But the wicked creature was very cunning, and she finally thought of trick give her what she wanted She placed bar of iron middle kitchen floor, and then by her magic arts made the iron invisible to human eyes when Dorothy walked across the floor she stumbled over the bar, not being able it, and fell at full length She was not much hurt, but in her fall Silver Shoes came off; and before reach it, the Witch had snatched it away and put it on her own skinny foot

The wicked woman was greatly pleased success of her trick, for as long as she had shoes she owned half the power charm, and Dorothy use it against her, even had she known how

The little girl, seeing she had lost one of her pretty shoes, grew angry, and said Witch, " back my shoe ! "

" ," retorted the Witch, " is now my shoe, and not yours "

" wicked creature ! " cried Dorothy " no right my shoe from me "

" keep it, just the same," said the Witch, laughing at her, "and someday get the other one , too "

This made Dorothy so very angry that she picked up the bucket of water that stood near and dashed it over the Witch, wetting her from head to foot

Instantly the wicked woman gave loud cry of fear, and then, as Dorothy looked at her in wonder, the Witch began to shrink and fall away

"See what you ! " she screamed "In minute melt away "

"I'm very sorry, indeed," said Dorothy, who was truly frightened the Witch actually melting away like brown sugar before her very eyes

"Didn't water the end of me ? " asked the Witch, in wailing, despairing voice

" not," answered Dorothy "How should I ? "

"Well, all melted, and the castle to yourself wicked in my day, but I never thought little girl like ever to melt me and end my wicked deeds Look out--here I go ! "

words the Witch fell down in brown, melted, shapeless mass and began to spread over the clean boards kitchen floor Seeing that she had really melted away to nothing, Dorothy drew another bucket of water and threw it over the mess She then swept it all out the door After picking out the silver shoe, all that was left old woman, she cleaned and dried it with cloth, and put it on her foot again Then, being at last free as she chose, she ran out courtyard the Lion Wicked Witch West had come to an end, and were no longer prisoners in strange land

13 The Rescue

The Cowardly Lion was much pleased to hear Wicked Witch melted by bucket of water, and Dorothy at once unlocked the gate prison and set him free They went in together castle, where Dorothy's first act was all the Winkies together and tell them were no longer slaves

great rejoicing yellow Winkies, for they made to work hard during many years Wicked Witch, who had always treated them with great cruelty They kept this day as holiday, then and ever after, and spent the time in feasting and dancing

"If our friends, the Scarecrow Tin Woodman, were only ," said the Lion, " quite happy "

"Don't you suppose rescue them ? " asked the girl anxiously

" try," answered the Lion

So they called the yellow Winkies and asked them help to rescue their friends, Winkies said that delighted all in their power for Dorothy, who had set them free from bondage So she chose number Winkies who looked as knew the most, all started away They traveled that day and part next until they came rocky plain where the Tin Woodman lay, all battered and bent His axe was near him, but the blade was rusted handle broken off short

The Winkies lifted him tenderly in their arms, and carried him back Yellow Castle again, Dorothy shedding few tears sad plight of her old friend, Lion looking sober and sorry reached the castle Dorothy said Winkies:

"Are any of your people tinsmiths ? "

"Oh, yes Some of us are tinsmiths," they told her

"Then bring them ," she said And tinsmiths came, bringing all their tools in baskets, she inquired, " straighten out those dents Tin Woodman, and bend him back into shape again, and solder him together where broken ? "

The tinsmiths looked the Woodman over carefully and then answered thought mend him so as good as ever So they set to work in big yellow rooms castle and worked for three days and four nights, hammering and twisting and bending and soldering and polishing and pounding legs and body and head Tin Woodman, until at last straightened out into his old form, joints worked as ever , there were several patches on him, but the tinsmiths did good job, and Woodman was not vain man mind the patches at all

When, at last, he walked into Dorothy's room and thanked her for rescuing him, so pleased that he wept tears of joy, and Dorothy had to wipe every tear carefully face with her apron, so his joints rusted same time her own tears fell thick and fast joy of meeting her old friend again, and these tears need wiped away As Lion, he wiped his eyes so often tip tail became quite wet, and obliged out courtyard and hold it sun till it dried

" only had the Scarecrow again," said the Tin Woodman, when Dorothy had finished telling him everything that had happened, " quite happy "

" try him," said the girl

So she called the Winkies to help her, walked all that day and part next until they came tall tree branches the Winged Monkeys had tossed the Scarecrow's clothes

very tall tree, trunk was so smooth that no one could climb it; but the Woodman said at once, "I'll chop it down, and then get the Scarecrow's clothes "

Now while the tinsmiths at work mending the Woodman himself, another Winkies, who was goldsmith, had made an axe-handle of solid gold and fitted it Woodman's axe, instead old broken handle Others polished the blade until all the rust was removed and it glistened like burnished silver

he had spoken, the Tin Woodman began to chop, and in short time the tree fell over with crash, whereupon the Scarecrow's clothes fell branches and rolled off ground

Dorothy picked them up and had the Winkies carry them back castle, where they were stuffed with nice, clean straw; and behold ! here Scarecrow, as good as ever, thanking them over and over again for saving him

Now were reunited, Dorothy and her friends spent few happy days Yellow Castle, where they found everything they needed them comfortable

But one day the girl thought of Aunt Em, and said, " go back to Oz, and claim his promise "

"Yes," said the Woodman, "at last get my heart "

"And get my brains," added the Scarecrow joyfully

"And get my courage," said the Lion thoughtfully

"And get back to Kansas," cried Dorothy, clapping her hands "Oh, start Emerald City tomorrow ! "

This they decided The they called the Winkies together and bade them good-bye The Winkies were sorry them go, had grown so fond Tin Woodman begged him to stay and rule over them Yellow Land West Finding they were determined , the Winkies gave Toto Lion each golden collar; and to Dorothy they presented beautiful bracelet studded with diamonds; and Scarecrow they gave gold-headed walking stick, him from stumbling; and Tin Woodman they offered silver oil-can, inlaid with gold and set with precious jewels

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

Dorothy went Witch's cupboard her basket with food journey, and there she saw the Golden Cap She tried it on her own head and found fitted her exactly She know anything charm Golden Cap, but she saw pretty, so she made up her mind to wear it and carry her sunbonnet basket

Then, being prepared journey, they all started Emerald City; Winkies gave them three cheers and many good wishes to carry

14 The Winged Monkeys

remember no road--not even pathway-- castle Wicked Witch Emerald City four travelers went in search Witch she had seen them coming, and so sent the Winged Monkeys to bring them to her much harder their way back big fields of buttercups and yellow daisies than being carried They knew, , go straight east, toward the rising sun; started off right way But at noon, sun was over their heads, know east and west, reason they were lost great fields They kept on walking, however, and at night the moon came out and shone brightly So they lay down sweet smelling yellow flowers and slept soundly until morning-- all but the Scarecrow Tin Woodman