 Introduction to the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Lynn Stanley. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Introduction. Folklore, legends, myths and fairy tales have followed childhood through the ages. For every healthy youngster has a wholesome and instinctive love for stories fantastic, marvellous and manifestly unreal. The winged fairies of Grimman Anderson have brought more happiness to childish hearts than all other human creations. Yet the old-time fairy tale having served for generations may now be classed as historical in the children's library. For the time has come for a series of newer wonder tales in which the stereotype genie Dwarf and Fairy are eliminated together with all the horrible and blood-curdling incident devised by their authors to point a fearsome moral to each tale. Modern education includes morality. Therefore, the modern child seeks only entertainment in its wonder tales and gladly dispenses with all the disagreeable incident. Having the sought-in mind, the story of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz was written solely to pleasure children of today. It aspires to being a modernized fairy tale in which the wonderment and joy are retained and the heartaches and nightmares are left out. Dorothy lived in the midst of the Great Kansas Prairies with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt M, who was the farmer's wife. Their house was small, for the lumber to build had to be carried by wagon many miles. There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room. This room contained a rusty-looking cooking stove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds. Uncle Henry and Aunt M had a big bed in one corner and Dorothy a little bed in another corner. There was no garret at all and no cellar, except a small hole dug in the ground called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path. It was reached by a trap-door in the middle of the floor, from which a ladder led down into the small dark hole. When Dorothy stood in the doorway and looked around, she could see nothing but the great gray prairie on every side. Not a tree nor a house broke the broad sweep of flat country that reached the edge of the sky in all directions. The sun had baked the plowed land into a gray mass with little cracks running through it. Even the grass was not green, for the sun had burned the tops of the long blades until they were the same gray color to be seen everywhere. Once the house had been painted, but the sun blistered the paint and the rains washed it away, and now the house was as dull and gray as everything else. When Aunt M came there to live, she was a young pretty wife. The sun and wind had changed her too. They had taken the sparkle from her eyes and had left them a sober gray. They had taken the red from her cheeks and lips, and they were gray also. She was thin and gaunt and never smiled now. When Dorothy, who was an orphan, first came to her, Aunt M had been so startled by the child's laughter that she would scream and press her hand upon her heart whenever Dorothy's merry voice reached her ears, and she still looked at the little girl with wonder that she could find anything to laugh at. Uncle Henry never laughed. He worked hard from morning till night and did not know what joy was. He was gray also, from his long beard to his rough boots, and he looked stern and solemn and rarely spoke. It was Toto that made Dorothy laugh and saved her from growing as gray as her other surroundings. Toto was not gray. He was a little black dog with long silky hair and small black eyes that twinkled merrily on either side of his funny wee nose. Toto played all day long, and Dorothy played with him and loved him dearly. Today, however, they were not playing. Uncle Henry sat upon the doorstep and looked anxiously at the sky, which was even grayer than usual. Dorothy stood in the door with Toto in her arms and looked at the sky too. Aunt M was washing the dishes. From the far north they heard a low wail of the wind and Uncle Henry and Dorothy could see where the long grass barred in waves before the coming storm. There now came a sharp whistling in the air from the south and as they turned their eyes that way they saw ripples in the grass coming from that direction also. Suddenly Uncle Henry stood up. There's a cyclone coming in. He called to his wife. I'll go look after the stock. Then he ran towards the sheds where the cows and horses were kept. Aunt M dropped her work and came to the door. One glance told her of the danger close at hand. Quick, Dorothy, she screamed. Run for the cellar! Toto jumped out of Dorothy's arms and hid under the bed, and the girl started to get him. Aunt M badly frightened threw open the trap door in the floor and climbed down the ladder into the small dark hole. Dorothy caught Toto at last and started to follow her aunt. When she was halfway across the room there came a great shriek from the wind and the house shook so hard that she lost her footing and sat down suddenly upon the floor. A strange thing then happened. The house whirled around two or three times and slowly rose through the air. Dorothy felt as if she were going up in a balloon. The north and south winds met with the house stood and made it the exact centre of the cyclone. In the middle of the cyclone the air is generally still but the great pressure of the wind on every side of the house raised it up higher and higher until it was at the very top of the cyclone and there it remained and was carried miles and miles away as easily as you could carry a feather. It was very dark and the wind howled horribly around her but Dorothy found she was riding quite easily. After the first few whirls around and one other time when the house tipped badly she felt as if she were being rocked gently like a baby in a cradle. Toto did not like it. He ran about the room. Now here, now there, barking loudly but Dorothy sat quite still on the floor and waited to see what would happen. Once Toto got too near the open trap door and fell in and at first the little girl thought she had lost him but soon she saw one of his ears for the strong pressure of the air was keeping him up so that he could not fall. She crept to the hole caught Toto by the ear and dragged him into the room again. Afterward closing the trap door so no more accidents could happen. Hour after hour passed away and slowly Dorothy got over her fright but she felt quite lonely and the wind shrieked so loudly all about her that she nearly became deaf. At first she had wondered if she would be dashed to pieces but the house fell again but as the hours passed and nothing terrible happened she stopped worrying and resolved to wait calmly and see what the future would bring. At last she crawled over the swaying floor to her bed and lay down upon it and Toto followed and lay down beside her. In spite of the swaying of the house and the wailing of the wind Dorothy soon closed her eyes and fell fast asleep. End of Chapter 1 Chapter 2 of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum translated by Lynn Stanley This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. The Council with the Munchkins She was awakened by a shock so sudden and severe that if Dorothy had not been lying on the soft bed she might have been hurt. As it was the jar made her catch her breath and wonder what had happened but his cold little nose into her face and whined dismally. Dorothy sat up and noticed that the house was not moving nor was it dark for the bright sunshine came in at the window flooding the little room. She sprang from her bed and with Toto at her heels ran and opened the door. The little girl gave a cry of amazement and looked about her her eyes growing bigger and bigger at the wonderful sight she saw. The cyclone had set the house down very gently for a cyclone in the midst of a country of marvellous beauty. There were lovely patches of green swat all about with stately trees bearing rich and luscious fruits. Banks of gorgeous flowers were on every hand and birds with rare and brilliant plumage sang and fluttered in the trees and bushes. A little way off was a small brook rushing and sparkling along banks and murmuring in a voice very grateful to a little girl who had lived so long on the dry gray prairies. While she stood looking eagerly at the strange and beautiful sights she noticed coming toward her a group of the queerest people she had ever seen. They were not as big as the grown folk she had always been used to but neither were they very small. In fact they seemed about as tall as Dorothy who was a well grown child for her age although they were so far as looks go many years older. Three were men and one a woman and all were oddly dressed. They wore round hats that rose to a small point a foot above their heads with little bells around the brims that tinkled sweetly as they moved. The hats of the men were blue the little woman's hat was white and she wore a white gown that hung in plates from her shoulders over it were sprinkled little stars glistened in the sun like diamonds. The men were dressed in blue of the same shade as their hats and were well polished boots with a deep roll of blue at the tops. The men Dorothy sought were about as old as Uncle Henry for two of them had beards but the little woman was dartless much older her face was covered with wrinkles her hair was nearly white and she walked rather stiffly when these people drew near the house where Dorothy was standing in the doorway they paused and whispered among themselves as if afraid to come farther but the little old woman walked up to Dorothy made a low bow and said in a sweet voice you are welcome most noble sorceress to the land of the munchkins we are so grateful to you for having killed the wicked witch of the east and for setting our people free from bondage. Dorothy listened to the speech with wonder what could the little woman possibly mean by calling her a sorceress and saying she had killed the wicked witch of the east? Dorothy was an innocent harmless little girl who had been carried by a cyclone many miles from home and she had never killed anything in her life but the little woman evidently expected her to answer so Dorothy said with hesitation you are very kind but there must be some mistake I have not killed anything your house did anyway replied the little old woman with a laugh and that's the same thing see she continued pointing to the corner of the house there are her two toes still sticking out from under a block of wood Dorothy looked and gave a little cry of fright there indeed just under the corner of the great beam the house rested on two feet were sticking out shot in silver shoes and was pointed toes oh dear oh dear cried Dorothy clasping her hands together in dismay the house must have fallen on her whatever shall we do there is nothing to be done said the little woman calmly but who was she? asked Dorothy she was the wicked witch of the east as I said answered the little woman she has held all the manchkins in bondage for many years making them slave for her night and day now they are all set free and are grateful to you for the favour who are the manchkins? inquired Dorothy they are the people who live in this land of the east where the wicked witch ruled are you a manchkin? asked Dorothy no but I am their friend although I live in the land of the north when they saw the witch of the east was dead the manchkin sent a swift messenger to me and I came at once I am the witch of the north oh gracious cried Dorothy are you a real witch? yes indeed answered the little woman and the people love me I am not as powerful as the wicked witch who was ruled here or I should have said the people free myself but I thought all witches were wicked said the girl who was half frightened at facing a real witch oh no that is a great mistake there were only four witches in all the land of Oz and two of them those who live in the north and the south are good witches I know this is true for I am one of them myself but I cannot be mistaken those who dwelt in the east and the west were indeed wicked witches but now that you have killed one of them there is but one wicked witch in all the land of Oz the one who lives in the west but said Dorothy after a moment's thought aunt M has told me that the witches were all dead years and years ago who is aunt M inquired the little old woman she is my aunt who lives in Kansas where I came from the witch of the north seemed to think for a time with her head barred and her eyes upon the ground then she looked up and said I do not know where Kansas is for I have never heard that country mentioned before but tell me is it a civilised country oh yes replied Dorothy then that accounts for it in the civilised countries I believe there are no witches left nor wizards nor sorceresses nor magicians but you see the land of Oz has never been civilised for we are cut off from all the rest of the world therefore we still have witches and wizards amongst us who are the wizards asked Dorothy Oz himself is a great wizard answered the witch singing her voice to a whisper he is more powerful than all the rest of us together he lives in the city of Emeralds Dorothy was going to ask another question but just then the munchkins who had been standing silently by gave a loud shout and pointed to the corner of the house where the wicked witch had been lying what is it? asked the little old woman and looked and began to laugh the feet of the dead witch had disappeared entirely and nothing was left but the silver shoes she was so old explained the witch of the north that she dried up quickly in the sun that is the end of her the silver shoes are yours and you shall have them to wear she reached down, picked up the shoes and after shaking the dust out of them handed them to Dorothy the witch of the east was proud of those silver shoes said one of the munchkins and there is some charm connected with them but what it is we never knew Dorothy carried the shoes into the house and placed them on the table then she came out again to the munchkins and said aunt and uncle for I'm sure they will worry about me can you help me find my way the munchkins and the witch first looked at one another then at Dorothy and then shook their heads at the east not far from here said one there is a great desert and none could live to cross it it is the same at the south said another for I have been there and seen it the south is the country of the quadlings I'm told that it is the same at the west and the country where the winkeys live is ruled by the wicked witch of the west who would make you her slave if you passed away the north is my home said the old lady and at its edge is the same great desert that surrounds us land of Oz I'm afraid my dear you will have to live with us Dorothy began to sob at us for she felt lonely among all these strange people her tears seemed to grieve the kind hearted munchkins for they immediately took out their handkerchiefs and began to weep also as for the little old woman she took off her cap and balanced the point on the end of her nose while she counted one two three in a solemn voice at once the cap changed into a slate on which was written in big white chalk marks let Dorothy go to the city of emeralds the little old woman took the slate from her nose and having read the words on it asked is your name Dorothy my dear yes answered the child looking up and drying her tears then you must go to the city of emeralds perhaps Oz will help you where is the city Oz Dorothy it is exactly in the centre of the country and is ruled by Oz the great wizard I told you of is he a good man inquired the girl anxiously he is a good wizard whether he is a man or not I cannot tell for I have never seen him how can I get there asked Dorothy you must walk it is a long journey through a country that is sometimes pleasant and sometimes dark and terrible however I will use all the magic arts I know of to keep you from harm won't you go with me I know of a girl who had begun to look upon the little old woman as her only friend no I cannot do that she replied but I will give you my kiss and no one will dare injure a person who has been kissed by the witch of the north she came up close to Dorothy and kissed her gently on the forehead where her lips touched the girl they left a round shining mark as Dorothy found out soon after the road to the city of emeralds is paved with yellow brick said the witch so you cannot miss it when you get to ours do not be afraid of him but tell your story and ask him to help you goodbye my dear the three munchkins bowed low to her and wished her a pleasant journey after which they walked away through the trees the witch gave Dorothy a friendly little nod whirled around on her left heel three times and straight way disappeared much to the surprise of little turtle who barked after her loudly enough when she had gone because he had been afraid to even growl while she stood by but Dorothy knowing her to be a witch had expected her to disappear in just that way and was not surprised in the least end of chapter two chapter three of the wonderful wizard of ours by Frank L. Baum recorded by Lynn Stanley this LibriVox recording is in the public domain how Dorothy saved the scarecrow when Dorothy was left alone she began to feel hungry so she went to the cupboard and cut herself some bread which she spread with butter she gave some to Toto and taking a pail from the shelf she carried it down to the little brook and filled it with clear sparkling water Toto ran over to the trees and began to bark at the bird sitting there Dorothy went to get him and saw such delicious fruit hanging from the branches that she gathered some of it finding just what she wanted to help out her breakfast then she went back to the house and having helped herself and Toto to a good drink of the cool clear water she set about making ready for the journey to the city of Emeralds Dorothy had only one other dress but that happened to be clean and was hanging on a peg beside her bed it was gingham with checks of white and blue and although the blue was somewhat faded with many washings it was still a pretty frock the girl washed herself carefully dressed herself in the clean gingham and tied her pink sunbonnet on her head she took a little basket and filled it with bread from the cupboard laying a white cloth over the top then she looked down at her feet and noticed how old and worn her shoes were they surely will never do for a long journey Toto she said and Toto looked up into her face with his little black eyes and his tail to show her he knew what she meant at that moment Dorothy saw lying on the table the silver shoes that had belonged to the witch of the east I wonder if they will fit me she said to Toto they would be just the thing to take a long walk in for they could not wear out she took off her old leather shoes and tried on the silver ones which fitted her as well as if they had been made for her finally she picked up her basket come along Toto she said we will go to the Emerald City and ask the great Oz how to get back to Kansas again she closed the door locked it and put the key carefully in the pocket of her dress and so with Toto trotting along soberly behind her she started on her journey there were several roads nearby but it did not take her long to find the one paved with the yellow brick within a short time she was walking briskly towards the Emerald City with her silver shoes tinkling merrily on the hard yellow roadbed the sun shone bright and the birds sang sweet and Dorothy did not feel nearly as bad as you might think a little girl would who had been suddenly whisked away from her own country and sat down in the midst of a strange land she was surprised as she walked along to see how pretty the country road was about her there were neat fences at the sides of the road painted a dainty blue colour and beyond them were fields of grain of abundance evidently the manchkins were good farmers and able to raise large crops once in a while she would pass her house and the people came out to look at her and bow low as she went by for everyone knew she had been in the means of destroying the wicked witch and setting them free from bondage the houses of the manchkins were odd looking dwellings for each was round with a big dome for a roof all were painted blue blue was the favourite colour towards evening when Dorothy was tired with her long walk and began to wonder where she would pass the night she came to her house rather larger than the rest on the green lawn before it many men and women were dancing five little fiddlers played as loudly as possible and the people were laughing and singing while a big table nearby was loaded with delicious fruits and nuts pies and cakes and many other good things to eat the people greeted Dorothy kindly and invited her to supper and to pass the night with them for this was the home of one of the richest manchkins in the land and his friends were gathered with him to celebrate their freedom from the bondage of the wicked witch Dorothy ate a hearty supper and was weighted upon by the rich manchkin himself whose name was Bok then she sat on upon a city and watched the people dance when Bok saw her silver shoes and said, you must be a great sorceress why ask the girl because you wear so the shoes and have killed the wicked witch besides you have white in your frock and only witches and sorceresses wear white my dress is blue and white checked said Dorothy smoothing out the wrinkles in it it is kind of you to wear that said Bok blue is the colour of the manchkins and white is the witch colour so we know you are a friendly witch Dorothy did not know what to say to this for all the people seemed to think her a witch and she knew very well she was only an ordinary little girl who had come by the chance of a cyclone into a strange land when she had tired watching the dancing Bok led her into the house where he gave her a room with a pretty bed