English
TheywereproceedingsoeasilyandcomfortablyontheirwaytoMountMunchthatWootsaidinaserioustoneofvoice:
“I’mafraidsomethingisgoingtohappen.”
“Why?”askedPolychrome,dancingaroundthegroupoftravelers.
“Because,”saidtheboy,thoughtfully,“I’venoticedthatwhenwehavetheleastreasonforgettingintotrouble,somethingissuretogowrong.
Justnowtheweatherisdelightful;thegrassisbeautifullyblueandquitesofttoourfeet;themountainweareseekingshowsclearlyinthedistanceandthereisnoreasonanythingshouldhappentodelayusingettingthere.
Ourtroublesallseemtobeover,and—well,that’swhyI’mafraid,”headded,withasigh.
“Dearme!”remarkedtheScarecrow,“whatunhappythoughtsyouhave,tobesure.
Thisisproofthatbornbrainscannotequalmanufacturedbrains,formybrainsdwellonlyonfactsandneverborrowtrouble.
Whenthereisoccasionformybrainstothink,theythink,butIwouldbeashamedofmybrainsiftheykeptshootingoutthoughtsthatweremerelyfearsandimaginings,suchasdonogood,butarelikelytodoharm.”
“Formypart,”saidtheTinWoodman,“Idonotthinkatall,butallowmyvelvethearttoguidemeatalltimes.”
“Thetinsmithfilledmyhollowheadwithscrapsandclippingsoftin,”saidtheSoldier,“andhetoldmetheywoulddonicelyforbrains,butwhenIbegintothink,thetinscrapsrattlearoundandgetsomixedthatI’msoonbewildered.SoItrynottothink.
Mytinheartisalmostasuselesstome,foritishardandcold,soI’msuretheredvelvetheartofmyfriendNickChopperisabetterguide.”
“Thoughtlesspeoplearenotunusual,”observedtheScarecrow,“butIconsiderthemmorefortunatethanthosewhohaveuselessorwickedthoughtsanddonottrytocurbthem.
Youroilcan,friendWoodman,isfilledwithoil,butyouonlyapplytheoiltoyourjoints,dropbydrop,asyouneedit,anddonotkeepspillingitwhereitwilldonogood.
Thoughtsshouldberestrainedinthesamewayasyouroil,andonlyappliedwhennecessary,andforagoodpurpose.
Ifusedcarefully,thoughtsaregoodthingstohave.”
Polychromelaughedathim,fortheRainbow’sDaughterknewmoreaboutthoughtsthantheScarecrowdid.
Buttheothersweresolemn,feelingtheyhadbeenrebuked,andtrampedoninsilence.
SuddenlyWoot,whowasinthelead,lookedaroundandfoundthatallhiscomradeshadmysteriouslydisappeared.Butwherecouldtheyhavegoneto?
Thebroadplainwasallabouthimandtherewereneithertreesnorbushesthatcouldhideevenarabbit,noranyholeforonetofallinto.Yettherehestood,alone.
Surprisehadcausedhimtohalt,andwithathoughtfulandpuzzledexpressiononhisfacehelookeddownathisfeet.
Itstartledhimanewtodiscoverthathehadnofeet.
Hereachedouthishands,buthecouldnotseethem.
Hecouldfeelhishandsandarmsandbody;hestampedhisfeetonthegrassandknewtheywerethere,butinsomestrangewaytheyhadbecomeinvisible.
WhileWootstood,wondering,acrashofmetalsoundedinhisearsandheheardtwoheavybodiestumbletotheearthjustbesidehim.
“Goodgracious!”exclaimedthevoiceoftheTinWoodman.
“Mercyme!”criedthevoiceoftheTinSoldier.
“Whydidn’tyoulookwhereyouweregoing?”askedtheTinWoodmanreproachfully.
“Idid,butIcouldn’tseeyou,”saidtheTinSoldier.“Somethinghashappenedtomytineyes.Ican’tseeyou,evennow,norcanIseeanyoneelse!”
“It’sthesamewaywithme,”admittedtheTinWoodman.
Wootcouldn’tseeeitherofthem,althoughheheardthemplainly,andjustthensomethingsmashedagainsthimunexpectedlyandknockedhimover;butitwasonlythestraw-stuffedbodyoftheScarecrowthatfelluponhimandwhilehecouldnotseetheScarecrowhemanagedtopushhimoffandrosetohisfeetjustasPolychromewhirledagainsthimandmadehimtumbleagain.Sittingupontheground,theboyasked:
“Canyouseeus,Poly?”
