clad in +silver robes embroidered with gay floral designs, and +wore over this splendid raiment a short apron of +elaborate lace-work. Such an apron was no protection, +and was not in keeping with the handsome gown, but the +huge woman wore it, nevertheless. The table at which +she sat was spread with a white cloth and had golden +dishes upon it, so the travelers saw that they had +surprised the Giantess while she was eating her supper. + +She had her back toward them and did not even turn +around, but taking a biscuit from a dish she began to +butter it and said in a voice that was big and deep but +not especially unpleasant: + +"Why don't you come in and allow the door to shut? +You're causing a draught, and I shall catch cold and +sneeze. When I sneeze, I get cross, and when I get +cross I'm liable to do something wicked. Come in, you +foolish strangers; come in!" + +Being thus urged, they entered the room and +approached the table, until they stood where they faced +the great Giantess. She continued eating, but smiled in +a curious way as she looked at them. Woot noticed that +the door had closed silently after they had entered, +and that didn't please him at all. + +"Well," said the Giantess, "what excuse have you to +offer?" + +"We didn't know anyone lived here, Madam," explained +the Scarecrow; "so, being travelers and strangers in +these parts, and wishing to find a place for our boy +friend to sleep, we ventured to enter your castle." + +"You knew it was private property, I suppose?" said +she, buttering another biscuit. + +"We saw the words, 'Yoop Castle,' over the door, but +we knew that Mr. Yoop is a prisoner in a cage in a far- +off part of the land of Oz, so we decided there was no +one now at home and that we might use the castle for +the night." + +"I see," remarked the Giantess, nodding her head and +smiling again in that curious way -- a way that made +Woot shudder. "You didn't know that Mr. Yoop was +married, or that after he was cruelly captured his wife +still lived in his castle and ran it to suit herself." + +"Who captured Mr. Yoop?" asked Woot, looking gravely +at the big woman. + +"Wicked enemies. People who selfishly objected to +Yoop's taking their cows and sheep for his food. I must +admit, however, that Yoop had a bad temper, and had the +habit of knocking over a few houses, now and then, when +he was angry. So one day the little folks came in a +great crowd and captured Mr. Yoop, and carried him away +to a cage somewhere in the mountains. I don't know +where it is, and I don't care, for my husband treated +me badly at times, forgetting the respect a giant owes +to a giantess. Often he kicked me on my shins, when I +wouldn't wait on him. So I'm glad he is gone." + +"It's a wonder the people didn't capture you, too," +remarked Woot. + +"Well, I was too clever for them," said she, giving a +sudden laugh that caused such a breeze that the wobbly +Scarecrow was almost blown off his feet and had to grab +his friend Nick Chopper to steady himself. "I saw the +people coining," continued Mrs. Yoop, "and knowing they +meant mischief I transformed myself into a mouse and +hid in a cupboard. After they had gone away, carrying +my shin-kicking husband with them, I transformed myself +back to my former shape again, and here I've lived in +peace and comfort ever since." + +"Are you a Witch, then? " inquired Woot. + +"Well, not exactly a Witch," she replied, "but I'm an +Artist in Transformations. In other words, I'm more of +a Yookoohoo than a Witch, and of course you know that +the Yookoohoos are the cleverest magic-workers in the +world." + +The travelers were silent for a time, uneasily +considering this statement and the effect it might have +on their future. No doubt the Giantess had wilfully +made them her prisoners; yet she spoke so cheerfully, +in her big voice, that until now they had not been +alarmed in the least. + +By and by the Scarecrow, whose mixed brains had been +working steadily, asked the woman: + +"Are we to consider you our friend, Mrs. Yoop, or do +you intend to be our enemy?" + +"I never have friends," she said in a matter-of-fact +tone, "because friends get too familiar and always +forget to mind their own business. But I am not your +enemy; not yet, anyhow. Indeed, I'm glad you've come, +for my life here is rather lonely. I've had no one to +talk to since I transformed Polychrome, the Daughter of +the Rainbow, into a canary-bird." + +"How did you manage to do that?" asked the Tin +Woodman, in amazement. "Polychrome is a powerful +fairy!" + +"She was," said the Giantess; "but now she's a +canary-bird. One day after a rain, Polychrome danced +off the Rainbow and fell asleep on a little mound in +this valley, not far from my castle. The sun came out +and drove the Rainbow away, and before Poly wakened, I +stole out and transformed her into a canary-bird in a +gold cage studded with diamonds. The cage was so she +couldn't fly away. I expected she'd sing and talk and +we'd have good times together; but she has proved no +company for me at all. Ever since the moment of her +transformation, she has refused to speak a single +word." + +"Where is she now?" inquired Woot, who had heard tales +of lovely Polychrome and was much interested in her. + +"The cage is hanging up in my bedroom," said the +Giantess, eating another biscuit. The travelers were +now more uneasy and suspicious of the Giantess than +before. If Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter, who was +a real fairy, had been transformed and enslaved by this +huge woman, who claimed to be a Yookoohoo, what was +liable to happen to them? Said the Scarecrow, twisting +his stuffed head around in Mrs. Yoop's direction: + +"Do you know, Ma'am, who we are?" + +"Of course," said she; "a straw man, a tin man and a boy." + +"We are very important people," declared the Tin Woodman. + +"All the better," she replied. "I shall enjoy your +society the more on that account. For I mean to keep +you here as long as I live, to amuse me when I get +lonely. And," she added slowly, "in this Valley no one +ever dies." + +They didn't like this speech at all, so the Scarecrow +frowned in a way that made Mrs. Yoop smile, while +the Tin Woodman looked so fierce that Mrs. Yoop +laughed. The Scarecrow suspected she was going to +laugh, so he slipped behind his friends to escape the +wind from her breath. From this safe position he +said warningly: + +"We have powerful friends who will soon come to +rescue us." + +"Let them come," she returned, with an accent of +scorn. "When they get here they will find neither a +boy, nor a tin man, nor a scarecrow, for tomorrow +morning I intend to transform you all into other +shapes, so that you cannot be recognized." + +This threat filled them with dismay. The good-natured +Giantess was more terrible than they had imagined. She +could smile and wear pretty clothes and at the same +time be even more cruel than her wicked husband had been. + +Both the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman tried to +think of some way to escape from the castle before +morning, but she seemed to read their thoughts and +shook her head. + +"Don't worry your poor brains," said she. "You can't +escape me, however hard you try. But why should you +wish to escape? I shall give you new forms that are +much better than the ones you now have. Be contented +with your fate, for discontent leads to unhappiness, +and unhappiness, in any form, is the greatest evil that +can befall you." + +"What forms do you intend to give us?" asked Woot +earnestly. + +"I haven't decided, as yet. I'll dream over it +tonight, so in the morning I shall have made up my mind +how to transform you. Perhaps you'd prefer to choose +your own transformations?" + +"No," said Woot, "I prefer to remain as I am." + +"That's funny," she retorted. "You are little, and +you're weak; as you are, you're not much account, +anyhow. The best thing about you is that you're alive, +for I shall be able to make of you some sort of live +creature which will be a great improvement on your +present form." + +She took another biscuit from a plate and dipped it +in a pot of honey and calmly began eating it. + +The Scarecrow watched her thoughtfully. + +"There are no fields of grain in your Valley," said he; +"where, then. did you get the flour to make your biscuits?" + +"Mercy me! do you think I'd bother to make biscuits +out of flour?" she replied. "That is altogether too +tedious a process for a Yookoohoo. I set some traps +this afternoon and caught a lot of field-mice, but as I +do not like to eat mice, I transformed them into hot +biscuits for my supper. The honey in this pot was once +a wasp's nest, but since being transformed it has +become sweet and delicious. All I need do, when I wish +to eat, is to take something I don't care to keep, and +transform it into any sort of food I like, and eat it. +Are you hungry?" + +"I don't eat, thank you," said the Scarecrow. + +"Nor do I," said the Tin Woodman. + +"I have still a little natural food in my knapsack," +said Woot the Wanderer, "and I'd rather eat that than +any wasp's nest." + +"Every one to his taste," said the Giantess +carelessly, and having now finished her supper she rose +to her feet, clapped her hands together, and the supper +table at once disappeared. + + + + +Chapter Six + +The Magic of a Yookoohoo + + +Woot had seen very little of magic during his +wanderings, while the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman had +seen a great deal of many sorts in their lives, yet all +three were greatly impressed by Mrs. Yoop's powers. She +did not affect any mysterious airs or indulge in chants +or mystic rites, as most witches do, nor was the +Giantess old and ugly or disagreeable in face or +manner. Nevertheless, she frightened her prisoners more +than any witch could have done. + +"Please be seated," she said to them, as she sat +herself down in a great arm-chair and spread her +beautiful embroidered skirts for them to admire. But +all the chairs in the room were so high that our +friends could not climb to the seats of them. Mrs. Yoop +observed this and waved her hand, when instantly a +golden ladder appeared leaning against a chair opposite +her own. + +"Climb up," said she, and they obeyed, the Tin Man +and the boy assisting the more clumsy Scarecrow. When +they were all seated in a row on the cushion of the +chair, the Giantess continued: "Now tell me how you +happened to travel in this direction, and where you +came from and what your errand is." + +So the Tin Woodman told her all about Nimmie Amee, +and how he had decided to find her and marry her, +although he had no Loving Heart. The story seemed to +amuse the big woman, who then began to ask the +Scarecrow questions and for the first time in her life +heard of Ozma of Oz, and of Dorothy and Jack +Pumpkinhead and Dr. Pipt and Tik-tok and many other Oz +people who are well known in the Emerald City. Also +Woot had to tell his story, which. was very simple and +did not take long. The Giantess laughed heartily when +the boy related their adventure at Loonville, but said +she knew nothing of the Loons because she never left +her Valley. + +"There are wicked people who would like to capture +me, as they did my giant husband, Mr. Yoop," said she; +"so I stay at home and mind my own business." + +"If Ozma knew that you dared to work magic without +her consent, she would punish you severely," declared +the Scarecrow, "for this castle is in the Land of Oz, +and no persons in the Land of Oz are permitted to work +magic except Glinda the Good and the little Wizard who +lives with Ozma in the Emerald City." + +"That for your Ozma!" exclaimed the Giantess, +snapping her fingers in derision. "What do I care for a +girl whom I have never seen and who has never seen me?" + +"But Ozma is a fairy," said the Tin Woodman, and +therefore she is very powerful. Also, we are under +Ozma's protection, and to injure us in any way would +make her extremely angry." + +"What I do here, in my own private castle in this +secluded Valley -- where no one comes but fools like +you -- can never be known to your fairy Ozma," returned +the Giantess. "Do not seek to frighten me from my +purpose, and do not allow yourselves to be frightened, +for it is best to meet bravely what cannot be avoided. +I am now going to bed, and in the morning I will give +you all new forms, such as will be more interesting to +me than the ones you now wear. Good night, and pleasant dreams." + +Saying this, Mrs. Yoop rose from her chair and walked +through a doorway into another room. So heavy was the +tread of the Giantess that even the walls of the big +stone castle trembled as she stepped. She closed the +door of her bedroom behind her, and then suddenly the +light went out and the three prisoners found themselves +in total darkness. + +The Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow didn't mind the +dark at all, but Woot the Wanderer felt worried to be +left in this strange place in this strange manner, +without being able to see any danger that might threaten. + +"The big woman might have given me a bed, anyhow," he +said to his companions, and scarcely had he spoken when +he felt something press against his legs, which were +then dangling from the seat of the chair. Leaning down, +he put out his hand and found that a bedstead had +appeared, with mattress, sheets and covers, all +complete. He lost no time in slipping down upon the bed +and was soon fast asleep. + +During the night the Scarecrow and the Emperor talked +in low tones together, and they got out of the chair +and moved all about the room, feeling for some hidden +spring that might open a door or window and permit them +to escape. + +Morning found them still unsuccessful in the quest +and as soon as it was daylight Woot's bed suddenly +disappeared, and he dropped to the floor with a thump +that quickly wakened him. And after a time the Giantess +came from her bedroom, wearing another dress that was +quite as elaborate as the one in which she had been +attired the evening before, and also wearing the pretty +lace apron. Having seated herself in a chair, she said: + +"I'm hungry; so I'll have breakfast at once." + +She clapped her hands together and instantly the +table appeared before her, spread with snowy linen +and laden with golden dishes. But there was no +food upon the table, nor anything else except a +pitcher of water, a bundle of weeds and a handful +of pebbles. But the Giantess poured some water into +her coffee-pot, patted it once or twice with her hand, +and then poured out a cupful of steaming hot coffee. + +"Would you like some?" she asked Woot. + +He was suspicious of magic coffee, but it smelled so +good that he could not resist it; so he answered: "If +you please, Madam." + +The Giantess poured out another cup and set it on the +floor for Woot. It was as big as a tub, and the golden +spoon in the saucer beside the cup was so heavy the boy +could scarcely lift it. But Woot managed to get a sip +of the coffee and found it delicious. + +Mrs. Yoop next transformed the weeds into a dish of +oatmeal, which she ate with good appetite. + +"Now, then," said she, picking up the pebbles. "I'm +wondering whether I shall have fish-balls or lamb-chops +to complete my meal. Which would you prefer, Woot the Wanderer?" + +"If you please, I'll eat the food in my knapsack," +answered the boy. "Your magic food might taste good, +but I'm afraid of it." + +The woman laughed at his fears and transformed the +pebbles into fish-balls. + +"I suppose you think that after you had eaten this +food it would turn to stones again and make you sick," +she remarked; "but that would be impossible. Nothing I +transform ever gets back to its former shape again, so +these fish-balls can never more be pebbles. That is why +I have to be careful of my transformations," she added, +busily eating while she talked, "for while I can change +forms at will I can never change them back again -- +which proves that even the powers of a clever Yookoohoo +are limited. When I have transformed you three people, +you must always wear the shapes that I have given you." + +"Then please don't transform us," begged Woot, "for +we are quite satisfied to remain as we are." + +"I am not expecting to satisfy you, but intend to +please myself," she declared, "and my pleasure is to +give you new shapes. For, if by chance your friends +came in search of you, not one of them would be able to +recognize you." + +Her tone was so positive that they knew it would be +useless to protest. The woman was not unpleasant to +look at; her face was not cruel; her voice was big but +gracious in tone; but her words showed that she +possessed a merciless heart and no pleadings would +alter her wicked purpose. + +Mrs. Yoop took ample time to finish her breakfast and +the prisoners had no desire to hurry her, but finally +the meal was concluded and she folded her napkin and +made the table disappear by clapping her hands +together. Then she turned to her captives and said: + +"The next thing on the programme is to change your +forms." + +"Have you decided what forms to give us?" asked the +Scarecrow, uneasily. + +"Yes; I dreamed it all out while I was asleep. This +Tin Man seems a very solemn person " -- indeed, the Tin +Woodman was looking solemn, just then, for he was +greatly disturbed -- "so I shall change him into an +Owl." + +All she did was to point one finger at him as she +spoke, but immediately the form of the Tin Woodman +began to change and in a few seconds Nick Chopper, the +Emperor of the Winkies, had been transformed into an +Owl, with eyes as big as saucers and a hooked beak and +strong claws. But he was still tin. He was a Tin Owl, +with tin legs and beak and eyes and feathers. When he +flew to the back of a chair and perched upon it, his +tin feathers rattled against one another with a tinny +clatter. The Giantess seemed much amused by the Tin +Owl's appearance, for her laugh was big and jolly. + +"You're not liable to get lost," said she, "for your +wings and feathers will make a racket wherever you go. +And, on my word, a Tin Owl is so rare and pretty that +it is an improvement on the ordinary bird. I did not +intend to make you tin, but I forgot to wish you to be +meat. However, tin you were, and tin you are, and as +it's too late to change you, that settles it." + +Until now the Scarecrow had rather doubted the +possibility of Mrs. Yoop's being able to transform him, +or his friend the Tin Woodman, for they were not made +as ordinary people are. He had worried more over what +might happen to Woot than to himself, but now he began +to worry about himself. + +"Madam," he said hastily, "I consider this action +very impolite. It may even be called rude, considering +we are your guests." + +"You are not guests, for I did not invite you here," +she replied. + +"Perhaps not; but we craved hospitality. We threw +ourselves upon your mercy, so to speak, and we now find +you have no mercy. Therefore, if you will excuse the +expression, I must say it is downright wicked to take +our proper forms away from us and give us others that +we do not care for." + +"Are you trying to make me angry?" she asked, +frowning. + +"By no means," said the Scarecrow; "I'm just trying +to make you act more ladylike." + +"Oh, indeed! In my opinion, Mr. Scarecrow, you are +now acting like a bear -- so a Bear you shall be!" + +Again the dreadful finger pointed, this time in the +Scarecrow's direction, and at once his form began to +change. In a few seconds he had become a small Brown +Bear, but he was stuffed with straw as he had been +before, and when the little Brown Bear shuffled across +the floor he was just as wobbly as the Scarecrow had +been and moved just as awkwardly. + +Woot was amazed, but he was also thoroughly +frightened. + +"Did it hurt?" he asked the little Brown Bear. + +"No, of course not," growled the Scarecrow in the +Bear's form; "but I don't like walking on four legs; +it's undignified." + +"Consider my humiliation!" chirped the Tin Owl, +trying to settle its tin feathers smoothly with its tin +beak. "And I can't see very well, either. The light +seems to hurt my eyes." + +"That's because you are an Owl," said Woot. "I think +you will see better in the dark." + +"Well," remarked the Giantess, "I'm very well pleased +with these new forms, for my part, and I'm sure you +will like them better when you get used to them. So +now," she added, turning to the boy, "it is your turn." + +"Don't you think you'd better leave me as I am?" +asked Woot in a trembling voice. + +"No," she replied, "I'm going to make a Monkey of +you. I love monkeys -- they're so cute! -- and I think +a Green Monkey will be lots of fun and amuse me when I +am sad." + +Woot shivered, for again the terrible magic finger +pointed, and pointed directly his way. He felt himself +changing; not so very much, however, and it didn't hurt +him a bit. He looked down at his limbs and body and +found that his clothes were gone and his skin covered +with a fine, silk-like green fur. His hands and feet +were now those of a monkey. He realized he really was a +monkey, and his first feeling was one of anger. He +began to chatter as monkeys do. He bounded to the seat +of a giant chair, and then to its back and with a wild +leap sprang upon the laughing Giantess. His idea was to +seize her hair and pull it out by the roots, and so +have revenge for her wicked transformations. But she +raised her hand and said: + +"Gently, my dear Monkey -- gently! You're not angry; +you're happy as can be!" + +Woot stopped short. No; he wasn't a bit angry now; he +felt as good-humored and gay as ever he did when a boy. +Instead of pulling Mrs. Yoop's hair, he perched on her +shoulder and smoothed her soft cheek with his hairy +paw. In return, she smiled at the funny green animal +and patted his head. + +"Very good," said the Giantess. "Let us all become +friends and be happy together. How is my Tin Owl +feeling?" + +"Quite comfortable," said the Owl. "I don't like it, +to be sure, but I'm not going to allow my new form to +make me unhappy. But, tell me, please: what is a Tin +Owl good for?" + +"You are only good to make me laugh," replied the +Giantess. + +"Will a stuffed Bear also make you laugh?" inquired +the Scarecrow, sitting back on his haunches to look up +at her. + +"Of course," declared the Giantess; "and I have added +a little magic to your transformations to make you all +contented with wearing your new forms. I'm sorry I +didn't think to do that when I transformed Polychrome +into a Canary-Bird. But perhaps, when she sees how +cheerful you are, she will cease to be silent and +sullen and take to singing. I will go get the bird and +let you see her." + +With this, Mrs. Yoop went into the next room and soon +returned bearing a golden cage in which sat upon a +swinging perch a lovely yellow Canary. "Polychrome," +said the Giantess, "permit me to introduce to you a +Green Monkey, which used to be a boy called Woot the +Wanderer, and a Tin Owl, which used to be a Tin Woodman +named Nick Chopper, and a straw-stuffed little Brown +Bear which used to be a live Scarecrow." + +"We already know one another," declared the +Scarecrow. "The bird is Polychrome, the Rainbow's +Daughter, and she and I used to be good friends." + +"Are you really my old friend, the Scarecrow?" asked; +the bird, in a sweet, low voice. + +"There!" cried Mrs. Yoop; "that's the first time she +has spoken since she was transformed." + +"I am really your old friend," answered the +Scarecrow; "but you must pardon me for appearing just +now in this brutal form." + +"I am a bird, as you are, dear Poly," said the Tin +Woodman; "but, alas! a Tin Owl is not as beautiful as a +Canary-Bird." + +"How dreadful it all is!" sighed the Canary. +"Couldn't you manage to escape from this terrible +Yookoohoo?" + +No," answered the Scarecrow, "we tried to escape, but +failed. She first made us her prisoners and then +transformed us. But how did she manage to get you, +Polychrome?"' + +"I was asleep, and she took unfair advantage of me," +answered the bird sadly. "Had I been awake, I could +easily have protected myself." + +"Tell me," said the Green Monkey earnestly, as he +came close to the cage, "what must we do, Daughter of +the Rainbow, to escape from these transformations? +Can't you help us, being a Fairy?" "At present I am +powerless to help even myself," replied the Canary. + +"That's the exact truth!" exclaimed the Giantess, who +seemed pleased to hear the bird talk, even though it +complained; "you are all helpless and in my power, so +you may as well make up your minds to accept your fate +and be content. Remember that you are transformed for +good, since no magic on earth can break your +enchantments. I am now going out for my morning walk, +for each day after breakfast I walk sixteen times +around my castle for exercise. Amuse yourselves while I +am gone, and when I return I hope to find you all +reconciled and happy." + +So the Giantess walked to the door by which our +friends had entered the great hall and spoke one word: +"Open!" Then the door swung open and after Mrs. Yoop +had passed out it closed again with a snap as its +powerful bolts shot into place. The Green Monkey had +rushed toward the opening, hoping to escape, but he was +too late and only got a bump on his nose as the door +slammed shut. + + + + +Chapter Seven + +The Lace Apron + + +"Now," said the Canary, in a tone more brisk than +before, "we may talk together more freely, as Mrs. Yoop +cannot hear us. Perhaps we can figure out a way to +escape." + +"Open!" said Woot the Monkey, still facing the door; +but his command had no effect and he slowly rejoined +the others. + +"You cannot open any door or window in this enchanted +castle unless you are wearing the Magic Apron," said +the Canary. + +"What Magic Apron do you mean?" asked the Tin Owl, in +a curious voice. + +"The lace one, which the Giantess always wears. I +have been her prisoner, in this cage, for several +weeks, and she hangs my cage in her bedroom every +night, so that she can keep her eye on me," explained +Polychrome the Canary. "Therefore I have discovered +that it is the Magic Apron that opens the doors and +windows, and nothing else can move them. when she goes +to bed, Mrs. Yoop hangs her apron on the bedpost, and +one morning she forgot to put it on when she commanded +the door to open, and the door would not move. So then +she put on the lace apron and the door obeyed her. That +was how I learned the magic power of the apron." + +"I see -- I see!" said the little Brown Bear, wagging +his stuffed head. "Then, if we could get the apron from +Mrs. Yoop, we could open the doors and escape from our +prison." + +"That is true, and it is the plan I was about to +suggest," replied Polychrome the Canary-Bird. +"However, I don't believe the Owl could steal the +apron, or even the Bear, but perhaps the Monkey could +hide in her room at night and get the apron while she +is asleep." + +"I'll try it!" cried Woot the Monkey. "I'll try it +this very night, if I can manage to steal into her +bedroom." + +"You mustn't think about it, though," warned the +bird, "for she can read your thoughts whenever she +cares to do so. And do not forget, before you escape, +to take me with you. Once I am out of the power of the +Giantess, I may discover a way to save us all." + +"We won't forget our fairy friend," promised the boy; +"but perhaps you can tell me how to get into the +bedroom." + +"No," declared Polychrome, "I cannot advise you as to +that. You must watch for a chance, and slip in when +Mrs. Yoop isn't looking." + +They talked it over for a while longer and then Mrs. +Yoop returned. When she entered, the door opened +suddenly, at her command, and closed as soon as her +huge form had passed through the doorway. During that +day she entered her bedroom several times, on one +errand or another, but always she commanded the door to +close behind her and her prisoners found not the +slightest chance to leave the big hall in which they +were confined. + +The Green Monkey thought it would be wise to make a +friend of the big woman, so as to gain her confidence, +so he sat on the back of her chair and chattered to her +while she mended her stockings and sewed silver buttons +on some golden shoes that were as big as row-boats. +This pleased the Giantess and she would pause at times +to pat the Monkey's head. The little Brown Bear curled +up in a corner and lay still all day. The Owl and the +Canary found they could converse together in the bird +language, which neither the Giantess nor the Bear nor +the Monkey could understand; so at times they twittered +away to each other and passed the long, dreary day +quite cheerfully. + +After dinner Mrs. Yoop took a big fiddle from a big +cupboard and played such loud and dreadful music that +her prisoners were all thankful when at last she +stopped and said she was going to bed. + +After cautioning the Monkey and Bear and Owl to +behave themselves during the night, she picked up the +cage containing the Canary and, going to the door of +her bedroom, commanded it to open. just then, however, +she remembered she had left her fiddle lying upon a +table, so she went back for it and put it away in the +cupboard, and while her back was turned the Green +Monkey slipped through the open door into her bedroom +and hid underneath the bed. The Giantess, being sleepy, +did not notice this, and entering her room she made the +door close behind her and then hung the bird-cage on a +peg by the window. Then she began to undress, first +taking off the lace apron and laying it over the +bedpost, where it was within easy reach of her hand. + +As soon as Mrs. Yoop was in bed the lights all went +out, and Woot the Monkey crouched under the bed and +waited patiently until he heard the Giantess snoring. +Then he crept out and in the dark felt around until he +got hold of the apron, which he at once tied around his +own waist. + +Next, Woot tried to find the Canary, and there was +just enough moonlight showing through the window to +enable him to see where the cage hung; but it was out +of his reach. At first he was tempted to leave +Polychrome and escape with his other friends, but +remembering his promise to the Rainbow's Daughter Woot +tried to think how to save her. + +A chair stood near the window, and this -- showing +dimly in the moonlight -- gave him an idea. By pushing +against it with all his might, he found he could move +the giant chair a few inches at a time. So he pushed +and pushed until the chair was beneath the bird-cage, +and then he sprang noiselessly upon the seat -- for his +monkey form enabled him to jump higher than he could do +as a boy -- and from there to the back of the chair, +and so managed to reach the cage and take it off the +peg. Then down he sprang to the floor and made his way +to the door. "Open!" he commanded, and at once the door +obeyed and swung open, But his voice wakened Mrs. Yoop, +who gave a wild cry and sprang out of bed with one +bound. The Green Monkey dashed through the doorway, +carrying the cage with him, and before the Giantess +could reach the door it slammed shut and imprisoned her +in her own bed-chamber! + +The noise she made, pounding upon the door, and her +yells of anger and dreadful threats of vengeance, +filled all our friends with terror, and Woot the Monkey +was so excited that in the dark he could not find the +outer door of the hall. But the Tin Owl could see very +nicely in the dark, so he guided his friends to the +right place and when all were grouped before the door +Woot commanded it to open. The Magic Apron proved as +powerful as when it had been worn by the Giantess, so a +moment later they had rushed through the passage and +were standing in the fresh night air outside the +castle, free to go wherever they willed. + + + + +Chapter Eight + +The Menace of the Forest + + +"Quick!" cried Polychrome the Canary; "we must hurry, +or Mrs. Yoop may find some way to recapture us, even +now. Let us get out of her Valley as soon as possible." + +So they set off toward the east, moving as swiftly as +they could, and for a long time they could hear the +yells and struggles of the imprisoned Giantess. The +Green Monkey could run over the ground very swiftly, +and he carried with him the bird-cage containing +Polychrome the Rain-bow's Daughter. Also the Tin Owl +could skip and fly along at a good rate of speed, his +feathers rattling against one another with a tinkling +sound as he moved. But the little Brown Bear, being +stuffed with straw, was a clumsy traveler and the +others had to wait for him to follow. + +However, they were not very long in reaching the +ridge that led out of Mrs. Yoop's Valley, and when they +had passed this ridge and descended into the next +valley they stopped to rest, for the Green Monkey was +tired. + +"I believe we are safe, now," said Polychrome, when +her cage was set down and the others had all gathered +around it, "for Mrs. Yoop dares not go outside of her +own Valley, for fear of being captured by her enemies. +So we may take our time to consider what to do next." + +"I'm afraid poor Mrs. Yoop will starve to death, if +no one lets her out of her bedroom," said Woot, who had +a heart as kind as that of the Tin Woodman. "We've +taken her Magic Apron away, and now the doors will +never open." + +"Don't worry about that," advised Polychrome. "Mrs. +Yoop has plenty of magic left to console her." + +"Are you sure of that?" asked the Green Monkey. + +"Yes, for I've been watching her for weeks," said the +Canary. "She has six magic hairpins, which she wears in +her hair, and a magic ring which she wears on her thumb +and which is invisible to all eyes except those of a +fairy, and magic bracelets on both her ankles. So I am +positive that she will manage to find a way out of her +prison." + +"She might transform the door into an archway," +suggested the little Brown Bear. + +"That would be easy for her," said the Tin Owl; "but +I'm glad she was too angry to think of that before we +got out of her Valley." + +"Well, we have escaped the big woman, to be sure," +remarked the Green Monkey, "but we still wear the +awful forms the cruel yookoohoo gave us. How are we +going to get rid of these shapes, and become ourselves +again?" + +None could answer that question. They sat around the +cage, brooding over the problem, until the Monkey fell +asleep. Seeing this, the Canary tucked her head under +her wing and also slept, and the Tin Owl and the Brown +Bear did not disturb them until morning came and it was +broad daylight. + +"I'm hungry," said Woot, when he wakened, for his +knapsack of food had been left behind at the castle. + +"Then let us travel on until we can find something +for you to eat," returned the Scarecrow Bear. + +"There is no use in your lugging my cage any +farther," declared the Canary. "Let me out, and throw +the cage away. Then I can fly with you and find my own +breakfast of seeds. Also I can search for water, and +tell you where to find it." + +So the Green Monkey unfastened the door of the golden +cage and the Canary hopped out. At first she flew high +in the air and made great circles overhead, but after a +time she returned and perched beside them. + +"At the east in the direction we were following," +announced the Canary, "there is a fine forest, with a +brook running through it. In the forest there may be +fruits or nuts growing, or berry bushes at its edge, so +let us go that way." + +They agreed to this and promptly set off, this time +moving more deliberately. The Tin Owl, which had guided +their way during the night, now found the sunshine very +trying to his big eyes, so he shut them tight and +perched upon the back of the little Brown Bear, which +carried the Owl's weight with ease. The Canary +sometimes perched upon the Green Monkey's shoulder and +sometimes fluttered on ahead of the party, and in this +manner they traveled in good spirits across that valley +and into the next one to the east of it. + +This they found to be an immense hollow, shaped like +a saucer, and on its farther edge appeared the forest +which Polychrome had seen from the sky. + +"Come to think of it," said the Tin Owl, waking up +and blinking comically at his friends, "there's no +object, now, in our traveling to the Munchkin Country. +My idea in going there was to marry Nimmie Amee, but +however much the Munchkin girl may have loved a Tin +Woodman, I cannot reasonably expect her to marry a Tin +Owl." + +"There is some truth in that, my friend," remarked +the Brown Bear. "And to think that I, who was +considered the handsomest Scarecrow in the world, am +now condemned to be a scrubby, no-account beast, whose +only redeeming feature is that he is stuffed with +straw!" + +"Consider my case, please," said Woot. "The cruel +Giantess has made a Monkey of a Boy, and that is the +most dreadful deed of all!" + +"Your color is rather pretty," said the Brown Bear, +eyeing Woot critically. "I have never seen a pea-green +monkey before, and it strikes me you are quite +gorgeous." + +"It isn't so bad to be a bird," asserted the Canary, +fluttering from one to another with a free and graceful +motion, "but I long to enjoy my own shape a gam." + +"As Polychrome, you were the loveliest maiden I have +ever seen -- except, of course, Ozma," said the Tin +Owl; "so the Giantess did well to transform you into +the loveliest of all birds, if you were to be +transformed at all. But tell me, since you are a fairy, +and have a fairy wisdom: do you think we shall be able +to break these enchantments?" + +"Queer things happen in the Land of Oz," replied the +Canary, again perching on the Green Monkey's shoulder +and turning one bright eye thoughtfully toward her +questioner. "Mrs. Yoop has declared that none of her +transformations can ever be changed, even by herself, +but I believe that if we could get to Glinda the Good +Sorceress, she might find a way to restore us to our +natural shapes. Glinda, as you know, is the most +powerful Sorceress in the world, and there are few +things she cannot do if she tries." + +"In that case," said the Little Brown Bear, "let us +return southward and try to get to Glinda's castle. It +lies in the Quadling Country, you know, so it is a good +way from here." + +"First, however, let us visit the forest and search +for something to eat," pleaded Woot. So they continued +on to the edge of the forest, which consisted of many +tall and beautiful trees. They discovered no fruit +trees, at first, so the Green Monkey pushed on into the +forest depths and the others followed close behind him. + +They were traveling quietly along, under the shade of +the trees, when suddenly an enormous jaguar leaped upon +them from a limb and with one blow of his paw sent the +little Brown Bear tumbling over and over until he was +stopped by a tree-trunk. Instantly they all took alarm. +The Tin Owl shrieked: "Hoot -- hoot!" and flew straight +up to the branch of a tall tree, although he could +scarcely see where he was going. The Canary swiftly +darted to a place beside the Owl, and the Green Monkey +sprang up, caught a limb, and soon scrambled to a high +perch of safety. + +The Jaguar crouched low and with hungry eyes regarded +the little Brown Bear, which slowly got upon its feet +and asked reproachfully: + +"For goodness' sake, Beast, what were you trying to +do?" + +"Trying to get my breakfast," answered the Jaguar +with a snarl, "and I believe I've succeeded. You ought +to make a delicious meal -- unless you happen to be old +and tough." + +"I'm worse than that, considered as a breakfast," +said the Bear, "for I'm only a skin stuffed with straw, +and therefore not fit to eat." + +"Indeed!" cried the Jaguar, in a disappointed voice; +"then you must be a magic Bear, or enchanted, and I +must seek my breakfast from among your companions." + +With this he raised his lean head to look up at the +Tin Owl and the Canary and the Monkey, and he lashed +his tail upon the ground and growled as fiercely as any +jaguar could. + +"My friends are enchanted, also," said the little +Brown Bear. + +"All of them?" asked the Jaguar. + +"Yes. The Owl is tin, so you couldn't possibly eat +him. The Canary is a fairy -- Polychrome, the Daughter +of the Rainbow -- and you never could catch her because +she can easily fly out of your reach." + +"There still remains the Green Monkey," remarked the +Jaguar hungrily. "He is neither made of tin nor stuffed +with straw, nor can he fly. I'm pretty good at climbing +trees, myself, so I think I'll capture the Monkey and +eat him for my breakfast." + +Woot the Monkey, hearing this speech from his perch +on the tree, became much frightened, for he knew the +nature of jaguars and realized they could climb trees +and leap from limb to limb with the agility of cats. So +he at once began to scamper through the forest as fast +as he could go, catching at a branch with his long +monkey arms and swinging his green body through space +to grasp another branch in a neighboring tree, and so +on, while the Jaguar followed him from below, his eyes +fixed steadfastly on his prey. But presently Woot got +his feet tangled in the Lace Apron, which he was still +wearing, and that tripped him in his flight and made +him fall to the ground, where the Jaguar placed one +huge paw upon him and said grimly: + I've got you, now!" +The fact that the Apron had tripped him made Woot +remember its magic powers, and in his terror he cried +out: "Open!" without stopping to consider how this +command might save him. But, at the word, the earth +opened at the exact spot where he lay under the +Jaguar's paw, and his body sank downward, the earth +closing over it again. The last thing Woot the Monkey +saw, as he glanced upward, was the Jaguar peering into +the hole in astonishment. + +"He's gone!" cried the beast, with a long-drawn sigh +of disappointment; "he's gone, and now I shall have no +breakfast." + +The clatter of the Tin Owl's wings sounded above him, +and the little Brown Bear came trotting up and asked: + +"Where is the monkey? Have you eaten him so quickly?" + +"No, indeed," answered the Jaguar. "He disappeared +into the earth before I could take one bite of him!" + +And now the Canary perched upon a stump, a little way +from the forest beast, and said: + +"I am glad our friend has escaped you; but, as it is +natural for a hungry beast to wish his breakfast, I +will try to give you one." + +"Thank you," replied the Jaguar. "You're rather small +for a full meal, but it's kind of you to sacrifice +yourself to my appetite." + +"Oh, I don't intend to be eaten, I assure you," said +the Canary, "but as I am a fairy I know something of +magic, and though I am now transformed into a bird's +shape, I am sure I can conjure up a breakfast that will +satisfy you." + +"If you can work magic, why don't you break the +enchantment you are under and return to your proper +form?" inquired the beast doubtingly. + +"I haven't the power to do that," answered the +Canary, "for Mrs. Yoop, the Giantess who transformed +me, used a peculiar form of yookoohoo magic that is +unknown to me. However, she could not deprive me of my +own fairy knowledge, so I will try to get you a +breakfast." + +"Do you think a magic breakfast would taste good, or +relieve the pangs of hunger I now suffer?" asked the +Jaguar. + +"I am sure it would. What would you like to eat?" + +"Give me a couple of fat rabbits," said the beast. + +"Rabbits! No, indeed. I'd not allow you to eat the +dear little things," declared Polychrome the Canary. + +"Well, three or four squirrels, then," pleaded the +Jaguar. + +"Do you think me so cruel?" demanded the Canary, +indignantly. "The squirrels are my especial friends." + +"How about a plump owl?" asked the beast. "Not a tin +one, you know, but a real meat owl." + +"Neither beast nor bird shall you have," said +Polychrome in a positive voice. + +"Give me a fish, then; there's a river a little way +off," proposed the Jaguar. + +"No living thing shall be sacrificed to feed you," +returned the Canary. + +"Then what in the world do you expect me to +eat?" said the Jaguar in a scornful tone. + +"How would mush-and-milk do?" asked the +Canary. + +The Jaguar snarled in derision and lashed his tail +against the ground angrily + +"Give him some scrambled eggs on toast, Poly," +suggested the Bear Scarecrow. "He ought to like that." + +"I will," responded the Canary, and fluttering her +wings she made a flight of three circles around the +stump. Then she flew up to a tree and the Bear and the +Owl and the Jaguar saw that upon the stump had appeared +a great green leaf upon which was a large portion of +scrambled eggs on toast, smoking hot. + +"There!" said the Bear; "eat your breakfast, friend +Jaguar, and be content." + +The Jaguar crept closer to the stump and sniffed the +fragrance of the scrambled eggs. They smelled so good +that he tasted them, and they tasted so good that he +ate the strange meal in a hurry, proving he had been +really hungry. + +"I prefer rabbits," he muttered, licking his chops, +"but I must admit the magic breakfast has filled my +stomach full, and brought me comfort. So I'm much +obliged for the kindness, little Fairy, and I'll now +leave you in peace." + +Saying this, he plunged into the thick underbrush and +soon disappeared, although they could hear his great +body crashing through the bushes until he was far +distant. + +"That was a good way to get rid of the savage beast, +Poly," said the Tin Woodman to the Canary; "but I'm +surprised that you didn't give our friend Woot a magic +breakfast, when you knew he was hungry." + +"The reason for that," answered Polychrome, "was +that my mind was so intent on other things that I quite +forgot my power to produce food by magic. But where is +the monkey boy?" + +"Gone!" said the Scarecrow Bear, solemnly. "The earth +has swallowed him up." + + + + +Chapter Nine + +The Quarrelsome Dragons + + +The Green Monkey sank gently into the earth for a +little way and then tumbled swiftly through space, +landing on a rocky floor with a thump that astonished +him. Then he sat up, found that no bones were broken, +and gazed around him. + +He seemed to be in a big underground cave, which was +dimly lighted by dozens of big round discs that looked +like moons. They were not moons, however, as Woot +discovered when he had examined the place more +carefully. They were eyes. The eyes were in the heads +of enormous beasts whose bodies trailed far behind +them. Each beast was bigger than an elephant, and three +times as long, and there were a dozen or more of the +creatures scattered here and there about the cavern. On +their bodies were big scales, as round as pie-plates, +which were beautifully tinted in shades of green, +purple and orange. On the ends of their long tails were +clusters of jewels. Around the great, moon-like eyes +were circles of diamonds which sparkled in the subdued +light that glowed from the eyes. + +Woot saw that the creatures had wide mouths and rows +of terrible teeth and, from tales he had heard of such +beings, he knew he had fallen into a cavern inhabited +by the great Dragons that had been driven from the +surface of the earth and were only allowed to come out +once in a hundred years to search for food. Of course +he had never seen Dragons before, yet there was no +mistaking them, for they were unlike any other living +creatures. + +Woot sat upon the floor where he had fallen, staring +around, and the owners of the big eyes returned his +look, silently and motionless. Finally one of the +Dragons which was farthest away from him asked, in a +deep, grave voice: + +"What was that?" + +And the greatest Dragon of all, who was just in front +of the Green Monkey, answered in a still deeper voice: + +"It is some foolish animal from Outside." + +"Is it good to eat?" inquired a smaller Dragon beside +the great one. "I'm hungry." + +"Hungry!" exclaimed all the Dragons, in a reproachful +chorus; and then the great one said chidingly: "Tut- +tut, my son! You've no reason to be hungry at this +time." + +"Why not?" asked the little Dragon. "I haven't eaten +anything in eleven years." + +"Eleven years is nothing," remarked another Dragon, +sleepily opening and closing his eyes; "I haven't +feasted for eighty-seven years, and I dare not get +hungry for a dozen or so years to come. Children who +eat between meals should be broken of the habit." + +"All I had, eleven years ago, was a rhinoceros, and +that's not a full meal at all," grumbled the young one. +"And, before that, I had waited sixty-two years to be +fed; so it's no wonder I'm hungry." + +"How old are you now?" asked Woot, forgetting his own +dangerous position in his interest in the conversation. + +"Why, I'm -- I'm -- How old am I, Father?" asked the +little Dragon. + +"Goodness gracious! what a child to ask questions. Do +you want to keep me thinking all the time? Don't you +know that thinking is very bad for Dragons?" returned +the big one, impatiently. + +"How old am I, Father?" persisted the small Dragon. + +"About six hundred and thirty, I believe. Ask your +mother." + +"No; don't!" said an old Dragon in the background; +"haven't I enough worries, what with being wakened in +the middle of a nap, without being obliged to keep +track of my children's ages?" + +"You've been fast asleep for over sixty years, +Mother," said the child Dragon. "How long a nap do you +wish?" + +"I should have slept forty years longer. And this +strange little green beast should be punished for +falling into our cavern and disturbing us." + +"I didn't know you were here, and I didn't know I was +going to fall in," explained Woot. + +"Nevertheless, here you are," said the great Dragon, +"and you have carelessly wakened our entire tribe; so +it stands to reason you must be punished." + +"In what way?" inquired the Green Monkey, trembling a +little. + +"Give me time and I'll think of a way. You're in no +hurry, are you?" asked the great Dragon. + +"No, indeed," cried Woot. "Take your time. I'd much +rather you'd all go to sleep again, and punish me when +you wake up in a hundred years or so." + +"Let me eat him!" pleaded the littlest Dragon. + +"He is too small," said the father. "To eat this one +Green Monkey would only serve to make you hungry for +more, and there are no more." + +"Quit this chatter and let me get to sleep," +protested another Dragon, yawning in a fearful manner, +for when he opened his mouth a sheet of flame leaped +forth from it and made Woot jump back to get out of its +way. + +In his jump he bumped against the nose of a Dragon +behind him, which opened its mouth to growl and shot +another sheet of flame at him. The flame was bright, +but not very hot, yet Woot screamed with terror and +sprang forward with a great bound. This time he landed +on the paw of the great Chief Dragon, who angrily +raised his other front paw and struck the Green Monkey +a fierce blow. Woot went sailing through the air and +fell sprawling upon the rocky floor far beyond the +place where the Dragon Tribe was grouped. + +All the great beasts were now thoroughly wakened and +aroused, and they blamed the monkey for disturbing +their quiet. The littlest Dragon darted after Woot and +the others turned their unwieldy bodies in his +direction and followed, flashing from their eyes and +mouths flames which lighted up the entire cavern. Woot +almost gave himself up for lost, at that moment, but he +scrambled to his feet and dashed away to the farthest +end of the cave, the Dragons following more leisurely +because they were too clumsy to move fast. Perhaps they +thought there was no need of haste, as the monkey could +not escape from the cave. But, away up at the end of +the place, the cavern floor was heaped with tumbled +rocks, so Woot, with an agility born of fear, climbed +from rock to rock until he found himself crouched +against the cavern roof. There he waited, for he could +go no farther, while on over the tumbled rocks slowly +crept the Dragons -- the littlest one coming first +because he was hungry as well as angry. + +The beasts had almost reached him when Woot, +remembering his lace apron -- now sadly torn and soiled +-- recovered his wits and shouted: "Open!" At the cry a +hole appeared in the roof of the cavern, just over his +head, and through it the sunlight streamed full upon +the Green Monkey + +The Dragons paused, astonished at the magic and +blinking at the sunlight, and this gave Woot time to +climb through the opening. As soon as he reached the +surface of the earth the hole closed again, and the boy +monkey realized, with a thrill of joy, that he had seen +the last of the dangerous Dragon family + +He sat upon the ground, still panting hard from his +exertions, when the bushes before him parted and his +former enemy, the Jaguar, appeared. + +"Don't run," said the woodland beast, as Woot sprang +up; "you are perfectly safe, so far as I am concerned, +for since you so mysteriously disappeared I have had my +breakfast. I am now on my way home to sleep the rest of +the day." + +"Oh, indeed!" returned the Green Monkey, in a tone +both sorry and startled. "Which of my friends did you +manage to eat?" + +"None of them," returned the Jaguar, with a sly grin +had a dish of magic scrambled eggs-on toast -- and it +wasn't a bad feast, at all. There isn't room in me for +even you, and I don't regret it because I judge, from +your green color, that you are not ripe, and would make +an indifferent meal. We jaguars have to be careful of +our digestions. Farewell, Friend Monkey. Follow the +path I made through the bushes and you will find your +friends." + +With this the Jaguar marched on his way and Woot took +his advice and followed the trail he had made until he +came to the place where the little Brown Bear, and the +Tin Owl, and the Canary were conferring together and +wondering what had become of their comrade, the Green +Monkey. + + + + +Chapter Ten + +Tommy Kwikstep + + +"Our best plan," said the Scarecrow Bear, when the +Green Monkey had related the story of his adventure +with the Dragons, "is to get out of this Gillikin +Country as soon as we can and try to find our way to +the castle of Glinda, the Good Sorceress. There are too +many dangers lurking here to suit me, and Glinda may be +able to restore us to our proper forms." + +"If we turn south now," the Tin Owl replied, "we +might go straight into the Emerald City. That's a place +I wish to avoid, for I'd hate to have my friends see me +in this sad plight," and he blinked his eyes and +fluttered his tin wings mournfully. + +"But I am certain we have passed beyond Emerald +City," the Canary assured him, sailing lightly around +their heads. "So, should we turn south from here, we +would pass into the Munchkin Country, and continuing +south we would reach the Quadling Country where +Glinda's castle is located." + +"Well, since you're sure of that, let's start right +away," proposed the Bear. "It's a long journey, at the +best, and I'm getting tired of walking on four legs." + +"I thought you never tired, being stuffed with +straw," said Woot. + +"I mean that it annoys me, to be obliged to go on all +fours, when two legs are my proper walking equipment," +replied the Scarecrow. "I consider it beneath my +dignity. In other words, my remarkable brains can tire, +through humiliation, although my body cannot tire." + +"That is one of the penalties of having brains," +remarked the Tin Owl with a sigh. "I have had no brains +since I was a man of meat, and so I never worry. +Nevertheless, I prefer my former manly form to this +owl's shape and would be glad to break Mrs. Yoop's +enchantment as soon as possible. I am so noisy, just +now, that I disturb myself," and he fluttered his wings +with a clatter that echoed throughout the forest. + +So, being all of one mind, they turned southward, +traveling steadily on until the woods were left behind +and the landscape turned from purple tints to blue +tints, which assured them they had entered the Country +of the Munchkins. + +"Now I feel myself more safe," said the Scarecrow +Bear. "I know this country pretty well, having been +made here by a Munchkin farmer and having wandered over +these lovely blue lands many times. Seems to me, +indeed, that I even remember that group of three tall +trees ahead of us; and, if I do, we are not far from +the home of my friend Jinjur." + +"Who is Jinjur?" asked Woot, the Green Monkey. + +"Haven't you heard of Jinjur?" exclaimed the +Scarecrow, in surprise. + +"No," said Woot. "Is Jinjur a man, a woman, a beast +or a bird?" + +"Jinjur is a girl," explained the Scarecrow Bear. +"She's a fine girl, too, although a bit restless and +liable to get excited. Once, a long time ago, she +raised an army of girls and called herself 'General +Jinjur.' With her army she captured the Emerald City, +and drove me out of it, because I insisted that an army +in Oz was highly improper. But Ozma punished the rash +girl, and afterward Jinjur and I became fast friends. +Now Jinjur lives peacefully on a farm, near here, and +raises fields of cream-puffs, chocolate-caramels and +macaroons. They say she's a pretty good farmer, and in +addition to that she's an artist, and paints pictures +so perfect that one can scarcely tell them from nature. +She often repaints my face for me, when it gets worn or +mussy, and the lovely expression I wore when the +Giantess transformed me was painted by Jinjur only a +month or so ago." + +"It was certainly a pleasant expression," agreed +Woot. + +"Jinjur can paint anything," continued the Scarecrow +Bear, with enthusiasm, as they walked along together. +"Once, when I came to her house, my straw was old and +crumpled, so that my body sagged dreadfully. I needed +new straw to replace the old, but Jinjur had no straw +on all her ranch and I was really unable to travel +farther until I had been restuffed. When I explained +this to Jinjur, the girl at once painted a straw-stack +which was so natural that I went to it and secured +enough straw to fill all my body. It was a good quality +of straw, too, and lasted me a long time." + +This seemed very wonderful to Woot, who knew that +such a thing could never happen in any place but a +fairy country like Oz. + +The Munchkin Country was much nicer than the Gillikin +Country, and