in it the sheets were made of blue cloth and Dorothy slept soundly in them till morning as Toto calls up on the blue rug beside her she ate a hearty breakfast and watched a wee munchkin baby who played with Toto and pulled his tail and crowed and laughed in a way that greatly amused Dorothy Toto was a fine curiosity to all the people for they had never seen a dog before how far is it to the Emerald City the girl asked I do not know answered Bok gravely for I have never been there it is better for people to keep away from us unless they have business with them but it is a long way to the Emerald City and it will take you many days the country is rich and pleasant but you must pass through rough and dangerous places before you reach the end of your journey this worried Dorothy a little but she knew that only the great Oz could help her to get to Kansas again so she bravely resolved not to turn back she bade her friends goodbye and again started along the road of Yellow Brick when she had gone several miles she thought she would stop to rest and so climbed to the top of the fence beside the road and sat down there was a great cornfield beyond the fence and not far away she saw a scarecrow placed high on a pole to keep the birds from the ripe corn Dorothy leaned her chin upon her hand and gazed thoughtfully at the scarecrow its head was a small sack stuffed with straw with eyes nose and mouth painted on it to represent a face an old pointed blue hat that it belonged to some munchkin was perched on his head and the rest the figure was a blue suit of clothes worn and faded which had also been stuffed with straw on the feet were some old boots with blue tops such as every man wore in this country and the figure was raised above the stalks of corn by means of the pole stuck up its back while Dorothy was looking earnestly into the queer painted face of the scarecrow she was surprised to see one of his eyes slowly wink at her she thought she must have been mistaken at first for none of the scarecrow in Kansas ever wink but presently the figure nodded its head to her in a friendly way then she climbed down from the fence and walked up to it while Toto ran around the pole and barked good day said the scarecrow in rather a husky voice did you speak? asked the girl in wonder certainly answered the scarecrow how do you do I'm pretty well thank you replied Dorothy politely how do you do? I'm not feeling well said the scarecrow with a smile for its very tedious being perched up here night and day to scare away crows can't you get down? asked Dorothy no for this pole is stuck up my back if you will please take away the pole I shall be greatly obliged to you Dorothy reached up both arms and lifted the figure off the pole for being stuffed with straw it was quite light thank you very much said the scarecrow when he had been sat down on the ground I feel like a new man Dorothy was puzzled at this for it sounded queer to hear a stuffed man speak and to see him bow and walk along beside her who are you? asked the scarecrow when he stretched himself in yawn and where are you going? my name is Dorothy he said the girl and I'm going to the emerald city to ask the great Oz to send me back to Kansas where is the emerald city? he inquired and who is Oz? why don't you know? she returned in surprise no indeed I don't know anything you see I'm stuffed and so I have no brains at all he answered sadly oh said Dorothy I'm awfully sorry for you do you think? he asked I go to the emerald city with you that the great Oz will give me some brains I cannot tell she returned but you may come with me if you like if Oz will not give you any brains you will be no worse off than you are now that is true said the scarecrow you see he continued confidentially I don't mind my legs and arms and body being stuffed because I cannot get hurt if anyone treads on my toes or sticks a pin into me for I can't feel it but I do not want people to call me a fool and if my head stays stuffed with straw instead of with brains as yours is how am I ever to know anything? I understand how you feel said the little girl who was truly sorry for him if you will come with me I'll ask Oz to do all he can for you thank you he answered gratefully they walked back to the road Dorothy helped him over the fence and they started along the path of yellow brick for the Emerald City Toto did not like this addition to the party at first he smelled around the stuffed man as if he suspected there might be a nest of rats in the straw and he often growled in an unfriendly way at the scarecrow don't mind Toto said Dorothy to her new friend he never bites oh I'm not afraid replied the scarecrow he can't hurt the straw if I ask it for you I shall not mind it for I can't get tired I'll tell you a secret he continued as he walked along there is only one thing in the world I'm afraid of what is that? the munchkin farmer who made you no it's a lighted match end of chapter 3 chapter 4 of the wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum recorded by Lynn Stanley this LibriVox recording is in the public domain the road through the forest after a few hours the road began to be rough and the walking grew so difficult that the scarecrow often stumbled over the yellow brick which were here very uneven sometimes indeed they were broken or missing altogether leaving holes that Toto jumped across and Dorothy walked around as for the scarecrow having no brains he walked straight ahead and so stepped into the holes and fell at full length on the hard bricks it never hurt him however and Dorothy would pick him up and set him upon his feet again while he joined her in laughing merely at his own mishap the farmers were not nearly so well cared for here as they were farther back there were fewer houses and fewer fruit trees and the farther they went the more than lonesome the country became at noon they sat down by the roadside near a little brook and Dorothy opened her basket and got out some bread she offered a piece to the scarecrow but he refused I'm never hungry he said and it's a lucky thing I'm not for my mouth is only painted and if I should cut a hole in it so I could eat the straw I am stuffed with would come out and that would fill the shape of my head Dorothy saw at once that this was true so she only nodded and went on eating her bread tell me something about yourself and the country you came from said the scarecrow when she had finished her dinner so she told him all about Kansas and how grey everything was there and how the cyclone had carried her to this queer land of Oz the scarecrow listened carefully and said I understand why you should wish to leave this beautiful country and go back to the dry grey place you call Kansas that is because you have no brains answered the girl no matter how dreary and grey our homes are we people of flesh and blood would rather live there than in any other country be it ever so beautiful there is no place like home the scarecrow sighed of course I cannot understand it he said if your heads were stuffed with straw like mine you would probably all of in the beautiful places and then Kansas would have no people at all it is fortunate for Kansas that you have brains won't you tell me a story while we are resting ask the child the scarecrow looked at her approachfully and answered my life has been so short that I really know nothing whatever I was only made there before yesterday what happened in the world before that time is all unknown to me luckily when the farmer made my head one of the first things he did was to paint my ears so that I heard what was going on there was another munchkin with him and the first thing I heard was the farmer saying how do you like those ears they aren't straight answered the other never mind said the farmer they are ears just the same which was true enough now I'll make the eye said the farmer so he painted my right eye and as soon as it was finished I found myself looking at him and everything around me with a great deal of curiosity for this was my first glimpse of the world that's rather a pretty eye remarked the munchkin who was watching the farmer blue paint is just the colour for eyes or he think I'll make the other a little bigger said the farmer and when the second eye was done I could see much better than before then he made my nose and my mouth but I did not speak because at that time I didn't know what a mouth was for I had the fun of watching them make my body and my arms and legs and when they fastened on my head at last I felt very proud for I thought I was just as good a man as anyone this fellow walks scared the crows fast enough said the farmer he looks just like a man what are you a man said the other and I quite agreed with him the farmer carried me under his arm to the cornfield and set me up on a tall stick where you found me he and his friends soon after walked away and left me alone I did not like to be deserted this way so I tried to walk after them but my feet would not touch the ground and I was forced to stay on that pole it was a lonely life to lead for I had nothing to think of having been made such a little while before many crows and other birds flew into the cornfield but as soon as they saw me they flew away again thinking I was a munchkin and this pleased me and made me feel that I was quite an important person by and by an old crow flew near me and after looking at me carefully he perched upon my shoulder and said I wonder if that farmer thought to fool me in this clumsy manner any crow of sense could see that you are only stuffed with straw then he hopped down at my feet and ate all the corn he wanted the other bird seeing he was not harmed by me came to eat the corn too so in a short time there was a great flock of them about me I felt sad at this thought it showed I was not such a good scare crow after all but the old crow comforted me saying if you only had brains in your head you would be as good a man as any of them and a better man than some of them brains are not the only things worth having in this world the crow or man after the crows had gone I thought this over and decided I would try hard to get some brains by good luck you came along and pulled me off the stake and from what you say I'm sure the great Oz will give me brains as soon as we get to the Emerald City I hope so said Dorothy earnestly since you seem anxious to have them oh yes I am anxious returned the scare crow it is such an uncomfortable feeling to know one is a fool well said the girl let us go and she handed the basket to the scare crow there were no fences at all by the roadside now and the land was rough and untilled towards evening they came to a great forest where the trees grew so big and close together that their branches met over the road over the trees for the branches shut out the daylight but the travellers did not stop and went on to the forest if this road goes in it must come out said the scare crow and as Emerald City is at the other end of the road we must go wherever it leads us anyone would know that said Dorothy certainly that is why I know it returned the scare crow if it required brains to figure it out I never should have said it after an hour or so the light faded away and they found themselves stumbling along in the darkness Dorothy could not see at all but Toto could for some dogs he very well in the dark and the scare crow declared he could see as well as by day so she took hold of his arm and managed to get along fairly well if you see any house or any place where we can pass the night she said you must tell me for it is very uncomfortable walking in the dark soon after the scare crow stopped I see a little cottage at the right of us he said built of logs and branches shall we go there yes indeed answered the child I am all tired out so the scare crow led her through the trees until they reached the cottage and Dorothy entered and found a bed of dried leaves in one corner she lay down at once and with Toto beside her soon fell into a sound sleep the scare crow who was never tired stood up in another corner and waited patiently until morning came End of Chapter 4 Chapter 5 of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Recording by Lynn Stanley The Rescue of the Tin Woodman When Dorothy awoke the sun was shining through the trees and Toto had long been out chasing birds and squirrels she sat up and looked around her there was the scare crow still standing patiently in his corner waiting for her we must go and search for water she said to him Why do you want water? he asked to wash my face clean after the dust of the road and to drink so the dry bread will not stick in my throat it must be convenient to be made of flesh said the scare crow thoughtfully for you must sleep and eat and drink however you have brains and it would a lot of bother to be able to think properly they left the cottage and walked through the trees until they found a little spring of clear water where Dorothy drank and bathed and ate her breakfast she saw there was not much bread left in the basket and the girl was thankful she could not eat anything for there was scarcely enough for herself and Toto for the day when she had finished her meal and was about to go back to the road of yellow brick she was startled to hear a deep groan nearby What was that? she asked timidly I cannot imagine replied the scare crow but we can go and see just then another groan reached their ears and the sounds seemed to come from behind them they turned and walked through the steps when Dorothy discovered something shining in a ray of sunshine that fell between the trees she ran to the place and then stopped short with a cry of surprise one of the big trees had been partly chopped through and standing beside it with an uplifted axe in his hands was a man made entirely of tin his head and arms and legs were jointed upon his body but he stood perfectly motionless as if he could not hear at all Dorothy looked at him in amazement and so did the scare crow while Toto barked sharply and made a snap at the tin legs which hurt his teeth Did you groan? asked Dorothy Yes answered the tin man I did and no one has ever heard me before or come to help me What can I do for you? she inquired softly before she was moved by the sad voice she spoke Get an oil can and oil my joints he answered They are rusted so badly that I cannot move them at all If I am well oiled I shall soon be alright again you will find an oil can on a shelf in my cottage Dorothy at once ran back to the cottage and found the oil can and then she returned and asked anxiously Where are your joints? Oil my neck first replied the tin wood man so she oiled it and as it was quite badly rusted the scare crow took hold of the tin head and moved it gently from side to side until it worked freely and then the man could turn it himself No oiled the joints in my arms he said and Dorothy oiled them and the scare crow bent them carefully until they were quite free from rust and as good as new the tin wood man gave a sigh of satisfaction and lowered his axe which he leaned against the tree First is a great comfort he said I have been holding that axe in the air ever since I rusted and I am glad to be able to put it down at last now if you will oil the joints of my legs I shall be alright once more so they oiled his legs until he could move them freely and he thanked them again and again for his release for he seemed a very polite creature and very grateful I might have stood there always if you had not come along he said so you have certainly saved my life how did you happen to be here we are on our way to the Emerald City to see the great Oz she answered and we stopped at your cottage to pass the night Why do you wish to see Oz he asked I want him to send me back to Kansas and the scare crow wants him to put a few brains into his head she replied the tin woodman appeared to think deeply for a moment then he said do you suppose Oz could give me a heart I guess so Dorothy answered it would be as easy as to give the scare crow brains true the tin woodman returned so if you will allow me to join your party I will also go to the Emerald City and ask Oz to help me come along said the scare crow heartily and Dorothy added that she would be pleased to have his company so the tin woodman shouldered his axe and they all passed through the forest until they came to the road that was paved with yellow brick the tin woodman had asked Dorothy to put the oil can in her basket for he said if I should get caught in the rain and rust again I would need the oil can badly it was a bit of good luck to have their new comrade join the party for soon after they had begun their journey again they came to a place where the trees and branches grew so thick over the road that the travellers could not pass but the tin woodman set to work with his axe and chopped so well that soon he cleared a passage for the entire party Dorothy was thinking so earnestly as they walked along that she did not notice when the scare crow stumbled into a hole and rolled over to the side of the road indeed he was obliged to call her to help him again why didn't you walk around the hole? asked the tin woodman I don't know enough replied the scare crow chevly my head is stuffed with straw you know and that is why I am going to Oz to ask him for some brains ooh I see said the tin woodman but after all brains are not the best things in the world have you any inquired the scare crow no my head is quite empty answered the woodman but once I had brains and a heart also so having tried them both I should much rather have a heart and why is that? asked the scare crow I will tell you my story and then you will know so while they were walking through the forest the tin woodman told the following story I was born the son of a woodman who chopped down trees in the forest and sold the wood for a living when I grew up I too became a wood chopper and after my father died I took care of my old mother as long as she lived then I made up my mind that instead of living alone I would marry so that I might not become lonely there was one of the munchkin girls who was so beautiful that I soon grew to love her with all my heart she on her part promised to marry me as soon as I could earn enough money to build a better house for her so I set to work harder than ever but the girl lived with an old woman who did not want her to marry anyone for she was so lazy she wished the girl to remain with her and do the cooking and the housework so the old woman went to the wicked witch of the east and promised her two sheep and a cow if she would prevent the marriage there upon the wicked witch enchanted my axe and when I was chopping away at my best one day for I was anxious to get the new house and my wife as soon as possible the axe slipped all at once and cut off my left leg this at first seemed a great misfortune for I knew a one-legged man could not do very well as a wood chopper so I went to a tin smith and had him made me a new leg out of tin the leg worked very well once I was used to it but my action angered the wicked witch of the east for she had promised the old woman I should not marry the pretty munchkin girl when I began chopping again my axe slipped and cut off my right leg again I went to the tinner and again he made me a leg out of tin after this the enchanted axe cut off my arms one after the other but nothing daunted I had them replaced with tin ones the wicked witch then made the axe slip and cut off my head and at first I thought that was the end of me but the tinner happened to come along and he made me a new head out of tin I thought I had beaten the wicked witch then and I worked harder than ever but I little knew how cruel my enemy could be she thought of a new way to kill my love for the beautiful munchkin maiden and made my axe slip again so that it cut right through my body splitting me into two halves once more the tinner came to my help and made me a body of tin fastening my tin arms and legs and head to it by means of joints so that I could move around as well as ever but alas I had now no heart so that I lost all my love for the munchkin girl and did not care whether I married her or not I suppose she's still living with the old woman waiting for me to come after her my body shone so brightly in the sun that I felt very proud of it and it did not matter now if my axe slipped for it could not cut me there was only one danger that my joints would rust but I kept an oil can in my cottage and took care to oil myself whenever I needed it however there came a day when I forgot to do this and being caught in a rainstorm before I thought of the danger my joints had rusted and I was left to stand in the woods until you came to help me it was a terrible thing to undergo but during the year I stood there I had time to think that the greatest loss I had known was the loss of my heart while I was in love I was the happiest man on earth but no one can love who has not a heart and so I am resolved to ask us to give me one if he does I will go back to the munchkin maiden and marry her both Dorothy and the scarecrow had been greatly interested in the story of the tinward man now they knew why he was so anxious to get a new heart all the same said the scarecrow I shall ask for brains instead of a heart for a fool would not know what to do with a heart if he had one I shall take the heart returned the tinward man for brains do not make one happy and happiness is the best thing in the world Dorothy did not say anything for she was puzzled to know which of the two friends was right and she decided if she could only get back to Kansas it did not matter so much whether the woodman had no brains and the scarecrow had no heart or each got what he wanted what worried her most was that the bread was nearly gone and another meal for herself and Toto would empty the basket to be sure neither the woodman nor the scarecrow ever ate anything but she was not made of tin nor straw and could not live unless she was fed end of chapter 