 This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. This reading by Luke Nelson. The Tin Woodmen of Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 8 The Menace of the Forest Quick, tried Polychrome the Canary. We must hurry, or Mrs. Upe may find some way to recapture us, even now. Let us get out of her valley as soon as possible. So they set off toward the east, moving as swiftly as they could, and for a long time they could hear the yells and struggles of the imprisoned giantess. The green monkey could run over the ground very swiftly, and he carried with him the birdcage containing Polychrome the rainbow's daughter. Also, the tin owl could skip and fly along at a good rate of speed. His feathers riling against one another with a tinkling sound as he moved. But the little brown bear, being stuffed with straw, was a clumsy traveler, and the others had to wait for him to follow. However, they were not long in reaching the ridge that led out of Mrs. Upe's valley, and when they had passed this ridge and descended into the next valley, they stopped to rest, for the green monkey was tired. I believe we are safe now, said Polychrome when her cage was set down, and the others had all gathered around it. Her Mrs. Upe dares not go outside of her own valley for fear of being captured by her enemies, so we may take our time to consider what to do next. I'm afraid poor Mrs. Upe will starve to death if no one lets her out of her bedroom, said Woot, who had a heart as kind as that of the tin woodman. We've taken her magic apron away, and now the doors will never open. Don't worry about that, advised Polychrome. Mrs. Upe has plenty of magic left to console her. Are you sure of that, asked the green monkey? Yes, for I've been watching her for weeks, said the canary. She has six magic hairpins which she wears in her hair, and a magic ring which she wears on her thumb, and which is invisible to all eyes except those of a fairy, and magic bracelets on her ankles, so I am positive that she will manage to find a way out of her prison. She might transform the door into an archway, suggested the little brown bear. That would be easy for her, said the tin owl, but I'm glad she was too angry to think of that before we got out of her valley. Well, we have escaped the big woman to be sure, remarked the green monkey, but we still wear the awful forms the cruel Yuku who gave us. How are we going to get rid of these shapes and become ourselves again? None could answer that question. They sat around the cage, brooding over the problem until the monkey fell asleep. Seeing this, the canary tucked her head under her wing and also slept, and the tin owl and the brown bear did not disturb them until morning came, and it was broad daylight. I'm hungry, said Wu when he awakened, for his knapsack of food had been left behind at the castle. Then let us travel on until we can find something for you to eat, returned the scarecrow bear. There is no use in your lugging my cage any farther, declared the canary. Let me out and throw the cage away, then I can fly with you and find my own breakfast of seeds. Also I can search for water and tell you where to find it. So the green monkey unfastened the door of the golden cage and the canary hopped out. At first she flew high in the air and made great circles overhead, but after a time she returned and perched beside her then. At the east in the direction we were following, announced the canary, there is a fine forest with a brook running through it. In the forest there may be fruits or nuts growing, or berry bushes at its edge, so let us go that way. They agreed to this and promptly set off, this time moving more deliberately. The tin owl which had guided their way during the night now found the sunshine very trying to his big eyes, so he shut them tight and perched upon the back of the little brown bear which carried the owl's weight with ease. The canary sometimes perched upon the green monkey's shoulder and sometimes fluttered on ahead of the party and in this manner they traveled in good spirits across the valley and into the next one to the east of it. This they found to be an immense hollow shaped like a saucer and on its farther edge appeared the forest which Polychrome had seen from the sky. Come to think of it, said the tin owl, waking up and blinking comically at his friends, there is no object now in our traveling to the munchkin country. My idea in going there was to marry Nimi Ami, but however much the munchkin chrome may have loved a tin woodman, I cannot reasonably expect her to marry a tin owl. There is some truth in that, my friend remarked to the brown bear, and to think that I, who was considered the handsomeness scarecrow in the world, am now condemned to be a scrubby, no-account beast who, well, whose only redeeming feature is that he is stuffed with straw. Consider my case, please, said Woot. The cruel giantess has made a monkey of a boy, and that is the most dreadful deed of all. Your color is rather pretty, said the brown bear, eyeing Woot critically. I have never seen the pea-green monkey before and it strikes me you are quite gorgeous. It isn't so bad to be a bird, sir, the canary, fluttering from one to another with a free and graceful motion, but I long to enjoy my own shape again. As polychrome, you are the loveliest maiden I have ever seen, except, of course, Osma, said the tin owl, so the giantess did well to transform you into the loveliest of all birds if you were to be transformed at all. But tell me, since you are a fairy and have a fairy wisdom, do you think we shall be able to break these enchantments? Queer things happen in the land of Oz, replied the canary, again perching on the green monkey's shoulder and turning one bright-eyed thoughtfully toward her questioner. Mrs. Youp has declared that none of her transformations can ever be changed, even by herself, but I believe that if we could get to Glinda the Good Sorceress, she might find a way to restore us to our natural shapes. Glinda, as you know, is the most powerful sorceress in the world and there are few things she cannot do if she tries. In that case, said the little brown bear, let us return southward and try to get to Glinda's castle. It lies in the quaddling country, you know, so it is a good way from here. First, however, let us visit the forest and search for something to eat, eat at Woot. So they continued on to the edge of the forest, which consisted of many tall and beautiful trees. They discovered no fruit trees at first, so the green monkey pushed on into the forest and the others followed close behind him. They were traveling quietly along under the shade of the trees when suddenly an enormous jaguar leaped upon them from a limb and with one blow of his paws sent the little brown bear tumbling over and over until he was stopped by a tree trunk. Instantly they all took alarm. The tin owl shrieked, hoot, hoot, and flew straight up to a branch of a tall tree. Although he could scarcely see where he was going, the canary swiftly darted to a place beside the owl and the green monkey sprang up, cuddled in, and soon scrambled to a high perch of safety. The jaguar crouched low and with hungry eyes regarded the little brown bear, which slowly got upon its feet and asked reproachfully, for goodness sake, beast, what were you trying to do? Trying to get my breakfast, answered the jaguar with a snarl, and I believe I succeeded. You ought to make a delicious meal, unless you happen to be old and tough. I'm worse than that, considered as a breakfast, said the bear, for I'm only a skin struffed with straw and therefore not fit to eat. Indeed, cried the jaguar in a disappointed voice, then you must be a magic bear or enchanted, and I must seek my breakfast from among your companions. With this he raised his lean head to look up at the tin owl and the canary and the monkey, and he lashed his tail upon the ground and growled as fiercely as any jaguar could. My friends are enchanted also, said the little brown bear. All of them? Asked the jaguar. Yes, the owl is tin, so you couldn't possibly eat him. The canary is a fairy, holly-chrome the daughter of the rainbow, and you could never catch her because she can easily fly out of her rage. There still remains the green monkey, remarked the jaguar hungrily. He is neither made of tin, nor stuffed with straw, nor can he fly. I'm pretty good at climbing trees myself, so I think I'll capture the monkey and eat him for my breakfast. Loot the monkey, hearing this speech from his perch on the tree. He came much bright and pretty new the nature of jaguars and realized they could climb trees and leap from limb to limb with the agility of cats. So he at once began to scamper through the forest as fast as he could go, catching at a branch with his long monkey arms and swinging his green body through space to grasp another branch in a neighboring tree. And so on, while the jaguar followed him from Bila, his eyes fixed steadfastly on his prey. But presently Loot got his feet tangled in the lace apron which he was still wearing and that tripped him in his flight and made him fall to the ground and the jaguar placed one huge paw upon him and said grimly, I've got you now. The fact that the apron had tripped him made Loot remember its magic powers and in his terror he cried out, Open! without stopping to consider how this command might save him. But at the word the earth opened at the exact spot where he lay under the jaguar's paw. His body sank downward, the earth closing over it again. The last thing Loot the monkey saw as he glanced upward was the jaguar peering into the hole in astonishment. He's gone! cried the beast with a long drawn sigh of disappointment. He's gone and now I shall have no breakfast. The clatter of the tin owl's wings sounded above him and the little brown bear came trotting up and asked, Where is the monkey? Have you eaten him so quickly? No indeed answered the jaguar. He disappeared into the earth before I could take one bite of him. Now the canary perched upon his stump a little away from the forest beast and said, I'm glad her friend has escaped you. But as it is natural for a hungry beast to wish his breakfast I will try to give you one. Thank you replied the jaguar. You're rather small for a full meal but it's kind of you to sacrifice yourself to my appetite. Oh, I don't intend to be eaten I assure you said the canary but as I am a fairy I know something of magic and though I am now transformed into a bird's shape I am sure I can conjure up a breakfast that will satisfy you. If you can work magic why don't you break the enchantment you are under and return to your proper form inquired the beast doubtingly. I haven't the power to do that answered the