all the fields were separated by blue +fences, with grassy lanes and paths of blue ground, and +the land seemed well cultivated. They were on a little +hill looking down upon this favored country, but had +not quite reached the settled parts, when on turning a +bend in the path they were halted by a form that barred +their way + +A more curious creature they had seldom seen, even in +the Land of Oz, where curious creatures abound. It had +the head of a young man -- evidently a Munchkin -- with +a pleasant face and hair neatly combed. But the body +was very long, for it had twenty legs -- ten legs on +each side -- and this caused the body to stretch out +and lie in a horizontal position, so that all the legs +could touch the ground and stand firm. From the +shoulders extended two small arms; at least, they +seemed small beside so many legs. + +This odd creature was dressed in the regulation +clothing of the Munchkin people, a dark blue coat neatly +fitting the long body and each pair of legs having a +pair of sky-blue trousers, with blue-tinted stockings +and blue leather shoes turned up at the pointed toes. + +"I wonder who you are?" said Polychrome the Canary, +fluttering above the strange creature, who had probably +been asleep on the path. + +"I sometimes wonder, myself, who I am," replied the +many-legged young man; "but, in reality, I am Tommy +Kwikstep, and I live in a hollow tree that fell to the +ground with age. I have polished the inside of it, and +made a door at each end, and that's a very comfortable +residence for me because it just fits my shape." + +"How did you happen to have such a shape?" asked the +Scarecrow Bear, sitting on his haunches and regarding +Tommy Kwikstep with a serious look. "Is the shape +natural?" + +"No; it was wished on me," replied Tommy, with a +sigh. "I used to be very active and loved to run +errands for anyone who needed my services. That was how +I got my name of Tommy Kwikstep. I could run an errand +more quickly than any other boy, and so I was very +proud of myself. One day, however, I met an old lady +who was a fairy, or a witch, or something of the sort, +and she said if I would run an errand for her -- to +carry some magic medicine to another old woman -- she +would grant me just one Wish, whatever the Wish +happened to be. Of course I consented and, taking the +medicine, I hurried away. It was a long distance, +mostly up hill, and my legs began to grow weary. +Without thinking what I was doing I said aloud: 'Dear +me; I wish I had twenty legs!' and in an instant I +became the unusual creature you see beside you. Twenty +legs! Twenty on one man! You may count them, if you +doubt my word." + +"You've got 'em, all right," said Woot the Monkey, +who had already counted them. + +"After I had delivered the magic medicine to the old +woman, I returned and tried to find the witch, or +fairy, or whatever she was, who had given me the +unlucky wish, so she could take it away again. I've +been searching for her ever since, but never can I find +her," continued poor Tommy Kwikstep, sadly "I suppose, +said the Tin Owl, blinking at him, "you can travel +very fast, with those twenty legs." + +"At first I was able to," was the reply; "but I +traveled so much, searching for the fairy, or witch, or +whatever she was, that I soon got corns on my toes. +Now, a corn on one toe is not so bad, but when you have +a hundred toes -- as I have -- and get corns on most of +them, it is far from pleasant. Instead of running, I +now painfully crawl, and although I try not to be +discouraged I do hope I shall find that witch or fairy, +or whatever she was, before long." + +"I hope so, too," said the Scarecrow. "But, after +all, you have the pleasure of knowing you are unusual, +and therefore remarkable among the people of Oz. To be +just like other persons is small credit to one, while +to be unlike others is a mark of distinction." + +"That sounds very pretty," returned Tommy Kwikstep, +"but if you had to put on ten pair of trousers every +morning, and tie up twenty shoes, you would prefer not +to be so distinguished." + +"Was the witch, or fairy, or whatever she was, an old +person, with wrinkled skin and half her teeth gone?" +inquired the Tin Owl. + +"No," said Tommy Kwikstep. + +"Then she wasn't Old Mombi," remarked the transformed +Emperor. + +"I'm not interested in who it wasn't, so much as I am +in who it was," said the twenty-legged young man. "And, +whatever or whomsoever she was, she has managed to keep +out of my way." + +"If you found her, do you suppose she'd change you +back into a two-legged boy?" asked Woot. + +"Perhaps so, if I could run another errand for her +and so earn another wish." + +"Would you really like to be as you were before?" +asked Polychrome the Canary, perching upon the Green +Monkey's shoulder to observe Tommy Kwikstep more +attentively. + +"I would, indeed," was the earnest reply. + +"Then I will see what I can do for you," promised the +Rainbow's Daughter, and flying to the ground she took a +small twig in her bill and with it made several mystic +figures on each side of Tommy Kwikstep. + +"Are you a witch, or fairy, or something of the +sort?" he asked as he watched her wonderingly. + +The Canary made no answer, for she was busy, but the +Scarecrow Bear replied: "Yes; she's something of the +sort, and a bird of a magician." + +The twenty-legged boy's transformation happened so +queerly that they were all surprised at its method. +First, Tommy Kwikstep's last two legs disappeared; then +the next two, and the next, and as each pair of legs +vanished his body shortened. All this while Polychrome +was running around him and chirping mystical words, and +when all the young man's legs had disappeared but two +he noticed that the Canary was still busy and cried out +in alarm: + +"Stop -- stop! Leave me two of my legs, or I shall be +worse off than before." + +"I know," said the Canary. "I'm only removing with my +magic the corns from your last ten toes." + +"Thank you for being so thoughtful," he said +gratefully, and now they noticed that Tommy Kwikstep +was quite a nice looking young fellow. + +"What will you do now~" asked Woot the Monkey. + +"First," he answered, "I must deliver a note which +I've carried in my pocket ever since the witch, or +fairy, or whatever she was, granted my foolish wish. +And I am resolved never to speak again without taking +time to think carefully on what I am going to say, for +I realize that speech without thought is dangerous. And +after I've delivered the note, I shall run errands +again for anyone who needs my services." + +So he thanked Polychrome again and started away in a +different direction from their own, and that was the +last they saw of Tommy Kwikstep. + + + + +Chapter Eleven + +Jinjur's Ranch + + +As they followed a path down the blue-grass hillside, +the first house that met the view of the travelers was +joyously recognized by the Scarecrow Bear as the one +inhabited by his friend Jinjur, so they increased their +speed and hurried toward it. + +On reaching the place, how ever, they found the house +deserted. The front door stood open, but no one was +inside. In the garden surrounding the house were neat +rows of bushes bearing cream-puffs and macaroons, some +of which were still green, but others ripe and ready to +eat. Farther back were fields of caramels, and all the +land seemed well cultivated and carefully tended. They +looked through the fields for the girl farmer, but she +was nowhere to be seen. + +"Well," finally remarked the little Brown Bear, "let +us go into the house and make ourselves at home. That +will be sure to please my friend Jinjur, who happens to +be away from home just now. When she returns, she will +be greatly surprised." + +"Would she care if I ate some of those ripe cream- +puffs?" asked the Green Monkey. + +"No, indeed; Jinjur is very generous. Help yourself +to all you want," said the Scarecrow Bear. + +So Woot gathered a lot of the cream-puffs that were +golden yellow and filled with a sweet, creamy +substance, and ate until his hunger was satisfied. Then +he entered the house with his friends and sat in a +rocking-chair -- just as he was accustomed to do when a +boy. The Canary perched herself upon the mantel and +daintily plumed her feathers; the Tin Owl sat on the +back of another chair; the Scarecrow squatted on his +hairy haunches in the middle of the room. + +"I believe I remember the girl Jinjur," remarked the +Canary, in her sweet voice. "She cannot help us very +much, except to direct us on our way to Glinda's +castle, for she does not understand magic. But she's a +good girl, honest and sensible, and I'll be glad to see +her." + +"All our troubles," said the Owl with a deep sigh, +"arose from my foolish resolve to seek Nimmie Amee and +make her Empress of the Winkies, and while I wish to +reproach no one, I must say that it was Woot the +Wanderer who put the notion into my head." + +"Well, for my part, I am glad he did," responded the +Canary. "Your journey resulted in saving me from the +Giantess, and had you not traveled to the Yoop Valley, +I would still be Mrs. Yoop's prisoner. It is much nicer +to be free, even though I still bear the enchanted form +of a Canary-Bird." + +"Do you think we shall ever be able to get our proper +forms back again?" asked the Green Monkey earnestly. + +Polychrome did not make reply at once to this +important question, but after a period of +thoughtfulness she said: + +"I have been taught to believe that there is an +antidote for every magic charm, yet Mrs. Yoop insists +that no power can alter her transformations. I realize +that my own fairy magic cannot do it, although I have +thought that we Sky Fairies have more power than is +accorded to Earth Fairies. The yookoohoo magic is +admitted to be very strange in its workings and +different from the magic usually practiced, but perhaps +Glinda or Ozma may understand it better than I. In them +lies our only hope. Unless they can help us, we must +remain forever as we are." + +"A Canary-Bird on a Rainbow wouldn't be so bad," +asserted the Tin Owl, winking and blinking with his +round tin eyes, "so if you can manage to find your +Rainbow again you need have little to worry about." + +"That's nonsense, Friend Chopper," exclaimed Woot. "I +know just how Polychrome feels. A beautiful girl is +much superior to a little yellow bird, and a boy -- +such as I was -- far better than a Green Monkey. +Neither of us can be happy again unless we recover our +rightful forms." + +"I feel the same way," announced the stuffed Bear. +"What do you suppose my friend the Patchwork Girl would +think of me, if she saw me wearing this beastly shape?" + +"She'd laugh till she cried," admitted the Tin Owl. +"For my part, I'll have to give up the notion of +marrying Nimmie Amee, but I'll try not to let that make +me unhappy. If it's my duty, I'd like to do my duty, +but if magic prevents my getting married I'll flutter +along all by myself and be just as contented." + +Their serious misfortunes made them all silent for a +time, and as their thoughts were busy in dwelling upon +the evils with which fate had burdened them, none +noticed that Jinjur had suddenly appeared in the +doorway and was looking at them in astonishment. The +next moment her astonishment changed to anger, for +there, in her best rocking-chair, sat a Green Monkey. A +great shiny Owl perched upon another chair and a Brown +Bear squatted upon her parlor rug. Jinjur did not +notice the Canary, but she caught up a broomstick and +dashed into the room, shouting as she came: + +"Get out of here, you wild creatures! How dare you +enter my house?" + +With a blow of her broom she knocked the Brown Bear +over, and the Tin Owl tried to fly out of her reach and +made a great clatter with his tin wings. The Green +Monkey was so startled by the sudden attack that he +sprang into the fireplace -- where there was +fortunately no fire -- and tried to escape by climbing +up the chimney. But he found the opening too small, and +so was forced to drop down again. Then he crouched +trembling in the fireplace, his pretty green hair all +blackened with soot and covered with ashes. From this +position Woot watched to see what would happen next. + +"Stop, Jinjur -- stop!" cried the Brown Bear, when +the broom again threatened him. "Don't you know me? I'm +your old friend the Scarecrow?" + +"You're trying to deceive me, you naughty beast! I +can see plainly that you are a bear, and a mighty poor +specimen of a bear, too," retorted the girl. + +"That's because I'm not properly stuffed," he assured +her. "When Mrs. Yoop transformed me, she didn't realize +I should have more stuffing." + +"Who is Mrs. Yoop?" inquired Jinjur, pausing with the +broom still upraised. + +"A Giantess in the Gillikin Country." + +"Oh; I begin to understand. And Mrs. Yoop transformed +you? You are really the famous Scarecrow of Oz." + +"I was, Jinjur. Just now I'm as you see me -- a +miserable little Brown Bear with a poor quality of +stuffing. That Tin Owl is none other than our dear Tin +Woodman -- Nick Chopper, the Emperor of the Winkies -- +while this Green Monkey is a nice little boy we +recently became acquainted with, Woot the Wanderer." + +"And I," said the Canary, flying close to Jinjur, "am +Polychrome, the Daughter of the Rainbow, in the form of +a bird." + +"Goodness me!" cried Jinjur, amazed; "that Giantess +must be a powerful Sorceress, and as wicked as she is +powerful." + +"She's a yookoohoo," said Polychrome. "Fortunately, +we managed to escape from her castle, and we are now on +our way to Glinda the Good to see if she possesses the +power to restore us to our former shapes." + +"Then I must beg your pardons; all of you must +forgive me," said Jinjur, putting away the broom. "I +took you to be a lot of wild, unmannerly animals, as +was quite natural. You are very welcome to my home and +I'm sorry I haven't the power to help you out of your +troubles. Please use my house and all that I have, as +if it were your own." + +At this declaration of peace, the Bear got upon his +feet and the Owl resumed his perch upon the chair and +the Monkey crept out of the fireplace. Jinjur looked at +Woot critically, and scowled. + +"For a Green Monkey," said she, "you're the blackest +creature I ever saw. And you'll get my nice clean room +all dirty with soot and ashes. Whatever possessed you +to jump up the chimney?" + +"I -- I was scared," explained Woot, somewhat +ashamed. + +"Well, you need renovating, and that's what will +happen to you, right away. Come with me!" she +commanded. + +"What are you going to do?" asked Woot. + +"Give you a good scrubbing," said Jinjur. + +Now, neither boys nor monkeys relish being scrubbed, +so Woot shrank away from the energetic girl, trembling +fearfully. But Jinjur grabbed him by his paw and +dragged him out to the back yard, where, in spite of +his whines and struggles, she plunged him into a tub of +cold water and began to scrub him with a stiff brush +and a cake of yellow soap. + +This was the hardest trial that Woot had endured +since he became a monkey, but no protest had any +influence with Jinjur, who lathered and scrubbed him in +a business-like manner and afterward dried him with a +coarse towel. + +The Bear and the Owl gravely watched this operation +and nodded approval when Woot's silky green fur shone +clear and bright in the afternoon sun. The Canary +seemed much amused and laughed a silvery ripple of +laughter as she said: + +"Very well done, my good Jinjur; I admire your energy +and judgment. But I had no idea a monkey could look so +comical as this monkey did while he was being bathed." + +"I'm not a monkey!" declared Woot, resentfully; "I'm +just a boy in a monkey's shape, that's all." + +"If you can explain to me the difference," said +Jinjur, "I'll agree not to wash you again -- that is, +unless you foolishly get into the fireplace. All +persons are usually judged by the shapes in which they +appear to the eyes of others. Look at me, Woot; what am +I?" + +Woot looked at her. + +"You're as pretty a girl as I've ever seen," he +replied. + +Jinjur frowned. That is, she tried hard to frown. + +"Come out into the garden with me," she said, "and +I'll give you some of the most delicious caramels you +ever ate. They're a new variety, that no one can grow +but me, and they have a heliotrope flavor." + + + + +Chapter Twelve + +Ozma and Dorothy + + +In her magnificent palace in the Emerald City, the +beautiful girl Ruler of all the wonderful Land of Oz +sat in her dainty boudoir with her friend Princess +Dorothy beside her. Ozma was studying a roll of +manuscript which she had taken from the Royal Library, +while Dorothy worked at her embroidery and at times +stooped to pat a shaggy little black dog that lay at +her feet. The little dog's name was Toto, and he was +Dorothy's faithful companion. + +To judge Ozma of Oz by the standards of our world, +you would think her very young -- perhaps fourteen or +fifteen years of age -- yet for years she had ruled the +Land of Oz and had never seemed a bit older. Dorothy +appeared much younger than Ozma. She had been a little +girl when first she came to the Land of Oz, and she was +a little girl still, and would never seem to be a day +older while she lived in this wonderful fairyland. + +Oz was not always a fairyland, I am told. Once it was +much like other lands, except it was shut in by a +dreadful desert of sandy wastes that lay all around it, +thus preventing its people from all contact with the +rest of the world. Seeing this isolation, the fairy +band of Queen Lurline, passing over Oz while on a +journey, enchanted the country and so made it a +Fairyland. And Queen Lurline left one of her fairies to +rule this enchanted Land of Oz, and then passed on and +forgot all about it. + +From that moment no one in Oz ever died. Those who +were old remained old; those who were young and strong +did not change as years passed them by; the children +remained children always, and played and romped to +their hearts' content, while all the babies lived in +their cradles and were tenderly cared for and never +grew up. So people in Oz stopped counting how old they +were in years, for years made no difference in their +appearance and could not alter their station. They did +not get sick, so there were no doctors among them. +Accidents might happen to some, on rare occasions, it +is true, and while no one could die naturally, as other +people do, it was possible that one might be totally +destroyed. Such incidents, however, were very unusual, +and so seldom was there anything to worry over that the +Oz people were as happy and contented as can be. + +Another strange thing about this fairy Land of Oz was +that whoever managed to enter it from the outside world +came under the magic spell of the place and did not +change in appearance as long as they lived there. So +Dorothy, who now lived with Ozma, seemed just the same +sweet little girl she had been when first she came to +this delightful fairyland. + +Perhaps all parts of Oz might not be called truly +delightful, but it was surely delightful in the +neighborhood of the Emerald City, where Ozma reigned. +Her loving influence was felt for many miles around, +but there were places in the mountains of the Gillikin +Country, and the forests of the Quadling Country, and +perhaps in far-away parts of the Munchkin and Winkie +Countries, where the inhabitants were somewhat rude and +uncivilized and had not yet come under the spell of +Ozma's wise and kindly rule. Also, when Oz first became +a fairyland, it harbored several witches and magicians +and sorcerers and necromancers, who were scattered in +various parts, but most of these had been deprived of +their magic powers, and Ozma had issued a royal edict +forbidding anyone in her dominions to work magic except +Glinda the Good and the Wizard of Oz. Ozma herself, +being a real fairy, knew a lot of magic, but she only +used it to benefit her subjects. + +This little explanation will help you to understand +better the story you are reaching, but most of it is +already known to those who are familiar with the Oz +people whose adventures they have followed in other Oz +books. + +Ozma and Dorothy were fast friends and were much +together. Everyone in Oz loved Dorothy almost as well +as they did their lovely Ruler, for the little Kansas +girl's good fortune had not spoiled her or rendered her +at all vain. She was just the same brave and true and +adventurous child as before she lived in a royal palace +and became the chum of the fairy Ozma. + +In the room in which the two sat -- which was one of +Ozma's private suite of apartments -- hung the famous +Magic Picture. This was the source of constant interest +to little Dorothy. One had but to stand before it and +wish to see what any person was doing, and at once a +scene would flash upon the magic canvas which showed +exactly where that person was, and like our own moving +pictures would reproduce the actions of that person as +long as you cared to watch them. So today, when Dorothy +tired of her embroidery, she drew the curtains from +before the Magic Picture and wished to see what her +friend Button Bright was doing. Button Bright, she saw, +was playing ball with Ojo, the Munchkin boy, so Dorothy +next wished to see what her Aunt Em was doing. The +picture showed Aunt Em quietly engaged in darning socks +for Uncle Henry, so Dorothy wished to see what her old +friend the Tin Woodman was doing. + +The Tin Woodman was then just leaving his tin castle +in the company of the Scarecrow and Woot the Wanderer. +Dorothy had never seen this boy before, so she wondered +who he was. Also she was curious to know where the +three were going, for she noticed Woot's knapsack and +guessed they had started on a long journey. She asked +Ozma about it, but Ozma did not know + +That afternoon Dorothy again saw the travelers in the +Magic Picture, but they were merely tramping through +the country and Dorothy was not much interested in +them. A couple of days later, however, the girl, being +again with Ozma, wished to see her friends, the +Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman in the Magic Picture, and +on this occasion found them in the great castle of Mrs. +Yoop, the Giantess, who was at the time about to +transform them. Both Dorothy and Ozma now became +greatly interested and watched the transformations with +indignation and horror. + +"What a wicked Giantess!" exclaimed Dorothy. + +"Yes," answered Ozma, "she must be punished for this +cruelty to our friends, and to the poor boy who is with +them." + +After this they followed the adventure of the little +Brown Bear and the Tin Owl and the Green Monkey with +breathless interest, and were delighted when they +escaped from Mrs. Yoop. They did not know, then, who +the Canary was, but realized it must be the +transformation of some person of consequence, whom the +Giantess had also enchanted. + +When, finally, the day came when the adventurers +headed south into the Munchkin Country, Dorothy asked +anxiously: + +"Can't something be done for them, Ozma? Can't you +change 'em back into their own shapes? They've suffered +enough from these dreadful transformations, seems to +me." + +"I've been studying ways to help them, ever since +they were transformed," replied Ozma. "Mrs. Yoop is now +the only yookoohoo in my dominions, and the yookoohoo +magic is very peculiar and hard for others to +understand, yet I am resolved to make the attempt to +break these enchantments. I may not succeed, but I +shall do the best I can. From the directions our +friends are taking, I believe they are going to pass by +Jinjur's Ranch, so if we start now we may meet them +there. Would you like to go with me, Dorothy?" + +"Of course," answered the little girl; "I wouldn't +miss it for anything." + +"Then order the Red Wagon," said Ozma of Oz, "and we +will start at once." + +Dorothy ran to do as she was bid, while Ozma went to +her Magic Room to make ready the things she believed +she would need. In half an hour the Red Wagon stood +before the grand entrance of the palace, and before it +was hitched the Wooden Sawhorse, which was Ozma's +favorite steed. + +This Sawhorse, while made of wood, was very much +alive and could travel swiftly and without tiring. To +keep the ends of his wooden legs from wearing down +short, Ozma had shod the Sawhorse with plates of pure +gold. His harness was studded with brilliant emeralds +and other jewels and so, while he himself was not at +all handsome, his outfit made a splendid appearance. + +Since the Sawhorse could understand her spoken words, +Ozma used no reins to guide him. She merely told him +where to go. When she came from the palace with +Dorothy, they both climbed into the Red Wagon and then +the little dog, Toto, ran up and asked: + +"Are you going to leave me behind, Dorothy?" Dorothy +looked at Ozma, who smiled in return and said: + +"Toto may go with us, if you wish him to." + +So Dorothy lifted the little dog into the wagon, for, +while he could run fast, he could not keep up with the +speed of the wonderful Sawhorse. + + +Away they went, over hills and through meadows, +covering the ground with astonishing speed. It is not +surprising, therefore, that the Red Wagon arrived +before Jinjur's house just as that energetic young lady +had finished scrubbing the Green Monkey and was about +to lead him to the caramel patch. + + + + +Chapter Thirteen + +The Restoration + + +The Tin Owl gave a hoot of delight when he saw the Red +Wagon draw up before Jinjur's house, and the Brown Bear +grunted and growled with glee and trotted toward Ozma +as fast as he could wobble. As for the Canary, it flew +swiftly to Dorothy's shoulder and perched there, saying +in her ear: + +"Thank goodness you have come to our rescue!" + +"But who are you?" asked Dorothy + +"Don't you know?" returned the Canary. + +"No; for the first time we noticed you in the Magic +Picture, you were just a bird, as you are now. But +we've guessed that the giant woman had transformed you, +as she did the others." + +"Yes; I'm Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter," +announced the Canary. + +"Goodness me!" cried Dorothy. "How dreadful." + +"Well, I make a rather pretty bird, I think," +returned Polychrome, "but of course I'm anxious to +resume my own shape and get back upon my rainbow." + +"Ozma will help you, I'm sure," said Dorothy. "How +does it feel, Scarecrow, to be a Bear?" she asked, +addressing her old friend. + +"I don't like it," declared the Scarecrow Bear. "This +brutal form is quite beneath the dignity of a wholesome +straw man." + +"And think of me," said the Owl, perching upon the +dashboard of the Red Wagon with much noisy clattering +of his tin feathers. "Don't I look horrid, Dorothy, +with eyes several sizes too big for my body, and so +weak that I ought to wear spectacles?" + +"Well," said Dorothy critically, as she looked him +over, "you're nothing to brag of, I must confess. But +Ozma will soon fix you up again." + +The Green Monkey had hung back, bashful at meeting +two lovely girls while in the form of a beast; but +Jinjur now took his hand and led him forward while she +introduced him to Ozma, and Woot managed to make a low +bow, not really ungraceful, before her girlish Majesty, +the Ruler of Oz. + +"You have all been forced to endure a sad +experience," said Ozma, "and so I am anxious to do all +in my power to break Mrs. Yoop's enchantments. But +first tell me how you happened to stray into that +lonely Valley where Yoop Castle stands." + +Between them they related the object of their +journey, the Scarecrow Bear telling of the Tin +Woodman's resolve to find Nimmie Amee and marry her, as +a just reward for her loyalty to him. Woot told of +their adventures with the Loons of Loonville, and the +Tin Owl described the manner in which they had been +captured and transformed by the Giantess. Then +Polychrome related her story, and when all had been +told, and Dorothy had several times reproved Toto for +growling at the Tin Owl, Ozma remained thoughtful for a +while, pondering upon what she had heard. Finally she +looked up, and with one of her delightful smiles, said +to the anxious group: + +"I am not sure my magic will be able to restore +every one of you, because your transformations are +of such a strange and unusual character. Indeed, +Mrs. Yoop was quite justified in believing no power +could alter her enchantments. However, I am sure +I can restore the Scarecrow to his original shape. +He was stuffed with straw from the beginning, and +even the yookoohoo magic could not alter that. The +Giantess was merely able to make a bear's shape of +a man's shape, but the bear is stuffed with straw, +just as the man was. So I feel confident I can make +a man of the bear again." + +"Hurrah!" cried the Brown Bear, and tried clumsily to +dance a jig of delight. + +"As for the Tin Woodman, his case is much the same," +resumed Ozma, still smiling. "The power of the Giantess +could not make him anything but a tin creature, +whatever shape she transformed him into, so it will not +be impossible to restore him to his manly form. Anyhow, +I shall test my magic at once, and see if it will do +what I have promised." + +She drew from her bosom a small silver Wand and, +making passes with the Wand over the head of the Bear, +she succeeded in the brief space of a moment in +breaking his enchantment. The original Scarecrow of Oz +again stood before them, well stuffed with straw and +with his features nicely painted upon the bag which +formed his head. + +The Scarecrow was greatly delighted, as you may +suppose, and he strutted proudly around while the +powerful fairy, Ozma of Oz, broke the enchantment that +had transformed the Tin Woodman and made a Tin Owl into +a Tin Man again. + +"Now, then," chirped the Canary, eagerly; "I'm +next, Ozma!" + +"But your case is different," replied Ozma, no +longer smiling but wearing a grave expression on +her sweet face. "I shall have to experiment on you, +Polychrome, and I may fail in all my attempts." + +She then tried two or three different methods of +magic, hoping one of them would succeed in breaking +Polychrome's enchantment, but still the Rainbow's +Daughter remained a Canary-Bird. Finally, however, she +experimented in another way. She transformed the Canary +into a Dove, and then transformed the Dove into a +Speckled Hen, and then changed the Speckled Hen into a +rabbit, and then the rabbit into a Fawn. And at the +last, after mixing several powders and sprinkling them +upon the Fawn, the yookoohoo enchantment was suddenly +broken and before them stood one of the daintiest and +loveliest creatures in any fairyland in the world. +Polychrome was as sweet and merry in disposition as she +was beautiful, and when she danced and capered around +in delight, her beautiful hair floated around her like +a golden mist and her many-hued raiment, as soft as +cobwebs, reminded one of drifting clouds in a summer +sky. + +Woot was so awed by the entrancing sight of this +exquisite Sky Fairy that he quite forgot his own sad +plight until be noticed Ozma gazing upon him with an +intent expression that denoted sympathy and sorrow. +Dorothy whispered in her friend's ear, but the Ruler of +Oz shook her head sadly. + +Jinjur, noticing this and understanding Ozma's looks, +took the paw of the Green Monkey in her own hand and +patted it softly. + +"Never mind," she said to him. "You are a very +beautiful color, and a monkey can climb better than a +boy and do a lot of other things no boy can ever do." + +"What's the matter?" asked Woot, a sinking feeling at +his heart. "Is Ozma's magic all used up?" + +Ozma herself answered him. + +"Your form of enchantment, my poor boy," she said +pityingly, "is different from that of the others. +Indeed, it is a form that is impossible to alter by any +magic known to fairies or yookoohoos. The wicked +Giantess was well aware, when she gave you the form of +a Green Monkey, that the Green Monkey must exist in the +Land of Oz for all future time." + +Woot drew a long sigh. + +"Well, that's pretty hard luck," he said bravely, +"but if it can't be helped I must endure it; that's +all. I don't like being a monkey, but what's the use of +kicking against my fate?" + +They were all very sorry for him, and Dorothy +anxiously asked Ozma: + +"Couldn't Glinda save him?" + +"No," was the reply. "Glinda's power in trans- +formations is no greater than my own. Before I left my +palace I went to my Magic Room and studied Woot's case +very carefully. I found that no power can do away with +the Green Monkey. He might transfer, or exchange his +form with some other person, it is true; but the Green +Monkey we cannot get rid of by any magic arts known to +science." + +"But -- see here," said the Scarecrow, who had +listened intently to this explanation, "why not put the +monkey's form on some one else?" + +"Who would agree to make the change?" asked Ozma. "If +by force we caused anyone else to become a Green +Monkey, we would be as cruel and wicked as Mrs. Yoop. +And what good would an exchange do?" she continued. +"Suppose, for instance, we worked the enchantment, and +made Toto into a Green Monkey. At the same moment Woot +would become a little dog." + +"Leave me out of your magic, please," said Toto, with +a reproachful growl. "I wouldn't become a Green Monkey +for anything." + +"And I wouldn't become a dog," said Woot. "A green +monkey is much better than a dog, it seems to me." + +"That is only a matter of opinion," answered Toto. + +"Now, here's another idea," said the Scarecrow. "My +brains are working finely today, you must admit. Why +not transform Toto into Woot the Wanderer, and then +have them exchange forms? The dog would become a green +monkey and the monkey would have his own natural shape +again." + +"To be sure!" cried Jinjur. "That's a fine idea." + +"Leave me out of it," said Toto. "I won't do it." + +"Wouldn't you be willing to become a green monkey -- +see what a pretty color it is -- so that this poor boy +could be restored to his own shape?" asked Jinjur, +pleadingly + +"No," said Toto. + +"I don't like that plan the least bit," declared +Dorothy, "for then I wouldn't have any little dog." + +"But you'd have a green monkey in his place," +persisted Jinjur, who liked Woot and wanted to help +him. + +"I don't want a green monkey," said Dorothy +positively. + +"Don't speak of this again, I beg of you," said Woot. +"This is my own misfortune and I would rather suffer it +alone than deprive Princess Dorothy of her dog, or +deprive the dog of his proper shape. And perhaps even +her Majesty, Ozma of Oz, might not be able to transform +anyone else into the shape of Woot the Wanderer." + +"Yes; I believe I might do that," Ozma returned; "but +Woot is quite right; we are not justified in inflicting +upon anyone -- man or dog -- the form of a green +monkey. Also it is certain that in order to relieve the +boy of the form he now wears, we must give it to +someone else, who would be forced to wear it always." + +"I wonder," said Dorothy, thoughtfully, "if we +couldn't find someone in the Land of Oz who would be +willing to become a green monkey? Seems to me a monkey +is active and spry, and he can climb trees and do a lot +of clever things, and green isn't a bad color for a +monkey -- it makes him unusual." + +"I wouldn't ask anyone to take this dreadful form," +said Woot; "it wouldn't be right, you know. I've been a +monkey for some time, now, and I don't like it. It +makes me ashamed to be a beast of this sort when by +right of birth I'm a boy; so I'm sure it would be +wicked to ask anyone else to take my place." + +They were all silent, for they knew he spoke the +truth. Dorothy was almost ready to cry with pity and +Ozma's sweet face was sad and disturbed. The Scarecrow +rubbed and patted his stuffed head to try to make it +think better, while the Tin Woodman went into the house +and began to oil his tin joints so that the sorrow of +his friends might not cause him to weep. Weeping is +liable to rust tin, and the Emperor prided himself upon +his highly polished body -- now doubly dear to him +because for a time he had been deprived of it. + +Polychrome had danced down the garden paths and back +again a dozen times, for she was seldom still a moment, +yet she had heard Ozma's speech and understood very +well Woot's unfortunate position. But the Rainbow's +Daughter, even while dancing, could think and reason +very clearly, and suddenly she solved the problem in +the nicest possible way. Coming close to Ozma, she +said: + +"Your Majesty, all this trouble was caused by the +wickedness of Mrs. Yoop, the Giantess. Yet even now +that cruel woman is living in her secluded castle, +enjoying the thought that she has put this terrible +enchantment on Woot the Wanderer. Even now she is +laughing at our despair because we can find no way to +get rid of the green monkey. Very well, we do not wish +to get rid of it. Let the woman who created the form +wear it herself, as a just punishment for her +wickedness. I am sure your fairy power can give to Mrs. +Yoop the form of Woot the Wanderer -- even at this +distance from her --and then it will be possible to +exchange the two forms. Mrs. Yoop will become the Green +Monkey, and Woot will recover his own form again." + +Ozma's face brightened as she listened to this clever +proposal. + +"Thank you, Polychrome," said she. "The task you +propose Is not so easy as you suppose, but I will make +the attempt, and perhaps I may succeed." + + + + +Chapter Fourteen + +The Green Monkey + + +They now entered the house, and as an interested group, +watched Jinjur, at Ozma's command, build a fire and put +a kettle of water over to boil. The Ruler of Oz stood +before the fire silent and grave, while the others, +realizing that an important ceremony of magic was about +to be performed, stood quietly in the background so as +not to interrupt Ozma's proceedings. Only Polychrome +kept going in and coming out, humming softly to herself +as she danced, for the Rainbow's Daughter could not +keep still for long, and the four walls of a room +always made her nervous and ill at ease. She moved so +noiselessly, however, that her movements were like the +shifting of sunbeams and did not annoy anyone. + +When the water in the kettle bubbled, Ozma drew from +her bosom two tiny packets containing powders. These +powders she threw into the kettle and after briskly +stirring the contents with a branch from a macaroon +bush, Ozma poured the mystic broth upon a broad platter +which Jinjur had placed upon the table. As the broth +cooled it became as silver, reflecting all objects from +its smooth surface like a mirror. + +While her companions gathered around the table, +eagerly attentive -- and Dorothy even held little Toto +in her arms that he might see -- Ozma waved her wand +over the mirror-like surface. At once it reflected the +interior of Yoop Castle, and in the big hall sat Mrs. +Yoop, in her best embroidered silken robes, engaged in +weaving a new lace apron to replace the one she had +lost. + +The Giantess seemed rather uneasy, as if she had a +faint idea that someone was spying upon her, for she +kept looking behind her and this way and that, as +though expecting danger from an unknown source. Perhaps +some yookoohoo instinct warned her. Woot saw that she +had escaped from her room by some of the magical means +at her disposal, after her prisoners had escaped her. +She was now occupying the big hall of her castle as she +used to do. Also Woot thought, from the cruel +expression on the face of the Giantess, that she was +planning revenge on them, as soon as her new magic +apron was finished + +But Ozma was now making passes over the platter with +her silver Wand, and presently the form of the Giantess +began to shrink in size and to change its shape. And +now, in her place sat the form of Woot the Wanderer, +and as if suddenly realizing her transformation Mrs. +Yoop threw down her work and rushed to a looking-glass +that stood against the wall of her room. When she saw +the boy's form reflected as her own, she grew violently +angry and dashed her head against the mirror, smashing +it to atoms. + +Just then Ozma was busy with her magic Wand, making +strange figures, and she had also placed her left hand +firmly upon the shoulder of the Green Monkey. So now, +as all eyes were turned upon the platter, the form of +Mrs. Yoop gradually changed again. She was slowly +transformed into the Green Monkey, and at the same time +Woot slowly regained his natural form. + +It was quite a surprise to them all when they raised +their eyes from the platter and saw Woot the Wanderer +standing beside Ozma. And, when they glanced at the +platter again, it reflected nothing more than the walls +of the room in Jinjur's house in which they stood. The +magic ceremonial was ended, and Ozma of Oz had +triumphed over the wicked Giantess. + +"What will become of her, I wonder?" said Dorothy, as +she drew a long breath. + +"She will always remain a Green Monkey," replied +Ozma, "and in that form she will be unable to perform +any magical arts whatsoever. She need not be unhappy, +however, and as she lives all alone in her castle she +probably won't mind the transformation very much after +she gets used to it." + +"Anyhow, it serves her right," declared Dorothy, and +all agreed with her. + +"But," said the kind hearted Tin Woodman, "I'm afraid +the Green Monkey will starve, for Mrs. Yoop used to get +her food by magic, and now that the magic is taken away +from her, what can she eat?" + +"Why, she'll eat what other monkeys do," returned the +Scarecrow. "Even in the form of a Green Monkey, she's a +very clever person, and I'm sure her wits will show her +how to get plenty to eat." + +"Don't worry about her," advised Dorothy. "She didn't +worry about you, and her condition is no worse than the +condition she imposed on poor Woot. She can't starve to +death in the Land of Oz, that's certain, and if she +gets hungry at times it's no more than the wicked thing +deserves. Let's forget Mrs. Yoop; for, in spite of her +being a yookoohoo, our fairy friends have broken all of +her transformations." + + + + +Chapter Fifteen + +The Man of Tin + + +Ozma and Dorothy were quite pleased with Woot the +Wanderer, whom they found modest and intelligent and +very well mannered. The boy was truly grateful for his +release from the cruel enchantment, and he promised to +love, revere and defend the girl Ruler of Oz forever +afterward, as a faithful subject. + +"You may visit me at my palace, if you wish," said +Ozma, "where I will be glad to introduce you to two +other nice boys, Ojo the Munchkin and Button-Bright." + +"Thank your Majesty," replied Woot, and then he +turned to the Tin Woodman and inquired: "What are your +further plans, Mr. Emperor? Will you still seek Nimmie +Amee and marry her, or will you abandon the quest and +return to the Emerald City and your own castle?" + +The Tin Woodman, now as highly polished and well- +oiled as ever, reflected a while on this question and +then answered: + +"Well, I see no reason why I should not find Nimmie +Amee. We are now in the Munchkin Country, where we are +perfectly safe, and if it was right for me, before our +enchantment, to marry Nimmie Amee and make her Empress +of the Winkies, it must be right now, when the +enchantment has been broken and I am once more myself. +Am I correct, friend Scarecrow?" + +"You are, indeed," answered the Scarecrow. "No one +can oppose such logic." + +"But I'm afraid you don't love Nimmie Amee," +suggested Dorothy. + +"That is just because I can't love anyone," replied +the Tin Woodman. "But, if I cannot love my wife, I can +at least be kind to her, and all husbands are not able +to do that." + +"Do you s'pose Nimmie Amee still loves you, after all +these years?" asked Dorothy + +"I'm quite sure of it, and that is why I am going to +her to make her happy. Woot the Wanderer thinks I ought +to reward her for being faithful to me after my meat +body was chopped to pieces and I became tin. What do +you think, Ozma?" + +Ozma smiled as she said: + +"I do not know your Nimmie Amee, and so I cannot tell +what she most needs to make her happy. But there is no +harm in your going to her and asking her if she still +wishes to marry you. If she does, we will give you a +grand wedding at the Emerald City and, afterward, as +Empress of the Winkies, Nimmie Amee would become one +of the most important ladies in all Oz." + +So it was decided that the Tin Woodman would continue +his journey, and that the Scarecrow and Woot the +Wanderer should accompany him, as before. Polychrome +also decided to join their party, somewhat to the +surprise of all. + +"I hate to be cooped up in a palace," she said to +Ozma, "and of course the first time I meet my Rainbow I +shall return to my own dear home in the skies, where my +fairy sisters are even now awaiting me and my father is +cross because I get lost so often. But I can find my +Rainbow just as quickly while traveling in the Munchkin +Country as I could if living in the Emerald City -- or +any other place in Oz -- so I shall go with the Tin +Woodman and help him woo Nimmie Amee." + +Dorothy wanted to go, too, but as the Tin Woodman did +not invite her to join his party, she felt she might be +intruding if she asked to be taken. she hinted, but she +found he didn't take the hint. It is quite a delicate +matter for one to ask a girl to marry him, however much +she loves him, and perhaps the Tin Woodman did not +desire to have too many looking on when he found his +old sweetheart, Nimmie Amee. So Dorothy contented +herself with the thought that she would help Ozma +prepare a splendid wedding feast, to be followed by a +round of parties and festivities when the Emperor of +the Winkies reached the Emerald City with his bride. + +Ozma offered to take them all in the Red Wagon to a +place as near to the great Munchkin forest as a wagon +could get. The Red Wagon was big enough to seat them +all, and so, bidding good-bye to Jinjur, who gave Woot +a basket of ripe cream-puffs and caramels to take with +him, Ozma commanded the Wooden Sawhorse to start, and +the strange creature moved swiftly over the lanes and +presently came to the Road of Yellow Bricks. This road +led straight to a dense forest, where the path was too +narrow for the Red Wagon to proceed farther, so here +the party separated. + +Ozma and Dorothy and Toto returned to the Emerald +City, after wishing their friends a safe and successful +journey, while the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow, Woot the +Wanderer and Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter, +prepared to push their way through the thick forest. +However, these forest paths were well known to the Tin +Man and the Scarecrow, who felt quite at home among the +trees. + +"I was born in this grand forest," said Nick Chopper, +the tin Emperor, speaking proudly, "and it was here +that the Witch enchanted my axe and I lost different +parts of my meat body until I became all tin. Here, +also -- for it is a big forest -- Nimmie Amee lived +with the Wicked Witch, and at the other edge of the +trees stands the cottage of my friend Ku-Klip, the +famous tinsmith who made my present beautiful form." + +"He must be a clever workman," declared Woot, +admiringly. + +"He is simply wonderful," declared the Tin Woodman. + +"I shall be glad to make his acquaintance," said +Woot. + +"If you wish to meet with real cleverness," remarked +the Scarecrow, "you should visit the Munchkin farmer +who first made me. I won't say that my friend the +Emperor isn't all right for a tin man, but any judge of +beauty can understand that a Scarecrow is far more +artistic and refined." + +"You are too soft and flimsy," said the Tin Woodman. + +"You are too hard and stiff," said the Scarecrow, and +this was as near to quarreling as the two friends ever +came. Polychrome laughed at them both, as well she +might, and Woot hastened to change the subject. + +At night they all camped underneath the trees. The +boy ate cream-puffs for supper and offered Polychrome +some, but she preferred other food and at daybreak +sipped the dew that was clustered thick on the forest +flowers. Then they tramped onward again, and presently +the Scarecrow paused and said: + +"It was on this very spot that Dorothy and I first +met the Tin Woodman, who was rusted so badly that none +of his joints would move. But after we had oiled him +up, he was as good as new and accompanied us to the +Emerald City." + +"Ah, that was a sad experience," asserted the Tin +Woodman soberly. "I was caught in a rainstorm while +chopping down a tree for exercise, and before I +realized it, I was firmly rusted in every joint. There +I stood, axe in hand, but unable to move, for days and +weeks and months! Indeed, I have never known exactly +how long the time was; but finally along came Dorothy +and I was saved. See! This is the very tree I was +chopping at the time I rusted." + +"You cannot be far from your old home, in that case," +said Woot. + +"No; my little cabin stands not a great way off, but +there is no occasion for us to visit it. Our errand is +with Nimmie Amee, and her house is somewhat farther +away, to the left of us." + +"Didn't you say she lives with a Wicked Witch, who +makes her a slave?" asked the boy. + +"She did, but she doesn't," was the reply. "I am told +the Witch was destroyed when Dorothy's house fell on +her, so now Nimmie Amee must live all alone. I haven't +seen her, of course, since the Witch was crushed, for +at that time I was standing rusted in the forest and +had been there a long time, but the poor girl must have +felt very happy to be free from her cruel mistress." + +"Well," said the Scarecrow, "let's travel on and find +Nimmie Amee. Lead on, your Majesty, since you know the +way, and we will follow." + +So the Tin Woodman took a path that led through the +thickest part of the forest, and they followed it for +some time. The light was dim here, because vines and +bushes and leafy foliage were all about them, and often +the Tin Man had to push aside the branches that +obstructed their way, or cut them off with his axe. +After they had proceeded some distance, the Emperor +suddenly stopped short and exclaimed: "Good gracious!" + +The Scarecrow, who was next, first bumped into his +friend and then peered around his tin body, and said in +a tone of wonder: + +"Well, I declare!" + +Woot the Wanderer pushed forward to see what was the +matter, and cried out in astonishment: "For goodness' +sake!" + +Then the three stood motionless, staring hard, until +Polychrome's merry laughter rang out behind them and +aroused them from their stupor. + +In the path before them stood a tin man who was the +exact duplicate of the Tin Woodman. He was of the same +size, he was jointed in the same manner, and he was +made of shining tin from top to toe. But he stood +immovable, with his tin jaws half parted and his tin +eyes turned upward. In one of his hands was held a +long, gleaming sword. Yes, there was the difference, +the only thing that distinguished him from the Emperor +of the Winkies. This tin man bore a sword, while the +Tin Woodman bore an axe. + +"It's a dream; it must be a dream!" gasped Woot. + +"That's it, of course," said the Scarecrow; "there +couldn't be two Tin Woodmen." + +"No," agreed Polychrome, dancing nearer to the +stranger, "this one is a Tin Soldier. Don't you see his +sword?" + +The Tin Woodman cautiously put out one tin hand and +felt of his double's arm. Then he said in a voice that +trembled with emotion: + +"Who are you, friend?" + +There was no reply + +"Can't you see he's rusted, just as you were once?" +asked Polychrome, laughing again. "Here, Nick Chopper, +lend me your oil-can a minute!" + +The Tin Woodman silently handed her his oil-can, +without which he never traveled, and Polychrome +first oiled the stranger's tin jaws and then worked +them gently to and fro until the Tin Soldier said: + +"That's enough. Thank you. I can now talk. But please +oil my other joints." + +Woot seized the oil-can and did this, but all the +others helped wiggle the soldier's joints as soon as +they were oiled, until they moved freely. + +The Tin Soldier seemed highly pleased at his release. +He strutted up and down the path, saying in a high, +thin voice: + + +"The Soldier is a splendid man + When marching on parade, +And when he meets the enemy + He never is afraid. + +He rights the wrongs of nations, + His country's flag defends, +The foe he'll fight with great delight, + But seldom fights his friends." + + + + + +Chapter Sixteen + +Captain Fyter + + +"Are you really a soldier?" asked Woot, when they had +all watched this strange tin person parade up and down +the path and proudly flourish his sword. + +"I was a soldier," was the reply, "but I've been a +prisoner to Mr. Rust so long that I don't know exactly +what I am." + +"But -- dear me!" cried the Tin Woodman, sadly +perplexed; "how came you to be made of tin?" + +"That," answered the Soldier, "is a sad, sad story I +was in love with a beautiful Munchkin girl, who lived +with a Wicked Witch. The Witch did not wish me to marry +the girl, so she enchanted my sword, which began +hacking me to pieces. When I lost my legs I went to the +tinsmith, Ku-Klip, and he made me some tin legs. When I +lost my arms, Ku-Klip made me tin arms, and when I lost +my head he made me this fine one out of tin. It was the +same way with my body, and finally I was all tin. But I +was not unhappy, for Ku-Klip made a good job of me, +having had experience in making another tin man before +me." + +"Yes," observed the Tin Woodman, "it was Ku-Klip who +made me. But, tell me, what was the name of the +Munchkin girl you were in love with?" + +"She is called Nimmie Amee," said the Tin Soldier. + +Hearing this, they were all so astonished that they +were silent for a time, regarding the stranger with +wondering looks. Finally the Tin Woodman ventured to +ask: + +"And did Nimmie Amee return your love?" + +"Not at first," admitted the Soldier. "When first I +marched into the forest and met her, she was weeping +over the loss of her former sweetheart, a woodman whose +name was Nick Chopper." + +"That is me," said the Tin Woodman. + +"She told me he was nicer than a soldier, because he +was all made of tin and shone beautifully in the sun. +She said a tin man appealed to her artistic instincts +more than an ordinary meat man, as I was then. But I +did not despair, because her tin sweetheart had +disappeared, and could not be found. And finally Nimmie +Amee permitted me to call upon her and we became +friends. It was then that the Wicked Witch discovered +me and became furiously angry when I said I wanted to +marry the girl. She enchanted my sword, as I said, and +then my troubles began. When I got my tin legs, Nimmie +Amee began to take an interest in me; when I got my tin +arms, she began to like me better than ever, and when I +was all made of tin, she said I looked like her dear +Nick Chopper and she would be willing to marry me. + +"The day of our wedding was set, and it turned out to +be a rainy day. Nevertheless I started out to get +Nimmie Amee, because the Witch had been absent for some +time, and we meant to elope before she got back. As I +traveled the forest paths the rain wetted my joints, +but I paid no attention to this because my thoughts +were all on my wedding with beautiful Nimmie Amee and I +could think of nothing else until suddenly my legs +stopped moving. Then my arms rusted at the joints and I +became frightened and cried for help, for now I was +unable to oil myself. No one heard my calls and before +long my jaws rusted, and I was unable to utter another +sound. So I stood helpless in this spot, hoping some +wanderer would come my way and save me. But this forest +path is seldom used, and I have been standing here so +long that I have lost all track of time. In my mind I +composed poetry and sang songs, but not a sound have I +been able to utter. But this desperate condition has +now been relieved by your coming my way and I must +thank you for my rescue." + +"This is wonderful!" said the Scarecrow, heaving a +stuffy, long sigh. "I think Ku-Klip was wrong to make +two tin men, just alike, and the strangest thing of all +is that both you tin men fell in love with the same +girl." + +"As for that," returned the Soldier, seriously, "I +must admit I lost my ability to love when I lost my +meat heart. Ku-Klip gave me a tin heart, to be sure, +but it doesn't love anything, as far as I can discover, +and merely rattles against my tin ribs, which makes me +wish I had no heart at all." + +"Yet, in spite of this condition, you were going to +marry Nimmie Amee?" + +"Well, you see I had promised to marry her, and I am +an honest man and always try to keep my promises. I +didn't like to disappoint the poor girl, who had been +disappointed by one tin man already." + +"That was not my fault," declared the Emperor of the +Winkies, and then he related how he, also, had rusted +in the forest and after a long time had been rescued by +Dorothy and the Scarecrow and had traveled with them to +the Emerald City in search of a heart that could love. + +"If you have found such a heart, sir," said the +Soldier, "I will gladly allow you to marry Nimmie Amee +in my place." + +"If she loves you best, sir," answered the Woodman, +"I shall not interfere with your wedding her. For, to +be quite frank with you, I cannot yet love Nimmie Amee +as I did before I became tin." + +"Still, one of you ought to marry the poor girl," +remarked Woot; "and, if she likes tin men, there is not +much choice between you. Why don't you draw lots for +her?" + +"That wouldn't be right," said the Scarecrow. + +"The girl should be permitted to choose her own +husband," asserted Polychrome. "You should both go to +her and allow her to take her choice. Then she will +surely be happy." + +"That, to me, seems a very fair arrangement," said +the Tin Soldier. + +"I agree to it," said the Tin Woodman, shaking the +hand of his twin to show the matter was settled. "May I +ask your name, sir?" he continued. + +"Before I was so cut up," replied the other, "I was +known as Captain Fyter, but afterward I was merely +called 