“No,indeed,”answeredtheRainbow’sDaughter;“we’veallbecomeinvisible.”
“Howdidithappen,doyousuppose?”inquiredtheScarecrow,lyingwherehehadfallen.
“Wehavemetwithnoenemy,”answeredPoly-chrome,“soitmustbethatthispartofthecountryhasthemagicqualityofmakingpeopleinvisible—evenfairiesfallingunderthecharm.
Wecanseethegrass,andtheflowers,andthestretchofplainbeforeus,andwecanstillseeMountMunchinthedistance;butwecannotseeourselvesoroneanother.”
“Well,whatarewetodoaboutit?”demandedWoot.
“Ithinkthismagicaffectsonlyasmallpartoftheplain,”repliedPolychrome;“perhapsthereisonlyastreakofthecountrywhereanenchantmentmakespeoplebecomeinvisible.
So,ifwegettogetherandholdhands,wecantraveltowardMountMunchuntiltheenchantedstreakispassed.”
“Allright,”saidWoot,jumpingup,“givemeyourhand,Polychrome.Whereareyou?”
“Here,”sheanswered.“Whistle,Woot,andkeepwhistlinguntilIcometoyou.”
SoWootwhistled,andpresentlyPolychromefoundhimandgraspedhishand.
“Someonemusthelpmeup,”saidtheScarecrow,lyingnearthem;sotheyfoundthestrawmanandsathimuponhisfeet,afterwhichheheldfasttoPolychrome’sotherhand.
NickChopperandtheTinSoldierhadmanagedtoscrambleupwithoutassistance,butitwasawkwardforthemandtheTinWoodmansaid:
“Idon’tseemtostandstraight,somehow.Butmyjointsallwork,soIguessIcanwalk.”Guidedbyhisvoice,theyreachedhisside,whereWootgraspedhistinfingerssotheymightkeeptogether.
TheTinSoldierwasstandingnearbyandtheScarecrowsoontouchedhimandtookholdofhisarm.
“Ihopeyou’renotwobbly,”saidthestrawman,“foriftwoofuswalkunsteadilywewillbesuretofall.”
“I’mnotwobbly,”theTinSoldierassuredhim,“butI’mcertainthatoneofmylegsisshorterthantheother.
Ican’tseeit,totellwhat’sgonewrong,butI’lllimponwiththerestofyouuntilweareoutofthisenchantedterritory.”
Theynowformedaline,holdinghands,andturningtheirfacestowardMountMunchresumedtheirjourney.
Theyhadnotgonefar,however,whenaterriblegrowlsalutedtheirears.
Thesoundseemedtocomefromaplacejustinfrontofthem,sotheyhaltedabruptlyandremainedsilent,listeningwithalltheirears.“Ismellstraw!”
criedahoarse,harshvoice,withmoregrowlsandsnarls.
“Ismellstraw,andI’maHip-po-gy-rafwholovesstrawandeatsallhecanfind.Iwanttoeatthisstraw!Whereisit?Whereisit?”
TheScarecrow,hearingthis,trembledbutkeptsilent.
Alltheothersweresilent,too,hopingthattheinvisiblebeastwouldbeunabletofindthem.
ButthecreaturesniffedtheodorofthestrawanddrewnearerandnearertothemuntilhereachedtheTinWoodman,ononeendoftheline.
ItwasabigbeastanditsmelledoftheTinWoodmanandgratedtworowsofenormousteethagainsttheEmperor’stinbody.“Bah!
that’snotstraw,”saidtheharshvoice,andthebeastadvancedalongthelinetoWoot.“Meat!Pooh,you’renogood!
Ican’teatmeat,”grumbledthebeast,andpassedontoPolychrome.
“Sweetmeatsandperfume—cobwebsanddew!
Nothingtoeatinafairylikeyou,”saidthecreature.
Now,theScarecrowwasnexttoPolychromeintheline,andherealizedifthebeastdevouredhisstrawhewouldbehelplessforalongtime,becausethelastfarmhousewasfarbehindthemandonlygrasscoveredthevastexpanseofplain.
SoinhisfrightheletgoofPolychrome’shandandputthehandoftheTinSoldierinthatoftheRainbow’sDaughter.
Thenheslippedbackofthelineandwenttotheotherend,wherehesilentlyseizedtheTinWoodman’shand.
Meantime,thebeasthadsmelledtheTinSoldierandfoundhewasthelastoftheline.