5 chapter 6 of the wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Lynn Stanley the Cowardly Lion all this time Dorothy and her companions had been walking through the thick woods the road was still paved with the 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 Tinwood man 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'm not afraid so long as I have my whale can and nothing can hurt the scarecrow while you bear on 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 Tinwood man just as he spoke they came from the forest a terrible roar and the next moment a great lion bounded into the road with one blow off his paw he sent the scarecrow spinning over to the edge of the road and then he struck at the Tinwood man 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 towards 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 went 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 you are nothing but a big coward I know it said the lion hanging his head in shame you've always known it but how can I help it I don't know I'm sure to think of you 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 on said Dorothy is he made of tin or stuffed asked the lion neither he's 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 is 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 am 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 a 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 wood man it may be said the lion if you have continued the tin wood man 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 have never looked to see replied the lion I am going to the great arse 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 wood man so turn 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 oh give me a heart said the tin wood man oh 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 you will be very welcome on to 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 as long as I know myself to be a coward I should 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 mow the peace of their journey once indeed the tin woodman stepped upon a beetle 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 I have failed 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 End of Chapter 6 Chapter 7 of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Lynn Stanley 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 Dorisie 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 beg the tin woodman I should certainly weep if you kill the poor deer 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 Dorisie'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 Dorisie 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 towards the emerald city this was to be an eventful day for the travellers 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 to get 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 Dorisie despairingly why haven't the faintest idea said the tin woodman and the lion shook his shaggy mane and looked thoughtful we cannot fly that is certain neither can we climb down into this great ditch therefore 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 alright answered the scarecrow for you can carry us all over on your back one at a time well I'll try it who will go first I will declared the scarecrow for if you found that you could not jump over the gulf Dorisie 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 it is on my back and we will make the attempt the scarecrow set up on 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 and after the scarecrow had got down from his back the lion sprang across the ditch again Dorisie 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 was 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 after that 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 the 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 Caledas lived what are the Caledas 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 I am terribly afraid of the Caledas I am 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 it 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 said 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 oh they are all the caledas 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 caledas and then he gave so loud and terrible a roar that Dorothy screamed and the scarecrow fell over backwards while even the fierce beast 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 caledas 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 the 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 caledas 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 oh said the tin woodman sadly I wish I had a heart to beat this adventure made the travellers 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 further 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 river bank 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 a tin woodman and when night came the work was not done so they found a cosy place under the trees 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 End of Chapter 7 Chapter 8 of the wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Lynn Stanley the deadly poppy field our little party of travellers awakened next morning and refreshed and full of hope and Dorothy breakfasted like a princess of 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 Tim Woodman had cut a few more logs and fastened them together with woodpins they were ready to start Dorothy sat down in the middle of the raft and held Toto in her arms when the cowardly line stepped upon the raft it took badly for he was big and heavy but the scarecrow and Tim Woodman stood on either 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 Tim 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 the cowardly line and I should get no heart said the Tim 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 and 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 goodbye he called off to them and they were very sorry to leave him indeed the Tim Woodman began to cry but fortunately remembered that he might rest so he dried his tears on Dorothy's apron of course this was a bad thing for the scarecrow I'm worse off now 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'm afraid I should 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 Tim Woodman caught fast hold of his tail when the lion began to swim with all his might towards 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 Tim 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 they passed the road of yellow brick that led to the Emerald City what shall we do now asked the Tim 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 river bank 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 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 Tim Woodman cried out look and 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 stalk flew by which seeing them stopped to rest at the water's edge who are you and where are you going asked the stalk I am Dorothy answered the girl and these are my friends the Tim Woodman and the Cowley lion and we are going to the Emerald City this isn't the road said the stalk 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 stalk if he wasn't so big and heavy I would get him for you remarked the stalk he isn't heavy a bit 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 stalk but if I find he's 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 until she came to where the Scarecrow was perched upon his pole then the stalk with her great claws grabbed the Scarecrow by the arm and carried him up into the air 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 told he ride you at every step he felt so gay I was afraid I should have to stay in the river forever but the kind stalk saved me and if I ever get any brains I shall find the stalk again but some kind is in return that's all right said the stalk 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 us will help you thank you replied Dorothy and then the kind stalk flew into the air and was soon out of sight they walked along listening to the singing of the bright coloured birds and looking at the lovely flowers which now became so thick that the ground was carpeted with them they were big yellow and white and blue and purple blossoms besides great clusters of scarlet poppies which was so brilliant in colour they almost dazzled Dorothy's eyes aren't they beautiful the girl asked as she breathed in the spicy scent of the flowers I suppose so answered the Scarecrow when I have brains I shall probably like them better if only I had a heart I should love them I always did like flowers said the lion they 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 few and few 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 odour 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 she would not even get back to the road of the 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 she was asleep already it was true Turtle 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 roused himself 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 they 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 you 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 end of chapter eight chapter nine of the wonderful wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum this livery box recording is in the public domain recording violin Stanley the queen of a 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 strange beasts come bounding over the grass towards them it was indeed a great yellow wild cat 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 grey field mouse and although he had no heart he knew it was wrong for the wild cat to try and kill such a pretty harmless creature so the woodman raised his axe and as the wild cat 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 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'm careful to help all those who may need a friend even if it happens to be only a mouse only a mouse is it indignantly why I'm a queen the queen of all the field mice oh indeed said the woodman making a bow as well as a brave one in saving my life 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 scare the great wild cat all bowed so low to the little queen that they almost stood upon their heads this funny tin man she answered killed the wild cat and saved my life so hereafter you must all serve him and obey his slightest wish all cried all the mice in 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 Toto shall not hurt you at this the queen of the mice stuck her head out from 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'd 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 you would eat us all up oh no this lion is a coward really lost the mouse he says to 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 will 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 sent 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 mouse it was about this time that Dorothy worked 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 the 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 very heavy they managed to get him up on the truck then the Queen hurriedly gave her people the order to start for she feared that if the mouse stayed among the puppies 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 a 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 that 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 mouse was the last to leave you ever need us again she said come out into the field and call and we shall hear you and come to your assistance goodbye goodbye 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 nearby which she ate for her dinner end of chapter 9 chapter 10 of the wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Lynn Stanley the guardian of the gate it was some time before the cowardly lion awakened for he had lain among the poppies a long while breathing in their deadly fragrance but when he did open his eyes and roll off the truck he was very glad to find himself still alive I ran as fast as I could he said sitting down and yawning but the flowers were too strong for me how did you get me out then they told him of the field mice and how they had generously saved him from death and the cowardly lion laughed and said I have always sought myself very big and terrible yet such small things as flowers came near to killing me and such small animals as mice have saved my life how strange it all is but comrades what shall we do now we must journey on until we find the road of yellow brick again said Dorothy and then we can keep on to the Emerald City so the lion being fully refreshed and feeling quite himself again they all started upon the journey greatly enjoying the walk through the soft fresh grass and was not long before they reached the road of yellow brick and turned again toward the Emerald City where the great Oz dwelt the road was smooth and well paved now and the country about was beautiful so that the travellers rejoiced in leaving the forest far behind and was at the many dangers they had met in its gloomy shades once more they could see fences built beside the road but these were painted green and when they came to a small house in which a farmer evidently lived they also was painted green they passed by several of these houses during the afternoon and sometimes people came to the doors and looked at them as if they would like to ask questions but no one came near them nor spoke to them because of the great lion of which they were much afraid the people were all dressed in clothing of a lovely emerald green colour and wore peaked hats like those of the munchkins this must be the land of Oz said Dorothy and we are surely getting near the Emerald City Yes answered the scarecrow everything is green here while in the country of the munchkins blue was the favourite colour but the people do not seem to be as friendly as the munchkins and I'm afraid we shall be unable to find a place to pass the night I should like something to eat besides fruit said the girl and I'm sure Toto is nearly starved let us stop at the next house and talk to the people so when they came to a good sized farmhouse Dorothy walked boldly up to the door knocked a woman opened it just far enough to look out and said what do you want child and why is that great lion with you we wish to pass the night with you you will allow us answered Dorothy and the lion is my friend and comrade and would not hurt you for the world is he tame asked the woman opening the door little wider oh yes said the girl and he is a great coward too so that he will be more afraid of you than you are of him well said the woman after thinking it over and taking another peep at the lion if that is the case you may come in and I will give you some supper and a place to sleep when they all entered the house where they were beside the woman two children and a man the man had hurt his leg and was lying on the couch in a corner they seemed greatly surprised to see so strange a company and while the woman was busy laying the table the man asked where are you all going to the emerald city said Dorothy to see the great Oz oh indeed exclaimed the man are you sure that Oz will see you why it is said that he never lets anyone come into his presence I have been to the emerald city many times and it is a beautiful and wonderful place but I have never been permitted to see the great Oz nor do I know of any living person who has seen him does he never go out asked the scarecrow never he sits day after day in the great throne room of his palace and even those who wait upon him do not see him face to face what is he like asked the girl that is hard to tell said the man thoughtfully you see Oz is a great wizard and can take on any form he wishes so that some say he looks like a bird and some say he looks like an elephant and some say he looks like a cat to others he appears as a beautiful fairy or a brownie or in any other form that pleases him but who the real Oz is when he is in his own form no living person can tell that is very strange said Dorothy but we must try in some way to see him or we shall have made our journey for nothing why do you wish to see the terrible Oz asked the man I want him to give me some brains said the scarecrow eagerly oh Oz could do that easily enough to clear the man he has more brains than he needs and I want him to give me a heart said the tin woodman that will not trouble him continued the man and Oz has a large collection of hearts of all sizes and shapes and I want him to give me courage said the cowlilion Oz keeps a great pot of courage in his throne room said the man which he has covered with a golden plate to keep it from running over he will be glad to give you some and I want him to send me back to Kansas said Dorothy where is Kansas asked the man in surprise but it is my home and I'm sure it's somewhere very likely well Oz can do anything so I suppose he will find Kansas for you but first you must get to see him and that will be a hard task for the great wizard does not like to see anyone and he usually has his own way but what do you want he continued speaking to Toto Toto only wagged his tail for strange to say he could not speak the woman now called to them and the supper was ready so they gathered around the table and Dorothy ate some delicious porridge and a dish of scrambled eggs and a plate of nice white bread and enjoyed her meal the lion ate some of the porridge but did not care for its saying it was made from oats and oats were food for horses not for lions the scarecrow and the tin woodman ate nothing at all Toto ate a little of everything and was glad to get a good supper again Dorothy a bed to sleep in and Toto lay down beside her while the lion got at the door of her room so she might not be disturbed the scarecrow and the tin woodman stood up in a corner and kept quiet all night although of course they could not sleep the next morning as soon as the sun was up they started on their way and soon saw a beautiful green glow in the sky just before them that must be the emerald city said Dorothy and as they walked on the green glow became brighter and brighter and it seemed that at last they were nearing the end of their travels yet it was afternoon before they came to the great wall that surrounded the city it was high and sick and of a bright green colour in front of them and at the end of the road of yellow brick was a big gate all studded with emeralds that glittered so in the sun that even the painted eyes of the scarecrow there was a bell beside the gate and Dorothy pushed the button and heard a silvery tinkle sound within then the big gate swung slowly open and they all passed through and found themselves in a high arched room the walls of which glistened with countless emeralds before them stood a little man about the same size as the munchkins he was clothed all in green from his head to his feet and even his skin was of a greenish tint at his side was a large green box when he saw Dorothy and her companions the man asked what do you wish in the emerald city we came here to see the great Oz said Dorothy the man was so surprised at this answer that he sat down to think it over it has been many years since anyone has asked me to see Oz he said, shaking his head in perplexity he is powerful and terrible and if you come to call or foolish errant to bother the wise reflections of the great wizard he might be angry and destroy you all in an instant but it's not foolish errant nor an idle one replied the scarecrow it is important and we have been told that Oz is a good wizard so he is said the green man and he rules the emerald city wisely and well but to those who are not honest or who approach him from curiosity is most terrible and few have ever dared to see his face I am the guardian of the gates and since you demand to see the great Oz I must take you to his palace but first you must put on the spectacles why? asked Dorothy because if you did not wear spectacles the brightness and glory of the emerald city would blind you even those who live in the city and they they are all locked on for Oz so ordered it when the city was first built and I have the only key that will unlock them he opened the big box and Dorothy saw that it was filled with spectacles of every size and shape all of them had green glasses in them the guardian of the gates found a pair that were just for Dorothy and put them over her eyes there were two golden vans fastened to them that passed around the back of her head where they were locked together by a little key that was at the end of the chain the guardian of the gates wore around his neck when they were on Dorothy could not take them off had she wished but of course she did not want to be blinded by the glare of the emerald city so she said nothing then the green man fitted spectacles for the scarecrow and the tin woodman and the lion and even on little turtle and all were locked fast was the key then the guardian of the gates put on his own glasses and told them that he was ready to show them to the palace taking a big golden key from a peg on the wall he opened another gate and they all followed him through the portal into the streets of the emerald city end of chapter 10 chapter 11 of the wonderful wizard of ours by L. Frank Barne this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Lynn Stanley the wonderful city of Oz even with eyes protected by the green spectacles Dorothy and her friends were at first dazzled by the brilliancy of the wonderful city the streets were lined with beautiful houses all built of green marble and studded everywhere with sparkling emeralds they walked over a pavement of the same green marble and where the blocks were joined together were rows of emeralds set closely and glimpsed in the brightness of the sun the windowpains were of green glass even the sky above the city had a green tint and the rays of the sun were green there were many people men, women and children walking about