The wonderful wizard of Oz by L.Frank Baum (read online)

6. The Cowardly Lion

All this time Dorothy and her companions had been walking through the

thick woods. The road was still paved with yellow brick, but these were

much covered by dried branches and dead leaves from the trees, and the

walking was not at all good.

There were few birds in this part of the forest, for birds love the

open country where there is plenty of sunshine. But now and then there

came a deep growl from some wild animal hidden among the trees. These

sounds made the little girl’s heart beat fast, for she did not know what

made them; but Toto knew, and he walked close to Dorothy’s side, and did

not even bark in return.

“How long will it be,” the child asked of the Tin Woodman, “before we

are out of the forest?”

“I cannot tell,” was the answer, “for I have never been to the

Emerald City. But my father went there once, when I was a boy, and he said

it was a long journey through a dangerous country, although nearer to the

city where Oz dwells the country is beautiful. But I am not afraid so long

as I have my oil-can, and nothing can hurt the Scarecrow, while you bear

upon your forehead the mark of the Good Witch’s kiss, and that will

protect you from harm.”

“But Toto!” said the girl anxiously. “What will protect him?”

“We must protect him ourselves if he is in danger,” replied the Tin

Woodman.

Just as he spoke there came from the forest a terrible roar, and the

next moment a great Lion bounded into the road. With one blow of his paw

he sent the Scarecrow spinning over and over to the edge of the road, and

then he struck at the Tin Woodman with his sharp claws. But, to the Lion’s

surprise, he could make no impression on the tin, although the Woodman

fell over in the road and lay still.

Little Toto, now that he had an enemy to face, ran barking toward the

Lion, and the great beast had opened his mouth to bite the dog, when

Dorothy, fearing Toto would be killed, and heedless of danger, rushed

forward and slapped the Lion upon his nose as hard as she could, while she

cried out:

“Don’t you dare to bite Toto! You ought to be ashamed of yourself, a

big beast like you, to bite a poor little dog!”

“I didn’t bite him,” said the Lion, as he rubbed his nose with his

paw where Dorothy had hit it.

“No, but you tried to,” she retorted. “You are nothing but a big

coward.”

“I know it,” said the Lion, hanging his head in shame. “I’ve always

known it. But how can I help it?”

“I don’t know, I’m sure. To think of your striking a stuffed man,

like the poor Scarecrow!”

“Is he stuffed?” asked the Lion in surprise, as he watched her pick

up the Scarecrow and set him upon his feet, while she patted him into

shape again.

“Of course he’s stuffed,” replied Dorothy, who was still angry.

“That’s why he went over so easily,” remarked the Lion. “It

astonished me to see him whirl around so. Is the other one stuffed also?”

“No,” said Dorothy, “he’s made of tin.” And she helped the Woodman up

again.

“That’s why he nearly blunted my claws,” said the Lion. “When they

scratched against the tin it made a cold shiver run down my back. What is

that little animal you are so tender of?”

“He is my dog, Toto,” answered Dorothy.

“Is he made of tin, or stuffed?” asked the Lion.

“Neither. He’s a-a-a meat dog,” said the girl.

“Oh! He’s a curious animal and seems remarkably small, now that I

look at him. No one would think of biting such a little thing, except a

coward like me,” continued the Lion sadly.

“What makes you a coward?” asked Dorothy, looking at the great beast

in wonder, for he was as big as a small horse.

“It’s a mystery,” replied the Lion. “I suppose I was born that way.

All the other animals in the forest naturally expect me to be brave, for

the Lion is everywhere thought to be the King of Beasts. I learned that if

I roared very loudly every living thing was frightened and got out of my

way. Whenever I’ve met a man I’ve been awfully scared; but I just roared

at him, and he has always run away as fast as he could go. If the

elephants and the tigers and the bears had ever tried to fight me, I

should have run myself-I’m such a coward; but just as soon as they hear me

roar they all try to get away from me, and of course I let them go.”

“But that isn’t right. The King of Beasts shouldn’t be a coward,”

said the Scarecrow.

“I know it,” returned the Lion, wiping a tear from his eye with the

tip of his tail. “It is my great sorrow, and makes my life very unhappy.

But whenever there is danger, my heart begins to beat fast.”

“Perhaps you have heart disease,” said the Tin Woodman.

“It may be,” said the Lion.

“If you have,” continued the Tin Woodman, “you ought to be glad, for

it proves you have a heart. For my part, I have no heart; so I cannot have

heart disease.”