“That’sfunny!”growledtheHip-po-gy-raf;“Icansmellstraw,butIcan’tfindit.Well,it’shere,somewhere,andImusthuntarounduntilIdofindit,forI’mhungry.”
Hisvoicewasnowattheleftofthem,sotheystartedon,hopingtoavoidhim,andtraveledasfastastheycouldinthedirectionofMountMunch.
“Idon’tlikethisinvisiblecountry,”saidWootwithashudder.
“Wecan’ttellhowmanydreadful,invisiblebeastsareroamingaroundus,orwhatdangerwe’llcometonext.”
“Quitthinkingaboutdanger,please,”saidtheScarecrow,warningly.
“Why?”askedtheboy.
“Ifyouthinkofsomedreadfulthing,it’sliabletohappen,butifyoudon’tthinkofit,andnooneelsethinksofit,itjustcan’thappen.Doyousee?”
“No,”answeredWoot.“Iwon’tbeabletoseemuchofanythinguntilweescapefromthisenchantment.”
Buttheygotoutoftheinvisiblestripofcountryassuddenlyastheyhadenteredit,andtheinstanttheygotouttheystoppedshort,forjustbeforethemwasadeepditch,runningatrightanglesasfarastheireyescouldseeandstoppingallfurtherprogresstowardMountMunch.
“It’snotsoverywide,”saidWoot,“butI’msurenoneofuscanjumpacrossit.”
Polychromebegantolaugh,andtheScarecrowsaid:“What’sthematter?”
“Lookatthetinmen!”shesaid,withanotherburstofmerrylaughter.
WootandtheScarecrowlooked,andthetinmenlookedatthemselves.
“Itwasthecollision,”saidtheTinWoodmanregretfully.
“Iknewsomethingwaswrongwithme,andnowIcanseethatmysideisdentedinsothatIleanovertowardtheleft.
ItwastheSoldier’sfault;heshouldn’thavebeensocareless.”
“Itisyourfaultthatmyrightlegisbent,makingitshorterthantheother,sothatIlimpbadly,”retortedtheSoldier.“Youshouldn’thavestoodwhereIwaswalking.”
“Youshouldn’thavewalkedwhereIwasstanding,”repliedtheTinWoodman.
Itwasalmostaquarrel,soPolychromesaidsoothingly:
“Nevermind,friends;assoonaswehavetimeIamsurewecanstraightentheSoldier’slegandgetthedentoutoftheWoodman’sbody.
TheScarecrowneedspattingintoshape,too,forhehadabadtumble,butourfirsttaskistogetoverthisditch.”
“Yes,theditchisthemostimportantthing,justnow,”addedWoot.
Theywerestandinginarow,lookinghardattheunexpectedbarrier,whenafiercegrowlfrombehindthemmadethemallturnquickly.
Outoftheinvisiblecountrymarchedahugebeastwithathick,leatheryskinandasurprisinglylongneck.
Theheadonthetopofthisneckwasbroadandflatandtheeyesandmouthwereverybigandthenoseandearsverysmall.
Whentheheadwasdrawndowntowardthebeast’sshoulders,theneckwasallwrinkles,buttheheadcouldshootupveryhighindeed,ifthecreaturewisheditto.“Dearme!”
exclaimedtheScarecrow,“thismustbetheHip-po-gy-raf.”
“Quiteright,”saidthebeast;“andyou’rethestrawwhichI’mtoeatformydinner.Oh,howIlovestraw!
Ihopeyoudon’tresentmyaffectionateappetite?”
WithitsfourgreatlegsitadvancedstraighttowardtheScarecrow,buttheTinWoodmanandtheTinSoldierbothspranginfrontoftheirfriendandflourishedtheirweapons.
“Keepoff!”saidtheTinWoodman,warningly,“orI’llchopyouwithmyaxe.”
“Keepoff!”saidtheTinSoldier,“orI’llcutyouwithmysword.”
“Wouldyoureallydothat?”askedtheHip-po-gy-raf,inadisappointedvoice.
“Wewould,”theybothreplied,andtheTinWoodmanadded:“TheScarecrowisourfriend,andhewouldbeuselesswithouthisstrawstuffing.
So,aswearecomrades,faithfulandtrue,wewilldefendourfriend’sstuffingagainstallenemies.”
TheHip-po-gy-rafsatdownandlookedatthemsorrowfully.
“Whenonehasmadeuphismindtohaveamealofdeliciousstraw,andthenfindshecan’thaveit,itiscertainlyhardluck,”hesaid.
“Andwhatgoodisthestrawmantoyou,ortohimself,whentheditchkeepsyoufromgoinganyfurther?”