and these were all dressed in green clothes and had greenish skins they looked at Dorothy and her strangely assorted company was wondering eyes and the children all ran away and hid behind their mothers when they saw the lion but no one spoke to them many shops stood in the street and Dorothy saw that everything in them was green green candy and green popcorn were offered for sale as well as green shoes, green hats and green clothes of all sorts at one place a man was selling green lemonade and when the children bought it Dorothy could see that they paid for it with green pennies there seemed to be no horses nor animals of any kind the men carried things around in little green carts which they pushed before them everyone seemed happy and contented and prosperous the guardian of the gates led them through the streets until they came to a big building exactly in the middle of the city which was the palace of Oz the great wizard there was a soldier before the door dressed in a green uniform and wearing a long green beard there are strangers the guardian of the gates to him and they demand to see the great Oz step inside answer the soldier and I will carry your message to him so they passed through the palace gates and were led into a big room with the green carpet and lovely green furniture set with emeralds the soldier made them all wipe their feet upon a green mat before entering this room and when they were seated he said politely please make yourselves comfortable while I go to the door of the throne room you are here they had to wait a long time before the soldier returned when at last he came back Dorothy asked have you seen Oz oh no returned the soldier I have never seen him but I spoke to him as he sat behind his screen and gave him your message he said he will grant you an audience if you so desire but each one of you must enter his presence alone and he will admit but one each day therefore as you must remain in the palace for several days I will have you shown to rooms where you may rest in comfort after your journey thank you replied the girl that is very kind of Oz the soldier now blew upon a green whistle and at once a young girl dressed in a pretty green silk gown into the room she had lovely green hair and green eyes and she bowed low before Dorothy as she said follow me and I will show you to your room so Dorothy said goodbye to all her friends except Toto and taking the dog in her arms followed the green girl through seven passages and up three flights of stairs until they came to a room at the front of the palace it was the sweetest little room in the world the soft comfortable bed that had sheets of green silk and a green velvet counterpane there was a tiny fountain in the middle of the room that shot a spray of green perfume into the air to fall back into a beautifully carved green marble basin beautiful green flowers stood in the windows and there was a shelf with a row of little green books when Dorothy had time to open these books she found them full of queer green pictures that made her laugh they were so funny in a wardrobe where many green dresses made of silk and satin and velvet and all of them fitted Dorothy exactly make yourself perfectly at home said the green girl wish for anything ring the bell Oz will send for you tomorrow morning she left Dorothy alone and went back to the others these she also led to rooms and each one of them found himself lodged in a very pleasant part of the palace of course his politeness was wasted on the scarecrow for when he found himself alone in his room he stood stupidly in one spot just within the doorway to wait till morning it would not rest him to lie down and he could not close his eyes so he remained all night staring at a little spider which was weaving its web in a corner of the room just as if it were not one of the most wonderful rooms in the world the tin woodman lay down on his bed from force of habit for he remembered when he was made of flesh but not being able to sleep he passed the night moving his joints up and down to make sure they kept in good-working order the lion would have preferred a bed of dried leaves in the forest being shut up in a room but he had too much sense to let this worry him so he sprang up on the bed and rolled himself up like a cat and purred himself asleep in a minute the next morning after breakfast the green maiden came to fetch Dorothy and she dressed her in one of the prettiest gowns made of green brocaded satin Dorothy put on a green silk apron and tied a green ribbon around Toto's neck and they started for the throne room of the great Oz first they came to a great hall in which were many ladies and gentlemen of the court all dressed in rich costumes these people had nothing to do but talk to each other but they always came to wait outside the throne room every morning although they were never permitted to see Oz as Dorothy entered they looked at her curiously and one of them whispered are you really going to look upon the faces of Oz as a terrible? of course, answered the girl if he will see me oh he will see you said the soldier who had taken her message to the wizard although he does not like to have people ask to see him indeed at first he was angry and said I should send you back where you came from then he asked me what you looked like and when I mentioned your silver shoes he was very much interested at last I told him about the mark upon your forehead and he decided he would admit you to his presence just then a bell rang and the green girl said to Dorothy that is the signal you must go into the throne room alone she opened a little door and Dorothy walked boldly through and found herself in a wonderful place it was a big round room with a high arched roof and the walls and ceiling and floor were covered with large emeralds set closely together in the centre of the roof was a great light as bright as the sun which made the emeralds sparkle in a wonderful manner but what interested Dorothy most was the big throne of green marble that stood in the middle of the room it was shaped like a chair and sparkled with gems as did everything else in the centre of the chair was an enormous head without a body to support it or any arms or legs whatever there was no hair upon this head but it had eyes and a nose and was much bigger than the head of the biggest giant as Dorothy gazed upon this in wonder and fear the eyes turned slowly and looked at her sharply and steadily then the mouth moved and Dorothy heard a voice say I am Oz the great and terrible who are you and why do you seek me it was not such an awful voice as she had expected to come from the big head so she took courage and answered I am Dorothy the small and meek I have come to you for help the eyes looked at her thoughtfully for a full minute then said the voice where did you get the silver shoes I got them from the wicked witch of the east when my house fell on her and killed her she replied where did you get the mark upon your forehead continued the voice that is where the good witch of the north when she bade me goodbye and sent me to you said the girl again the eyes looked at her sharply and they saw she was telling the truth then Oz asked what do you wish me to do send me back to Kansas where my Aunt M and Uncle Henry are she answered earnestly I don't like your country although it is so beautiful and I am sure Aunt M will be dreadfully worried over my being away so long the eyes winked three times and then they turned up to the ceiling and down to the floor and rolled around so clearly that they seemed to see every part of the room and at last they looked at Dorothy again why should I do this for you asked Oz because you are strong and I am weak because you are a great wizard and I am only a little girl but you were strong enough to kill the wicked witch of the east said Oz that just happened turned Dorothy simply I could not help it well said the head I will give you my answer you have no right to expect me to send you back to Kansas unless you do something for me in return in this country everyone must pay for everything he gets if you wish me to use my magic power to send you home again you must do something for me first help me and I will help you what must I do asked the girl kill the wicked witch of the west answered Oz but I cannot exclaimed Dorothy greatly surprised you killed the wicked witch of the east and you wear the silver shoes which bear a powerful charm there is now but one wicked witch left in all this land and when you can tell me she is dead I will send you back to Kansas but not before the little girl began to weep and the eyes winked again and looked upon her anxiously as if the great Oz felt that she could help him if she would I never killed anything willingly she sobbed even if I wanted to how could I kill the wicked witch if you who are great and terrible cannot kill her yourself how do you expect me to do it I do not know said the head but that is my answer and until the wicked witch dies uncle and aunt again remember that the witch is wicked tremendously wicked now go and do not ask to see me again until you have done your task sorrowfully Dorothy left the throne room and went back with a line in the scarecrow and the tin woodman were waiting to hear what Oz had said to her there is no hope for me she said sadly for Oz will not send me home until I have killed the wicked witch of the west and that I can never do her friends were sorry but could do nothing to help her so Dorothy went to her own room and lay down on the bed and cried herself to sleep the next morning the soldier with the green whiskers came to the scarecrow and said come with me for Oz has sent for you so the scarecrow followed him and was admitted into the great throne room where he saw sitting in the emerald throne a most lovely lady she was dressed in green silk gauze and wore upon her flowing green locks a crown of jewels growing from her shoulders were wings gorgeous in colour and so light that they fluttered if the slightest breath of air reached them when the scarecrow had barred as prettily as his straw stuffing would let him before this beautiful creature she looked upon him sweetly and said I am Oz the great and terrible who are you and why do you seek me now the scarecrow who had expected to see the great head Dorothy had told him of was much astonished but he answered her bravely I am only a scarecrow stuffed with straw therefore I have no brains and I come to you praying that you will put brains in my head instead of straw so that I may become much a man as any other in your dominions why should I do this for you asked the lady because you are wise and powerful and no one else can help me answered the scarecrow I never grant favours without some return said Oz but this much I will promise if you will kill for me the wicked witch of the west I will bestow upon you a great many brains and such good brains that you will be the wisest man in all the land of Oz I thought you asked Dorothy to kill the witch said the scarecrow in surprise so I did I don't care who kills her but until she is dead I will not grant your wish now go and do not seek me again until you have earned the brains you so greatly desire the scarecrow went sorrowfully back to his friends and told him he was dead and Dorothy was surprised to find that the great wizard was not ahead as she had seen him but a lovely lady all the same said the scarecrow she needs a heart as much as the tin woodman on the next morning the soldier with the green whiskers came to the tin woodman and said I'll just thank for you follow me so the tin woodman followed him and came to the great throne room he did not know whether he would find Oz a lovely lady or a head but he hoped it would be the lovely lady for he said to himself if it is the head I am sure I shall not be given a heart since a head has no heart of its own and therefore cannot feel for me but if it is the lovely lady I shall beg hard for a heart for all ladies are themselves said to be kindly hearted but when the woodman entered the great throne room he saw neither the head nor the lady for Oz had taken the shape of the most terrible beast it was nearly as big as an elephant and the green throne seemed hardly strong enough to hold its weight the beast had a head like that of a rhinoceros only there were five eyes in its face there were five long arms growing out of its body and it also had five long slim legs thick woolly hair covered every part of it and a more dreadful looking monster could not be imagined it was fortunate the tin woodman had no heart at that moment for it would have beat loud and fast from terror but being only tin the woodman was not at all afraid although he was much disappointed I am Oz the great and terrible spoke the beast in a voice that was one great roar who are you and why do you seek me I am a woodman and made of tin therefore I have no heart and cannot love I pray you to give me a heart that I may be as other men are why should I do this demanded the beast because I ask it and you alone can grant my request answered the woodman Oz gave a low growl at this but said roughly if you indeed desire a heart you must earn it how? asked the woodman helped Dorothy to kill the wicked witch of the west replied the beast when the witch is dead come to me I have no heart and most loving heart in all the land of Oz so the tin woodman was forced to return sorrowfully to his friends and tell him of the terrible beast he had seen they all wondered greatly at the many forms the great wizard could take upon himself and the lion said if he is a beast when I go to see him I shall roar my loudest and so frighten him that he will grant all I ask and if he is the lovely lady I shall pretend to ring upon her and so compel her to do my bidding and if he is the great head he will be at my mercy for I will roll this head all about the room until he promises to give us what we desire so be of good cheer my friends for all will yet be well the next morning the soldier with the green whiskers led the lion to the great throne room and bade him into the presence of Oz the lion at once passed through the door and glancing around saw to surprise that before the throne was a ball of fire so fierce and glowing they could scarcely bear to gaze upon it his first thought was that Oz had by accident caught on fire and was burning up but when he tried to go nearer the heat was so intense that it singed his whiskers and he crept back tremblingly to a spot nearer the door then a low quiet voice came from the ball of fire and these were the words that spoke I am Oz the great and terrible who are you and why do you seek me and the lion answered I am the cowardly lion afraid of everything I came to you to beg that you give me courage so that in reality I may become the king of beasts as men call me why should I give you courage? demanded Oz because of all wizards you are the greatest and alone have power to grant my request answered the lion the ball of fire burned fiercely for a time and the voice said bring me proof that the wicked witch is dead and that moment I will give you courage but as long as the witch lives you must remain a coward the lion was angry at the speech but could say nothing in reply and while he stood silently gazing at the ball of fire it became so furiously hot that he turned tail and rushed from the room he was glad to find his friends waiting for him and told them of his terrible interview with the wizard what shall we do now? asked Dorothy sadly there is only one thing we can do return the lion and that is to go to the land of the winkeys seek out the wicked witch and destroy her but suppose we cannot said the girl then I shall never have courage and I shall never have brains out of the scarecrow and I shall never have a heart spoke the tin woodman and I shall never see Aunt M and Uncle Henry said Dorothy beginning to cry be careful cried the green girl the tears will fall upon your green silk gun and spot it so Dorothy dried her tears and said I suppose you must try it but I am sure I do not want to kill anybody I do not want to see Aunt M again I will go with you but I am too much of a coward to kill the witch said the lion I will go too declared the scarecrow but I shall not be of much help to you I am such a fool I haven't the heart to harm even a witch remarked the tin woodman but if you go I certainly shall go with you therefore it was decided to start upon their journey the next morning and the woodman sharpened the scarves on a green grindstone and had all his joints properly oiled the scarecrow stuffed himself with fresh straw and Dorothy put new paint on his eyes that he might see better the green girl who was very kind to them filled Dorothy's basket with good things to eat and fastened a little bell around Toto's neck with a green ribbon they went to bed quite early and slept soundly until daylight when they were awakened by the crowing of a green cock that lived in the backyard of the palace and a cackling of a hen that had laid a green egg Chapter 12 of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Lynn Stanley the search for the wicked witch the soldier with the green whiskers led them through the streets of the Emerald City until they reached the room where the guardian of the gates lived this officer unlocked their spectacles to put them back in his great box and then he politely opened the gate for our friends which road leads to the wicked witch of the west? asked Dorothy there is no road! answered the guardian of the gates no one ever wishes to go that way how then are we to find her? inquired the girl that would be easy! replied the man if you are in the country of the Winkies she will find you and make you all her slaves perhaps not said the scarecrow for we mean to destroy her oh that is different said the guardian of the gates no one has ever destroyed her before so I naturally thought she would make slaves of you as she has of all the rest but take care for she is wicked and fierce and may not allow you to destroy her keep to the west where the sun sets may not fail to find her they thanked him and bade him goodbye and turned toward the west walking over fields of soft grass dotted here and there with daisies and buttercups Dorothy still wore the pretty silk dress she had put on in the palace but now to her surprise she found it was no longer green but pure white the ribbon around Toto's neck had also lost its green colour and was as white as Dorothy's dress he was soon left far behind as they advanced the ground became rougher and hiliar for there were no farms nor houses in this country of the west and the ground was untilled in the afternoon the sun shone hot in their faces for there were no trees to offer them shade so that before night Dorothy and Toto and the lion were tired and lay down upon the grass and fell asleep with the woodman and the scarecrow keeping watch now the wicked witch of the west had but one eye yet that was as powerful as a telescope and could see everywhere so as she sat in the door of her castle she happened to look around and saw Dorothy lying asleep with her friends all about her they were a long distance off but the wicked witch was angry to find them in her country so she blew upon a silver whistle that hung around her neck at once they came running to her and the villagers a pack of great wolves they had long legs and fierce eyes and sharp teeth go to those people said the witch and tear them to pieces are you not going to make them your slaves asked the leader of the wolves no she answered one is of ten and one of straw one is a girl and another a lion none of them is fit to work so you may tear them into small pieces very well said the wolf and he dashed away at full speed followed by the others it was lucky the scarecrow and the woodman were wide awake and heard the wolves coming this is my fight said the woodman so get behind me and I will meet them as they come he seized his axe which he had made very sharp and as the leader of the wolves came on and chopped the wolf's head from its body so that it immediately died as soon as he could raise his axe another wolf came up and he also fell under the sharp edge of the tin woodman's weapon there were 40 wolves and 40 times a wolf was killed so that at last they all lay dead in a heap before the woodman then he put down his axe and sat beside the scarecrow who said it was a good fight friend they waited until Dorothy awoke the next morning the little girl was quite frightened when she saw the great pile of shaggy wolves but the tin woodman told her all she thanked him for saving them and sat down to breakfast after which they started again upon their journey now the same morning the wicked witch came to the door of her castle and looked out with her one eye they could see her far off she saw all her wolves lying dead and the strangers still travelling through her country this made her angrier than before and she blew her silver whistle twice straight away a great flock of wild crows came flying toward her enough to darken the sky and the wicked witch said to the king crow fly at once to the strangers peck out their eyes and tear them to pieces the wild crows flew in one great flock toward Dorothy and her companions when the little girl saw them coming she was afraid but the scare crow said this is my battle so lie down beside me and you will not be harmed so they all lay upon the ground except the scare crow and he stood up and stretched out his arms and when the crows saw him they were frightened as these birds always are by scare crows and did not dare to come any nearer but the king crow said it is only a stuffed man I will peck his eyes out the king crow flew at the scare crow who caught it by the head and twisted its neck until it died and then another crow flew at him and the scare crow twisted its neck also there were 40 crows and 40 times the scare crow twisted a neck until at last all were lying dead beside him then he called his companions to rise