Oz 01: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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so Dorothy went first, holding Toto in her arms, the tin woodman followed, and_the Scarecrow came next . the lion, although he_was certainly afraid, turned to_face the Kalidahs, and then he_gave so loud and terrible a roar that Dorothy screamed and_the Scarecrow fell over backward, while even the fierce beasts stopped short and looked at him in surprise .

but, seeing they were bigger than_the lion, and remembering that there were two of_them and only_one of him, the Kalidahs again rushed forward, and_the lion crossed over the tree and turned to_see what they_would do next . without stopping an instant the fierce beasts also began to cross the tree . and_the lion said to Dorothy:

" we_are lost, for they_will surely tear us to pieces with their sharp claws . but stand close behind me, and_I_will fight them as long as I_am alive ."

" wait a minute ! " called the Scarecrow . he had_been thinking what_was best to_be_done, and now he asked the woodman to chop away the end of_the tree that rested on their side of_the ditch . the tin woodman began to use his axe at once, and, just as_the two Kalidahs were nearly across, the tree fell with a crash into_the gulf, carrying the ugly, snarling brutes with it, and both were dashed to pieces on_the sharp rocks at_the bottom .

" well," said the cowardly lion, drawing a long breath of relief, " I_see we_are going to live a little while longer, and I_am_glad of it, for_it must_be a very uncomfortable thing not to_be alive . those creatures frightened me so badly that my heart is beating yet ."

"Ah," said the tin woodman sadly, " i_wish I had a heart to beat ."

this adventure made the travelers more anxious than ever to_get out_of_the forest, and_they walked so fast that Dorothy became tired, and had to ride on_the lion's back . to_their great joy the trees became thinner the farther they advanced, and in_the afternoon they suddenly came upon a broad river, flowing swiftly just before them . on_the other side of_the water they_could see the road of yellow brick running through a beautiful country, with green meadows dotted with bright flowers and all the road bordered with trees hanging full of delicious fruits . they were greatly pleased to_see this delightful country before them .

" how shall we cross the river ? " asked Dorothy .

" that_is easily done," replied the Scarecrow ." the tin woodman must build us a raft, so we_can float to_the other side ."

so the woodman took his axe and began to chop down small trees to_make a raft, and while he_was busy at_this the Scarecrow found on_the riverbank a tree full of fine fruit . this pleased Dorothy, who had eaten nothing but nuts all day, and she made a hearty meal of_the ripe fruit .

but it takes time to_make a raft, even when one is as industrious and untiring as_the tin woodman, and when night came the work was not done . so they found a cozy place under the trees where they slept well until the morning; and Dorothy dreamed of_the emerald city, and of_the good wizard Oz, who_would soon send her back to her own home again .

8 . the deadly poppy field

our little party of travelers awakened the next morning refreshed and full of hope, and Dorothy breakfasted like a princess off peaches and plums from_the trees beside the river . behind them was_the dark forest they had passed safely through, although they had suffered many discouragements; but before them was a lovely, sunny country that seemed to beckon them on to_the emerald city .

to_be_sure, the broad river now cut them off from_this beautiful land . but the raft was nearly done, and after_the tin woodman had cut a few more logs and fastened them together with wooden pins, they were ready to start . Dorothy sat down in_the middle of_the raft and held Toto in her arms . when_the cowardly lion stepped upon_the raft it tipped badly, for he_was big and heavy; but the Scarecrow and_the tin woodman stood upon_the other end to steady it, and_they had long poles in their hands to push the raft through_the water .

they got along quite well at first, but when_they reached the middle of_the river the swift current swept the raft downstream, farther and farther away from_the road of yellow brick . and_the water grew so deep that_the long poles would_not touch the bottom .

" this_is bad," said the tin woodman, " for if_we_cannot get to_the land we_shall_be carried into_the country of_the wicked witch of_the west, and she will enchant us and make us her slaves ."

" and then i_should get no brains," said the Scarecrow .

" and i_should get no courage," said the cowardly lion .

" and i_should get no heart," said the tin woodman .

" and i_should never get back to Kansas," said Dorothy .

" we_must certainly get to_the emerald city if_we_can," the Scarecrow continued, and he pushed so hard on_his long pole that_it stuck fast in_the mud at_the bottom of_the river . then, before he_could pull it out again-- or let go-- the raft was swept away, and_the poor Scarecrow left clinging to_the pole in_the middle of_the river .

" good-bye ! " he_called after them, and_they were very sorry to leave him . indeed, the tin woodman began to cry, but fortunately remembered that he might rust, and so dried his tears on Dorothy's apron .

of_course this_was a bad thing for_the Scarecrow .

" I_am now worse off than when I first met Dorothy," he thought ." then, i_was stuck on a pole in a cornfield, where I_could make- believe scare the crows, at any rate . but surely there_is no use for aScarecrow stuck on a pole in_the middle of a river . I_am afraid I_shall never have any brains, after all ! "

down the stream the raft floated, and_the poor Scarecrow was left far behind . then the lion said:

" something must_be_done to save us . i_think I_can swim to_the shore and pull the raft after me, if_you_will only hold fast to_the tip of_my tail ."

so he sprang into_the water, and_the tin woodman caught fast hold of_his tail . then the lion began to swim with all his might toward the shore . it_was hard work, although he_was so big; but by and by they were drawn out_of_the current, and then Dorothy took the tin woodman's long pole and helped push the raft to_the land .

they were all tired out when_they reached the shore at last and stepped off upon_the pretty green grass, and_they also knew that_the stream had carried them a long way past the road of yellow brick that led to_the emerald city .

