"How ? " asked the Woodman

"Help Dorothy to kill the Wicked Witch West," replied the Beast " Witch is dead, come , then the biggest and kindest and most loving heart in all the Land of Oz "

So the Tin Woodman was forced to return sorrowfully friends and tell them terrible Beast he had seen They all wondered greatly many forms the Great Wizard could take upon himself, Lion said:

"If Beast when I go him, roar my loudest, and so frighten him that grant all I ask And if he lovely Lady, pretend to spring upon her, and so compel her my bidding And if he great Head, at my mercy; for roll this head all room until he promises to what So be of good cheer, my friends, for all will yet be well "

The next morning the soldier green whiskers led the Lion great Throne Room and bade him enter the presence of Oz

The Lion at once passed door, and glancing around saw, surprise, that throne was Ball of Fire, so fierce and glowing scarcely bear to gaze upon it His first thought Oz had by accident caught on fire and was burning up; but when he tried nearer, the heat was so intense singed his whiskers, and he crept back tremblingly to spot nearer the door

Then low, quiet voice came Ball of Fire, and these were the words it spoke:

" Oz, the Great and Terrible Who , and why seek me ? "

Lion answered, " Cowardly Lion, afraid of everything to beg that you courage, in reality become the King of Beasts, as men call me "

"Why should I courage ? " demanded Oz

"Because of all Wizards the greatest, and alone have power to grant my request," answered the Lion

The Ball of Fire burned fiercely for time, voice said, "Bring me proof Wicked Witch is dead, moment courage But as long Witch lives, remain coward "

The Lion was angry speech, but nothing in reply, and while he stood silently gazing Ball of Fire it became so furiously hot that he turned tail and rushed room glad his friends waiting for him, and told them terrible interview Wizard

"What shall now ? " asked Dorothy sadly

" only do," returned the Lion, " is land Winkies, seek out the Wicked Witch, and destroy her "

"But suppose ? " said the girl

"Then never have courage," declared the Lion

"And never have brains," added the Scarecrow

"And never have heart," spoke the Tin of Woodman

"And never see Aunt Em and Uncle Henry," said Dorothy, beginning to cry

"Be careful ! " cried the green girl "The tears will fall green silk gown and spot it "

So Dorothy dried her eyes and said, "I suppose try it; but want to kill anybody, even Aunt Em again "

" go ; but I'm of coward to kill the Witch," said the Lion

" go too," declared the Scarecrow; "but of much help , such fool "

"I haven't the heart to harm even Witch," remarked the Tin Woodman; "but go I certainly shall go "

Therefore decided to start upon their journey the next morning, Woodman sharpened his axe on green grindstone and had all his joints properly oiled The Scarecrow stuffed himself with fresh straw and Dorothy put new paint eyes that he might see better The green girl, who was very kind , filled Dorothy's basket with good things to eat, and fastened little bell around Toto's neck with green ribbon

They went to bed quite early and slept soundly until daylight, were awakened crowing of green cock that lived back yard Palace, cackling of hen that had laid green egg

12 The Search Wicked Witch

The soldier green whiskers led them streets Emerald City until they reached the room where the Guardian Gates lived This officer unlocked their spectacles them back great box, and then he politely opened the gate friends

"Which road leads Wicked Witch West ? " asked Dorothy

" no road," answered the Guardian Gates "No one ever wishes that way "

"How, then, are we her ? " inquired the girl

" easy," replied the man, "for when she knows country Winkies she you, and make you all her slaves "

"Perhaps not," said the Scarecrow, "for we mean to destroy her "

"Oh, different," said the Guardian Gates "No one has ever destroyed her before, so I naturally thought make slaves of you, as she has rest But take care; for wicked and fierce, and may not allow you to destroy her Keep West, where the sun sets, and fail her "

They thanked him and bade him good-bye, and turned toward the West, walking over fields of soft grass dotted here and there with daisies and buttercups Dorothy still wore the pretty silk dress she had put on palace, but now, to her surprise, she found no longer green, but pure white The ribbon around Toto's neck had also lost its green color and was as white as Dorothy's dress

The Emerald City was soon left far behind advanced the ground became rougher and hillier, for there were no farms nor houses country West, ground was untilled

afternoon the sun shone hot in their faces, for there were no trees to offer them shade; before night Dorothy and Toto Lion were tired, and lay down grass and fell asleep, Woodman Scarecrow keeping watch

Now the Wicked Witch West had but one eye, yet that was as powerful as telescope, and everywhere So, as she sat door of her castle, she happened to look around and saw Dorothy lying asleep, with her friends all about her They were long distance off, but the Wicked Witch was angry them in her country; so she blew upon silver whistle that hung around her neck

At once there came running to her from all directions pack of great wolves They had long legs and fierce eyes and sharp teeth

"Go people," said the Witch, "and tear them to pieces "

" not going them your slaves ? " asked the leader wolves

"No," she answered, "one is of tin, and one of straw; one is girl and another Lion is fit to work, so tear them into small pieces "

" ," said the wolf, and he dashed away at full speed, followed others

lucky the Scarecrow Woodman were wide awake and heard the wolves coming

" my fight," said the Woodman, "so get behind me meet them as "

He seized his axe, which he had made very sharp, and leader wolves came Tin Woodman swung his arm and chopped the wolf's head from its body, so immediately died raise his axe another wolf came up, and he also fell under the sharp edge Tin Woodman's weapon There were forty wolves, and forty times wolf was killed, at last they all lay dead in heap Woodman

Then he put down his axe and sat beside the Scarecrow, who said, " good fight, friend "

They waited until Dorothy awoke the next morning The little girl was quite frightened when she saw the great pile of shaggy wolves, but the Tin Woodman told her all She thanked him for saving them and sat down to breakfast, after which they started again upon their journey

Now this same morning the Wicked Witch came door of her castle and looked out with her one eye that far off She saw all her wolves lying dead, strangers still traveling through her country This made her angrier than before, and she blew her silver whistle twice

Straightway great flock of wild crows came flying toward her, enough to darken the sky

Wicked Witch said King Crow, "Fly at once strangers; peck out their eyes and tear them to pieces "

The wild crows flew in one great flock toward Dorothy and her companions little girl saw them coming she was afraid

But the Scarecrow said, " my battle, so lie down beside me and harmed "

So they all lay ground except the Scarecrow, and he stood up and stretched out his arms And crows saw him they were frightened, birds always are by scarecrows, and dare any nearer But the King Crow said:

" only stuffed man peck his eyes out "