“Perhaps,” said the Lion thoughtfully, “if I had no heart I should

not be a coward.”

“Have you brains?” asked the Scarecrow.

“I suppose so. I’ve never looked to see,” replied the Lion.

“I am going to the Great Oz to ask him to give me some,” remarked the

Scarecrow, “for my head is stuffed with straw.”

“And I am going to ask him to give me a heart,” said the Woodman.

“And I am going to ask him to send Toto and me back to Kansas,” added

Dorothy.

“Do you think Oz could give me courage?” asked the Cowardly Lion.

“Just as easily as he could give me brains,” said the Scarecrow.

“Or give me a heart,” said the Tin Woodman.

“Or send me back to Kansas,” said Dorothy.

“Then, if you don’t mind, I’ll go with you,” said the Lion, “for my

life is simply unbearable without a bit of courage.”

“You will be very welcome,” answered Dorothy, “for you will help to

keep away the other wild beasts. It seems to me they must be more cowardly

than you are if they allow you to scare them so easily.”

“They really are,” said the Lion, “but that doesn’t make me any

braver, and as long as I know myself to be a coward I shall be unhappy.”

So once more the little company set off upon the journey, the Lion

walking with stately strides at Dorothy’s side. Toto did not approve this

new comrade at first, for he could not forget how nearly he had been

crushed between the Lion’s great jaws. But after a time he became more at

ease, and presently Toto and the Cowardly Lion had grown to be good

friends.

During the rest of that day there was no other adventure to mar the

peace of their journey. Once, indeed, the Tin Woodman stepped upon a

beetle that was crawling along the road, and killed the poor little thing.

This made the Tin Woodman very unhappy, for he was always careful not to

hurt any living creature; and as he walked along he wept several tears of

sorrow and regret. These tears ran slowly down his face and over the

hinges of his jaw, and there they rusted. When Dorothy presently asked him

a question the Tin Woodman could not open his mouth, for his jaws were

tightly rusted together. He became greatly frightened at this and made

many motions to Dorothy to relieve him, but she could not understand. The

Lion was also puzzled to know what was wrong. But the Scarecrow seized the

oil-can from Dorothy’s basket and oiled the Woodman’s jaws, so that after

a few moments he could talk as well as before.

“This will serve me a lesson,” said he, “to look where I step. For if

I should kill another bug or beetle I should surely cry again, and crying

rusts my jaws so that I cannot speak.”

Thereafter he walked very carefully, with his eyes on the road, and

when he saw a tiny ant toiling by he would step over it, so as not to harm

it. The Tin Woodman knew very well he had no heart, and therefore he took

great care never to be cruel or unkind to anything.

“You people with hearts,” he said, “have something to guide you, and

need never do wrong; but I have no heart, and so I must be very careful.

When Oz gives me a heart of course I needn’t mind so much.”

7. The Journey to the Great Oz

They were obliged to camp out that night under a large tree in the

forest, for there were no houses near. The tree made a good, thick

covering to protect them from the dew, and the Tin Woodman chopped a great

pile of wood with his axe and Dorothy built a splendid fire that warmed

her and made her feel less lonely. She and Toto ate the last of their

bread, and now she did not know what they would do for breakfast.

“If you wish,” said the Lion, “I will go into the forest and kill a

deer for you. You can roast it by the fire, since your tastes are so

peculiar that you prefer cooked food, and then you will have a very good

breakfast.”

“Don’t! Please don’t,” begged the Tin Woodman. “I should certainly

weep if you killed a poor deer, and then my jaws would rust again.”

But the Lion went away into the forest and found his own supper, and

no one ever knew what it was, for he didn’t mention it. And the Scarecrow

found a tree full of nuts and filled Dorothy’s basket with them, so that

she would not be hungry for a long time. She thought this was very kind

and thoughtful of the Scarecrow, but she laughed heartily at the awkward

way in which the poor creature picked up the nuts. His padded hands were

so clumsy and the nuts were so small that he dropped almost as many as he

put in the basket. But the Scarecrow did not mind how long it took him to

fill the basket, for it enabled him to keep away from the fire, as he

feared a spark might get into his straw and burn him up. So he kept a good

distance away from the flames, and only came near to cover Dorothy with

dry leaves when she lay down to sleep. These kept her very snug and warm,

and she slept soundly until morning.

When it was daylight, the girl bathed her face in a little rippling

brook, and soon after they all started toward the Emerald City.

