"She will always remain Green Monkey," replied Ozma, "and form she unable to perform any magical arts whatsoever She unhappy, however, and as she lives all alone in her castle she probably won't mind the transformation after she gets used "

"Anyhow, it serves her right," declared Dorothy, and all agreed with her

"But," said the kind hearted Tin Woodman, "I'm afraid the Green Monkey will starve, Yoop used her food by magic, and now magic is taken away from her, what can she eat ? "

"Why, she'll eat what other monkeys do," returned the Scarecrow "Even form of Green Monkey, she's very clever person, and I'm sure her wits will show her how plenty to eat "

"Don't worry about her," advised Dorothy "She didn't worry about you, and her condition is no worse condition she imposed on poor Woot 't starve to death Land of Oz, that's certain, and if she gets hungry at times it's no more wicked thing deserves Let's forget Mrs Yoop; for, of her being yookoohoo, our fairy friends have broken all of her transformations "

Chapter Fifteen

The Man of Tin

Ozma and Dorothy were quite pleased with Woot the Wanderer, whom they found modest and intelligent and mannered The boy was truly grateful release cruel enchantment, and he promised to love, revere and defend the girl Ruler of Oz forever afterward, as faithful subject

" visit me at my palace, ," said Ozma, "where I to introduce you to two other nice boys, Ojo the Munchkin and Button-Bright "

"Thank your Majesty," replied Woot, and then he turned Tin Woodman and inquired: " your further plans, Mr Emperor ? still seek Nimmie Amee and marry her, or abandon the quest and return Emerald City and your own castle ? "

The Tin Woodman, now as highly polished and well- oiled as ever, reflected while question and then answered:

"Well, no reason why I find Nimmie Amee now Munchkin Country, where perfectly safe, and right , before our enchantment, to marry Nimmie Amee and make her Empress Winkies, it right now, enchantment broken and once more myself Am I correct, friend Scarecrow ? "

" , indeed," answered the Scarecrow "No one can oppose such logic "

"But I'm afraid you don't love Nimmie Amee," suggested Dorothy

" just because 't love anyone," replied the Tin Woodman "But, if love my wife, be kind to her, and all husbands able to "

" s'pose Nimmie Amee still loves you, after all these years ? " asked Dorothy

"I'm of it, is why going to her her happy Woot the Wanderer thinks I ought to reward her for being faithful after my meat body was chopped to pieces and I became tin What , Ozma ? "

Ozma smiled as she said:

" know your Nimmie Amee, and so tell what she most needs her happy But no harm in your going to her and asking her if she still wishes to marry you If she does, grand wedding Emerald City and, afterward, as Empress Winkies, Nimmie Amee would become important ladies in all Oz "

So decided Tin Woodman would continue his journey, and Scarecrow and Woot the Wanderer should accompany him, as before Polychrome also decided to join their party, somewhat surprise of all

"I hate cooped up in palace," she said to Ozma, "and the first time I meet my Rainbow return to my own dear home skies, where my fairy sisters are even now awaiting me and my father is cross because I get lost so often But find my Rainbow just as quickly while traveling Munchkin Country as if living Emerald City -- or place in Oz -- so go Tin Woodman and help him woo Nimmie Amee "

Dorothy wanted , too, but Tin Woodman invite her to join his party, she felt she intruding if she asked taken she hinted, but she found he didn't hint quite delicate matter to ask girl to marry him, however much she loves him, and perhaps the Tin Woodman desire too many looking on when his old sweetheart, Nimmie Amee So Dorothy contented herself thought that help Ozma prepare splendid wedding feast, followed by round of parties and festivities Emperor Winkies reached the Emerald City bride

Ozma offered them all Red Wagon to place as near great Munchkin forest as wagon could get The Red Wagon was big enough to seat them all, and so, bidding good-bye to Jinjur, who gave Woot basket of ripe cream-puffs and caramels , Ozma commanded the Wooden Sawhorse to start, strange creature moved swiftly over the lanes and presently came Road of Yellow Bricks This road led straight to dense forest, where the path was too narrow Red Wagon farther, so here the party separated

