Oz 07: The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24]
thing we_can do is to_get to land before we're carried any farther ."

but they_could_not get to land . they had no oars, nor even a pole to guide the raft with . the logs which bore them floated in_the middle of_the stream and were held fast in_that position by_the strong current .

so they sat still and waited and, even while they were wondering what could_be_done, the raft slowed down, stopped, and began drifting the other way-- in_the direction it had first followed . after a time they repassed the Quadling house and_the man was still standing on_the bank . he cried out to_them:

" good day ! glad_to_see you again .I expect I_shall see you a good many_times, as_you go by, unless you happen to swim ashore ."

by_that_time they had left him behind and were headed once more straight toward the Winkie country .

" this_is pretty hard luck," said Ojo in a discouraged voice ." the trick river keeps changing, it seems, and here we_must float back and forward forever, unless we manage in some way to_get ashore ."

" can_you swim ? " asked Dorothy .

" no; I'm Ojo the unlucky ."

" neither can I .Toto can swim a little, but that won't help_us to_get to shore ."

"I don't know whether I_could swim, or not," remarked Scraps; " but if I tried it I'd surely ruin my lovely patches ."

" my straw would get soggy in_the water and i_would sink," said the Scarecrow .

so there seemed no way out of_their dilemma and being helpless they simply sat still .Ojo, who was on_the front of_the raft, looked over into_the water and thought he_saw some large fishes swimming about . he_found a loose end of_the clothesline which fastened the logs together, and taking a gold nail from_his pocket he bent it nearly double, to_form a hook, and tied it to_the end of_the line .Having baited the hook with some bread which he broke from_his loaf, he dropped the line into_the water and almost instantly it_was seized by a great fish .

they knew it_was a great fish, because it pulled so hard on_the line that_it dragged the raft forward even faster than_the current of_the river had carried it . the fish was frightened, and it_was a strong swimmer . as_the other end of_the clothesline was bound around the logs he_could_not get it away, and as he had greedily swallowed the gold hook at_the first bite he_could_not get rid of_that, either .

when_they reached the place where the current had before changed, the fish was still swimming ahead in its wild attempt to escape . the raft slowed down, yet it did_not stop, because the fish would_not let it . it continued to move in_the same direction it had_been going . as_the current reversed and rushed backward on its course it failed to drag the raft with it . slowly, inch by inch, they floated on, and_the fish tugged and tugged and kept them going .

" I_hope he won't give up," said Ojo anxiously ." if_the fish can hold out until the current changes again, we'll be all right ."

the fish did_not give up, but held the raft bravely on its course, till at last the water in_the river shifted again and floated them the way they wanted to_go . but now the captive fish found its strength failing .Seeking a refuge, it began to drag the raft toward the shore . as they_did_not wish to land in_this place the boy cut the rope with_his pocket- knife and set the fish free, just in_time to_prevent the raft from grounding .

the next_time the river backed up the Scarecrow managed to seize the branch of a tree that overhung the water and_they all assisted him to hold fast and prevent the raft from being carried backward . while they waited here, Ojo spied a long broken branch lying upon_the bank, so he leaped ashore and got it . when he had stripped off the side shoots he believed he_could use the branch as a pole, to guide the raft in_case of emergency .

they clung to_the tree until they found the water flowing the right way, when_they let go and permitted the raft to resume its voyage . in_spite of_these pauses they were really making good progress toward the Winkie country and having found a way to conquer the adverse current their spirits rose considerably . they_could see little of_the country through which they were passing, because of_the high banks, and_they met with no boats or other craft upon_the surface of_the river .

once more the trick river reversed its current, but this_time the Scarecrow was on guard and used the pole to push the raft toward a big rock which lay in_the water . he believed the rock would prevent their floating backward with_the current, and so it did . they clung to_this anchorage until the water resumed its proper direction, when_they allowed the raft to drift on .

Floating around a bend they saw ahead a high bank of water, extending across the entire river, and toward this they were being irresistibly carried . there being no way to arrest the progress of_the raft they clung fast to_the logs and let the river sweep them on . swiftly the raft climbed the bank of water and slid down on_the other side, plunging its edge deep into_the water and drenching them all with spray .

as again the raft righted and drifted on, Dorothy and Ojo laughed at_the ducking they had received; but Scraps was much dismayed and_the Scarecrow took out his handkerchief and wiped the water off the patchwork girl's patches as_well as he_was able to . the sun soon dried her and_the colors of her patches proved good, for they_did_not run together nor did they fade .

after passing the wall of water the current did_not change or flow backward any more but continued to sweep them steadily forward . the banks of_the river grew lower, too, permitting them to_see more of_the country, and presently they discovered yellow buttercups and dandelions growing amongst the grass, from_which evidence they knew they had reached the Winkie country .

"Don't you_think we ought to land ? " Dorothy asked the Scarecrow .

" pretty soon," he replied ." the tin woodman's castle is in_the southern part of_the Winkie country, and so it can't be a great way from here ."

Fearing they_might drift too far, Dorothy and Ojo now stood up and raised the Scarecrow in their arms, as high as they_could, thus allowing him a good view of_the country . for a time he_saw nothing he recognized, but finally he cried:

" there it_is ! there it_is ! "

" what ? " asked Dorothy .

" the tin woodman's tin castle . I_can_see its turrets glittering in_the sun . it's quite a way off, but we'd better land as quickly as_we_can ."

they let him down and began to urge the raft toward the shore by_means of_the pole . it obeyed very_well, for_the current was more sluggish now, and soon they had reached the bank and landed safely .

the Winkie country was really beautiful, and across the fields they_could see afar the silvery sheen of_the tin castle . with light hearts they hurried toward it, being fully rested by their long ride on_the river .

by and by they began to cross an immense field of splendid yellow lilies, the delicate fragrance of which_was very delightful .