This was to be an eventful day for the travelers. They had hardly

been walking an hour when they saw before them a great ditch that crossed

the road and divided the forest as far as they could see on either side.

It was a very wide ditch, and when they crept up to the edge and looked

into it they could see it was also very deep, and there were many big,

jagged rocks at the bottom. The sides were so steep that none of them

could climb down, and for a moment it seemed that their journey must end.

“What shall we do?” asked Dorothy despairingly.

“I haven’t the faintest idea,” said the Tin Woodman, and the Lion

shook his shaggy mane and looked thoughtful.

But the Scarecrow said, “We cannot fly, that is certain. Neither can

we climb down into this great ditch. Therefore, if we cannot jump over it,

we must stop where we are.”

“I think I could jump over it,” said the Cowardly Lion, after

measuring the distance carefully in his mind.

“Then we are all right,” answered the Scarecrow, “for you can carry

us all over on your back, one at a time.”

“Well, I’ll try it,” said the Lion. “Who will go first?”

“I will,” declared the Scarecrow, “for, if you found that you could

not jump over the gulf, Dorothy would be killed, or the Tin Woodman badly

dented on the rocks below. But if I am on your back it will not matter so

much, for the fall would not hurt me at all.”

“I am terribly afraid of falling, myself,” said the Cowardly Lion,

“but I suppose there is nothing to do but try it. So get on my back and we

will make the attempt.”

The Scarecrow sat upon the Lion’s back, and the big beast walked to

the edge of the gulf and crouched down.

“Why don’t you run and jump?” asked the Scarecrow.

“Because that isn’t the way we Lions do these things,” he replied.

Then giving a great spring, he shot through the air and landed safely on

the other side. They were all greatly pleased to see how easily he did it,

and after the Scarecrow had got down from his back the Lion sprang across

the ditch again.

Dorothy thought she would go next; so she took Toto in her arms and

climbed on the Lion’s back, holding tightly to his mane with one hand. The

next moment it seemed as if she were flying through the air; and then,

before she had time to think about it, she was safe on the other side. The

Lion went back a third time and got the Tin Woodman, and then they all sat

down for a few moments to give the beast a chance to rest, for his great

leaps had made his breath short, and he panted like a big dog that has

been running too long.

They found the forest very thick on this side, and it looked dark and

gloomy. After the Lion had rested they started along the road of yellow

brick, silently wondering, each in his own mind, if ever they would come

to the end of the woods and reach the bright sunshine again. To add to

their discomfort, they soon heard strange noises in the depths of the

forest, and the Lion whispered to them that it was in this part of the

country that the Kalidahs lived.

“What are the Kalidahs?” asked the girl.

“They are monstrous beasts with bodies like bears and heads like

tigers,” replied the Lion, “and with claws so long and sharp that they

could tear me in two as easily as I could kill Toto. I’m terribly afraid

of the Kalidahs.”

“I’m not surprised that you are,” returned Dorothy. “They must be

dreadful beasts.”

The Lion was about to reply when suddenly they came to another gulf

across the road. But this one was so broad and deep that the Lion knew at

once he could not leap across it.

So they sat down to consider what they should do, and after serious

thought the Scarecrow said:

“Here is a great tree, standing close to the ditch. If the Tin

Woodman can chop it down, so that it will fall to the other side, we can

walk across it easily.”

“That is a first-rate idea,” said the Lion. “One would almost suspect

you had brains in your head, instead of straw.”

The Woodman set to work at once, and so sharp was his axe that the

tree was soon chopped nearly through. Then the Lion put his strong front

legs against the tree and pushed with all his might, and slowly the big

tree tipped and fell with a crash across the ditch, with its top branches

on the other side.

They had just started to cross this queer bridge when a sharp growl

made them all look up, and to their horror they saw running toward them

two great beasts with bodies like bears and heads like tigers.

“They are the Kalidahs!” said the Cowardly Lion, beginning to

tremble.

“Quick!” cried the Scarecrow. “Let us cross over.”

So Dorothy went first, holding Toto in her arms, the Tin Woodman

followed, and the Scarecrow came next. The Lion, although he was certainly

afraid, turned to face the Kalidahs, and then he gave so loud and terrible

a roar that Dorothy screamed and the Scarecrow fell over backward, while

even the fierce beasts stopped short and looked at him in surprise.