canary for Mrs. Youp the giantess who transformed me used a peculiar form of Youkuhu magic that is unknown to me. However she could not deprive me of my own fairy knowledge so I will try to get you a breakfast. Do you think a magic breakfast would taste good to relieve the pangs of hunger I now suffer? asked the jaguar I am sure it would What would you like to eat? Give me a couple of fat rabbits said the beast Rabbits, no indeed I would not allow you to eat the dear little things declared Polychrome the canary Well three or four squirrels then pleaded the jaguar Do you think me so cruel demanded the canary indignantly? The squirrels are my special friends How about a plump owl? asked the beast not a tin one you know but a real meat owl Neither beast nor bird shall you have said Polychrome in a positive voice Give me a fish then there's a river a little way off proposed the jaguar no living thing shall be sacrificed to feed you returned the canary Then what in the world do you expect me to eat? said the jaguar in a scornful tone How would mushing milk do? asked the canary The jaguar snarled in derision and lashed his tail against the ground angrily Give him some scrambled eggs on toast Poly suggested the bear scarecrow He ought to like that I will responded the canary and fluttering her wings hid a flight of three circles around the stump Then she flew up to a tree and the bear and the owl and the jaguar saw that upon the stump had appeared a great green leaf upon which was a large portion of scrambled eggs on toast smoking hot there said the bear eat your breakfast friend jaguar and be content The jaguar crept closer to the stump and sniffed the fragrance of the scrambled eggs They smelled so good that he tasted them and they tasted so good that he ate the strange meal in a hurry proving he had been really hungry I prefer rabbits, he mattered licking his chops but I must admit the magic breakfast has filled my stomach full and brought me comfort so I much obliged for the kindness little fairy and I'll now leave you in peace Saying this he plunged into the thick underbrush and soon disappeared although they could hear his great body crashing through the bushes until he was far distant That was a good way to get rid of the savage beast Poly said the tin woodman to the canary but I'm surprised that you didn't give our friend blue to magic breakfast when you knew he was hungry The reason for that answered Polychrome was that my mind was so intent on other things that I quite forgot my power to produce food by magic but where is the monkey boy Gone said the scarecrow bear solemnly the earth has swallowed him up and of chapter 8 this is a livery box recording all livery box recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit liverybox.org this reading by Luke Nelson The Tin Woodman of Oz by Elfrink Baum Chapter 9 The Coral Sum Dragons The green monkey sank gently into the earth for a little way then tumbled swiftly through space landing on a rocky floor with a thumb that astonished him then he sat up found that no bones were broken and gazed around him he seemed to be in a big underground cave which was dimly lighted by dozens of big round discs that looked like moons they were not moons however as Luke discovered when he examined the place more carefully they were eyes the eyes were in the heads of enormous beasts whose bodies trailed far behind them each beast was bigger than an elephant and three times as long and there were a dozen or more of the creatures scattered here and there about the cavern on their bodies were big scales around his pipe plates which were beautifully tinted in shades of green, purple and orange on the ends of their long tails were clusters of jewels around the great moon-like eyes were circles of diamonds which sparkled in the subdued light that glowed from the eyes Luke saw that the creatures had wide mouths and rows of terrible teeth and from tales he had heard of such beings he knew that he had fallen into a cavern inhabited by the great dragons that had been driven from the surface of the earth and were only allowed to come out once in a hundred years to search for food of course he had never seen dragons before yet there was no mistaking them for they were unlike any other living creature Luke sat upon the floor where he had fallen staring around and the owners of the big eyes returned his look silently and motionless finally one of the dragons which was farthest away from him asked in a deep grey voice what was that? and the greatest dragon of all who was just in front of the green monkey answered in a still deeper voice is some foolish animal from outside is it good to eat and quiet a smaller dragon beside the great one? I'm hungry hungry exclaimed all the dragons in a reproachful course and then the great one said you've got no reason to be hungry at this time why not? asked the little dragon I haven't eaten in eleven years eleven years is nothing remarked another dragon sleepily opening and closing his eyes I haven't feasted for over eighty seven years and I dare not get hungry for a dozen or so years to come children who eat between meals should be broken of the habit all I had eleven years ago was a rhinoceros and that's not a full meal at all crumbled the young one and before that I had waited sixty two years to be fed so it's no wonder I'm hungry how old are you? asked Rue for getting his own dangerous position and his interest in the conversation why I'm I'm how old am I father? asked the little dragon goodness gracious what a child to ask questions do you want me to keep thinking all the time? don't you know that thinking is very bad for dragons? return the big one impatiently how old am I father? persisted the small dragon about six hundred and thirty I believe ask your mother no don't said an old dragon in the background haven't I enough worries what with being wakened in the middle of a nap without being obliged to keep track of my children's ages you've been fast asleep for over sixty years mother said the child dragon how long a nap do you wish? I should have slept forty years longer and this strange little dream beast should be punished for falling into our cavern and disturbing us I didn't know you were here and I didn't know I was going to fall in explained Rue nevertheless here you are said the great dragon and you have carelessly wakened our entire tribe so it stands to reason you must be punished in what way? inquired the green monkey trembling a little give me time and I'll think of a way you're in no hurry are you? asked the great dragon no indeed cried Rue take your time I'd much rather you'd all go to sleep again and punish me when you wake up for a hundred years or so let me him pleaded the littlest dragon he is too small said the father to eat this one green monkey would only serve to make you hungry for more and there are no more quit this chatter and let me get to sleep protested another dragon yawning in a fearful manner for when he opened his mouth a sheet of flame leaked forth from it made Woot jump in back to get out of its way in his jump he bumped against the nose of a dragon behind him which opened its mouth to growl and shot another sheet of flame at him the flame was bright but not very hot yet Woot screamed with terror and sprang forward with a great bound this time he landed on the paw of the great chief dragon who angrily raised his other paw and struck the green monkey with a fierce blow Woot went sailing through the air and fell sprawling upon the rocky floor far beyond the place where the dragon tribe was grouped all the great beasts were now thoroughly wakened in her owls and they blamed the monkey for disturbing their quiet the littlest dragon darted after Woot and the others turned their unwieldy bodies in his direction and followed flashing from their eyes and mouths flames which lighted up the entire cavern Woot almost gave himself up for lost at that moment but he scrambled to his feet and dashed away to the farthest end of the cave the dragons following more leisurely because they were too clumsy to move fast perhaps they thought there was no need of haste as the monkey could not escape from the cave but away up at the end of the place the cavern floor was heaped with tumble rocks so Woot with an agility born of fear climbed from rock to rock until he found himself crouched against the cavern roof there he waited for he could go no farther while on over the tumble rocks slowly trapped dragons the littlest one coming first because he was hungry as well as angry the beasts had almost reached him when Woot remembering his lay sapron now sadly torn in soil recovered his wits and shouted open! at the cry a hole appeared in the roof of the cavern just over his head and through it the sunlight streamed full on the green monkey the dragons paused astonished at the magic and blinking at the sunlight and this gave Woot time to climb through the opening as soon as he reached the surface of the earth the hole closed again and the boy monkey realized with the thrill of joy that he had seen the last of the dangerous dragon family he sat upon the ground still panting hard from his exertions when the bushes before him parted and his former enemy the jaguar appeared don't run said the woodland beast as Woot sprang up you are perfectly safe so far as I am concerned for since you are so mysterious we disappear I have had my breakfast I am now on my way home to sleep the rest of the day oh indeed returned the green monkey in a tone both sorry and startled which one of my friends did you manage to eat none of them returned the jaguar with the slider in had a dish of magic scrambled eggs on toast it wasn't a bad feast at all there isn't room in me for even you and I don't regret it because I judge from your green color that you are not right and would make an indifferent meal we jaguars have to be careful of our digestion farewell friend monkey follow the path I made through the bushes and you will find your friends with this the jaguar marched on his way and Woot took his advice and followed the trail he had made until he came to the place where the little brown bear and the tin owl and the canary were conferring together and wondering what had become of their comrade green monkey and of chapter 9 this is a livery box recording all livery box recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit liverybox.org this reading by loop nelson the tin woodman of Oz by elf rink bomb chapter 10 Tommy quick step our best plan said the scarecrow bear when the green monkey had related the story of his adventure with the dragons is to get out of this gillican country as soon as we can try to find our way to the castle of glinda the good sorceress there are too