Oz 01: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
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and so did her companions .

the tin woodman came to her and said:

" truly i_should_be ungrateful if I failed to mourn for_the man who gave_me my lovely heart . i_should like to cry a little because Oz is gone, if_you_will kindly wipe away my tears, so_that I_shall_not rust ."

" with pleasure," she answered, and brought a towel at once . then the tin woodman wept for several minutes, and she watched the tears carefully and wiped them away with_the towel . when he had finished, he thanked her kindly and oiled himself thoroughly with_his jeweled oil- can, to guard against mishap .

the Scarecrow was now the ruler of_the emerald city, and although he_was not a wizard the people were proud of him ." for," they said, " there_is not another city in all the world that_is ruled by a stuffed man ." and, so_far as_they knew, they were quite right .

the morning after_the balloon had gone up with Oz, the four travelers met in_the throne room and talked matters over . the Scarecrow sat in_the big throne and_the others stood respectfully before him .

" we_are_not so unlucky," said the new ruler, " for_this palace and_the emerald city belong to_us, and we_can do just as_we please . when I remember that a short time ago i_was up on a pole in a farmer's cornfield, and_that now I_am the ruler of_this beautiful city, I_am quite satisfied with my lot ."

"I also," said the tin woodman, "am well- pleased with my new heart; and, really, that was the_only_thing I wished in all the world ."

" for_my part, I_am content in knowing I_am as brave as any beast that ever lived, if_not braver," said the lion modestly .

" if Dorothy would only be contented to live in_the emerald city," continued the Scarecrow, " we_might all be happy together ."

" but I don't want to live here," cried Dorothy ." i_want to_go to Kansas, and live with aunt Em and uncle Henry ."

" well, then, what can_be_done ? " inquired the woodman .

the Scarecrow decided to_think, and he thought so hard that_the pins and needles began to stick out of_his brains . finally he_said:

" why_not call the winged Monkeys, and ask them to carry you over the desert ? "

"I never thought of_that ! " said Dorothy joyfully ." it's just the thing .I'll go at once for_the golden Cap ."

when she brought it into_the throne room she spoke the magic words, and soon the band of winged Monkeys flew in through_the open window and stood beside her .

" this_is_the second time you_have called us," said the monkey king, bowing before_the little girl ." what do_you wish ? "

" i_want you to fly with me to Kansas," said Dorothy .

but the monkey king shook his head .

" that cannot_be_done," he_said ." we belong to_this country alone, and cannot leave it . there has never been a winged monkey in Kansas yet, and I suppose there never will_be, for they don't belong there . we_shall_be_glad to_serve_you in any_way in_our power, but we_cannot cross the desert . good-bye ."

and with another bow, the monkey king spread his wings and flew away through_the window, followed by all his band .

Dorothy was ready to cry with disappointment ." I_have wasted the charm of_the golden Cap to no purpose," she said, " for_the winged Monkeys cannot help me ."

" it_is certainly too bad ! " said the tender-hearted woodman .

the Scarecrow was thinking again, and_his head bulged out so horribly that Dorothy feared it would burst .

" let_us call in_the soldier with_the green whiskers," he_said, " and ask his advice ."

so the soldier was summoned and entered the throne room timidly, for while Oz was alive he never was allowed to_come farther than_the door .

" this little girl," said the Scarecrow to_the soldier, "wishes to cross the desert . how can she do_so ? "

" I_cannot tell," answered the soldier, " for nobody has ever crossed the desert, unless it_is Oz himself ."

" is_there no one who_can help me ? " asked Dorothy earnestly .

"Glinda might," he suggested .

" who_is Glinda ? " inquired the Scarecrow .

" the witch of_the south . she is_the most powerful of all the Witches, and rules over the Quadlings . besides, her castle stands on_the edge of_the desert, so she may know a way to cross it ."

"Glinda is a good witch, isn't she ? " asked the child .

" the Quadlings think she_is good," said the soldier, " and she_is kind to everyone . I_have heard that Glinda is a beautiful woman, who knows how to_keep young in_spite of_the many years she has lived ."

" how can I get to her castle ? " asked Dorothy .

" the road is straight to_the south," he answered, " but it_is said to_be full of dangers to travelers . there_are wild beasts in_the woods, and a race of queer men who_do_not like strangers to cross their country . for_this reason none_of_the Quadlings ever come to_the emerald city ."

the soldier then left them and_the Scarecrow said:

" it seems, in_spite of dangers, that_the best thing Dorothy can do is to travel to_the land of_the south and ask Glinda to help her . for, of_course, if Dorothy stays here she will never get back to Kansas ."

" you_must_have been thinking again," remarked the tin woodman .

" I_have," said the Scarecrow .

" I_shall go with Dorothy," declared the lion, " for I_am tired of your city and long for_the woods and_the country again . I_am really a wild beast, you_know . besides, Dorothy will need someone to protect her ."

" that_is true," agreed the woodman ." my axe may_be of service to her; so I also will go with her to_the land of_the south ."

" when shall we start ? " asked the Scarecrow .

" are_you going ? " they asked, in surprise .

" certainly . if_it wasn't for Dorothy i_should never have_had brains . she lifted me from_the pole in_the cornfield and brought me to_the emerald city . so my good luck is all due to her, and I_shall never leave her until she starts back to Kansas for good and all ."

" thank_you," said Dorothy gratefully ." you_are all very kind to_me . but i_should like to start as_soon_as_possible ."

" we_shall go tomorrow morning," returned the Scarecrow ." so now let_us all get ready, for it_will_be a long journey ."