But, seeing they were bigger than the Lion, and remembering that

there were two of them and only one of him, the Kalidahs again rushed

forward, and the Lion crossed over the tree and turned to see what they

would do next. Without stopping an instant the fierce beasts also began to

cross the tree. And the Lion said to Dorothy:

“We are lost, for they will surely tear us to pieces with their sharp

claws. But stand close behind me, and I will fight them as long as I am

alive.”

“Wait a minute!” called the Scarecrow. He had been thinking what was

best to be done, and now he asked the Woodman to chop away the end of the

tree that rested on their side of the ditch. The Tin Woodman began to use

his axe at once, and, just as the two Kalidahs were nearly across, the

tree fell with a crash into the gulf, carrying the ugly, snarling brutes

with it, and both were dashed to pieces on the sharp rocks at the bottom.

“Well,” said the Cowardly Lion, drawing a long breath of relief, “I

see we are going to live a little while longer, and I am glad of it, for

it must be a very uncomfortable thing not to be alive. Those creatures

frightened me so badly that my heart is beating yet.”

“Ah,” said the Tin Woodman sadly, “I wish I had a heart to beat.”

This adventure made the travelers more anxious than ever to get out

of the forest, and they walked so fast that Dorothy became tired, and had

to ride on the Lion’s back. To their great joy the trees became thinner

the farther they advanced, and in the afternoon they suddenly came upon a

broad river, flowing swiftly just before them. On the other side of the

water they could see the road of yellow brick running through a beautiful

country, with green meadows dotted with bright flowers and all the road

bordered with trees hanging full of delicious fruits. They were greatly

pleased to see this delightful country before them.

“How shall we cross the river?” asked Dorothy.

“That is easily done,” replied the Scarecrow. “The Tin Woodman must

build us a raft, so we can float to the other side.”

So the Woodman took his axe and began to chop down small trees to

make a raft, and while he was busy at this the Scarecrow found on the

riverbank a tree full of fine fruit. This pleased Dorothy, who had eaten

nothing but nuts all day, and she made a hearty meal of the ripe fruit.

But it takes time to make a raft, even when one is as industrious and

untiring as the Tin Woodman, and when night came the work was not done. So

they found a cozy place under the trees where they slept well until the

morning; and Dorothy dreamed of the Emerald City, and of the good Wizard

Oz, who would soon send her back to her own home again.

8. The Deadly Poppy Field

Our little party of travelers awakened the next morning refreshed and

full of hope, and Dorothy breakfasted like a princess off peaches and

plums from the trees beside the river. Behind them was the dark forest

they had passed safely through, although they had suffered many

discouragements; but before them was a lovely, sunny country that seemed

to beckon them on to the Emerald City.

To be sure, the broad river now cut them off from this beautiful

land. But the raft was nearly done, and after the Tin Woodman had cut a

few more logs and fastened them together with wooden pins, they were ready

to start. Dorothy sat down in the middle of the raft and held Toto in her

arms. When the Cowardly Lion stepped upon the raft it tipped badly, for he

was big and heavy; but the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman stood upon the

other end to steady it, and they had long poles in their hands to push the

raft through the water.

They got along quite well at first, but when they reached the middle

of the river the swift current swept the raft downstream, farther and

farther away from the road of yellow brick. And the water grew so deep

that the long poles would not touch the bottom.

“This is bad,” said the Tin Woodman, “for if we cannot get to the

land we shall be carried into the country of the Wicked Witch of the West,

and she will enchant us and make us her slaves.”

“And then I should get no brains,” said the Scarecrow.

“And I should get no courage,” said the Cowardly Lion.

“And I should get no heart,” said the Tin Woodman.

“And I should never get back to Kansas,” said Dorothy.

“We must certainly get to the Emerald City if we can,” the Scarecrow

continued, and he pushed so hard on his long pole that it stuck fast in

the mud at the bottom of the river. Then, before he could pull it out

again-or let go-the raft was swept away, and the poor Scarecrow left

clinging to the pole in the middle of the river.

“Good-bye!” he called after them, and they were very sorry to leave

him. Indeed, the Tin Woodman began to cry, but fortunately remembered that

he might rust, and so dried his tears on Dorothy’s apron.

Of course this was a bad thing for the Scarecrow.

“I am now worse off than when I first met Dorothy,” he thought.

“Then, I was stuck on a pole in a cornfield, where I could make-believe

scare the crows, at any rate. But surely there is no use for a Scarecrow

stuck on a pole in the middle of a river. I am afraid I shall never have

any brains, after all!”