'The Tin Soldier.'" + +"Well, Captain, if you are agreeable, let us now go +to Nimmie Amee's house and let her choose between us." + +"Very well; and if we meet the Witch, we will both +fight her -- you with your axe and I with my sword." + +"The Witch is destroyed," announced the Scarecrow, +and as they walked away he told the Tin Soldier of much +that had happened in the Land of Oz since he had stood +rusted in the forest. + +"I must have stood there longer than I had imagined," +he said thoughtfully + + + + +Chapter Seventeen + +The Workshop of Ku-Klip + + +It was not more than a two hours' journey to the house +where Nimmie Amee had lived, but when our travelers +arrived there they found the place deserted. The door +was partly off its hinges, the roof had fallen in at +the rear and the interior of the cottage was thick with +dust. Not only was the place vacant, but it was evident +that no one had lived there for a long time. + +"I suppose," said the Scarecrow, as they all stood +looking wonderingly at the ruined house, "that after +the Wicked Witch was destroyed, Nimmie Amee became +lonely and went somewhere else to live." + +"One could scarcely expect a young girl to live all +alone in a forest," added Woot. "She would want +company, of course, and so I believe she has gone where +other people live." + +"And perhaps she is still crying her poor little +heart out because no tin man comes to marry her," +suggested Polychrome. + +"Well, in that case, it is the clear duty of you two +tin persons to seek Nimmie Amee until you find her," +declared the Scarecrow. + +"I do not know where to look for the girl," said the +Tin Soldier, "for I am almost a stranger to this part +of the country." + +"I was born here," said the Tin Woodman, "but the +forest has few inhabitants except the wild beasts. I +cannot think of anyone living near here with whom +Nimmie Amee might care to live." + +"Why not go to Ku-Klip and ask him what has become of +the girl?" proposed Polychrome. + +That struck them all as being a good suggestion, so +once more they started to tramp through the forest, +taking the direct path to Ku-Klip's house, for both the +tin twins knew the way, having followed it many times. + +Ku-Klip lived at the far edge of the great forest, +his house facing the broad plains of the Munchkin +Country that lay to the eastward. But, when they came +to this residence by the forest's edge, the tinsmith +was not at home. + +It was a pretty place, all painted dark blue with +trimmings of lighter blue. There was a neat blue fence +around the yard and several blue benches had been +placed underneath the shady blue trees which marked the +line between forest and plain. There was a blue lawn +before the house, which was a good sized building. Ku- +Klip lived in the front part of the house and had his +work-shop in the back part, where he had also built a +lean-to addition, in order to give him more room. + +Although they found the tinsmith absent on their +arrival, there was smoke coming out of his chimney, +which proved that he would soon return. + +"And perhaps Nimmie Amee will be with him," said the +Scarecrow in a cheerful voice. + +While they waited, the Tin Woodman went to the door +of the workshop and, finding it unlocked, entered and +looked curiously around the room where he had been +made. + +"It seems almost like home to me," hie told his +friends, who had followed him in. "The first time I +came here I had lost a leg, so I had to carry it in my +hand while I hopped on the other leg all the way from +the place in the forest where the enchanted axe cut me. +I remember that old Ku-Klip carefully put my meat leg +into a barrel -- I think that is the same barrel, still +standing in the corner yonder -- and then at once he +began to make a tin leg for me. He worked fast and with +skill, and I was much interested in the job." + +"My experience was much the same," said the Tin +Soldier. "I used to bring all the parts of me, which +the enchanted sword had cut away, here to the tinsmith, +and Ku-Klip would put them into the barrel." + +"I wonder," said Woot, "if those cast-off parts of you two +unfortunates are still in that barrel in the corner?" + +"I suppose so." replied the Tin Woodman. "In the Land +of Oz no part of a living creature can ever be destroyed." + +"If that is true, how was that Wicked Witch destroyed?" inquired Woot. + +"Why, she was very old and was all dried up and +withered before Oz became a fairyland," explained the +Scarecrow. "Only her magic arts had kept her alive so +long, and when Dorothy's house fell upon her she just +turned to dust, and was blown away and scattered by the +wind. I do not think, however, that the parts cut away +from these two young men could ever be entirely +destroyed and, if they are still in those barrels, +they are likely to be just the same as when the +enchanted axe or sword severed them." + +"It doesn't matter, however," said the Tin Woodman; +"our tin bodies are more brilliant and durable, and +quite satisfy us." + +"Yes, the tin bodies are best," agreed the Tin +Soldier. "Nothing can hurt them." + +"Unless they get dented or rusted," said Woot, but +both the tin men frowned on him. + +Scraps of tin, of all shapes and sizes, lay scattered +around the workshop. Also there were hammers and anvils +and soldering irons and a charcoal furnace and many +other tools such as a tinsmith works with. Against two +of the side walls had been built stout work-benches and +in the center of the room was a long table. At the end of +the shop, which adjoined the dwelling, were several cupboards. + +After examining the interior of the workshop until +his curiosity was satisfied, Woot said; + +"I think I will go outside until Ku-Klip comes. It +does not seem quite proper for us to take possession of +his house while he is absent." + +"That is true," agreed the Scarecrow, and they were +all about to leave the room when the Tin Woodman said: +"Wait a minute," and they halted in obedience to the +command. + + + + +Chapter Eighteen + +The Tin Woodman Talks to Himself + + +The Tin Woodman had just noticed the cupboards and was +curious to know what they contained, so he went to one +of them and opened the door. There were shelves inside, +and upon one of the shelves which was about on a level +with his tin chin the Emperor discovered a Head -- it +looked like a doll's head, only it was larger, and he +soon saw it was the Head of some person. It was facing +the Tin Woodman and as the cupboard door swung back, +the eyes of the Head slowly opened and looked at him. +The Tin Woodman was not at all surprised, for in the +Land of Oz one runs into magic at every turn. + +"Dear me!" said the Tin Woodman, staring hard. "It +seems as if I had met you, somewhere, before. Good +morning, sir!" + +"You have the advantage of me," replied the Head. "I +never saw you before in my life." + +"Still, your face is very familiar," persisted the +Tin Woodman. "Pardon me, but may I ask if you -- eh -- +eh -- if you ever had a Body?" + +"Yes, at one time," answered the Head, "but that is +so long ago I can't remember it. Did you think," with a +pleasant smile, "that I was born just as I am? That a +Head would be created without a Body?" + +"No, of course not," said the other. "But how came +you to lose your body?" + +"Well, I can't recollect the details; you'll have to +ask Ku-Klip about it," returned the Head. "For, curious +as it may seem to you, my memory is not good since my +separation from the rest of me. I still possess my +brains and my intellect is as good as ever, but my +memory of some of the events I formerly experienced is +quite hazy." + +"How long have you been in this cupboard?" asked the +Emperor. + +"I don't know." + +"Haven't you a name?" + +"Oh, yes," said the Head; "I used to be called Nick +Chopper, when I was a woodman and cut down trees for a +living." + +"Good gracious!" cried the Tin Woodman in +astonishment. "If you are Nick Chopper's Head, then you +are Me -- or I'm You -- or -- or -- What relation are +we, anyhow?" + +"Don't ask me," replied the Head. "For my part, I'm +not anxious to claim relationship with any common, +manufactured article, like you. You may be all right in +your class, but your class isn't my class. You're tin." + +The poor Emperor felt so bewildered that for a time he could +only stare at his old Head in silence. Then he said: + +"I must admit that I wasn't at all bad looking before +I became tin. You're almost handsome -- for meat. If +your hair was combed, you'd be quite attractive." + +"How do you expect me to comb my hair without help?" +demanded the Head, indignantly. "I used to keep it +smooth and neat, when I had arms, but after I was +removed from the rest of me, my hair got mussed, +and old Ku-Klip never has combed it for me." + +"I'll speak to him about it," said the Tin Woodman. +"Do you remember loving a pretty Munchkin girl named +Nimmie Amee?" + +"No," answered the Head. "That is a foolish question. +The heart in my body -- when I had a body -- might have +loved someone, for all I know, but a head isn't made to +love; it's made to think." + +"Oh; do you think, then?" + +"I used to think." + +"You must have been shut up in this cupboard for +years and years. What have you thought about, in all +that time?" + +"Nothing. That's another foolish question. A little +reflection will convince you that I have had nothing to +think about, except the boards on the inside of the +cupboard door, and it didn't take me long to think of +everything about those boards that could be thought of. +Then, of course, I quit thinking." + +"And are you happy?" + +"Happy? What's that?" + +"Don't you know what happiness is?" inquired the Tin +Woodman. + +"I haven't the faintest idea whether it's round or +square, or black or white, or what it is. And, if you +will pardon my lack of interest in it, I will say that +I don't care." + +The Tin Woodman was much puzzled by these answers. +His traveling companions had grouped themselves at his +back, and had fixed their eyes on the Head and listened +to the conversation with much interest, but until now, +they had not interrupted because they thought the Tin +Woodman had the best right to talk to his own head and +renew acquaintance with it. + +But now the Tin Soldier remarked: + +"I wonder if my old head happens to be in any of +these cupboards," and he proceeded to open all the +cupboard doors. But no other head was to be found on +any of the shelves. + +"Oh, well; never mind," said Woot the Wanderer; "I +can't imagine what anyone wants of a cast-off head, +anyhow." + +"I can understand the Soldier's interest," asserted +Polychrome, dancing around the grimy workshop until her +draperies formed a cloud around her dainty form. "For +sentimental reasons a man might like to see his old +head once more, just as one likes to revisit an old +home." + +"And then to kiss it good-bye," added the Scarecrow. + +"I hope that tin thing won't try to kiss me good- +bye!" exclaimed the Tin Woodman's former head. "And I +don't see what right you folks have to disturb my peace +and comfort, either." + +"You belong to me," the Tin Woodman declared. + +"I do not!" + +"You and I are one." + +"We've been parted," asserted the Head. "It would be +unnatural for me to have any interest in a man made of +tin. Please close the door and leave me alone." + +"I did not think that my old Head could be so +disagreeable," said the Emperor. "I -- I'm quite +ashamed of myself; meaning you." + +"You ought to be glad that I've enough sense to know +what my rights are," retorted the Head. "In this +cupboard I am leading a simple life, peaceful and +dignified, and when a mob of people in whom I am not +interested disturb me, they are the disagreeable ones; +not I." + +With a sigh the Tin Woodman closed and latched the +cupboard door and turned away. + +"Well," said the Tin Soldier, "if my old head would +have treated me as coldly and in so unfriendly a manner +as your old head has treated you, friend Chopper, I'm +glad I could not find it." + +"Yes; I'm rather surprised at my head, myself," +replied the Tin Woodman, thoughtfully. "I thought I had +a more pleasant disposition when I was made of meat." + +But just then old Ku-Klip the Tinsmith arrived, and +he seemed surprised to find so many visitors. Ku-Klip +was a stout man and a short man. He had his sleeves +rolled above his elbows, showing muscular arms, and he +wore a leathern apron that covered all the front of +him, and was so long that Woot was surprised he didn't +step on it and trip whenever he walked. And Ku-Klip had +a gray beard that was almost as long as his apron, and +his head was bald on top and his ears stuck out from +his head like two fans. Over his eyes, which were +bright and twinkling, he wore big spectacles. It was +easy to see that the tinsmith was a kind hearted man, +as well as a merry and agreeable one. "Oh-ho!" he cried +in a joyous bass voice; "here are both my tin men come +to visit me, and they and their friends are welcome +indeed. I'm very proud of you two characters, I assure +you, for you are so perfect that you are proof that I'm +a good workman. Sit down. Sit down, all of you -- if +you can find anything to sit on -- and tell me why you +are here." + +So they found seats and told him all of their +adventures that they thought he would like to know. Ku- +Klip was glad to learn that Nick Chopper, the Tin +Woodman, was now Emperor of the Winkies and a friend of +Ozma of Oz, and the tinsmith was also interested in the +Scarecrow and Polychrome. + +He turned the straw man around, examining him +curiously, and patted him on all sides, and then said: + +"You are certainly wonderful, but I think you would +be more durable and steady on your legs if you were +made of tin. Would you like me to --" + +"No, indeed!" interrupted the Scarecrow hastily; "I +like myself better as I am." + +But to Polychrome the tinsmith said: + +"Nothing could improve you, my dear, for you are the +most beautiful maiden I have ever seen. It is pure +happiness just to look at you." + +"That is praise, indeed, from so skillful a workman," +returned the Rainbow's Daughter, laughing and dancing +in and out the room. + +"Then it must be this boy you wish me to help," said +Ku-Klip, looking at Woot. + +"No," said Woot, "we are not here to seek your skill, +but have merely come to you for information." + +Then, between them, they related their search for +Nimmie Amee, whom the Tin Woodman explained he had +resolved to marry, yet who had promised to become the +bride of the Tin Soldier before he unfortunately became +rusted. And when the story was told, they asked Ku-Klip +if he knew what had become of Nimmie Amee. + +"Not exactly," replied the old man, "but I know that +she wept bitterly when the Tin Soldier did not come to +marry her, as he had promised to do. The old Witch was +so provoked at the girl's tears that she beat Nimmie +Amee with her crooked stick and then hobbled away to +gather some magic herbs, with which she intended to +transform the girl into an old hag, so that no one +would again love her or care to marry her. It was while +she was away on this errand that Dorothy's house fell +on the Wicked Witch, and she turned to dust and blew +away. When I heard this good news, I sent Nimmie Amee +to find the Silver Shoes which the Witch had worn, but +Dorothy had taken them with her to the Emerald City." + +"Yes, we know all about those Silver Shoes," said the +Scarecrow. + +"Well," continued Ku-Klip, "after that, Nimmie Amee +decided to go away from the forest and live with some +people she was acquainted with who had a house on Mount +Munch. I have never seen the girl since." + +"Do you know the name of the people on Mount Munch, +with whom she went to live?" asked the Tin Woodman. + +"No, Nimmie Amee did not mention her friend's name, +and I did not ask her. She took with her all that she +could carry of the goods that were in the Witch's +house, and she told me I could have the rest. But when +I went there I found nothing worth taking except some +magic powders that I did not know how to use, and a +bottle of Magic Glue." + +"What is Magic Glue?" asked Woot. + +"It is a magic preparation with which to mend people +when they cut themselves. One time, long ago, I cut off +one of my fingers by accident, and I carried it to the +Witch, who took down her bottle and glued it on again +for me. See!" showing them his finger, "it is as good +as ever it was. No one else that I ever heard of had +this Magic Glue, and of course when Nick Chopper cut +himself to pieces with his enchanted axe and Captain +Fyter cut himself to pieces with his enchanted sword, +the Witch would not mend them, or allow me to glue them +together, because she had herself wickedly enchanted +the axe and sword. Nothing remained but for me to make +them new parts out of tin; but, as you see, tin +answered the purpose very well, and I am sure their tin +bodies are a great improvement on their meat bodies." +"Very true," said the Tin Soldier. + +"I quite agree with you," said the Tin Woodman. "I +happened to find my old head in your cupboard, a while +ago, and certainly it is not as desirable a head as the +tin one I now wear." + +"By the way," said the Tin Soldier, "what ever became +of my old head, Ku-Klip?" + +"And of the different parts of our bodies?" added the +Tin Woodman. + +"Let me think a minute," replied Ku-Klip. "If I +remember right, you two boys used to bring me most of +your parts, when they were cut off, and I saved them in +that barrel in the corner. You must not have brought me +all the parts, for when I made Chopfyt I had hard work +finding enough pieces to complete the job. I finally +had to finish him with one arm." + +"Who is Chopfyt?"inquired Woot. + +"Oh, haven't I told you about Chopfyt?" exclaimed Ku- +Klip. "Of course not! And he's quite a curiosity, too. +You'll be interested in hearing about Chopfyt. This is +how he happened: + +"One day, after the Witch had been destroyed and +Nimmie Amee had gone to live with her friends on Mount +Munch, I was looking around the shop for something and +came upon the bottle of Magic Glue which I had brought +from the old Witch's house. It occurred to me to piece +together the odds and ends of you two people, which of +course were just as good as ever, and see if I couldn't +make a man out of them. If I succeeded, I would have an +assistant to help me with my work, and I thought it +would be a clever idea to put to some practical use the +scraps of Nick Chopper and Captain Fyter. There were +two perfectly good heads in my cupboard, and a lot of +feet and legs and parts of bodies in the barrel, so I +set to work to see what I could do. + +"First, I pieced together a body, gluing it with the +Witch's Magic Glue, which worked perfectly. That was +the hardest part of my job, however, because the bodies +didn't match up well and some parts were missing. But +by using a piece of Captain Fyter here and a piece of +Nick Chopper there, I finally got together a very +decent body, with heart and all the trimmings +complete." + +"Whose heart did you use in making asked the Tin. +Woodman anxiously. the body?" + +"I can't tell, for the parts had no tags on them and +one heart looks much like another. After the body was +completed, I glued two fine legs and feet onto it. One +leg was Nick Chopper's and one was Captain Fyter's and, +finding one leg longer than the other, I trimmed it +down to make them match. I was much disappointed to +find that I had but one arm. There was an extra leg in +the barrel, but I could find only one arm. Having glued +this onto the body, I was ready for the head, and I had +some difficulty in making up my mind which head to use. +Finally I shut my eyes and reached out my hand toward +the cupboard shelf, and the first head I touched I +glued upon my new man." + +"It was mine!" declared the Tin Soldier, gloomily. + +"No, it was mine," asserted Ku-Klip, "for I had given +you another in exchange for it -- the beautiful tin +head you now wear. When the glue had dried, my man was +quite an interesting fellow. I named him Chopfyt, using +a part of Nick Chopper's name and a part of Captain +Fyter's name, because he was a mixture of both your +cast-off parts. Chopfyt was interesting, as I said, +but he did not prove a very agreeable companion. He +complained bitterly because I had given him but one arm +-- as if it were my fault! -- and he grumbled because the +suit of blue Munchkin clothes, which I got for him from +a neighbor, did not fit him perfectly." + +"Ah, that was because he was wearing my old head," +remarked the Tin Soldier. "I remember that head used to +be very particular about its clothes." + +"As an assistant," the old tinsmith continued, +"Chopfyt was not a success. He was awkward with tools +and was always hungry. He demanded something to eat six +or eight times a day, so I wondered if I had fitted his +insides properly. Indeed, Chopfyt ate so much that +little food was left for myself; so, when he proposed, +one day, to go out into the world and seek adventures, +I was delighted to be rid of him. I even made him a tin +arm to take the place of the missing one, and that +pleased him very much, so that we parted good friends." + +"What became of Chopfyt after that?" the Scarecrow +inquired. + +"I never heard. He started off toward the east, into +the plains of the Munchkin Country, and that was the +last I ever saw of him." + +"It seems to me," said the Tin Woodman reflectively, +"that you did wrong in making a man out of our cast-off +parts. It is evident that Chopfyt could, with justice, +claim relationship with both of us." + +"Don't worry about that," advised Ku-Klip cheerfully; +"it is not likely that you will ever meet the fellow. +And, if you should meet him, he doesn't know who he is +made of, for I never told him the secret of his +manufacture. Indeed, you are the only ones who know of +it, and you may keep the secret to yourselves, if you +wish to." + +"Never mind Chopfyt," said the Scarecrow. "Our +business now is to find poor Nimmie Amee and let her +choose her tin husband. To do that, it seems, from the +information Ku-Klip has given us, we must travel to +Mount Munch." + +"If that's the programme, let us start at once," +suggested Woot. + +So they all went outside, where they found Polychrome +dancing about among the trees and talking with the +birds and laughing as merrily as if she had not lost +her Rainbow and so been separated from all her fairy +sisters. + +They told her they were going to Mount Munch, and she +replied: + +"Very well; I am as likely to find my Rainbow there +as here, and any other place is as likely as there. It +all depends on the weather. Do you think it looks like +rain?" + +They shook their heads, and Polychrome laughed again +and danced on after them when they resumed their +journey. + + + + +Chapter Nineteen + +The Invisible Country + + +They were proceeding so easily and comfortably on their +way to Mount Munch that Woot said in a serious tone of +voice: + +"I'm afraid something is going to happen." + +"Why?" asked Polychrome, dancing around the group of +travelers. + +"Because," said the boy, thoughtfully, "I've noticed +that when we have the least reason for getting into +trouble, something is sure to go wrong. Just now the +weather is delightful; the grass is beautifully blue +and quite soft to our feet; the mountain we are seeking +shows clearly in the distance and there is no reason +anything should happen to delay us in getting there. +Our troubles all seem to be over, and -- well, that's +why I'm afraid," he added, with a sigh. + +"Dear me!" remarked the Scarecrow, "what unhappy +thoughts you have, to be sure. This is proof that born +brains cannot equal manufactured brains, for my brains +dwell only on facts and never borrow trouble. When +there is occasion for my brains to think, they think, +but I would be ashamed of my brains if they kept +shooting out thoughts that were merely fears and +imaginings, such as do no good, but are likely to do +harm." + +"For my part," said the Tin Woodman, "I do not think +at all, but allow my velvet heart to guide me at all +times." + +"The tinsmith filled my hollow head with scraps and +clippings of tin," said the Soldier, "and he told me +they would do nicely for brains, but when I begin to +think, the tin scraps rattle around and get so mixed +that I'm soon bewildered. So I try not to think. My tin +heart is almost as useless to me, for it is hard and +cold, so I'm sure the red velvet heart of my friend +Nick Chopper is a better guide." + +"Thoughtless people are not unusual," observed the +Scarecrow, "but I consider them more fortunate than +those who have useless or wicked thoughts and do not +try to curb them. Your oil can, friend Woodman, is +filled with oil, but you only apply the oil to your +joints, drop by drop, as you need it, and do not keep +spilling it where it will do no good. Thoughts should +be restrained in the same way as your oil, and only +applied when necessary, and for a good purpose. If used +carefully, thoughts are good things to have." + +Polychrome laughed at him, for the Rainbow's Daughter +knew more about thoughts than the Scarecrow did. But +the others were solemn, feeling they had been rebuked, +and tramped on in silence. + +Suddenly Woot, who was in the lead, looked around and +found that all his comrades had mysteriously +disappeared. But where could they have gone to? The +broad plain was all about him and there were neither +trees nor bushes that could hide even a rabbit, nor any +hole for one to fall into. Yet there he stood, alone. + +Surprise had caused him to halt, and with a +thoughtful and puzzled expression on his face he looked +down at his feet. It startled him anew to discover that +he had no feet. He reached out his hands, but he could +not see them. He could feel his hands and arms and +body; he stamped his feet on the grass and knew they +were there, but in some strange way they had become +invisible. + +While Woot stood, wondering, a crash of metal sounded +in his ears and he heard two heavy bodies tumble to the +earth just beside him. + +"Good gracious!" exclaimed the voice of the Tin +Woodman. + +"Mercy me!" cried the voice of the Tin Soldier. + +"Why didn't you look where you were going?" asked the +Tin Woodman reproachfully. + +"I did, but I couldn't see you," said the Tin +Soldier. "Something has happened to my tin eyes. I +can't see you, even now, nor can I see anyone else!" + +"It's the same way with me," admitted the Tin +Woodman. + +Woot couldn't see either of them, although he heard +them plainly, and just then something smashed against +him unexpectedly and knocked him over; but it was only +the straw-stuffed body of the Scarecrow that fell upon +him and while he could not see the Scarecrow he managed +to push him off and rose to his feet just as Polychrome +whirled against him and made him tumble again. + +Sitting upon the ground, the boy asked: + +"Can you see us, Poly?" + +"No, indeed," answered the Rainbow's Daughter; "we've +all become invisible." + +"How did it happen, do you suppose?" inquired the +Scarecrow, lying where he had fallen. + +"We have met with no enemy," answered Poly-chrome, +"so it must be that this part of the country has the +magic quality of making people invisible --even fairies +falling under the charm. We can see the grass, and the +flowers, and the stretch of plain before us, and we can +still see Mount Munch in the distance; but we cannot +see ourselves or one another." + +"Well, what are we to do about it?" demanded Woot. + +"I think this magic affects only a small part of the +plain," replied Polychrome; "perhaps there is only a +streak of the country where an enchantment makes people +become invisible. So, if we get together and hold +hands, we can travel toward Mount Munch until the +enchanted streak is passed." + +"All right," said Woot, jumping up, "give me your +hand, Polychrome. Where are you?" + +"Here," she answered. "Whistle, Woot, and keep +whistling until I come to you." + +So Woot whistled, and presently Polychrome found him +and grasped his hand. + +"Someone must help me up," said the Scarecrow, lying +near them; so they found the straw man and sat him upon +his feet, after which he held fast to Polychrome's +other hand. + +Nick Chopper and the Tin Soldier had managed to +scramble up without assistance, but it was awkward for +them and the Tin Woodman said: + +"I don't seem to stand straight, somehow. But my +joints all work, so I guess I can walk." + +Guided by his voice, they reached his side, where +Woot grasped his tin fingers so they might keep +together. + +The Tin Soldier was standing near by and the +Scarecrow soon touched him and took hold of his arm. + +"I hope you're not wobbly," said the straw man, +"for if two of us walk unsteadily we will be sure +to fall." + +"I'm not wobbly," the Tin Soldier assured him, "but +I'm certain that one of my legs is shorter than the +other. I can't see it, to tell what's gone wrong, but +I'll limp on with the rest of you until we are out of +this enchanted territory." + +They now formed a line, holding hands, and turning +their faces toward Mount Munch resumed their journey. +They had not gone far, however, when a terrible growl +saluted their ears. The sound seemed to come from a +place just in front of them, so they halted abruptly +and remained silent, listening with all their ears. + +"I smell straw!" cried a hoarse, harsh voice, with +more growls and snarls. "I smell straw, and I'm a +Hip-po-gy-raf who loves straw and eats all he can find. +I want to eat this straw! Where is it? Where is it?" + +The Scarecrow, hearing this, trembled but kept +silent. All the others were silent, too, hoping that +the invisible beast would be unable to find them. But +the creature sniffed the odor of the straw and drew +nearer and nearer to them until he reached the Tin +Woodman, on one end of the line. It was a big beast and +it smelled of the Tin Woodman and grated two rows of +enormous teeth against the Emperor's tin body. + +"Bah! that's not straw," said the harsh voice, and +the beast advanced along the line to Woot. + +"Meat! Pooh, you're no good! I can't eat meat," +grumbled the beast, and passed on to Polychrome. + +"Sweetmeats and perfume -- cobwebs and dew! Nothing +to eat in a fairy like you," said the creature. + +Now, the Scarecrow was next to Polychrome in the +line, and he realized if the beast devoured his straw +he would be helpless for a long time, because the last +farmhouse was far behind them and only grass covered +the vast expanse of plain. So in his fright he let go +of Polychrome's hand and put the hand of the Tin +Soldier in that of the Rainbow's Daughter. Then he +slipped back of the line and went to the other end, +where he silently seized the Tin Woodman's hand. + +Meantime, the beast had smelled the Tin Soldier and +found he was the last of the line. + +"That's funny!" growled the Hip-po-gy-raf; "I can +smell straw, but I can't find it. Well, it's here, +somewhere, and I must hunt around until I do find it, +for I'm hungry." + +His voice was now at the left of them, so they +started on, hoping to avoid him, and traveled as fast +as they could in the direction of Mount Munch. + +"I don't like this invisible country," said Woot with +a shudder. "We can't tell how many dreadful, invisible +beasts are roaming around us, or what danger we'll come +to next." + +"Quit thinking about danger, please," said the +Scarecrow, warningly. + +"Why?" asked the boy. + +"If you think of some dreadful thing, it's liable to +happen, but if you don't think of it, and no one else +thinks of it, it just can't happen. Do you see?" + +"No," answered Woot. "I won't be able to see much of +anything until we escape from this enchantment." + +But they got out of the invisible strip of country +as suddenly as they had entered it, and the instant +they got out they stopped short, for just before them +was a deep ditch, running at right angles as far as +their eyes could see and stopping all further progress +toward Mount Munch. + +"It's not so very wide," said Woot, "but I'm sure +none of us can jump across it." + +Polychrome began to laugh, and the Scarecrow said: +"What's the matter?" + +"Look at the tin men!" she said, with another burst +of merry laughter. + +Woot and the Scarecrow looked, and the tin men looked +at themselves. + +"It was the collision," said the Tin Woodman +regretfully. "I knew something was wrong with me, and +now I can see that my side is dented in so that I lean +over toward the left. It was the Soldier's fault; he +shouldn't have been so careless." + +"It is your fault that my right leg is bent, making +it shorter than the other, so that I limp badly," +retorted the Soldier. "You shouldn't have stood where I +was walking." + +"You shouldn't have walked where I was standing," +replied the Tin Woodman. + +It was almost a quarrel, so Polychrome said +soothingly: + +"Never mind, friends; as soon as we have time I am +sure we can straighten the Soldier's leg and get the +dent out of the Woodman's body. The Scarecrow needs +patting into shape, too, for he had a bad tumble, but +our first task is to get over this ditch." + +"Yes, the ditch is the most important thing, just +now," added Woot + +They were standing in a row, looking hard at the +unexpected barrier, when a fierce growl from behind +them made them all turn quickly. Out of the invisible +country marched a huge beast with a thick, leathery +skin and a surprisingly long neck. The head on the top +of this neck was broad and flat and the eyes and mouth +were very big and the nose and ears very small. When +the head was drawn down toward the beast's shoulders, +the neck was all wrinkles, but the head could shoot up +very high indeed, if the creature wished it to. + +"Dear me!" exclaimed the Scarecrow, "this must be the +Hip-po-gy-raf." + +"Quite right," said the beast; "and you're the straw +which I'm to eat for my dinner. Oh, how I love straw! I +hope you don't resent my affectionate appetite?" + +With its four great legs it advanced straight toward +the Scarecrow, but the Tin Woodman and the Tin Soldier +both sprang in front of their friend and flourished +their weapons. + +"Keep off!" said the Tin Woodman, warningly, or I'll +chop you with my axe." + +"Keep off!" said the Tin Soldier, "or I'll cut you +with my sword." + +"Would you really do that?" asked the Hip-po-gy-raf, +in a disappointed voice. + +"We would," they both replied, and the Tin Woodman +added: "The Scarecrow is our friend, and he would be +useless without his straw stuffing. So, as we are +comrades, faithful and true, we will defend our +friend's stuffing against all enemies." + +The Hip-po-gy-raf sat down and looked at them +sorrowfully. + +"When one has made up his mind to have a meal of +delicious straw, and then finds he can't have it, it is +certainly hard luck," he said. "And what good is the +straw man to you, or to himself, when the ditch keeps +you from going any further?" + +"Well, we can go back again," suggested Woot. + +"True," said the Hip-po; "and if you do, you'll be as +disappointed as I am. That's some comfort, anyhow." + +The travelers looked at the beast, and then they +looked across the ditch at the level plain beyond. On +the other side the grass had grown tall, and the sun +had dried it, so there was a fine crop of hay that only +needed to be cut and stacked. + +"Why don't you cross over and eat hay?" the boy asked +the beast. + +"I'm not fond of hay," replied the Hip-po-gy-raf; +"straw is much more delicious, to my notion, and it's +more scarce in this neighborhood, too. Also I must +confess that I can't get across the ditch, for my body +is too heavy and clumsy for me to jump the distance. I +can stretch my neck across, though, and you will notice +that I've nibbled the hay on the farther edge -- not +because I liked it, but because one must eat, and if +one can't get the sort of food he desires, he must take +what is offered or go hungry." + +"Ah, I see you are a philosopher," remarked the +Scarecrow. + +"No, I'm just a Hip-po-gy-raf," was the reply. + +Polychrome was not afraid of the big beast. She +danced close to him and said: + +"If you can stretch your neck across the ditch, why +not help us over? We can sit on your big head, one at a +time, and then you can lift us across." + +"Yes; I can, it is true," answered the Hip-po; "but I +refuse to do it. Unless --" he added, and stopped +short. + +"Unless what?" asked Polychrome. + +"Unless you first allow me to eat the straw with +which the Scarecrow is stuffed." + +"No," said the Rainbow's Daughter, "that is too high +a price to pay. Our friend's straw is nice and fresh, +for he was restuffed only a little while ago." + +"I know," agreed the Hip-po-gy-raf. "That's why I +want it. If it was old, musty straw, I wouldn't care +for it." + +"Please lift us across," pleaded Polychrome. + +"No," replied the beast; "since you refuse my +generous offer, I can be as stubborn as you are." + +After that they were all silent for a time, but then +the Scarecrow said bravely: + +"Friends, let us agree to the beast's terms. Give him +my straw, and carry the rest of me with you across the +ditch. Once on the other side, the Tin Soldier can cut +some of the hay with his sharp sword, and you can stuff +me with that material until we reach a place where +there is straw. It is true I have been stuffed with +straw all my life and it will be somewhat humiliating +to be filled with common hay, but I am willing to +sacrifice my pride in a good cause. Moreover, to +abandon our errand and so deprive the great Emperor of +the Winkies -- or this noble Soldier -- of his bride, +would be equally humiliating, if not more so." + +"You're a very honest and clever man!" exclaimed the +Hip-po-gy-raf, admiringly. "When I have eaten your +head, perhaps I also will become clever." + +"You're not to eat my head, you know," returned the +Scarecrow hastily. "My head isn't stuffed with straw +and I cannot part with it. When one loses his head he +loses his brains." + +"Very well, then; you may keep your head," said the +beast. + +The Scarecrow's companions thanked him warmly for his +loyal sacrifice to their mutual good, and then he laid +down and permitted them to pull the straw from his +body. As fast as they did this, the Hip-po-gy-raf ate +up the straw, and when all was consumed Polychrome made +a neat bundle of the clothes and boots and gloves and +hat and said she would carry them, while Woot tucked +the Scarecrow's head under his arm and promised to +guard its safety. + +"Now, then," said the Tin Woodman, "keep your +promise, Beast, and lift us over the ditch." + +"M-m-m-mum, but that was a fine dinner!" said the +Hip-po, smacking his thick lips in satisfaction, "and +I'm as good as my word. Sit on my head, one at a time, +and I'll land you safely on the other side." + +He approached close to the edge of the ditch and +squatted down. Polychrome climbed over his big body and +sat herself lightly upon the flat head, holding the +bundle of the Scarecrow's raiment in her hand. Slowly +the elastic neck stretched out until it reached the far +side of the ditch, when the beast lowered his head and +permitted the beautiful fairy to leap to the ground. + +Woot made the queer journey next, and then the Tin +Soldier and the Tin Woodman went over, and all were +well pleased to have overcome this serious barrier to +their progress. + +"Now, Soldier, cut the hay," said the Scarecrow's +head, which was still held by Woot the Wanderer. + +"I'd like to, but I can't stoop over, with my bent +leg, without falling," replied Captain Fyter. + +"What can we do about that leg, anyhow?" asked Woot, +appealing to Polychrome. + +She danced around in a circle several times without +replying, and the boy feared she had not heard him; but +the Rainbow's Daughter was merely thinking upon the +problem, and presently she paused beside the Tin +Soldier and said: + +"I've been taught a little fairy magic, but I've +never before been asked to mend tin legs with it, so +I'm not sure I can help you. It all depends on the good +will of my unseen fairy guardians, so I'll try, and if +I fail, you will be no worse off than you are now." + +She danced around the circle again, and then laid +both hands upon the twisted tin leg and sang in her +sweet voice: + + +"Fairy Powers, come to my aid! + +This bent leg of tin is made; + +Make it straight and strong and true, + +And I'll render thanks to you." + + +"Ah!" murmured Captain Fyter in a glad voice, as she +withdrew her hands and danced away, and they saw he was +standing straight as ever, because his leg was as +shapely and strong as it had been before his accident. + +The Tin Woodman had watched Polychrome with much +interest, and he now said: + +"Please take the dent out of my side, Poly, for I am +more crippled than was the Soldier." + +So the Rainbow's Daughter touched his side lightly +and sang: + + +"Here's a dent by accident; +Such a thing was never meant. +Fairy Powers, so wondrous great, +Make our dear Tin Woodman straight!" + + +"Good!" cried the Emperor, again standing erect and +strutting around to show his fine figure. "Your fairy +magic may not be able to accomplish all things, sweet +Polychrome, but it works splendidly on tin. Thank you +very much." + +"The hay -- the hay!" pleaded the Scarecrow's head. + +"Oh, yes; the hay," said Woot. "What are you waiting +for, Captain Fyter?" + +At once the Tin Soldier set to work cutting hay with +his sword and in a few minutes there was quite enough +with which to stuff the Scarecrow's body. Woot and +Polychrome did this and it was no easy task because the +hay packed together more than straw and as they had +little experience in such work their job, when +completed, left the Scarecrow's arms and legs rather +bunchy. Also there was a hump on his back which made +Woot laugh and say it reminded him of a camel, but it +was the best they could do and when the head was fastened +on to the body they asked the Scarecrow how he felt. + +"A little heavy, and not quite natural," he +cheerfully replied; "but I'll get along somehow until +we reach a straw-stack. Don't laugh at me, please, +because I'm a little ashamed of myself and I don't want +to regret a good action." + +They started at once in the direction of Mount Munch, +and as the Scarecrow proved very clumsy in his +movements, Woot took one of his arms and the Tin +Woodman the other and so helped their friend to walk in +a straight line. + +And the Rainbow's Daughter, as before, danced ahead +of them and behind them and all around them, and they +never minded her odd ways, because to them she was like +a ray of sunshine. + + + + +Chapter Twenty + +Over Night + + +The Land of the Munchkins is full of surprises, as our +travelers had already learned, and although Mount Munch +was constantly growing larger as they advanced toward +it, they knew it was still a long way off and were not +certain, by any means, that they had escaped all danger +or encountered their last adventure. + +The plain was broad, and as far as the eye could see, +there seemed to be a level stretch of country between +them and the mountain, but toward evening they came +upon a hollow, in which stood a tiny blue Munchkin +dwelling with a garden around it and fields of grain +filling in all the rest of the hollow. + +They did not discover this place until they came +close to the edge of it, and they were astonished at +the sight that greeted them because they had imagined +that this part of the plain had no inhabitants. + +"It's a very small house," Woot declared. "I wonder +who lives there?" + +"The way to find out is to knock on the door and +ask," replied the Tin Woodman. "Perhaps it is the home +of Nimmie Amee." + +"Is she a dwarf?" asked the boy. + +"No, indeed; Nimmie Amee is a full sized woman." + +"Then I'm sure she couldn't live in that little house," said Woot. + +"Let's go down," suggested the Scarecrow. "I'm almost +sure I can see a straw-stack in the back yard." + +They descended the hollow, which was rather steep at +the sides, and soon came to the house, which was indeed +rather small. Woot knocked upon a door that was not +much higher than his waist, but got no reply. He +knocked again, but not a sound was heard. + +"Smoke is coming out of the chimney," announced +Polychrome, who was dancing lightly through the garden, +where cabbages and beets and turnips and the like were +growing finely + +"Then someone surely lives here," said Woot, and +knocked again. + +Now a window at the side of the house opened and a +queer head appeared. It was white and hairy and had a +long snout and little round eyes. The ears were hidden +by a blue sunbonnet tied under the chin. + +"Oh; it's a pig!" exclaimed Woot. + +"Pardon me; I am Mrs. Squealina Swyne, wife of +Professor Grunter Swyne, and this is our home," said +the one in the window. "What do you want?" + +"What sort of a Professor is your husband?" inquired +the Tin Woodman curiously. + +"He is Professor of Cabbage Culture and Corn +Perfection. He is very famous in his own family, and +would be the wonder of the world if he went abroad," +said Mrs. Swyne in a voice that was half proud and half +irritable. "I must also inform you intruders that the +Professor is a dangerous individual, for he files his +teeth every morning until they are sharp as needles. If +you are butchers, you'd better run away and avoid +trouble." + +"We are not butchers," the Tin Woodman assured her. + +"Then what are you doing with that axe? And why has +the other tin man a sword?" + +"They are the only weapons we have to defend our +friends from their enemies," explained the Emperor of +the Winkies, and Woot added: + +"Do not be afraid of us, Mrs. Swyne, for we are +harmless travelers. The tin men and the Scarecrow never +eat anything and Polychrome feasts only on dewdrops. As +for me, I'm rather hungry, but there is plenty of food +in your garden to satisfy me." + +Professor Swyne now joined his wife at the window, +looking rather scared in spite of the boy's assuring +speech. He wore a blue Munchkin hat, with pointed crown +and broad brim, and big spectacles covered his eyes. He +peeked around from behind his wife and after looking +hard at the strangers, he said: + +"My wisdom assures me that you are merely travelers, +as you say, and not butchers. Butchers have reason to +be afraid of me, but you are safe. We cannot invite you +in, for you are too big for our house, but the boy who +eats is welcome to all the carrots and turnips he +wants. Make yourselves at home in the garden and stay +all night, if you like; but in the morning you must go +away, for we are quiet people and do not care for company." + +"May I have some of your straw?" asked the Scarecrow. + +"Help yourself," replied Professor Swyne. + +"For pigs, they're quite respectable," remarked Woot, +as they all went toward the straw-stack. + +"I'm glad they didn't invite us in," said Captain +Fyter. "I hope I'm not too particular about my +associates, but I draw the line at pigs." + +The Scarecrow was glad to be rid of his hay, for +during the long walk it had sagged down and made him +fat and squatty and more bumpy than at first. + +"I'm not specially proud," he said, "but I love a +manly figure, such as only straw stuffing can create. +I've not felt like myself since that hungry Hip-po ate +my last straw." + +Polychrome and Woot set to work removing the hay and +then they selected the finest straw, crisp and golden, +and with it stuffed the Scarecrow anew. He certainly +looked better after the operation, and he was so +pleased at being reformed that he tried to dance a +little jig, and almost succeeded. + +"I shall sleep under the straw-stack tonight," Woot +decided, after he had eaten some of the vegetables from +the garden, and in fact he slept very well, with the +two tin men and the Scarecrow sitting silently beside +him and Polychrome away somewhere in the moonlight +dancing her fairy dances. + +At daybreak the Tin Woodman and the Tin Soldier took +occasion to polish their bodies and oil their joints, +for both were exceedingly careful of their personal +appearance. They had forgotten the quarrel due to their +accidental bumping of one another in the invisible +country, and being now good friends the Tin Woodman +polished the Tin Soldier's back for him and then the +Tin Soldier polished the Tin Woodman's back. + +For breakfast the Wanderer ate crisp lettuce and +radishes, and the Rainbow's Daughter, who had now +returned to her friends, sipped the dewdrops that had +formed on the petals of the wild-flowers. + +As they passed the little house to renew their +journey, Woot called out: + +"Good-bye, Mr. and Mrs. Swyne!" + +The window opened and the two pigs looked out. + +"A pleasant journey," said the Professor. + +"Have you any children?" asked the Scarecrow, who was +a great friend of children. + +"We have nine," answered the Professor; "but they do +not live with us, for when they were tiny piglets the +Wizard of Oz came here and offered to care for them and +to educate them. So we let him have our nine tiny +piglets, for he's a good Wizard and can be relied upon +to keep his promises." + +"I know the Nine Tiny Piglets," said the Tin Woodman. + +"So do I," said the Scarecrow. "They still live in +the Emerald City, and the Wizard takes good care of +them and teaches them to do all sorts of tricks." + +"Did they ever grow up?" inquired Mrs. Squealina +Swyne, in an anxious voice. + +"No," answered the Scarecrow; "like all other +children in the Land of Oz, they will always remain +children, and in the case of the tiny piglets that is a +good thing, because they would not be nearly so cute +and cunning if they were bigger." + +"But are they happy?" asked Mrs. Swyne. + +"Everyone in the Emerald City is happy," said the Tin +Woodman. "They can't help it." + +Then the travelers said good-bye, and climbed the +side of the basin that was toward Mount Munch. + + + + +Chapter Twenty-One + +Polychrome's Magic + + +On this morning, which ought to be the last of this +important journey, our friends started away as bright +and cheery as could be, and Woot whistled a merry tune +so that Polychrome could dance to the music. + +On reaching the top of the hill, the plain spread out +before them in all its beauty of blue grasses and +wildflowers, and Mount Munch seemed much nearer than it +had the previous evening. They trudged on at a brisk +pace, and by noon the mountain was so close that they +could admire its appearance. Its slopes were partly +clothed with pretty evergreens, and its foot-hills were +tufted with a slender waving bluegrass that had a +tassel on the end of every blade. And, for the first +time, they perceived, near the foot of the mountain, a +charming house, not of great size but neatly painted +and with many flowers surrounding it and vines climbing +over the doors and windows. + +It was toward this solitary house that our travelers +now directed their steps, thinking to inquire of the +people who lived there where Nimmie Amee might be +found. + +There were no paths, but the way was quite open and +clear, and they were drawing near to the dwelling when +Woot the Wanderer, who was then in the lead of the +little party, halted with such an abrupt jerk that he +stumbled over backward and lay flat on his back in the +meadow. The Scarecrow stopped to look at the boy. + +"Why did you do that?" he asked in surprise. + +Woot sat up and gazed around him in amazement. + +"I -- I don't know!" he replied. + +The two tin men, arm in arm, started to pass them +when both halted and tumbled, with a great clatter, +into a heap beside Woot. Polychrome, laughing at the +absurd sight, came dancing up and she, also, came to a +sudden stop, but managed to save herself from falling. + +Everyone of them was much astonished, and the +Scarecrow said with a puzzled look: + +"I don't see anything." + +"Nor I," said Woot; "but something hit me, just the +same." + +"Some invisible person struck me a heavy blow," +declared the Tin Woodman, struggling to separate +himself from the Tin Soldier, whose legs and arms were +mixed with his own. + +"I'm not sure it was a person," said Polychrome, +looking more grave than usual. "It seems to me that I +merely ran into some hard substance which barred my way. +In order to make sure of this, let me try another place." + +She ran back a way and then with much caution +advanced in a different place, but when she reached a +position on a line with the others she halted, her arms +outstretched before her. + +"I can feel something hard - something smooth as +glass," she said, "but I'm sure it is not glass." + +"Let me try," suggested Woot, getting up; but when he +tried to go forward, he discovered the same barrier +that Polychrome had encountered. + +"No," he said, "it isn't glass. But what is it?" + +"Air," replied a small voice beside him. "Solid air; +that's all." + +They all looked downward and found a sky-blue rabbit +had stuck his head out of a burrow in the ground. The +rabbit's eyes were a deeper blue than his fur, and the +pretty creature seemed friendly and unafraid. + +"Air!" exclaimed Woot, staring in astonishment into +the rabbit's blue eyes; "whoever heard of air so solid +that one cannot push it aside?" + +"You can't push this air aside," declared the rabbit, +"for it was made hard by powerful sorcery, and it forms +a wall that is intended to keep people from getting to +that house yonder." + +"Oh; it's a wall, is it?" said the Tin Woodman. + +"Yes, it is really a wall," answered the rabbit, "and +it is fully six feet thick." + +"How high is it?" inquired Captain Fyter, the Tin +Soldier. + +"Oh, ever so high; perhaps a mile," said the rabbit. + +"Couldn't we go around it?" asked Woot. + +"Of course, for the wall is a circle," explained the +rabbit. "In the center of the circle stands the house, +so you may walk around the Wall of Solid Air, but you +can't get to the house." + +"Who put the air wall around the house?" was the +Scarecrow's question. + +"Nimmie Amee did that." + +"Nimmie Amee!" they all exclaimed in surprise. + +"Yes," answered the rabbit. "She used to live with an +old Witch, who was suddenly destroyed, and when Nimmie +Amee ran away from the Witch's house, she took with her +just one magic formula --pure sorcery it was -- which +enabled her to build this air wall around her house -- +the house yonder. It was quite a clever idea, I think, +for it doesn't mar the beauty of the landscape, solid +air being invisible, and yet it keeps all strangers +away from the house." + +"Does Nimmie Amee live there now?" asked the Tin +Woodman anxiously. + +"Yes, indeed," said the rabbit. + +"And does she weep and wail from morning till night?" +continued the Emperor. + +"No; she seems quite happy," asserted the rabbit. + +The Tin Woodman seemed quite disappointed to hear +this report of his old sweetheart, but the Scarecrow +reassured his friend, saying: + +"Never mind, your Majesty; however happy Nimmie Amee +is now, I'm sure she will be much happier as Empress of +the Winkies." + +"Perhaps," said Captain Fyter, somewhat stiffly, "she +will be still more happy to become the bride of a Tin +Soldier." + +"She shall choose between us, as we have agreed," the +Tin Woodman promised; "but how shall we get to the poor +girl?" + +Polychrome, although dancing lightly back and forth, +had listened to every word of the conversation. Now she +came forward and sat herself down just in front of the +Blue Rabbit, her many-hued draperies giving her the +appearance of some beautiful flower. The rabbit didn't +back away an inch. Instead, he gazed at the Rainbow's +Daughter admiringly. + +"Does your burrow go underneath this Wall of Air?" +asked Polychrome. + +"To be sure," answered the Blue Rabbit; "I dug it +that way so I could roam in these broad fields, by +going out one way, or eat the cabbages in Nimmie Amee's +garden by leaving my burrow at the other end. I don't +think Nimmie Amee ought to mind the little I take from +her garden, or the hole I've made under her magic wall. +A rabbit may go and come as he pleases, but no one who +is bigger than I am could get through my burrow." + +"Will you allow us to pass through it, if we are able +to? " inquired Polychrome. + +"Yes, indeed," answered the Blue Rabbit. "I'm no +especial friend of Nimmie Amee, for once she threw +stones at me, just because I was nibbling some lettuce, +and only yesterday she yelled 'Shoo!' at me, which made +me nervous. You're welcome to use my burrow in any way +you choose." + +"But this is all nonsense!" declared Woot the +Wanderer. "We are every one too big to crawl through a +rabbit's burrow." + +"We are too big now," agreed the Scarecrow, "but you +must remember that Polychrome is a fairy, and fairies +have many magic powers." + +Woot's face brightened as he turned to the lovely +Daughter of the Rainbow. + +"Could you make us all as small as that rabbit?" he +asked eagerly. + +"I can try," answered Polychrome, with a smile. And +presently she did it -- so easily that Woot was not the +only one astonished. As the now tiny people grouped +themselves before the rabbit's burrow the hole appeared +to them like the entrance to a tunnel, which indeed it +was. + +"I'll go first," said wee Polychrome, who had made +herself grow as small as the others, and into the +tunnel she danced without hesitation. A tiny Scarecrow +went next and then the two funny little tin men. + +"Walk in; it's your turn," said the Blue Rabbit to +Woot the Wanderer. "I'm coming after, to see how you +get along. This will be a regular surprise party to +Nimmie Amee." + +So Woot entered the hole and felt his way along its +smooth sides in the dark until he finally saw the +glimmer of daylight ahead and knew the journey was +almost over. Had he remained his natural size, the +distance could have been covered in a few steps, but to +a thumb-high Woot it was quite a promenade. When he +emerged from the burrow he found himself but a short +distance from the house, in the center of the vegetable +garden, where the leaves of rhubarb waving above his +head seemed like trees. Outside the hole, and waiting +for him, he found all his friends. + +"So far, so good!" remarked the Scarecrow cheerfully. + +"Yes; so