" what shall we_do now ? " asked the tin woodman, as_the lion lay down on_the grass to let the sun dry him .

" we_must get back to_the road, in some way," said Dorothy .

" the best plan will_be to walk along the riverbank until we come to_the road again," remarked the lion .

so, when_they were rested, Dorothy picked up her basket and_they started along the grassy bank, to_the road from_which the river had carried them . it_was a lovely country, with plenty of flowers and fruit trees and sunshine to cheer them, and had they not felt so sorry for_the poor Scarecrow, they could_have_been very happy .

they walked along as fast as they_could, Dorothy only stopping once to pick a beautiful flower; and after a time the tin woodman cried out: " look ! "

then they all looked at_the river and saw the Scarecrow perched upon his pole in_the middle of_the water, looking very lonely and sad .

" what can we_do to save him ? " asked Dorothy .

the lion and_the woodman both shook their heads, for they_did_not know . so they sat down upon_the bank and gazed wistfully at_the Scarecrow until a stork flew by, who, upon seeing them, stopped to rest at_the water's edge .

" who_are you and where are_you going ? " asked the stork .

" I_am Dorothy," answered the girl, " and these are my friends, the tin woodman and_the cowardly lion; and we_are going to_the emerald city ."

" this isn't the road," said the stork, as she twisted her long neck and looked sharply at_the queer party .

" I_know it," returned Dorothy, " but we_have lost the Scarecrow, and_are wondering how we_shall get him again ."

" where is he ? " asked the stork .

" over there in_the river," answered the little girl .

" if he wasn't so big and heavy i_would get him for_you," remarked the stork .

" he isn't heavy a bit," said Dorothy eagerly, " for he_is stuffed with straw; and if_you_will bring him back to_us, we_shall thank_you ever and ever so_much ."

" well, I'll try," said the stork, " but if I_find he_is too heavy to carry I_shall_have to drop him in_the river again ."

so the big bird flew into_the air and over the water till she came to where the Scarecrow was perched upon his pole . then the stork with her great claws grabbed the Scarecrow by_the arm and carried him up into_the air and back to_the bank, where Dorothy and_the lion and_the tin woodman and Toto were sitting .

when_the Scarecrow found himself among his friends again, he_was so happy that he hugged them all, even the lion and Toto; and as_they walked along he sang "Tol-de-ri-de-oh ! " at every step, he_felt so gay .

" i_was afraid i_should_have to stay in_the river forever," he_said, " but the kind stork saved me, and if I ever get any brains I_shall find the stork again and do her some kindness in return ."

" that's all right," said the stork, who was flying along beside them ."I always like to help anyone in trouble . but I_must go now, for_my babies are waiting in_the nest for_me . I_hope_you_will find the emerald city and_that Oz will help_you ."

" thank_you," replied Dorothy, and then the kind stork flew into_the air and was soon out of sight .

they walked along listening to_the singing of_the brightly colored birds and looking at_the lovely flowers which now became so thick that_the ground was carpeted with_them . there were big yellow and white and blue and purple blossoms, besides great clusters of scarlet poppies, which were so brilliant in color they almost dazzled Dorothy's eyes .

"Aren't they beautiful ? " the girl asked, as she breathed in_the spicy scent of_the bright flowers .

"I suppose so," answered the Scarecrow ." when I_have brains, I_shall probably like them better ."

" if I only had a heart, i_should love them," added the tin woodman .

"I always did like flowers," said the lion ." they of seem so helpless and frail . but there_are none in_the forest so bright as_these ."

they now came upon more and more of_the big scarlet poppies, and fewer and fewer of_the other flowers; and soon they found themselves in_the midst of a great meadow of poppies . now it_is well known that when there_are many_of_these flowers together their odor is so powerful that anyone who breathes it falls asleep, and if_the sleeper is_not carried away from_the scent of_the flowers, he sleeps on and on forever . but Dorothy did_not know this, nor could she get away from_the bright red flowers that were everywhere about; so presently her eyes grew heavy and she felt she_must sit down to rest and to sleep .

but the tin woodman would_not let her do_this .

" we_must hurry and get back to_the road of yellow brick before dark," he_said; and_the Scarecrow agreed with_him . so they kept walking until Dorothy could stand no longer . her eyes closed in_spite of herself and she forgot where she was and fell among_the poppies, fast asleep .

" what shall we_do ? " asked the tin woodman .

" if_we leave her here she will die," said the lion ." the smell of_the flowers is killing us all .I myself can scarcely keep my eyes open, and_the dog is asleep already ."

it_was true; Toto had fallen down beside his little mistress . but the Scarecrow and_the tin woodman, not being made of flesh, were_not troubled by_the scent of_the flowers .

" run fast," said the Scarecrow to_the lion, " and get out of_this deadly flower bed as_soon_as_you_can . we_will bring the little girl with_us, but if you_should fall asleep you_are too big to_be carried ."

so the lion aroused himself and bounded forward as fast as he_could go . in a moment he_was out of sight .

" let_us_make a chair with_our hands and carry her," said the Scarecrow . so they picked up Toto and put the dog in Dorothy's lap, and then they made a chair with their hands for_the seat and their arms for_the arms and carried the sleeping girl between_them through_the flowers .

on and on they walked, and it seemed that_the great carpet of deadly flowers that surrounded them would never end . they followed the bend of_the river, and at last came upon their friend the lion, lying fast asleep

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