Down the stream the raft floated, and the poor Scarecrow was left far

behind. Then the Lion said:

“Something must be done to save us. I think I can swim to the shore

and pull the raft after me, if you will only hold fast to the tip of my

tail.”

So he sprang into the water, and the Tin Woodman caught fast hold of

his tail. Then the Lion began to swim with all his might toward the shore.

It was hard work, although he was so big; but by and by they were drawn

out of the current, and then Dorothy took the Tin Woodman’s long pole and

helped push the raft to the land.

They were all tired out when they reached the shore at last and

stepped off upon the pretty green grass, and they also knew that the

stream had carried them a long way past the road of yellow brick that led

to the Emerald City.

“What shall we do now?” asked the Tin Woodman, as the Lion lay down

on the grass to let the sun dry him.

“We must get back to the road, in some way,” said Dorothy.

“The best plan will be to walk along the riverbank until we come to

the road again,” remarked the Lion.

So, when they were rested, Dorothy picked up her basket and they

started along the grassy bank, to the road from which the river had

carried them. It was a lovely country, with plenty of flowers and fruit

trees and sunshine to cheer them, and had they not felt so sorry for the

poor Scarecrow, they could have been very happy.

They walked along as fast as they could, Dorothy only stopping once

to pick a beautiful flower; and after a time the Tin Woodman cried out:

“Look!”

Then they all looked at the river and saw the Scarecrow perched upon

his pole in the middle of the water, looking very lonely and sad.

“What can we do to save him?” asked Dorothy.

The Lion and the Woodman both shook their heads, for they did not

know. So they sat down upon the bank and gazed wistfully at the Scarecrow

until a Stork flew by, who, upon seeing them, stopped to rest at the

water’s edge.

“Who are you and where are you going?” asked the Stork.

“I am Dorothy,” answered the girl, “and these are my friends, the Tin

Woodman and the Cowardly Lion; and we are going to the Emerald City.”

“This isn’t the road,” said the Stork, as she twisted her long neck

and looked sharply at the queer party.

“I know it,” returned Dorothy, “but we have lost the Scarecrow, and

are wondering how we shall get him again.”

“Where is he?” asked the Stork.

“Over there in the river,” answered the little girl.

“If he wasn’t so big and heavy I would get him for you,” remarked the

Stork.

“He isn’t heavy a bit,” said Dorothy eagerly, “for he is stuffed with

straw; and if you will bring him back to us, we shall thank you ever and

ever so much.”

“Well, I’ll try,” said the Stork, “but if I find he is too heavy to

carry I shall have to drop him in the river again.”

So the big bird flew into the air and over the water till she came to

where the Scarecrow was perched upon his pole. Then the Stork with her

great claws grabbed the Scarecrow by the arm and carried him up into the

air and back to the bank, where Dorothy and the Lion and the Tin Woodman

and Toto were sitting.

When the Scarecrow found himself among his friends again, he was so

happy that he hugged them all, even the Lion and Toto; and as they walked

along he sang “Tol-de-ri-de-oh!” at every step, he felt so gay.

“I was afraid I should have to stay in the river forever,” he said,

“but the kind Stork saved me, and if I ever get any brains I shall find

the Stork again and do her some kindness in return.”

“That’s all right,” said the Stork, who was flying along beside them.

“I always like to help anyone in trouble. But I must go now, for my babies

are waiting in the nest for me. I hope you will find the Emerald City and

that Oz will help you.”

“Thank you,” replied Dorothy, and then the kind Stork flew into the

air and was soon out of sight.

They walked along listening to the singing of the brightly colored

birds and looking at the lovely flowers which now became so thick that the

ground was carpeted with them. There were big yellow and white and blue

and purple blossoms, besides great clusters of scarlet poppies, which were

so brilliant in color they almost dazzled Dorothy’s eyes.

“Aren’t they beautiful?” the girl asked, as she breathed in the spicy

scent of the bright flowers.

“I suppose so,” answered the Scarecrow. “When I have brains, I shall

probably like them better.”

“If I only had a heart, I should love them,” added the Tin Woodman.

“I always did like flowers,” said the Lion. “They of seem so helpless

and frail. But there are none in the forest so bright as these.”