and again they went upon their journey when the wicked witch looked out again and saw all her crows lying in a heap she got into a terrible rage and blew three times upon her silver whistle forth was there was heard a great buzzing in the air and a swarm of black bees came flying towards her go to the strangers and sting them to death commanded the witch and the bees turned and flew rapidly until they came to where Dorothy and her friends were walking but the woodman had seen them coming and the scare crow had decided what to do take out my straw and scatter it over the little girl and the dog in the line he said to the woodman and the bees cannot sting them this the woodman did and as Dorothy lay close beside the line and held Toto in her arms the straw covered them entirely the bees came and found no one but the woodman to sting so they flew at him and broke off all their stings against the tin without hurting the woodman at all and as bees cannot live when their stings are broken that was the end of the black bees and they lay scattered thick about the woodman like little heaps of fine coal then Dorothy and the line got up and the girl helped the tin woodman put the straw back into the scare crow again until he was as good as ever so they started upon their journey once more the wicked witch was so angry when she saw her black bees in little heaps like fine coal that she stamped her foot and tore her hair and gnashed her teeth and then she called a dozen of her slaves who were the winkeys and gave them sharp spears telling them to go to the strangers and destroy them the winkeys were not a brave people but they had to do as they were told so they marched away until they came near to Dorothy then the lion gave a great roar and sprang toward them and the poor winkeys were so frightened as fast as they could when they returned to the castle the wicked witch beat them well with a strap and sent them back to their work after which she sat down to think about what she should do next she could not understand how all her plans to destroy these strangers had failed but she was a powerful witch as well as a wicked one and she soon made up her mind how to act there was in her cupboard a golden cap with a circle of diamonds and rubies running round it this golden cap had a charm whoever owned it could call three times upon the winged monkeys who would obey any order they were given but no person could command these strange creatures more than three times twice already the wicked witch had used the charm of the cap once was when she had made the winkeys her slaves and set herself to rule over their country the winged monkeys had helped her do this the second time was when she had fought against the great Oz himself and driven him out of the land of the west the winged monkeys had also helped her in doing this only once more could she use this golden cap for which reason she did not like to do so until all her other powers were exhausted but now that her fierce wolves and her wild crows and her stinging bees were gone and her slaves had been scared away she saw there was only one way left to destroy Dorothy and her friends so the wicked witch took the golden cap from her cupboard and placed it upon her head then she stood upon her left foot and said slowly epi pepe kake next she stood upon her right foot and said hello hello after that she stood upon both feet and cried in a loud voice sisi zizi zik now the charm began to work the sky was darkened and a low rumbling sound was heard in the air there was a rushing of many wings a great chattering and laughing and the sun came out of the dark sky to show the wicked witch surrounded by a crowd of monkeys each with a pair of immense and powerful wings on his shoulders one much bigger than the others seemed to be their leader he flew close to the witch and said you have called us for the third and last time what do you command go to the strangers who are within my land and destroy them all except the lion said the wicked witch bring that beast to me for I have a mind to harness him like a horse and make him work your command shall be obeyed said the leader and then with a great deal of chattering and noise the winged monkeys flew away to the place where Dorothy and her friends were walking some of the monkeys seized the tin woodman and carried him through the air until they were over a country thickly covered with sharp rocks here they dropped the poor woodman who fell a great distance to the rocks where he lay so battered and dented that he could neither move nor groan others of the monkeys caught the scarecrow and with their long fingers pulled all of the straw out of his clothes and head they made his hat and boots and clothes into a small bundle and threw it into the top branches of a tall tree the remaining monkeys threw pieces of start rope around the lion and wound many coils about his body and head and legs until he was unable to bite or scratch or struggle in any way then they lifted him up and flew away with him to the witch's castle where he was placed in a small yard with a high iron fence around it so that he could not escape but Dorothy they did not harm at all she stood with Toto in her arms watching the sad fate of her comrades and thinking it would soon be her turn the leader of the winged monkeys flew up to her his long hairy arms stretched out and his ugly face grinning terribly but he saw the mark of the good witch's kiss upon her forehead she jumped short motioning the others not to touch her we dare not harm this little girl he said to them for she is protected by the power of good and that is greater than the power of evil all we can do is to carry her to the castle of the wicked witch and leave her there so carefully and gently they lifted Dorothy in their arms and carried her swiftly through the air until they came to the castle where they set her down upon the front doorstep then the leader said to the witch we have obeyed you as far as we were able the tin woodmen and the scarecrow are destroyed and the lion is tied up in your yard the little girl we dare not harm nor the dog she carries in her arms your power over our band is now ended and you will never see us again then all the winged monkeys was much laughing and chattering and noise flew into the air and was soon out of sight the wicked witch was both surprised and worried when she saw the mark on Dorothy's forehead for she knew well that neither the winged monkeys nor she herself dared hurt the girl in any way she looked down at Dorothy's feet and seeing the silver shoes began to tremble with fear for she knew what a powerful charm belonged to them at first the witch was tempted to run away from Dorothy but she happened to look into the child's eyes and saw how simple the soul behind them was and that the little girl did not know of the wonderful power the silver shoes gave her so the wicked witch laughed to herself and thought I can still make her my slave for she does not know how to use her power then she said to Dorothy harshly and severely come with me and see that you mind everything I tell you for if you do not I will make an end of you as I did of the tin woodman and the scarecrow Dorothy followed her to the beautiful rooms in her castle until they came to the kitchen where the witch bade her clean the pots and kettles and sweep the floor and keep the fire fed with wood Dorothy went to work meekly with her mind made up to work as hard as she could for she was glad the wicked witch had decided not to kill her with Dorothy hard at work the witch thought she would go into the courtyard and harness the cowley lion like a horse it would amuse her she was sure to make him draw her chariot whenever she wished to go to drive but as she opened the gate the lion gave a loud roar and bounded at her so fiercely that the witch was afraid and ran out and shut the gate again if I cannot harness you said the witch to the lion speaking through the bars of the gate I can starve you you should have nothing to eat until you do as I wish so after that she took no food to the imprisoned lion but every day she came to the gate at noon and asked are you ready to be harnessed like a horse and the lion would answer no if you come in this yard I will bite you the reason the lion did not have to do as the witch wished was that every night while the woman was asleep Dorothy carried him food from the cupboard after he had eaten he would lie down on his bed of straw and Dorothy would lie beside him and put her head on his soft shaggy mane while they talked of their troubles and tried to plan some way to escape but they could find no way to get out of the castle food was constantly guarded by the yellow winkies who were the slaves of the wicked witch and too afraid of her not to do as she told them the girl had to work hard during the day and often the witch threatened to beat her with the same old umbrella she always carried in her hand but in truth she did not dare to strike Dorothy because of the mark upon her forehead the child did not know this and was full of fear for herself and Toto once the witch struck Toto a blow with her umbrella and the brave little dog flew at her and bit her leg in return the witch did not bleed where she was bitten for she was so wicked that the blood in her had dried up many years before Dorothy's life became very sad as she grew to understand that it would be harder than ever to get back to Kansas and on to him again sometimes she would cry bitterly for hours with Toto sitting at her feet and looking into her face whining dismally to show how sorry he was for his little mistress Toto did not really care whether he was in Kansas or the land of Oz so long as Doris he was with him but he knew the little girl was unhappy and that made him unhappy too now the wicked witch had a great longing to have for her own the silver shoes that the girl always wore her bees and her crows and her wolves were lying in heaps and drying up and she had used up all the power of the golden cap but if she could only get hold of the silver shoes they would give her more power than all the other things she had lost she watched Dorothy carefully to see if she ever took off her shoes thinking she might steal them but the child was so proud of her pretty shoes that she never took them off except at night and when she took her bath the witch was too much afraid of the dark to dare go in Dorothy's room at night to take the shoes and her dread of water was greater than her fear of the dark so she never came near when Dorothy was bathing indeed the old witch never touched water nor ever let water touch her in any way but the wicked creature was very cunning and she finally thought of a trick that would give her what she wanted she had placed a bar of iron in the middle of the kitchen floor and then by her magic arts made the iron invisible to human eyes so that when Dorothy walked across the floor she stumbled over the bar not being able to see it and fell at full length she was not much hurt but in her fall one of the silver shoes came off and before she could reach it the witch had snatched it away and put it on her own skinny foot the wicked woman was pleased with the success of her trick for as long as she had one of the shoes she owned half the power of their charm and Dorothy could not use it against her even had she known how to do so the little girl seeing that she had lost one of her pretty shoes grew angry and said to the witch give me back my shoe I will not retorted the witch for it is now my shoe and not yours you are a wicked creature you have no right to take my shoe from me I shall keep it just the same said the witch laughing at her and someday I shall get the other one from you too this made Dorothy so very angry that she picked up the bucket of water that stood near and dashed it over the witch waiting her from head to foot instantly the wicked woman gave a loud cry of fear and then as Dorothy looked at her in wonder the witch began to shrink and fall away see what you've done she screamed in a minute I shall melt away I'm very sorry indeed said Dorothy who was truly frightened to see the witch actually melting away like brown sugar before her very eyes didn't you know water would be the end of me asked the witch in a wailing despairing voice of course not answered Dorothy how should I well in a few minutes I shall be all melted you'll have the castle to yourself I have been wicked in my day but I never thought a little girl like you would ever be able to melt me and end my wicked deeds look out here I go was these words the witch fell down in a brown melted shapeless mass and began to spread over the clean boards of the kitchen floor seeing that she'd really melted away to nothing Dorothy drew another bucket of water and threw it over the mess then she swept it all out the door after picking out the silver shoe which was all that was left of the old woman she cleaned and dried it with a cloth and put it on her foot again then being at last free to do as she chose she ran out in the courtyard to tell a lion that the wicked witch of the west had come to an end and that they were no longer prisoners in a strange land end of chapter 12 chapter 13 of the wonderful wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Lynn Stanley the rescue the cowardly lion was much pleased to hear that the wicked witch had been melted by a bucket of water and Dorothy had once unlocked the gate of his prison and set him free they went in together to the castle where Dorothy's first act was to call all the Winkies together and tell them that they were no longer slaves there was great rejoicing among the Yellow Winkies for they had been made to work hard during many years for the wicked witch who had always treated them with great cruelty they kept this day as a holiday then and ever after and spent the time in feasting and dancing if our friends the scarecrow and the tin woodman were only with us said the lion, I should be quite happy don't you suppose we could rescue them? asked the Winkies and the Winkies and the Winkies I suppose we could rescue them? asked the girl anxiously we can try! answered the lion so they called the Yellow Winkies and asked them if they would help to rescue their friends and the Winkies said that they would be delighted to do all in their power for Dorothy who had set them free from bondage so she chose a number of the Winkies who looked as if they knew the most and they all started away they travelled that day and part of the next until they came to the rocky plain where the tin woodman lay all battered and bent his axe was near him but the blade was rusted and the handle broken off short the Winkies lifted him tenderly in their arms and carried him back to the Yellow Castle again Dorothy shedding a few tears by the way at the sad plight of her old friend and the lion looking sober and sorry when they reached the castle Dorothy said to the Winkies are any of your people tin smiths? oh yes some of us are very good tin smiths they told her then bring them to me she said and when the tin smiths came bringing with them all their tools in baskets she inquired can you straighten out those dents in the tin woodman and bend him back into shape again and solder him together where he is broken the tin smiths looked the woodman over carefully and then answered that they thought they could mend him as good as ever so they set to work in one of the big yellow rooms of the castle and worked for 3 days and 4 nights hammering and twisting and bending and soldering and polishing and pounding at the legs and body and head of the tin woodman until at last he was straightened out into his old form and his joints worked as well as ever to be sure there were several patches on him but the tin smiths did a good job because the woodman was not a vain man he did not mind the patches at all when at last he walked into Dorothy's room and thanked her for rescuing him he was so pleased that he wept tears of joy and Dorothy had to wipe every tear carefully from his face with her apron so his joints would not be rusted at the same time her own tears fell thick and fast at the joy of meeting her old friend again and these tears did not need to be wiped away as for the line he wiped his eyes so often with the tip of his tail that it became quite wet and he was obliged to go out into the courtyard and hold it in the sun till it dried if only we had the scarecrow with us again said the tin woodman when Dorothy had finished telling him everything that had happened I should be quite happy we must try to find him said the girl so she called the winkeys to help her and they walked all that day part of the next until they came to the tall tree in the branches of which the winged monkeys had tossed the scarecrow's clothes it was a very tall tree and the trunk was so smooth that no one could climb it but the woodman said it once well chop it down and then we can get the scarecrow's clothes now while the tinsmiths had been at work mending the woodman himself another of the winkeys who was a goldsmith had made an axe handle of solid gold and fitted it into the woodman's axe instead of the old broken handle others polished the blade until all the rest was removed and it glistened like burnished silver as soon as he had spoken the tin woodman began to chop and in a short time the tree fell over with a crash when the scarecrow's clothes fell out of the branches and rolled off on the ground Dorothy picked them up and had the winkeys carry them back to the castle where they were stuffed with nice clean straw and behold the scarecrow as good as ever thanking them over and over again for saving him now they were reunited Dorothy and her friends spent a few happy days at the yellow castle where they found everything they needed to make them comfortable but one day the girl thought of Aunt Emmon said we must go back to Oz and claim his promise yes said the woodman at last I shall get my heart and I shall get my brains out of the scarecrow joyfully and I shall get my courage said the lion thoughtfully and I shall get back to Kansas cried Dorothy clapping her hands oh let us start for the emerald city tomorrow this they decided to do the next day they called the winkeys together and bade them goodbye the winkeys were sorry to have them go and they had grown so fond of the tin woodman that they begged him to stay and rule over them and the yellow land of the west finding they were determined to go the winkeys gave tota and the lion each a golden collar and to Dorothy they presented a beautiful bracelet studded with diamonds and to the scarecrow they gave a gold headed walking stick to keep him from stumbling and to the tin woodman they offered a silver oil can inlaid with gold and set with precious jewels every one of the travellers made the winkeys a pretty speech in return and all shook hands with them until their arms ached Dorothy went to the witcher's cupboard to fill her basket with food for the journey and there she saw the golden cap she tried it on her own head and found that it fitted her exactly she did not know anything about the charm of the golden cap but she saw that it was pretty so she made up her mind to wear it and carry her sunbonnet in the basket then being prepared for the journey they all started for the emerald city and the winkeys gave them three chairs and many good wishes to carry with them End of Chapter 13 Chapter 14 of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum This LibriVox recording is in the public domain Recording by Lynn Stanley The Winged Monkeys You will remember there was no road not even a pathway between the castle of the wicked witch and the emerald city When the four travellers went in search of the witch she had seen them coming and so sent the winged monkeys to bring them to her it was much harder to find their way back through the big fields of buttercups and yellow daisies than it was being carried they knew of course they must go straight east toward the rising sun and they started off in the right way but at noon when the sun was over their heads they did not know which was east which was west and that was the reason they got lost in the red fields they kept on walking however and at night the moon came out and shone brightly so they lay down among the sweet smelling yellow flowers and slept soundly until morning all but the scarecrow and the tin woodman The next morning the sun was behind a cloud but they started on as if they were quite sure which way they were going If we walk far enough said Dorothy we shall some time come to some place I'm sure but day by day passed away and they still saw nothing before them but the yellow fields the scarecrow began to grumble a bit we have surely lost our way he said and unless we find it again in time to reach the emerald city I shall never get my brains No I my heart declared the tin woodman it seems to me I can scarcely wait till I get to Oz and you must admit this is a very long journey you see said the cloudy lion with a whimper I haven't the courage to keep tramping forever without getting anywhere at all then Dorothy lost heart she sat down on the grass and looked at her companions and they sat down and looked at her and Toto found that for the first time in his life he was too tired to chase a butterfly that flew past his head so he put out his tongue and panted and looked at Dorothy as if to ask what they should do next suppose we call the field mice she suggested they could probably tell us the way to the emerald city to be sure they could cried the scarecrow why didn't we think of that before Dorothy blew the little whistle she had always carried about her neck since the queen of the mice had given it to her in a few minutes they heard the pattering of tiny feet and many of the small grey mice came running up to her among them was the queen herself who asked in her squeaky little voice what can I do for my friends we have lost our way said Dorothy can you tell us where the emerald city