many dangers lurking here to suit me and glinda may be able to restore us to our proper forms if we turn south now the tin owl replied we might go straight into the emerald city that's a place I wish to avoid for I'd hate to have my friends see me in this sad flight and he blinked his eyes and fluttered his tin wings mournfully but I am certain we have passed beyond the emerald city the canary assured him sailing lightly around their heads so should we turn south from here we would pass into the munchkin country continuing south we would reach the quaddling country where glinda's castle is located well since you're sure of that let's start right away proposed the bear it's a long journey at the best but I am getting tired of walking on four legs I thought you never tired being stuffed with straw said woot I mean that it annoys me to be obliged to go on at all fours when two legs are my proper walking equipment replied the scaricrow I consider it beneath my dignity in other words my remarkable brains can tire your humiliation although my body cannot tire that is one of the penalties of having brains remarked the tin owl sigh I have had no brains since I was a man of meat and so I never worry nevertheless I prefer my former manly form to this owl's shape and would be glad to break mrs. youth's enchantment as soon as possible I am so noisy just now that I disturbed myself we fluttered his wings with the clatter that echoed through the forest so being all of one mind they turned southward traveling steadily on until the woods were left behind and the landscape turned from purple tints to blue tints which assured them they had entered the country of the munchkins now I feel myself more safe said the scaricrow bear I know this country prayed well having been made here by a munchkin farmer and having wandered over these lovely blue lands many times seems to me indeed that I even remember that group of tall trees ahead of us and if I do we are not far from the home of my friend ginger who is ginger asked woot the green monkey haven't you heard of ginger exclaimed the scaricrow in surprise no said woot ginger a man a woman a beast or a bird ginger is a girl explained the scaricrow bear she's a fine girl too although a bit restless and liable to get excited once a long time ago she raised an army of girls and called herself general ginger with her army she captured the emerald city and drove me out of it because I insisted that an army in Oz was highly improper but Ozma punished the rash girl and afterwards ginger and I became fast friends now ginger lives peacefully on a farm near here and raises fields of cream puffs chocolate caramels and macaroons they say she's a pretty good farmer and in addition to that she's an artist and paints pictures so perfect that one can scarcely tell them from nature she often repaints my face for me when it gets worn or messy and the lovely expression I wore when the giantist transformed me was painted by ginger only a month or so ago it was certainly a pleasant expression that greed woot ginger can paint anything continued the scaricrow bear with enthusiasm as they walked along together once when I came to her house my straw was old and crumpled so that my body sag dreadfully I needed new straw to replace the old but ginger had no straw on all her ranch and I was really unable to travel further until I had been restuffed when I explained this to ginger the girl at once painted a straw stack which was so natural that I went to it and secured enough straw to fill all my body it was a good quality of straw too and lasted me a long time this seemed very wonderful to woot who knew that such a thing could never happen in any place but a very country like Oz the munchkin country was much nicer than the gillican country and all the fields were separated by blue fences with grassy lanes and paths of blue ground and the land seemed very well cultivated they were on a little hill looking down upon this favored country but had not quite reached the settled parts when on turning a bend in the path they were halted by a form that barred their way a more curious creature they had seldom seen even in the land of Oz where curious creatures abound had the head of a young man evidently a munchkin with the pleasant face and hair neatly combed but the body was very long for had 20 legs 10 legs on each side and this caused the body to stretch out and lie in a horizontal position so that all the legs could touch the ground and stand firm from the shoulders extended two small arms at least they seemed small besides so many legs this odd creature was dressed in the regulation clothing of the munchkin people a dark blue coat neatly fading on the long body and each pair of legs having a pair of sky blue trousers with each blue tinted stockings and blue leather shoes turned up at the pointed toes I wonder who you are said Polly from the canary fluttering above strange creature probably been asleep on the path I sometimes wonder myself who I am replied that many like young man but in reality I am Tommy Quickstep and I live in a hollow tree that fell to the ground with age I have polished the inside a bit and made a door at each end and that's very comfortable residence for me because it just fits my shape how did you happen to have such a shape as the scarecrow bear sitting on his haunches and regarding Tommy Quickstep with a serious look is the shape natural? no it was wished on me replied Tommy with a sigh I used to be very active and loved to run errands for anyone who needed my services that was how I got the name of Tommy Quickstep I could run an errand more quickly than any other boy and so I was very proud of myself one day however I met an old lady who was a fairy or a witch or something of the sort and she said if I would run an errand for her to carry some magic medicine to another old woman she would grant me just one wish whatever the wish happened to be of course I consented and taking the medicine I hurried away it was a long distance mostly uphill and my legs began to grow weary without thinking of what I was doing I settled out dear me I wish I had 20 legs and in an instant I became the unusual creature you see beside you 20 legs, 20 on one man you may count them if you doubt my word you've got them all right said root the monkey who had already counted them after I had delivered the magic medicine to the old woman I returned and tried to find the witch or fairy or whatever she was who had given me the unlucky wish so she could take it away again I've been searching for her ever since but never can I find her continue for Tommy quick step sadly I suppose said the tin owl blinking at him you can travel very fast with those 20 legs at first I was able to was the reply but I traveled so much searching for the fairy or witch or whatever she was that I soon got corns on my toes now a corn on one toe is not so bad but when you have a hundred toes as I have you get corns on most of them it is far from pleasant instead of running I now painfully crawl and although I try not to be discouraged I do hope I shall find that witch or fairy or whatever she was before long I hope so too said the scarecrow but after all you have the pleasure of knowing you are unusual and therefore remarkable among the people of Oz to be just like other persons is small credit to one while to be unlike others is a mark of distinction that sounds very pretty return Tommy quick step but if you had to put on ten pair of trousers every morning and tie up twenty shoes you would prefer not to be so distinguished was the witch or fairy or whatever she was no person with wrinkled skin and half a teeth gone inquired the canal no said Tommy quick step then it wasn't old mom be remarked the transformed emperor I'm not interested in who it was so much as I am in who it was said the twenty liked man and whatever room ever she was she had managed to keep out of my way if you found her do you suppose she changed you back into a two leg toy asked who perhaps so if I could run another errand for her and so earn another wish would you really like to be as you were before as Polly chrome the canary perching upon the green monkey's shoulder to observe Tommy quick step more attentively I would indeed was the earnest reply then I will see what I can do for you promised the rainbow's daughter and flying to the ground she took a small twig in her bill and with it made several mystic figures on each side of Tommy quick step are you a witch or fairy or something of the sort he asked as he watched her wonderingly the canary made no answer for she was busy but the scarecrow bearer applied yes she's something of the sort and a bird of a magician the twenty liked boys transformation happened so clearly that they were all surprised as its method first Tommy quick steps last two legs disappear then the next two and the next and as each pair of legs vanished his body shortened all this while Polly chrome was running around him and chirping mystical words and when all the young man's legs had disappeared but too he noticed that the canary was still busy and cried out an alarm stop stop leave me two of my legs or I shall be worse off than before I know said the canary I'm only removing with my magic the corns from your last ten toes thank you for being so thoughtful he said gratefully and now they noticed that Tommy quick step was quite a nice looking young fellow what will you do now asked the monkey first he answered I must deliver a note which I've carried in my pocket ever since the witch or fairy or whatever she was granted my foolish wish and I am resolved never to speak again without taking time to think carefully on what I am going to say for I realized that speech without thought is dangerous and after I've delivered the note I shall run errands again for anyone who needs my services so he thanked Polly chrome again and started away in a different direction from their own and that was the last they saw of Tommy quick step and of chapter 10 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this reading by Luke Nelson The Ten Woodmen of Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 11 Ginger's Ranch As they followed a path down the blue grass hillside the first house they met the viewer the travelers was joyously recognized by the scarecrow bearer as the one inhabited by his friend Ginger so they increased their speed and hurried toward it on reaching the place however they found the house deserted the front door stood open but no one was inside in the garden surrounding the house were neat rows of bushes bearer cream puffs and macaroons some of which were still green but others ripe and ready to eat farther back were fields of caramel and all the land