Oz 02: The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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with good reason, that if his majesty and_the tin woodman joined forces, it would mean danger to her and her entire army; for_the people of Oz had_not yet forgotten the deeds of_these famous heroes, who had passed successfully through so_many startling adventures .

so Jinjur sent post- haste for old Mombi, the witch, and promised her large rewards if she_would come to_the assistance of_the rebel army .

Mombi was furious at_the trick tip had played upon her as_well as at his escape and_the theft of_the precious powder of life; so she needed no urging

136 to induce her to travel to_the emerald city to assist Jinjur in defeating the Scarecrow and_the tin woodman, who had made tip one of_their friends .

Mombi had no sooner arrived at_the royal palace than she discovered, by_means of her secret magic, that_the adventurers were starting upon their journey to_the emerald city; so she retired to a small room high up in atower and locked herself in while she practised such arts as she_could command to_prevent the return of_the Scarecrow and_his companions .

that was why the tin woodman presently stopped and said:

" something very curious has happened .I ought to_know by heart and every step of_this journey, yet I_fear we_have already lost our way ."

" that_is quite impossible ! " protested the Scarecrow ." why do_you_think, my dear friend, that we have_gone astray ? "

" why, here before_us is a great field of sunflowers -- and I never saw this field before in all my life ."

at_these words they all looked around, only to_find that_they were indeed surrounded by a field of tall stalks, every stalk bearing at its top a gigantic sunflower . and not_only were these flowers almost

137 blinding in their vivid hues of red and gold, but each_one whirled around upon its stalk like a miniature wind- mill, completely dazzling the vision of_the beholders and so mystifying them that_they knew not which_way to_turn .

" it's witchcraft ! " exclaimed tip .

while they paused, hesitating and wondering, the tin woodman uttered a cry of impatience and advanced with swinging axe to cut down the stalks before him . but now the sunflowers suddenly stopped their rapid whirling, and_the travelers plainly saw a girl's face appear in_the center of each flower . these lovely faces looked upon_the astonished band with mocking smiles, and then burst into a chorus of merry laughter at_the dismay their appearance caused .

" stop ! stop ! " cried tip, seizing the woodman's arm; " they're alive ! they're girls ! "

at_that moment the flowers began whirling again, and_the faces faded away and were lost in_the rapid revolutions .

the tin woodman dropped his axe and sat down upon_the ground .

" it would_be heartless to chop down those pretty creatures," said he, despondently ." and yet I_do_not know how else we_can proceed upon our way"

" they looked to_me strangely like the faces of

138 the army of revolt," mused the Scarecrow ." but I_cannot conceive how the girls could_have followed us here so quickly ."

"I believe it's magic," said tip, positively, " and_that someone is playing a trick upon us .I've known old Mombi do things like that before . probably it's nothing more than an illusion, and there_are no sunflowers here at all ."

" then let_us shut our eyes and walk forward," suggested the woodman .

" excuse me," replied the Scarecrow ." my eyes are_not painted to shut . because you happen to_have tin eyelids, you_must not imagine we_are all built in_the same way ."

" and_the eyes of_the saw- horse are knot eyes," said jack, leaning forward to examine them .

" nevertheless, you_must ride quickly forward," commanded tip, " and we_will follow after you and so try to escape . my eyes are already so dazzled that I_can scarcely see ."

so the Pumpkinhead rode boldly forward, and tip grasped the stub tail of_the saw- horse and followed with closed eyes . the Scarecrow and_the tin woodman brought up the rear, and before_they had gone many yards a joyful shout from jack announced that_the way was clear before them .

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then all paused to look backward, but not a trace of_the field of sunflowers remained .

more cheerfully, now they proceeded upon their journey; but old Mombi had so changed the appearance of_the landscape that they_would surely have_been lost had_not the Scarecrow wisely concluded to_take their direction from_the sun . for no witch- craft could change the course of_the sun, and it_was therefore a safe guide .

however, other difficulties lay before them . the saw- horse stepped into a rabbit hole and fell to_the ground . the Pumpkinhead was pitched high into_the air, and_his history would probably have ended at_that exact moment had_not the tin woodman skillfully caught the pumpkin as it descended and saved it from injury .

tip soon had it fitted to_the neck again and replaced jack upon his feet . but the saw- horse did_not escape so easily . for when his leg was pulled from_the rabbit hole it_was found to_be broken short off, and must_be replaced or repaired before he_could go a step farther .