far, but no farther," returned the Tin +Woodman in a plaintive and disturbed tone of voice. "I +am now close to Nimmie Amee, whom I have come ever so +far to seek, but I cannot ask the girl to marry such a +little man as I am now." + +"I'm no bigger than a toy soldier!" said Captain +Fyter, sorrowfully. "Unless Polychrome can make us big +again, there is little use in our visiting Nimmie Amee +at all, for I'm sure she wouldn't care for a husband +she might carelessly step on and ruin." + +Polychrome laughed merrily. + +"If I make you big, you can't get out of here again," +said she, "and if you remain little Nimmie Amee will +laugh at you. So make your choice." + +"I think we'd better go back," said Woot seriously + +"No," said the Tin Woodman, stoutly, "I have decided +that it's my duty to make Nimmie Amee happy, in case +she wishes to marry me." + +"So have I," announced Captain Fyter. "A good soldier +never shrinks from doing his duty." + +"As for that," said the Scarecrow, "tin doesn't +shrink any to speak of, under any circumstances. But +Woot and I intend to stick to our comrades, whatever +they decide to do, so we will ask Polychrome to make us +as big as we were before." + +Polychrome agreed to this request and in half a +minute all of them, including herself, had been +enlarged again to their natural sizes. They then +thanked the Blue Rabbit for his kind assistance, and at +once approached the house of Nimme Amee. + + + + +Chapter Twenty-Two + +Nimmie Amee + + +We may be sure that at this moment our friends were all +anxious to see the end of the adventure that had caused +them so many trials and troubles. Perhaps the Tin +Woodman's heart did not beat any faster, because it was +made of red velvet and stuffed with sawdust, and the +Tin Soldier's heart was made of tin and reposed in his +tin bosom without a hint of emotion. However, there is +little doubt that they both knew that a critical moment +in their lives had arrived, and that Nimmie Amee's +decision was destined to influence the future of one or +the other. + +As they assumed their natural sizes and the rhubarb +leaves that had before towered above their heads now +barely covered their feet, they looked around the +garden and found that no person was visible save +themselves. No sound of activity came from the house, +either, but they walked to the front door, which had a +little porch built before it, and there the two tinmen +stood side by side while both knocked upon the door +with their tin knuckles. + +As no one seemed eager to answer the summons they +knocked again; and then again. Finally they heard a +stir from within and someone coughed. + +"Who's there?" called a girl's voice. + +"It's I!" cried the tin twins, together. + +"How did you get there?" asked the voice. + +They hesitated how to reply, so Woot answered for +them: + +"By means of magic." + +"Oh," said the unseen girl. "Are you friends, or +foes?" + +"Friends!" they all exclaimed. + +Then they heard footsteps approach the door, which +slowly opened and revealed a very pretty Munchkin girl +standing in the doorway. + +"Nimmie Amee!" cried the tin twins. + +"That's my name," replied the girl, looking at them +in cold surprise. "But who can you be?" + +"Don't you know me, Nimmie?" said the Tin Woodman. +"I'm your old sweetheart, Nick Chopper!" + +"Don't you know me, my dear?" said the Tin Soldier. +"I'm your old sweetheart, Captain Fyter!" + +Nimmie Amee smiled at them both. Then she looked +beyond them at the rest of the party and smiled again. +However, she seemed more amused than pleased. + +"Come in," she said, leading the way inside. "Even +sweethearts are forgotten after a time, but you and +your friends are welcome." + +The room they now entered was cosy and comfortable, +being neatly furnished and well swept and dusted. But +they found someone there besides Nimmie Amee. A man +dressed in the attractive Munchkin costume was lazily +reclining in an easy chair, and he sat up and turned +his eves on the visitors with a cold and indifferent +stare that was almost insolent. He did not even rise +from his seat to greet the strangers, but after glaring +at them he looked away with a scowl, as if they were of +too little importance to interest him. + +The tin men returned this man's stare with interest, +but they did not look away from him because neither of +them seemed able to take his eyes off this Munchkin, +who was remarkable in having one tin arm quite like +their own tin arms. + +"Seems to me," said Captain Fyter, in a voice that +sounded harsh and indignant, "that you, sir, are a vile +impostor!" + +"Gently -- gently!" cautioned the Scarecrow; "don't +be rude to strangers, Captain." + +"Rude?" shouted the Tin Soldier, now very much +provoked; "why, he's a scoundrel -- a thief! The +villain is wearing my own head!" + +"Yes," added the Tin Woodman, "and he's wearing my +right arm! I can recognize it by the two warts on the +little finger." + +"Good gracious!" exclaimed Woot. "Then this must be +the man whom old Ku-Klip patched together and named +Chopfyt." + +The man now turned toward them, still scowling. + +"Yes, that is my name," he said in a voice like a +growl, "and it is absurd for you tin creatures, or for +anyone else, to claim my head, or arm, or any part of +me, for they are my personal property." + +"You? You're a Nobody!" shouted Captain Fyter. + +"You're just a mix-up," declared the Emperor. + +"Now, now, gentlemen," interrupted Nimmie Amee, "I +must ask you to be more respectful to poor Chopfyt. +For, being my guests, it is not polite for you to +insult my husband." + +"Your husband!" the tin twins exclaimed in dismay. + +"Yes," said she. "I married Chopfyt a long time ago, +because my other two sweethearts had deserted me." + +This reproof embarrassed both Nick Chopper and +Captain Fyter. They looked down, shamefaced, for a +moment, and then the Tin Woodman explained in an +earnest voice: + +"I rusted." + +"So did I," said the Tin Soldier. + +"I could not know that, of course," asserted Nimmie +Amee. "All I knew was that neither of you came to marry +me, as you had promised to do. But men are not scarce +in the Land of Oz. After I came here to live, I met Mr. +Chopfyt, and he was the more interesting because he +reminded me strongly of both of you, as you were before +you became tin. He even had a tin arm, and that +reminded me of you the more. + +"No wonder!" remarked the Scarecrow. + +"But, listen, Nimmie Amee!" said the astonished Woot; +"he really is both of them, for he is made of their +cast-off parts." + +"Oh, you're quite wrong," declared Polychrome, +laughing, for she was greatly enjoying the confusion of +the others. "The tin men are still themselves, as they +will tell you, and so Chopfyt must be someone else." + +They looked at her bewildered, for the facts in the +case were too puzzling to be grasped at once. + +"It is all the fault of old Ku-Klip," muttered the +Tin Woodman. "He had no right to use our castoff parts +to make another man with." + +"It seems he did it, however," said Nimmie Amee +calmly, "and I married him because he resembled you +both. I won't say he is a husband to be proud of, +because he has a mixed nature and isn't always an +agreeable companion. There are times when I have to +chide him gently, both with my tongue and with my +broomstick. But he is my husband, and I must make the +best of him." + +"If you don't like him," suggested the Tin Woodman, +"Captain Fyter and I can chop him up with our axe and +sword, and each take such parts of the fellow as belong +to him. Then we are willing for you to select one of +us as your husband." + +"That is a good idea," approved Captain Fyter, +drawing his sword. + +"No," said Nimmie Amee; "I think I'll keep the +husband I now have. He is now trained to draw the water +and carry in the wood and hoe the cabbages and weed the +flower-beds and dust the furniture and perform many +tasks of a like character. A new husband would have to +be scolded -- and gently chided -- until he learns my +ways. So I think it will be better to keep my Chopfyt, +and I see no reason why you should object to him. You +two gentlemen threw him away when you became tin, +because you had no further use for him, so you cannot +justly claim him now. I advise you to go back to your +own homes and forget me, as I have forgotten you." + +"Good advice!" laughed Polychrome, dancing. + +"Are you happy?" asked the Tin Soldier. + +"Of course I am," said Nimmie Amee; "I'm the mistress +of all I survey -- the queen of my little domain." + +"Wouldn't you like to be the Empress of the Winkies?" +asked the Tin Woodman. + +"Mercy, no," she answered. "That would be a lot of +bother. I don't care for society, or pomp, or posing. +All I ask is to be left alone and not to be annoyed by +visitors." + +The Scarecrow nudged Woot the Wanderer. + +"That sounds to me like a hint," he said. + +"Looks as if we'd had our journey for nothing," +remarked Woot, who was a little ashamed and +disappointed because he had proposed the journey. + +"I am glad, however," said the Tin Woodman, "that I +have found Nimmie Amee, and discovered that she is +already married and happy. It will relieve me of any +further anxiety concerning her." + +"For my part," said the Tin Soldier, "I am not sorry +to be free. The only thing that really annoys me is +finding my head upon Chopfyt's body." + +"As for that, I'm pretty sure it is my body, or a +part of it, anyway," remarked the Emperor of the +Winkies. "But never mind, friend Soldier; let us be +willing to donate our cast-off members to insure the +happiness of Nimmie Amee, and be thankful it is not our +fate to hoe cabbages and draw water --and be chided -- +in the place of this creature Chopfyt." + +"Yes," agreed the Soldier, "we have much to be +thankful for." + +Polychrome, who had wandered outside, now poked her +pretty head through an open window and exclaimed in a +pleased voice: + +"It's getting cloudy. Perhaps it is going to rain!" + + + + +Chapter Twenty-Three + +Through the Tunnel + + +It didn't rain just then, although the clouds in the +sky grew thicker and more threatening. Polychrome hoped +for a thunder-storm, followed by her Rainbow, but the +two tin men did not relish the idea of getting wet. +They even preferred to remain in Nimmie Amee's house, +although they felt they were not welcome there, rather +than go out and face the coming storm. But the +Scarecrow, who was a very thoughtful person, said to +his friends: + +"If we remain here until after the storm, and +Polychrome goes away on her Rainbow, then we +will be prisoners inside the Wall of Solid Air; so +it seems best to start upon our return journey at +once. If I get wet, my straw stuffing will be ruined, +and if you two tin gentlemen get wet, you may +perhaps rust again, and become useless. But even +that is better than to stay here. Once we are free +of the barrier, we have Woot the Wanderer to help +us, and he can oil your joints and restuff my body, +if it becomes necessary, for the boy is made of meat, +which neither rusts nor gets soggy or moldy." + +"Come along, then!" cried Polychrome from the window, +and the others, realizing the wisdom of the Scarecrow's +speech, took leave of Nimmie Amee, who was glad to be +rid of them, and said good-bye to her husband, who +merely scowled and made no answer, and then they +hurried from the house. + +"Your old parts are not very polite, I must say," +remarked the Scarecrow, when they were in the garden. + +"No," said Woot, "Chopfyt is a regular grouch. He +might have wished us a pleasant journey, at the very +least." + +"I beg you not to hold us responsible for that +creature's actions," pleaded the Tin Woodman. "We are +through with Chopfyt and shall have nothing further to +do with him." + +Polychrome danced ahead of the party and led them +straight to the burrow of the Blue Rabbit, which they +might have had some difficulty in finding without her. +There she lost no time in making them all small again. +The Blue Rabbit was busy nibbling cabbage leaves in +Nimmie Amee's garden, so they did not ask his +permission but at once entered the burrow. + +Even now the raindrops were beginning to fall, but it +was quite dry inside the tunnel and by the time they +had reached the other end, outside the circular Wall of +Solid Air, the storm was at its height and the rain was +coming down in torrents. + +"Let us wait here," proposed Polychrome, peering out +of the hole and then quickly retreating. "The Rainbow +won't appear until after the storm and I can make you +big again in a jiffy, before I join my sisters on our +bow." + +"That's a good plan," said the Scarecrow approvingly. +"It will save me from getting soaked and soggy." + +"It will save me from rusting," said the Tin Soldier. + +"It will enable me to remain highly polished," said +the Tin Woodman. + +"Oh, as for that, I myself prefer not to get my +pretty clothes wet," laughed the Rainbow's daughter. + +"But while we wait I will bid you all adieu. I must +also thank you for saving me from that dreadful +Giantess, Mrs. Yoop. You have been good and patient +comrades and I have enjoyed our adventures together, +but I am never so happy as when on my dear Rainbow." + +"Will your father scold you for getting left on the +earth?" asked Woot. + +"I suppose so," said Polychrome gaily; "I'm always +getting scolded for my mad pranks, as they are called. +My sisters are so sweet and lovely and proper that they +never dance off our Rainbow, and so they never have any +adventures. Adventures to me are good fun, only I never +like to stay too long on earth, because I really don't +belong here. I shall tell my Father the Rainbow that +I'll try not to be so careless again, and he will +forgive me because in our sky mansions there is always +joy and happiness." + +They were indeed sorry to part with their dainty and +beautiful companion and assured her of their devotion +if they ever chanced to meet again. She shook hands +with the Scarecrow and the Tin Men and kissed Woot the +Wanderer lightly upon his forehead. + +And then the rain suddenly ceased, and as the tiny +people left the burrow of the Blue Rabbit, a glorious +big Rainbow appeared in the sky and the end of its arch +slowly descended and touched the ground just where they +stood. + +Woot was so busy watching a score of lovely maidens +-- sisters of Polychrome -- who were leaning over the +edge of the bow, and another score who danced gaily +amid the radiance of the splendid hues, that he did not +notice he was growing big again. But now Polychrome +joined her sisters on the Rainbow and the huge arch +lifted and slowly melted away as the sun burst from the +clouds and sent its own white beams dancing over the +meadows. + +"Why, she's gone!" exclaimed the boy, and turned to +see his companions still waving their hands in token of +adieu to the vanished Polychrome. + + + + +Chapter Twenty-Four + +The Curtain Falls + + +Well, the rest of the story is quickly told, for the +return Journey of our adventurers was without any +important incident. The Scarecrow was so afraid of +meeting the Hip-po-gy-raf, and having his straw eaten +again, that he urged his comrades to select another +route to the Emerald City, and they willingly +consented, so that the Invisible Country was wholly +avoided. + +Of course, when they reached the Emerald City their +first duty was to visit Ozma's palace, where they were +royally entertained. The Tin Soldier and Woot the +Wanderer were welcomed as warmly as any strangers might +be who had been the traveling companions of Ozma's dear +old friends, the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman. + +At the banquet table that evening they related the +manner in which they had discovered Nimmie Amee, and +told how they had found her happily married to Chopfyt, +whose relationship to Nick Chopper and Captain Fyter +was so bewildering that they asked Ozma's advice what +to do about it. + +"You need not consider Chopfyt at all," replied the +beautiful girl Ruler of Oz. "If Nimmie Amee is content +with that misfit man for a husband, we have not even +just cause to blame Ku-Klip for gluing him together." + +"I think it was a very good idea," added little +Dorothy, "for if Ku-Klip hadn't used up your castoff +parts, they would have been wasted. It's wicked to be +wasteful, isn't it?" + +"Well, anyhow," said Woot the Wanderer, "Chopfyt, +being kept a prisoner by his wife, is too far away from +anyone to bother either of you tin men in any way. If +you hadn't gone where he is and discovered him, you +would never have worried about him." + +"What do you care, anyhow," Betsy Bobbin asked the +Tin Woodman, "so long as Nimmie Amee is satisfied?" + +"And just to think," remarked Tiny Trot, "that any +girl would rather live with a mixture like Chopfyt, on +far-away Mount Munch, than to be the Empress of the +Winkies!" + +"It is her own choice," said the Tin Woodman +contentedly; "and, after all, I'm not sure the Winkies +would care to have an Empress." + +It puzzled Ozma, for a time, to decide what to do +with the Tin Soldier. If he went with the Tin Woodman +to the Emperor's castle, she felt that the two tin men +might not be able to live together in harmony, and +moreover the Emperor would not be so distinguished if +he had a double constantly beside him. So she asked +Captain Fyter if he was willing to serve her as a +soldier, and he promptly declared that nothing would +please him more. After he had been in her service for +some time, Ozma sent him into the Gillikin Country, +with instructions to keep order among the wild people +who inhabit some parts of that unknown country of Oz. + +As for Woot, being a Wanderer by profession, he was +allowed to wander wherever he desired, and Ozma +promised to keep watch over his future journeys and to +protect the boy as well as she was able, in case he +ever got into more trouble. + +All this having been happily arranged, the Tin +Woodman returned to his tin castle, and his chosen +comrade, the Scarecrow, accompanied him on the way. The +two friends were sure to pass many pleasant hours +together in talking over their recent adventures, for +as they neither ate nor slept they found their greatest +amusement in conversation. + + + + + + +THE FAMOUS OZ BOOKS +By L. Frank Baum: + +The Wizard of Oz +The Land of Oz +Ozma of Oz +Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz +The Road to Oz +The Emerald City of Oz +The Patchwork Girl of Oz +Tik-Tok of Oz +The Scarecrow of Oz +Rinkitink in Oz +The Lost Princess of Oz +The Tin Woodman of Oz +The Magic Of Oz +Glinda of Oz + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of The Tin Woodman of Oz, by Baum + diff --git a/old/12woz10.zip b/old/12woz10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..316e11c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12woz10.zip diff --git a/old/12woz10h.htm b/old/12woz10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..673d980 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12woz10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6767 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
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+**Project Gutenberg's Etext of The Tin Woodman of Oz, by Baum**
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+The Tin Woodman of Oz
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+by L. Frank Baum
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+June, 1997 [Etext #960]
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+**Project Gutenberg's Etext of The Tin Woodman of Oz, by Baum**
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+</pre>
+
+<div>
+
+<br /><br />
+
+<h1>THE TIN WOODMAN OF OZ</h1>
+
+<h2>A Faithful Story of the Astonishing Adventure<br />
+Undertaken by the Tin Woodman, assisted<br />
+by Woot the Wanderer, the Scarecrow<br />
+of Oz, and Polychrome, the<br />
+Rainbow's Daughter</h2>
+
+<div class="center">by</div>
+
+<br /><br />
+
+<div class="title">L. FRANK BAUM</div>
+
+<br />
+
+<div class="center">"Royal historian of Oz"</div>
+
+<hr />
+<div class="center">This Book<br />
+is dedicated<br />
+to the son of<br />
+my son<br />
+Frank Alden Baum</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2>TO MY READERS</h2>
+
+<p>I know that some of you have been waiting for this
+story of the Tin Woodman, because many of my
+correspondents have asked me, time and again what ever
+became of the "pretty Munchkin girl" whom Nick Chopper
+was engaged to marry before the Wicked Witch enchanted
+his axe and he traded his flesh for tin. I, too, have
+wondered what became of her, but until Woot the
+Wanderer interested himself in the matter the Tin
+Woodman knew no more than we did. However, he found
+her, after many thrilling adventures, as you will
+discover when you have read this story.</p>
+
+<p>I am delighted at the continued interest of both
+young and old in the Oz stories. A learned college
+professor recently wrote me to ask: "For readers of
+what age are your books intended?" It puzzled me to
+answer that properly, until I had looked over some of
+the letters I have received. One says: "I'm a little
+boy 5 years old, and I Just love your Oz stories. My
+sister, who is writing this for me, reads me the Oz
+books, but I wish I could read them myself." Another
+letter says: "I'm a great girl 13 years old, so you'll
+be surprised when I tell you I am not too old yet for
+the Oz stories." Here's another letter: "Since I was a
+young girl I've never missed getting a Baum book for
+Christmas. I'm married, now, but am as eager to get and
+read the Oz stories as ever." And still another writes:
+"My good wife and I, both more than 70 years of age,
+believe that we find more real enjoyment in your Oz
+books than in any other books we read." Considering
+these statements, I wrote the college professor that my
+books are intended for all those whose hearts are
+young, no matter what their ages may be.</p>
+
+<p>I think I am justified in promising that there will
+be some astonishing revelations about The Magic of Oz
+in my book for 1919. Always your loving and grateful
+friend,</p>
+
+<div class="right">L. FRANK BAUM.<br />
+Royal Historian of Oz.</div>
+
+
+<div>"<span class="small">OZCOT</span>"<br />
+at <span class="small">HOLLYWOOD</span> in <span class="small">CALIFORNIA</span><br />
+1918.</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2>LIST OF CHAPTERS</h2>
+
+<ul> +<li><a href="#chapter1">Woot the Wanderer</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter2">The Heart of the Tin Woodman</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter3">Roundabout</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter4">The Loons of Loonville</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter5">Mrs. Yoop, the Giantess</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter6">The Magic of a Yookoohoo</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter7">The Lace Apron</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter8">The Menace of the Forest</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter9">The Quarrelsome Dragons</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter10">Tommy Kwikstep</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter11">Jinjur's Ranch</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter12">Ozma and Dorothy</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter13">The Restoration</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter14">The Green Monkey</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter15">The Man of Tin</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter16">Captain Fyter</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter17">The Workshop of Ku-Klip</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter18">The Tin Woodman Talks to Himself</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter19">The Invisible Country</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter20">Over Night</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter21">Polychrome's Magic</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter22">Nimmie Amee</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter23">Through the Tunnel</a></li>
+<li><a href="#chapter24">The Curtain Falls</a></li>
+</ul>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><a name="chapter1" id="chapter1">Chapter One</a></h2>
+
+<h3>Woot the Wanderer</h3>
+
+
+<p>The Tin Woodman sat on his glittering tin throne in the
+handsome tin hall of his splendid tin castle in the
+Winkie Country of the Land of Oz. Beside him, in a
+chair of woven straw, sat his best friend, the
+Scarecrow of Oz. At times they spoke to one another of
+curious things they had seen and strange adventures
+they had known since first they two had met and become
+comrades. But at times they were silent, for these
+things had been talked over many times between them,
+and they found themselves contented in merely being
+together, speaking now and then a brief sentence to
+prove they were wide awake and attentive. But then,
+these two quaint persons never slept. Why should they
+sleep, when they never tired?</p>
+
+<p>And now, as the brilliant sun sank low over the Winkie
+Country of Oz, tinting the glistening tin towers and
+tin minarets of the tin castle with glorious sunset
+hues, there approached along a winding pathway Woot the
+Wanderer, who met at the castle entrance a Winkie
+servant.</p>
+
+<p>The servants of the Tin Woodman all wore tin helmets
+and tin breastplates and uniforms covered with tiny tin
+discs sewed closely together on silver cloth, so that
+their bodies sparkled as beautifully as did the tin
+castle — and almost as beautifully as did the Tin
+Woodman himself.</p>
+
+<p>Woot the Wanderer looked at the man servant —all
+bright and glittering — and at the magnificent castle
+— all bright and glittering — and as he looked his
+eyes grew big with wonder. For Woot was not very big
+and not very old and, wanderer though he was, this
+proved the most gorgeous sight that had ever met his
+boyish gaze.</p>
+
+<p>"Who lives here?" he asked.</p>
+
+<p>"The Emperor of the Winkies, who is the famous Tin
+Woodman of Oz," replied the servant, who had been
+trained to treat all strangers with courtesy.</p>
+
+<p>"A Tin Woodman? How queer!" exclaimed the little
+wanderer.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, perhaps our Emperor is queer," admitted the
+servant; "but he is a kind master and as honest and
+true as good tin can make him; so we, who gladly serve
+him, are apt to forget that he is not like other
+people."</p>
+
+<p>"May I see him?" asked Woot the Wanderer, after a
+moment's thought.</p>
+
+<p>"If it please you to wait a moment, I will go and ask
+him," said the servant, and then he went into the hall
+where the Tin Woodman sat with his friend the
+Scarecrow. Both were glad to learn that a stranger had
+arrived at the castle, for this would give them
+something new to talk about, so the servant was asked
+to admit the boy at once.</p>
+
+<p>By the time Woot the Wanderer had passed through the
+grand corridors — all lined with ornamental tin — and
+under stately tin archways and through the many tin
+rooms all set with beautiful tin furniture, his eyes
+had grown bigger than ever and his whole little body
+thrilled with amazement. But, astonished though he was,
+he was able to make a polite bow before the throne and
+to say in a respectful voice: "I salute your
+Illustrious Majesty and offer you my humble services."</p>
+
+<p>"Very good!" answered the Tin Woodman in his
+accustomed cheerful manner. "Tell me who you are, and
+whence you come."</p>
+
+<p>"I am known as Woot the Wanderer," answered the boy,
+"and I have come, through many travels and by
+roundabout ways, from my former home in a far corner of
+the Gillikin Country of Oz."</p>
+
+<p>"To wander from one's home," remarked the Scarecrow,
+"is to encounter dangers and hardships, especially if
+one is made of meat and bone. Had you no friends in
+that corner of the Gillikin Country? Was it not
+homelike and comfortable?"</p>
+
+<p>To hear a man stuffed with straw speak, and speak so
+well, quite startled Woot, and perhaps he stared a bit
+rudely at the Scarecrow. But after a moment he replied:</p>
+
+<p>"I had home and friends, your Honorable Strawness,
+but they were so quiet and happy and comfortable that I
+found them dismally stupid. Nothing in that corner of
+Oz interested me, but I believed that in other parts of
+the country I would find strange people and see new
+sights, and so I set out upon my wandering journey. I
+have been a wanderer for nearly a full year, and now my
+wanderings have brought me to this splendid castle."</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose," said the Tin Woodman, "that in this year
+you have seen so much that you have become very wise."</p>
+
+<p>"No," replied Woot, thoughtfully, "I am not at all
+wise, I beg to assure your Majesty. The more I wander
+the less I find that I know, for in the Land of Oz much
+wisdom and many things may be learned."</p>
+
+<p>"To learn is simple. Don't you ask questions?"
+inquired the Scarecrow.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; I ask as many questions as I dare; but some
+people refuse to answer questions."</p>
+
+<p>"That is not kind of them," declared the Tin Woodman.
+"If one does not ask for information he seldom receives
+it; so I, for my part, make it a rule to answer any
+civil question that is asked me."</p>
+
+<p>"So do I," added the Scarecrow, nodding.</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad to hear this," said the Wanderer, "for it
+makes me bold to ask for something to eat."</p>
+
+<p>"Bless the boy!" cried the Emperor of the Winkies;
+"how careless of me not to remember that wanderers are
+usually hungry. I will have food brought you at once."</p>
+
+<p>Saying this he blew upon a tin whistle that was
+suspended from his tin neck, and at the summons a
+servant appeared and bowed low. The Tin Woodman
+ordered food for the stranger, and in a few minutes the
+servant brought in a tin tray heaped with a choice
+array of good things to eat, all neatly displayed on
+tin dishes that were polished till they shone like
+mirrors. The tray was set upon a tin table drawn
+before the throne, and the servant placed a tin chair
+before the table for the boy to seat himself.</p>
+
+<p>"Eat, friend Wanderer," said the Emperor cordially,
+"and I trust the feast will be to your liking. I,
+myself, do not eat, being made in such manner that I
+require no food to keep me alive. Neither does my
+friend the Scarecrow. But all my Winkie people eat,
+being formed of flesh, as you are, and so my tin
+cupboard is never bare, and strangers are always
+welcome to whatever it contains."</p>
+
+<p>The boy ate in silence for a time, being really
+hungry, but after his appetite was somewhat satisfied,
+he said:</p>
+
+<p>"How happened your Majesty to be made of tin, and
+still be alive?"</p>
+
+<p>"That," replied the tin man, "is a long story."</p>
+
+<p>"The longer the better," said the boy. "Won't you
+please tell me the story?"</p>
+
+<p>"If you desire it," promised the Tin Woodman, leaning
+back in his tin throne and crossing his tin legs. "I
+haven't related my history in a long while, because
+everyone here knows it nearly as well as I do. But you,
+being a stranger, are no doubt curious to learn how I
+became so beautiful and prosperous, so I will recite
+for your benefit my strange adventures."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," said Woot the Wanderer, still eating.</p>
+
+<p>"I was not always made of tin," began the Emperor,
+"for in the beginning I was a man of flesh and bone and
+blood and lived in the Munchkin Country of Oz. There I
+was, by trade, a woodchopper, and contributed my share
+to the comfort of the Oz people by chopping up the
+trees of the forest to make firewood, with which the
+women would cook their meals while the children warmed
+themselves about the fires. For my home I had a little
+hut by the edge of the forest, and my life was one of
+much content until I fell in love with a beautiful
+Munchkin girl who lived not far away."</p>
+
+<p>"What was the Munchkin girl's name?" asked Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"Nimmie Amee. This girl, so fair that the sunsets
+blushed when their rays fell upon her, lived with a
+powerful witch who wore silver shoes and who had made
+the poor child her slave. Nimmie Amee was obliged to
+work from morning till night for the old Witch of the
+East, scrubbing and sweeping her hut and cooking her
+meals and washing her dishes. She had to cut firewood,
+too, until I found her one day in the forest and fell
+in love with her. After that, I always brought plenty
+of firewood to Nimmie Amee and we became very friendly.
+Finally I asked her to marry me, and she agreed to do
+so, but the Witch happened to overhear our conversation
+and it made her very angry, for she did not wish her
+slave to be taken away from her. The Witch commanded me
+never to come near Nimmie Amee again, but I told her I
+was my own master and would do as I pleased, not
+realizing that this was a careless way to speak to a
+Witch.</p>
+
+<p>"The next day, as I was cutting wood in the forest,
+the cruel Witch enchanted my axe, so that it slipped
+and cut off my right leg."</p>
+
+<p>"How dreadful!" cried Woot the Wanderer.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, it was a seeming misfortune," agreed the Tin
+Man, "for a one-legged woodchopper is of little use in
+his trade. But I would not allow the Witch to conquer
+me so easily. I knew a very skillful mechanic at the
+other side of the forest, who was my friend, so I
+hopped on one leg to him and asked him to help me. He
+soon made me a new leg out of tin and fastened it
+cleverly to my meat body. It had joints at the knee and
+at the ankle and was almost as comfortable as the leg I
+had lost."</p>
+
+<p>"Your friend must have been a wonderful workman!"
+exclaimed Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"He was, indeed," admitted the Emperor. "He was a
+tinsmith by trade and could make anything out of tin.
+When I returned to Nimmie Amee, the girl was delighted
+and threw her arms around my neck and kissed me,
+declaring she was proud of me. The Witch saw the kiss
+and was more angry than before. When I went to work in
+the forest, next day, my axe, being still enchanted,
+slipped and cut off my other leg. Again I hopped — on
+my tin leg — to my friend the tinsmith, who kindly
+made me another tin leg and fastened it to my body. So
+I returned joyfully to Nimmie Amee, who was much
+pleased with my glittering legs and promised that when
+we were wed she would always keep them oiled and
+polished. But the Witch was more furious than ever, and
+as soon as I raised my axe to chop, it twisted around
+and cut off one of my arms. The tinsmith made me a tin
+arm and I was not much worried, because Nimmie Amee
+declared she still loved me."</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><a name="chapter2" id="chapter2">Chapter Two</a></h2>
+
+<h3>The Heart of the Tin Woodman</h3>
+
+
+<p>The Emperor of the Winkies paused in his story to
+reach for an oil-can, with which he carefully oiled the
+joints in his tin throat, for his voice had begun to
+squeak a little. Woot the Wanderer, having satisfied
+his hunger, watched this oiling process with much
+curiosity, but begged the Tin Man to go on with his
+tale.</p>
+
+<p>"The Witch with the Silver Shoes hated me for having
+defied her," resumed the Emperor, his voice now
+sounding clear as a bell, "and she insisted that Nimmie
+Amee should never marry me. Therefore she made the
+enchanted axe cut off my other arm, and the tinsmith
+also replaced that member with tin, including these
+finely-jointed hands that you see me using. But, alas!
+after that, the axe, still enchanted by the cruel
+Witch, cut my body in two, so that I fell to the
+ground. Then the Witch, who was watching from a near-by
+bush, rushed up and seized the axe and chopped my body
+into several small pieces, after which, thinking that
+at last she had destroyed me, she ran away laughing in
+wicked glee.</p>
+
+<p>"But Nimmie Amee found me. She picked up my arms and
+legs and head, and made a bundle of them and carried
+them to the tinsmith, who set to work and made me a
+fine body of pure tin. When he had joined the arms and
+legs to the body, and set my head in the tin collar, I
+was a much better man than ever, for my body could not
+ache or pain me, and I was so beautiful and bright that
+I had no need of clothing. Clothing is always a
+nuisance, because it soils and tears and has to be
+replaced; but my tin body only needs to be oiled and
+polished.</p>
+
+<p>"Nimmie Amee still declared she would marry me, as
+she still loved me in spite of the Witch's evil deeds.
+The girl declared I would make the brightest husband in
+all the world, which was quite true. However, the
+Wicked Witch was not yet defeated. When I returned to
+my work the axe slipped and cut off my head, which was
+the only meat part of me then remaining. Moreover, the
+old woman grabbed up my severed head and carried it
+away with her and hid it. But Nimmie Amee came into the
+forest and found me wandering around helplessly,
+because I could not see where to go, and she led me to
+my friend the tinsmith. The faithful fellow at once set
+to work to make me a tin head, and he had just
+completed it when Nimmie Amee came running up with my
+old head, which she had stolen from the Witch. But, on
+reflection, I considered the tin head far superior to
+the meat one — I am wearing it yet, so you can see its
+beauty and grace of outline — and the girl agreed with
+me that a man all made of tin was far more perfect than
+one formed of different materials. The tinsmith was as
+proud of his workmanship as I was, and for three whole
+days, all admired me and praised my beauty. "Being now
+completely formed of tin, I had no more fear of the
+Wicked Witch, for she was powerless to injure me.
+Nimmie Amee said we must be married at once, for then
+she could come to my cottage and live with me and keep
+me bright and sparkling.</p>
+
+<p>"'I am sure, my dear Nick,' said the brave and
+beautiful girl — my name was then Nick Chopper, you
+should be told — 'that you will make the best husband
+any girl could have. I shall not be obliged to cook for
+you, for now you do not eat; I shall not have to make
+your bed, for tin does not tire or require sleep; when
+we go to a dance, you will not get weary before the
+music stops and say you want to go home. All day long,
+while you are chopping wood in the forest, I shall be
+able to amuse myself in my own way — a privilege few
+wives enjoy. There is no temper in your new head, so
+you will not get angry with me. Finally, I shall take
+pride in being the wife of the only live Tin Woodman in
+all the world!' Which shows that Nimmie Amee was as
+wise as she was brave and beautiful."</p>
+
+<p>"I think she was a very nice girl," said Woot the
+Wanderer. "But, tell me, please, why were you not
+killed when you were chopped to pieces?"</p>
+
+<p>"In the Land of Oz," replied the Emperor, "no one can
+ever be killed. A man with a wooden leg or a tin leg is
+still the same man; and, as I lost parts of my meat
+body by degrees, I always remained the same person as
+in the beginning, even though in the end I was all tin
+and no meat."</p>
+
+<p>"I see," said the boy, thoughtfully. "And did you
+marry Nimmie Amee?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," answered the Tin Woodman, "I did not. She said
+she still loved me, but I found that I no longer loved
+her. My tin body contained no heart, and without a
+heart no one can love. So the Wicked Witch conquered in
+the end, and when I left the Munchkin Country of Oz,
+the poor girl was still the slave of the Witch and had
+to do her bidding day and night."</p>
+
+<p>"Where did you go?" asked Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I first started out to find a heart, so I
+could love Nimmie Amee again; but hearts are more
+scarce than one would think. One day, in a big forest
+that was strange to me, my joints suddenly became
+rusted, because I had forgotten to oil them. There I
+stood, unable to move hand or foot. And there I
+continued to stand — while days came and went — until
+Dorothy and the Scarecrow came along and rescued me.
+They oiled my joints and set me free, and I've taken
+good care never to rust again."</p>
+
+<p>"Who was this Dorothy?" questioned the Wanderer.</p>
+
+<p>"A little girl who happened to be in a house when it
+was carried by a cyclone all the way from Kansas to the
+Land of Oz. When the house fell, in the Munchkin
+Country, it fortunately landed on the Wicked Witch and
+smashed her flat. It was a big house, and I think the
+Witch is under it yet."</p>
+
+<p>"No," said the Scarecrow, correcting him, "Dorothy
+says the Witch turned to dust, and the wind scattered
+the dust in every direction."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," continued the Tin Woodman, "after meeting the
+Scarecrow and Dorothy, I went with them to the Emerald
+City, where the Wizard of Oz gave me a heart. But the
+Wizard's stock of hearts was low, and he gave me a Kind
+Heart instead of a Loving Heart, so that I could not
+love Nimmie Amee any more than I did when I was
+heartless."</p>
+
+<p>"Couldn't the Wizard give you a heart that was both
+Kind and Loving?" asked the boy.</p>
+
+<p>"No; that was what I asked for, but he said he was so
+short on hearts, just then, that there was but one in
+stock, and I could take that or none at all. So I
+accepted it, and I must say that for its kind it is a
+very good heart indeed."</p>
+
+<p>"It seems to me," said Woot, musingly, "that the
+Wizard fooled you. It can't be a very Kind Heart, you
+know."</p>
+
+<p>"Why not?" demanded the Emperor.</p>
+
+<p>"Because it was unkind of you to desert the girl who
+loved you, and who had been faithful and true to you
+when you were in trouble. Had the heart the Wizard gave
+you been a Kind Heart, you would have gone back home
+and made the beautiful Munchkin girl your wife, and
+then brought her here to be an Empress and live in your
+splendid tin castle."</p>
+
+<p>The Tin Woodman was so surprised at this frank speech
+that for a time he did nothing but stare hard at the
+boy Wanderer. But the Scarecrow wagged his stuffed head
+and said in a positive tone:</p>
+
+<p>"This boy is right. I've often wondered, myself, why
+you didn't go back and find that poor Munchkin girl."</p>
+
+<p>Then the Tin Woodman stared hard at his friend the
+Scarecrow. But finally he said in a serious tone of
+voice:</p>
+
+<p>"I must admit that never before have I thought of
+such a thing as finding Nimmie Amee and making her
+Empress of the Winkies. But it is surely not too late,
+even now, to do this, for the girl must still be living
+in the Munchkin Country. And, since this strange
+Wanderer has reminded me of Nimmie Amee, I believe it
+is my duty to set out and find her. Surely it is not
+the girl's fault that I no longer love her, and so, if
+I can make her happy, it is proper that I should do so,
+and in this way reward her for her faithfulness."</p>
+
+<p>"Quite right, my friend!" agreed the Scarecrow.</p>
+
+<p>"Will you accompany me on this errand?" asked the Tin
+Emperor.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course," said the Scarecrow.</p>
+
+<p>"And will you take me along?" pleaded Woot the
+Wanderer in an eager voice.</p>
+
+<p>"To be sure," said the Tin Woodman, "if you care to
+join our party. It was you who first told me it was my
+duty to find and marry Nimmie Amee, and I'd like you to
+know that Nick Chopper, the Tin Emperor of the Winkies,
+is a man who never shirks his duty, once it is pointed
+out to him."</p>
+
+<p>"It ought to be a pleasure, as well as a duty, if the
+girl is so beautiful," said Woot, well pleased with the
+idea of the adventure.</p>
+
+<p>"Beautiful things may be admired, if not loved,"
+asserted the Tin Man. "Flowers are beautiful, for
+instance, but we are not inclined to marry them. Duty,
+on the contrary, is a bugle call to action, whether you
+are inclined to act, or not. In this case, I obey the
+bugle call of duty."</p>
+
+<p>"When shall we start?" inquired the Scarecrow, who
+was always glad to embark upon a new adventure. "I
+don't hear any bugle, but when do we go?"</p>
+
+<p>"As soon as we can get ready," answered the Emperor.
+"I'll call my servants at once and order them to make
+preparations for our journey."</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter3" id="chapter3">Chapter Three</a></h2>
+
+<h3>Roundabout</h3>
+
+
+<p>Woot the Wanderer slept that night in the tin castle of
+the Emperor of the Winkies and found his tin bed quite
+comfortable. Early the next morning he rose and took a
+walk through the gardens, where there were tin
+fountains and beds of curious tin flowers, and where
+tin birds perched upon the branches of tin trees and
+sang songs that sounded like the notes of tin whistles.
+All these wonders had been made by the clever Winkie
+tinsmiths, who wound the birds up every morning so that
+they would move about and sing.</p>
+
+<p>After breakfast the boy went into the throne room,
+where the Emperor was having his tin joints carefully
+oiled by a servant, while other servants were stuffing
+sweet, fresh straw into the body of the Scarecrow.</p>
+
+<p>Woot watched this operation with much interest, for
+the Scarecrow's body was only a suit of clothes filled
+with straw. The coat was buttoned tight to keep the
+packed straw from falling out and a rope was tied
+around the waist to hold it in shape and prevent the
+straw from sagging down. The Scarecrow's head was a
+gunnysack filled with bran, on which the eyes, nose and
+mouth had been painted. His hands were white cotton
+gloves stuffed with fine straw. Woot noticed that even
+when carefully stuffed and patted into shape, the straw
+man was awkward in his movements and decidedly wobbly
+on his feet, so the boy wondered if the Scarecrow would
+be able to travel with them all the way to the forests
+of the Munchkin Country of Oz.</p>
+
+<p>The preparations made for this important journey were
+very simple. A knapsack was filled with food and given
+Woot the Wanderer to carry upon his back, for the food
+was for his use alone. The Tin Woodman shouldered an
+axe which was sharp and brightly polished, and the
+Scarecrow put the Emperor's oil-can in his pocket, that
+he might oil his friend's joints should they need it.</p>
+
+<p>"Who will govern the Winkie Country during your
+absence?" asked the boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, the Country will run itself," answered the
+Emperor. "As a matter of fact, my people do not need an
+Emperor, for Ozma of Oz watches over the welfare of all
+her subjects, including the Winkies. Like a good many
+kings and emperors, I have a grand title, but very
+little real power, which allows me time to amuse myself
+in my own way. The people of Oz have but one law to
+obey, which is: 'Behave Yourself,' so it is easy for
+them to abide by this Law, and you'll notice they
+behave very well. But it is time for us to be off, and
+I am eager to start because I suppose that that poor
+Munchkin girl is anxiously awaiting my coming."</p>
+
+<p>"She's waited a long time already, seems to me,"
+remarked the Scarecrow, as they left the grounds of the
+castle and followed a path that led eastward.</p>
+
+<p>"True," replied the Tin Woodman; "but I've noticed
+that the last end of a wait, however long it has been,
+is the hardest to endure; so I must try to make Nimmie
+Amee happy as soon as possible."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah; that proves you have a Kind heart," remarked the
+Scarecrow, approvingly.</p>
+
+<p>"It's too bad he hasn't a Loving Heart," said Woot.
+"This Tin Man is going to marry a nice girl through
+kindness, and not because he loves her, and somehow
+that doesn't seem quite right."</p>
+
+<p>"Even so, I am not sure it isn't best for the girl,"
+said the Scarecrow, who seemed very intelligent for a
+straw man, "for a loving husband is not always kind,
+while a kind husband is sure to make any girl content."</p>
+
+<p>"Nimmie Amee will become an Empress!" announced the
+Tin Woodman, proudly. "I shall have a tin gown made for
+her, with tin ruffles and tucks on it, and she shall
+have tin slippers, and tin earrings and bracelets, and
+wear a tin crown on her head. I am sure that will
+delight Nimmie Amee, for all girls are fond of finery."</p>
+
+<p>"Are we going to the Munchkin Country by way of the
+Emerald City?" inquired the Scarecrow, who looked upon
+the Tin Woodman as the leader of the party.</p>
+
+<p>"I think not," was the reply. "We are engaged upon a
+rather delicate adventure, for we are seeking a girl
+who fears her former lover has forgotten her. It will
+be rather hard for me, you must admit, when I confess
+to Nimmie Amee that I have come to marry her because it
+is my duty to do so, and therefore the fewer witnesses
+there are to our meeting the better for both of us.
+After I have found Nimmie Amee and she has managed to
+control her joy at our reunion, I shall take her to the
+Emerald City and introduce her to Ozma and Dorothy, and
+to Betsy Bobbin and Tiny Trot, and all our other
+friends; but, if I remember rightly, poor Nimmie Amee
+has a sharp tongue when angry, and she may be a trifle
+angry with me, at first, because I have been so long in
+coming to her."</p>
+
+<p>"I can understand that," said Woot gravely. "But how
+can we get to that part of the Munchkin Country where
+you once lived without passing through the Emerald
+City?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, that is easy," the Tin Man assured him.</p>
+
+<p>"I have a map of Oz in my pocket," persisted the boy,
+"and it shows that the Winkie Country, where we now
+are, is at the west of Oz, and the Munchkin Country at
+the east, while directly between them lies the Emerald
+City."</p>
+
+<p>"True enough; but we shall go toward the north, first
+of all, into the Gillikin Country, and so pass around
+the Emerald City," explained the Tin Woodman.</p>
+
+<p>"That may prove a dangerous journey," replied the
+boy. "I used to live in one of the top corners of the
+Gillikin Country, near to Oogaboo, and I have been told
+that in this northland country are many people whom it
+is not pleasant to meet. I was very careful to avoid
+them during my journey south."</p>
+
+<p>"A Wanderer should have no fear," observed the
+Scarecrow, who was wobbling along in a funny, haphazard
+manner, but keeping pace with his friends.</p>
+
+<p>"Fear does not make one a coward," returned Woot,
+growing a little red in the face, "but I believe it is
+more easy to avoid danger than to overcome it. The
+safest way is the best way, even for one who is brave
+and determined."</p>
+
+<p>"Do not worry, for we shall not go far to the north,"
+said the Emperor. "My one idea is to avoid the Emerald
+City without going out of our way more than is
+necessary. Once around the Emerald City we will turn
+south into the Munchkin Country, where the Scarecrow
+and I are well acquainted and have many friends."</p>
+
+<p>"I have traveled some in the Gillikin Country,"
+remarked the Scarecrow, "and while I must say I have
+met some strange people there at times, I have never
+yet been harmed by them."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it's all the same to me," said Woot, with
+assumed carelessness. "Dangers, when they cannot be
+avoided, are often quite interesting, and I am willing
+to go wherever you two venture to go."</p>
+
+<p>So they left the path they had been following and
+began to travel toward the northeast, and all that day
+they were in the pleasant Winkie Country, and all the
+people they met saluted the Emperor with great respect
+and wished him good luck on his journey. At night they
+stopped at a house where they were well entertained and
+where Woot was given a comfortable bed to sleep in.</p>
+
+<p>"Were the Scarecrow and I alone," said the Tin
+Woodman, "we would travel by night as well as by day;
+but with a meat person in our party, we must halt at
+night to permit him to rest."</p>
+
+<p>"Meat tires, after a day's travel," added the
+Scarecrow, "while straw and tin never tire at all.
+Which proves," said he, "that we are somewhat superior
+to people made in the common way."</p>
+
+<p>Woot could not deny that he was tired, and he slept
+soundly until morning, when he was given a good
+breakfast, smoking hot.</p>
+
+<p>"You two miss a great deal by not eating," he said to
+his companions.</p>
+
+<p>"It is true," responded the Scarecrow. "We miss
+suffering from hunger, when food cannot be had, and we
+miss a stomachache, now and then."</p>
+
+<p>As he said this, the Scarecrow glanced at the Tin
+Woodman, who nodded his assent.</p>
+
+<p>All that second day they traveled steadily,
+entertaining one another the while with stories of
+adventures they had formerly met and listening to the
+Scarecrow recite poetry. He had learned a great many
+poems from Professor Wogglebug and loved to repeat them
+whenever anybody would listen to him. Of course Woot
+and the Tin Woodman now listened, because they could
+not do otherwise — unless they rudely ran away from
+their stuffed comrade. One of the Scarecrow's
+recitations was like this:</p>
+
+<div class="poem">
+<div class="stanza">
+ <div class="in1">"What sound is so sweet</div>
+ <div class="in1">As the straw from the wheat</div>
+ <div>When it crunkles so tender and low?</div>
+ <div class="in1">It is yellow and bright,</div>
+ <div class="in1">So it gives me delight</div>
+ <div>To crunkle wherever I go.</div>
+</div>
+<br />
+<div class="stanza">
+ <div class="in1">"Sweet, fresh, golden Straw!</div>
+ <div class="in1">There is surely no flaw</div>
+ <div>In a stuffing so clean and compact.</div>
+ <div class="in1">It creaks when I walk,</div>
+ <div class="in1">And it thrills when I talk,</div>
+ <div>And its fragrance is fine, for a fact.</div>
+</div>
+<br />
+<div class="stanza">
+ <div class="in1">"To cut me don't hurt,</div>
+ <div class="in1">For I've no blood to squirt,</div>
+ <div>And I therefore can suffer no pain;</div>
+ <div class="in1">The straw that I use</div>
+ <div class="in1">Doesn't lump up or bruise,</div>
+ <div>Though it's pounded again and again!</div>
+</div>
+<br />
+<div class="stanza">
+ <div class="in1">"I know it is said</div>
+ <div class="in1">That my beautiful head</div>
+ <div>Has brains of mixed wheat-straw and bran,</div>
+ <div class="in1">But my thoughts are so good</div>
+ <div class="in1">I'd not change, if I could,</div>
+ <div>For the brains of a common meat man.</div>
+</div>
+<br />
+<div class="stanza">
+ <div class="in1">"Content with my lot,</div>
+ <div class="in1">I'm glad that I'm not</div>
+ <div>Like others I meet day by day;</div>
+ <div class="in1">If my insides get musty,</div>
+ <div class="in1">Or mussed-up, or dusty,</div>
+ <div>I get newly stuffed right away."</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+<h2><a name="chapter4" id="chapter4">Chapter Four</a></h2>
+
+<h2>The Loons of Loonville</h2>
+
+
+<p>Toward evening, the travelers found there was no longer
+a path to guide them, and the purple hues of the grass
+and trees warned them that they were now in the Country
+of the Gillikins, where strange peoples dwelt in places
+that were quite unknown to the other inhabitants of Oz.
+The fields were wild and uncultivated and there were no
+houses of any sort to be seen. But our friends kept on
+walking even after the sun went down, hoping to find a
+good place for Woot the Wanderer to sleep; but when it
+grew quite dark and the boy was weary with his long
+walk, they halted right in the middle of a field and
+allowed Woot to get his supper from the food he carried
+in his knapsack. Then the Scarecrow laid himself down,
+so that Woot could use his stuffed body as a pillow,
+and the Tin Woodman stood up beside them all night, so
+the dampness of the ground might not rust his joints or
+dull his brilliant polish. Whenever the dew settled on
+his body he carefully wiped it off with a cloth, and so
+in the morning the Emperor shone as brightly as ever in
+the rays of the rising sun.</p>
+
+<p>They wakened the boy at daybreak, the Scarecrow
+saying to him:</p>
+
+<p>"We have discovered something queer, and therefore we
+must counsel together what to do about it."</p>
+
+<p>"What have you discovered?" asked Woot, rubbing the
+sleep from his eyes with his knuckles and giving three
+wide yawns to prove he was fully awake.</p>
+
+<p>"A Sign," said the Tin Woodman. "A Sign, and another path."</p>
+
+<p>"What does the Sign say?" inquired the boy.</p>
+
+<p>"It says that 'All Strangers are Warned not to Follow
+this Path to Loonville,'" answered the Scarecrow, who
+could read very well when his eyes had been freshly
+painted.</p>
+
+<p>"In that case," said the boy, opening his knapsack to
+get some breakfast, "let us travel in some other
+direction."</p>
+
+<p>But this did not seem to please either of his
+companions.</p>
+
+<p>"I'd like to see what Loonville looks like," remarked
+the Tin Woodman.</p>
+
+<p>"When one travels, it is foolish to miss any
+interesting sight," added the Scarecrow.</p>
+
+<p>"But a warning means danger," protested Woot the
+Wanderer, "and I believe it sensible to keep out of
+danger whenever we can."</p>
+
+<p>They made no reply to</p> this speech for a while. Then
+said the Scarecrow:
+
+<p>"I have escaped so many dangers, during my lifetime,
+that I am not much afraid of anything that can happen."</p>
+
+<p>"Nor am I!" exclaimed the Tin Woodman, swinging his
+glittering axe around his tin head, in a series of
+circles. "Few things can injure tin, and my axe is a
+powerful weapon to use against a foe. But our boy
+friend," he continued, looking solemnly at Woot, "might
+perhaps be injured if the people of Loonville are
+really dangerous; so I propose he waits here while you
+and I, Friend Scarecrow, visit the forbidden City of
+Loonville."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't worry about me," advised Woot, calmly.