seemed well cultivated and carefully tended they looked through the fields for the girl farmer but she was nowhere to be seen well finally remarked the little brown bear let us go into the house and make ourselves at home that will be sure to please my friend Ginger who happens to be away from home just now when she returns she will be greatly surprised would she care if I ate some of those ripe cream puffs asked the green monkey no indeed Ginger is very generous help yourself to all you want said the scarecrow bear so a root gathered a lot of cream puffs that were golden yellow and filled with sweet creamy substance and ate until his hunger was satisfied then he entered the house with his friends and sat in a rocking chair just as he was accustomed to do when a boy the canary perched herself upon the mantel and daintly plumped her feathers the tin owl sat on the back of another chair the scarecrow squatted on his hairy haunches in the middle of the room I believe I remember the girl Ginger remarked the canary in her sweet voice she cannot help us very much except to direct us on her way to Glinda's castle for she does not understand magic but she's a good girl honest and sensible and I'll be glad to see her all her troubles said the owl with the deep sigh arose from my foolish resolve to seek Nimi Ami and make her Empress of the Winkies and while I wished to approach no one I must say that it was Woot the Wanderer who put the notion into my head well for my part I'm glad he did responded the canary your journey resulted in saving me from the giantess and had you not traveled to the Upe Valley I would still be Mrs. Upe's prisoner it is much nicer to be free even though I still bear the enchanted form of a canary bird do you think we shall ever be able to get our proper forms back again? ask the green monkey earnestly Polychrome did not make reply at once to this important question but after a period of thoughtfulness she said I have been taught to believe that there is an antidote for every magic charm yet Mrs. Upe insists that no power can alter transformations I realize that my own fairy magic cannot do it although I have thought that we sky fairies have more power than is accorded to earth fairies the yukuhu magic is admitted to be very strange in its workings and different from the magic usually practiced but perhaps Glinda or Osmo may understand it better than I in them lies our only help unless they can help us we must remain forever as we are a canary bird on a rainbow wouldn't be so bad asserted the tin owl blinking and blinking with his brown tin eyes so if you've managed to find your rainbow again you need to have little to worry about that's nonsense friend Chopper exclaimed Woot I know just how Polychrome feels the beautiful girl is much superior to a yellow bird and a boy such as I was far better than a green monkey neither of us can be happy again unless we recover our rightful forms I feel the same way announced the stuff there what do you suppose my friend the patchwork girl would think of me if she saw me wearing this beastly shape she'd laugh till she cried admitted the tin owl for my part I'll have to give up the notion of marrying Nimi Ami but I'll try not to let that make me unhappy if it's my duty I'd like to do my duty but if magic prevents me getting married I'll flutter along all by myself and be just as contented their seriousness fortunes made them all silent for a time and as their thoughts were busy in dwelling upon the evils with which fate had burdened them none noticed that Ginger had suddenly appeared in the doorway and was looking at them in astonishment the next moment her astonishment changed to anger for there in her best rocking chair sat a green monkey the great shiny owl perched upon another chair and a brown bear squatted upon her parlor rug Ginger did not notice the canary but she caught up the broomstick and dashed into the room shouting as she came get out of here you wild creatures how dare you enter my house with a blow of her broom she knocked the brown bear over and the tin owl tried to fly out of her reach and made a great clatter with his tin wings the green monkey was so startled by the sudden attack that he sprung into the fireplace for there was fortunately no fire and tried to escape by climbing up the chimney but he found the opening too small and so was forced to drop down again then he crouched trembling in the fireplace his pretty green hair all blackened with soot and covered with ashes from this position we watched to see what would happen next stop Ginger stop tried the brown bear then the broom again threatened him don't you know of me I'm your old friend the scarecrow you're trying to deceive me you naughty beast I can see plainly that you are a bear and a mighty poor specimen of a bear too reported the girl that's because I'm not properly stuffed he assured her when Mrs. Upe transformed me she didn't realize I should have more stuffing who is Mrs. Upe inquired Ginger pausing with the broom still upraised a giant hiss in the Gilliken country oh I begin to understand and Mrs. Upe transformed you you are really the famous scarecrow of Oz I was Ginger just now I'm as you see me a miserable little brown bear with a poor quality of stuffing that tin owl is none other than our dear Tin Woodman Nick Chopper the Emperor of the Winkies while this green monkey is a nice boy we recently became acquainted with boot the wanderer and I said the canary flying close to Ginger and Polychrome the daughter of the rainbow in the form of a bird goodness me cried Ginger Maze that giant hiss must be a powerful sorceress and as wicked as she is powerful she's a yuka who said Polychrome fortunately we managed to escape from her castle and are now on our way to Glinda the Good to see if she possesses the power to restore us to our proper forms then I must beg your pardon so all of you must forgive me said Ginger putting away the broom I took you to be a lot of wild unmanorly animals as was quite natural you are very welcome to my home and I'm sorry I haven't the power to help you out of your troubles please use my house and all that I have that were your own at this declaration of peace the bear got up on his feet and the owl resumed his perch upon the chair and the monkey crept out of the fireplace Ginger looked at woot critically and scowled for a green monkey said she you're the blackest creature I ever saw and you'll get my nice clean room all dirty with soot and ashes whatever possessed you to jump up the chimney I was scared explained woot somewhat ashamed well you need renovating and that's what will happen to you right away come with me she commanded what are you going to do asked woot give you a good scrubbing said Ginger now neither boys nor monkeys are always being scrubbed so woot shrink away from the energetic girl trembling fearfully but Ginger grabbed him by his paw and dragged him out to the back yard where in spite of his whines and struggles she plunged him into a tub of cold water and began to scrub him with a stiff brush and a cake of yellow soap this was the hardest trial that woot had endured since he had become a monkey but no protest had any influence with Ginger who lathered and scrubbed him in a business-like manner and afterward dried him with a coarse towel the bear and the owl gravely watched this operation and modded approval when woot's silky green fur shone clear and bright in the afternoon sun the canary seemed much amused and laughed a silvery ripple of laughter as she said very well done my good Ginger I admire your energy and judgment but I have no idea a monkey could look so comical as this monkey did while he was being bathed not a monkey declared woot resentfully I'm just a boy in a monkey's shape, that's all if you can explain to me the difference said Ginger I'll agree not to wash you again that is unless you foolishly get into the fireplace all persons are usually judged by the shapes in which they appear to the eyes of others look at me woot, what am I? woot looked at her you are as pretty a girl as I've ever seen he replied Ginger frowned that is she tried hard to frown come out into the garden with me she said and I'll give you some of the most delicious caramels you ever ate there are new variety that no one can grow up at me and they have a heliotrope flavor End of Chapter 11 this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org this reading by Luke Nelson The Tin Woodmen of Oz by Elbrink Baum Chapter 12 Osma and Dorothy In her magnificent palace in the Emerald City the beautiful girl ruler of all the wonderful land of Oz sat in her dainty blood year with her friend Princess Dorothy beside her Osma was studying a roll of manuscript when she had taken from the Royal Library while Dorothy worked at her embroidery and at times stopped at a shaggy little dog that lay at her feet the little dog's name was Toto and he was Dorothy's faithful companion to judge Osma of Oz by standards of our world you would think her very young perhaps 14 or 15 years of age yet for years she had ruled the land of Oz and never seemed to be older Dorothy appeared much younger than Osma she had been a little girl when first she came to the land of Oz and she was a little girl still and would never seem to be a day older while she lived in this wonderful fairyland Oz was not always a fairyland I am told but once it was much like other lands except it was shut in by a dreadful desert of sandy wastes that lay all around it thus preventing its people from all contact with the rest of the world seeing this isolation the fairy band of Queen Lerlene passing over Oz while on a journey enchanted the country and so made it a fairyland and Queen Lerlene left one of her fairies to rule this enchanted land of Oz and they passed on and forgot all about it from that moment no one in Oz ever died those who were old remained old those who were young and strong did not change as years passed them by the children remained children always and played and romped to their hearts content while all the babies lived in their cradles and were tenderly cared for and never grew up so people in Oz stopped counting how old they were in years for years made no difference in their appearance and could not alter their station they did not get sick so there were no doctors among them accidents might happen to some on rare occasions it is true and while no one could die naturally as other people do it was possible that one might be totally destroyed such incidents however were very unusual and so seldom was there anything to worry over that the Oz people were as happy and contented as can be another strange thing about this fairyland of Oz was that whoever managed to enter it from the