They now came upon more and more of the big scarlet poppies, and

fewer and fewer of the other flowers; and soon they found themselves in

the midst of a great meadow of poppies. Now it is well known that when

there are many of these flowers together their odor is so powerful that

anyone who breathes it falls asleep, and if the sleeper is not carried

away from the scent of the flowers, he sleeps on and on forever. But

Dorothy did not know this, nor could she get away from the bright red

flowers that were everywhere about; so presently her eyes grew heavy and

she felt she must sit down to rest and to sleep.

But the Tin Woodman would not let her do this.

“We must hurry and get back to the road of yellow brick before dark,”

he said; and the Scarecrow agreed with him. So they kept walking until

Dorothy could stand no longer. Her eyes closed in spite of herself and she

forgot where she was and fell among the poppies, fast asleep.

“What shall we do?” asked the Tin Woodman.

“If we leave her here she will die,” said the Lion. “The smell of the

flowers is killing us all. I myself can scarcely keep my eyes open, and

the dog is asleep already.”

It was true; Toto had fallen down beside his little mistress. But the

Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, not being made of flesh, were not troubled

by the scent of the flowers.

“Run fast,” said the Scarecrow to the Lion, “and get out of this

deadly flower bed as soon as you can. We will bring the little girl with

us, but if you should fall asleep you are too big to be carried.”

So the Lion aroused himself and bounded forward as fast as he could

go. In a moment he was out of sight.

“Let us make a chair with our hands and carry her,” said the

Scarecrow. So they picked up Toto and put the dog in Dorothy’s lap, and

then they made a chair with their hands for the seat and their arms for

the arms and carried the sleeping girl between them through the flowers.

On and on they walked, and it seemed that the great carpet of deadly

flowers that surrounded them would never end. They followed the bend of

the river, and at last came upon their friend the Lion, lying fast asleep

among the poppies. The flowers had been too strong for the huge beast and

he had given up at last, and fallen only a short distance from the end of

the poppy bed, where the sweet grass spread in beautiful green fields

before them.

“We can do nothing for him,” said the Tin Woodman, sadly; “for he is

much too heavy to lift. We must leave him here to sleep on forever, and

perhaps he will dream that he has found courage at last.”

“I’m sorry,” said the Scarecrow. “The Lion was a very good comrade

for one so cowardly. But let us go on.”

They carried the sleeping girl to a pretty spot beside the river, far

enough from the poppy field to prevent her breathing any more of the

poison of the flowers, and here they laid her gently on the soft grass and

waited for the fresh breeze to waken her.

9. The Queen of the Field Mice

“We cannot be far from the road of yellow brick, now,” remarked the

Scarecrow, as he stood beside the girl, “for we have come nearly as far as

the river carried us away.”

The Tin Woodman was about to reply when he heard a low growl, and

turning his head (which worked beautifully on hinges) he saw a strange

beast come bounding over the grass toward them. It was, indeed, a great

yellow Wildcat, and the Woodman thought it must be chasing something, for

its ears were lying close to its head and its mouth was wide open, showing

two rows of ugly teeth, while its red eyes glowed like balls of fire. As

it came nearer the Tin Woodman saw that running before the beast was a

little gray field mouse, and although he had no heart he knew it was wrong

for the Wildcat to try to kill such a pretty, harmless creature.

So the Woodman raised his axe, and as the Wildcat ran by he gave it a

quick blow that cut the beast’s head clean off from its body, and it

rolled over at his feet in two pieces.

The field mouse, now that it was freed from its enemy, stopped short;

and coming slowly up to the Woodman it said, in a squeaky little voice:

“Oh, thank you! Thank you ever so much for saving my life.”

“Don’t speak of it, I beg of you,” replied the Woodman. “I have no

heart, you know, so I am careful to help all those who may need a friend,

even if it happens to be only a mouse.”

“Only a mouse!” cried the little animal, indignantly. “Why, I am a

Queen-the Queen of all the Field Mice!”

“Oh, indeed,” said the Woodman, making a bow.

“Therefore you have done a great deed, as well as a brave one, in

saving my life,” added the Queen.

At that moment several mice were seen running up as fast as their

little legs could carry them, and when they saw their Queen they

exclaimed:

“Oh, your Majesty, we thought you would be killed! How did you manage

to escape the great Wildcat?” They all bowed so low to the little Queen

that they almost stood upon their heads.

“This funny tin man,” she answered, “killed the Wildcat and saved my

life. So hereafter you must all serve him, and obey his slightest wish.”