+"Wherever you wish to go, I will go, and share your
+dangers. During my wanderings I have found it more wise
+to keep out of danger than to venture in, but at that
+time I was alone, and now I have two powerful friends
+to protect me."</p>
+
+<p>So, when he had finished his breakfast, they all set
+out along the path that led to Loonville.</p>
+
+<p>"It is a place I have never heard of before,"
+remarked the Scarecrow, as they approached a dense
+forest. "The inhabitants may be people, of some sort,
+or they may be animals, but whatever they prove to be,
+we will have an interesting story to relate to Dorothy
+and Ozma on our return."</p>
+
+<p>The path led into the forest, but the big trees grew
+so closely together and the vines and underbrush were
+so thick and matted that they had to clear a path at
+each step in order to proceed. In one or two places the
+Tin Man, who went first to clear the way, cut the
+branches with a blow of his axe. Woot followed next,
+and last of the three came the Scarecrow, who could not
+have kept the path at all had not his comrades broken
+the way for his straw-stuffed body.</p>
+
+<p>Presently the Tin Woodman pushed his way through some
+heavy underbrush, and almost tumbled headlong into a
+vast cleared space in the forest. The clearing was
+circular, big and roomy, yet the top branches of the
+tall trees reached over and formed a complete dome or
+roof for it. Strangely enough, it was not dark in this
+immense natural chamber in the woodland, for the place
+glowed with a soft, white light that seemed to come
+from some unseen source.</p>
+
+<p>In the chamber were grouped dozens of queer
+creatures, and these so astonished the Tin Man that
+Woot had to push his metal body aside, that he might
+see, too. And the Scarecrow pushed Woot aside, so that
+the three travelers stood in a row, staring with all
+their eyes.</p>
+
+<p>The creatures they beheld were round and ball-like;
+round in body, round in legs and arms, round in hands
+and feet and round of head. The only exception to the
+roundness was a slight hollow on the top of each head,
+making it saucer-shaped instead of dome-shaped. They
+wore no clothes on their puffy bodies, nor had they any
+hair. Their skins were all of a light gray color, and
+their eyes were mere purple spots. Their noses were as
+puffy as the rest of them.</p>
+
+<p>"Are they rubber, do you think?" asked the Scarecrow,
+who noticed that the creatures bounded, as they moved,
+and seemed almost as light as air.</p>
+
+<p>"It is difficult to tell what they are," answered
+Woot, "they seem to be covered with warts."</p>
+
+<p>The Loons — for so these folks were called — had
+been doing many things, some playing together, some
+working at tasks and some gathered in groups to talk;
+but at the sound of strange voices, which echoed rather
+loudly through the clearing, all turned in the
+direction of the intruders. Then, in a body, they all
+rushed forward, running and bounding with tremendous
+speed.</p>
+
+<p>The Tin Woodman was so surprised by this sudden dash
+that he had no time to raise his axe before the Loons
+were on them. The creatures swung their puffy hands,
+which looked like boxing-gloves, and pounded the three
+travelers as hard as they could, on all sides. The
+blows were quite soft and did not hurt our friends at
+all, but the onslaught quite bewildered them, so that
+in a brief period all three were knocked over and fell
+flat upon the ground. Once down, many of the Loons
+held them, to prevent their getting up again, while
+others wound long tendrils of vines about them, binding
+their arms and legs to their bodies and so rendering
+them helpless.</p>
+
+<p>"Aha!" cried the biggest Loon of all; "we've got 'em
+safe; so let's carry 'em to King Bal and have 'em
+tried, and condemned and perforated!" They had to drag
+their captives to the center of the domed chamber, for
+their weight, as compared with that of the Loons,
+prevented their being carried. Even the Scarecrow was
+much heavier than the puffy Loons. But finally the
+party halted before a raised platform, on which stood a
+sort of throne, consisting of a big, wide chair with a
+string tied to one arm of it. This string led upward to
+the roof of the dome.</p>
+
+<p>Arranged before the platform, the prisoners were
+allowed to sit up, facing the empty throne.</p>
+
+<p>"Good!" said the big Loon who had commanded the
+party. "Now to get King Bal to judge these terrible
+creatures we have so bravely captured."</p>
+
+<p>As he spoke he took hold of the string and began to
+pull as hard as he could. One or two of the others
+helped him and pretty soon, as they drew in the cord,
+the leaves above them parted and a Loon appeared at the
+other end of the string. It didn't take long to draw
+him down to the throne, where he seated himself and was
+tied in, so he wouldn't float upward again.</p>
+
+<p>"Hello," said the King, blinking his purple eyes at
+his followers; "what's up now!"</p>
+
+<p>"Strangers, your Majesty — strangers and captives,"
+replied the big Loon, pompously</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me! I see 'em. I see 'em very plainly,"
+exclaimed the King, his purple eyes bulging out as he
+looked at the three prisoners. "What curious animals!
+Are they dangerous, do you think, my good Panta?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm 'fraid so, your Majesty. Of course, they may not
+be dangerous, but we mustn't take chances. Enough
+accidents happen to us poor Loons as it is, and my
+advice is to condemn and perforate 'em as quickly as
+possible."</p>
+
+<p>"Keep your advice to yourself," said the monarch, in
+a peeved tone. "Who's King here, anyhow? You or Me?"</p>
+
+<p>"We made you our King because you have less common
+sense than the rest of us," answered Panta Loon,
+indignantly. "I could have been King myself, had I
+wanted to, but I didn't care for the hard work and
+responsibility."</p>
+
+<p>As he said this, the big Loon strutted back and forth
+in the space between the throne of King Bal and the
+prisoners, and the other Loons seemed much impressed by
+his defiance. But suddenly there came a sharp report
+and Panta Loon instantly disappeared, to the great
+astonishment of the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and Woot
+the Wanderer, who saw on the spot where the big fellow
+had stood a little heap of flabby, wrinkled skin that
+looked like a collapsed rubber balloon.</p>
+
+<p>"There!" exclaimed the King; "I expected that would
+happen. The conceited rascal wanted to puff himself up
+until he was bigger than the rest of you, and this is
+the result of his folly. Get the pump working, some of
+you, and blow him up again."</p>
+
+<p>"We will have to mend the puncture first, your
+Majesty," suggested one of the Loons, and the prisoners
+noticed that none of them seemed surprised or shocked
+at the sad accident to Panta.</p>
+
+<p>"All right," grumbled the King. "Fetch Til to mend
+him."</p>
+
+<p>One or two ran away and presently returned, followed
+by a lady Loon wearing huge, puffed-up rubber skirts.
+Also she had a purple feather fastened to a wart on the
+top of her head, and around her waist was a sash of
+fibre-like vines, dried and tough, that looked like
+strings.</p>
+
+<p>"Get to work, Til," commanded King Bal. "Panta has
+just exploded."</p>
+
+<p>The lady Loon picked up the bunch of skin and
+examined it carefully until she discovered a hole in
+one foot. Then she pulled a strand of string from her
+sash, and drawing the edges of the hole together. she
+tied them fast with the string, thus making one of
+those curious warts which the strangers had noticed on
+so many Loons. Having done this, Til Loon tossed the
+bit of skin to the other Loons and was about to go away
+when she noticed the prisoners and stopped to inspect
+them.</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me!" said Til; "what dreadful creatures. Where
+did they come from?"</p>
+
+<p>"We captured them," replied one of the Loons.</p>
+
+<p>"And what are we going to do with them?" inquired the
+girl Loon.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps we'll condemn 'em and puncture 'em,"
+answered the King.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said she, still eyeing the "I'm not sure
+they'll puncture. Let's try it, and see."</p>
+
+<p>One of the Loons ran to the forest's edge and quickly
+returned with a long, sharp thorn. He glanced at the
+King, who nodded his head in assent, and then he rushed
+forward and stuck the thorn into the leg of the
+Scarecrow. The Scarecrow merely smiled and said
+nothing, for the thorn didn't hurt him at all.</p>
+
+<p>Then the Loon tried to prick the Tin Woodman's leg,
+but the tin only blunted the point of the thorn.</p>
+
+<p>"Just as I thought," said Til, blinking her purple
+eyes and shaking her puffy head; but just then the Loon
+stuck the thorn into the leg of Woot the Wanderer, and
+while it had been blunted somewhat, it was still sharp
+enough to hurt.</p>
+
+<p>"Ouch!" yelled Woot, and kicked out his leg with so
+much energy that the frail bonds that tied him burst
+apart. His foot caught the Loon — who was leaning over
+him — full on his puffy stomach, and sent him shooting
+up into the air. When he was high over their heads he
+exploded with a loud "pop" and his skin fell to the
+ground.</p>
+
+<p>"I really believe," said the King, rolling his
+spotlike eyes in a frightened way, "that Panta was
+right in claiming these prisoners are dangerous. Is
+the pump ready?"</p>
+
+<p>Some of the Loons had wheeled a big machine in front
+of the throne and now took Panta's skin and began to
+pump air into it. Slowly it swelled out until the King
+cried "Stop!"</p>
+
+<p>"No, no!" yelled Panta, "I'm not big enough yet."
+"You're as big as you're going to be," declared the
+King. "Before you exploded you were bigger than the
+rest of us, and that caused you to be proud and
+overbearing. Now you're a little smaller than the rest,
+and you will last longer and be more humble."</p>
+
+<p>"Pump me up — pump me up!" wailed Panta "If you
+don't you'll break my heart."</p>
+
+<p>"If we do we'll break your skin," replied the King.</p>
+
+<p>So the Loons stopped pumping air into Panta, and
+pushed him away from the pump. He was certainly more
+humble than before his accident, for he crept into the
+background and said nothing more.</p>
+
+<p>"Now pump up the other one," ordered the King. Til
+had already mended him, and the Loons set to work to
+pump him full of air.</p>
+
+<p>During these last few moments none had paid much
+attention to the prisoners, so Woot, finding his legs
+free, crept over to the Tin Woodman and rubbed the
+bonds that were still around his arms and body against
+the sharp edge of the axe, which quickly cut them.</p>
+
+<p>The boy was now free, and the thorn which the Loon
+had stuck into his leg was lying unnoticed on the
+ground, where the creature had dropped it when he
+exploded. Woot leaned forward and picked up the thorn,
+and while the Loons were busy watching the pump, the
+boy sprang to his feet and suddenly rushed upon the
+group.</p>
+
+<p>"Pop" — "pop" — "pop!" went three of the Loons,
+when the Wanderer pricked them with his thorn, and at
+the sounds the others looked around and saw their
+danger. With yells of fear they bounded away in all
+directions, scattering about the clearing, with Woot
+the Wanderer in full chase. While they could run much
+faster than the boy, they often stumbled and fell, or
+got in one another's way, so he managed to catch
+several and prick them with his thorn.</p>
+
+<p>It astonished him to see how easily the Loons
+exploded. When the air was let out of them they were
+quite helpless. Til Loon was one of those who ran
+against his thorn and many others suffered the same
+fate. The creatures could not escape from the
+enclosure, but in their fright many bounded upward and
+caught branches of the trees, and then climbed out of
+reach of the dreaded thorn.</p>
+
+<p>Woot was getting pretty tired chasing them, so he
+stopped and came over, panting, to where his friends
+were sitting, still bound.</p>
+
+<p>"Very well done, my Wanderer," said the Tin Woodman.
+"It is evident that we need fear these puffed-up
+creatures no longer, so be kind enough to unfasten our
+bonds and we will proceed upon our journey."</p>
+
+<p>Woot untied the bonds of the Scarecrow and helped him
+to his feet. Then he freed the Tin Woodman, who got up
+without help. Looking around them, they saw that the
+only Loon now remaining within reach was Bal Loon, the
+King, who had remained seated in his throne, watching
+the punishment of his people with a bewildered look in
+his purple eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"Shall I puncture the King?" the boy asked his
+companions.</p>
+
+<p>King Bal must have overheard the question, for he
+fumbled with the cord that fastened him to the throne
+and managed to release it. Then he floated upward until
+he reached the leafy dome, and parting the branches he
+disappeared from sight. But the string that was tied to
+his body was still connected with the arm of the
+throne, and they knew they could pull his Majesty down
+again, if they wanted to.</p>
+
+<p>"Let him alone," suggested the Scarecrow. "He seems a
+good enough king for his peculiar people, and after we
+are gone, the Loons will have something of a job to
+pump up all those whom Woot has punctured."</p>
+
+<p>"Every one of them ought to be exploded," declared
+Woot, who was angry because his leg still hurt him.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said the Tin Woodman, "that would not be just
+fair. They were quite right to capture us, because we
+had no business to intrude here, having been warned to
+keep away from Loonville. This is their country, not
+ours, and since the poor things can't get out of the
+clearing, they can harm no one save those who venture
+here out of curiosity, as we did."</p>
+
+<p>"Well said, my friend," agreed tile Scarecrow. "We
+really had no right to disturb their peace and comfort;
+so let us go away."</p>
+
+<p>They easily found the place where they had forced
+their way into the enclosure, so the Tin Woodman pushed
+aside the underbrush and started first along the path.
+The Scarecrow followed next and last came Woot, who
+looked back and saw that the Loons were still clinging
+to their perches on the trees and watching their former
+captives with frightened eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"I guess they're glad to see the last of us,"
+remarked the boy, and laughing at the happy ending of
+the adventure, he followed his comrades along the path.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter5" id="chapter5">Chapter Five</a></h2>
+
+<h3>Mrs. Yoop, the Giantess</h3>
+
+
+<p>When they had reached the end of the path, where they
+had first seen the warning sign, they set off across
+the country in an easterly direction. Before long they
+reached Rolling Lands, which were a succession of hills
+and valleys where constant climbs and descents were
+required, and their journey now became tedious, because
+on climbing each hill, they found before them nothing
+in the valley below it except grass, or weeds or
+stones.</p>
+
+<p>Up and down they went for hours, with nothing to
+relieve the monotony of the landscape, until finally,
+when they had topped a higher hill than usual, they
+discovered a cup-shaped valley before them in the
+center of which stood an enormous castle, built of
+purple stone. The castle was high and broad and
+long, but had no turrets and towers. So far as they
+could see, there was but one small window and one
+big door on each side of the great building.</p>
+
+<p>"This is strange!" mused the Scarecrow. "I'd no idea
+such a big castle existed in this Gillikin Country. I
+wonder who lives here?"</p>
+
+<p>"It seems to me, from this distance," remarked the
+Tin Woodman, "that it's the biggest castle I ever saw.
+It is really too big for any use, and no one could open
+or shut those big doors without a stepladder."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps, if we go nearer, we shall find out whether
+anybody lives there or not," suggested Woot. "Looks to
+me as if nobody lived there."</p>
+
+<p>On they went, and when they reached the center of the
+valley, where the great stone castle stood, it was
+beginning to grow dark. So they hesitated as to what to
+do.</p>
+
+<p>"If friendly people happen to live here," said Woot.
+I shall be glad of a bed; but should enemies occupy the
+place, I prefer to sleep upon the ground."</p>
+
+<p>"And if no one at all lives here," added the
+Scarecrow, "we can enter, and take possession, and
+make ourselves at home."</p>
+
+<p>While speaking he went nearer to one of the great
+doors, which was three times as high and broad as any
+he had ever seen in a house before, and then he
+discovered, engraved in big letters upon a stone over
+the doorway, the words:</p>
+
+<div class="center">"YOOP CASTLE"</div>
+
+<p>"Oho!" he exclaimed; "I know the place now. This was
+probably the home of Mr. Yoop, a terrible giant whom I
+have seen confined in a cage, a long way from here.
+Therefore this castle is likely to be empty and we may
+use it in any way we please."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, yes," said the Tin Emperor, nodding; "I also
+remember Mr. Yoop. But how are we to get into his
+deserted castle? The latch of the door is so far above
+our heads that none of us can reach it."</p>
+
+<p>They considered this problem for a while, and then
+Woot said to the Tin Man:</p>
+
+<p>"If I stand upon your shoulders, I think I can
+unlatch the door."</p>
+
+<p>"Climb up, then," was the reply, and when the boy was
+perched upon the tin shoulders of Nick Chopper, he was
+just able to reach the latch and raise it.</p>
+
+<p>At once the door swung open, its great hinges making
+a groaning sound as if in protest, so Woot leaped down
+and followed his companions into a big, bare hallway.
+Scarcely were the three inside, however, when they
+heard the door slam shut behind them, and this
+astonished them because no one had touched it. It had
+closed of its own accord, as if by magic. Moreover,
+the latch was on the outside, and the thought occurred
+to each one of them that they were now prisoners in
+this unknown castle.</p>
+
+<p>"However," mumbled the Scarecrow, "we are not to
+blame for what cannot be helped; so let us push bravely
+ahead and see what may be seen."</p>
+
+<p>It was quite dark in the hallway, now that the
+outside door was shut, so as they stumbled along a
+stone passage they kept close together, not knowing
+what danger was likely to befall them.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly a soft glow enveloped them. It grew
+brighter, until they could see their surroundings
+distinctly. They had reached the end of the passage and
+before them was another huge door. This noiselessly
+swung open before them, without the help of anyone, and
+through the doorway they observed a big chamber, the
+walls of which were lined with plates of pure gold,
+highly polished.</p>
+
+<p>This room was also lighted, although they could
+discover no lamps, and in the center of it was a great
+table at which sat an immense woman. She was clad in
+silver robes embroidered with gay floral designs, and
+wore over this splendid raiment a short apron of
+elaborate lace-work. Such an apron was no protection,
+and was not in keeping with the handsome gown, but the
+huge woman wore it, nevertheless. The table at which
+she sat was spread with a white cloth and had golden
+dishes upon it, so the travelers saw that they had
+surprised the Giantess while she was eating her supper.</p>
+
+<p>She had her back toward them and did not even turn
+around, but taking a biscuit from a dish she began to
+butter it and said in a voice that was big and deep but
+not especially unpleasant:</p>
+
+<p>"Why don't you come in and allow the door to shut?
+You're causing a draught, and I shall catch cold and
+sneeze. When I sneeze, I get cross, and when I get
+cross I'm liable to do something wicked. Come in, you
+foolish strangers; come in!"</p>
+
+<p>Being thus urged, they entered the room and
+approached the table, until they stood where they faced
+the great Giantess. She continued eating, but smiled in
+a curious way as she looked at them. Woot noticed that
+the door had closed silently after they had entered,
+and that didn't please him at all.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said the Giantess, "what excuse have you to
+offer?"</p>
+
+<p>"We didn't know anyone lived here, Madam," explained
+the Scarecrow; "so, being travelers and strangers in
+these parts, and wishing to find a place for our boy
+friend to sleep, we ventured to enter your castle."</p>
+
+<p>"You knew it was private property, I suppose?" said
+she, buttering another biscuit.</p>
+
+<p>"We saw the words, 'Yoop Castle,' over the door, but
+we knew that Mr. Yoop is a prisoner in a cage in a far-
+off part of the land of Oz, so we decided there was no
+one now at home and that we might use the castle for
+the night."</p>
+
+<p>"I see," remarked the Giantess, nodding her head and
+smiling again in that curious way — a way that made
+Woot shudder. "You didn't know that Mr. Yoop was
+married, or that after he was cruelly captured his wife
+still lived in his castle and ran it to suit herself."</p>
+
+<p>"Who captured Mr. Yoop?" asked Woot, looking gravely
+at the big woman.</p>
+
+<p>"Wicked enemies. People who selfishly objected to
+Yoop's taking their cows and sheep for his food. I must
+admit, however, that Yoop had a bad temper, and had the
+habit of knocking over a few houses, now and then, when
+he was angry. So one day the little folks came in a
+great crowd and captured Mr. Yoop, and carried him away
+to a cage somewhere in the mountains. I don't know
+where it is, and I don't care, for my husband treated
+me badly at times, forgetting the respect a giant owes
+to a giantess. Often he kicked me on my shins, when I
+wouldn't wait on him. So I'm glad he is gone."</p>
+
+<p>"It's a wonder the people didn't capture you, too,"
+remarked Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I was too clever for them," said she, giving a
+sudden laugh that caused such a breeze that the wobbly
+Scarecrow was almost blown off his feet and had to grab
+his friend Nick Chopper to steady himself. "I saw the
+people coining," continued Mrs. Yoop, "and knowing they
+meant mischief I transformed myself into a mouse and
+hid in a cupboard. After they had gone away, carrying
+my shin-kicking husband with them, I transformed myself
+back to my former shape again, and here I've lived in
+peace and comfort ever since."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you a Witch, then? " inquired Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, not exactly a Witch," she replied, "but I'm an
+Artist in Transformations. In other words, I'm more of
+a Yookoohoo than a Witch, and of course you know that
+the Yookoohoos are the cleverest magic-workers in the
+world."</p>
+
+<p>The travelers were silent for a time, uneasily
+considering this statement and the effect it might have
+on their future. No doubt the Giantess had wilfully
+made them her prisoners; yet she spoke so cheerfully,
+in her big voice, that until now they had not been
+alarmed in the least.</p>
+
+<p>By and by the Scarecrow, whose mixed brains had been
+working steadily, asked the woman:</p>
+
+<p>"Are we to consider you our friend, Mrs. Yoop, or do
+you intend to be our enemy?"</p>
+
+<p>"I never have friends," she said in a matter-of-fact
+tone, "because friends get too familiar and always
+forget to mind their own business. But I am not your
+enemy; not yet, anyhow. Indeed, I'm glad you've come,
+for my life here is rather lonely. I've had no one to
+talk to since I transformed Polychrome, the Daughter of
+the Rainbow, into a canary-bird."</p>
+
+<p>"How did you manage to do that?" asked the Tin
+Woodman, in amazement. "Polychrome is a powerful
+fairy!"</p>
+
+<p>"She was," said the Giantess; "but now she's a
+canary-bird. One day after a rain, Polychrome danced
+off the Rainbow and fell asleep on a little mound in
+this valley, not far from my castle. The sun came out
+and drove the Rainbow away, and before Poly wakened, I
+stole out and transformed her into a canary-bird in a
+gold cage studded with diamonds. The cage was so she
+couldn't fly away. I expected she'd sing and talk and
+we'd have good times together; but she has proved no
+company for me at all. Ever since the moment of her
+transformation, she has refused to speak a single
+word."</p>
+
+<p>"Where is she now?" inquired Woot, who had heard tales
+of lovely Polychrome and was much interested in her.</p>
+
+<p>"The cage is hanging up in my bedroom," said the
+Giantess, eating another biscuit. The travelers were
+now more uneasy and suspicious of the Giantess than
+before. If Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter, who was
+a real fairy, had been transformed and enslaved by this
+huge woman, who claimed to be a Yookoohoo, what was
+liable to happen to them? Said the Scarecrow, twisting
+his stuffed head around in Mrs. Yoop's direction:</p>
+
+<p>"Do you know, Ma'am, who we are?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course," said she; "a straw man, a tin man and a boy."</p>
+
+<p>"We are very important people," declared the Tin Woodman.</p>
+
+<p>"All the better," she replied. "I shall enjoy your
+society the more on that account. For I mean to keep
+you here as long as I live, to amuse me when I get
+lonely. And," she added slowly, "in this Valley no one
+ever dies."</p>
+
+<p>They didn't like this speech at all, so the Scarecrow
+frowned in a way that made Mrs. Yoop smile, while
+the Tin Woodman looked so fierce that Mrs. Yoop
+laughed. The Scarecrow suspected she was going to
+laugh, so he slipped behind his friends to escape the
+wind from her breath. From this safe position he
+said warningly:</p>
+
+<p>"We have powerful friends who will soon come to
+rescue us."</p>
+
+<p>"Let them come," she returned, with an accent of
+scorn. "When they get here they will find neither a
+boy, nor a tin man, nor a scarecrow, for tomorrow
+morning I intend to transform you all into other
+shapes, so that you cannot be recognized."</p>
+
+<p>This threat filled them with dismay. The good-natured
+Giantess was more terrible than they had imagined. She
+could smile and wear pretty clothes and at the same
+time be even more cruel than her wicked husband had been.</p>
+
+<p>Both the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman tried to
+think of some way to escape from the castle before
+morning, but she seemed to read their thoughts and
+shook her head.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't worry your poor brains," said she. "You can't
+escape me, however hard you try. But why should you
+wish to escape? I shall give you new forms that are
+much better than the ones you now have. Be contented
+with your fate, for discontent leads to unhappiness,
+and unhappiness, in any form, is the greatest evil that
+can befall you."</p>
+
+<p>"What forms do you intend to give us?" asked Woot
+earnestly.</p>
+
+<p>"I haven't decided, as yet. I'll dream over it
+tonight, so in the morning I shall have made up my mind
+how to transform you. Perhaps you'd prefer to choose
+your own transformations?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Woot, "I prefer to remain as I am."</p>
+
+<p>"That's funny," she retorted. "You are little, and
+you're weak; as you are, you're not much account,
+anyhow. The best thing about you is that you're alive,
+for I shall be able to make of you some sort of live
+creature which will be a great improvement on your
+present form."</p>
+
+<p>She took another biscuit from a plate and dipped it
+in a pot of honey and calmly began eating it.</p>
+
+<p>The Scarecrow watched her thoughtfully.</p>
+
+<p>"There are no fields of grain in your Valley," said he;
+"where, then. did you get the flour to make your biscuits?"</p>
+
+<p>"Mercy me! do you think I'd bother to make biscuits
+out of flour?" she replied. "That is altogether too
+tedious a process for a Yookoohoo. I set some traps
+this afternoon and caught a lot of field-mice, but as I
+do not like to eat mice, I transformed them into hot
+biscuits for my supper. The honey in this pot was once
+a wasp's nest, but since being transformed it has
+become sweet and delicious. All I need do, when I wish
+to eat, is to take something I don't care to keep, and
+transform it into any sort of food I like, and eat it.
+Are you hungry?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't eat, thank you," said the Scarecrow.</p>
+
+<p>"Nor do I," said the Tin Woodman.</p>
+
+<p>"I have still a little natural food in my knapsack,"
+said Woot the Wanderer, "and I'd rather eat that than
+any wasp's nest."</p>
+
+<p>"Every one to his taste," said the Giantess
+carelessly, and having now finished her supper she rose
+to her feet, clapped her hands together, and the supper
+table at once disappeared.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter6" id="chapter6">Chapter Six</a></h2>
+
+<h3>The Magic of a Yookoohoo</h3>
+
+
+<p>Woot had seen very little of magic during his
+wanderings, while the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman had
+seen a great deal of many sorts in their lives, yet all
+three were greatly impressed by Mrs. Yoop's powers. She
+did not affect any mysterious airs or indulge in chants
+or mystic rites, as most witches do, nor was the
+Giantess old and ugly or disagreeable in face or
+manner. Nevertheless, she frightened her prisoners more
+than any witch could have done.</p>
+
+<p>"Please be seated," she said to them, as she sat
+herself down in a great arm-chair and spread her
+beautiful embroidered skirts for them to admire. But
+all the chairs in the room were so high that our
+friends could not climb to the seats of them. Mrs. Yoop
+observed this and waved her hand, when instantly a
+golden ladder appeared leaning against a chair opposite
+her own.</p>
+
+<p>"Climb up," said she, and they obeyed, the Tin Man
+and the boy assisting the more clumsy Scarecrow. When
+they were all seated in a row on the cushion of the
+chair, the Giantess continued: "Now tell me how you
+happened to travel in this direction, and where you
+came from and what your errand is."</p>
+
+<p>So the Tin Woodman told her all about Nimmie Amee,
+and how he had decided to find her and marry her,
+although he had no Loving Heart. The story seemed to
+amuse the big woman, who then began to ask the
+Scarecrow questions and for the first time in her life
+heard of Ozma of Oz, and of Dorothy and Jack
+Pumpkinhead and Dr. Pipt and Tik-tok and many other Oz
+people who are well known in the Emerald City. Also
+Woot had to tell his story, which. was very simple and
+did not take long. The Giantess laughed heartily when
+the boy related their adventure at Loonville, but said
+she knew nothing of the Loons because she never left
+her Valley.</p>
+
+<p>"There are wicked people who would like to capture
+me, as they did my giant husband, Mr. Yoop," said she;
+"so I stay at home and mind my own business."</p>
+
+<p>"If Ozma knew that you dared to work magic without
+her consent, she would punish you severely," declared
+the Scarecrow, "for this castle is in the Land of Oz,
+and no persons in the Land of Oz are permitted to work
+magic except Glinda the Good and the little Wizard who
+lives with Ozma in the Emerald City."</p>
+
+<p>"That for your Ozma!" exclaimed the Giantess,
+snapping her fingers in derision. "What do I care for a
+girl whom I have never seen and who has never seen me?"</p>
+
+<p>"But Ozma is a fairy," said the Tin Woodman, and
+therefore she is very powerful. Also, we are under
+Ozma's protection, and to injure us in any way would
+make her extremely angry."</p>
+
+<p>"What I do here, in my own private castle in this
+secluded Valley — where no one comes but fools like
+you — can never be known to your fairy Ozma," returned
+the Giantess. "Do not seek to frighten me from my
+purpose, and do not allow yourselves to be frightened,
+for it is best to meet bravely what cannot be avoided.
+I am now going to bed, and in the morning I will give
+you all new forms, such as will be more interesting to
+me than the ones you now wear. Good night, and pleasant dreams."</p>
+
+<p>Saying this, Mrs. Yoop rose from her chair and walked
+through a doorway into another room. So heavy was the
+tread of the Giantess that even the walls of the big
+stone castle trembled as she stepped. She closed the
+door of her bedroom behind her, and then suddenly the
+light went out and the three prisoners found themselves
+in total darkness.</p>
+
+<p>The Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow didn't mind the
+dark at all, but Woot the Wanderer felt worried to be
+left in this strange place in this strange manner,
+without being able to see any danger that might threaten.</p>
+
+<p>"The big woman might have given me a bed, anyhow," he
+said to his companions, and scarcely had he spoken when
+he felt something press against his legs, which were
+then dangling from the seat of the chair. Leaning down,
+he put out his hand and found that a bedstead had
+appeared, with mattress, sheets and covers, all
+complete. He lost no time in slipping down upon the bed
+and was soon fast asleep.</p>
+
+<p>During the night the Scarecrow and the Emperor talked
+in low tones together, and they got out of the chair
+and moved all about the room, feeling for some hidden
+spring that might open a door or window and permit them
+to escape.</p>
+
+<p>Morning found them still unsuccessful in the quest
+and as soon as it was daylight Woot's bed suddenly
+disappeared, and he dropped to the floor with a thump
+that quickly wakened him. And after a time the Giantess
+came from her bedroom, wearing another dress that was
+quite as elaborate as the one in which she had been
+attired the evening before, and also wearing the pretty
+lace apron. Having seated herself in a chair, she said:</p>
+
+<p>"I'm hungry; so I'll have breakfast at once."</p>
+
+<p>She clapped her hands together and instantly the
+table appeared before her, spread with snowy linen
+and laden with golden dishes. But there was no
+food upon the table, nor anything else except a
+pitcher of water, a bundle of weeds and a handful
+of pebbles. But the Giantess poured some water into
+her coffee-pot, patted it once or twice with her hand,
+and then poured out a cupful of steaming hot coffee.</p>
+
+<p>"Would you like some?" she asked Woot.</p>
+
+<p>He was suspicious of magic coffee, but it smelled so
+good that he could not resist it; so he answered: "If
+you please, Madam."</p>
+
+<p>The Giantess poured out another cup and set it on the
+floor for Woot. It was as big as a tub, and the golden
+spoon in the saucer beside the cup was so heavy the boy
+could scarcely lift it. But Woot managed to get a sip
+of the coffee and found it delicious.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Yoop next transformed the weeds into a dish of
+oatmeal, which she ate with good appetite.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, then," said she, picking up the pebbles. "I'm
+wondering whether I shall have fish-balls or lamb-chops
+to complete my meal. Which would you prefer, Woot the Wanderer?"</p>
+
+<p>"If you please, I'll eat the food in my knapsack,"
+answered the boy. "Your magic food might taste good,
+but I'm afraid of it."</p>
+
+<p>The woman laughed at his fears and transformed the
+pebbles into fish-balls.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose you think that after you had eaten this
+food it would turn to stones again and make you sick,"
+she remarked; "but that would be impossible. Nothing I
+transform ever gets back to its former shape again, so
+these fish-balls can never more be pebbles. That is why
+I have to be careful of my transformations," she added,
+busily eating while she talked, "for while I can change
+forms at will I can never change them back again —
+which proves that even the powers of a clever Yookoohoo
+are limited. When I have transformed you three people,
+you must always wear the shapes that I have given you."</p>
+
+<p>"Then please don't transform us," begged Woot, "for
+we are quite satisfied to remain as we are."</p>
+
+<p>"I am not expecting to satisfy you, but intend to
+please myself," she declared, "and my pleasure is to
+give you new shapes. For, if by chance your friends
+came in search of you, not one of them would be able to
+recognize you."</p>
+
+<p>Her tone was so positive that they knew it would be
+useless to protest. The woman was not unpleasant to
+look at; her face was not cruel; her voice was big but
+gracious in tone; but her words showed that she
+possessed a merciless heart and no pleadings would
+alter her wicked purpose.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Yoop took ample time to finish her breakfast and
+the prisoners had no desire to hurry her, but finally
+the meal was concluded and she folded her napkin and
+made the table disappear by clapping her hands
+together. Then she turned to her captives and said:</p>
+
+<p>"The next thing on the programme is to change your
+forms."</p>
+
+<p>"Have you decided what forms to give us?" asked the
+Scarecrow, uneasily.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; I dreamed it all out while I was asleep. This
+Tin Man seems a very solemn person " — indeed, the Tin
+Woodman was looking solemn, just then, for he was
+greatly disturbed — "so I shall change him into an
+Owl."</p>
+
+<p>All she did was to point one finger at him as she
+spoke, but immediately the form of the Tin Woodman
+began to change and in a few seconds Nick Chopper, the
+Emperor of the Winkies, had been transformed into an
+Owl, with eyes as big as saucers and a hooked beak and
+strong claws. But he was still tin. He was a Tin Owl,
+with tin legs and beak and eyes and feathers. When he
+flew to the back of a chair and perched upon it, his
+tin feathers rattled against one another with a tinny
+clatter. The Giantess seemed much amused by the Tin
+Owl's appearance, for her laugh was big and jolly.</p>
+
+<p>"You're not liable to get lost," said she, "for your
+wings and feathers will make a racket wherever you go.
+And, on my word, a Tin Owl is so rare and pretty that
+it is an improvement on the ordinary bird. I did not
+intend to make you tin, but I forgot to wish you to be
+meat. However, tin you were, and tin you are, and as
+it's too late to change you, that settles it."</p>
+
+<p>Until now the Scarecrow had rather doubted the
+possibility of Mrs. Yoop's being able to transform him,
+or his friend the Tin Woodman, for they were not made
+as ordinary people are. He had worried more over what
+might happen to Woot than to himself, but now he began
+to worry about himself.</p>
+
+<p>"Madam," he said hastily, "I consider this action
+very impolite. It may even be called rude, considering
+we are your guests."</p>
+
+<p>"You are not guests, for I did not invite you here,"
+she replied.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps not; but we craved hospitality. We threw
+ourselves upon your mercy, so to speak, and we now find
+you have no mercy. Therefore, if you will excuse the
+expression, I must say it is downright wicked to take
+our proper forms away from us and give us others that
+we do not care for."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you trying to make me angry?" she asked,
+frowning.</p>
+
+<p>"By no means," said the Scarecrow; "I'm just trying
+to make you act more ladylike."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, indeed! In my opinion, Mr. Scarecrow, you are
+now acting like a bear — so a Bear you shall be!"</p>
+
+<p>Again the dreadful finger pointed, this time in the
+Scarecrow's direction, and at once his form began to
+change. In a few seconds he had become a small Brown
+Bear, but he was stuffed with straw as he had been
+before, and when the little Brown Bear shuffled across
+the floor he was just as wobbly as the Scarecrow had
+been and moved just as awkwardly.</p>
+
+<p>Woot was amazed, but he was also thoroughly
+frightened.</p>
+
+<p>"Did it hurt?" he asked the little Brown Bear.</p>
+
+<p>"No, of course not," growled the Scarecrow in the
+Bear's form; "but I don't like walking on four legs;
+it's undignified."</p>
+
+<p>"Consider my humiliation!" chirped the Tin Owl,
+trying to settle its tin feathers smoothly with its tin
+beak. "And I can't see very well, either. The light
+seems to hurt my eyes."</p>
+
+<p>"That's because you are an Owl," said Woot. "I think
+you will see better in the dark."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," remarked the Giantess, "I'm very well pleased
+with these new forms, for my part, and I'm sure you
+will like them better when you get used to them. So
+now," she added, turning to the boy, "it is your turn."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you think you'd better leave me as I am?"
+asked Woot in a trembling voice.</p>
+
+<p>"No," she replied, "I'm going to make a Monkey of
+you. I love monkeys — they're so cute! — and I think
+a Green Monkey will be lots of fun and amuse me when I
+am sad."</p>
+
+<p>Woot shivered, for again the terrible magic finger
+pointed, and pointed directly his way. He felt himself
+changing; not so very much, however, and it didn't hurt
+him a bit. He looked down at his limbs and body and
+found that his clothes were gone and his skin covered
+with a fine, silk-like green fur. His hands and feet
+were now those of a monkey. He realized he really was a
+monkey, and his first feeling was one of anger. He
+began to chatter as monkeys do. He bounded to the seat
+of a giant chair, and then to its back and with a wild
+leap sprang upon the laughing Giantess. His idea was to
+seize her hair and pull it out by the roots, and so
+have revenge for her wicked transformations. But she
+raised her hand and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Gently, my dear Monkey — gently! You're not angry;
+you're happy as can be!"</p>
+
+<p>Woot stopped short. No; he wasn't a bit angry now; he
+felt as good-humored and gay as ever he did when a boy.
+Instead of pulling Mrs. Yoop's hair, he perched on her
+shoulder and smoothed her soft cheek with his hairy
+paw. In return, she smiled at the funny green animal
+and patted his head.</p>
+
+<p>"Very good," said the Giantess. "Let us all become
+friends and be happy together. How is my Tin Owl
+feeling?"</p>
+
+<p>"Quite comfortable," said the Owl. "I don't like it,
+to be sure, but I'm not going to allow my new form to
+make me unhappy. But, tell me, please: what is a Tin
+Owl good for?"</p>
+
+<p>"You are only good to make me laugh," replied the
+Giantess.</p>
+
+<p>"Will a stuffed Bear also make you laugh?" inquired
+the Scarecrow, sitting back on his haunches to look up
+at her.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course," declared the Giantess; "and I have added
+a little magic to your transformations to make you all
+contented with wearing your new forms. I'm sorry I
+didn't think to do that when I transformed Polychrome
+into a Canary-Bird. But perhaps, when she sees how
+cheerful you are, she will cease to be silent and
+sullen and take to singing. I will go get the bird and
+let you see her."</p>
+
+<p>With this, Mrs. Yoop went into the next room and soon
+returned bearing a golden cage in which sat upon a
+swinging perch a lovely yellow Canary. "Polychrome,"
+said the Giantess, "permit me to introduce to you a
+Green Monkey, which used to be a boy called Woot the
+Wanderer, and a Tin Owl, which used to be a Tin Woodman
+named Nick Chopper, and a straw-stuffed little Brown
+Bear which used to be a live Scarecrow."</p>
+
+<p>"We already know one another," declared the
+Scarecrow. "The bird is Polychrome, the Rainbow's
+Daughter, and she and I used to be good friends."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you really my old friend, the Scarecrow?" asked;
+the bird, in a sweet, low voice.</p>
+
+<p>"There!" cried Mrs. Yoop; "that's the first time she
+has spoken since she was transformed."</p>
+
+<p>"I am really your old friend," answered the
+Scarecrow; "but you must pardon me for appearing just
+now in this brutal form."</p>
+
+<p>"I am a bird, as you are, dear Poly," said the Tin
+Woodman; "but, alas! a Tin Owl is not as beautiful as a
+Canary-Bird."</p>
+
+<p>"How dreadful it all is!" sighed the Canary.
+"Couldn't you manage to escape from this terrible
+Yookoohoo?"</p>
+
+<p>No," answered the Scarecrow, "we tried to escape, but
+failed. She first made us her prisoners and then
+transformed us. But how did she manage to get you,
+Polychrome?"'</p>
+
+<p>"I was asleep, and she took unfair advantage of me,"
+answered the bird sadly. "Had I been awake, I could
+easily have protected myself."</p>
+
+<p>"Tell me," said the Green Monkey earnestly, as he
+came close to the cage, "what must we do, Daughter of
+the Rainbow, to escape from these transformations?
+Can't you help us, being a Fairy?" "At present I am
+powerless to help even myself," replied the Canary.</p>
+
+<p>"That's the exact truth!" exclaimed the Giantess, who
+seemed pleased to hear the bird talk, even though it
+complained; "you are all helpless and in my power, so
+you may as well make up your minds to accept your fate
+and be content. Remember that you are transformed for
+good, since no magic on earth can break your
+enchantments. I am now going out for my morning walk,
+for each day after breakfast I walk sixteen times
+around my castle for exercise. Amuse yourselves while I
+am gone, and when I return I hope to find you all
+reconciled and happy."</p>
+
+<p>So the Giantess walked to the door by which our
+friends had entered the great hall and spoke one word:
+"Open!" Then the door swung open and after Mrs. Yoop
+had passed out it closed again with a snap as its
+powerful bolts shot into place. The Green Monkey had
+rushed toward the opening, hoping to escape, but he was
+too late and only got a bump on his nose as the door
+slammed shut.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter7" id="chapter7">Chapter Seven</a></h2>
+
+<h3>The Lace Apron</h3>
+
+
+<p>"Now," said the Canary, in a tone more brisk than
+before, "we may talk together more freely, as Mrs. Yoop
+cannot hear us. Perhaps we can figure out a way to
+escape."</p>
+
+<p>"Open!" said Woot the Monkey, still facing the door;
+but his command had no effect and he slowly rejoined
+the others.</p>
+
+<p>"You cannot open any door or window in this enchanted
+castle unless you are wearing the Magic Apron," said
+the Canary.</p>
+
+<p>"What Magic Apron do you mean?" asked the Tin Owl, in
+a curious voice.</p>
+
+<p>"The lace one, which the Giantess always wears. I
+have been her prisoner, in this cage, for several
+weeks, and she hangs my cage in her bedroom every
+night, so that she can keep her eye on me," explained
+Polychrome the Canary. "Therefore I have discovered
+that it is the Magic Apron that opens the doors and
+windows, and nothing else can move them. when she goes
+to bed, Mrs. Yoop hangs her apron on the bedpost, and
+one morning she forgot to put it on when she commanded
+the door to open, and the door would not move. So then
+she put on the lace apron and the door obeyed her. That
+was how I learned the magic power of the apron."</p>
+
+<p>"I see — I see!" said the little Brown Bear, wagging
+his stuffed head. "Then, if we could get the apron from
+Mrs. Yoop, we could open the doors and escape from our
+prison."</p>
+
+<p>"That is true, and it is the plan I was about to
+suggest," replied Polychrome the Canary-Bird.
+"However, I don't believe the Owl could steal the
+apron, or even the Bear, but perhaps the Monkey could
+hide in her room at night and get the apron while she
+is asleep."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll try it!" cried Woot the Monkey. "I'll try it
+this very night, if I can manage to steal into her
+bedroom."</p>
+
+<p>"You mustn't think about it, though," warned the
+bird, "for she can read your thoughts whenever she
+cares to do so. And do not forget, before you escape,
+to take me with you. Once I am out of the power of the
+Giantess, I may discover a way to save us all."</p>
+
+<p>"We won't forget our fairy friend," promised the boy;
+"but perhaps you can tell me how to get into the
+bedroom."</p>
+
+<p>"No," declared Polychrome, "I cannot advise you as to
+that. You must watch for a chance, and slip in when
+Mrs. Yoop isn't looking."</p>
+
+<p>They talked it over for a while longer and then Mrs.
+Yoop returned. When she entered, the door opened
+suddenly, at her command, and closed as soon as her
+huge form had passed through the doorway. During that
+day she entered her bedroom several times, on one
+errand or another, but always she commanded the door to
+close behind her and her prisoners found not the
+slightest chance to leave the big hall in which they
+were confined.</p>
+
+<p>The Green Monkey thought it would be wise to make a
+friend of the big woman, so as to gain her confidence,
+so he sat on the back of her chair and chattered to her
+while she mended her stockings and sewed silver buttons
+on some golden shoes that were as big as row-boats.
+This pleased the Giantess and she would pause at times
+to pat the Monkey's head. The little Brown Bear curled
+up in a corner and lay still all day. The Owl and the
+Canary found they could converse together in the bird
+language, which neither the Giantess nor the Bear nor
+the Monkey could understand; so at times they twittered
+away to each other and passed the long, dreary day
+quite cheerfully.</p>
+
+<p>After dinner Mrs. Yoop took a big fiddle from a big
+cupboard and played such loud and dreadful music that
+her prisoners were all thankful when at last she
+stopped and said she was going to bed.</p>
+
+<p>After cautioning the Monkey and Bear and Owl to
+behave themselves during the night, she picked up the
+cage containing the Canary and, going to the door of
+her bedroom, commanded it to open. just then, however,
+she remembered she had left her fiddle lying upon a
+table, so she went back for it and put it away in the
+cupboard, and while her back was turned the Green
+Monkey slipped through the open door into her bedroom
+and hid underneath the bed. The Giantess, being sleepy,
+did not notice this, and entering her room she made the
+door close behind her and then hung the bird-cage on a
+peg by the window. Then she began to undress, first
+taking off the lace apron and laying it over the
+bedpost, where it was within easy reach of her hand.</p>
+
+<p>As soon as Mrs. Yoop was in bed the lights all went
+out, and Woot the Monkey crouched under the bed and
+waited patiently until he heard the Giantess snoring.
+Then he crept out and in the dark felt around until he
+got hold of the apron, which he at once tied around his
+own waist.</p>
+
+<p>Next, Woot tried to find the Canary, and there was
+just enough moonlight showing through the window to
+enable him to see where the cage hung; but it was out
+of his reach. At first he was tempted to leave
+Polychrome and escape with his other friends, but
+remembering his promise to the Rainbow's Daughter Woot
+tried to think how to save her.</p>
+
+<p>A chair stood near the window, and this — showing
+dimly in the moonlight — gave him an idea. By pushing
+against it with all his might, he found he could move
+the giant chair a few inches at a time. So he pushed
+and pushed until the chair was beneath the bird-cage,
+and then he sprang noiselessly upon the seat — for his
+monkey form enabled him to jump higher than he could do
+as a boy — and from there to the back of the chair,
+and so managed to reach the cage and take it off the
+peg. Then down he sprang to the floor and made his way
+to the door. "Open!" he commanded, and at once the door
+obeyed and swung open, But his voice wakened Mrs. Yoop,
+who gave a wild cry and sprang out of bed with one
+bound. The Green Monkey dashed through the doorway,
+carrying the cage with him, and before the Giantess
+could reach the door it slammed shut and imprisoned her
+in her own bed-chamber!</p>
+
+<p>The noise she made, pounding upon the door, and her
+yells of anger and dreadful threats of vengeance,
+filled all our friends with terror, and Woot the Monkey
+was so excited that in the dark he could not find the
+outer door of the hall. But the Tin Owl could see very
+nicely in the dark, so he guided his friends to the
+right place and when all were grouped before the door
+Woot commanded it to open. The Magic Apron proved as
+powerful as when it had been worn by the Giantess, so a
+moment later they had rushed through the passage and
+were standing in the fresh night air outside the
+castle, free to go wherever they willed.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter8" id="chapter8">Chapter Eight</a></h2>
+
+<h3>The Menace of the Forest</h3>
+
+
+<p>"Quick!" cried Polychrome the Canary; "we must hurry,
+or Mrs. Yoop may find some way to recapture us, even
+now. Let us get out of her Valley as soon as possible."</p>
+
+<p>So they set off toward the east, moving as swiftly as
+they could, and for a long time they could hear the
+yells and struggles of the imprisoned Giantess. The
+Green Monkey could run over the ground very swiftly,
+and he carried with him the bird-cage containing
+Polychrome the Rain-bow's Daughter. Also the Tin Owl
+could skip and fly along at a good rate of speed, his
+feathers rattling against one another with a tinkling
+sound as he moved. But the little Brown Bear, being
+stuffed with straw, was a clumsy traveler and the
+others had to wait for him to follow.</p>
+
+<p>However, they were not very long in reaching the
+ridge that led out of Mrs. Yoop's Valley, and when they
+had passed this ridge and descended into the next
+valley they stopped to rest, for the Green Monkey was
+tired.</p>
+
+<p>"I believe we are safe, now," said Polychrome, when
+her cage was set down and the others had all gathered
+around it, "for Mrs. Yoop dares not go outside of her
+own Valley, for fear of being captured by her enemies.
+So we may take our time to consider what to do next."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm afraid poor Mrs. Yoop will starve to death, if
+no one lets her out of her bedroom," said Woot, who had
+a heart as kind as that of the Tin Woodman. "We've
+taken her Magic Apron away, and now the doors will
+never open."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't worry about that," advised Polychrome. "Mrs.
+Yoop has plenty of magic left to console her."</p>
+
+<p>"Are you sure of that?" asked the Green Monkey.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, for I've been watching her for weeks," said the
+Canary. "She has six magic hairpins, which she wears in
+her hair, and a magic ring which she wears on her thumb
+and which is invisible to all eyes except those of a
+fairy, and magic bracelets on both her ankles. So I am
+positive that she will manage to find a way out of her
+prison."</p>
+
+<p>"She might transform the door into an archway,"
+suggested the little Brown Bear.</p>
+
+<p>"That would be easy for her," said the Tin Owl; "but
+I'm glad she was too angry to think of that before we
+got out of her Valley."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we have escaped the big woman, to be sure,"
+remarked the Green Monkey, "but we still wear the
+awful forms the cruel yookoohoo gave us. How are we
+going to get rid of these shapes, and become ourselves
+again?"</p>
+
+<p>None could answer that question. They sat around the
+cage, brooding over the problem, until the Monkey fell
+asleep. Seeing this, the Canary tucked her head under
+her wing and also slept, and the Tin Owl and the Brown
+Bear did not disturb them until morning came and it was
+broad daylight.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm hungry," said Woot, when he wakened, for his
+knapsack of food had been left behind at the castle.</p>
+
+<p>"Then let us travel on until we can find something
+for you to eat," returned the Scarecrow Bear.</p>
+
+<p>"There is no use in your lugging my cage any
+farther," declared the Canary. "Let me out, and throw
+the cage away. Then I can fly with you and find my own
+breakfast of seeds. Also I can search for water, and
+tell you where to find it."</p>
+
+<p>So the Green Monkey unfastened the door of the golden
+cage and the Canary hopped out. At first she flew high
+in the air and made great circles overhead, but after a
+time she returned and perched beside them.</p>
+
+<p>"At the east in the direction we were following,"
+announced the Canary, "there is a fine forest, with a
+brook running through it. In the forest there may be
+fruits or nuts growing, or berry bushes at its edge, so
+let us go that way."</p>
+
+<p>They agreed to this and promptly set off, this time
+moving more deliberately. The Tin Owl, which had guided
+their way during the night, now found the sunshine very
+trying to his big eyes, so he shut them tight and
+perched upon the back of the little Brown Bear, which
+carried the Owl's weight with ease. The Canary
+sometimes perched upon the Green Monkey's shoulder and
+sometimes fluttered on ahead of the party, and in this
+manner they traveled in good spirits across that valley
+and into the next one to the east of it.</p>
+
+<p>This they found to be an immense hollow, shaped like
+a saucer, and on its farther edge appeared the forest
+which Polychrome had seen from the sky.</p>
+
+<p>"Come to think of it," said the Tin Owl, waking up
+and blinking comically at his friends, "there's no
+object, now, in our traveling to the Munchkin Country.