" how beautiful they_are ! " cried Dorothy, stopping to admire the perfection of_these exquisite flowers .

" yes," said the Scarecrow, reflectively, " but we_must_be careful not to crush or injure any of_these lilies ."

" why_not ? " asked Ojo .

" the tin woodman is very kind-hearted," was_the reply, " and he hates to_see any living thing hurt in any_way ."

" are flowers alive ? " asked Scraps .

" yes, of_course . and these flowers belong to_the tin woodman . so, in_order not to offend him, we_must not tread on a single blossom ."

" once," said Dorothy, " the tin woodman stepped on a beetle and killed the little creature . that made him very unhappy and he cried until his tears rusted his joints, so he couldn't move 'em ."

" what did he do then ? " asked Ojo .

" put oil on them, until the joints worked smooth again ."

"Oh ! " exclaimed the boy, as_if a great discovery had flashed across his mind . but he_did_not tell anybody what the discovery was and kept the idea to himself .

it_was a long walk, but a pleasant one, and they_did_not mind it a bit . late in_the afternoon they drew near to_the wonderful tin castle of_the emperor of_the Winkies, and Ojo and Scraps, who had never seen it before, were filled with amazement .

tin abounded in_the Winkie country and_the Winkies were said to_be the most skillful tinsmiths in all the world . so the tin woodman had employed them in building his magnificent castle, which_was all of tin, from_the ground to_the tallest turret, and so brightly polished that_it glittered in_the sun's rays more gorgeously than silver . around the grounds of_the castle ran a tin wall, with tin gates; but the gates stood wide open because the emperor had no enemies to disturb him .

when_they entered the spacious grounds our travelers found more to admire . tin fountains sent sprays of clear water far into_the air and there were many beds of tin flowers, all as perfectly formed as any natural flowers might_be . there were tin trees, too, and here and there shady bowers of tin, with tin benches and chairs to sit upon . also, on_the sides of_the pathway leading up_to_the front door of_the castle, were rows of tin statuary, very cleverly executed . among_these Ojo recognized statues of Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, the wizard, the shaggy man, jack Pumpkinhead and Ozma, all standing upon neat pedestals of tin .

Toto was well acquainted with_the residence of_the tin woodman and, being assured a joyful welcome, he ran ahead and barked so loudly at_the front door that_the tin woodman heard him and came out in person to_see if_it were really his old friend Toto . next moment the tin man had clasped the Scarecrow in a warm embrace and then turned to hug Dorothy . but now his eye was arrested by_the strange sight of_the patchwork girl, and he gazed upon her in mingled wonder and admiration .

chapter Twenty-Seven

the tin woodman Objects

the tin woodman was one_of_the_most important personages in all Oz . though emperor of_the Winkies, he owed allegiance to Ozma, who ruled all the land, and_the girl and_the tin man were warm personal friends . he_was something of a dandy and kept his tin body brilliantly polished and_his tin joints well oiled . also he_was very courteous in manner and so kind and gentle that everyone loved him . the emperor greeted Ojo and Scraps with cordial hospitality and ushered the entire party into his handsome tin parlor, where all the furniture and pictures were made of tin . the walls were paneled with tin and from_the tin ceiling hung tin chandeliers .

the tin woodman wanted to_know, first of all, where Dorothy had found the patchwork girl, so between_them the visitors told the story of how Scraps was_made, as_well as_the accident to Margolotte and Unc Nunkie and how Ojo had set out upon a journey to procure the things needed for_the crooked magician's magic charm . then Dorothy told of_their adventures in_the Quadling country and how at last they succeeded in getting the water from a dark well .

while the little girl was relating these adventures the tin woodman sat in an easy chair listening with intense interest, while the others sat grouped around him .Ojo, however, had kept his eyes fixed upon_the body of_the tin emperor, and now he noticed that under the joint of_his left knee a tiny drop of oil was forming . he watched this drop of oil with a fast-beating heart, and feeling in_his pocket brought out a tiny vial of crystal, which he held secreted in_his hand .

presently the tin woodman changed his position, and at once Ojo, to_the astonishment of all, dropped to_the floor and held his crystal vial under the emperor's knee joint . just then the drop of oil fell, and_the boy caught it in_his bottle and immediately corked it tight . then, with a red face and embarrassed manner, he rose to confront the others .

" what in_the_world were you doing ? " asked the tin woodman .

"I caught a drop of oil that fell from your knee- joint," confessed Ojo .

"A drop of oil ! " exclaimed the tin woodman ." dear me, how careless my valet must_have been in oiling me this_morning .I'm afraid I_shall_have to scold the fellow, for I_can't be dropping oil wherever I go ."

" never mind," said Dorothy ."Ojo seems glad_to_have the oil, for some reason ."

" yes," declared the Munchkin boy, " I_am_glad . for one_of_the things the crooked magician sent me to_get was a drop of oil from a live man's body .I had no idea, at first, that there_was such a thing; but it's now safe in_the little crystal vial ."

" you_are very welcome to_it, indeed," said the tin woodman ." have_you now secured all the things you were in search of ? "

" not quite all," answered Ojo ." there were five things I had to_get, and I_have found four of_them . I_have the three hairs in_the tip of a woozy's tail, asix-leaved clover, a gill of water from a dark well and a drop of oil from a live man's body . the

Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24]