is certainly answered the queen but it is a great way off for you have had it at your backs all this time then she noticed Dorothy's golden cap and said why don't you use the charm of the cap and call the wing monkeys to you they will carry you to the city of Oz in less than an hour I didn't know there was a charm answered Dorothy in surprise what is it it is written inside the golden cap replied the queen of the mice but if you are going to call the wing monkeys we must run away for they are full of mischief and think it great fun to plague us won't they hurt me asked the girl anxiously to obey the wearer of the cap goodbye and she scampered out a sight with all the mice hurrying after her Dorothy looked inside the golden cap and saw some words written upon the lining these she thought must be the charm so she read the directions carefully and put the cap upon her head epe pepe she said standing on her left foot what did you say asked the scarecrow who did not know what she was doing hello hello hello hello Dorothy went on standing this time on her right foot hello replied the tin woodman calmly says he says he said Dorothy who is now standing on both feet this ended the saying of the charm and they heard a great chattering and flapping of wings as the band of wing monkeys flew up to them the king bowed low before Dorothy and asked what is your command we wish to go to the emerald city said the child and we have lost our way we will carry you replied the king and no sooner had he spoken than two of the monkeys caught Dorothy in their arms and flew away with her others took the scarecrow and the woodman and the lion and one little monkey seized Toto and flew after them although the dog tried hard to bite him the scarecrow and the tin woodman were rather frightened at first for they remembered how badly the winged monkeys had treated them before but they saw that no harm was intended so they rode through the air quite cheerfully and had a fine time looking at the pretty gardens and woods far below them Dorothy found herself riding easily between two of the biggest monkeys one of them the king himself they had made a chair of their hands and were careful not to hurt her why do you have to obey the charm of the golden cap she asked that is a long story answered the king with a laugh but as we have a long journey before us I will pass the time by telling you about it if you wish I shall be glad to hear it she replied once began the leader we were a free people living happily in the great forest flying from tree to tree eating nuts and fruit and doing just as we pleased without calling anybody master to pull the tails of the animals that had no wings chasing birds and throwing nuts at people who walked in the forest but we were careless and happy and full of fun and enjoyed every minute of the day this was many years ago long before us came out of the clouds to rule over this land they lived here then away at the north a beautiful princess who was also a powerful sorceress all her magic was used to help the people and she was never known to hurt anyone who was good her name was Gaelette and she lived in a handsome palace built from great blocks of ruby everybody loved her but her greatest sorrow was that she could find no one to love in return since all the men were much too stupid and ugly to mate with one so beautiful and wise at last however she found a boy who was handsome and manly and wise beyond his years Gaelette made up her mind that when he grew to be a man she would make him her husband so she took him to her ruby palace and used all her magic powers to make him as strong and good and lovely as any woman could wish when he grew to manhood Kalala as he was called was said to be the best and wisest man in all the land while his manly beauty was so great that Gaelette loved him dearly and hastened to make everything ready for the wedding my grandfather was at the time the king of the winged monkeys which lived in the forest near Gaelette's palace and the old fellow loved a joke better than a good dinner one day just before the wedding my grandfather was flying out with his band when he saw Kalala walking beside the river he was dressed in a rich costume of pink silk and purple velvet and my grandfather thought he would see what he could do at his word the band flew down and seized Kalala carried him in their arms until they were over the middle of the river and then dropped him into the water swim out my fine fellow cried my grandfather and see if the water spotted your clothes Kalala was much too wise not to swim and he was not in the least spoiled by all his good fortune he laughed when he came to the top of the water and swam into shore but when Gaelette came running out to him she found his silks and velvet all ruined by the river the princess was very angry and she knew of course who did it she had all the wing monkeys brought before her and she said at first that their wings should be tied and they should be treated as they had treated Kalala and dropped in the river but my grandfather pleaded hard for he knew the monkeys would drown in the river with their wings tied and Kalala said a kind word for them also so that Gaelette finally spared them on condition that the wing monkeys after do three times the bidding of the owner of the golden cap this cap had been made for a wedding present to Kalala and it is said to have cost the princess half her kingdom of course my grandfather and all the other monkeys at once agreed to the condition and that is how it happens that we are three times the slaves of the owner of the golden cap whomsoever he may be and what became of them asked Dorothy who had been greatly interested in the story Kalala being the first owner of the golden cap replied the monkey he was the first to lay his wishes upon us as his bride could not bear the sight of us he called us all to him in the forest after he had married her and ordered us to always keep where she could never set eyes on a wing monkey which we were glad to do for we were all afraid of her this was all we ever had to do until the golden cap fell into the hands of the wicked witch of the west who made us enslave the Winkies and afterward drive Oz himself out of the land of the west now the golden cap is yours and three times you have the right to lay your wishes upon us as the monkey king finished his story Dorothy looked down and saw the green shining walls of the Emerald City before them she wandered at the rapid flight of the monkeys but was glad the journey was over the strange creatures set the travellers down carefully before the gate of the city the king barred low to Dorothy and then flew swiftly away followed by all his band that was a good ride said the little girl yes and a quick way out of our troubles replied the line how lucky it was you brought away that wonderful cap end of chapter 14 chapter 15 of the wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Barm this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording Bylan's story the discovery of Oz the Terrible the four travellers walked up to the great gate of the Emerald City and rang the bell after ringing several times it was opened by the same guardian of the gate they had met before what are you back again he asked in surprise do you not see us answered the scarecrow but I thought you had gone to visit the wicked witch of the west we did visit her said the scarecrow and she let you go again asked the man in wonder she could not help it thought she is melted explained the scarecrow melted well that is good news indeed said the man who melted her it was Dorothy said the lion gravely good gracious exclaimed the man and he bowed very low indeed before her then he led them into his little room and locked the spectacles from the great box on all their eyes just as he had done before afterward they passed on through the gate into the Emerald City and when the people heard from the guardian of the gate that they had melted the wicked witch of the west they all gathered around the travellers and followed them in a great crowd to the palace of Oz the soldier with the green whiskers was still on guard before the door but he let them in at once and they were again met by the beautiful green girl who showed each of them to their old rooms at once so they might rest until the great Oz was ready to receive them the soldier had the news carried straight to Oz that Dorothy and the other travellers had come back again after destroying the wicked witch but Oz made no reply they thought the great wizard would send for them at once but he did not they had no word from him the next day all the next the waiting was tiresome and wearing and at last they grew vexed that Oz should treat them in so poorer fashion after sending them to undergo hardships and slavery so the scarecrow at last asked the green girl to take another message to Oz saying if they did not let them in to see him at once they would call the wing monkeys to help them and find out whether he kept his promises or not when the wizard was given this message he was so frightened that he sent word for them to come to the throne room at four minutes after nine o'clock the next morning he had once met the wing monkeys in the land of the west and did not wish to meet them again the four travellers passed a sleepless night each thinking of the gift Oz had promised to bestow upon him Dorothy fell asleep only once and then she dreamed she was in Kansas where Aunt M was telling her how glad she was to have a little girl at home again at nine o'clock the next morning the green whiskered soldier came to them and four minutes later they all went into the throne room of the great Oz of course each one of them expected to see the wizard in the shape he had taken before and all were greatly surprised when they looked about and saw no one at all in the room they kept close to the door and closer to one another for the stillness of the empty room was more dreadful than any of the forms they had seen Oz take presently they heard a voice seeming to come from somewhere near the top of the great dome and it said solemnly I am Oz the great and terrible why do you seek me they looked again in every part of the room and then seeing no one Dorothy asked where are you I am everywhere answered the voice but to the eyes of common mortals I will now seek myself upon my throne that you may converse with me indeed the voice seemed just then to come straight from the throne itself so they walked toward it and stood in a row while Dorothy said we have come to claim our promise oh Oz what promise asked Oz you promised to send me back to Kansas when the wicked witch was destroyed said the girl and you promised to give me brains said the scarecrow and you promised to give me a heart said the tin woodman and you promised to give me courage said the cowardly lion is the wicked witch really destroyed asked the voice and Dorothy thought it trembled a little yes she answered I melted her with a bucket of water dear me said the voice half sudden well come to me tomorrow for I must have time to think it over we all have had plenty of time already said the tin woodman angrily we shan't wait a day longer said the scarecrow you must keep your promises to us exclaimed Dorothy the lion thought it might be as well to frighten the wizard so he gave a large loud roar which was so fierce and dreadful that Toto jumped away from him an alarm and tipped over the screen that stood in a corner as it fell with a crash away and the next moment all of them were filled with wonder for they saw standing in just the spot the screen had hidden a little old man with a bald head and a wrinkled face you seemed to be as much surprised as they were the tin woodman raising his axe rushed towards the little man and cried out who are you I am all that great and terrible said the little man in a trembling voice but don't strike me please don't and I'll do anything you want me to our friends looked at him in surprise and dismay I thought Oz was a great head said Dorothy and I thought Oz was a lovely lady said the scarecrow and I thought Oz was a terrible beast said the tin woodman and I thought Oz was a ball of fire exclaimed the lion no you're all wrong said the little man meekly making believe cried Dorothy are you not a great wizard hush my dear don't speak so loud or you will be overheard and I should be ruined I'm supposed to be a great wizard and aren't you she asked not a bit of it my dear I'm just a common man you're more than that said the scarecrow in a grieve tone you're a humbug declared the little man rubbing his hands together as if it pleased him I am a humbug but this is terrible said the tin woodman how shall I ever get my heart oh I am my courage asked the lion well the scarecrow wiping the tears from his eyes with his coat sleeve my dear friends said Oz I pray you not to speak of these little things think of me I am in terrible trouble I am in it being found out doesn't anyone else know you a humbug asked Dorothy no one knows it but you four and myself replied Oz I have fooled everyone for so long that I thought I should never be found out it was a great mistake my ever letting you into the throne room usually I will not see even my subject and so they believe I am something terrible but I don't understand said Dorothy in bewilderment how was it that you appeared to me as a great head that was one of my tricks answered Oz step this way please and I will tell you all about it he led the way to a small chamber in the rear of the throne room and they all followed him he pointed to one corner in which lay the great head made out of many thicknesses of paper and with a carefully painted face this I hung from the ceiling by a wire said Oz I stood behind the screen and pulled a thread to make the eyes move and the mouth open but how about the voice she inquired I am a ventriloquist said the little man and I can throw the sound of my voice wherever I wish so that you thought it was coming out of the head here are the other things I used to deceive you he showed the scarecrow the dress and the mask he had worn when he seemed to be the lovely lady and the tin woodman saw that his terrible beast was nothing but a lot of skin sewn together with flats to keep their sides out as for the ball of fire the false wizard had hung that also from the ceiling it was really a ball of cotton but when oil was poured upon it the ball burned fiercely really said the scarecrow you ought to be ashamed of yourself for being such a humbug I am I certainly am answered the little man sorrowfully but it was the only thing I could do sit down please there are plenty of chairs and I will tell you my story so they sat down and listened while he told the following tale I was born in Omaha why that isn't very far from Kansas cried Dorisie no but it's farther from here he said shaking his head at her sadly when I grew up I became a ventriloquist and at that I was very well trained by a great master I can imitate any kind of bird or beast here he mewed so like a kitten that Toto pricked up his ears and looked everywhere to see where she was after a time continued ours I tired of that and became a balloonist what is that asked Dorisie a man who goes up in a balloon on circus day so as to draw crowd of people together and get them to pay to see the circus he explained oh she said I know well one day I went up in a balloon and the ropes got twisted so that I couldn't come down again it went way up above the clouds so far that a current of air struck it and carried it many many miles away for a day and a night I travelled through the air and on the morning of the second day I awoke and found the balloon floating over a strange and beautiful country it came down gradually and I was not hurt a bit but I found myself in the midst of a strange people who seeing me come from the clouds thought I was a great wizard of course I let them think so because they were afraid of me and promised to do anything I wished them to just to amuse myself and keep the good people busy I ordered them to build a city and my palace and they did it all willingly and well then I thought as the country was so green and beautiful I would call it the Emerald City and to make the name fit better I put green spectacles on all the people so that everything they saw was green but isn't everything here green asked Dorothy no more than any other city replied Oz but when you wear green spectacles I of course everything you see looks green to you the Emerald City was built a great many years ago for I was a young man when the balloon brought me here and I am a very old man now but my people have worn green glasses on their eyes so long that most of them think it really is an Emerald City and it certainly is a beautiful place a bounding in jewels and precious metals and every good thing that is needed to make one happy I have been good to the people and they like me but ever since this palace was built I have shucked myself up and would not see any of them one of my greatest fears was the witches for while I had no magical powers at all I soon found out that the witches were really able to do wonderful things they were four of them in this country and they ruled the people who live in the north and south in east and west fortunately the witches of the north and south were good they do me no harm but the witches of the east and west were terribly wicked and had they not thought I was more powerful than they themselves they would surely have destroyed me as it was I lived in deadly fear of them for many years so you can imagine how pleased I was when I heard your house had fallen on the wicked witch of the east when you came to me I was willing to promise anything if you would only do away with the other witch I am ashamed to say that I cannot keep my promises I think you are a very bad man said Doracy oh no my dear I am really a very good man but I am a very bad wizard I must admit can't you give me brains asked the scarecrow you don't need them you are learning something every day a baby has brains but it doesn't know much it is the only thing that brings knowledge and the longer you are here on earth the more experience you are sure to get that may all be true said the scarecrow but I shall be very unhappy unless you give me brains the false wizard looked at him carefully well he said with a sigh I am not much of a magician as I said but if you will come to me tomorrow morning I will stuff your head with brains I cannot tell you how to use them however you must find that out for yourself oh thank you thank you cried the scarecrow I will find a way to use them never fear but how about my courage asked the lion anxiously you have plenty of courage I am sure answered Oz all you need is confidence in yourself there is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid and that kind of courage you have in plenty perhaps I have but I am scared just the same said the lion I shall really be very unhappy unless you give me the sort of courage that makes one forget he is afraid very well I will give you that sort of courage tomorrow replied Oz how about my heart asked the tin woodman answered Oz I think you are wrong to want a heart it makes most people unhappy if only you knew it you are in luck not to have a heart that must be a matter of opinion said the tin woodman for my part I will bear all the unhappiness without a murmur if you will give me the heart very well answered Oz meekly come to me tomorrow and you shall have a heart I have played wizard for so many years I will be a part a little longer and now said Dorothy how am I to get back to Kansas we shall have to think about that replied the little man give me two or three days to consider the matter and I will try and find a way to carry you over the desert in the meantime you shall all be treated as my guests and while you live in the palace my people will wait upon you and obey your slightest wish there is only one thing I ask in return as such as it is you must keep my secret until no one I am a humbug they agreed to say nothing of what they had learned and went back to their rooms in high spirits even Dorothy had hoped that the great and terrible humbug as she called him would find a way to send her back to Kansas and if he did that she was willing to forgive him everything End of Chapter 15 Chapter 16 The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Lynn Stanley the magic art of the great humbug next morning the scarecrow said to his friends congratulate me I am going to ask to get my brains at last when I return I shall be as other men are I have always liked you as you were said Dorothy simply it is kind of you to like a scarecrow he replied but surely you will think more of me when you hear the splendid thoughts my new brain is going to turn out then he said goodbye to them all in a cheerful voice and went to the throne room where you wrapped upon the door come in said Oz the scarecrow went in and found the little man sitting down by the window engaged in deep thought I have come for my brains remarked the scarecrow a little uneasily oh yes sit down in that chair please replied Oz you must excuse me for taking your head off but I shall have to do it in order to put your brains in their proper place that's alright said the scarecrow you are quite welcome to take my head off as long as it will be a better one when you put it on again so the wizard fastened his head and emptied out the straw then he entered the back room and took up a measure of bran which he mixed with a great many pins and needles having shaken them together thoroughly he filled the top of the scarecrow's head with the mixture and stuffed the rest of the space with straw to hold it in place when he had fastened the scarecrow's head on his body again he said to him hereafter you will be a great man for I had given you a lot of brand new brains the scarecrow was both pleased and proud at the fulfilment of his greatest wish and having thanked Oz warmly he