+My idea in going there was to marry Nimmie Amee, but
+however much the Munchkin girl may have loved a Tin
+Woodman, I cannot reasonably expect her to marry a Tin
+Owl."</p>
+
+<p>"There is some truth in that, my friend," remarked
+the Brown Bear. "And to think that I, who was
+considered the handsomest Scarecrow in the world, am
+now condemned to be a scrubby, no-account beast, whose
+only redeeming feature is that he is stuffed with
+straw!"</p>
+
+<p>"Consider my case, please," said Woot. "The cruel
+Giantess has made a Monkey of a Boy, and that is the
+most dreadful deed of all!"</p>
+
+<p>"Your color is rather pretty," said the Brown Bear,
+eyeing Woot critically. "I have never seen a pea-green
+monkey before, and it strikes me you are quite
+gorgeous."</p>
+
+<p>"It isn't so bad to be a bird," asserted the Canary,
+fluttering from one to another with a free and graceful
+motion, "but I long to enjoy my own shape a gam."</p>
+
+<p>"As Polychrome, you were the loveliest maiden I have
+ever seen — except, of course, Ozma," said the Tin
+Owl; "so the Giantess did well to transform you into
+the loveliest of all birds, if you were to be
+transformed at all. But tell me, since you are a fairy,
+and have a fairy wisdom: do you think we shall be able
+to break these enchantments?"</p>
+
+<p>"Queer things happen in the Land of Oz," replied the
+Canary, again perching on the Green Monkey's shoulder
+and turning one bright eye thoughtfully toward her
+questioner. "Mrs. Yoop has declared that none of her
+transformations can ever be changed, even by herself,
+but I believe that if we could get to Glinda the Good
+Sorceress, she might find a way to restore us to our
+natural shapes. Glinda, as you know, is the most
+powerful Sorceress in the world, and there are few
+things she cannot do if she tries."</p>
+
+<p>"In that case," said the Little Brown Bear, "let us
+return southward and try to get to Glinda's castle. It
+lies in the Quadling Country, you know, so it is a good
+way from here."</p>
+
+<p>"First, however, let us visit the forest and search
+for something to eat," pleaded Woot. So they continued
+on to the edge of the forest, which consisted of many
+tall and beautiful trees. They discovered no fruit
+trees, at first, so the Green Monkey pushed on into the
+forest depths and the others followed close behind him.</p>
+
+<p>They were traveling quietly along, under the shade of
+the trees, when suddenly an enormous jaguar leaped upon
+them from a limb and with one blow of his paw sent the
+little Brown Bear tumbling over and over until he was
+stopped by a tree-trunk. Instantly they all took alarm.
+The Tin Owl shrieked: "Hoot — hoot!" and flew straight
+up to the branch of a tall tree, although he could
+scarcely see where he was going. The Canary swiftly
+darted to a place beside the Owl, and the Green Monkey
+sprang up, caught a limb, and soon scrambled to a high
+perch of safety.</p>
+
+<p>The Jaguar crouched low and with hungry eyes regarded
+the little Brown Bear, which slowly got upon its feet
+and asked reproachfully:</p>
+
+<p>"For goodness' sake, Beast, what were you trying to
+do?"</p>
+
+<p>"Trying to get my breakfast," answered the Jaguar
+with a snarl, "and I believe I've succeeded. You ought
+to make a delicious meal — unless you happen to be old
+and tough."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm worse than that, considered as a breakfast,"
+said the Bear, "for I'm only a skin stuffed with straw,
+and therefore not fit to eat."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed!" cried the Jaguar, in a disappointed voice;
+"then you must be a magic Bear, or enchanted, and I
+must seek my breakfast from among your companions."</p>
+
+<p>With this he raised his lean head to look up at the
+Tin Owl and the Canary and the Monkey, and he lashed
+his tail upon the ground and growled as fiercely as any
+jaguar could.</p>
+
+<p>"My friends are enchanted, also," said the little
+Brown Bear.</p>
+
+<p>"All of them?" asked the Jaguar.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes. The Owl is tin, so you couldn't possibly eat
+him. The Canary is a fairy — Polychrome, the Daughter
+of the Rainbow — and you never could catch her because
+she can easily fly out of your reach."</p>
+
+<p>"There still remains the Green Monkey," remarked the
+Jaguar hungrily. "He is neither made of tin nor stuffed
+with straw, nor can he fly. I'm pretty good at climbing
+trees, myself, so I think I'll capture the Monkey and
+eat him for my breakfast."</p>
+
+<p>Woot the Monkey, hearing this speech from his perch
+on the tree, became much frightened, for he knew the
+nature of jaguars and realized they could climb trees
+and leap from limb to limb with the agility of cats. So
+he at once began to scamper through the forest as fast
+as he could go, catching at a branch with his long
+monkey arms and swinging his green body through space
+to grasp another branch in a neighboring tree, and so
+on, while the Jaguar followed him from below, his eyes
+fixed steadfastly on his prey. But presently Woot got
+his feet tangled in the Lace Apron, which he was still
+wearing, and that tripped him in his flight and made
+him fall to the ground, where the Jaguar placed one
+huge paw upon him and said grimly:</p>
+
+<p>I've got you, now!"</p>
+
+<p>The fact that the Apron had tripped him made Woot
+remember its magic powers, and in his terror he cried
+out: "Open!" without stopping to consider how this
+command might save him. But, at the word, the earth
+opened at the exact spot where he lay under the
+Jaguar's paw, and his body sank downward, the earth
+closing over it again. The last thing Woot the Monkey
+saw, as he glanced upward, was the Jaguar peering into
+the hole in astonishment.</p>
+
+<p>"He's gone!" cried the beast, with a long-drawn sigh
+of disappointment; "he's gone, and now I shall have no
+breakfast."</p>
+
+<p>The clatter of the Tin Owl's wings sounded above him,
+and the little Brown Bear came trotting up and asked:</p>
+
+<p>"Where is the monkey? Have you eaten him so quickly?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, indeed," answered the Jaguar. "He disappeared
+into the earth before I could take one bite of him!"</p>
+
+<p>And now the Canary perched upon a stump, a little way
+from the forest beast, and said:</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad our friend has escaped you; but, as it is
+natural for a hungry beast to wish his breakfast, I
+will try to give you one."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you," replied the Jaguar. "You're rather small
+for a full meal, but it's kind of you to sacrifice
+yourself to my appetite."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I don't intend to be eaten, I assure you," said
+the Canary, "but as I am a fairy I know something of
+magic, and though I am now transformed into a bird's
+shape, I am sure I can conjure up a breakfast that will
+satisfy you."</p>
+
+<p>"If you can work magic, why don't you break the
+enchantment you are under and return to your proper
+form?" inquired the beast doubtingly.</p>
+
+<p>"I haven't the power to do that," answered the
+Canary, "for Mrs. Yoop, the Giantess who transformed
+me, used a peculiar form of yookoohoo magic that is
+unknown to me. However, she could not deprive me of my
+own fairy knowledge, so I will try to get you a
+breakfast."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think a magic breakfast would taste good, or
+relieve the pangs of hunger I now suffer?" asked the
+Jaguar.</p>
+
+<p>"I am sure it would. What would you like to eat?"</p>
+
+<p>"Give me a couple of fat rabbits," said the beast.</p>
+
+<p>"Rabbits! No, indeed. I'd not allow you to eat the
+dear little things," declared Polychrome the Canary.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, three or four squirrels, then," pleaded the
+Jaguar.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think me so cruel?" demanded the Canary,
+indignantly. "The squirrels are my especial friends."</p>
+
+<p>"How about a plump owl?" asked the beast. "Not a tin
+one, you know, but a real meat owl."</p>
+
+<p>"Neither beast nor bird shall you have," said
+Polychrome in a positive voice.</p>
+
+<p>"Give me a fish, then; there's a river a little way
+off," proposed the Jaguar.</p>
+
+<p>"No living thing shall be sacrificed to feed you,"
+returned the Canary.</p>
+
+<p>"Then what in the world do you expect me to
+eat?" said the Jaguar in a scornful tone.</p>
+
+<p>"How would mush-and-milk do?" asked the
+Canary.</p>
+
+<p>The Jaguar snarled in derision and lashed his tail
+against the ground angrily</p>
+
+<p>"Give him some scrambled eggs on toast, Poly,"
+suggested the Bear Scarecrow. "He ought to like that."</p>
+
+<p>"I will," responded the Canary, and fluttering her
+wings she made a flight of three circles around the
+stump. Then she flew up to a tree and the Bear and the
+Owl and the Jaguar saw that upon the stump had appeared
+a great green leaf upon which was a large portion of
+scrambled eggs on toast, smoking hot.</p>
+
+<p>"There!" said the Bear; "eat your breakfast, friend
+Jaguar, and be content."</p>
+
+<p>The Jaguar crept closer to the stump and sniffed the
+fragrance of the scrambled eggs. They smelled so good
+that he tasted them, and they tasted so good that he
+ate the strange meal in a hurry, proving he had been
+really hungry.</p>
+
+<p>"I prefer rabbits," he muttered, licking his chops,
+"but I must admit the magic breakfast has filled my
+stomach full, and brought me comfort. So I'm much
+obliged for the kindness, little Fairy, and I'll now
+leave you in peace."</p>
+
+<p>Saying this, he plunged into the thick underbrush and
+soon disappeared, although they could hear his great
+body crashing through the bushes until he was far
+distant.</p>
+
+<p>"That was a good way to get rid of the savage beast,
+Poly," said the Tin Woodman to the Canary; "but I'm
+surprised that you didn't give our friend Woot a magic
+breakfast, when you knew he was hungry."</p>
+
+<p>"The reason for that," answered Polychrome, "was
+that my mind was so intent on other things that I quite
+forgot my power to produce food by magic. But where is
+the monkey boy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Gone!" said the Scarecrow Bear, solemnly. "The earth
+has swallowed him up."</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter9" id="chapter9">Chapter Nine</a></h2>
+
+<h3>The Quarrelsome Dragons</h3>
+
+
+<p>The Green Monkey sank gently into the earth for a
+little way and then tumbled swiftly through space,
+landing on a rocky floor with a thump that astonished
+him. Then he sat up, found that no bones were broken,
+and gazed around him.</p>
+
+<p>He seemed to be in a big underground cave, which was
+dimly lighted by dozens of big round discs that looked
+like moons. They were not moons, however, as Woot
+discovered when he had examined the place more
+carefully. They were eyes. The eyes were in the heads
+of enormous beasts whose bodies trailed far behind
+them. Each beast was bigger than an elephant, and three
+times as long, and there were a dozen or more of the
+creatures scattered here and there about the cavern. On
+their bodies were big scales, as round as pie-plates,
+which were beautifully tinted in shades of green,
+purple and orange. On the ends of their long tails were
+clusters of jewels. Around the great, moon-like eyes
+were circles of diamonds which sparkled in the subdued
+light that glowed from the eyes.</p>
+
+<p>Woot saw that the creatures had wide mouths and rows
+of terrible teeth and, from tales he had heard of such
+beings, he knew he had fallen into a cavern inhabited
+by the great Dragons that had been driven from the
+surface of the earth and were only allowed to come out
+once in a hundred years to search for food. Of course
+he had never seen Dragons before, yet there was no
+mistaking them, for they were unlike any other living
+creatures.</p>
+
+<p>Woot sat upon the floor where he had fallen, staring
+around, and the owners of the big eyes returned his
+look, silently and motionless. Finally one of the
+Dragons which was farthest away from him asked, in a
+deep, grave voice:</p>
+
+<p>"What was that?"</p>
+
+<p>And the greatest Dragon of all, who was just in front
+of the Green Monkey, answered in a still deeper voice:</p>
+
+<p>"It is some foolish animal from Outside."</p>
+
+<p>"Is it good to eat?" inquired a smaller Dragon beside
+the great one. "I'm hungry."</p>
+
+<p>"Hungry!" exclaimed all the Dragons, in a reproachful
+chorus; and then the great one said chidingly: "Tut-
+tut, my son! You've no reason to be hungry at this
+time."</p>
+
+<p>"Why not?" asked the little Dragon. "I haven't eaten
+anything in eleven years."</p>
+
+<p>"Eleven years is nothing," remarked another Dragon,
+sleepily opening and closing his eyes; "I haven't
+feasted for eighty-seven years, and I dare not get
+hungry for a dozen or so years to come. Children who
+eat between meals should be broken of the habit."</p>
+
+<p>"All I had, eleven years ago, was a rhinoceros, and
+that's not a full meal at all," grumbled the young one.
+"And, before that, I had waited sixty-two years to be
+fed; so it's no wonder I'm hungry."</p>
+
+<p>"How old are you now?" asked Woot, forgetting his own
+dangerous position in his interest in the conversation.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I'm — I'm — How old am I, Father?" asked the
+little Dragon.</p>
+
+<p>"Goodness gracious! what a child to ask questions. Do
+you want to keep me thinking all the time? Don't you
+know that thinking is very bad for Dragons?" returned
+the big one, impatiently.</p>
+
+<p>"How old am I, Father?" persisted the small Dragon.</p>
+
+<p>"About six hundred and thirty, I believe. Ask your
+mother."</p>
+
+<p>"No; don't!" said an old Dragon in the background;
+"haven't I enough worries, what with being wakened in
+the middle of a nap, without being obliged to keep
+track of my children's ages?"</p>
+
+<p>"You've been fast asleep for over sixty years,
+Mother," said the child Dragon. "How long a nap do you
+wish?"</p>
+
+<p>"I should have slept forty years longer. And this
+strange little green beast should be punished for
+falling into our cavern and disturbing us."</p>
+
+<p>"I didn't know you were here, and I didn't know I was
+going to fall in," explained Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"Nevertheless, here you are," said the great Dragon,
+"and you have carelessly wakened our entire tribe; so
+it stands to reason you must be punished."</p>
+
+<p>"In what way?" inquired the Green Monkey, trembling a
+little.</p>
+
+<p>"Give me time and I'll think of a way. You're in no
+hurry, are you?" asked the great Dragon.</p>
+
+<p>"No, indeed," cried Woot. "Take your time. I'd much
+rather you'd all go to sleep again, and punish me when
+you wake up in a hundred years or so."</p>
+
+<p>"Let me eat him!" pleaded the littlest Dragon.</p>
+
+<p>"He is too small," said the father. "To eat this one
+Green Monkey would only serve to make you hungry for
+more, and there are no more."</p>
+
+<p>"Quit this chatter and let me get to sleep,"
+protested another Dragon, yawning in a fearful manner,
+for when he opened his mouth a sheet of flame leaped
+forth from it and made Woot jump back to get out of its
+way.</p>
+
+<p>In his jump he bumped against the nose of a Dragon
+behind him, which opened its mouth to growl and shot
+another sheet of flame at him. The flame was bright,
+but not very hot, yet Woot screamed with terror and
+sprang forward with a great bound. This time he landed
+on the paw of the great Chief Dragon, who angrily
+raised his other front paw and struck the Green Monkey
+a fierce blow. Woot went sailing through the air and
+fell sprawling upon the rocky floor far beyond the
+place where the Dragon Tribe was grouped.</p>
+
+<p>All the great beasts were now thoroughly wakened and
+aroused, and they blamed the monkey for disturbing
+their quiet. The littlest Dragon darted after Woot and
+the others turned their unwieldy bodies in his
+direction and followed, flashing from their eyes and
+mouths flames which lighted up the entire cavern. Woot
+almost gave himself up for lost, at that moment, but he
+scrambled to his feet and dashed away to the farthest
+end of the cave, the Dragons following more leisurely
+because they were too clumsy to move fast. Perhaps they
+thought there was no need of haste, as the monkey could
+not escape from the cave. But, away up at the end of
+the place, the cavern floor was heaped with tumbled
+rocks, so Woot, with an agility born of fear, climbed
+from rock to rock until he found himself crouched
+against the cavern roof. There he waited, for he could
+go no farther, while on over the tumbled rocks slowly
+crept the Dragons — the littlest one coming first
+because he was hungry as well as angry.</p>
+
+<p>The beasts had almost reached him when Woot,
+remembering his lace apron — now sadly torn and soiled
+— recovered his wits and shouted: "Open!" At the cry a
+hole appeared in the roof of the cavern, just over his
+head, and through it the sunlight streamed full upon
+the Green Monkey</p>
+
+<p>The Dragons paused, astonished at the magic and
+blinking at the sunlight, and this gave Woot time to
+climb through the opening. As soon as he reached the
+surface of the earth the hole closed again, and the boy
+monkey realized, with a thrill of joy, that he had seen
+the last of the dangerous Dragon family</p>
+
+<p>He sat upon the ground, still panting hard from his
+exertions, when the bushes before him parted and his
+former enemy, the Jaguar, appeared.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't run," said the woodland beast, as Woot sprang
+up; "you are perfectly safe, so far as I am concerned,
+for since you so mysteriously disappeared I have had my
+breakfast. I am now on my way home to sleep the rest of
+the day."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, indeed!" returned the Green Monkey, in a tone
+both sorry and startled. "Which of my friends did you
+manage to eat?"</p>
+
+<p>"None of them," returned the Jaguar, with a sly grin
+had a dish of magic scrambled eggs-on toast — and it
+wasn't a bad feast, at all. There isn't room in me for
+even you, and I don't regret it because I judge, from
+your green color, that you are not ripe, and would make
+an indifferent meal. We jaguars have to be careful of
+our digestions. Farewell, Friend Monkey. Follow the
+path I made through the bushes and you will find your
+friends."</p>
+
+<p>With this the Jaguar marched on his way and Woot took
+his advice and followed the trail he had made until he
+came to the place where the little Brown Bear, and the
+Tin Owl, and the Canary were conferring together and
+wondering what had become of their comrade, the Green
+Monkey.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter10" id="chapter10">Chapter Ten</a></h2>
+
+<h3>Tommy Kwikstep</h3>
+
+
+<p>"Our best plan," said the Scarecrow Bear, when the
+Green Monkey had related the story of his adventure
+with the Dragons, "is to get out of this Gillikin
+Country as soon as we can and try to find our way to
+the castle of Glinda, the Good Sorceress. There are too
+many dangers lurking here to suit me, and Glinda may be
+able to restore us to our proper forms."</p>
+
+<p>"If we turn south now," the Tin Owl replied, "we
+might go straight into the Emerald City. That's a place
+I wish to avoid, for I'd hate to have my friends see me
+in this sad plight," and he blinked his eyes and
+fluttered his tin wings mournfully.</p>
+
+<p>"But I am certain we have passed beyond Emerald
+City," the Canary assured him, sailing lightly around
+their heads. "So, should we turn south from here, we
+would pass into the Munchkin Country, and continuing
+south we would reach the Quadling Country where
+Glinda's castle is located."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, since you're sure of that, let's start right
+away," proposed the Bear. "It's a long journey, at the
+best, and I'm getting tired of walking on four legs."</p>
+
+<p>"I thought you never tired, being stuffed with
+straw," said Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"I mean that it annoys me, to be obliged to go on all
+fours, when two legs are my proper walking equipment,"
+replied the Scarecrow. "I consider it beneath my
+dignity. In other words, my remarkable brains can tire,
+through humiliation, although my body cannot tire."</p>
+
+<p>"That is one of the penalties of having brains,"
+remarked the Tin Owl with a sigh. "I have had no brains
+since I was a man of meat, and so I never worry.
+Nevertheless, I prefer my former manly form to this
+owl's shape and would be glad to break Mrs. Yoop's
+enchantment as soon as possible. I am so noisy, just
+now, that I disturb myself," and he fluttered his wings
+with a clatter that echoed throughout the forest.</p>
+
+<p>So, being all of one mind, they turned southward,
+traveling steadily on until the woods were left behind
+and the landscape turned from purple tints to blue
+tints, which assured them they had entered the Country
+of the Munchkins.</p>
+
+<p>"Now I feel myself more safe," said the Scarecrow
+Bear. "I know this country pretty well, having been
+made here by a Munchkin farmer and having wandered over
+these lovely blue lands many times. Seems to me,
+indeed, that I even remember that group of three tall
+trees ahead of us; and, if I do, we are not far from
+the home of my friend Jinjur."</p>
+
+<p>"Who is Jinjur?" asked Woot, the Green Monkey.</p>
+
+<p>"Haven't you heard of Jinjur?" exclaimed the
+Scarecrow, in surprise.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Woot. "Is Jinjur a man, a woman, a beast
+or a bird?"</p>
+
+<p>"Jinjur is a girl," explained the Scarecrow Bear.
+"She's a fine girl, too, although a bit restless and
+liable to get excited. Once, a long time ago, she
+raised an army of girls and called herself 'General
+Jinjur.' With her army she captured the Emerald City,
+and drove me out of it, because I insisted that an army
+in Oz was highly improper. But Ozma punished the rash
+girl, and afterward Jinjur and I became fast friends.
+Now Jinjur lives peacefully on a farm, near here, and
+raises fields of cream-puffs, chocolate-caramels and
+macaroons. They say she's a pretty good farmer, and in
+addition to that she's an artist, and paints pictures
+so perfect that one can scarcely tell them from nature.
+She often repaints my face for me, when it gets worn or
+mussy, and the lovely expression I wore when the
+Giantess transformed me was painted by Jinjur only a
+month or so ago."</p>
+
+<p>"It was certainly a pleasant expression," agreed
+Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"Jinjur can paint anything," continued the Scarecrow
+Bear, with enthusiasm, as they walked along together.
+"Once, when I came to her house, my straw was old and
+crumpled, so that my body sagged dreadfully. I needed
+new straw to replace the old, but Jinjur had no straw
+on all her ranch and I was really unable to travel
+farther until I had been restuffed. When I explained
+this to Jinjur, the girl at once painted a straw-stack
+which was so natural that I went to it and secured
+enough straw to fill all my body. It was a good quality
+of straw, too, and lasted me a long time."</p>
+
+<p>This seemed very wonderful to Woot, who knew that
+such a thing could never happen in any place but a
+fairy country like Oz.</p>
+
+<p>The Munchkin Country was much nicer than the Gillikin
+Country, and all the fields were separated by blue
+fences, with grassy lanes and paths of blue ground, and
+the land seemed well cultivated. They were on a little
+hill looking down upon this favored country, but had
+not quite reached the settled parts, when on turning a
+bend in the path they were halted by a form that barred
+their way.</p>
+
+<p>A more curious creature they had seldom seen, even in
+the Land of Oz, where curious creatures abound. It had
+the head of a young man — evidently a Munchkin — with
+a pleasant face and hair neatly combed. But the body
+was very long, for it had twenty legs — ten legs on
+each side — and this caused the body to stretch out
+and lie in a horizontal position, so that all the legs
+could touch the ground and stand firm. From the
+shoulders extended two small arms; at least, they
+seemed small beside so many legs.</p>
+
+<p>This odd creature was dressed in the regulation
+clothing of the Munchkin people, a dark blue coat neatly
+fitting the long body and each pair of legs having a
+pair of sky-blue trousers, with blue-tinted stockings
+and blue leather shoes turned up at the pointed toes.</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder who you are?" said Polychrome the Canary,
+fluttering above the strange creature, who had probably
+been asleep on the path.</p>
+
+<p>"I sometimes wonder, myself, who I am," replied the
+many-legged young man; "but, in reality, I am Tommy
+Kwikstep, and I live in a hollow tree that fell to the
+ground with age. I have polished the inside of it, and
+made a door at each end, and that's a very comfortable
+residence for me because it just fits my shape."</p>
+
+<p>"How did you happen to have such a shape?" asked the
+Scarecrow Bear, sitting on his haunches and regarding
+Tommy Kwikstep with a serious look. "Is the shape
+natural?"</p>
+
+<p>"No; it was wished on me," replied Tommy, with a
+sigh. "I used to be very active and loved to run
+errands for anyone who needed my services. That was how
+I got my name of Tommy Kwikstep. I could run an errand
+more quickly than any other boy, and so I was very
+proud of myself. One day, however, I met an old lady
+who was a fairy, or a witch, or something of the sort,
+and she said if I would run an errand for her — to
+carry some magic medicine to another old woman — she
+would grant me just one Wish, whatever the Wish
+happened to be. Of course I consented and, taking the
+medicine, I hurried away. It was a long distance,
+mostly up hill, and my legs began to grow weary.
+Without thinking what I was doing I said aloud: 'Dear
+me; I wish I had twenty legs!' and in an instant I
+became the unusual creature you see beside you. Twenty
+legs! Twenty on one man! You may count them, if you
+doubt my word."</p>
+
+<p>"You've got 'em, all right," said Woot the Monkey,
+who had already counted them.</p>
+
+<p>"After I had delivered the magic medicine to the old
+woman, I returned and tried to find the witch, or
+fairy, or whatever she was, who had given me the
+unlucky wish, so she could take it away again. I've
+been searching for her ever since, but never can I find
+her," continued poor Tommy Kwikstep, sadly "I suppose,
+said the Tin Owl, blinking at him, "you can travel
+very fast, with those twenty legs."</p>
+
+<p>"At first I was able to," was the reply; "but I
+traveled so much, searching for the fairy, or witch, or
+whatever she was, that I soon got corns on my toes.
+Now, a corn on one toe is not so bad, but when you have
+a hundred toes — as I have — and get corns on most of
+them, it is far from pleasant. Instead of running, I
+now painfully crawl, and although I try not to be
+discouraged I do hope I shall find that witch or fairy,
+or whatever she was, before long."</p>
+
+<p>"I hope so, too," said the Scarecrow. "But, after
+all, you have the pleasure of knowing you are unusual,
+and therefore remarkable among the people of Oz. To be
+just like other persons is small credit to one, while
+to be unlike others is a mark of distinction."</p>
+
+<p>"That sounds very pretty," returned Tommy Kwikstep,
+"but if you had to put on ten pair of trousers every
+morning, and tie up twenty shoes, you would prefer not
+to be so distinguished."</p>
+
+<p>"Was the witch, or fairy, or whatever she was, an old
+person, with wrinkled skin and half her teeth gone?"
+inquired the Tin Owl.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Tommy Kwikstep.</p>
+
+<p>"Then she wasn't Old Mombi," remarked the transformed
+Emperor.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not interested in who it wasn't, so much as I am
+in who it was," said the twenty-legged young man. "And,
+whatever or whomsoever she was, she has managed to keep
+out of my way."</p>
+
+<p>"If you found her, do you suppose she'd change you
+back into a two-legged boy?" asked Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps so, if I could run another errand for her
+and so earn another wish."</p>
+
+<p>"Would you really like to be as you were before?"
+asked Polychrome the Canary, perching upon the Green
+Monkey's shoulder to observe Tommy Kwikstep more
+attentively.</p>
+
+<p>"I would, indeed," was the earnest reply.</p>
+
+<p>"Then I will see what I can do for you," promised the
+Rainbow's Daughter, and flying to the ground she took a
+small twig in her bill and with it made several mystic
+figures on each side of Tommy Kwikstep.</p>
+
+<p>"Are you a witch, or fairy, or something of the
+sort?" he asked as he watched her wonderingly.</p>
+
+<p>The Canary made no answer, for she was busy, but the
+Scarecrow Bear replied: "Yes; she's something of the
+sort, and a bird of a magician."</p>
+
+<p>The twenty-legged boy's transformation happened so
+queerly that they were all surprised at its method.
+First, Tommy Kwikstep's last two legs disappeared; then
+the next two, and the next, and as each pair of legs
+vanished his body shortened. All this while Polychrome
+was running around him and chirping mystical words, and
+when all the young man's legs had disappeared but two
+he noticed that the Canary was still busy and cried out
+in alarm:</p>
+
+<p>"Stop — stop! Leave me two of my legs, or I shall be
+worse off than before."</p>
+
+<p>"I know," said the Canary. "I'm only removing with my
+magic the corns from your last ten toes."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you for being so thoughtful," he said
+gratefully, and now they noticed that Tommy Kwikstep
+was quite a nice looking young fellow.</p>
+
+<p>"What will you do now~" asked Woot the Monkey.</p>
+
+<p>"First," he answered, "I must deliver a note which
+I've carried in my pocket ever since the witch, or
+fairy, or whatever she was, granted my foolish wish.
+And I am resolved never to speak again without taking
+time to think carefully on what I am going to say, for
+I realize that speech without thought is dangerous. And
+after I've delivered the note, I shall run errands
+again for anyone who needs my services."</p>
+
+<p>So he thanked Polychrome again and started away in a
+different direction from their own, and that was the
+last they saw of Tommy Kwikstep.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter11" id="chapter11">Chapter Eleven</a></h2>
+
+<h3>Jinjur's Ranch</h3>
+
+
+<p>As they followed a path down the blue-grass hillside,
+the first house that met the view of the travelers was
+joyously recognized by the Scarecrow Bear as the one
+inhabited by his friend Jinjur, so they increased their
+speed and hurried toward it.</p>
+
+<p>On reaching the place, how ever, they found the house
+deserted. The front door stood open, but no one was
+inside. In the garden surrounding the house were neat
+rows of bushes bearing cream-puffs and macaroons, some
+of which were still green, but others ripe and ready to
+eat. Farther back were fields of caramels, and all the
+land seemed well cultivated and carefully tended. They
+looked through the fields for the girl farmer, but she
+was nowhere to be seen.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," finally remarked the little Brown Bear, "let
+us go into the house and make ourselves at home. That
+will be sure to please my friend Jinjur, who happens to
+be away from home just now. When she returns, she will
+be greatly surprised."</p>
+
+<p>"Would she care if I ate some of those ripe cream-puffs?"
+asked the Green Monkey.</p>
+
+<p>"No, indeed; Jinjur is very generous. Help yourself
+to all you want," said the Scarecrow Bear.</p>
+
+<p>So Woot gathered a lot of the cream-puffs that were
+golden yellow and filled with a sweet, creamy
+substance, and ate until his hunger was satisfied. Then
+he entered the house with his friends and sat in a
+rocking-chair — just as he was accustomed to do when a
+boy. The Canary perched herself upon the mantel and
+daintily plumed her feathers; the Tin Owl sat on the
+back of another chair; the Scarecrow squatted on his
+hairy haunches in the middle of the room.</p>
+
+<p>"I believe I remember the girl Jinjur," remarked the
+Canary, in her sweet voice. "She cannot help us very
+much, except to direct us on our way to Glinda's
+castle, for she does not understand magic. But she's a
+good girl, honest and sensible, and I'll be glad to see
+her."</p>
+
+<p>"All our troubles," said the Owl with a deep sigh,
+"arose from my foolish resolve to seek Nimmie Amee and
+make her Empress of the Winkies, and while I wish to
+reproach no one, I must say that it was Woot the
+Wanderer who put the notion into my head."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, for my part, I am glad he did," responded the
+Canary. "Your journey resulted in saving me from the
+Giantess, and had you not traveled to the Yoop Valley,
+I would still be Mrs. Yoop's prisoner. It is much nicer
+to be free, even though I still bear the enchanted form
+of a Canary-Bird."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think we shall ever be able to get our proper
+forms back again?" asked the Green Monkey earnestly.</p>
+
+<p>Polychrome did not make reply at once to this
+important question, but after a period of
+thoughtfulness she said:</p>
+
+<p>"I have been taught to believe that there is an
+antidote for every magic charm, yet Mrs. Yoop insists
+that no power can alter her transformations. I realize
+that my own fairy magic cannot do it, although I have
+thought that we Sky Fairies have more power than is
+accorded to Earth Fairies. The yookoohoo magic is
+admitted to be very strange in its workings and
+different from the magic usually practiced, but perhaps
+Glinda or Ozma may understand it better than I. In them
+lies our only hope. Unless they can help us, we must
+remain forever as we are."</p>
+
+<p>"A Canary-Bird on a Rainbow wouldn't be so bad,"
+asserted the Tin Owl, winking and blinking with his
+round tin eyes, "so if you can manage to find your
+Rainbow again you need have little to worry about."</p>
+
+<p>"That's nonsense, Friend Chopper," exclaimed Woot. "I
+know just how Polychrome feels. A beautiful girl is
+much superior to a little yellow bird, and a boy —
+such as I was — far better than a Green Monkey.
+Neither of us can be happy again unless we recover our
+rightful forms."</p>
+
+<p>"I feel the same way," announced the stuffed Bear.
+"What do you suppose my friend the Patchwork Girl would
+think of me, if she saw me wearing this beastly shape?"</p>
+
+<p>"She'd laugh till she cried," admitted the Tin Owl.
+"For my part, I'll have to give up the notion of
+marrying Nimmie Amee, but I'll try not to let that make
+me unhappy. If it's my duty, I'd like to do my duty,
+but if magic prevents my getting married I'll flutter
+along all by myself and be just as contented."</p>
+
+<p>Their serious misfortunes made them all silent for a
+time, and as their thoughts were busy in dwelling upon
+the evils with which fate had burdened them, none
+noticed that Jinjur had suddenly appeared in the
+doorway and was looking at them in astonishment. The
+next moment her astonishment changed to anger, for
+there, in her best rocking-chair, sat a Green Monkey. A
+great shiny Owl perched upon another chair and a Brown
+Bear squatted upon her parlor rug. Jinjur did not
+notice the Canary, but she caught up a broomstick and
+dashed into the room, shouting as she came:</p>
+
+<p>"Get out of here, you wild creatures! How dare you
+enter my house?"</p>
+
+<p>With a blow of her broom she knocked the Brown Bear
+over, and the Tin Owl tried to fly out of her reach and
+made a great clatter with his tin wings. The Green
+Monkey was so startled by the sudden attack that he
+sprang into the fireplace — where there was
+fortunately no fire — and tried to escape by climbing
+up the chimney. But he found the opening too small, and
+so was forced to drop down again. Then he crouched
+trembling in the fireplace, his pretty green hair all
+blackened with soot and covered with ashes. From this
+position Woot watched to see what would happen next.</p>
+
+<p>"Stop, Jinjur — stop!" cried the Brown Bear, when
+the broom again threatened him. "Don't you know me? I'm
+your old friend the Scarecrow?"</p>
+
+<p>"You're trying to deceive me, you naughty beast! I
+can see plainly that you are a bear, and a mighty poor
+specimen of a bear, too," retorted the girl.</p>
+
+<p>"That's because I'm not properly stuffed," he assured
+her. "When Mrs. Yoop transformed me, she didn't realize
+I should have more stuffing."</p>
+
+<p>"Who is Mrs. Yoop?" inquired Jinjur, pausing with the
+broom still upraised.</p>
+
+<p>"A Giantess in the Gillikin Country."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh; I begin to understand. And Mrs. Yoop transformed
+you? You are really the famous Scarecrow of Oz."</p>
+
+<p>"I was, Jinjur. Just now I'm as you see me — a
+miserable little Brown Bear with a poor quality of
+stuffing. That Tin Owl is none other than our dear Tin
+Woodman — Nick Chopper, the Emperor of the Winkies —
+while this Green Monkey is a nice little boy we
+recently became acquainted with, Woot the Wanderer."</p>
+
+<p>"And I," said the Canary, flying close to Jinjur, "am
+Polychrome, the Daughter of the Rainbow, in the form of
+a bird."</p>
+
+<p>"Goodness me!" cried Jinjur, amazed; "that Giantess
+must be a powerful Sorceress, and as wicked as she is
+powerful."</p>
+
+<p>"She's a yookoohoo," said Polychrome. "Fortunately,
+we managed to escape from her castle, and we are now on
+our way to Glinda the Good to see if she possesses the
+power to restore us to our former shapes."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I must beg your pardons; all of you must
+forgive me," said Jinjur, putting away the broom. "I
+took you to be a lot of wild, unmannerly animals, as
+was quite natural. You are very welcome to my home and
+I'm sorry I haven't the power to help you out of your
+troubles. Please use my house and all that I have, as
+if it were your own."</p>
+
+<p>At this declaration of peace, the Bear got upon his
+feet and the Owl resumed his perch upon the chair and
+the Monkey crept out of the fireplace. Jinjur looked at
+Woot critically, and scowled.</p>
+
+<p>"For a Green Monkey," said she, "you're the blackest
+creature I ever saw. And you'll get my nice clean room
+all dirty with soot and ashes. Whatever possessed you
+to jump up the chimney?"</p>
+
+<p>"I — I was scared," explained Woot, somewhat
+ashamed.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you need renovating, and that's what will
+happen to you, right away. Come with me!" she
+commanded.</p>
+
+<p>"What are you going to do?" asked Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"Give you a good scrubbing," said Jinjur.</p>
+
+<p>Now, neither boys nor monkeys relish being scrubbed,
+so Woot shrank away from the energetic girl, trembling
+fearfully. But Jinjur grabbed him by his paw and
+dragged him out to the back yard, where, in spite of
+his whines and struggles, she plunged him into a tub of
+cold water and began to scrub him with a stiff brush
+and a cake of yellow soap.</p>
+
+<p>This was the hardest trial that Woot had endured
+since he became a monkey, but no protest had any
+influence with Jinjur, who lathered and scrubbed him in
+a business-like manner and afterward dried him with a
+coarse towel.</p>
+
+<p>The Bear and the Owl gravely watched this operation
+and nodded approval when Woot's silky green fur shone
+clear and bright in the afternoon sun. The Canary
+seemed much amused and laughed a silvery ripple of
+laughter as she said:</p>
+
+<p>"Very well done, my good Jinjur; I admire your energy
+and judgment. But I had no idea a monkey could look so
+comical as this monkey did while he was being bathed."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not a monkey!" declared Woot, resentfully; "I'm
+just a boy in a monkey's shape, that's all."</p>
+
+<p>"If you can explain to me the difference," said
+Jinjur, "I'll agree not to wash you again — that is,
+unless you foolishly get into the fireplace. All
+persons are usually judged by the shapes in which they
+appear to the eyes of others. Look at me, Woot; what am
+I?"</p>
+
+<p>Woot looked at her.</p>
+
+<p>"You're as pretty a girl as I've ever seen," he
+replied.</p>
+
+<p>Jinjur frowned. That is, she tried hard to frown.</p>
+
+<p>"Come out into the garden with me," she said, "and
+I'll give you some of the most delicious caramels you
+ever ate. They're a new variety, that no one can grow
+but me, and they have a heliotrope flavor."</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter12" id="chapter12">Chapter Twelve</a></h2>
+
+<h3>Ozma and Dorothy</h3>
+
+
+<p>In her magnificent palace in the Emerald City, the
+beautiful girl Ruler of all the wonderful Land of Oz
+sat in her dainty boudoir with her friend Princess
+Dorothy beside her. Ozma was studying a roll of
+manuscript which she had taken from the Royal Library,
+while Dorothy worked at her embroidery and at times
+stooped to pat a shaggy little black dog that lay at
+her feet. The little dog's name was Toto, and he was
+Dorothy's faithful companion.</p>
+
+<p>To judge Ozma of Oz by the standards of our world,
+you would think her very young — perhaps fourteen or
+fifteen years of age — yet for years she had ruled the
+Land of Oz and had never seemed a bit older. Dorothy
+appeared much younger than Ozma. She had been a little
+girl when first she came to the Land of Oz, and she was
+a little girl still, and would never seem to be a day
+older while she lived in this wonderful fairyland.</p>
+
+<p>Oz was not always a fairyland, I am told. Once it was
+much like other lands, except it was shut in by a
+dreadful desert of sandy wastes that lay all around it,
+thus preventing its people from all contact with the
+rest of the world. Seeing this isolation, the fairy
+band of Queen Lurline, passing over Oz while on a
+journey, enchanted the country and so made it a
+Fairyland. And Queen Lurline left one of her fairies to
+rule this enchanted Land of Oz, and then passed on and
+forgot all about it.</p>
+
+<p>From that moment no one in Oz ever died. Those who
+were old remained old; those who were young and strong
+did not change as years passed them by; the children
+remained children always, and played and romped to
+their hearts' content, while all the babies lived in
+their cradles and were tenderly cared for and never
+grew up. So people in Oz stopped counting how old they
+were in years, for years made no difference in their
+appearance and could not alter their station. They did
+not get sick, so there were no doctors among them.
+Accidents might happen to some, on rare occasions, it
+is true, and while no one could die naturally, as other
+people do, it was possible that one might be totally
+destroyed. Such incidents, however, were very unusual,
+and so seldom was there anything to worry over that the
+Oz people were as happy and contented as can be.</p>
+
+<p>Another strange thing about this fairy Land of Oz was
+that whoever managed to enter it from the outside world
+came under the magic spell of the place and did not
+change in appearance as long as they lived there. So
+Dorothy, who now lived with Ozma, seemed just the same
+sweet little girl she had been when first she came to
+this delightful fairyland.</p>
+
+<p>Perhaps all parts of Oz might not be called truly
+delightful, but it was surely delightful in the
+neighborhood of the Emerald City, where Ozma reigned.
+Her loving influence was felt for many miles around,
+but there were places in the mountains of the Gillikin
+Country, and the forests of the Quadling Country, and
+perhaps in far-away parts of the Munchkin and Winkie
+Countries, where the inhabitants were somewhat rude and
+uncivilized and had not yet come under the spell of
+Ozma's wise and kindly rule. Also, when Oz first became
+a fairyland, it harbored several witches and magicians
+and sorcerers and necromancers, who were scattered in
+various parts, but most of these had been deprived of
+their magic powers, and Ozma had issued a royal edict
+forbidding anyone in her dominions to work magic except
+Glinda the Good and the Wizard of Oz. Ozma herself,
+being a real fairy, knew a lot of magic, but she only
+used it to benefit her subjects.</p>
+
+<p>This little explanation will help you to understand
+better the story you are reaching, but most of it is
+already known to those who are familiar with the Oz
+people whose adventures they have followed in other Oz
+books.</p>
+
+<p>Ozma and Dorothy were fast friends and were much
+together. Everyone in Oz loved Dorothy almost as well
+as they did their lovely Ruler, for the little Kansas
+girl's good fortune had not spoiled her or rendered her
+at all vain. She was just the same brave and true and
+adventurous child as before she lived in a royal palace
+and became the chum of the fairy Ozma.</p>
+
+<p>In the room in which the two sat — which was one of
+Ozma's private suite of apartments — hung the famous
+Magic Picture. This was the source of constant interest
+to little Dorothy. One had but to stand before it and
+wish to see what any person was doing, and at once a
+scene would flash upon the magic canvas which showed
+exactly where that person was, and like our own moving
+pictures would reproduce the actions of that person as
+long as you cared to watch them. So today, when Dorothy
+tired of her embroidery, she drew the curtains from
+before the Magic Picture and wished to see what her
+friend Button Bright was doing. Button Bright, she saw,
+was playing ball with Ojo, the Munchkin boy, so Dorothy
+next wished to see what her Aunt Em was doing. The
+picture showed Aunt Em quietly engaged in darning socks
+for Uncle Henry, so Dorothy wished to see what her old
+friend the Tin Woodman was doing.</p>
+
+<p>The Tin Woodman was then just leaving his tin castle
+in the company of the Scarecrow and Woot the Wanderer.
+Dorothy had never seen this boy before, so she wondered
+who he was. Also she was curious to know where the
+three were going, for she noticed Woot's knapsack and
+guessed they had started on a long journey. She asked
+Ozma about it, but Ozma did not know.</p>
+
+<p>That afternoon Dorothy again saw the travelers in the
+Magic Picture, but they were merely tramping through
+the country and Dorothy was not much interested in
+them. A couple of days later, however, the girl, being
+again with Ozma, wished to see her friends, the
+Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman in the Magic Picture, and
+on this occasion found them in the great castle of Mrs.
+Yoop, the Giantess, who was at the time about to
+transform them. Both Dorothy and Ozma now became
+greatly interested and watched the transformations with
+indignation and horror.</p>
+
+<p>"What a wicked Giantess!" exclaimed Dorothy.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," answered Ozma, "she must be punished for this
+cruelty to our friends, and to the poor boy who is with
+them."</p>
+
+<p>After this they followed the adventure of the little
+Brown Bear and the Tin Owl and the Green Monkey with
+breathless interest, and were delighted when they
+escaped from Mrs. Yoop. They did not know, then, who
+the Canary was, but realized it must be the
+transformation of some person of consequence, whom the
+Giantess had also enchanted.</p>
+
+<p>When, finally, the day came when the adventurers
+headed south into the Munchkin Country, Dorothy asked
+anxiously:</p>
+
+<p>"Can't something be done for them, Ozma? Can't you
+change 'em back into their own shapes? They've suffered
+enough from these dreadful transformations, seems to
+me."</p>
+
+<p>"I've been studying ways to help them, ever since
+they were transformed," replied Ozma. "Mrs. Yoop is now
+the only yookoohoo in my dominions, and the yookoohoo
+magic is very peculiar and hard for others to
+understand, yet I am resolved to make the attempt to
+break these enchantments. I may not succeed, but I
+shall do the best I can. From the directions our
+friends are taking, I believe they are going to pass by
+Jinjur's Ranch, so if we start now we may meet them
+there. Would you like to go with me, Dorothy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course," answered the little girl; "I wouldn't
+miss it for anything."</p>
+
+<p>"Then order the Red Wagon," said Ozma of Oz, "and we
+will start at once."</p>
+
+<p>Dorothy ran to do as she was bid, while Ozma went to
+her Magic Room to make ready the things she believed
+she would need. In half an hour the Red Wagon stood
+before the grand entrance of the palace, and before it
+was hitched the Wooden Sawhorse, which was Ozma's
+favorite steed.</p>
+
+<p>This Sawhorse, while made of wood, was very much
+alive and could travel swiftly and without tiring. To
+keep the ends of his wooden legs from wearing down
+short, Ozma had shod the Sawhorse with plates of pure
+gold. His harness was studded with brilliant emeralds
+and other jewels and so, while he himself was not at
+all handsome, his outfit made a splendid appearance.</p>
+
+<p>Since the Sawhorse could understand her spoken words,
+Ozma used no reins to guide him. She merely told him
+where to go. When she came from the palace with
+Dorothy, they both climbed into the Red Wagon and then
+the little dog, Toto, ran up and asked:</p>
+
+<p>"Are you going to leave me behind, Dorothy?" Dorothy
+looked at Ozma, who smiled in return and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Toto may go with us, if you wish him to."</p>
+
+<p>So Dorothy lifted the little dog into the wagon, for,
+while he could run fast, he could not keep up with the
+speed of the wonderful Sawhorse.</p>
+
+
+<p>Away they went, over hills and through meadows,
+covering the ground with astonishing speed. It is not
+surprising, therefore, that the Red Wagon arrived
+before Jinjur's house just as that energetic young lady
+had finished scrubbing the Green Monkey and was about
+to lead him to the caramel patch.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter13" id="chapter13">Chapter Thirteen</a></h2>
+
+<h3>The Restoration</h3>
+
+
+<p>The Tin Owl gave a hoot of delight when he saw the Red
+Wagon draw up before Jinjur's house, and the Brown Bear
+grunted and growled with glee and trotted toward Ozma
+as fast as he could wobble. As for the Canary, it flew
+swiftly to Dorothy's shoulder and perched there, saying
+in her ear:</p>
+
+<p>"Thank goodness you have come to our rescue!"</p>
+
+<p>"But who are you?" asked Dorothy</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you know?" returned the Canary.</p>
+
+<p>"No; for the first time we noticed you in the Magic
+Picture, you were just a bird, as you are now. But
+we've guessed that the giant woman had transformed you,
+as she did the others."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; I'm Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter,"
+announced the Canary.</p>
+
+<p>"Goodness me!" cried Dorothy. "How dreadful."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I make a rather pretty bird, I think,"
+returned Polychrome, "but of course I'm anxious to
+resume my own shape and get back upon my rainbow."</p>
+
+<p>"Ozma will help you, I'm sure," said Dorothy. "How
+does it feel, Scarecrow, to be a Bear?" she asked,
+addressing her old friend.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't like it," declared the Scarecrow Bear. "This
+brutal form is quite beneath the dignity of a wholesome
+straw man."</p>
+
+<p>"And think of me," said the Owl, perching upon the
+dashboard of the Red Wagon with much noisy clattering
+of his tin feathers. "Don't I look horrid, Dorothy,
+with eyes several sizes too big for my body, and so
+weak that I ought to wear spectacles?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said Dorothy critically, as she looked him
+over, "you're nothing to brag of, I must confess. But
+Ozma will soon fix you up again."</p>
+
+<p>The Green Monkey had hung back, bashful at meeting
+two lovely girls while in the form of a beast; but
+Jinjur now took his hand and led him forward while she
+introduced him to Ozma, and Woot managed to make a low
+bow, not really ungraceful, before her girlish Majesty,
+the Ruler of Oz.</p>
+
+<p>"You have all been forced to endure a sad
+experience," said Ozma, "and so I am anxious to do all
+in my power to break Mrs. Yoop's enchantments. But
+first tell me how you happened to stray into that
+lonely Valley where Yoop Castle stands."</p>
+
+<p>Between them they related the object of their
+journey, the Scarecrow Bear telling of the Tin
+Woodman's resolve to find Nimmie Amee and marry her, as
+a just reward for her loyalty to him. Woot told of
+their adventures with the Loons of Loonville, and the
+Tin Owl described the manner in which they had been
+captured and transformed by the Giantess. Then
+Polychrome related her story, and when all had been
+told, and Dorothy had several times reproved Toto for
+growling at the Tin Owl, Ozma remained thoughtful for a
+while, pondering upon what she had heard. Finally she
+looked up, and with one of her delightful smiles, said
+to the anxious group:</p>
+
+<p>"I am not sure my magic will be able to restore
+every one of you, because your transformations are
+of such a strange and unusual character. Indeed,
+Mrs. Yoop was quite justified in believing no power
+could alter her enchantments. However, I am sure
+I can restore the Scarecrow to his original shape.
+He was stuffed with straw from the beginning, and
+even the yookoohoo magic could not alter that. The
+Giantess was merely able to make a bear's shape of
+a man's shape, but the bear is stuffed with straw,
+just as the man was. So I feel confident I can make
+a man of the bear again."</p>
+
+<p>"Hurrah!" cried the Brown Bear, and tried clumsily to
+dance a jig of delight.</p>
+
+<p>"As for the Tin Woodman, his case is much the same,"
+resumed Ozma, still smiling. "The power of the Giantess
+could not make him anything but a tin creature,
+whatever shape she transformed him into, so it will not
+be impossible to restore him to his manly form. Anyhow,
+I shall test my magic at once, and see if it will do
+what I have promised."</p>
+
+<p>She drew from her bosom a small silver Wand and,
+making passes with the Wand over the head of the Bear,
+she succeeded in the brief space of a moment in
+breaking his enchantment. The original Scarecrow of Oz
+again stood before them, well stuffed with straw and
+with his features nicely painted upon the bag which
+formed his head.</p>
+
+<p>The Scarecrow was greatly delighted, as you may
+suppose, and he strutted proudly around while the
+powerful fairy, Ozma of Oz, broke the enchantment that
+had transformed the Tin Woodman and made a Tin Owl into
+a Tin Man again.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, then," chirped the Canary, eagerly; "I'm
+next, Ozma!"</p>
+
+<p>"But your case is different," replied Ozma, no
+longer smiling but wearing a grave expression on
+her sweet face. "I shall have to experiment on you,
+Polychrome, and I may fail in all my attempts."</p>
+
+<p>She then tried two or three different methods of
+magic, hoping one of them would succeed in breaking
+Polychrome's enchantment, but still the Rainbow's
+Daughter remained a Canary-Bird. Finally, however, she
+experimented in another way. She transformed the Canary
+into a Dove, and then transformed the Dove into a
+Speckled Hen, and then changed the Speckled Hen into a
+rabbit, and then the rabbit into a Fawn. And at the
+last, after mixing several powders and sprinkling them
+upon the Fawn, the yookoohoo enchantment was suddenly
+broken and before them stood one of the daintiest and
+loveliest creatures in any fairyland in the world.
+Polychrome was as sweet and merry in disposition as she
+was beautiful, and when she danced and capered around
+in delight, her beautiful hair floated around her like
+a golden mist and her many-hued raiment, as soft as
+cobwebs, reminded one of drifting clouds in a summer
+sky.</p>
+
+<p>Woot was so awed by the entrancing sight of this
+exquisite Sky Fairy that he quite forgot his own sad
+plight until be noticed Ozma gazing upon him with an
+intent expression that denoted sympathy and sorrow.
+Dorothy whispered in her friend's ear, but the Ruler of
+Oz shook her head sadly.</p>
+
+<p>Jinjur, noticing this and understanding Ozma's looks,
+took the paw of the Green Monkey in her own hand and
+patted it softly.</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind," she said to him. "You are a very
+beautiful color, and a monkey can climb better than a
+boy and do a lot of other things no boy can ever do."</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter?" asked Woot, a sinking feeling at
+his heart. "Is Ozma's magic all used up?"</p>
+
+<p>Ozma herself answered him.</p>
+
+<p>"Your form of enchantment, my poor boy," she said
+pityingly, "is different from that of the others.
+Indeed, it is a form that is impossible to alter by any
+magic known to fairies or yookoohoos. The wicked
+Giantess was well aware, when she gave you the form of
+a Green Monkey, that the Green Monkey must exist in the
+Land of Oz for all future time."</p>
+
+<p>Woot drew a long sigh.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, that's pretty hard luck," he said bravely,
+"but if it can't be helped I must endure it; that's
+all. I don't like being a monkey, but what's the use of
+kicking against my fate?"</p>
+
+<p>They were all very sorry for him, and Dorothy
+anxiously asked Ozma:</p>
+
+<p>"Couldn't Glinda save him?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," was the reply. "Glinda's power in trans-
+formations is no greater than my own. Before I left my
+palace I went to my Magic Room and studied Woot's case
+very carefully. I found that no power can do away with
+the Green Monkey. He might transfer, or exchange his
+form with some other person, it is true; but the Green
+Monkey we cannot get rid of by any magic arts known to
+science."</p>
+
+<p>"But — see here," said the Scarecrow, who had
+listened intently to this explanation, "why not put the
+monkey's form on some one else?"</p>
+
+<p>"Who would agree to make the change?" asked Ozma. "If
+by force we caused anyone else to become a Green
+Monkey, we would be as cruel and wicked as Mrs. Yoop.
+And what good would an exchange do?" she continued.
+"Suppose, for instance, we worked the enchantment, and
+made Toto into a Green Monkey. At the same moment Woot
+would become a little dog."</p>
+
+<p>"Leave me out of your magic, please," said Toto, with
+a reproachful growl. "I wouldn't become a Green Monkey
+for anything."</p>
+
+<p>"And I wouldn't become a dog," said Woot. "A green
+monkey is much better than a dog, it seems to me."</p>
+
+<p>"That is only a matter of opinion," answered Toto.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, here's another idea," said the Scarecrow. "My
+brains are working finely today, you must admit. Why
+not transform Toto into Woot the Wanderer, and then
+have them exchange forms? The dog would become a green
+monkey and the monkey would have his own natural shape
+again."</p>
+
+<p>"To be sure!" cried Jinjur. "That's a fine idea."</p>
+
+<p>"Leave me out of it," said Toto. "I won't do it."</p>
+
+<p>"Wouldn't you be willing to become a green monkey —
+see what a pretty color it is — so that this poor boy
+could be restored to his own shape?" asked Jinjur,
+pleadingly</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Toto.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't like that plan the least bit," declared
+Dorothy, "for then I wouldn't have any little dog."</p>
+
+<p>"But you'd have a green monkey in his place,"
+persisted Jinjur, who liked Woot and wanted to help
+him.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't want a green monkey," said Dorothy
+positively.</p>
+
+<p>"Don't speak of this again, I beg of you," said Woot.
+"This is my own misfortune and I would rather suffer it
+alone than deprive Princess Dorothy of her dog, or
+deprive the dog of his proper shape. And perhaps even
+her Majesty, Ozma of Oz, might not be able to transform
+anyone else into the shape of Woot the Wanderer."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; I believe I might do that," Ozma returned; "but
+Woot is quite right; we are not justified in inflicting
+upon anyone — man or dog — the form of a green
+monkey. Also it is certain that in order to relieve the
+boy of the form he now wears, we must give it to
+someone else, who would be forced to wear it always."</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder," said Dorothy, thoughtfully, "if we
+couldn't find someone in the Land of Oz who would be
+willing to become a green monkey? Seems to me a monkey
+is active and spry, and he can climb trees and do a lot
+of clever things, and green isn't a bad color for a
+monkey — it makes him unusual."</p>
+
+<p>"I wouldn't ask anyone to take this dreadful form,"
+said Woot; "it wouldn't be right, you know. I've been a
+monkey for some time, now, and I don't like it. It
+makes me ashamed to be a beast of this sort when by
+right of birth I'm a boy; so I'm sure it would be
+wicked to ask anyone else to take my place."</p>
+
+<p>They were all silent, for they knew he spoke the
+truth. Dorothy was almost ready to cry with pity and
+Ozma's sweet face was sad and disturbed. The Scarecrow
+rubbed and patted his stuffed head to try to make it
+think better, while the Tin Woodman went into the house
+and began to oil his tin joints so that the sorrow of
+his friends might not cause him to weep. Weeping is
+liable to rust tin, and the Emperor prided himself upon
+his highly polished body — now doubly dear to him
+because for a time he had been deprived of it.</p>
+
+<p>Polychrome had danced down the garden paths and back
+again a dozen times, for she was seldom still a moment,
+yet she had heard Ozma's speech and understood very
+well Woot's unfortunate position. But the Rainbow's
+Daughter, even while dancing, could think and reason
+very clearly, and suddenly she solved the problem in
+the nicest possible way. Coming close to Ozma, she
+said:</p>
+
+<p>"Your Majesty, all this trouble was caused by the
+wickedness of Mrs. Yoop, the Giantess. Yet even now
+that cruel woman is living in her secluded castle,
+enjoying the thought that she has put this terrible
+enchantment on Woot the Wanderer. Even now she is
+laughing at our despair because we can find no way to
+get rid of the green monkey. Very well, we do not wish
+to get rid of it. Let the woman who created the form
+wear it herself, as a just punishment for her
+wickedness. I am sure your fairy power can give to Mrs.
+Yoop the form of Woot the Wanderer — even at this
+distance from her —and then it will be possible to
+exchange the two forms. Mrs. Yoop will become the Green
+Monkey, and Woot will recover his own form again."</p>
+
+<p>Ozma's face brightened as she listened to this clever
+proposal.</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, Polychrome," said she. "The task you
+propose Is not so easy as you suppose, but I will make
+the attempt, and perhaps I may succeed."</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter14" id="chapter14">Chapter Fourteen</a></h2>
+
+<h3>The Green Monkey</h3>
+
+
+<p>They now entered the house, and as an interested group,
+watched Jinjur, at Ozma's command, build a fire and put
+a kettle of water over to boil. The Ruler of Oz stood
+before the fire silent and grave, while the others,
+realizing that an important ceremony of magic was about
+to be performed, stood quietly in the background so as
+not to interrupt Ozma's proceedings. Only Polychrome
+kept going in and coming out, humming softly to herself
+as she danced, for the Rainbow's Daughter could not
+keep still for long, and the four walls of a room
+always made her nervous and ill at ease. She moved so
+noiselessly, however, that her movements were like the
+shifting of sunbeams and did not annoy anyone.</p>
+
+<p>When the water in the kettle bubbled, Ozma drew from
+her bosom two tiny packets containing powders. These
+powders she threw into the kettle and after briskly
+stirring the contents with a branch from a macaroon
+bush, Ozma poured the mystic broth upon a broad platter
+which Jinjur had placed upon the table. As the broth
+cooled it became as silver, reflecting all objects from
+its smooth surface like a mirror.</p>
+
+<p>While her companions gathered around the table,
+eagerly attentive — and Dorothy even held little Toto
+in her arms that he might see — Ozma waved her wand
+over the mirror-like surface. At once it reflected the
+interior of Yoop Castle, and in the big hall sat Mrs.
+Yoop, in her best embroidered silken robes, engaged in
+weaving a new lace apron to replace the one she had
+lost.</p>
+
+<p>The Giantess seemed rather uneasy, as if she had a
+faint idea that someone was spying upon her, for she
+kept looking behind her and this way and that, as
+though expecting danger from an unknown source. Perhaps
+some yookoohoo instinct warned her. Woot saw that she
+had escaped from her room by some of the magical means
+at her disposal, after her prisoners had escaped her.
+She was now occupying the big hall of her castle as she
+used to do. Also Woot thought, from the cruel
+expression on the face of the Giantess, that she was
+planning revenge on them, as soon as her new magic
+apron was finished</p>
+
+<p>But Ozma was now making passes over the platter with
+her silver Wand, and presently the form of the Giantess
+began to shrink in size and to change its shape. And
+now, in her place sat the form of Woot the Wanderer,
+and as if suddenly realizing her transformation Mrs.
+Yoop threw down her work and rushed to a looking-glass
+that stood against the wall of her room. When she saw
+the boy's form reflected as her own, she grew violently
+angry and dashed her head against the mirror, smashing
+it to atoms.</p>
+
+<p>Just then Ozma was busy with her magic Wand, making
+strange figures, and she had also placed her left hand
+firmly upon the shoulder of the Green Monkey. So now,
+as all eyes were turned upon the platter, the form of
+Mrs. Yoop gradually changed again. She was slowly
+transformed into the Green Monkey, and at the same time
+Woot slowly regained his natural form.</p>
+
+<p>It was quite a surprise to them all when they raised
+their eyes from the platter and saw Woot the Wanderer
+standing beside Ozma. And, when they glanced at the
+platter again, it reflected nothing more than the walls
+of the room in Jinjur's house in which they stood. The
+magic ceremonial was ended, and Ozma of Oz had
+triumphed over the wicked Giantess.</p>
+
+<p>"What will become of her, I wonder?" said Dorothy, as
+she drew a long breath.</p>
+
+<p>"She will always remain a Green Monkey," replied
+Ozma, "and in that form she will be unable to perform
+any magical arts whatsoever. She need not be unhappy,
+however, and as she lives all alone in her castle she
+probably won't mind the transformation very much after
+she gets used to it."</p>
+
+<p>"Anyhow, it serves her right," declared Dorothy, and
+all agreed with her.</p>
+
+<p>"But," said the kind hearted Tin Woodman, "I'm afraid
+the Green Monkey will starve, for Mrs. Yoop used to get
+her food by magic, and now that the magic is taken away
+from her, what can she eat?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, she'll eat what other monkeys do," returned the
+Scarecrow. "Even in the form of a Green Monkey, she's a
+very clever person, and I'm sure her wits will show her
+how to get plenty to eat."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't worry about her," advised Dorothy. "She didn't
+worry about you, and her condition is no worse than the
+condition she imposed on poor Woot. She can't starve to
+death in the Land of Oz, that's certain, and if she
+gets hungry at times it's no more than the wicked thing
+deserves. Let's forget Mrs. Yoop; for, in spite of her
+being a yookoohoo, our fairy friends have broken all of
+her transformations."</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter15" id="chapter15">Chapter Fifteen</a></h2>
+
+<h3>The Man of Tin</h3>
+
+
+<p>Ozma and Dorothy were quite pleased with Woot the
+Wanderer, whom they found modest and intelligent and
+very well mannered. The boy was truly grateful for his
+release from the cruel enchantment, and he promised to
+love, revere and defend the girl Ruler of Oz forever
+afterward, as a faithful subject.</p>
+
+<p>"You may visit me at my palace, if you wish," said
+Ozma, "where I will be glad to introduce you to two
+other nice boys, Ojo the Munchkin and Button-Bright."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank your Majesty," replied Woot, and then he
+turned to the Tin Woodman and inquired: "What are your
+further plans, Mr. Emperor? Will you still seek Nimmie
+Amee and marry her, or will you abandon the quest and
+return to the Emerald City and your own castle?"</p>
+
+<p>The Tin Woodman, now as highly polished and well-
+oiled as ever, reflected a while on this question and
+then answered:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I see no reason why I should not find Nimmie
+Amee. We are now in the Munchkin Country, where we are
+perfectly safe, and if it was right for me, before our
+enchantment, to marry Nimmie Amee and make her Empress
+of the Winkies, it must be right now, when the
+enchantment has been broken and I am once more myself.
+Am I correct, friend Scarecrow?"</p>
+
+<p>"You are, indeed," answered the Scarecrow. "No one
+can oppose such logic."</p>
+
+<p>"But I'm afraid you don't love Nimmie Amee,"
+suggested Dorothy.</p>
+
+<p>"That is just because I can't love anyone," replied
+the Tin Woodman. "But, if I cannot love my wife, I can
+at least be kind to her, and all husbands are not able
+to do that."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you s'pose Nimmie Amee still loves you, after all
+these years?" asked Dorothy</p>
+
+<p>"I'm quite sure of it, and that is why I am going to
+her to make her happy. Woot the Wanderer thinks I ought
+to reward her for being faithful to me after my meat
+body was chopped to pieces and I became tin. What do
+you think, Ozma?"</p>
+
+<p>Ozma smiled as she said:</p>
+
+<p>"I do not know your Nimmie Amee, and so I cannot tell
+what she most needs to make her happy. But there is no
+harm in your going to her and asking her if she still
+wishes to marry you. If she does, we will give you a
+grand wedding at the Emerald City and, afterward, as
+Empress of the Winkies, Nimmie Amee would become one
+of the most important ladies in all Oz."</p>
+
+<p>So it was decided that the Tin Woodman would continue
+his journey, and that the Scarecrow and Woot the
+Wanderer should accompany him, as before. Polychrome
+also decided to join their party, somewhat to the
+surprise of all.</p>
+
+<p>"I hate to be cooped up in a palace," she said to
+Ozma, "and of course the first time I meet my Rainbow I
+shall return to my own dear home in the skies, where my
+fairy sisters are even now awaiting me and my father is
+cross because I get lost so often. But I can find my
+Rainbow just as quickly while traveling in the Munchkin
+Country as I could if living in the Emerald City — or
+any other place in Oz — so I shall go with the Tin
+Woodman and help him woo Nimmie Amee."</p>
+
+<p>Dorothy wanted to go, too, but as the Tin Woodman did
+not invite her to join his party, she felt she might be
+intruding if she asked to be taken. she hinted, but she
+found he didn't take the hint. It is quite a delicate
+matter for one to ask a girl to marry him, however much
+she loves him, and perhaps the Tin Woodman did not
+desire to have too many looking on when he found his
+old sweetheart, Nimmie Amee. So Dorothy contented
+herself with the thought that she would help Ozma
+prepare a splendid wedding feast, to be followed by a
+round of parties and festivities when the Emperor of
+the Winkies reached the Emerald City with his bride.</p>
+
+<p>Ozma offered to take them all in the Red Wagon to a
+place as near to the great Munchkin forest as a wagon
+could get. The Red Wagon was big enough to seat them
+all, and so, bidding good-bye to Jinjur, who gave Woot
+a basket of ripe cream-puffs and caramels to take with
+him, Ozma commanded the Wooden Sawhorse to start, and
+the strange creature moved swiftly over the lanes and
+presently came to the Road of Yellow Bricks. This road
+led straight to a dense forest, where the path was too
+narrow for the Red Wagon to proceed farther, so here
+the party separated.</p>
+
+<p>Ozma and Dorothy and Toto returned to the Emerald
+City, after wishing their friends a safe and successful
+journey, while the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow, Woot the
+Wanderer and Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter,
+prepared to push their way through the thick forest.
+However, these forest paths were well known to the Tin
+Man and the Scarecrow, who felt quite at home among the
+trees.</p>
+
+<p>"I was born in this grand forest," said Nick Chopper,
+the tin Emperor, speaking proudly, "and it was here
+that the Witch enchanted my axe and I lost different
+parts of my meat body until I became all tin. Here,
+also — for it is a big forest — Nimmie Amee lived
+with the Wicked Witch, and at the other edge of the
+trees stands the cottage of my friend Ku-Klip, the
+famous tinsmith who made my present beautiful form."</p>
+
+<p>"He must be a clever workman," declared Woot,
+admiringly.</p>
+
+<p>"He is simply wonderful," declared the Tin Woodman.</p>
+
+<p>"I shall be glad to make his acquaintance," said
+Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"If you wish to meet with real cleverness," remarked
+the Scarecrow, "you should visit the Munchkin farmer
+who first made me. I won't say that my friend the
+Emperor isn't all right for a tin man, but any judge of
+beauty can understand that a Scarecrow is far more
+artistic and refined."</p>
+
+<p>"You are too soft and flimsy," said the Tin Woodman.</p>
+
+<p>"You are too hard and stiff," said the Scarecrow, and
+this was as near to quarreling as the two friends ever
+came. Polychrome laughed at them both, as well she
+might, and Woot hastened to change the subject.</p>
+
+<p>At night they all camped underneath the trees. The
+boy ate cream-puffs for supper and offered Polychrome
+some, but she preferred other food and at daybreak
+sipped the dew that was clustered thick on the forest
+flowers. Then they tramped onward again, and presently
+the Scarecrow paused and said:</p>
+
+<p>"It was on this very spot that Dorothy and I first
+met the Tin Woodman, who was rusted so badly that none
+of his joints would move. But after we had oiled him
+up, he was as good as new and accompanied us to the
+Emerald City."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, that was a sad experience," asserted the Tin
+Woodman soberly. "I was caught in a rainstorm while
+chopping down a tree for exercise, and before I
+realized it, I was firmly rusted in every joint. There
+I stood, axe in hand, but unable to move, for days and
+weeks and months! Indeed, I have never known exactly
+how long the time was; but finally along came Dorothy
+and I was saved. See! This is the very tree I was
+chopping at the time I rusted."</p>
+
+<p>"You cannot be far from your old home, in that case,"
+said Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"No; my little cabin stands not a great way off, but
+there is no occasion for us to visit it. Our errand is
+with Nimmie Amee, and her house is somewhat farther
+away, to the left of us."</p>
+
+<p>"Didn't you say she lives with a Wicked Witch, who
+makes her a slave?" asked the boy.</p>
+
+<p>"She did, but she doesn't," was the reply. "I am told
+the Witch was destroyed when Dorothy's house fell on
+her, so now Nimmie Amee must live all alone. I haven't
+seen her, of course, since the Witch was crushed, for
+at that time I was standing rusted in the forest and
+had been there a long time, but the poor girl must have
+felt very happy to be free from her cruel mistress."</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said the Scarecrow, "let's travel on and find
+Nimmie Amee. Lead on, your Majesty, since you know the
+way, and we will follow."</p>
+
+<p>So the Tin Woodman took a path that led through the
+thickest part of the forest, and they followed it for
+some time. The light was dim here, because vines and
+bushes and leafy foliage were all about them, and often
+the Tin Man had to push aside the branches that
+obstructed their way, or cut them off with his axe.
+After they had proceeded some distance, the Emperor
+suddenly stopped short and exclaimed: "Good gracious!"</p>
+
+<p>The Scarecrow, who was next, first bumped into his
+friend and then peered around his tin body, and said in
+a tone of wonder:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I declare!"</p>
+
+<p>Woot the Wanderer pushed forward to see what was the
+matter, and cried out in astonishment: "For goodness'
+sake!"</p>
+
+<p>Then the three stood motionless, staring hard, until
+Polychrome's merry laughter rang out behind them and
+aroused them from their stupor.</p>
+
+<p>In the path before them stood a tin man who was the
+exact duplicate of the Tin Woodman. He was of the same
+size, he was jointed in the same manner, and he was
+made of shining tin from top to toe. But he stood
+immovable, with his tin jaws half parted and his tin
+eyes turned upward. In one of his hands was held a
+long, gleaming sword. Yes, there was the difference,
+the only thing that distinguished him from the Emperor
+of the Winkies. This tin man bore a sword, while the
+Tin Woodman bore an axe.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a dream; it must be a dream!" gasped Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"That's it, of course," said the Scarecrow; "there
+couldn't be two Tin Woodmen."</p>
+
+<p>"No," agreed Polychrome, dancing nearer to the
+stranger, "this one is a Tin Soldier. Don't you see his
+sword?"</p>
+
+<p>The Tin Woodman cautiously put out one tin hand and
+felt of his double's arm. Then he said in a voice that
+trembled with emotion:</p>
+
+<p>"Who are you, friend?"</p>
+
+<p>There was no reply</p>
+
+<p>"Can't you see he's rusted, just as you were once?"
+asked Polychrome, laughing again. "Here, Nick Chopper,
+lend me your oil-can a minute!"</p>
+
+<p>The Tin Woodman silently handed her his oil-can,
+without which he never traveled, and Polychrome
+first oiled the stranger's tin jaws and then worked
+them gently to and fro until the Tin Soldier said:</p>
+
+<p>"That's enough. Thank you. I can now talk. But please
+oil my other joints."</p>
+
+<p>Woot seized the oil-can and did this, but all the
+others helped wiggle the soldier's joints as soon as
+they were oiled, until they moved freely.</p>
+
+<p>The Tin Soldier seemed highly pleased at his release.
+He strutted up and down the path, saying in a high,
+thin voice:</p>
+
+<div class="poem">
+<div class="stanza">
+ <div>"The Soldier is a splendid man</div>
+ <div class="in1">When marching on parade,</div>
+ <div>And when he meets the enemy</div>
+ <div class="in1">He never is afraid.</div>
+</div>
+<br />
+<div class="stanza">
+ <div>He rights the wrongs of nations,</div>
+ <div class="in1">His country's flag defends,</div>
+ <div>The foe he'll fight with great delight,</div>
+ <div class="in1">But seldom fights his friends."</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter16" id="chapter16">Chapter Sixteen</a></h2>
+
+<h3>Captain Fyter</h3>
+
+
+<p>"Are you really a soldier?" asked Woot, when they had
+all watched this strange tin person parade up and down
+the path and proudly flourish his sword.</p>
+
+<p>"I was a soldier," was the reply, "but I've been a
+prisoner to Mr. Rust so long that I don't know exactly
+what I am."</p>
+
+<p>"But — dear me!" cried the Tin Woodman, sadly
+perplexed; "how came you to be made of tin?"</p>
+
+<p>"That," answered the Soldier, "is a sad, sad story I
+was in love with a beautiful Munchkin girl, who lived
+with a Wicked Witch. The Witch did not wish me to marry
+the girl, so she enchanted my sword, which began
+hacking me to pieces. When I lost my legs I went to the
+tinsmith, Ku-Klip, and he made me some tin legs. When I
+lost my arms, Ku-Klip made me tin arms, and when I lost
+my head he made me this fine one out of tin. It was the
+same way with my body, and finally I was all tin. But I
+was not unhappy, for Ku-Klip made a good job of me,
+having had experience in making another tin man before
+me."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," observed the Tin Woodman, "it was Ku-Klip who
+made me. But, tell me, what was the name of the
+Munchkin girl you were in love with?"</p>
+
+<p>"She is called Nimmie Amee," said the Tin Soldier.</p>
+
+<p>Hearing this, they were all so astonished that they
+were silent for a time, regarding the stranger with
+wondering looks. Finally the Tin Woodman ventured to
+ask:</p>
+
+<p>"And did Nimmie Amee return your love?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not at first," admitted the Soldier. "When first I
+marched into the forest and met her, she was weeping
+over the loss of her former sweetheart, a woodman whose
+name was Nick Chopper."</p>
+
+<p>"That is me," said the Tin Woodman.</p>
+
+<p>"She told me he was nicer than a soldier, because he
+was all made of tin and shone beautifully in the sun.
+She said a tin man appealed to her artistic instincts
+more than an ordinary meat man, as I was then. But I
+did not despair, because her tin sweetheart had
+disappeared, and could not be found. And finally Nimmie
+Amee permitted me to call upon her and we became
+friends. It was then that the Wicked Witch discovered
+me and became furiously angry when I said I wanted to
+marry the girl. She enchanted my sword, as I said, and
+then my troubles began. When I got my tin legs, Nimmie
+Amee began to take an interest in me; when I got my tin
+arms, she began to like me better than ever, and when I
+was all made of tin, she said I looked like her dear
+Nick Chopper and she would be willing to marry me.</p>
+
+<p>"The day of our wedding was set, and it turned out to
+be a rainy day. Nevertheless I started out to get
+Nimmie Amee, because the Witch had been absent for some
+time, and we meant to elope before she got back. As I
+traveled the forest paths the rain wetted my joints,
+but I paid no attention to this because my thoughts
+were all on my wedding with beautiful Nimmie Amee and I
+could think of nothing else until suddenly my legs
+stopped moving. Then my arms rusted at the joints and I
+became frightened and cried for help, for now I was
+unable to oil myself. No one heard my calls and before
+long my jaws rusted, and I was unable to utter another
+sound. So I stood helpless in this spot, hoping some
+wanderer would come my way and save me. But this forest
+path is seldom used, and I have been standing here so
+long that I have lost all track of time. In my mind I
+composed poetry and sang songs, but not a sound have I
+been able to utter. But this desperate condition has
+now been relieved by your coming my way and I must
+thank you for my rescue."</p>
+
+<p>"This is wonderful!" said the Scarecrow, heaving a
+stuffy, long sigh. "I think Ku-Klip was wrong to make
+two tin men, just alike, and the strangest thing of all
+is that both you tin men fell in love with the same
+girl."</p>
+
+<p>"As for that," returned the Soldier, seriously, "I
+must admit I lost my ability to love when I lost my
+meat heart. Ku-Klip gave me a tin heart, to be sure,
+but it doesn't love anything, as far as I can discover,
+and merely rattles against my tin ribs, which makes me
+wish I had no heart at all."</p>
+
+<p>"Yet, in spite of this condition, you were going to
+marry Nimmie Amee?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you see I had promised to marry her, and I am
+an honest man and always try to keep my promises. I
+didn't like to disappoint the poor girl, who had been
+disappointed by one tin man already."</p>
+
+<p>"That was not my fault," declared the Emperor of the
+Winkies, and then he related how he, also, had rusted
+in the forest and after a long time had been rescued by
+Dorothy and the Scarecrow and had traveled with them to
+the Emerald City in search of a heart that could love.</p>
+
+<p>"If you have found such a heart, sir," said the
+Soldier, "I will gladly allow you to marry Nimmie Amee
+in my place."</p>
+
+<p>"If she loves you best, sir," answered the Woodman,
+"I shall not interfere with your wedding her. For, to
+be quite frank with you, I cannot yet love Nimmie Amee
+as I did before I became tin."</p>
+
+<p>"Still, one of you ought to marry the poor girl,"
+remarked Woot; "and, if she likes tin men, there is not
+much choice between you. Why don't you draw lots for
+her?"</p>
+
+<p>"That wouldn't be right," said the Scarecrow.</p>
+
+<p>"The girl should be permitted to choose her own
+husband," asserted Polychrome. "You should both go to
+her and allow her to take her choice. Then she will
+surely be happy."</p>
+
+<p>"That, to me, seems a very fair arrangement," said
+the Tin Soldier.</p>
+
+<p>"I agree to it," said the Tin Woodman, shaking the
+hand of his twin to show the matter was settled. "May I
+ask your name, sir?" he continued.</p>
+
+<p>"Before I was so cut up," replied the other, "I was
+known as Captain Fyter, but afterward I was merely
+called 'The Tin Soldier.'"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Captain, if you are agreeable, let us now go
+to Nimmie Amee's house and let her choose between us."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well; and if we meet the Witch, we will both
+fight her — you with your axe and I with my sword."</p>
+
+<p>"The Witch is destroyed," announced the Scarecrow,
+and as they walked away he told the Tin Soldier of much
+that had happened in the Land of Oz since he had stood
+rusted in the forest.</p>
+
+<p>"I must have stood there longer than I had imagined,"
+he said thoughtfully.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter17" id="chapter17">Chapter Seventeen</a></h2>
+
+<h3>The Workshop of Ku-Klip</h3>
+
+
+<p>It was not more than a two hours' journey to the house
+where Nimmie Amee had lived, but when our travelers
+arrived there they found the place deserted. The door
+was partly off its hinges, the roof had fallen in at
+the rear and the interior of the cottage was thick with
+dust. Not only was the place vacant, but it was evident
+that no one had lived there for a long time.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose," said the Scarecrow, as they all stood
+looking wonderingly at the ruined house, "that after
+the Wicked Witch was destroyed, Nimmie Amee became
+lonely and went somewhere else to live."</p>
+
+<p>"One could scarcely expect a young girl to live all
+alone in a forest," added Woot. "She would want
+company, of course, and so I believe she has gone where
+other people live."</p>
+
+<p>"And perhaps she is still crying her poor little
+heart out because no tin man comes to marry her,"
+suggested Polychrome.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, in that case, it is the clear duty of you two
+tin persons to seek Nimmie Amee until you find her,"
+declared the Scarecrow.</p>
+
+<p>"I do not know where to look for the girl," said the
+Tin Soldier, "for I am almost a stranger to this part
+of the country."</p>
+
+<p>"I was born here," said the Tin Woodman, "but the
+forest has few inhabitants except the wild beasts. I
+cannot think of anyone living near here with whom
+Nimmie Amee might care to live."</p>
+
+<p>"Why not go to Ku-Klip and ask him what has become of
+the girl?" proposed Polychrome.</p>
+
+<p>That struck them all as being a good suggestion, so
+once more they started to tramp through the forest,
+taking the direct path to Ku-Klip's house, for both the
+tin twins knew the way, having followed it many times.</p>
+
+<p>Ku-Klip lived at the far edge of the great forest,
+his house facing the broad plains of the Munchkin
+Country that lay to the eastward. But, when they came
+to this residence by the forest's edge, the tinsmith
+was not at home.</p>
+
+<p>It was a pretty place, all painted dark blue with
+trimmings of lighter blue. There was a neat blue fence
+around the yard and several blue benches had been
+placed underneath the shady blue trees which marked the
+line between forest and plain. There was a blue lawn
+before the house, which was a good sized building. Ku-
+Klip lived in the front part of the house and had his
+work-shop in the back part, where he had also built a
+lean-to addition, in order to give him more room.</p>
+
+<p>Although they found the tinsmith absent on their
+arrival, there was smoke coming out of his chimney,
+which proved that he would soon return.</p>
+
+<p>"And perhaps Nimmie Amee will be with him," said the
+Scarecrow in a cheerful voice.</p>
+
+<p>While they waited, the Tin Woodman went to the door
+of the workshop and, finding it unlocked, entered and
+looked curiously around the room where he had been
+made.</p>
+
+<p>"It seems almost like home to me," hie told his
+friends, who had followed him in. "The first time I
+came here I had lost a leg, so I had to carry it in my
+hand while I hopped on the other leg all the way from
+the place in the forest where the enchanted axe cut me.
+I remember that old Ku-Klip carefully put my meat leg
+into a barrel — I think that is the same barrel, still
+standing in the corner yonder — and then at once he
+began to make a tin leg for me. He worked fast and with
+skill, and I was much interested in the job."</p>
+
+<p>"My experience was much the same," said the Tin
+Soldier. "I used to bring all the parts of me, which
+the enchanted sword had cut away, here to the tinsmith,
+and Ku-Klip would put them into the barrel."</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder," said Woot, "if those cast-off parts of you two
+unfortunates are still in that barrel in the corner?"</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose so." replied the Tin Woodman. "In the Land
+of Oz no part of a living creature can ever be destroyed."</p>
+
+<p>"If that is true, how was that Wicked Witch destroyed?" inquired Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, she was very old and was all dried up and
+withered before Oz became a fairyland," explained the
+Scarecrow. "Only her magic arts had kept her alive so
+long, and when Dorothy's house fell upon her she just
+turned to dust, and was blown away and scattered by the
+wind. I do not think, however, that the parts cut away
+from these two young men could ever be entirely
+destroyed and, if they are still in those barrels,
+they are likely to be just the same as when the
+enchanted axe or sword severed them."</p>
+
+<p>"It doesn't matter, however," said the Tin Woodman;
+"our tin bodies are more brilliant and durable, and
+quite satisfy us."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, the tin bodies are best," agreed the Tin
+Soldier. "Nothing can hurt them."</p>
+
+<p>"Unless they get dented or rusted," said Woot, but
+both the tin men frowned on him.</p>
+
+<p>Scraps of tin, of all shapes and sizes, lay scattered
+around the workshop. Also there were hammers and anvils
+and soldering irons and a charcoal furnace and many
+other tools such as a tinsmith works with. Against two
+of the side walls had been built stout work-benches and
+in the center of the room was a long table. At the end of
+the shop, which adjoined the dwelling, were several cupboards.</p>
+
+<p>After examining the interior of the workshop until
+his curiosity was satisfied, Woot said;</p>
+
+<p>"I think I will go outside until Ku-Klip comes. It
+does not seem quite proper for us to take possession of
+his house while he is absent."</p>
+
+<p>"That is true," agreed the Scarecrow, and they were
+all about to leave the room when the Tin Woodman said:
+"Wait a minute," and they halted in obedience to the
+command.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter18" id="chapter18">Chapter Eighteen</a></h2>
+
+<h3>The Tin Woodman Talks to Himself</h3>
+
+
+<p>The Tin Woodman had just noticed the cupboards and was
+curious to know what they contained, so he went to one
+of them and opened the door. There were shelves inside,
+and upon one of the shelves which was about on a level
+with his tin chin the Emperor discovered a Head — it
+looked like a doll's head, only it was larger, and he
+soon saw it was the Head of some person. It was facing
+the Tin Woodman and as the cupboard door swung back,
+the eyes of the Head slowly opened and looked at him.
+The Tin Woodman was not at all surprised, for in the
+Land of Oz one runs into magic at every turn.</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me!" said the Tin Woodman, staring hard. "It
+seems as if I had met you, somewhere, before. Good
+morning, sir!"</p>
+
+<p>"You have the advantage of me," replied the Head. "I
+never saw you before in my life."</p>
+
+<p>"Still, your face is very familiar," persisted the
+Tin Woodman. "Pardon me, but may I ask if you — eh —
+eh — if you ever had a Body?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, at one time," answered the Head, "but that is
+so long ago I can't remember it. Did you think," with a
+pleasant smile, "that I was born just as I am? That a
+Head would be created without a Body?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, of course not," said the other. "But how came
+you to lose your body?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I can't recollect the details; you'll have to
+ask Ku-Klip about it," returned the Head. "For, curious
+as it may seem to you, my memory is not good since my
+separation from the rest of me. I still possess my
+brains and my intellect is as good as ever, but my
+memory of some of the events I formerly experienced is
+quite hazy."</p>
+
+<p>"How long have you been in this cupboard?" asked the
+Emperor.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't know."</p>
+
+<p>"Haven't you a name?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes," said the Head; "I used to be called Nick
+Chopper, when I was a woodman and cut down trees for a
+living."</p>
+
+<p>"Good gracious!" cried the Tin Woodman in
+astonishment. "If you are Nick Chopper's Head, then you
+are Me — or I'm You — or — or — What relation are
+we, anyhow?"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't ask me," replied the Head. "For my part, I'm
+not anxious to claim relationship with any common,
+manufactured article, like you. You may be all right in
+your class, but your class isn't my class. You're tin."</p>
+
+<p>The poor Emperor felt so bewildered that for a time he could
+only stare at his old Head in silence. Then he said:</p>
+
+<p>"I must admit that I wasn't at all bad looking before
+I became tin. You're almost handsome — for meat. If
+your hair was combed, you'd be quite attractive."</p>
+
+<p>"How do you expect me to comb my hair without help?"
+demanded the Head, indignantly. "I used to keep it
+smooth and neat, when I had arms, but after I was
+removed from the rest of me, my hair got mussed,
+and old Ku-Klip never has combed it for me."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll speak to him about it," said the Tin Woodman.
+"Do you remember loving a pretty Munchkin girl named
+Nimmie Amee?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," answered the Head. "That is a foolish question.
+The heart in my body — when I had a body — might have
+loved someone, for all I know, but a head isn't made to
+love; it's made to think."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh; do you think, then?"</p>
+
+<p>"I used to think."</p>
+
+<p>"You must have been shut up in this cupboard for
+years and years. What have you thought about, in all
+that time?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing. That's another foolish question. A little
+reflection will convince you that I have had nothing to
+think about, except the boards on the inside of the
+cupboard door, and it didn't take me long to think of
+everything about those boards that could be thought of.
+Then, of course, I quit thinking."</p>
+
+<p>"And are you happy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Happy? What's that?"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you know what happiness is?" inquired the Tin
+Woodman.</p>
+
+<p>"I haven't the faintest idea whether it's round or
+square, or black or white, or what it is. And, if you
+will pardon my lack of interest in it, I will say that
+I don't care."</p>
+
+<p>The Tin Woodman was much puzzled by these answers.
+His traveling companions had grouped themselves at his
+back, and had fixed their eyes on the Head and listened
+to the conversation with much interest, but until now,
+they had not interrupted because they thought the Tin
+Woodman had the best right to talk to his own head and
+renew acquaintance with it.</p>
+
+<p>But now the Tin Soldier remarked:</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder if my old head happens to be in any of
+these cupboards," and he proceeded to open all the
+cupboard doors. But no other head was to be found on
+any of the shelves.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, well; never mind," said Woot the Wanderer; "I
+can't imagine what anyone wants of a cast-off head,
+anyhow."</p>
+
+<p>"I can understand the Soldier's interest," asserted
+Polychrome, dancing around the grimy workshop until her
+draperies formed a cloud around her dainty form. "For
+sentimental reasons a man might like to see his old
+head once more, just as one likes to revisit an old
+home."</p>
+
+<p>"And then to kiss it good-bye," added the Scarecrow.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope that tin thing won't try to kiss me good-
+bye!" exclaimed the Tin Woodman's former head. "And I
+don't see what right you folks have to disturb my peace
+and comfort, either."</p>
+
+<p>"You belong to me," the Tin Woodman declared.</p>
+
+<p>"I do not!"</p>
+
+<p>"You and I are one."</p>
+
+<p>"We've been parted," asserted the Head. "It would be
+unnatural for me to have any interest in a man made of
+tin. Please close the door and leave me alone."</p>
+
+<p>"I did not think that my old Head could be so
+disagreeable," said the Emperor. "I — I'm quite
+ashamed of myself; meaning you."</p>
+
+<p>"You ought to be glad that I've enough sense to know
+what my rights are," retorted the Head. "In this
+cupboard I am leading a simple life, peaceful and
+dignified, and when a mob of people in whom I am not
+interested disturb me, they are the disagreeable ones;
+not I."</p>
+
+<p>With a sigh the Tin Woodman closed and latched the
+cupboard door and turned away.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," said the Tin Soldier, "if my old head would
+have treated me as coldly and in so unfriendly a manner
+as your old head has treated you, friend Chopper, I'm
+glad I could not find it."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; I'm rather surprised at my head, myself,"
+replied the Tin Woodman, thoughtfully. "I thought I had
+a more pleasant disposition when I was made of meat."</p>
+
+<p>But just then old Ku-Klip the Tinsmith arrived, and
+he seemed surprised to find so many visitors. Ku-Klip
+was a stout man and a short man. He had his sleeves
+rolled above his elbows, showing muscular arms, and he
+wore a leathern apron that covered all the front of
+him, and was so long that Woot was surprised he didn't
+step on it and trip whenever he walked. And Ku-Klip had
+a gray beard that was almost as long as his apron, and
+his head was bald on top and his ears stuck out from
+his head like two fans. Over his eyes, which were
+bright and twinkling, he wore big spectacles. It was
+easy to see that the tinsmith was a kind hearted man,
+as well as a merry and agreeable one. "Oh-ho!" he cried
+in a joyous bass voice; "here are both my tin men come
+to visit me, and they and their friends are welcome
+indeed. I'm very proud of you two characters, I assure
+you, for you are so perfect that you are proof that I'm
+a good workman. Sit down. Sit down, all of you — if
+you can find anything to sit on — and tell me why you
+are here."</p>
+
+<p>So they found seats and told him all of their
+adventures that they thought he would like to know. Ku-
+Klip was glad to learn that Nick Chopper, the Tin
+Woodman, was now Emperor of the Winkies and a friend of
+Ozma of Oz, and the tinsmith was also interested in the
+Scarecrow and Polychrome.</p>
+
+<p>He turned the straw man around, examining him
+curiously, and patted him on all sides, and then said:</p>
+
+<p>"You are certainly wonderful, but I think you would
+be more durable and steady on your legs if you were
+made of tin. Would you like me to —"</p>
+
+<p>"No, indeed!" interrupted the Scarecrow hastily; "I
+like myself better as I am."</p>
+
+<p>But to Polychrome the tinsmith said:</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing could improve you, my dear, for you are the
+most beautiful maiden I have ever seen. It is pure
+happiness just to look at you."</p>
+
+<p>"That is praise, indeed, from so skillful a workman,"
+returned the Rainbow's Daughter, laughing and dancing
+in and out the room.</p>
+
+<p>"Then it must be this boy you wish me to help," said
+Ku-Klip, looking at Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Woot, "we are not here to seek your skill,
+but have merely come to you for information."</p>
+
+<p>Then, between them, they related their search for
+Nimmie Amee, whom the Tin Woodman explained he had
+resolved to marry, yet who had promised to become the
+bride of the Tin Soldier before he unfortunately became
+rusted. And when the story was told, they asked Ku-Klip
+if he knew what had become of Nimmie Amee.</p>
+
+<p>"Not exactly," replied the old man, "but I know that
+she wept bitterly when the Tin Soldier did not come to
+marry her, as he had promised to do. The old Witch was
+so provoked at the girl's tears that she beat Nimmie
+Amee with her crooked stick and then hobbled away to
+gather some magic herbs, with which she intended to
+transform the girl into an old hag, so that no one
+would again love her or care to marry her. It was while
+she was away on this errand that Dorothy's house fell
+on the Wicked Witch, and she turned to dust and blew
+away. When I heard this good news, I sent Nimmie Amee
+to find the Silver Shoes which the Witch had worn, but
+Dorothy had taken them with her to the Emerald City."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, we know all about those Silver Shoes," said the
+Scarecrow.</p>
+
+<p>"Well," continued Ku-Klip, "after that, Nimmie Amee
+decided to go away from the forest and live with some
+people she was acquainted with who had a house on Mount
+Munch. I have never seen the girl since."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you know the name of the people on Mount Munch,
+with whom she went to live?" asked the Tin Woodman.</p>
+
+<p>"No, Nimmie Amee did not mention her friend's name,
+and I did not ask her. She took with her all that she
+could carry of the goods that were in the Witch's
+house, and she told me I could have the rest. But when
+I went there I found nothing worth taking except some
+magic powders that I did not know how to use, and a
+bottle of Magic Glue."</p>
+
+<p>"What is Magic Glue?" asked Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"It is a magic preparation with which to mend people
+when they cut themselves. One time, long ago, I cut off
+one of my fingers by accident, and I carried it to the
+Witch, who took down her bottle and glued it on again
+for me. See!" showing them his finger, "it is as good
+as ever it was. No one else that I ever heard of had
+this Magic Glue, and of course when Nick Chopper cut
+himself to pieces with his enchanted axe and Captain
+Fyter cut himself to pieces with his enchanted sword,
+the Witch would not mend them, or allow me to glue them
+together, because she had herself wickedly enchanted
+the axe and sword. Nothing remained but for me to make
+them new parts out of tin; but, as you see, tin
+answered the purpose very well, and I am sure their tin
+bodies are a great improvement on their meat bodies."
+"Very true," said the Tin Soldier.</p>
+
+<p>"I quite agree with you," said the Tin Woodman. "I
+happened to find my old head in your cupboard, a while
+ago, and certainly it is not as desirable a head as the
+tin one I now wear."</p>
+
+<p>"By the way," said the Tin Soldier, "what ever became
+of my old head, Ku-Klip?"</p>
+
+<p>"And of the different parts of our bodies?" added the
+Tin Woodman.</p>
+
+<p>"Let me think a minute," replied Ku-Klip. "If I
+remember right, you two boys used to bring me most of
+your parts, when they were cut off, and I saved them in
+that barrel in the corner. You must not have brought me
+all the parts, for when I made Chopfyt I had hard work
+finding enough pieces to complete the job. I finally
+had to finish him with one arm."</p>
+
+<p>"Who is Chopfyt?"inquired Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, haven't I told you about Chopfyt?" exclaimed Ku-Klip.
+"Of course not! And he's quite a curiosity, too.
+You'll be interested in hearing about Chopfyt. This is
+how he happened:</p>
+
+<p>"One day, after the Witch had been destroyed and
+Nimmie Amee had gone to live with her friends on Mount
+Munch, I was looking around the shop for something and
+came upon the bottle of Magic Glue which I had brought
+from the old Witch's house. It occurred to me to piece
+together the odds and ends of you two people, which of
+course were just as good as ever, and see if I couldn't
+make a man out of them. If I succeeded, I would have an
+assistant to help me with my work, and I thought it
+would be a clever idea to put to some practical use the
+scraps of Nick Chopper and Captain Fyter. There were
+two perfectly good heads in my cupboard, and a lot of
+feet and legs and parts of bodies in the barrel, so I
+set to work to see what I could do.</p>
+
+<p>"First, I pieced together a body, gluing it with the
+Witch's Magic Glue, which worked perfectly. That was
+the hardest part of my job, however, because the bodies
+didn't match up well and some parts were missing. But
+by using a piece of Captain Fyter here and a piece of
+Nick Chopper there, I finally got together a very
+decent body, with heart and all the trimmings
+complete."</p>
+
+<p>"Whose heart did you use in making asked the Tin.
+Woodman anxiously. the body?"</p>
+
+<p>"I can't tell, for the parts had no tags on them and
+one heart looks much like another. After the body was
+completed, I glued two fine legs and feet onto it. One
+leg was Nick Chopper's and one was Captain Fyter's and,
+finding one leg longer than the other, I trimmed it
+down to make them match. I was much disappointed to
+find that I had but one arm. There was an extra leg in
+the barrel, but I could find only one arm. Having glued
+this onto the body, I was ready for the head, and I had
+some difficulty in making up my mind which head to use.
+Finally I shut my eyes and reached out my hand toward
+the cupboard shelf, and the first head I touched I
+glued upon my new man."</p>
+
+<p>"It was mine!" declared the Tin Soldier, gloomily.</p>
+
+<p>"No, it was mine," asserted Ku-Klip, "for I had given
+you another in exchange for it — the beautiful tin
+head you now wear. When the glue had dried, my man was
+quite an interesting fellow. I named him Chopfyt, using
+a part of Nick Chopper's name and a part of Captain
+Fyter's name, because he was a mixture of both your
+cast-off parts. Chopfyt was interesting, as I said,
+but he did not prove a very agreeable companion. He
+complained bitterly because I had given him but one arm
+— as if it were my fault! — and he grumbled because the
+suit of blue Munchkin clothes, which I got for him from
+a neighbor, did not fit him perfectly."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, that was because he was wearing my old head,"
+remarked the Tin Soldier. "I remember that head used to
+be very particular about its clothes."</p>
+
+<p>"As an assistant," the old tinsmith continued,
+"Chopfyt was not a success. He was awkward with tools
+and was always hungry. He demanded something to eat six
+or eight times a day, so I wondered if I had fitted his
+insides properly. Indeed, Chopfyt ate so much that
+little food was left for myself; so, when he proposed,
+one day, to go out into the world and seek adventures,
+I was delighted to be rid of him. I even made him a tin
+arm to take the place of the missing one, and that
+pleased him very much, so that we parted good friends."</p>
+
+<p>"What became of Chopfyt after that?" the Scarecrow
+inquired.</p>
+
+<p>"I never heard. He started off toward the east, into
+the plains of the Munchkin Country, and that was the
+last I ever saw of him."</p>
+
+<p>"It seems to me," said the Tin Woodman reflectively,
+"that you did wrong in making a man out of our cast-off
+parts. It is evident that Chopfyt could, with justice,
+claim relationship with both of us."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't worry about that," advised Ku-Klip cheerfully;
+"it is not likely that you will ever meet the fellow.
+And, if you should meet him, he doesn't know who he is
+made of, for I never told him the secret of his
+manufacture. Indeed, you are the only ones who know of
+it, and you may keep the secret to yourselves, if you
+wish to."</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind Chopfyt," said the Scarecrow. "Our
+business now is to find poor Nimmie Amee and let her
+choose her tin husband. To do that, it seems, from the
+information Ku-Klip has given us, we must travel to
+Mount Munch."</p>
+
+<p>"If that's the programme, let us start at once,"
+suggested Woot.</p>
+
+<p>So they all went outside, where they found Polychrome
+dancing about among the trees and talking with the
+birds and laughing as merrily as if she had not lost
+her Rainbow and so been separated from all her fairy
+sisters.</p>
+
+<p>They told her they were going to Mount Munch, and she
+replied:</p>
+
+<p>"Very well; I am as likely to find my Rainbow there
+as here, and any other place is as likely as there. It
+all depends on the weather. Do you think it looks like
+rain?"</p>
+
+<p>They shook their heads, and Polychrome laughed again
+and danced on after them when they resumed their
+journey.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter19" id="chapter19">Chapter Nineteen</a></h2>
+
+<h3>The Invisible Country</h3>
+
+
+<p>They were proceeding so easily and comfortably on their
+way to Mount Munch that Woot said in a serious tone of
+voice:</p>
+
+<p>"I'm afraid something is going to happen."</p>
+
+<p>"Why?" asked Polychrome, dancing around the group of
+travelers.</p>
+
+<p>"Because," said the boy, thoughtfully, "I've noticed
+that when we have the least reason for getting into
+trouble, something is sure to go wrong. Just now the
+weather is delightful; the grass is beautifully blue
+and quite soft to our feet; the mountain we are seeking
+shows clearly in the distance and there is no reason
+anything should happen to delay us in getting there.
+Our troubles all seem to be over, and — well, that's
+why I'm afraid," he added, with a sigh.</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me!" remarked the Scarecrow, "what unhappy
+thoughts you have, to be sure. This is proof that born
+brains cannot equal manufactured brains, for my brains
+dwell only on facts and never borrow trouble. When
+there is occasion for my brains to think, they think,
+but I would be ashamed of my brains if they kept
+shooting out thoughts that were merely fears and
+imaginings, such as do no good, but are likely to do
+harm."</p>
+
+<p>"For my part," said the Tin Woodman, "I do not think
+at all, but allow my velvet heart to guide me at all
+times."</p>
+
+<p>"The tinsmith filled my hollow head with scraps and
+clippings of tin," said the Soldier, "and he told me
+they would do nicely for brains, but when I begin to
+think, the tin scraps rattle around and get so mixed
+that I'm soon bewildered. So I try not to think. My tin
+heart is almost as useless to me, for it is hard and
+cold, so I'm sure the red velvet heart of my friend
+Nick Chopper is a better guide."</p>
+
+<p>"Thoughtless people are not unusual," observed the
+Scarecrow, "but I consider them more fortunate than
+those who have useless or wicked thoughts and do not
+try to curb them. Your oil can, friend Woodman, is
+filled with oil, but you only apply the oil to your
+joints, drop by drop, as you need it, and do not keep
+spilling it where it will do no good. Thoughts should
+be restrained in the same way as your oil, and only
+applied when necessary, and for a good purpose. If used
+carefully, thoughts are good things to have."</p>
+
+<p>Polychrome laughed at him, for the Rainbow's Daughter
+knew more about thoughts than the Scarecrow did. But
+the others were solemn, feeling they had been rebuked,
+and tramped on in silence.</p>
+
+<p>Suddenly Woot, who was in the lead, looked around and
+found that all his comrades had mysteriously
+disappeared. But where could they have gone to? The
+broad plain was all about him and there were neither
+trees nor bushes that could hide even a rabbit, nor any
+hole for one to fall into. Yet there he stood, alone.</p>
+
+<p>Surprise had caused him to halt, and with a
+thoughtful and puzzled expression on his face he looked
+down at his feet. It startled him anew to discover that
+he had no feet. He reached out his hands, but he could
+not see them. He could feel his hands and arms and
+body; he stamped his feet on the grass and knew they
+were there, but in some strange way they had become
+invisible.</p>
+
+<p>While Woot stood, wondering, a crash of metal sounded
+in his ears and he heard two heavy bodies tumble to the
+earth just beside him.</p>
+
+<p>"Good gracious!" exclaimed the voice of the Tin
+Woodman.</p>
+
+<p>"Mercy me!" cried the voice of the Tin Soldier.</p>
+
+<p>"Why didn't you look where you were going?" asked the
+Tin Woodman reproachfully.</p>
+
+<p>"I did, but I couldn't see you," said the Tin
+Soldier. "Something has happened to my tin eyes. I
+can't see you, even now, nor can I see anyone else!"</p>
+
+<p>"It's the same way with me," admitted the Tin
+Woodman.</p>
+
+<p>Woot couldn't see either of them, although he heard
+them plainly, and just then something smashed against
+him unexpectedly and knocked him over; but it was only
+the straw-stuffed body of the Scarecrow that fell upon
+him and while he could not see the Scarecrow he managed
+to push him off and rose to his feet just as Polychrome
+whirled against him and made him tumble again.</p>
+
+<p>Sitting upon the ground, the boy asked:</p>
+
+<p>"Can you see us, Poly?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, indeed," answered the Rainbow's Daughter; "we've
+all become invisible."</p>
+
+<p>"How did it happen, do you suppose?" inquired the
+Scarecrow, lying where he had fallen.</p>
+
+<p>"We have met with no enemy," answered Poly-chrome,
+"so it must be that this part of the country has the
+magic quality of making people invisible —even fairies
+falling under the charm. We can see the grass, and the
+flowers, and the stretch of plain before us, and we can
+still see Mount Munch in the distance; but we cannot
+see ourselves or one another."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what are we to do about it?" demanded Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"I think this magic affects only a small part of the
+plain," replied Polychrome; "perhaps there is only a
+streak of the country where an enchantment makes people
+become invisible. So, if we get together and hold
+hands, we can travel toward Mount Munch until the
+enchanted streak is passed."</p>
+
+<p>"All right," said Woot, jumping up, "give me your
+hand, Polychrome. Where are you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Here," she answered. "Whistle, Woot, and keep
+whistling until I come to you."</p>
+
+<p>So Woot whistled, and presently Polychrome found him
+and grasped his hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Someone must help me up," said the Scarecrow, lying
+near them; so they found the straw man and sat him upon
+his feet, after which he held fast to Polychrome's
+other hand.</p>
+
+<p>Nick Chopper and the Tin Soldier had managed to
+scramble up without assistance, but it was awkward for
+them and the Tin Woodman said:</p>
+
+<p>"I don't seem to stand straight, somehow. But my
+joints all work, so I guess I can walk."</p>
+
+<p>Guided by his voice, they reached his side, where
+Woot grasped his tin fingers so they might keep
+together.</p>
+
+<p>The Tin Soldier was standing near by and the
+Scarecrow soon touched him and took hold of his arm.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope you're not wobbly," said the straw man,
+"for if two of us walk unsteadily we will be sure
+to fall."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not wobbly," the Tin Soldier assured him, "but
+I'm certain that one of my legs is shorter than the
+other. I can't see it, to tell what's gone wrong, but
+I'll limp on with the rest of you until we are out of
+this enchanted territory."</p>
+
+<p>They now formed a line, holding hands, and turning
+their faces toward Mount Munch resumed their journey.