outside world came under the magic spell of the place they did not change in appearance as long as they lived there so Dorothy who now lived with Oz seemed just the same sweet little girl as she had been when first she came to this delightful fairyland perhaps all parts of Oz might not be called truly delightful but it was surely delightful in the neighborhood of the Emerald City where Oz marrained her loving influence was felt for many miles around but there were places in the mountains of the Gilligan Country and forests of the Quadling Country and perhaps in far away parts of the Munchkin and Leakey Countries where the inhabitants were somewhat rude and uncivilized and had not yet come under the spell of Oz and his wise and kindly rule also when Oz first became a fairyland it harbored several witches and magicians and sorcerers and necromancers who were scattered in various parts but most of these had been deprived of their magic powers and Ozma had issued her royal edict forbidding anyone in her dominions to work magic except Glinda the Good and the Wizard of Oz Ozma herself being a real fairy knew a lot of magic but she only used it to benefit her subjects this little explanation will help you to understand better the story you are reading but most of it is already known to those who are familiar with the Oz people whose adventures they have followed in other Oz books Ozma and Dorothy were best friends and were much together everyone in Oz loved Dorothy almost as well as they did their lovely ruler for the little Kansas girl's good fortune had not spoiled her or rendered her at all vain she was just the same brave and true and adventurous child as before she lived in a royal palace and became the chum of the fairy Ozma in the room in which the two sat which was one of Ozma's private suite of apartments hung the famous magic picture this was the source of constant interest to little Dorothy one had to stand before it and wish to see what any person was doing and at once the scene would flash upon the magic canvas which show exactly where that person was and like our own moving pictures would reproduce the actions that person as long as you cared to watch them so today when Dorothy tired of her embroidery she drew the curtains from before the magic picture and wished to see what her friend Button Bright was doing Button Bright she saw was playing ball with Ocho the munchkin boy so Dorothy next wished to see what her aunt M was doing picture showed aunt M quietly engaged in darning socks for Uncle Henry so Dorothy wished to see what her old friend the Tin Woodman was doing the Tin Woodman was then just leaving his tin castle in the company of the scarecrow and the wanderer Dorothy had never seen this boy before so she wondered who he was although she was curious to know where the three were going she noticed wood snap sack and guessed that they had started on a long journey she asked Ozma about it but Ozma did not know that afternoon Dorothy again saw the travelers in the magic picture but they were merely tramping through the country and Dorothy was not much interested in them a couple of days later however the girl being again with Ozma wished to see her friends the scarecrow and the tin mat in the magic picture and on this occasion found them in the great castle of Mrs. Yook the giantess who was at the time about to transform them both Dorothy and Ozma now became greatly interested and watched the transformations with indignation and horror what a wicked giantess exclaimed Dorothy yes answered Ozma she must be punished for this cruelty to our friends and to the poor boy who was with them after this they followed the adventure of the little brown bear and the tin owl and the green monkey with breathless interest and they were delighted when they escaped from Mrs. Yook they did not know then who the canary was they realized it must be the transformation of some person of consequence whom the giantess had also enchanted when finally the day came when the adventurers headed south into the munchkin country Dorothy asked anxiously can't something be done for them Ozma can't you change them back into their own shapes they've suffered enough from these dreadful transformations it seems to me I've been studying ways to help them ever since they were transformed replied Ozma Mrs. Yook is now the only Yukuhu in my dominions and the Yukuhu magic is very peculiar and hard for others to understand yet I am resolved to make the attempt to break these enchantments I may not succeed but I shall do the best I can from the directions our friends are taking I believe they are going to pass by Ginger's ranch so if we start now we may meet them there would you like to go with me Dorothy? of course answered the little girl I wouldn't miss it for anything then order the red wagon said Ozma of Oz and we will start at once Dorothy ran to do as she was bid while Ozma went to her magic room to make ready the things she believed she would need in half an hour the red wagon stood before the grand entrance of the palace and before it was hitched the wooden saw horse which was Ozma's favorite steed this saw horse while made of wood was very much alive and could travel swiftly and without tiring to keep the ends of his wooden legs from wearing down short Ozma had shot the saw horse with plates of pure gold his harness was studded with brilliant admirals and other jewels and so while he himself was not a handsome his outfit made his blended appearance since the saw horse could understand her spoken words Ozma used no reins to guide him she merely told him where to go when she came from the palace with Dorothy they both climbed into the red wagon and then the little dog Toto ran up ahead and asked are you going to leave me behind Dorothy Dorothy looked at Ozma who smiled in return and said Toto may go with us if you wish him to so Dorothy lifted the little dog into the wagon for while he could run fast he could not keep up with the speed of the wonderful saw horse away they went over hills and through meadows covering the ground with astonishing speed it is not surprising therefore that the red wagon arrived before Ginger's house just as that energetic young lady had finished scrubbing the green monkey and was about to lead him to the caramel patch End of Chapter 12 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This reading by Luke Nelson The Tin Woodmen of Oz by L. Frank Baum Chapter 13 The Restoration The Tin Owl gave a hoot of delight when he saw the red wagon draw up before Ginger's house and the brown bear rented and growled with glee and trotted toward Ozma as fast as he could wobble As for the canary it flew swiftly to Dorothy's shoulder and purged there saying in her ear thank goodness you have come to our rescue but who are you asked Dorothy don't you know return the canary no for the first time we noticed you in the magic picture you were just a bird as you are now but we've guessed that the giant woman had transformed you as she did the others yes I'm Polychrome the rainbow's daughter announced the canary goodness me cried Dorothy how dreadful well I make her rather pretty bird I think return Polychrome but of course I'm anxious to resume my own shape and get back upon my rainbow Ozma will help you I'm sure said Dorothy how does it feel scarecrow to be a bear she asked addressing her old friend I don't like it declared the scarecrow bear this brutal form is quite beneath the dignity of a wholesome strong man and think of me said the owl perching upon the dashboard of the red wagon with much noisy clattering of his tin feathers don't I look horrid Dorothy with eyes several sizes too big for my body and so weak that I ought to wear spectacles well said Dorothy critically as she looked him over you're nothing to brag of I must confess but Ozma will soon to fix you up again the green monkey had hung back bashful at meeting two lovely girls while in the form of a beast the ginger now took his hand and let him forward while she introduced him to Ozma and who managed to make a low bow not really ungraceful but for her girlish majesty the ruler of Oz you have all been forced to endure the sad experience said Ozma and so I am anxious to do all in my power to break Mrs. Youp's enchantments but first tell me how you happen to stray into that lonely valley where the Youp castle stands between them they related the object of their journey the scarecrow bear telling of the tin woodman's resolve to find Nimmy, Ami and marry her and is her just reward for her loyalty to him Moot told of their adventures with the loons of Loomville and the tin owl described the manner in which they had been captured and transformed by the giantess then Polychrome related her story and when all had been told and Dorothy had several times reproved total for growling at the tin owl Ozma remained thoughtful for a while pondering upon what she had heard finally she looked up and with one of her delightful smiles said to the anxious group I'm not sure my magic will be able to restore every one of you because your transformations are of such a strange and unusual character indeed Mrs. Youp was quite justified in believing no power could alter her enchantments however I'm sure I can restore the scarecrow to his original shape he was stuffed with straw from the beginning even the Youkuhu magic could not alter that the giantess was merely able to make a bearish shape of a man's shape but the bear is stuffed with straw just as the man was so I feel confident I can make a man of the bear again Hurrah! cried the brown bear and tried clumsily to dance a jig of delight as for the tin woodman his case is much the same the zoomed Ozma still smiling the power of the giantess could not make an anything but a tin creature whatever shape she transformed him into though it will not be impossible to restore him to his manly form however I shall test my magic at once and see if it will do what I have promised she drew from her bosom a small silver wand in making passes from the wand over the head of the bear she succeeded in the brief space of a moment in breaking his enchantment the original scarecrow of Oz again stood before them stuffed with straw and with his features nicely painted upon the back which formed his head the scarecrow was greatly delighted as you may suppose and he strutted proudly around while the powerful fairy, Ozma of Oz broke the enchantment that had transformed the tin woodman and made a tin owl into a tin mannequin now then chirped the canary eagerly I'm next Ozma but your case is different, replied Ozma no longer smiling but wearing a grave expression on her sweet face I shall have to experiment on you Polychrome and I may fail in all my attempts she then tried two or three different methods of magic hoping one of them would succeed in breaking Polychrome's enchantment but still the rainbow's daughter remained a canary bird finally however she experimented in another way she transformed the canary into a dove then transformed the dove into a speckled hen then changed the speckled hen into a rabbit and then the rabbit into a fawn and at the last after mixing several powders and sprinkling them upon the fawn the yukahu enchantment was suddenly broken and before them stood one of the daintiest and loveliest creatures in any fairyland in the world Polychrome was as sweet and merry in disposition as she was beautiful and when she danced and capered around in delight her beautiful hair floated around here like golden mist and her many hewed her aimment as soft as coclips reminded one of drifting clouds in the summer sky Moot was so awed by the entrancing sight of this exquisite sky fairy that he quite forgot his own sad plight until he noticed Osma gazing upon him with an intent expression that denoted sympathy and sorrow Dorothy whispered in her friend's ear that the ruler of Oz shook her head sadly Ginger, noticing this and understanding Osma's looks took the paw of the green monkey in her own hand and patted it softly Never mind, she said to him you're a very beautiful color and a monkey can climb better than a boy and do a lot of other things no boy can ever do What's the matter, asked you a sinking feeling at his heart is Osma's magic all used up? Osma herself answered him Your form of enchantment, my poor boy, she said pittingly is different from that of the others Indeed, it is a form that is impossible to alter by any magic known to fairies or yukuhus The wicked giantess was well aware when she gave you the form of a green monkey that the green monkey must exist in the land of Oz for all future time Loot drew alongside Well, that's pretty hard luck, he said bravely but if it can't be helped I must endure it That's all, I don't like being a monkey but what's the use of kicking against my fate? They were all very sorry for him and Dorothy anxiously asked Osma Couldn't Glinda save him? No, was the reply Glinda's power in transformations is no greater than my own Before I left my palace I went to my magic room and studied Woot's case very carefully I found that no power can do away with the green monkey He might transfer or exchange his form with some other person It is true but the green monkey we cannot get rid of by any magic arts known to science But see here, said the scarecrow who had listened intently to this explanation Why not put the monkey's form on someone else? Who would agree to make the change, said Osma? If by force we cost anyone else to become a green monkey we would be as cruel and as wicked as Mrs. Woot and what good would an exchange do, she continued Suppose for instance we worked the enchantment and made Toto into a green monkey At the same moment Woot would become a little dog Leave me out of your magic please, said Toto with a reproachful prowl I wouldn't become a green monkey for anything And I wouldn't become a dog, said Woot A green monkey is much better than a dog, it seems to me That is only a matter of opinion, answered Toto Now here's another idea, said the scarecrow My brains are working finally today, you must admit Why not transform Toto into Woot the Wander and then have them exchange forms? The dog would become a green monkey and the monkey would have his own natural shape again To be sure, said Ginger, that's a fine idea Leave me out of it, said Toto, I won't do it Wouldn't you be willing to become a green monkey? See what a pretty color it is so that this poor boy could be restored to his own shape As Ginger pleadedly No, said Toto I don't like that plan the least bit, declared Dorothy for then I wouldn't have any little dog But you'd have a green monkey in his place persisted Ginger who liked Woot and wanted to help him I don't want a green monkey, said Dorothy positively Don't speak of this again, I beg of you, said Woot This is my own misfortune and I would rather suffer it alone than deprive Princess Dorothy of her dog or deprive the dog of his proper shape and perhaps even Her Majesty, Osma of Oz might not be able to transform anyone else into the shape of Woot the Wander Yes, I believe I might do that, Osma returned But Woot is quite right We are not justified in inflicting upon anyone, man or dog the form of a green monkey Also, it is certain that in order to relieve the boy of the form he now wears he must give it to somebody else who would be forced to wear it always I wonder, said Dorothy thoughtfully if we couldn't find someone in the land of Oz who would be willing to become a green monkey Seems to me a monkey is active and spry he can climb trees and do a lot of clever things and green isn't a bad color for a monkey makes him unusual I wouldn't ask anyone to take this dreadful form, said Woot It wouldn't be right, you know I've been a monkey for some time now and I don't like it Makes me ashamed to be a beast of this sort when by right of birth I'm a boy So I'm sure it would be wicked to ask anyone else to take my place They were all silent for they knew he spoke the truth Dorothy was almost ready to cry with pity and Osma's sweet face was sad and disturbed The scarecrow rubbed and patted his stuffed head to try and make it think better while the tin woodman went into the house and began to oil his tin joints so that the sorrow of his friends might not cause him to weep Weeping is liable to us tin and the emperor prided himself upon his highly polished body now doubly dear to him because of the time he had been deprived of it Polychrome had danced down the garden paths and back to begin a dozen times for she was seldom still a moment yet she had heard Osma's speech and understood very well Woot's unfortunate position but the rainbow's daughter even while dancing could think and reason very clearly and suddenly she solved the cross problem in the nicest possible way Coming close to Osma she said Your Majesty all this trouble was caused by the wickedness of Mrs. Ute the Giantess yet even now that cruel woman is living in her secluded castle enjoying the thought that she has put this terrible enchantment on Woot the Wanderer even now she is laughing at our despair because we can find no way to get rid of the green monkey very well we do not wish to get rid of it like the woman who created the form where it herself is a just punishment for wickedness I am sure your very power can give it to Mrs. Ute the form of Woot the Wanderer even at this distance from her and then it will be possible to exchange the two forms Mrs. Ute will become the green monkey and Woot will recover his own form again Osma's face brightened as she listened to this clever proposal Thank you, Polly Chrome, said she The task you propose is not so easy as you may suppose but I will make the attempt and perhaps I may succeed End of Chapter 13 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This reading by Luke Nelson The Tin Woodmen of Oz by Elfrink Baum Chapter 14 The Green Monkey They now entered the house and as an interested group watched Ginger at Osma's command build a fire and put a kettle of water over to boil The ruler of Oz stood before the fire silent in grade while the others realizing that an important ceremony of magic was about to be performed stood quietly in the background so as not to interrupt Osma's proceedings Only Polly Chrome kept going in and going out humming softly to herself as she danced for the rainbow's daughter could not keep still for long and the four walls of her room always made her nervous and ill at ease She moved so noiselessly however that her movements were like the shifting sunbeams and did not annoy anyone When the water in the kettle bubbled Osma drew from her bosom two tiny packets containing powders These powders she threw into the kettle and after briskly stirring the contents with a branch of a macaroon bush Osma poured the mystic broth upon a broad platter which Ginger had placed upon the table As the broth cooled it became as silver reflecting all objects from its smooth surface like a mirror While her companions gathered around the table eagerly attentive and Dorothy even held little Toto in her arms that you might see Osma waved her wand over the mirror-like surface once it reflected the interior of Upe Castle and in the big halls at Mrs. Upe and her best embroidered silk and robes engaged in weaving a new lace apron to replace the old one she had lost The giantess seemed rather uneasy as if she had a faint idea that someone was spying upon her She kept looking behind her in this way and that as though expecting danger from an unknown source Perhaps some yukuhu instinct warned her Upe saw that she had escaped from her room by some of the magical means at her disposal after her prisoners had escaped her She was now occupying the big hall of her castle as she used to do Also Upe thought from the cruel expression on the face of the giantess that she was planning revenge on them as soon as her new magic apron was finished The Osma was now making passes over the platter with her silver wand and presently the form of the giantess began to shrink in size and to change its shape and now in her place sat the form of Upe the Wanderer and as if suddenly realizing her transformation this is Upe threw down her work and rushed to a looking glass that stood against the wall of her room and she saw the boy's former reflected as her own She grew violently angry and dashed her head against the mirror smashing to atoms Just then Osma was busy with her magic wand making strange figures and she had also placed her left hand firmly upon the shoulder of the green monkey So now as all eyes were turned upon the platter the form of Mrs. Upe gradually changed again She was slowly transformed into the green monkey and at the same time Upe slowly regained his natural form It was quite a surprise to them when they raised their eyes from the platter and saw Upe the Wanderer standing beside Osma and when they glanced at the platter again it reflected nothing more than the walls of the room in Ginger's house in which they stood The magic ceremonial had presented and Osma of Oz had triumphed over the wicked giantess What will become of her I wonder said Dorothy as she drew a long breath She will always remain a green monkey, replied Osma and in that form she will be unable to perform any magical arts whatsoever She need not be unhappy however and as she lives all alone in her castle she probably won't mind the transformation very much after she gets used to it Anyway, 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 for Miss