went back to his frames Dorothy looked at him curiously his head was quite bulging out at the top with brains how do you feel she asked I feel wise indeed he answered earnestly when I get used to my brains I shall know everything why are those needles and pins sticking out of your head asked the tin woodman that is proof that he is sharp remarked the lion well I must go to Oz and get my heart said the woodman so he walked to the throne room and knocked at the door come in called Oz and the woodman entered and said I have come for my heart very well answered the little man but I shall have to cut a hole in your breast so I can put your heart in the right place I hope it won't hurt you no, answered the woodman I shall not feel it at all so Oz bought a pair of tinners shears and cut a small square hole in the left side of the tin woodman's breast then going to a chest of drawers he took out a pretty heart made entirely of silk and stuffed with sawdust isn't it a beauty he asked it is indeed, replied the woodman who was greatly pleased but is it a kind heart oh very answered Oz he put the heart in the woodman's breast and then replaced the square of tin soldering it neatly together where it had been cut there said he now you have a heart that any man might be proud of I'm sorry I had to put a patch on your breast but it really couldn't be helped never mind the patch exclaimed the happy woodman I'm very grateful to you and she'll never forget your kindness don't speak of it replied Oz then the tin woodman went back to his friends who wished him every joy on account of his good fortune the lion now walked to the throne room and knocked the door come in said Oz I have come for my courage announced the lion entering the room very well answered the little man I will get it for you he went to a cupboard and reaching up to a high shelf took down a square green bottle the contents of which he poured into a green gold dish beautifully carved placing this before the cloudy lion who sniffed at it as if he did not like it the wizard said drink what is it asked the lion well answered Oz if it were inside of you it would be courage you know of course that courage is always inside one so that this really cannot be called courage until you have swallowed it therefore I advise you to drink it as soon as possible the lion hesitated no longer but drank till the dish was empty how do you feel now asked Oz full of courage replied the lion who went joyfully back to his friends to tell them of his good fortune Oz left to himself smiled to think of his success in giving the scarecrow and the tin woodman and the lion exactly what they thought they wanted how can I help being a humbug he said when all these people make me do things that everybody knows can't be done it was easy to make the scarecrow and the lion and the woodman happy because they imagined I could do anything but it will take more than imagination to carry Dorothy back to Kansas and I'm sure I don't know how it can be done end of chapter 16 chapter 17 of the wonderful wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Lynn Stanley how the balloon was launched for three days Dorothy heard nothing from Oz these were sad days for the little girl although her friends were all quite happy and contented the scarecrow told them there were wonderful thoughts in his head but he would not say what they were because he knew no one could understand them but himself when the tin woodman walked about he felt his heart rattling around in his breast and he told Dorothy he had discovered it to be a kinder and more tender heart than the one he had owned when he was made of flesh the lion declared he was afraid of nothing on earth and would gladly face an army of men or a dozen of the fierce Calidas thus each of the little party was satisfied except Dorothy who longed more than ever to get back to Kansas on the fourth day to her great joy Oz sent for her and when she entered the throne room he said pleasantly sit down my dear I think I found a way to get you out of this country and back to Kansas she asked eagerly well I'm not sure about Kansas said Oz for I haven't the faintest notion where it lies first thing to do is to cross the desert and then it should be easy to find your way home how can I cross the desert she inquired well I'll tell you what I think said the little man you see when I came to this country it was in a balloon you also came through the air being carried by a cyclone so I believe the best way to get across the desert will be through the air now it is quite beyond my powers to make a cyclone but I've been thinking the matter over and I believe I can make a balloon how Oz Dorisie a balloon said Oz is made of silk which is coated with glue to keep the gas in it I have plenty of silk in the palace so it will be no trouble for us to make the balloon but in all this country there is no gas to fill the balloon was to make it float if it won't float remark Dorisie it will be of no use to us true answered Oz but there is another way to make it float which is to fill it with hot air hot air isn't as good as gas for if the air should get cold the balloon would come down in the desert and we should be lost we exclaimed the girl are you going with me yes of course replied Oz I am tired of being such a humbug if I should go out of this palace the girl would soon discover I am not a wizard and then they would be vexed with me for having deceived them so I have to stay shut up in these rooms all day and it gets tiresome I'd much rather go back to Kansas with you and be in a circus again I shall be glad to have your company said Dorisie thank you he answered now if you will help me sew this all together we will begin to work on our balloon so Dorisie took a needle and thread and as fast as Oz cut the strips of silk into proper shape the girls sewed them neatly together first there was a strip of light green silk then a strip of dark green and then a strip of emerald green for Oz had the fancy to make the balloon in different shades of the colour about them it took three days to sew all the strips together but when it was finished they had a big bag of green silk more than twenty feet long then Oz painted it on the inside with a coat of thin glue to make it airtight after which he announced that the balloon was ready but we must have a basket to ride in he said so he sent the soldier with the green whiskers for a big clothes basket which he fastened with many ropes to the bottom of the balloon when it was all ready Oz sent word to his people that he was going to make a visit to a great brother wizard who lived in the clouds the news spread rapidly throughout the city and everyone came to see the wonderful sight Oz ordered the balloon carried out in front of the palace and the people gazed upon it with much curiosity the tin woodman had chopped a big pile of wood and now he made a fire of it and Oz held the bottom of the balloon over the fire so that the hot air that arose from it would be caught in the silken bag gradually the balloon swelled out and rose into the air until finally the basket just touched the ground then Oz got into the basket and said to all the people in a loud voice I am now going away to make a visit while I am gone the scarecrow will rule over you I command you to obey him as you would me the balloon was by this time tugging hard at the rope that held it to the ground and then it was hot and this made it so much lighter in weight than the air without that it pulled hard to rise into the sky come Dorothy! cried the wizard hurry up or the balloon will fly away I can't find Toto anywhere replied Dorothy who did not wish to leave her little dog behind Toto had run into the crowd to bark at a kitten and Dorothy had last found him she picked him up and ran toward the balloon she was within a few steps of it and Oz was holding Artie's hand to help her into the basket when crack went the ropes and the balloon rose into the air without her she screamed I want to go too! I can't come back my dear called Oz from the basket goodbye goodbye shouted everyone and all eyes were turned upward to where the wizard was riding in the basket rising every moment farther and farther into the sky and that was the last any of them ever saw of Oz the wonderful wizard though he may have reached Omaha safely and be there now for all we know but the people remembered him lovingly and said to one another Oz was always our friend when he was here he built for us this beautiful emerald city and now he is gone he has left us the wise scarecrow to rule over us still for many days they grieved over the loss of the wonderful wizard and would not be comforted End of Chapter 17 Chapter 18 of the wonderful wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Lynn Stanley Away to the South Dorothy wept bitterly at the passing of her hope to get home to Kansas again but when she thought it all over she was glad she had not gone up in a balloon and she also felt sorry at losing Oz and so did her companions the Tin Woodman came to her and said truly I should be ungrateful if I failed to mourn for the man who gave me my lovely heart I should like to cry a little because Oz is gone if he will kindly wipe away my tears so that I shall not rust with pleasure she answered and brought a towel at once then the Tin Woodman wept for several minutes and she watched the tears carefully and wiped them away with the towel when he had finished he thanked her kindly and oiled himself thoroughly with his jeweled oil can to God against Mishap this care-crow was now the ruler of the Emerald City and although he was not a wizard the people were proud of him for they said there is not another in the city in all the world that is ruled by a stuffed man and so far as they knew they were quite right if a loon had gone up with Oz the four travellers met in the throne room and talked matters over the care-crow sat in the big throne and the others took respectfully before him we are not so unlucky said the new ruler for this palace and the Emerald City belong to us and we can do just as we please when I remember that a short time ago I was up on a pole in a farmer's cornfield and that I am now the ruler of this beautiful city I am quite satisfied with my lot I also said the tin woodman am well pleased with my new heart and really that was the only thing I wished in the whole world for my part I am content in knowing that I am as brave as any beast that ever lived if not braver said the lion modestly if Dorothy could only be contented to live in the Emerald City continued the care-crow we might all be happy together but I don't want to live here cried Dorothy I want to go to Kansas and live with Aunt M and Uncle Henry well then what can be done inquired the woodman the care-crow decided to think and he thought so hard that the pins and needles began to stick out of his brains finally he said why not call the wing monkeys and ask them to carry you over the desert I never thought of that said Dorothy joyfully it's just the thing I'll go at once for the golden cap when she brought it to the throne room she spoke the magic words and soon the band of wind monkeys flew in through an open window and stood beside her this is the second time you have called us said the monkey king bowing before the little girl what do you wish I want you to fly with me to Kansas but the monkey king shook his head that cannot be done he said we belong to this country alone and cannot leave it there has never been a wing monkey in Kansas yet and I suppose they never will be for they don't belong there we shall be glad to serve you in any way in our power but we cannot cross the desert goodbye and was another bow the monkey king spread his wings and flew away through the window followed by all his band Dorothy was almost ready to cry with disappointment I have wasted the charm of the golden captain no purpose she said for the wing monkeys cannot help me it is certainly too bad said the tender hearted woodman the scarecrow was thinking again and his head bulged out so horribly that Dorothy feared it would burst let us call in the soldier with the green whiskers he said and ask his advice so the soldier was summoned and entered the throne room timidly for while Oz was alive he never was allowed to come further than the door this little girl said the scarecrow to the soldier wishes to cross the desert how can she do so I cannot tell answered the soldier for nobody has ever crossed the desert unless it is Oz himself is there no one who can help me asked Dorothy earnestly Glinda might he suggested who is Glinda? inquired the scarecrow the witch of the south she is the most powerful of all the witches and rules over the quadlings besides her castle stands on the edge of the desert so she may know a way to cross it Glinda is a good witch isn't she? asked the child the quadlings think she's good said the soldier and she is kind to everyone I've heard that Glinda is a beautiful woman who knows how to keep young in spite of the many years she has lived how can I get to her castle? asked Dorothy the road is straight to the south he answered but it is said to be full of dangers to travellers there are wild beasts in the woods and a race of queer men who do not like strangers to cross their country for this reason none of the quadlings ever came to the emerald city the soldier then left them it seems in spite of dangers that the best thing Dorothy can do is to travel to the land of the south and ask Glinda to help her for of course if Dorothy stays here she will never get back to Kansas you must have been thinking again remarked the tin woodman I have said the scarecrow I shall go with Dorothy declared the lion for I am tired of your city and long for the woods and the country again I am really a wild beast you know besides Dorothy will need someone to protect her that is true my axe may be of service to her so I also will go with her to the land of the south when shall we start asked the scarecrow are you going they asked in surprise certainly if it wasn't for Dorothy I should never have had brains from the pearl in the cornfield and brought me to the emerald city so my good luck is all due to her and I shall never leave her until she starts back to Kansas for good and all thank you said Dorothy gratefully you are all very kind to me but I should like to start as soon as possible we shall go tomorrow morning return the scarecrow so now let us all get ready for it'll be a long journey end of chapter 18 chapter 19 of the wonderful wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Lynn Stanley attacked by the fighting trees the next morning Dorothy kissed the pretty green girl goodbye and they all shook hands with a soldier with the green whiskers who had walked with them as far as the gate when the guardian of the gate saw them again he wondered greatly that they could leave the beautiful city to get into new trouble but he at once unlocked their spectacles which he put back into the green box and gave them many good wishes to carry with them you are now our ruler he said to the scarecrow so you must come back to us as soon as possible I certainly shall if I am able the scarecrow replied but I must help Dorothy to get home first as Dorothy baid the good-natured guardian a last farewell she said I have been very kindly treated in your lovely city and everyone has been good to me I cannot tell you how grateful I am don't try my dear he answered we should like to keep you with us but if it is your wish to return to Kansas I hope you will find a way then he opened the gate of the outer wall and looked forth and started upon their journey the sun shone brightly as our friends turned their faces toward the land of the south they were all in the best of spirits and laughed and chatted together Dorothy was once more filled with the hope of getting home and the scarecrow and the tin woodman were glad to be of use to her as for the lion he sniffed the fresh air with dead light and whisked his tail from side to side in pure joy at being in the country again while Turtle ran around them and chased the moths and butterflies barking merrily all the time city life does not agree with me at all remarked the lion as they walked along at a brisk pace I have lost much flesh since I lived there and now I am anxious for a chance to show the other beasts how courageous I have grown they now turned and took a last look at the Emerald City all they could see was a mass of towers and steeples behind the green walls and high up above everything the spires and the dome of the palace of Oz Oz was not such a bad wizard after all said the tin woodman as he felt his heart rattling around in his breast he knew how to give me brains and very good brains too said the scarecrow if Oz had taken a dose of the same courage he gave me added the lion brave man Doris he said nothing Oz had not kept the promise he made her but he had done his best so she forgave him as he said he was a good man even if he was a bad wizard the first day's journey was through the green fields and bright flowers that stretched about the Emerald City on every side they slept that night on the grass with nothing but the stars over them and they rested very well indeed in the morning they travelled on until they came to a thick wood there was no way of going around it for it seemed to extend to the right and left as far as they could see and besides they did not dare change the direction of their journey for fear of getting lost so they looked for a place where it would be easiest to get into the forest the scarecrow who was in the lead finally discovered a big tree with such wide spreading branches that there was room for the party to pass underneath so he walked forward to the tree but just as he came under the first branches they bent down and twined around him and the next minute he was raised from the ground and flung headlong among his fellow travellers this did not hurt the scarecrow but it surprised him and he looked rather dizzy when Doris he picked him up here is another space between the trees called the lion let me try it first the scarecrow for it does not hurt me to get thrown about he walked up to another tree as he spoke but its branches immediately seized him and tossed him back again this is strange exclaimed Doris the trees seemed to have made up their minds to fight us and stop our journey remarked the lion I believe I will try it myself said the woodman and shouldering his axe it handled the scarecrow so roughly when a big branch bent down to seize him the woodman chopped at it so fiercely that he cut it in two at once the tree began shaking all its branches as if in pain and the tin woodman passed safely under it come on he shouted to the others be quick they all ran forward and passed under the tree without injury except Toto who was caught by a small branch and shaken until he howled but the woodman promptly chopped off the branch and set the little dog free the other trees of the forest did nothing to keep them back so they made up their minds that only the first row of trees could bend down their branches and that probably these were the policemen of the forest and given this wonderful power in order to keep strangers out of it the four travelers walked with ease through the trees until they came to the further edge of the wood then to their surprise they found before them a high wall which seemed to be made of white china it was smooth like the surface of a dish and higher than their heads what shall we do now? asked Dorothy I will make it later said the tin woodman for we certainly must climb over the wall end of chapter 19 chapter 20 of the wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Lynn Stanley the dainty china country while the woodman was making a ladder from wood which he found in the forest Dorothy lay down and slept for she was tired by the long walk the lion also called himself up to sleep and told her lay beside him the scarecrow watched the woodman while he worked and said to him I cannot think why this wall is here nor what it is made of roast your brains and do not worry about the wall replied the woodman when we have climbed over it we shall know what is on the other side after a time the ladder was finished it looked clumsy but the tin woodman was sure it was strong and would answer their purpose the scarecrow egged Dorothy and the lion and toto told them that the ladder was ready the scarecrow climbed up the ladder first but he was so awkward that Dorothy had to follow close behind and keep him from falling off when he got his head over the top of the wall the scarecrow said oh my go on exclaimed Dorothy so the scarecrow climbed further up and sat down on top of the wall and Dorothy put her head over and cried oh my just as the scarecrow had done then toto came up and immediately began to bark but Dorothy made him be still the lion climbed the ladder next and the tin woodman came last but both of them cried oh my as soon as they looked over the wall when they were all sitting in a row on the top of the wall they looked down and saw a strange sight before them was a great stretch of country having a floor as smooth and shining and white as the bottom of a big plateau scattered around were many houses made entirely of china and painted in the brightest colours these houses were quite small the biggest of them reaching only as high as Dorothy's waist there were also pretty little barns with china fences around them and many cows and sheep and horses and pigs and chickens all made of china and sheep but the strangest of all were the people who lived in this queer country there were milk maids and shepherdesses with bright coloured bodices and golden spots all over their gowns the princesses with most gorgeous frocks of silver and gold and purple and shepherds dressed in knee breeches with pink and yellow and blue stripes down them and golden buckles on their shoes and princess with dueled crowns upon their heads wearing ermine robes