Oz 12: The Tin Woodman of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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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 ajiffy, 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 .

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