Upe used to get her food by magic and now that magic is taken away from her what can she eat Why she'll do what other monkeys do, returned the scarecrow Even in the form of a green monkey she's a very clever person and I'm sure her wits will show her how to get plenty to eat Don't worry about her advice Dorothy She didn't worry about you and her condition is no worse than the condition she imposed upon poor Woot She can't starve to death in the land of Oz, that's certain and if she gets hungry at times it's no more than the wicked thing deserves Let's forget Mrs. Upe for in spite of her being a yukuhu Our very friends have broken all of her transformations End of Chapter 14 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This reading by Luke Nelson The Tin Woodman of Oz by Elfrink Baum Chapter 15 The Man of Tin Ozmen Dorothy were quite pleased with Woot the Wander whom they found modest and intelligent and very well-mannered The boy was truly grateful for his release from his cruel enchantment and he promised to love, revere and defend the girl ruler of Oz forever afterward as a faithful subject You may visit me at my palace if you wish, said Osma where I will be glad to introduce you to two other nice boys Ojo the Munchkin and Button Bright Thank your majesty, replied Woot and then he turned to the Tin Woodman and inquired What are your further plans, Mr. Emperor? Will you still seek Nemi-Ami and marry her? Or will you abandon the quest and return to the Emerald City and your own castle? The Tin Woodman, now as highly polished and well-oiled as ever reflected a while on this question and then answered Well, I see no reason why I should not find Nemi-Ami We are now in the Munchkin country where we are perfectly safe And if it was right for me before our enchantment to marry Nemi-Ami and make her Empress of the Winkies it must be right now when the enchantment has been broken and I am once more myself Am I correct, friend Scarecrow? You are indeed, answered the Scarecrow No one can oppose such logic But I'm afraid you don't love Nemi-Ami, suggested Dorothy That is just because I can't love anyone, replied the Tin Woodman But if I cannot love my wife I can at least be kind to her and all husbands are not able to do that Do you suppose Nemi-Ami still loves you after all these years, asked Dorothy? I'm quite sure of it and that is why I am going to make her to make her happy Woot the Wanderer thinks I ought to reward her for being faithful to me after my neat body was chopped to pieces and I became Tin What do you think, Osma? Osma smiled and said I do not know your Nemi-Ami and so I cannot tell what she needs to make her happy But there is no harm in your going to her and asking her if she still wishes to marry you If she does, we will give you a grand wedding at the Emerald City and afterward as Empress of the Winkies Nemi-Ami would become one of the most important ladies in all Oz So it was decided that the Tin Woodman would continue his journey and that the Scarecrow and Woot the Wanderers should accompany him as before Polychrome also decided to join their party, somewhat to the surprise of all I hate to be cooped up in a palace, she said to Osma and of course the first time I meet my Rainbow I shall return to my own dear home in the skies where my furry sisters are even now awaiting me and my father is crossed because I get lost so often but I can find my Rainbow just as quickly while traveling in the Munchkin country as I could if living in the Emerald City or any other place in Oz So I shall go with the Tin Woodman and help him woo Nemi-Ami Dorothy wanted to go too, but as the Tin Woodman did not invite her to join his party she felt she might be intruding if she asked to be taken She hinted, but she found he didn't take the hint It is quite a delicate matter for one to ask a girl to marry him however much she loves him and perhaps the Tin Woodman did not desire to have too many looking on when he found his old sweetheart Nemi-Ami So Dorothy hinted herself with the thought that she would help Osma prepare a splendid wedding feast to be followed by a round of parties and festivities when the Emperor of the Winkies reached the Emerald City with his bride Osma offered to take them all in the Red Wagon to a place as near to the Great Munchkin Forest as a wagon could get The Red Wagon was big enough to seat them all and so bidding goodbye to Ginger who gave Wu the basket of ripe cream puffs and caramels to take with him Osma commanded the Wooden Saw Horse to start and the strange creature moved swiftly over the lanes and presently came to the road of yellow bricks This road fled straight to a dense forest where the path was too narrow for the Red Wagon to proceed farther so here the party separated Osma and Dorothy in total returned to the Emerald City after wishing their friends a safe and successful journey while the Tin Woodman, the Scarecrow, who the Wanderer and Polychrome, the Rainbow's daughter, prepared to push their way through the thick forest However, those forest paths were well known to the Tin Woodman and the Scarecrow, who felt quite at home among the trees I was born in this Grand Forest, said Nick Chopper, the Tin Emperor speaking proudly and it was here that the witch enchanted my axe and I lost different parts of my meat body until I became all Tin Here also, or it is a big forest, Nimi Ami lived with the Wicked Witch and at the other edge of the tree stands the cottage of my friend Ka Klip the famous Tin Smith who made my present beautiful form He must be a clever workman, declared Wood admiringly He is simply wonderful, declared the Tin Woodman I shall be glad to make his acquaintance, said Wood If you wish to meet with real cleverness, remarked the Scarecrow you should visit the Munchkin Farmer who first made me I won't say that my friend the Emperor isn't all right for a Tin Man but any judge of beauty can understand the Scarecrow is far more artistic and refined You are too soft and flimsy, said the Tin Woodman You are too hard and stiff, said the Scarecrow and this was as near to quarreling as the two friends ever came Polly Chrome laughed at them both as well as she might and Woot hastened to change the subject At night they all camped under the trees the boy ate cream puffs for supper and offered Polly Chrome some but she preferred other food and at daybreak she slipped the dew that was clustered thick on the forest flowers Then they tramped onward again and presently the Scarecrow paused and said It was on this very spot that Dorothy and I met the Tin Woodman who was rested so badly that none of his joints would move but after we had oiled him up he was as good as new and accompanied us to the Emerald City Ah, that was a sad experience, asserted the Tin Woodman soberly I was caught in a rainstorm while chopping down a tree for exercise and before I realized it I was firmly rested in every joint There I stood axe in hand but unable to move for days and weeks and months Indeed I have never known exactly how long the time was but finally along came Dorothy and I was saved See, this is the very tree I was chopping at the time I rested You cannot be far from your old house in that case, said Woot No, my little cabin stands not a great way off, but there is no occasion for us to visit it Our errand is with Nimmy Emmy and her house is somewhat farther away to the left of us Didn't you say she lives with the wicked witch who makes her a slave, asked the boy She did, but she doesn't, was the reply I am told the witch was destroyed when Dorothy's house fell on her So now Nimmy Emmy must live all alone I haven't seen her of course since the witch was crushed for at that time I was standing rested in the forest and had been there a long time but the poor girl must have felt very happy to be free from her cruel mistress Very well said the scarecrow, let's travel on and find Nimmy Emmy Lead on your majesty since you know the way and we will follow So the tin woodman took a path that led through the thickest part of the forest and they followed it for some time The light was dim here because vines and bushes and leafy foliage were all about them And often the tin man had to push aside the branches that obstructed their way or cut them off with his 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 then peered around his tin body and said in a tone of wonder Well I declare who the wanderer pushed forward to see what was the matter and cried out in astonishment for goodness sake Then the three stood motionless staring hard until polychromes merry laughter rang out behind them and aroused them from their stupor And the path before them stood a tin man who was the exact duplicate of the tin woodman He was of the same size, he was jointed in the same manner and he was made of shining tin from top to toe but he stood immovable with his tin jaws half parted and his tin eyes turned upward and one of his hands was held the long-cleaning sword Yes, there was the difference the only thing that distinguished him from the emperor of the Wingies The tin man bore a sword while the tin woodman bore an axe It's a dream, it must be a dream, gasped loot That's it, of course, said the scarecrow There couldn't be two tin woodmen No, greed polychrome dancing nearer to the stranger This one is a tin soldier, don't you see his sword? The tin woodman cautiously put one tin hand and felt of his double arm Then he said in a voice that trembled with emotion Who are you, friend? There was no reply Can't you see he's rested just as you were once? asked polychrome laughing again Here, Nick Chopper, lend me your oil can a minute The tin woodman silently handed her his oil can without which he never traveled and polychrome first oiled the stranger's tin jaws and then worked them gently into and fro until this tin soldier said That's enough, thank you, I can now talk but please oil my other joints Woot seized the oil can and did this but all the others helped wiggle the soldier's joints as soon as they were oiled until they moved freely The tin soldier seemed highly pleased at his release He strutted up and down the path lying in a high thin voice The soldier is a splendid man with marching on parade and when he meets the enemy he never is afraid He writes the wrongs of nations his country's flag defends The fellow he'll fight with great delight but seldom fights his friends For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This reading by Luke Nelson The Tin Woodman of Oz by Elfrink Baum Chapter 16 Captain Fighter Are you really a soldier? Asked Woot when they had all watched this strange tin person parade up and down the path and proudly flourished his sword I was a soldier was the reply but I've been a prisoner to