Oz 12: The Tin Woodman of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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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 aHip-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 adisappointed 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 aHip-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

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