golden doublets and funny clowns in ruffled gowns with round red spots upon their cheeks and tall pointed caps and strangest of all these people were all made of china even to their clothes and were so small that the tallest of them was no higher than Dorothy's knee no one did so much as look at the travellers at first except one little purple china dog with an extra large head which came to the wall and barked at them and said, ''How shall we get down?'' asked Dorothy ''They found the lad is so heavy they could not pull it up so the scarecrow fell off the wall and the others jumped down upon him so that the hard floor would not hurt their feet of course they took pains not to light on his head and get the pins in their feet when all was safely done they picked up the scarecrow whose body was quite flattened out and patted his straw into shape again ''We must cross the strange place in order to get to the other side'' said Dorothy ''For it would be unwise for us to go any other way except due south'' they began walking through the country of the china people and the first thing they came to was a china milkmaid milking a china cow as they drew near the cow suddenly gave a kick and kicked over the stool the pail and even the milkmaid herself all falling on the china ground after that Dorothy was shocked to see that the cow had broken her leg short off and that the pail was lying in several small pieces while the poor milkmaid had a neck in her left elbow ''There'' cried the milkmaid angrily ''see what you have done my cow has broken her leg and I must take her to the menders shop and have it glued on again what do you mean by coming here and frightening my cow?'' ''I'm very sorry'' returned Dorothy but the pretty milkmaid was much too vexed to make any answer she picked up the leg sulkily and laid her cow away the poor animal limping on three legs as she left them the milkmaid cast many reproachful glances over her shoulder at the clumsy strangers holding her nicked elbow close to her side Dorothy was quite grieved at this mishap ''We must be very careful here'' said the kind-hearted woodman ''Or we may hurt these pretty little people so they will never get over it'' A little farther on Dorothy met a most beautiful dressed young princess who stopped short when she saw the strangers and started to run away Dorothy wanted to see more of the princess so she ran after her but the china girl cried out ''Don't chase me, don't chase me'' she had such a frightened little voice that Dorothy stopped and said ''Why not?'' the princess answered the princess also stopping a safe distance away ''If I run I may fall down and break myself'' ''But couldn't you be mended?'' asked the girl ''Oh yes but one is never so pretty after being mended you know?'' replied the princess ''I suppose not'' said Dorothy ''Now there is Mr Joker one of our clowns continued the china lady who is always trying to stand upon his head he has broken himself so often that he has mended in a hundred places and doesn't look at all pretty here he comes now so you can see for yourself'' indeed a jolly little clown now came walking toward them and Dorothy could see that in spite of his pretty clothes of red and yellow and green he was completely covered with cracks running every which way and showing plainly that he had been mended in many places the clown put his hands in his pockets and after puffing out his cheeks and nodding his head at them sorcery he said ''By Lady Fair why do you stare at poor old Mr Joker you're quite a stiff and prim as if you'd eaten up a poker'' ''Be quiet sir'' said the princess ''Can't you see these are strangers and should be treated with respect?'' ''Well that is respect I expect'' declared the clown and immediately stood upon his head ''Don't mind Mr Joker'' said the princess to Dorothy he is considerably cracked in his head and that makes him foolish ''Oh I don't mind him a bit'' said Dorothy ''But you are so beautiful'' she continued ''that I am sure I could love you dearly won't you let me carry you back to Kansas and stand you on Aunt Em's mantle shelf I could carry you in my basket'' ''That would make me very unhappy'' answered the china princess ''You see here in our own country we live contentedly and can talk and move around as we please but whenever any of us are taken away our joints at once stiffen and we can only stand straight and look pretty of course that is all that is expected of us when we are on mantle shells and cabinets and drawing room tables but our lives are much pleasanter here in our own country ''I would not make you unhappy for all the world'' exclaimed Dorothy ''So I'll just say goodbye'' ''Goodbye'' replied the princess they walked carefully through the china country the little animals and all the people scampered out of their way fearing the strangers would break them and after an hour or so the travellers reached the other side of the country and came to another china wall it was not as high as the first however and by standing upon the lion's back they all managed to scramble to the top then the lion gathered his legs under him and jumped on the wall but just as he jumped he upset a china church with his tail and smashed it all to pieces ''That was too bad'' said Dorothy but really I think we are lucky in not doing these little people more harm than breaking a cow's leg and a church they are all so brittle ''They are indeed'' said the scarecrow ''and I'm thankful I am made of straw and cannot be easily damaged there are worse things in the world than being a scarecrow'' after climbing down from the china wall the travellers found themselves in a disagreeable country with logs and marshes and covered with tall rank grass it was difficult to walk far without falling into muddy holes for the grass was so sick that it hid them from sight however by carefully picking their way they got safely along until they reached solid ground but here the country seemed wilder than ever and after a long and tiresome walk through the underbrush they entered another forest wilder than any they had ever seen ''This forest is perfectly delightful'' declared the lion looking around him with joy ''Never have I seen a more beautiful place'' ''It seems gloomy'' said the scarecrow ''Not a bit of it'' answered the lion ''I should like to live here all my life'' ''See how soft the dried leaves are under your feet and how rich and green the grasses that clings to these old trees surely no wild beast could wish a pleasanter home'' ''Perhaps there are wild beasts in the forest now'' said Dorothy ''I suppose there are'' returned the lion but I do not see any of them about they walked to the forest until it became too dark to go any farther Dorothy and Toto and the lion lay down to sleep while the woodman and the scarecrow kept watch over them as usual when morning came they started again before they had gone far they heard a low rumble as of the growling of many wild animals Toto whimpered a little but none of the others was frightened and they kept along the well trodden path until they came to an opening in the wood in which were gathered hundreds of beasts of every variety there were tigers and elephants and bears and wolves and foxes and all the others in the natural history and for a moment Dorothy was afraid but the lion explained that the animals were holding a meeting and he judged by their snarling and growling that they were in great trouble as he spoke several of the beasts caught sight of him and at once the great assemblage hushed as if by magic the biggest of the tigers came up to the lion saying welcome, oh king of beasts you have come in good time to fight our enemy and bring peace to all the animals of the forest once more what is your trouble? asked the lion quietly we are all threatened answered the tiger by a fierce enemy which is lately coming to this forest it is the most tremendous monster like a great spider with a body as big as an elephant and legs as long as a tree trunk it has eight of these long legs and as the monster crawls through the forest he seizes an animal with a leg and drags it to his mouth where he eats it as a spider does a fly not one of us is safe while this fierce creature is alive and we had called a meeting to decide how to take care of ourselves when you came among us the lion sought for a moment are there any other lions in this forest? he asked no but there were some but the monsters eaten them all and besides they were none of them nearly so large and brave as you if I put an end to your enemy will you bow down to me and obey me as king of the forest? inquired the lion we will do that gladly returned the tiger and all the other beasts roared with a mighty roar we will where is this great spider of yours now? asked the lion yonder among the oak trees said the tiger pointing with his forefoot take good care of these friends of mine said the lion and I will go once to fight the monster he bade his comrades goodbye and marched proudly away to do battle with the enemy the great spider was lying asleep when the lion found him and it looked so ugly that its foe turned up his nose in disgust its legs were quite as long as the tiger had said and its body covered with coarse black hair it had a great mouth with a row of sharp teeth a foot long but its head was joined to the pudgy body by a neck as slender as a wasp's waist this gave the lion a hint of the best way to attack the creature and as he knew it was easier to fight it asleep than awake he gave a great spring and landed directly upon the monster's back then with one blow of his heavy paw all armed with sharp claws he knocked the spider's head from its body jumping down he watched it until the long legs stopped wiggling when he knew it was quite dead the lion went back to the opening where the beasts of the forest were waiting for him and said proudly you need fear or enemy no longer then the beasts bowed down to the lion as their king and he promised to come back and rule over them as soon as Dorothy was safely on her way to Kansas end of chapter 21 chapter 22 of the wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Lynn Stanley the country of the quadlings the four travellers passed through the rest of the forest in safety and when they came out of its gloom saw before them a steep hill covered from top to bottom with great pieces of rock and when they came out of its gloom with great pieces of rock that will be a hard time said the scarecrow but we must get over the hill nevertheless so he led the way and the others followed they had nearly reached the first rock when they heard a raff voice cry out get back who are you asked the scarecrow then a head showed itself over the rock and the same voice said this hill belongs to us we don't allow anyone to cross it but we must cross it said the scarecrow we are going to the country of the quadlings but you shall not replied the voice and they stepped from behind the rock the strangest man the travellers had ever seen he was quite short and start and had a big head which was flat at the top and supported by a thick neck full of wrinkles but he had no arms at all and seeing this the scarecrow did not fear that so helpless a creature could prevent them from climbing the hill so he said I am sorry not to do as you wish but we must pass over your hill whether you like it or not and he walked boldly forward as quick as lightning the man's head shot forward and his neck stretched out until the top of the head where it was flat struck the scarecrow in the middle and sent him tumbling almost as quickly as it came the head went back to the body and the man laughed harshly as he said it isn't as easy as you think a chorus of boisterous laughter came from the other rocks and Dorothy saw hundreds of the armless hammerheads upon the hillside one behind every rock the lion became quite angry at the laughter caused by the scarecrow's mishap and giving a loud roar that echoed like thunder he dashed up the hill again a head shot swiftly out and the great lion went rolling down the hill as if he had been struck by a cannonball Dorothy ran down and helped the scarecrow to his feet and the lion came up to her feeling rather bruised and sore and said it is useless to fight people with shooting heads no one can withstand them what can we do then she asked all the wing monkeys suggested the tin woodman you have still the right to command them once more very well she answered and putting on the golden cap she uttered the magic words the monkeys were as prompt as ever and in a few moments the entire band stood before her what are your commands inquired the king of the monkeys bowing low carry us over the hill to the country of the quadlings answered the girl it shall be done said the king and at once the wing monkeys caught the four travellers and Toto up in their arms and flew away with them as they passed over the hill the hammerheads yelled with vexation and shot their heads high in the air but they could not reach the winged monkeys which carried Dorothy and her comrades safely over the hill and set them down in the beautiful country of the quadlings this is the last time you can summon us said the leader to Dorothy so goodbye and good luck to you goodbye and thank you very much returned the girl and the monkeys rose into the air and were out of sight in a twinkling the country of the quadlings seemed rich and happy there was field upon field of ripening grain with well-paved roads running between and pretty rippling brooks with strong bridges across them the fences and houses and bridges were all painted bright red just as they had been painted yellow in the country of the wing keys and blue in the country of the munchkins the quadlings themselves who were short and fat and looked chubby and good-natured were dressed all in red which showed bright against the green grass and the yellow ingrain the monkeys had set them down near a farmhouse and the four travellers walked up to it and knocked at the door it was opened by the farmer's wife and when Dorothy asked for something to eat the woman gave them all a good dinner with three kinds of cake and four kinds of cookies and a bowl of milk for Toto how far is it to the castle of Glinda? asked the child it is not such a great way answered the farmer's wife take the road to the south and you will soon reach it thanking the good woman they started afresh and walked by the fields and across the pretty bridges until they saw before them a very beautiful castle before the gates were three young girls dressed in handsome red uniforms trimmed with gold braid and as Dorothy approached one of them said to her why have you come to the south country? to see the good witch who rules here she answered will you take me to her? let me have your name and I will ask Glinda if she will receive you they told who they were and the girl soldier went into the castle after a few moments she came back to say that Dorothy and the others were to be admitted at once end of chapter 22 chapter 23 of the wonderful wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Lynn Stanley the good witch grants Dorothy's wish before they went to see Glinda however they were taken to a room of the castle where Dorothy washed her face and combed her hair and the lion shook the dust out of his mane and the scarecrow patted himself with his hands and the mane and the scarecrow patted himself into his best shape and the woodman polished his tin and oiled his joints when they were all quite presentable they followed the soldier girl into a big room where the witch Glinda sat upon a throne of rubies she was both beautiful and young to their eyes her hair was a rich red in colour and fell in flowing ringlets over his shoulders her dress was pure white but her eyes were blue and they looked kindly upon the little girl what can I do for you my child she asked Dorothy told the witch all her story how the cyclone had brought her to the land of Oz how she had found her companions and of the wonderful adventures they had met with my greatest wish now she added is to get back to Kansas for Aunt M will surely think something dreadful has happened to me and that will make her put on mourning and unless the crops are better this year than they were last I am sure Uncle Henry cannot afford it Glinda leaned forward and kissed the sweet upturned face of the loving little girl bless your dear heart she said I am sure I can tell you of a way to get back to Kansas then she added but if I do you must give me the golden cap willingly exclaimed Dorothy indeed it is of no use to me now and when you have it you can command the winged monkeys three times and I think I shall need their service just those three times answered Glinda smiling Dorothy then gave her the golden cap and the witch said to the scarecrow what will you do when Dorothy has left us I will return to the Emerald City he replied for Oz has made me its ruler and the people like me the only thing that worries me is how to cross the hill of the hammerheads by means of the golden cap I shall command the winged monkeys to carry you to the gates of the Emerald City said Glinda for it will be a shame to deprive the people of so wonderful a ruler am I really wonderful asked the scarecrow you are unusual replied Glinda turning to the tin woodman she asked what will become of you when Dorothy leaves this country he leaned on his axe and thought a moment then he said the Winkies were very kind to me and wanted me to rule over them after the wicked witch died I am fond of the Winkies and if I could get back again to the country of the West I should like nothing better than to rule over them forever my second command to the winged monkeys said Glinda will be that they carry you safely to the land of the Winkies your brains may not be so large to look at those of the scarecrow but you are really brighter than he is when you are well polished and I am sure you will rule the Winkies wisely and well then the witch looked at the big shaggy line and asked when Dorothy has returned to her own home what will become of you over the hill of the hammerheads he answered lies a grand old forest and all the beasts that live there have made me their king if I could only get back to this forest I would pass my life very happily there my third command to the winged monkeys said Glinda shall be to carry you to your forest then having used up the powers of the golden cap I shall give it to the king of the monkeys that he and his band may there over after be free forever more the scarecrow and the tin woodman and the lion now thank the good witch earnestly for her kindness and Dorothy exclaimed you are certainly as good as you are beautiful but you have not yet told me how to get back to Kansas your silver shoes will carry you over the desert replied Glinda if you had known their power you could have gone back to your aunt in the very first day you came to this country but then I should not have had my wonderful brains cried the scarecrow I might have passed my whole life in the farmer's cornfield I might have had my lovely heart said the tin woodman I might have stood and rusted in the forest till the end of the world and I should have lived a coward forever declared the lion and no beast in all the forest would have had a good word to say to me this is all true said Dorothy and I'm glad I was of use to these good friends but now that each of them has what he most desired and each is happy in having a kingdom I think I should like to go back to Kansas the silver shoes have wonderful powers and one of the most curious things about them is that they can carry you to any place in the world in three steps and each step will be made in the wink of an eye all you have to do is to knock the heels together three times and command the shoes to carry you wherever you wish to go if that is so said the child joyfully I will ask him to carry me back to Kansas at once she threw her arms around the lion's neck and kissed him patting his big head tenderly then she kissed the tin woodman who was weeping in a way most dangerous to his joints but she hugged the soft stuffed body of the scarecrow in her arms instead of kissing his painted face and found she was crying herself at the sorrowful parting from her loving comrades Linda the good stepped down from her ruby throne to give the little girl a goodbye kiss and Dorothy thanked her for all the kindness she had shown to her friends and herself Dorothy now took Toto up solemnly in her arms and having said one last goodbye she clapped the heels of her shoes together three times saying take me home to Aunt M instantly she was whirling through the air so swiftly that all she could see or feel was the wind whistling past her ears the silver shoes took but three steps and then she stopped so suddenly that she rolled over upon the grass several times before she knew where she was at length however she sat up and looked about her good gracious she cried for she was sitting on the broad cans sprayery and just before her was the new farmhouse Uncle Henry had built after the cyclone had carried away the old one Uncle Henry was milking the cows in the barnyard and Toto had jumped out of her arms and was running toward the barn barking joyously Dorothy stood up and found she was in her stocking feet for the silver shoes had fallen off in her flight through the air and were lost forever in the desert End of Chapter 23 Chapter 24 of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz This LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Lynn Stanley home again Aunt M had just come out of the house to water the cabbages when she looked up and saw Dorothy running toward her My darling child she cried folding the little girl in her arms and covering her face with kisses where in the world did you come from from the land of Oz said Dorothy gravely and here is Toto too and oh Aunt M I'm so glad to be at home again End of Chapter 24 Recording by Lynn Stanley End of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum