Oz 01: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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said, " we_must go back to Oz, and claim his promise ."

" yes," said the woodman, " at last I_shall get my heart ."

" and I_shall get my brains," added the Scarecrow joyfully .

" and I_shall get my courage," said the lion thoughtfully .

" and I_shall get back to Kansas," cried Dorothy, clapping her hands ."Oh, let_us start for_the emerald city tomorrow ! "

this they decided to_do . the next_day they called the Winkies together and bade them good-bye . the Winkies were sorry to_have them go, and_they had grown so fond of_the tin woodman that_they begged him to stay and rule over them and_the yellow land of_the west .Finding they were determined to_go, the Winkies gave Toto and_the lion each a golden collar; and to Dorothy they presented a beautiful bracelet studded with diamonds; and to_the Scarecrow they gave a gold- headed walking stick, to_keep him from stumbling; and to_the tin woodman they offered a silver oil- can, inlaid with gold and set with precious jewels .

every_one_of_the travelers made the Winkies a pretty speech in return, and all shook hands with_them until their arms ached .

Dorothy went to_the witch's cupboard to_fill her basket with food for_the journey, and there she saw the golden Cap . she tried it on her own head and found that_it fitted her exactly . she did_not know anything about_the charm of_the golden Cap, but she saw that_it_was pretty, so she made up her mind to wear it and carry her sunbonnet in_the basket .

then, being prepared for_the journey, they all started for_the emerald city; and_the Winkies gave them three cheers and many good wishes to carry with_them .

14 . the winged Monkeys

you_will remember there_was no road-- not even a pathway-- between_the castle of_the wicked witch and_the emerald city . when_the four travelers went in search of_the witch she had seen them coming, and so sent the winged Monkeys to bring them to her . it_was much harder to_find their way back through_the big fields of buttercups and yellow daisies than it_was being carried . they knew, of_course, they_must go straight east, toward the rising sun; and_they started off in_the right way . but at noon, when_the sun was over their heads, they_did_not know which_was east and which_was west, and_that was_the reason they were lost in_the great fields . they kept on walking, however, and at night the moon came out and shone brightly . so they lay down among_the sweet smelling yellow flowers and slept soundly until morning-- all but the Scarecrow and_the tin woodman .

the next morning the sun was behind a cloud, but they started on, as if_they were quite_sure which_way they were going .

" if_we walk far enough," said Dorothy, " I_am_sure we_shall sometime come to some place ."

but day by day passed away, and_they still saw nothing before them but the scarlet fields . the Scarecrow began to grumble a bit .

" we_have surely lost our way," he_said, " and unless we_find it again in_time to reach the emerald city, I_shall never get my brains ."

" nor I my heart," declared the tin woodman ." it seems to_me I_can scarcely wait till I get to Oz, and you_must admit this_is a very long journey ."

" you_see," said the cowardly lion, with a whimper, "I haven't the courage to_keep tramping forever, without getting anywhere at all ."

then Dorothy lost heart . she sat down on_the grass and looked at her companions, and_they sat down and looked at her, and Toto found that for_the first time in_his life he_was too tired to chase a butterfly that flew past his head . so he put out his tongue and panted and looked at Dorothy as_if to ask what they should do next .

" suppose we call the field mice," she suggested ." they_could probably tell us the way to_the emerald city ."

" to_be_sure they_could," cried the Scarecrow ." why didn't we_think of_that before ? "

Dorothy blew the little whistle she had always carried about her neck since_the queen of_the Mice had given it to her . in_a_few_minutes they heard the pattering of tiny feet, and many_of_the small gray mice came running up_to her . among them was_the queen herself, who asked, in her squeaky little voice:

" what can I_do for_my friends ? "

" we_have lost our way," said Dorothy ." can_you tell us where the emerald city is ? "

" certainly," answered the queen; " but it_is a great way off, for you_have_had it at your backs all this_time ." then she noticed Dorothy's golden Cap, and said, " why don't you use the charm of_the Cap, and call the winged Monkeys to_you ? they_will carry you to_the city of Oz in less_than an hour ."

"I didn't know there_was a charm," answered Dorothy, in surprise ." what_is it ? "

" it_is written inside the golden Cap," replied the queen of_the Mice ." but if_you_are going to_call the winged Monkeys we_must run away, for they_are full of mischief and think it great fun to plague us ."

" won't they hurt me ? " asked the girl anxiously .

"Oh, no . they_must obey the wearer of_the Cap . good-bye ! " and she scampered out of sight, with all the mice hurrying after her .

Dorothy looked inside the golden Cap and saw some words written upon_the lining . these, she thought, must_be the charm, so she read the directions carefully and put the Cap upon her head .

"Ep-pe, pep-pe, kak-ke ! " she said, standing on her left foot .

" what did you say ? " asked the Scarecrow, who did_not know what she was doing .

"Hil-lo, hol-lo, hel-lo ! " Dorothy went on, standing this_time on her right foot .

"Hello ! " replied the tin woodman calmly .

"Ziz-zy, zuz-zy, zik ! " said Dorothy, who was now standing on both feet . this ended the saying of_the charm, and_they heard a great chattering and flapping of wings, as_the band of winged Monkeys flew up to_them .

the king bowed low before Dorothy, and asked, " what_is your command ? "

" we_wish to_go to_the emerald city," said the child, " and we_have lost our way ."

" we_will carry you," replied the king, and no sooner had he spoken than two of_the Monkeys caught Dorothy in their arms and flew away with her .Others took the Scarecrow and_the woodman and_the lion, and one little monkey seized Toto and flew after them, although the dog tried hard to bite him .

the Scarecrow and_the tin woodman were rather frightened at first, for they remembered how badly the winged Monkeys had treated them before; but they saw that no harm was intended, so they rode through_the air quite cheerfully, and had a fine time looking at_the pretty gardens and woods far below them .