" this_is quite serious," said the tin woodman ." if there were trees near by I_might soon manufacture another leg for_this animal; but I cannot_see even a shrub for miles around ."

140 full page line- art drawing .

the tin woodman skillfully caught the pumpkin

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" and there_are neither fences nor houses in_this part of_the land of Oz," added the Scarecrow, disconsolately .

" then what shall we_do ? " enquired the boy .

"I suppose I_must start my brains working," replied his majesty the Scarecrow; " for experience has, taught me that I_can do anything if I but take time to_think it out ."

" let_us all think," said tip; " and perhaps we_shall find a way to repair the saw- horse ."

so they sat in a row upon_the grass and began to_think, while the saw- horse occupied itself by gazing curiously upon its broken limb .

"Does it hurt ? " asked the tin woodman, in a soft, sympathetic voice .

" not in_the least," returned the saw- horse; " but my pride is injured to_find that my anatomy is so brittle ."

for a time the little group remained in silent thought . presently the tin woodman raised his head and looked over the fields .

" what sort of creature is_that which approaches us ? " he asked, wonderingly .

the others followed his gaze, and discovered coming toward them the most extraordinary object they had ever beheld . it advanced quickly and

142 noiselessly over the soft grass and in_a_few_minutes stood before_the adventurers and regarded them with an astonishment equal to_their own .

the Scarecrow was calm under all circumstances .

" good morning ! " he_said, politely .

the stranger removed his hat with a flourish, bowed very low, and then responded:

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" good morning, one and all . I_hope you_are, as an aggregation, enjoying excellent health . permit me to_present my card ."

with_this courteous speech it extended a card toward the Scarecrow, who accepted it, turned it over and over, and handed it with a shake of_his head to tip .

the boy read aloud:

"MR .H .M .WOGGLE- bug, T .E ."

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" dear me ! " ejaculated the Pumpkinhead, staring somewhat intently .

" how very peculiar ! " said the tin woodman .

tip's eyes were round and wondering, and_the saw- horse uttered a sigh and turned away its head .

" are_you really aWoggle- bug ? " enquired the Scarecrow .

" most certainly, my dear_Sir ! " answered the stranger, briskly ." is_not my name upon_the card ? "

" it_is," said the Scarecrow ." but may I ask what 'H .M .' stands for ? "

"'H .M .' means highly Magnified," returned the Woggle- bug, proudly .

"Oh, I_see ." the Scarecrow viewed the stranger critically ." and are_you, in truth, highly magnified ? "

" sir," said the Woggle- bug, "I take you for a gentleman of judgment and discernment .Does it not occur to_you that I_am several thousand times greater than any Woggle- bug you ever saw before ? therefore it_is plainly evident that I_am highly Magnified, and there_is no good reason why you_should doubt the fact ."

" pardon me," returned the Scarecrow ." my brains are slightly mixed since i_was last laundered . would it be improper for_me to ask, also, what the 'T .E .' at_the end of your_name stands for ? "

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" those letters express my degree," answered the Woggle- bug, with acondescending smile ." to_be more explicit, the initials mean that I_am thoroughly educated ."

"Oh ! " said the Scarecrow, much relieved .

tip had_not yet taken his eyes off this wonderful personage . what he_saw was a great, round, buglike body supported upon two slender legs which ended in delicate feet -- the toes curling upward . the body of_the Woggle- bug was rather flat, and judging from what could_be seen of it_was of aglistening dark brown color upon_the back, while the front was striped with alternate bands of light brown and white, blending together at_the edges . its arms were fully as slender as its legs, and upon a rather long neck was perched its head -- not unlike the head of a man, except that its nose ended in acurling antenna, or " feeler," and its ears from_the upper points bore antennae that decorated the sides of_its head like two miniature, curling Pig tails . it must_be admitted that_the round, black eyes were rather bulging in appearance; but the expression upon_the Woggle- bug's face was by no means unpleasant .

for dress the insect wore a dark- blue swallowtail coat with a yellow silk lining and a flower in_the button- hole; a vest of white duck that stretched

145 tightly across the wide body; knickerbockers of fawn- colored plush, fastened at_the knees with gilt buckles; and, perched upon its small head, was jauntily set a tall silk hat .

Standing upright before our amazed friends the Woggle- bug appeared to_be fully as tall as_the tin woodman; and surely no bug in all the land of Oz had ever before attained so enormous a size .

"I confess," said the Scarecrow, " that your abrupt appearance has caused me surprise, and no_doubt has startled my companions . I_hope, however, that_this circumstance will not distress you . we_shall probably get used to_you in_time ."

" do_not apologize, I beg of you ! " returned the Woggle- bug, earnestly ." it affords me great pleasure to_surprise people; for surely I_cannot_be classed with ordinary insects and am entitled to both curiosity and admiration from those I meet ."

" you_are, indeed," agreed his majesty .

" if_you_will permit me to seat myself in your August company," continued the stranger, " i_will gladly relate my history, so_that you_will_be better able to comprehend my unusual -- may I_say remarkable ? -- appearance ."

" you_may say what you please," answered the tin woodman, briefly .

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so the Woggle- bug sat down upon_the grass, facing the little group of wanderers, and told them the following story:

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147 a highly Magnified history

" it_is but honest that i_should acknowledge at_the beginning of_my recital that i_was born an ordinary Woggle- bug," began the creature, in a frank and friendly tone ."Knowing no better, I used my arms as_well as my legs for walking, and crawled under the edges of stones or hid among_the roots of grasses with no thought beyond finding a few insects smaller than myself to feed upon .

" the chill nights rendered me stiff and motionless, for I wore no clothing, but each_morning the warm rays of_the sun gave_me new life and restored me to activity .a horrible existence is_this, but you_must remember it_is_the regular ordained existence of Woggle-Bugs, as_well as of many_other tiny creatures that inhabit the earth .

" but destiny had singled me out, humble though i_was, for agrander fate ! one day I crawled near

148 to a country school house, and my curiosity being excited by_the monotonous hum of_the students within, I_made bold to enter and creep along a crack between two boards until I reached the far end, where, in front of a hearth of glowing embers, sat the master at his desk .

" no one noticed so small a creature as aWoggle- bug, and when I_found that_the hearth was even warmer and more comfortable than_the sunshine, I resolved to establish my future home beside it . so I_found acharming nest between two bricks and hid myself therein for many, many months .

" professor Nowitall is, doubtless, the most famous scholar in_the land of Oz, and after a few_days I began to listen to_the lectures and discourses he_gave his pupils . not one_of_them was more attentive than_the humble, unnoticed Woggle- bug, and I acquired in_this_way a fund of knowledge that i_will myself confess is simply marvelous . that_is why I place 'T .E .' thoroughly educated upon my cards; for_my greatest pride lies in_the fact that_the world cannot produce another Woggle- bug with atenth part of_my own culture and erudition ."

" I_do_not blame you," said the Scarecrow ." education is a thing to_be proud of .I'm educated myself . the mess of brains given me by_the great

149 wizard is considered by my friends to_be unexcelled ."

" nevertheless," interrupted the tin woodman, "a good heart is, I believe, much more desirable than education or brains ."

" to_me," said the saw- horse, "a good leg is more desirable than either ."

" could seeds be considered in_the light of brains ? " enquired the Pumpkinhead, abruptly .

" keep quiet ! " commanded tip, sternly .

" very_well, dear father," answered the obedient jack .

the Woggle- bug listened patiently -- even respectfully -- to_these remarks, and then resumed his story .

" I_must_have lived fully three years in_that secluded school- house hearth," said he, "drinking thirstily of_the

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