Ozma and Dorothy and Toto returned Emerald City, after wishing their friends safe and successful journey, while the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow, Woot the Wanderer and Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter, prepared to push their way thick forest However, these forest paths were well known Tin Man Scarecrow, who felt quite at home trees

" born grand forest," said Nick Chopper, the tin Emperor, speaking proudly, "and here Witch enchanted my axe and I lost different parts meat body until I became all tin Here, also -- is big forest -- Nimmie Amee lived Wicked Witch, and other edge trees stands the cottage friend Ku-Klip, the famous tinsmith my present beautiful form "

" clever workman," declared Woot, admiringly

" simply wonderful," declared the Tin Woodman

" his acquaintance," said Woot

" to meet with real cleverness," remarked the Scarecrow, " visit the Munchkin farmer who first made me I won't say that my friend the Emperor isn't all right for tin man, but any judge of beauty can understand that Scarecrow is far more artistic and refined "

" too soft and flimsy," said the Tin Woodman

" too hard and stiff," said the Scarecrow, and as near to quarreling two friends ever came Polychrome laughed at them both, she might, and Woot hastened the subject

At night they all camped underneath the trees The boy ate cream-puffs for supper and offered Polychrome some, but she preferred other food and at daybreak sipped the dew that was clustered thick forest flowers Then they tramped onward again, and presently the Scarecrow paused and said:

" very spot that Dorothy and I first met the Tin Woodman, who was rusted so badly that none joints would move But after we had oiled him up, as good as new and accompanied us Emerald City "

"Ah, that was sad experience," asserted the Tin Woodman soberly " caught in rainstorm while chopping down tree for exercise, and before I realized it, firmly rusted in every joint There I stood, axe in hand, but unable to move, for days and weeks and months ! Indeed, never known exactly how long the time was; but finally along came Dorothy and saved See ! very tree chopping I rusted "

" be far from your old home, case," said Woot

"No; my little cabin stands not great way off, but no occasion to visit it Our errand is with Nimmie Amee, and her house is somewhat farther away, left of us "

"Didn't you say she lives with Wicked Witch, who makes her slave ? " asked the boy

"She did, but she doesn't," reply " told the Witch was destroyed when Dorothy's house fell on her, so now Nimmie Amee must live all alone I haven't seen her, , Witch was crushed, for standing rusted forest and there , but the poor girl felt very happy free from her cruel mistress "

"Well," said the Scarecrow, "let's travel on and find Nimmie Amee Lead on, your Majesty, since the way, and follow "

So the Tin Woodman took path that led thickest part forest, followed it for The light was dim here, because vines and bushes and leafy foliage were all , and often the Tin Man had to push aside the branches that obstructed their way, or cut them off axe After they had proceeded some distance, the Emperor suddenly stopped short and exclaimed: "Good gracious ! "

The Scarecrow, who was next, first bumped into his friend and then peered around his tin body, and said in tone of wonder:

"Well, I declare ! "

Woot the Wanderer pushed forward the matter, and cried out in astonishment: "For goodness' sake ! "

Then the three stood motionless, staring hard, until Polychrome's merry laughter rang out behind them and aroused them from their stupor

path before them stood tin man who exact duplicate Tin Woodman same size, jointed same manner, and he of shining tin from top to toe But he stood immovable, tin jaws half parted tin eyes turned upward In one hands was held long, gleaming sword Yes, the difference, that distinguished him Emperor Winkies This tin man bore sword, while the Tin Woodman bore an axe

"It's dream; it dream ! " gasped Woot

"That's it, ," said the Scarecrow; "there couldn't be two Tin Woodmen "

"No," agreed Polychrome, dancing nearer stranger, " is Tin Soldier Don't his sword ? "