Dorothy found herself riding easily between two of_the biggest Monkeys, one_of_them the king himself . they had made a chair of_their hands and were careful not to hurt her .

" why do you_have to obey the charm of_the golden Cap ? " she asked .

" that_is a long story," answered the king, with a winged laugh; " but as we_have a long journey before_us, i_will pass the time by telling you about_it, if_you_wish ."

" I_shall_be_glad to hear it," she replied .

" once," began the leader, " we were a free people, living happily in_the great forest, flying from tree to tree, eating nuts and fruit, and doing just as_we pleased without calling anybody master . perhaps some of us were rather too full of mischief at times, flying down to pull the tails of_the animals that had no wings, chasing birds, and throwing nuts at_the people who walked in_the forest . but we were careless and happy and full of fun, and enjoyed every_minute of_the day . this_was many years_ago, long before Oz came out_of_the clouds to rule over this land .

" there lived here then, away at_the north, a beautiful princess, who was also a powerful sorceress . all her magic was used to help the people, and she was never known to hurt anyone who was good . her name was Gayelette, and she lived in a handsome palace built from great blocks of ruby . everyone loved her, but her greatest sorrow was_that she_could find no one to love in return, since all the men were much too stupid and ugly to mate with one so beautiful and wise . at last, however, she found a boy who was handsome and manly and wise beyond his years .Gayelette made up her mind that when he grew to_be a man she_would make him her husband, so she took him to her ruby palace and used all her magic powers to_make him as strong and good and lovely as any woman could wish . when he grew to manhood, Quelala, as he_was called, was said to_be the best and wisest man in all the land, while his manly beauty was so great that Gayelette loved him dearly, and hastened to_make everything ready for_the wedding .

" my grandfather was at_that_time the king of_the winged Monkeys which lived in_the forest near Gayelette's palace, and_the old fellow loved a joke better than a good dinner . one day, just before_the wedding, my grandfather was flying out with_his band when he_saw Quelala walking beside the river . he_was dressed in a rich costume of pink silk and purple velvet, and my grandfather thought he_would see what he_could do . at his word the band flew down and seized Quelala, carried him in their arms until they were over the middle of_the river, and then dropped him into_the water .

"` swim out, my fine fellow,' cried my grandfather, ` and_see if_the water has spotted your clothes .' Quelala was much too wise not to swim, and he_was not in_the least spoiled by all his good fortune . he laughed, when he_came to_the top of_the water, and swam in to shore . but when Gayelette came running out to him she found his silks and velvet all ruined by_the river .

" the princess was angry, and she knew, of_course, who did it . she had all the winged Monkeys brought before her, and she said at first that their wings should_be tied and_they should_be treated as_they had treated Quelala, and dropped in_the river . but my grandfather pleaded hard, for he_knew the Monkeys would drown in_the river with their wings tied, and Quelala said a kind word for_them also; so_that Gayelette finally spared them, on condition that_the winged Monkeys should ever after do three times the bidding of_the owner of_the golden Cap . this Cap had_been made for awedding present to Quelala, and it_is said to_have cost the princess half her kingdom . of_course my grandfather and all the other Monkeys at once agreed to_the condition, and_that is how it happens that we_are three times the slaves of_the owner of_the golden Cap, whosoever he_may_be ."

" and what became of_them ? " asked Dorothy, who had_been greatly interested in_the story .

"Quelala being the first owner of_the golden Cap," replied the monkey, " he was_the first to lay his wishes upon us . as his bride could_not bear the sight of us, he_called us all to him in_the forest after he had married her and ordered us always to_keep where she_could never again set eyes on a winged monkey, which we were glad to_do, for we were all afraid of her .

" this_was all we ever had to_do until the golden Cap fell into_the hands of_the wicked witch of_the west, who_made us enslave the Winkies, and afterward drive Oz himself out_of_the land of_the west . now the golden Cap is yours, and three times you_have the right to lay your wishes upon us ."

as_the monkey king finished his story Dorothy looked down and saw the green, shining walls of_the emerald city before them . she wondered at_the rapid flight of_the Monkeys, but was glad the journey was over . the strange creatures set the travelers down carefully before_the gate of_the city, the king bowed low to Dorothy, and then flew swiftly away, followed by all his band .

" that was a good ride," said the little girl .

" yes, and a quick way out of_our troubles," replied the lion ." how lucky it_was you brought away that wonderful Cap ! "

15 . the discovery of Oz, the terrible

the four travelers walked up_to_the great gate of emerald city and rang the bell . after ringing several_times, it_was opened by_the same guardian of_the Gates they had met before .

" what ! are_you back again ? " he asked, in surprise .

" do_you not see us ? " answered the Scarecrow .

" but i_thought you had gone to visit the wicked witch of_the west ."

" we_did visit her," said the Scarecrow .

" and she let you go again ? " asked the man, in wonder .

" she_could_not help it, for she_is melted," explained the Scarecrow .

" melted ! well, that_is good news, indeed," said the man ." who melted her ? "

" it_was Dorothy," said the lion gravely .

" good gracious ! " exclaimed the man, and he bowed very low indeed before her .

then he led them into his little room and locked the spectacles from_the great box on all their eyes, just as he had done before .Afterward they passed on through_the gate into_the emerald city . when_the people heard from_the guardian of_the Gates that Dorothy had melted the wicked witch of_the west, they all gathered around the travelers and followed them in a great

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