Mr. Rust so long that I don't know exactly what I am But dear me tried the tin woodman sadly perplexed How came you to be made of tin? That answered the soldier is a sad, sad story I was in love with the beautiful Munchkin girl who lived with a wicked witch The witch did not wish me to marry the girl so she enchanted my sword which began hacking me to pieces When I lost my legs I went to the tin smith Ka Klip and he made me some tin legs When I lost my arms Ka Klip made me tin arms and when I lost my head he made me this fine one out of tin It was the same way with my body and finally it was all tin But I was not unhappy for Ka Klip made a good job of me having had experience in making another tin man before me Yes, observed the tin woodman It was Ka Klip who made me but tell me what was the name of the Munchkin girl you were in love with? She is called Nimmy Ammy said the tin soldier Hearing this they were all so astonished that they were silent for a time regarding the stranger with wondering looks Finally the tin woodman ventured to ask and did Nimmy Ammy return your love? Not at first, admitted the soldier When first I marched into the forest and met her she was weeping over the loss of her former sweetheart a woodman whose name was Nick Chopper That is me, said the tin woodman She told me he was nicer than a soldier because he was all made of tin and shown beautifully in the sun She said a tin man appealed to her artistic instincts more than an ordinary meat man as I was then but I did not despair because her tin sweetheart had disappeared and could not be found and finally Nimmy Ammy permitted me to call upon her and we became friends It was then that the wicked witch discovered me and became furiously angry when I said I wanted to marry the girl She enchanted my sword as I said and then my troubles began When I got my tin legs Nimmy Ammy began to take an interest in me When I got my tin arms she began to like me better than ever and when I was all made of tin she said I looked like her dear Nick Chopper and she would be willing to marry me The day of our wedding was set and it turned out to be a rainy day Nevertheless I started out to get Nimmy Ammy because the witch had been absent for some time and we meant to elope before she got back As I traveled the forest paths the rain wetted my joints but I paid no attention to this because my thoughts were all on my wedding with beautiful Nimmy Ammy and I could think of nothing else until suddenly my legs stopped moving Then my arms rested at the joints and I became frightened and cried to help for now I was unable to oil myself No one heard my calls and before long my jaws rested and I was unable to utter another sound So I stood helpless in this spot hoping some wanderer would come my way and save me but this forest path is seldom used and I've been standing here so long that I have lost all track of time In my mind I composed poetry and sang songs but not a sound have I been able to utter This desperate condition has now been relieved by your coming my way and I must thank you for my rescue This is wonderful said the scarecrow heeding a stuffy long sigh I think a clip was wrong to make two tin men just alike and the strangest thing of all is that both you tin men fell in love with the same girl As for that return the soldier seriously I must admit that I lost my ability to love when I lost my meat heart Cuck clip gave me a tin heart to be sure but it doesn't love anything as far as I can discover and merely rattles against my tin ribs which makes me wish I had no heart at all Yet in spite of this condition you are going to marry Nimi Ami While you see I had promised to marry her and I am an honest man and always tried to keep my promises I didn't like to disappoint the poor girl who had been disappointed by one tin man already That was not my fault declared the Emperor of the Wingies then he related how he also had rested in the forest and after a long time had been rescued by Dorothy at the scarecrow and had traveled with them to the Emerald City in search of a heart that could love If you have found such a heart sir said the soldier I will gladly allow you to marry Nimi Ami in my place If she loves you the best sir answered the woodman I shall not interfere with your wedding her For to be quite frank with you I cannot yet love Nimi Ami as I did before I became tin Still one of you ought to marry the poor girl remarked wood and if she likes tin men there is not much choice between you why don't you draw lots for her That wouldn't be right said the scarecrow The girl should be permitted to choose her own husband asserted polychrome you should both go to her and allow her to take her choice then she will surely be happy That to me seems a very fair arrangement said the tin soldier I agree to it said the tin woodman shaking the hand of his twin to show the matter was settled May I ask your name sir? he continued Before I was so cut off replied the other I was known as Captain Fighter but afterward I was merely called the tin soldier Well Captain If you are agreeable let us now go to Nimi Ami's house and let her choose between us Very well and if we meet the witch we will both fight her you with her axe and I with my sword The witch is destroyed announced the scarecrow and as they walked away he told the tin soldier of much that had happened in the land of Oz since he had stood rusted in the forest he must have stood there longer than I had imagined he said thoughtfully End of Chapter 16 This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org This reading by Luke Nelson The Tin Woodman of Oz by Elfrink Baum Chapter 17 The Workshop of Ka Kliff It was not more than a two hours journey to the house where Nimi Ami had lived but when our travelers arrived there they found the place deserted the door was partly off its hinges the roof had fallen in at the rear and the interior of the cottage was thick with dust not only was the place vacant but it was evident that no one had lived there for a long time I suppose said the scarecrow as they all stood looking wonderingly at the ruined house that after the wicked witch was destroyed Nimi Ami became lonely and went somewhere else to live one could scarcely expect a young girl to live all alone in a forest at it would she would want company of course and so I believe she has gone where other people live and perhaps she is still crying her poor little heart out because no tin man comes to marry her suggested polychrome well in that case it is the clear duty of you two tin persons to see Nimi Ami until you find her declared the scarecrow I do not know where to look for the girl said the tin soldier for I am almost a stranger to this part of the country I was born here said the tin woodman but the forest has few inhabitants except the wild beasts I cannot think of anyone living near here with whom Nimi Ami might care to live why not go to cut clip and ask him what has become of the girl proposed polychrome that struck them all as being a good suggestion so once more they started to trump through the forest taking the direct path to cut clip's house for both the tin twins knew the way having followed it many times cut clip lived at the far edge of the great forest his house facing the broad plains of the munchkin country that lay to the eastward but when they came to this residence by the forest's edge the tin smith was not at home it was a pretty place all painted dark blue with trimmings of a lighter blue there was a neat blue fence around the yard and several blue benches had been placed underneath the shady blue trees which marked the line between forest and plain there was a blue lawn before the house which was a good sized building cut clip lived in the front part of the house and had his workshop in the back part where he had also built a lean-to addition in order to give him more room although they found the tin smith absent on their arrival there was smoke coming out of his chimney which proved that he would soon return and perhaps Nimi Ami will be with him said the scarecrow in a cheerful voice while they waited the tin woodman went to the door of the workshop and finding it unlocked entered and looked curiously around the room where he had been made it almost seems like home to me he told his friends who had followed him in the first time I came here I had lost a leg so I had to carry it in my hand while I hopped on the other leg all the way from the place in the forest where the enchanted axe cut me I remember that old cut clip carefully put my meat leg in a barrel I think that is the same barrel still standing in the corner yonder they don't want to begin to make a tin leg for me he worked fast and with skill I was much interested in the job my experience was much the same said the tin soldier I used to bring all the parts of me which the enchanted sword had cut away here to the tin smith and cut clip would put them into the barrel I wonder, said Woot if those cast off parts of you too unfortunately are still in that barrel in the corner I suppose so replied the tin woodman in the land of Oz no part of a living creature can ever be destroyed if that is true how is the wicked witch destroyed inquired Woot why, she was very old and was all dried up and withered before Oz became a fairy land explained the scarecrow only her magic arts had kept her alive so long and when Dorothy's house fell upon her she just turned to dust and was blown away and scattered by the wind I do not think however that the parts cut away from these to young men could ever be entirely destroyed and if they are still in those barrels they are likely to be just the same as when the enchanted axe or sword severed them doesn't matter however said the tin woodman our tin bodies are more brilliant and durable and quite satisfying us yes the tin bodies are best agreed the tin soldier nothing can hurt them unless they get dented or rested said Woot but both the tin men frowned on him scraps of tin of all shapes and sizes laid scattered around the workshop there were hammers and anbils and soldering irons in a charcoal furnace and many other tools such as a tin smith works with against two of the side walls had been built about work benches and in the center of the room was a long table at the end of the shop which had joined the dwelling were several cupboards after examining the interior of the workshop until his curiosity was satisfied Woot said I think I will go outside until Ka Klip comes it does not seem quite proper for us to take possession of his house while he is absent that is true agreed the scarecrow and they were all about to leave the room and the tin woodman said wait a minute and they halted an obedience to the command and of chapter 17