+They had not gone far, however, when a terrible growl
+saluted their ears. The sound seemed to come from a
+place just in front of them, so they halted abruptly
+and remained silent, listening with all their ears.</p>
+
+<p>"I smell straw!" cried a hoarse, harsh voice, with
+more growls and snarls. "I smell straw, and I'm a
+Hip-po-gy-raf who loves straw and eats all he can find.
+I want to eat this straw! Where is it? Where is it?"</p>
+
+<p>The Scarecrow, hearing this, trembled but kept
+silent. All the others were silent, too, hoping that
+the invisible beast would be unable to find them. But
+the creature sniffed the odor of the straw and drew
+nearer and nearer to them until he reached the Tin
+Woodman, on one end of the line. It was a big beast and
+it smelled of the Tin Woodman and grated two rows of
+enormous teeth against the Emperor's tin body.</p>
+
+<p>"Bah! that's not straw," said the harsh voice, and
+the beast advanced along the line to Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"Meat! Pooh, you're no good! I can't eat meat,"
+grumbled the beast, and passed on to Polychrome.</p>
+
+<p>"Sweetmeats and perfume — cobwebs and dew! Nothing
+to eat in a fairy like you," said the creature.</p>
+
+<p>Now, the Scarecrow was next to Polychrome in the
+line, and he realized if the beast devoured his straw
+he would be helpless for a long time, because the last
+farmhouse was far behind them and only grass covered
+the vast expanse of plain. So in his fright he let go
+of Polychrome's hand and put the hand of the Tin
+Soldier in that of the Rainbow's Daughter. Then he
+slipped back of the line and went to the other end,
+where he silently seized the Tin Woodman's hand.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime, the beast had smelled the Tin Soldier and
+found he was the last of the line.</p>
+
+<p>"That's funny!" growled the Hip-po-gy-raf; "I can
+smell straw, but I can't find it. Well, it's here,
+somewhere, and I must hunt around until I do find it,
+for I'm hungry."</p>
+
+<p>His voice was now at the left of them, so they
+started on, hoping to avoid him, and traveled as fast
+as they could in the direction of Mount Munch.</p>
+
+<p>"I don't like this invisible country," said Woot with
+a shudder. "We can't tell how many dreadful, invisible
+beasts are roaming around us, or what danger we'll come
+to next."</p>
+
+<p>"Quit thinking about danger, please," said the
+Scarecrow, warningly.</p>
+
+<p>"Why?" asked the boy.</p>
+
+<p>"If you think of some dreadful thing, it's liable to
+happen, but if you don't think of it, and no one else
+thinks of it, it just can't happen. Do you see?"</p>
+
+<p>"No," answered Woot. "I won't be able to see much of
+anything until we escape from this enchantment."</p>
+
+<p>But they got out of the invisible strip of country
+as suddenly as they had entered it, and the instant
+they got out they stopped short, for just before them
+was a deep ditch, running at right angles as far as
+their eyes could see and stopping all further progress
+toward Mount Munch.</p>
+
+<p>"It's not so very wide," said Woot, "but I'm sure
+none of us can jump across it."</p>
+
+<p>Polychrome began to laugh, and the Scarecrow said:
+"What's the matter?"</p>
+
+<p>"Look at the tin men!" she said, with another burst
+of merry laughter.</p>
+
+<p>Woot and the Scarecrow looked, and the tin men looked
+at themselves.</p>
+
+<p>"It was the collision," said the Tin Woodman
+regretfully. "I knew something was wrong with me, and
+now I can see that my side is dented in so that I lean
+over toward the left. It was the Soldier's fault; he
+shouldn't have been so careless."</p>
+
+<p>"It is your fault that my right leg is bent, making
+it shorter than the other, so that I limp badly,"
+retorted the Soldier. "You shouldn't have stood where I
+was walking."</p>
+
+<p>"You shouldn't have walked where I was standing,"
+replied the Tin Woodman.</p>
+
+<p>It was almost a quarrel, so Polychrome said
+soothingly:</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind, friends; as soon as we have time I am
+sure we can straighten the Soldier's leg and get the
+dent out of the Woodman's body. The Scarecrow needs
+patting into shape, too, for he had a bad tumble, but
+our first task is to get over this ditch."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, the ditch is the most important thing, just
+now," added Woot.</p>
+
+<p>They were standing in a row, looking hard at the
+unexpected barrier, when a fierce growl from behind
+them made them all turn quickly. Out of the invisible
+country marched a huge beast with a thick, leathery
+skin and a surprisingly long neck. The head on the top
+of this neck was broad and flat and the eyes and mouth
+were very big and the nose and ears very small. When
+the head was drawn down toward the beast's shoulders,
+the neck was all wrinkles, but the head could shoot up
+very high indeed, if the creature wished it to.</p>
+
+<p>"Dear me!" exclaimed the Scarecrow, "this must be the
+Hip-po-gy-raf."</p>
+
+<p>"Quite right," said the beast; "and you're the straw
+which I'm to eat for my dinner. Oh, how I love straw! I
+hope you don't resent my affectionate appetite?"</p>
+
+<p>With its four great legs it advanced straight toward
+the Scarecrow, but the Tin Woodman and the Tin Soldier
+both sprang in front of their friend and flourished
+their weapons.</p>
+
+<p>"Keep off!" said the Tin Woodman, warningly, or I'll
+chop you with my axe."</p>
+
+<p>"Keep off!" said the Tin Soldier, "or I'll cut you
+with my sword."</p>
+
+<p>"Would you really do that?" asked the Hip-po-gy-raf,
+in a disappointed voice.</p>
+
+<p>"We would," they both replied, and the Tin Woodman
+added: "The Scarecrow is our friend, and he would be
+useless without his straw stuffing. So, as we are
+comrades, faithful and true, we will defend our
+friend's stuffing against all enemies."</p>
+
+<p>The Hip-po-gy-raf sat down and looked at them
+sorrowfully.</p>
+
+<p>"When one has made up his mind to have a meal of
+delicious straw, and then finds he can't have it, it is
+certainly hard luck," he said. "And what good is the
+straw man to you, or to himself, when the ditch keeps
+you from going any further?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we can go back again," suggested Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"True," said the Hip-po; "and if you do, you'll be as
+disappointed as I am. That's some comfort, anyhow."</p>
+
+<p>The travelers looked at the beast, and then they
+looked across the ditch at the level plain beyond. On
+the other side the grass had grown tall, and the sun
+had dried it, so there was a fine crop of hay that only
+needed to be cut and stacked.</p>
+
+<p>"Why don't you cross over and eat hay?" the boy asked
+the beast.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not fond of hay," replied the Hip-po-gy-raf;
+"straw is much more delicious, to my notion, and it's
+more scarce in this neighborhood, too. Also I must
+confess that I can't get across the ditch, for my body
+is too heavy and clumsy for me to jump the distance. I
+can stretch my neck across, though, and you will notice
+that I've nibbled the hay on the farther edge — not
+because I liked it, but because one must eat, and if
+one can't get the sort of food he desires, he must take
+what is offered or go hungry."</p>
+
+<p>"Ah, I see you are a philosopher," remarked the
+Scarecrow.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I'm just a Hip-po-gy-raf," was the reply.</p>
+
+<p>Polychrome was not afraid of the big beast. She
+danced close to him and said:</p>
+
+<p>"If you can stretch your neck across the ditch, why
+not help us over? We can sit on your big head, one at a
+time, and then you can lift us across."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; I can, it is true," answered the Hip-po; "but I
+refuse to do it. Unless —" he added, and stopped
+short.</p>
+
+<p>"Unless what?" asked Polychrome.</p>
+
+<p>"Unless you first allow me to eat the straw with
+which the Scarecrow is stuffed."</p>
+
+<p>"No," said the Rainbow's Daughter, "that is too high
+a price to pay. Our friend's straw is nice and fresh,
+for he was restuffed only a little while ago."</p>
+
+<p>"I know," agreed the Hip-po-gy-raf. "That's why I
+want it. If it was old, musty straw, I wouldn't care
+for it."</p>
+
+<p>"Please lift us across," pleaded Polychrome.</p>
+
+<p>"No," replied the beast; "since you refuse my
+generous offer, I can be as stubborn as you are."</p>
+
+<p>After that they were all silent for a time, but then
+the Scarecrow said bravely:</p>
+
+<p>"Friends, let us agree to the beast's terms. Give him
+my straw, and carry the rest of me with you across the
+ditch. Once on the other side, the Tin Soldier can cut
+some of the hay with his sharp sword, and you can stuff
+me with that material until we reach a place where
+there is straw. It is true I have been stuffed with
+straw all my life and it will be somewhat humiliating
+to be filled with common hay, but I am willing to
+sacrifice my pride in a good cause. Moreover, to
+abandon our errand and so deprive the great Emperor of
+the Winkies — or this noble Soldier — of his bride,
+would be equally humiliating, if not more so."</p>
+
+<p>"You're a very honest and clever man!" exclaimed the
+Hip-po-gy-raf, admiringly. "When I have eaten your
+head, perhaps I also will become clever."</p>
+
+<p>"You're not to eat my head, you know," returned the
+Scarecrow hastily. "My head isn't stuffed with straw
+and I cannot part with it. When one loses his head he
+loses his brains."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well, then; you may keep your head," said the
+beast.</p>
+
+<p>The Scarecrow's companions thanked him warmly for his
+loyal sacrifice to their mutual good, and then he laid
+down and permitted them to pull the straw from his
+body. As fast as they did this, the Hip-po-gy-raf ate
+up the straw, and when all was consumed Polychrome made
+a neat bundle of the clothes and boots and gloves and
+hat and said she would carry them, while Woot tucked
+the Scarecrow's head under his arm and promised to
+guard its safety.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, then," said the Tin Woodman, "keep your
+promise, Beast, and lift us over the ditch."</p>
+
+<p>"M-m-m-mum, but that was a fine dinner!" said the
+Hip-po, smacking his thick lips in satisfaction, "and
+I'm as good as my word. Sit on my head, one at a time,
+and I'll land you safely on the other side."</p>
+
+<p>He approached close to the edge of the ditch and
+squatted down. Polychrome climbed over his big body and
+sat herself lightly upon the flat head, holding the
+bundle of the Scarecrow's raiment in her hand. Slowly
+the elastic neck stretched out until it reached the far
+side of the ditch, when the beast lowered his head and
+permitted the beautiful fairy to leap to the ground.</p>
+
+<p>Woot made the queer journey next, and then the Tin
+Soldier and the Tin Woodman went over, and all were
+well pleased to have overcome this serious barrier to
+their progress.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Soldier, cut the hay," said the Scarecrow's
+head, which was still held by Woot the Wanderer.</p>
+
+<p>"I'd like to, but I can't stoop over, with my bent
+leg, without falling," replied Captain Fyter.</p>
+
+<p>"What can we do about that leg, anyhow?" asked Woot,
+appealing to Polychrome.</p>
+
+<p>She danced around in a circle several times without
+replying, and the boy feared she had not heard him; but
+the Rainbow's Daughter was merely thinking upon the
+problem, and presently she paused beside the Tin
+Soldier and said:</p>
+
+<p>"I've been taught a little fairy magic, but I've
+never before been asked to mend tin legs with it, so
+I'm not sure I can help you. It all depends on the good
+will of my unseen fairy guardians, so I'll try, and if
+I fail, you will be no worse off than you are now."</p>
+
+<p>She danced around the circle again, and then laid
+both hands upon the twisted tin leg and sang in her
+sweet voice:</p>
+
+<div class="poem">
+<div class="stanza">
+ <div>"Fairy Powers, come to my aid!</div>
+ <div>This bent leg of tin is made;</div>
+ <div>Make it straight and strong and true,</div>
+ <div>And I'll render thanks to you."</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Ah!" murmured Captain Fyter in a glad voice, as she
+withdrew her hands and danced away, and they saw he was
+standing straight as ever, because his leg was as
+shapely and strong as it had been before his accident.</p>
+
+<p>The Tin Woodman had watched Polychrome with much
+interest, and he now said:</p>
+
+<p>"Please take the dent out of my side, Poly, for I am
+more crippled than was the Soldier."</p>
+
+<p>So the Rainbow's Daughter touched his side lightly
+and sang:</p>
+
+<div class="poem">
+<div class="stanza">
+ <div>"Here's a dent by accident;</div>
+ <div>Such a thing was never meant.</div>
+ <div>Fairy Powers, so wondrous great,</div>
+ <div>Make our dear Tin Woodman straight!"</div>
+</div>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Good!" cried the Emperor, again standing erect and
+strutting around to show his fine figure. "Your fairy
+magic may not be able to accomplish all things, sweet
+Polychrome, but it works splendidly on tin. Thank you
+very much."</p>
+
+<p>"The hay — the hay!" pleaded the Scarecrow's head.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes; the hay," said Woot. "What are you waiting
+for, Captain Fyter?"</p>
+
+<p>At once the Tin Soldier set to work cutting hay with
+his sword and in a few minutes there was quite enough
+with which to stuff the Scarecrow's body. Woot and
+Polychrome did this and it was no easy task because the
+hay packed together more than straw and as they had
+little experience in such work their job, when
+completed, left the Scarecrow's arms and legs rather
+bunchy. Also there was a hump on his back which made
+Woot laugh and say it reminded him of a camel, but it
+was the best they could do and when the head was fastened
+on to the body they asked the Scarecrow how he felt.</p>
+
+<p>"A little heavy, and not quite natural," he
+cheerfully replied; "but I'll get along somehow until
+we reach a straw-stack. Don't laugh at me, please,
+because I'm a little ashamed of myself and I don't want
+to regret a good action."</p>
+
+<p>They started at once in the direction of Mount Munch,
+and as the Scarecrow proved very clumsy in his
+movements, Woot took one of his arms and the Tin
+Woodman the other and so helped their friend to walk in
+a straight line.</p>
+
+<p>And the Rainbow's Daughter, as before, danced ahead
+of them and behind them and all around them, and they
+never minded her odd ways, because to them she was like
+a ray of sunshine.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter20" id="chapter20">Chapter Twenty</a></h2>
+
+<h3>Over Night</h3>
+
+
+<p>The Land of the Munchkins is full of surprises, as our
+travelers had already learned, and although Mount Munch
+was constantly growing larger as they advanced toward
+it, they knew it was still a long way off and were not
+certain, by any means, that they had escaped all danger
+or encountered their last adventure.</p>
+
+<p>The plain was broad, and as far as the eye could see,
+there seemed to be a level stretch of country between
+them and the mountain, but toward evening they came
+upon a hollow, in which stood a tiny blue Munchkin
+dwelling with a garden around it and fields of grain
+filling in all the rest of the hollow.</p>
+
+<p>They did not discover this place until they came
+close to the edge of it, and they were astonished at
+the sight that greeted them because they had imagined
+that this part of the plain had no inhabitants.</p>
+
+<p>"It's a very small house," Woot declared. "I wonder
+who lives there?"</p>
+
+<p>"The way to find out is to knock on the door and
+ask," replied the Tin Woodman. "Perhaps it is the home
+of Nimmie Amee."</p>
+
+<p>"Is she a dwarf?" asked the boy.</p>
+
+<p>"No, indeed; Nimmie Amee is a full sized woman."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I'm sure she couldn't live in that little house," said Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"Let's go down," suggested the Scarecrow. "I'm almost
+sure I can see a straw-stack in the back yard."</p>
+
+<p>They descended the hollow, which was rather steep at
+the sides, and soon came to the house, which was indeed
+rather small. Woot knocked upon a door that was not
+much higher than his waist, but got no reply. He
+knocked again, but not a sound was heard.</p>
+
+<p>"Smoke is coming out of the chimney," announced
+Polychrome, who was dancing lightly through the garden,
+where cabbages and beets and turnips and the like were
+growing finely.</p>
+
+<p>"Then someone surely lives here," said Woot, and
+knocked again.</p>
+
+<p>Now a window at the side of the house opened and a
+queer head appeared. It was white and hairy and had a
+long snout and little round eyes. The ears were hidden
+by a blue sunbonnet tied under the chin.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh; it's a pig!" exclaimed Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"Pardon me; I am Mrs. Squealina Swyne, wife of
+Professor Grunter Swyne, and this is our home," said
+the one in the window. "What do you want?"</p>
+
+<p>"What sort of a Professor is your husband?" inquired
+the Tin Woodman curiously.</p>
+
+<p>"He is Professor of Cabbage Culture and Corn
+Perfection. He is very famous in his own family, and
+would be the wonder of the world if he went abroad,"
+said Mrs. Swyne in a voice that was half proud and half
+irritable. "I must also inform you intruders that the
+Professor is a dangerous individual, for he files his
+teeth every morning until they are sharp as needles. If
+you are butchers, you'd better run away and avoid
+trouble."</p>
+
+<p>"We are not butchers," the Tin Woodman assured her.</p>
+
+<p>"Then what are you doing with that axe? And why has
+the other tin man a sword?"</p>
+
+<p>"They are the only weapons we have to defend our
+friends from their enemies," explained the Emperor of
+the Winkies, and Woot added:</p>
+
+<p>"Do not be afraid of us, Mrs. Swyne, for we are
+harmless travelers. The tin men and the Scarecrow never
+eat anything and Polychrome feasts only on dewdrops. As
+for me, I'm rather hungry, but there is plenty of food
+in your garden to satisfy me."</p>
+
+<p>Professor Swyne now joined his wife at the window,
+looking rather scared in spite of the boy's assuring
+speech. He wore a blue Munchkin hat, with pointed crown
+and broad brim, and big spectacles covered his eyes. He
+peeked around from behind his wife and after looking
+hard at the strangers, he said:</p>
+
+<p>"My wisdom assures me that you are merely travelers,
+as you say, and not butchers. Butchers have reason to
+be afraid of me, but you are safe. We cannot invite you
+in, for you are too big for our house, but the boy who
+eats is welcome to all the carrots and turnips he
+wants. Make yourselves at home in the garden and stay
+all night, if you like; but in the morning you must go
+away, for we are quiet people and do not care for company."</p>
+
+<p>"May I have some of your straw?" asked the Scarecrow.</p>
+
+<p>"Help yourself," replied Professor Swyne.</p>
+
+<p>"For pigs, they're quite respectable," remarked Woot,
+as they all went toward the straw-stack.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad they didn't invite us in," said Captain
+Fyter. "I hope I'm not too particular about my
+associates, but I draw the line at pigs."</p>
+
+<p>The Scarecrow was glad to be rid of his hay, for
+during the long walk it had sagged down and made him
+fat and squatty and more bumpy than at first.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not specially proud," he said, "but I love a
+manly figure, such as only straw stuffing can create.
+I've not felt like myself since that hungry Hip-po ate
+my last straw."</p>
+
+<p>Polychrome and Woot set to work removing the hay and
+then they selected the finest straw, crisp and golden,
+and with it stuffed the Scarecrow anew. He certainly
+looked better after the operation, and he was so
+pleased at being reformed that he tried to dance a
+little jig, and almost succeeded.</p>
+
+<p>"I shall sleep under the straw-stack tonight," Woot
+decided, after he had eaten some of the vegetables from
+the garden, and in fact he slept very well, with the
+two tin men and the Scarecrow sitting silently beside
+him and Polychrome away somewhere in the moonlight
+dancing her fairy dances.</p>
+
+<p>At daybreak the Tin Woodman and the Tin Soldier took
+occasion to polish their bodies and oil their joints,
+for both were exceedingly careful of their personal
+appearance. They had forgotten the quarrel due to their
+accidental bumping of one another in the invisible
+country, and being now good friends the Tin Woodman
+polished the Tin Soldier's back for him and then the
+Tin Soldier polished the Tin Woodman's back.</p>
+
+<p>For breakfast the Wanderer ate crisp lettuce and
+radishes, and the Rainbow's Daughter, who had now
+returned to her friends, sipped the dewdrops that had
+formed on the petals of the wild-flowers.</p>
+
+<p>As they passed the little house to renew their
+journey, Woot called out:</p>
+
+<p>"Good-bye, Mr. and Mrs. Swyne!"</p>
+
+<p>The window opened and the two pigs looked out.</p>
+
+<p>"A pleasant journey," said the Professor.</p>
+
+<p>"Have you any children?" asked the Scarecrow, who was
+a great friend of children.</p>
+
+<p>"We have nine," answered the Professor; "but they do
+not live with us, for when they were tiny piglets the
+Wizard of Oz came here and offered to care for them and
+to educate them. So we let him have our nine tiny
+piglets, for he's a good Wizard and can be relied upon
+to keep his promises."</p>
+
+<p>"I know the Nine Tiny Piglets," said the Tin Woodman.</p>
+
+<p>"So do I," said the Scarecrow. "They still live in
+the Emerald City, and the Wizard takes good care of
+them and teaches them to do all sorts of tricks."</p>
+
+<p>"Did they ever grow up?" inquired Mrs. Squealina
+Swyne, in an anxious voice.</p>
+
+<p>"No," answered the Scarecrow; "like all other
+children in the Land of Oz, they will always remain
+children, and in the case of the tiny piglets that is a
+good thing, because they would not be nearly so cute
+and cunning if they were bigger."</p>
+
+<p>"But are they happy?" asked Mrs. Swyne.</p>
+
+<p>"Everyone in the Emerald City is happy," said the Tin
+Woodman. "They can't help it."</p>
+
+<p>Then the travelers said good-bye, and climbed the
+side of the basin that was toward Mount Munch.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter21" id="chapter21">Chapter Twenty-One</a></h2>
+
+<h3>Polychrome's Magic</h3>
+
+
+<p>On this morning, which ought to be the last of this
+important journey, our friends started away as bright
+and cheery as could be, and Woot whistled a merry tune
+so that Polychrome could dance to the music.</p>
+
+<p>On reaching the top of the hill, the plain spread out
+before them in all its beauty of blue grasses and
+wildflowers, and Mount Munch seemed much nearer than it
+had the previous evening. They trudged on at a brisk
+pace, and by noon the mountain was so close that they
+could admire its appearance. Its slopes were partly
+clothed with pretty evergreens, and its foot-hills were
+tufted with a slender waving bluegrass that had a
+tassel on the end of every blade. And, for the first
+time, they perceived, near the foot of the mountain, a
+charming house, not of great size but neatly painted
+and with many flowers surrounding it and vines climbing
+over the doors and windows.</p>
+
+<p>It was toward this solitary house that our travelers
+now directed their steps, thinking to inquire of the
+people who lived there where Nimmie Amee might be
+found.</p>
+
+<p>There were no paths, but the way was quite open and
+clear, and they were drawing near to the dwelling when
+Woot the Wanderer, who was then in the lead of the
+little party, halted with such an abrupt jerk that he
+stumbled over backward and lay flat on his back in the
+meadow. The Scarecrow stopped to look at the boy.</p>
+
+<p>"Why did you do that?" he asked in surprise.</p>
+
+<p>Woot sat up and gazed around him in amazement.</p>
+
+<p>"I — I don't know!" he replied.</p>
+
+<p>The two tin men, arm in arm, started to pass them
+when both halted and tumbled, with a great clatter,
+into a heap beside Woot. Polychrome, laughing at the
+absurd sight, came dancing up and she, also, came to a
+sudden stop, but managed to save herself from falling.</p>
+
+<p>Everyone of them was much astonished, and the
+Scarecrow said with a puzzled look:</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see anything."</p>
+
+<p>"Nor I," said Woot; "but something hit me, just the
+same."</p>
+
+<p>"Some invisible person struck me a heavy blow,"
+declared the Tin Woodman, struggling to separate
+himself from the Tin Soldier, whose legs and arms were
+mixed with his own.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm not sure it was a person," said Polychrome,
+looking more grave than usual. "It seems to me that I
+merely ran into some hard substance which barred my way.
+In order to make sure of this, let me try another place."</p>
+
+<p>She ran back a way and then with much caution
+advanced in a different place, but when she reached a
+position on a line with the others she halted, her arms
+outstretched before her.</p>
+
+<p>"I can feel something hard - something smooth as
+glass," she said, "but I'm sure it is not glass."</p>
+
+<p>"Let me try," suggested Woot, getting up; but when he
+tried to go forward, he discovered the same barrier
+that Polychrome had encountered.</p>
+
+<p>"No," he said, "it isn't glass. But what is it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Air," replied a small voice beside him. "Solid air;
+that's all."</p>
+
+<p>They all looked downward and found a sky-blue rabbit
+had stuck his head out of a burrow in the ground. The
+rabbit's eyes were a deeper blue than his fur, and the
+pretty creature seemed friendly and unafraid.</p>
+
+<p>"Air!" exclaimed Woot, staring in astonishment into
+the rabbit's blue eyes; "whoever heard of air so solid
+that one cannot push it aside?"</p>
+
+<p>"You can't push this air aside," declared the rabbit,
+"for it was made hard by powerful sorcery, and it forms
+a wall that is intended to keep people from getting to
+that house yonder."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh; it's a wall, is it?" said the Tin Woodman.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, it is really a wall," answered the rabbit, "and
+it is fully six feet thick."</p>
+
+<p>"How high is it?" inquired Captain Fyter, the Tin
+Soldier.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, ever so high; perhaps a mile," said the rabbit.</p>
+
+<p>"Couldn't we go around it?" asked Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course, for the wall is a circle," explained the
+rabbit. "In the center of the circle stands the house,
+so you may walk around the Wall of Solid Air, but you
+can't get to the house."</p>
+
+<p>"Who put the air wall around the house?" was the
+Scarecrow's question.</p>
+
+<p>"Nimmie Amee did that."</p>
+
+<p>"Nimmie Amee!" they all exclaimed in surprise.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," answered the rabbit. "She used to live with an
+old Witch, who was suddenly destroyed, and when Nimmie
+Amee ran away from the Witch's house, she took with her
+just one magic formula —pure sorcery it was — which
+enabled her to build this air wall around her house —
+the house yonder. It was quite a clever idea, I think,
+for it doesn't mar the beauty of the landscape, solid
+air being invisible, and yet it keeps all strangers
+away from the house."</p>
+
+<p>"Does Nimmie Amee live there now?" asked the Tin
+Woodman anxiously.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, indeed," said the rabbit.</p>
+
+<p>"And does she weep and wail from morning till night?"
+continued the Emperor.</p>
+
+<p>"No; she seems quite happy," asserted the rabbit.</p>
+
+<p>The Tin Woodman seemed quite disappointed to hear
+this report of his old sweetheart, but the Scarecrow
+reassured his friend, saying:</p>
+
+<p>"Never mind, your Majesty; however happy Nimmie Amee
+is now, I'm sure she will be much happier as Empress of
+the Winkies."</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps," said Captain Fyter, somewhat stiffly, "she
+will be still more happy to become the bride of a Tin
+Soldier."</p>
+
+<p>"She shall choose between us, as we have agreed," the
+Tin Woodman promised; "but how shall we get to the poor
+girl?"</p>
+
+<p>Polychrome, although dancing lightly back and forth,
+had listened to every word of the conversation. Now she
+came forward and sat herself down just in front of the
+Blue Rabbit, her many-hued draperies giving her the
+appearance of some beautiful flower. The rabbit didn't
+back away an inch. Instead, he gazed at the Rainbow's
+Daughter admiringly.</p>
+
+<p>"Does your burrow go underneath this Wall of Air?"
+asked Polychrome.</p>
+
+<p>"To be sure," answered the Blue Rabbit; "I dug it
+that way so I could roam in these broad fields, by
+going out one way, or eat the cabbages in Nimmie Amee's
+garden by leaving my burrow at the other end. I don't
+think Nimmie Amee ought to mind the little I take from
+her garden, or the hole I've made under her magic wall.
+A rabbit may go and come as he pleases, but no one who
+is bigger than I am could get through my burrow."</p>
+
+<p>"Will you allow us to pass through it, if we are able
+to? " inquired Polychrome.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, indeed," answered the Blue Rabbit. "I'm no
+especial friend of Nimmie Amee, for once she threw
+stones at me, just because I was nibbling some lettuce,
+and only yesterday she yelled 'Shoo!' at me, which made
+me nervous. You're welcome to use my burrow in any way
+you choose."</p>
+
+<p>"But this is all nonsense!" declared Woot the
+Wanderer. "We are every one too big to crawl through a
+rabbit's burrow."</p>
+
+<p>"We are too big now," agreed the Scarecrow, "but you
+must remember that Polychrome is a fairy, and fairies
+have many magic powers."</p>
+
+<p>Woot's face brightened as he turned to the lovely
+Daughter of the Rainbow.</p>
+
+<p>"Could you make us all as small as that rabbit?" he
+asked eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>"I can try," answered Polychrome, with a smile. And
+presently she did it — so easily that Woot was not the
+only one astonished. As the now tiny people grouped
+themselves before the rabbit's burrow the hole appeared
+to them like the entrance to a tunnel, which indeed it
+was.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll go first," said wee Polychrome, who had made
+herself grow as small as the others, and into the
+tunnel she danced without hesitation. A tiny Scarecrow
+went next and then the two funny little tin men.</p>
+
+<p>"Walk in; it's your turn," said the Blue Rabbit to
+Woot the Wanderer. "I'm coming after, to see how you
+get along. This will be a regular surprise party to
+Nimmie Amee."</p>
+
+<p>So Woot entered the hole and felt his way along its
+smooth sides in the dark until he finally saw the
+glimmer of daylight ahead and knew the journey was
+almost over. Had he remained his natural size, the
+distance could have been covered in a few steps, but to
+a thumb-high Woot it was quite a promenade. When he
+emerged from the burrow he found himself but a short
+distance from the house, in the center of the vegetable
+garden, where the leaves of rhubarb waving above his
+head seemed like trees. Outside the hole, and waiting
+for him, he found all his friends.</p>
+
+<p>"So far, so good!" remarked the Scarecrow cheerfully.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes; so far, but no farther," returned the Tin
+Woodman in a plaintive and disturbed tone of voice. "I
+am now close to Nimmie Amee, whom I have come ever so
+far to seek, but I cannot ask the girl to marry such a
+little man as I am now."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm no bigger than a toy soldier!" said Captain
+Fyter, sorrowfully. "Unless Polychrome can make us big
+again, there is little use in our visiting Nimmie Amee
+at all, for I'm sure she wouldn't care for a husband
+she might carelessly step on and ruin."</p>
+
+<p>Polychrome laughed merrily.</p>
+
+<p>"If I make you big, you can't get out of here again,"
+said she, "and if you remain little Nimmie Amee will
+laugh at you. So make your choice."</p>
+
+<p>"I think we'd better go back," said Woot seriously</p>
+
+<p>"No," said the Tin Woodman, stoutly, "I have decided
+that it's my duty to make Nimmie Amee happy, in case
+she wishes to marry me."</p>
+
+<p>"So have I," announced Captain Fyter. "A good soldier
+never shrinks from doing his duty."</p>
+
+<p>"As for that," said the Scarecrow, "tin doesn't
+shrink any to speak of, under any circumstances. But
+Woot and I intend to stick to our comrades, whatever
+they decide to do, so we will ask Polychrome to make us
+as big as we were before."</p>
+
+<p>Polychrome agreed to this request and in half a
+minute all of them, including herself, had been
+enlarged again to their natural sizes. They then
+thanked the Blue Rabbit for his kind assistance, and at
+once approached the house of Nimme Amee.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter22" id="chapter22">Chapter Twenty-Two</a></h2>
+
+<h3>Nimmie Amee</h3>
+
+
+<p>We may be sure that at this moment our friends were all
+anxious to see the end of the adventure that had caused
+them so many trials and troubles. Perhaps the Tin
+Woodman's heart did not beat any faster, because it was
+made of red velvet and stuffed with sawdust, and the
+Tin Soldier's heart was made of tin and reposed in his
+tin bosom without a hint of emotion. However, there is
+little doubt that they both knew that a critical moment
+in their lives had arrived, and that Nimmie Amee's
+decision was destined to influence the future of one or
+the other.</p>
+
+<p>As they assumed their natural sizes and the rhubarb
+leaves that had before towered above their heads now
+barely covered their feet, they looked around the
+garden and found that no person was visible save
+themselves. No sound of activity came from the house,
+either, but they walked to the front door, which had a
+little porch built before it, and there the two tinmen
+stood side by side while both knocked upon the door
+with their tin knuckles.</p>
+
+<p>As no one seemed eager to answer the summons they
+knocked again; and then again. Finally they heard a
+stir from within and someone coughed.</p>
+
+<p>"Who's there?" called a girl's voice.</p>
+
+<p>"It's I!" cried the tin twins, together.</p>
+
+<p>"How did you get there?" asked the voice.</p>
+
+<p>They hesitated how to reply, so Woot answered for
+them:</p>
+
+<p>"By means of magic."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh," said the unseen girl. "Are you friends, or
+foes?"</p>
+
+<p>"Friends!" they all exclaimed.</p>
+
+<p>Then they heard footsteps approach the door, which
+slowly opened and revealed a very pretty Munchkin girl
+standing in the doorway.</p>
+
+<p>"Nimmie Amee!" cried the tin twins.</p>
+
+<p>"That's my name," replied the girl, looking at them
+in cold surprise. "But who can you be?"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you know me, Nimmie?" said the Tin Woodman.
+"I'm your old sweetheart, Nick Chopper!"</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you know me, my dear?" said the Tin Soldier.
+"I'm your old sweetheart, Captain Fyter!"</p>
+
+<p>Nimmie Amee smiled at them both. Then she looked
+beyond them at the rest of the party and smiled again.
+However, she seemed more amused than pleased.</p>
+
+<p>"Come in," she said, leading the way inside. "Even
+sweethearts are forgotten after a time, but you and
+your friends are welcome."</p>
+
+<p>The room they now entered was cosy and comfortable,
+being neatly furnished and well swept and dusted. But
+they found someone there besides Nimmie Amee. A man
+dressed in the attractive Munchkin costume was lazily
+reclining in an easy chair, and he sat up and turned
+his eves on the visitors with a cold and indifferent
+stare that was almost insolent. He did not even rise
+from his seat to greet the strangers, but after glaring
+at them he looked away with a scowl, as if they were of
+too little importance to interest him.</p>
+
+<p>The tin men returned this man's stare with interest,
+but they did not look away from him because neither of
+them seemed able to take his eyes off this Munchkin,
+who was remarkable in having one tin arm quite like
+their own tin arms.</p>
+
+<p>"Seems to me," said Captain Fyter, in a voice that
+sounded harsh and indignant, "that you, sir, are a vile
+impostor!"</p>
+
+<p>"Gently — gently!" cautioned the Scarecrow; "don't
+be rude to strangers, Captain."</p>
+
+<p>"Rude?" shouted the Tin Soldier, now very much
+provoked; "why, he's a scoundrel — a thief! The
+villain is wearing my own head!"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," added the Tin Woodman, "and he's wearing my
+right arm! I can recognize it by the two warts on the
+little finger."</p>
+
+<p>"Good gracious!" exclaimed Woot. "Then this must be
+the man whom old Ku-Klip patched together and named
+Chopfyt."</p>
+
+<p>The man now turned toward them, still scowling.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, that is my name," he said in a voice like a
+growl, "and it is absurd for you tin creatures, or for
+anyone else, to claim my head, or arm, or any part of
+me, for they are my personal property."</p>
+
+<p>"You? You're a Nobody!" shouted Captain Fyter.</p>
+
+<p>"You're just a mix-up," declared the Emperor.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, now, gentlemen," interrupted Nimmie Amee, "I
+must ask you to be more respectful to poor Chopfyt.
+For, being my guests, it is not polite for you to
+insult my husband."</p>
+
+<p>"Your husband!" the tin twins exclaimed in dismay.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," said she. "I married Chopfyt a long time ago,
+because my other two sweethearts had deserted me."</p>
+
+<p>This reproof embarrassed both Nick Chopper and
+Captain Fyter. They looked down, shamefaced, for a
+moment, and then the Tin Woodman explained in an
+earnest voice:</p>
+
+<p>"I rusted."</p>
+
+<p>"So did I," said the Tin Soldier.</p>
+
+<p>"I could not know that, of course," asserted Nimmie
+Amee. "All I knew was that neither of you came to marry
+me, as you had promised to do. But men are not scarce
+in the Land of Oz. After I came here to live, I met Mr.
+Chopfyt, and he was the more interesting because he
+reminded me strongly of both of you, as you were before
+you became tin. He even had a tin arm, and that
+reminded me of you the more.</p>
+
+<p>"No wonder!" remarked the Scarecrow.</p>
+
+<p>"But, listen, Nimmie Amee!" said the astonished Woot;
+"he really is both of them, for he is made of their
+cast-off parts."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you're quite wrong," declared Polychrome,
+laughing, for she was greatly enjoying the confusion of
+the others. "The tin men are still themselves, as they
+will tell you, and so Chopfyt must be someone else."</p>
+
+<p>They looked at her bewildered, for the facts in the
+case were too puzzling to be grasped at once.</p>
+
+<p>"It is all the fault of old Ku-Klip," muttered the
+Tin Woodman. "He had no right to use our castoff parts
+to make another man with."</p>
+
+<p>"It seems he did it, however," said Nimmie Amee
+calmly, "and I married him because he resembled you
+both. I won't say he is a husband to be proud of,
+because he has a mixed nature and isn't always an
+agreeable companion. There are times when I have to
+chide him gently, both with my tongue and with my
+broomstick. But he is my husband, and I must make the
+best of him."</p>
+
+<p>"If you don't like him," suggested the Tin Woodman,
+"Captain Fyter and I can chop him up with our axe and
+sword, and each take such parts of the fellow as belong
+to him. Then we are willing for you to select one of
+us as your husband."</p>
+
+<p>"That is a good idea," approved Captain Fyter,
+drawing his sword.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Nimmie Amee; "I think I'll keep the
+husband I now have. He is now trained to draw the water
+and carry in the wood and hoe the cabbages and weed the
+flower-beds and dust the furniture and perform many
+tasks of a like character. A new husband would have to
+be scolded — and gently chided — until he learns my
+ways. So I think it will be better to keep my Chopfyt,
+and I see no reason why you should object to him. You
+two gentlemen threw him away when you became tin,
+because you had no further use for him, so you cannot
+justly claim him now. I advise you to go back to your
+own homes and forget me, as I have forgotten you."</p>
+
+<p>"Good advice!" laughed Polychrome, dancing.</p>
+
+<p>"Are you happy?" asked the Tin Soldier.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I am," said Nimmie Amee; "I'm the mistress
+of all I survey — the queen of my little domain."</p>
+
+<p>"Wouldn't you like to be the Empress of the Winkies?"
+asked the Tin Woodman.</p>
+
+<p>"Mercy, no," she answered. "That would be a lot of
+bother. I don't care for society, or pomp, or posing.
+All I ask is to be left alone and not to be annoyed by
+visitors."</p>
+
+<p>The Scarecrow nudged Woot the Wanderer.</p>
+
+<p>"That sounds to me like a hint," he said.</p>
+
+<p>"Looks as if we'd had our journey for nothing,"
+remarked Woot, who was a little ashamed and
+disappointed because he had proposed the journey.</p>
+
+<p>"I am glad, however," said the Tin Woodman, "that I
+have found Nimmie Amee, and discovered that she is
+already married and happy. It will relieve me of any
+further anxiety concerning her."</p>
+
+<p>"For my part," said the Tin Soldier, "I am not sorry
+to be free. The only thing that really annoys me is
+finding my head upon Chopfyt's body."</p>
+
+<p>"As for that, I'm pretty sure it is my body, or a
+part of it, anyway," remarked the Emperor of the
+Winkies. "But never mind, friend Soldier; let us be
+willing to donate our cast-off members to insure the
+happiness of Nimmie Amee, and be thankful it is not our
+fate to hoe cabbages and draw water —and be chided —
+in the place of this creature Chopfyt."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes," agreed the Soldier, "we have much to be
+thankful for."</p>
+
+<p>Polychrome, who had wandered outside, now poked her
+pretty head through an open window and exclaimed in a
+pleased voice:</p>
+
+<p>"It's getting cloudy. Perhaps it is going to rain!"</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter23" id="chapter23">Chapter Twenty-Three</a></h2>
+
+<h3>Through the Tunnel</h3>
+
+
+<p>It didn't rain just then, although the clouds in the
+sky grew thicker and more threatening. Polychrome hoped
+for a thunder-storm, followed by her Rainbow, but the
+two tin men did not relish the idea of getting wet.
+They even preferred to remain in Nimmie Amee's house,
+although they felt they were not welcome there, rather
+than go out and face the coming storm. But the
+Scarecrow, who was a very thoughtful person, said to
+his friends:</p>
+
+<p>"If we remain here until after the storm, and
+Polychrome goes away on her Rainbow, then we
+will be prisoners inside the Wall of Solid Air; so
+it seems best to start upon our return journey at
+once. If I get wet, my straw stuffing will be ruined,
+and if you two tin gentlemen get wet, you may
+perhaps rust again, and become useless. But even
+that is better than to stay here. Once we are free
+of the barrier, we have Woot the Wanderer to help
+us, and he can oil your joints and restuff my body,
+if it becomes necessary, for the boy is made of meat,
+which neither rusts nor gets soggy or moldy."</p>
+
+<p>"Come along, then!" cried Polychrome from the window,
+and the others, realizing the wisdom of the Scarecrow's
+speech, took leave of Nimmie Amee, who was glad to be
+rid of them, and said good-bye to her husband, who
+merely scowled and made no answer, and then they
+hurried from the house.</p>
+
+<p>"Your old parts are not very polite, I must say,"
+remarked the Scarecrow, when they were in the garden.</p>
+
+<p>"No," said Woot, "Chopfyt is a regular grouch. He
+might have wished us a pleasant journey, at the very
+least."</p>
+
+<p>"I beg you not to hold us responsible for that
+creature's actions," pleaded the Tin Woodman. "We are
+through with Chopfyt and shall have nothing further to
+do with him."</p>
+
+<p>Polychrome danced ahead of the party and led them
+straight to the burrow of the Blue Rabbit, which they
+might have had some difficulty in finding without her.
+There she lost no time in making them all small again.
+The Blue Rabbit was busy nibbling cabbage leaves in
+Nimmie Amee's garden, so they did not ask his
+permission but at once entered the burrow.</p>
+
+<p>Even now the raindrops were beginning to fall, but it
+was quite dry inside the tunnel and by the time they
+had reached the other end, outside the circular Wall of
+Solid Air, the storm was at its height and the rain was
+coming down in torrents.</p>
+
+<p>"Let us wait here," proposed Polychrome, peering out
+of the hole and then quickly retreating. "The Rainbow
+won't appear until after the storm and I can make you
+big again in a jiffy, before I join my sisters on our
+bow."</p>
+
+<p>"That's a good plan," said the Scarecrow approvingly.
+"It will save me from getting soaked and soggy."</p>
+
+<p>"It will save me from rusting," said the Tin Soldier.</p>
+
+<p>"It will enable me to remain highly polished," said
+the Tin Woodman.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, as for that, I myself prefer not to get my
+pretty clothes wet," laughed the Rainbow's daughter.</p>
+
+<p>"But while we wait I will bid you all adieu. I must
+also thank you for saving me from that dreadful
+Giantess, Mrs. Yoop. You have been good and patient
+comrades and I have enjoyed our adventures together,
+but I am never so happy as when on my dear Rainbow."</p>
+
+<p>"Will your father scold you for getting left on the
+earth?" asked Woot.</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose so," said Polychrome gaily; "I'm always
+getting scolded for my mad pranks, as they are called.
+My sisters are so sweet and lovely and proper that they
+never dance off our Rainbow, and so they never have any
+adventures. Adventures to me are good fun, only I never
+like to stay too long on earth, because I really don't
+belong here. I shall tell my Father the Rainbow that
+I'll try not to be so careless again, and he will
+forgive me because in our sky mansions there is always
+joy and happiness."</p>
+
+<p>They were indeed sorry to part with their dainty and
+beautiful companion and assured her of their devotion
+if they ever chanced to meet again. She shook hands
+with the Scarecrow and the Tin Men and kissed Woot the
+Wanderer lightly upon his forehead.</p>
+
+<p>And then the rain suddenly ceased, and as the tiny
+people left the burrow of the Blue Rabbit, a glorious
+big Rainbow appeared in the sky and the end of its arch
+slowly de</p>scended and touched the ground just where they
+stood.
+
+<p>Woot was so busy watching a score of lovely maidens
+— sisters of Polychrome — who were leaning over the
+edge of the bow, and another score who danced gaily
+amid the radiance of the splendid hues, that he did not
+notice he was growing big again. But now Polychrome
+joined her sisters on the Rainbow and the huge arch
+lifted and slowly melted away as the sun burst from the
+clouds and sent its own white beams dancing over the
+meadows.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, she's gone!" exclaimed the boy, and turned to
+see his companions still waving their hands in token of
+adieu to the vanished Polychrome.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+
+<h2><a name="chapter24" id="chapter24">Chapter Twenty-Four</a></h2>
+
+<h3>The Curtain Falls</h3>
+
+
+<p>Well, the rest of the story is quickly told, for the
+return Journey of our adventurers was without any
+important incident. The Scarecrow was so afraid of
+meeting the Hip-po-gy-raf, and having his straw eaten
+again, that he urged his comrades to select another
+route to the Emerald City, and they willingly
+consented, so that the Invisible Country was wholly
+avoided.</p>
+
+<p>Of course, when they reached the Emerald City their
+first duty was to visit Ozma's palace, where they were
+royally entertained. The Tin Soldier and Woot the
+Wanderer were welcomed as warmly as any strangers might
+be who had been the traveling companions of Ozma's dear
+old friends, the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman.</p>
+
+<p>At the banquet table that evening they related the
+manner in which they had discovered Nimmie Amee, and
+told how they had found her happily married to Chopfyt,
+whose relationship to Nick Chopper and Captain Fyter
+was so bewildering that they asked Ozma's advice what
+to do about it.</p>
+
+<p>"You need not consider Chopfyt at all," replied the
+beautiful girl Ruler of Oz. "If Nimmie Amee is content
+with that misfit man for a husband, we have not even
+just cause to blame Ku-Klip for gluing him together."</p>
+
+<p>"I think it was a very good idea," added little
+Dorothy, "for if Ku-Klip hadn't used up your castoff
+parts, they would have been wasted. It's wicked to be
+wasteful, isn't it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, anyhow," said Woot the Wanderer, "Chopfyt,
+being kept a prisoner by his wife, is too far away from
+anyone to bother either of you tin men in any way. If
+you hadn't gone where he is and discovered him, you
+would never have worried about him."</p>
+
+<p>"What do you care, anyhow," Betsy Bobbin asked the
+Tin Woodman, "so long as Nimmie Amee is satisfied?"</p>
+
+<p>"And just to think," remarked Tiny Trot, "that any
+girl would rather live with a mixture like Chopfyt, on
+far-away Mount Munch, than to be the Empress of the
+Winkies!"</p>
+
+<p>"It is her own choice," said the Tin Woodman
+contentedly; "and, after all, I'm not sure the Winkies
+would care to have an Empress."</p>
+
+<p>It puzzled Ozma, for a time, to decide what to do
+with the Tin Soldier. If he went with the Tin Woodman
+to the Emperor's castle, she felt that the two tin men
+might not be able to live together in harmony, and
+moreover the Emperor would not be so distinguished if
+he had a double constantly beside him. So she asked
+Captain Fyter if he was willing to serve her as a
+soldier, and he promptly declared that nothing would
+please him more. After he had been in her service for
+some time, Ozma sent him into the Gillikin Country,
+with instructions to keep order among the wild people
+who inhabit some parts of that unknown country of Oz.</p>
+
+<p>As for Woot, being a Wanderer by profession, he was
+allowed to wander wherever he desired, and Ozma
+promised to keep watch over his future journeys and to
+protect the boy as well as she was able, in case he
+ever got into more trouble.</p>
+
+<p>All this having been happily arranged, the Tin
+Woodman returned to his tin castle, and his chosen
+comrade, the Scarecrow, accompanied him on the way. The
+two friends were sure to pass many pleasant hours
+together in talking over their recent adventures, for
+as they neither ate nor slept they found their greatest
+amusement in conversation.</p>
+
+<hr />
+
+</div>
+
+<div id="books">
+
+<h2>THE FAMOUS OZ BOOKS</h2>
+<div class="center">By L. Frank Baum:</div>
+
+<ul>
+<li>The Wizard of Oz</li>
+<li>The Land of Oz</li>
+<li>Ozma of Oz</li>
+<li>Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz</li>
+<li>The Road to Oz</li>
+<li>The Emerald City of Oz</li>
+<li>The Patchwork Girl of Oz</li>
+<li>Tik-Tok of Oz</li>
+<li>The Scarecrow of Oz</li>
+<li>Rinkitink in Oz</li>
+<li>The Lost Princess of Oz</li>
+<li>The Tin Woodman of Oz</li>
+<li>The Magic Of Oz</li>
+<li>Glinda of Oz</li>
+</ul>
+
+<br /><br />
+
+</div>
+
+<pre>
+End of Project Gutenberg's Etext of The Tin Woodman of Oz, by Baum
+</pre>
+
+</body>
+</html>
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