“We will!” cried all the mice, in a shrill chorus. And then they

scampered in all directions, for Toto had awakened from his sleep, and

seeing all these mice around him he gave one bark of delight and jumped

right into the middle of the group. Toto had always loved to chase mice

when he lived in Kansas, and he saw no harm in it.

But the Tin Woodman caught the dog in his arms and held him tight,

while he called to the mice, “Come back! Come back! Toto shall not hurt

you.”

At this the Queen of the Mice stuck her head out from underneath a

clump of grass and asked, in a timid voice, “Are you sure he will not bite

us?”

“I will not let him,” said the Woodman; “so do not be afraid.”

One by one the mice came creeping back, and Toto did not bark again,

although he tried to get out of the Woodman’s arms, and would have bitten

him had he not known very well he was made of tin. Finally one of the

biggest mice spoke.

“Is there anything we can do,” it asked, “to repay you for saving the

life of our Queen?”

“Nothing that I know of,” answered the Woodman; but the Scarecrow,

who had been trying to think, but could not because his head was stuffed

with straw, said, quickly, “Oh, yes; you can save our friend, the Cowardly

Lion, who is asleep in the poppy bed.”

“A Lion!” cried the little Queen. “Why, he would eat us all up.”

“Oh, no,” declared the Scarecrow; “this Lion is a coward.”

“Really?” asked the Mouse.

“He says so himself,” answered the Scarecrow, “and he would never

hurt anyone who is our friend. If you will help us to save him I promise

that he shall treat you all with kindness.”

“Very well,” said the Queen, “we trust you. But what shall we do?”

“Are there many of these mice which call you Queen and are willing to

obey you?”

“Oh, yes; there are thousands,” she replied.

“Then send for them all to come here as soon as possible, and let

each one bring a long piece of string.”

The Queen turned to the mice that attended her and told them to go at

once and get all her people. As soon as they heard her orders they ran

away in every direction as fast as possible.

“Now,” said the Scarecrow to the Tin Woodman, “you must go to those

trees by the riverside and make a truck that will carry the Lion.”

So the Woodman went at once to the trees and began to work; and he

soon made a truck out of the limbs of trees, from which he chopped away

all the leaves and branches. He fastened it together with wooden pegs and

made the four wheels out of short pieces of a big tree trunk. So fast and

so well did he work that by the time the mice began to arrive the truck

was all ready for them.

They came from all directions, and there were thousands of them: big

mice and little mice and middle-sized mice; and each one brought a piece

of string in his mouth. It was about this time that Dorothy woke from her

long sleep and opened her eyes. She was greatly astonished to find herself

lying upon the grass, with thousands of mice standing around and looking

at her timidly. But the Scarecrow told her about everything, and turning

to the dignified little Mouse, he said:

“Permit me to introduce to you her Majesty, the Queen.”

Dorothy nodded gravely and the Queen made a curtsy, after which she

became quite friendly with the little girl.

The Scarecrow and the Woodman now began to fasten the mice to the

truck, using the strings they had brought. One end of a string was tied

around the neck of each mouse and the other end to the truck. Of course

the truck was a thousand times bigger than any of the mice who were to

draw it; but when all the mice had been harnessed, they were able to pull

it quite easily. Even the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman could sit on it,

and were drawn swiftly by their queer little horses to the place where the

Lion lay asleep.

After a great deal of hard work, for the Lion was heavy, they managed

to get him up on the truck. Then the Queen hurriedly gave her people the

order to start, for she feared if the mice stayed among the poppies too

long they also would fall asleep.

At first the little creatures, many though they were, could hardly

stir the heavily loaded truck; but the Woodman and the Scarecrow both

pushed from behind, and they got along better. Soon they rolled the Lion

out of the poppy bed to the green fields, where he could breathe the

sweet, fresh air again, instead of the poisonous scent of the flowers.

Dorothy came to meet them and thanked the little mice warmly for

saving her companion from death. She had grown so fond of the big Lion she

was glad he had been rescued.

Then the mice were unharnessed from the truck and scampered away

through the grass to their homes. The Queen of the Mice was the last to

leave.

“If ever you need us again,” she said, “come out into the field and

call, and we shall hear you and come to your assistance. Good-bye!”

“Good-bye!” they all answered, and away the Queen ran, while Dorothy

held Toto tightly lest he should run after her and frighten her.

After this they sat down beside the Lion until he should awaken; and

the Scarecrow brought Dorothy some fruit from a tree near by, which she

ate for her dinner.