19 .Attacked by_the Fighting Trees

the next morning Dorothy kissed the pretty green girl good-bye, and_they all shook hands with_the soldier with_the green whiskers, who had walked with_them as far as_the gate . when_the guardian of_the gate saw them again he wondered greatly that they_could leave the beautiful city to_get into new trouble . but he at once unlocked their spectacles, which he put back into_the green box, and gave them many good wishes to carry with_them .

" you_are now our ruler," he_said to_the Scarecrow; " so you_must come back to_us as_soon_as_possible ."

"I certainly shall if I_am able," the Scarecrow replied; " but I_must help Dorothy to_get home, first ."

as Dorothy bade the good-natured guardian a last farewell she said:

" I_have_been very kindly treated in your lovely city, and everyone has_been good to_me . I_cannot tell you how grateful I_am ."

"Don't try, my dear," he answered ." we_should like to_keep you with_us, but if_it_is your wish to return to Kansas, I_hope_you_will find a way ." he then opened the gate of_the outer wall, and_they walked forth and started upon their journey .

the sun shone brightly as our friends turned their faces toward the land of_the south . they were all in_the best of spirits, and laughed and chatted together . Dorothy was once more filled with_the hope of getting home, and_the Scarecrow and_the tin woodman were glad to_be of use to her . as for_the lion, he sniffed the fresh air with delight and whisked his tail from side to side in pure joy at being in_the country again, while Toto ran around them and chased the moths and butterflies, barking merrily all the time .

" city life does_not agree with me at all," remarked the lion, as_they walked along at a brisk pace ." I_have lost much flesh since I lived there, and now I_am anxious for a chance to show the other beasts how courageous I_have grown ."

they now turned and took a last look at_the emerald city . all they_could see was a mass of towers and steeples behind the green walls, and high up above everything the spires and dome of_the palace of Oz .

"Oz was not such a bad wizard, after all," said the tin woodman, as he_felt his heart rattling around in_his breast .

" he_knew how to_give_me brains, and very_good brains, too," said the Scarecrow .

" if Oz had taken a dose of_the same courage he_gave me," added the lion, " he would_have_been a brave man ."

Dorothy said nothing .Oz had_not kept the promise he_made her, but he had done his best, so she forgave him . as he_said, he_was a good man, even if he_was a bad wizard .

the first day's journey was through_the green fields and bright flowers that stretched about_the emerald city on every side . they slept that night on_the grass, with nothing but the stars over them; and_they rested very_well indeed .

in_the morning they traveled on until they came to a thick wood . there_was no way of going around it, for_it seemed to extend to_the right and left as far as they_could see; and, besides, they_did_not dare change the direction of_their journey for fear of getting lost . so they looked for_the place where it would_be easiest to_get into_the forest .

the Scarecrow, who was in_the lead, finally discovered a big tree with_such wide-spreading branches that there_was room for_the party to_pass underneath . so he walked forward to_the tree, but just as he_came under the first branches they bent down and twined around him, and_the next minute he_was raised from_the ground and flung headlong among his fellow travelers .

this_did_not hurt the Scarecrow, but it surprised him, and he looked rather dizzy when Dorothy picked him up .

" here_is another space between_the trees," called the lion .

" let me try it first," said the Scarecrow, " for_it doesn't hurt me to_get thrown about ." he walked up_to another tree, as he spoke, but its branches immediately seized him and tossed him back again .

" this_is strange," exclaimed Dorothy ." what shall we_do ? "

" the trees seem to have_made up their minds to fight us, and stop our journey," remarked the lion .

"I believe i_will try it myself," said the woodman, and shouldering his axe, he marched up_to_the first tree that had handled the Scarecrow so roughly . when a big branch bent down to seize him the woodman chopped at it so fiercely that he cut it in two . at once the tree began shaking all its branches as_if in pain, and_the tin woodman passed safely under it .

" come on ! " he shouted to_the others ." be quick ! " they all ran forward and passed under the tree without injury, except Toto, who was caught by a small branch and shaken until he howled . but the woodman promptly chopped off the branch and set the little dog free .

the other trees of_the forest did nothing to_keep them back, so they made up their minds that only the first row of trees could bend down their branches, and_that probably these were the policemen of_the forest, and given this wonderful power in_order to_keep strangers out of it .

the four travelers walked with ease through_the trees until they came to_the farther edge of_the wood . then, to_their surprise, they found before them a high wall which seemed to_be made of white china . it_was smooth, like the surface of a dish, and higher than their heads .

" what shall we_do now ? " asked Dorothy .

" i_will make a ladder," said the tin woodman, " for we certainly must climb over the wall ."

20 . the dainty china country

while the woodman was making a ladder from wood which he_found in_the forest Dorothy lay down and slept, for she was tired by_the long walk . the lion also curled himself up_to sleep and Toto lay beside him .

the Scarecrow watched the woodman while he worked, and said to him:

" I_cannot think why this wall is here, nor what it_is made of ."

" rest your brains and do_not worry about_the wall," replied the woodman ." when we_have climbed over it, we_shall know what_is on_the other side ."

after a time the ladder was finished . it looked clumsy, but the tin woodman was sure it_was strong and would answer their purpose . the Scarecrow waked Dorothy and_the lion and Toto, and told them that_the ladder was ready . the Scarecrow climbed up the ladder first, but he_was so awkward that Dorothy had to_follow close behind and keep him from falling off . when he got his head over the top of_the wall the Scarecrow said, "Oh, my ! "

" go on," exclaimed Dorothy .

so the Scarecrow climbed farther up and sat down on_the top of_the wall, and Dorothy put her head over and cried, "Oh,

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