“Well,wecangobackagain,”suggestedWoot.
“True,”saidtheHip-po;“andifyoudo,you’llbeasdisappointedasIam.That’ssomecomfort,anyhow.”
Thetravelerslookedatthebeast,andthentheylookedacrosstheditchatthelevelplainbeyond.
Ontheothersidethegrasshadgrowntall,andthesunhaddriedit,sotherewasafinecropofhaythatonlyneededtobecutandstacked.
“Whydon’tyoucrossoverandeathay?”theboyaskedthebeast.
“I’mnotfondofhay,”repliedtheHip-po-gy-raf;“strawismuchmoredelicious,tomynotion,andit’smorescarceinthisneighborhood,too.
AlsoImustconfessthatIcan’tgetacrosstheditch,formybodyistooheavyandclumsyformetojumpthedistance.
Icanstretchmyneckacross,though,andyouwillnoticethatI’venibbledthehayonthefartheredge—notbecauseIlikedit,butbecauseonemusteat,andifonecan’tgetthesortoffoodhedesires,hemusttakewhatisofferedorgohungry.”
“Ah,Iseeyouareaphilosopher,”remarkedtheScarecrow.
“No,I’mjustaHip-po-gy-raf,”wasthereply.Polychromewasnotafraidofthebigbeast.Shedancedclosetohimandsaid:
“Ifyoucanstretchyourneckacrosstheditch,whynothelpusover?Wecansitonyourbighead,oneatatime,andthenyoucanliftusacross.”
“Yes;Ican,itistrue,”answeredtheHip-po;“butIrefusetodoit.Unless—”headded,andstoppedshort.
“Unlesswhat?”askedPolychrome.
“UnlessyoufirstallowmetoeatthestrawwithwhichtheScarecrowisstuffed.”
“No,”saidtheRainbow’sDaughter,“thatistoohighapricetopay.Ourfriend’sstrawisniceandfresh,forhewasrestuffedonlyalittlewhileago.”
“Iknow,”agreedtheHip-po-gy-raf.“That’swhyIwantit.Ifitwasold,mustystraw,Iwouldn’tcareforit.”
“Pleaseliftusacross,”pleadedPolychrome.
“No,”repliedthebeast;“sinceyourefusemygenerousoffer,Icanbeasstubbornasyouare.”Afterthattheywereallsilentforatime,butthentheScarecrowsaidbravely:
“Friends,letusagreetothebeast’sterms.
Givehimmystraw,andcarrytherestofmewithyouacrosstheditch.
Onceontheotherside,theTinSoldiercancutsomeofthehaywithhissharpsword,andyoucanstuffmewiththatmaterialuntilwereachaplacewherethereisstraw.
ItistrueIhavebeenstuffedwithstrawallmylifeanditwillbesomewhathumiliatingtobefilledwithcommonhay,butIamwillingtosacrificemyprideinagoodcause.
Moreover,toabandonourerrandandsodeprivethegreatEmperoroftheWinkies—orthisnobleSoldier—ofhisbride,wouldbeequallyhumiliating,ifnotmoreso.”
“You’reaveryhonestandcleverman!”exclaimedtheHip-po-gy-raf,admiringly.“WhenIhaveeatenyourhead,perhapsIalsowillbecomeclever.”
“You’renottoeatmyhead,youknow,”returnedtheScarecrowhastily.“Myheadisn’tstuffedwithstrawandIcannotpartwithit.Whenoneloseshisheadheloseshisbrains.”
“Verywell,then;youmaykeepyourhead,”saidthebeast.
TheScarecrow’scompanionsthankedhimwarmlyforhisloyalsacrificetotheirmutualgood,andthenhelaiddownandpermittedthemtopullthestrawfromhisbody.
Asfastastheydidthis,theHip-po-gy-rafateupthestraw,andwhenallwasconsumedPolychromemadeaneatbundleoftheclothesandbootsandglovesandhatandsaidshewouldcarrythem,whileWoottuckedtheScarecrow’sheadunderhisarmandpromisedtoguarditssafety.
“Now,then,”saidtheTinWoodman,“keepyourpromise,Beast,andliftusovertheditch.”
“M-m-m-mum,butthatwasafinedinner!”
saidtheHip-po,smackinghisthicklipsinsatisfaction,“andI’masgoodasmyword.
Sitonmyhead,oneatatime,andI’lllandyousafelyontheotherside.”
Heapproachedclosetotheedgeoftheditchandsquatteddown.
Polychromeclimbedoverhisbigbodyandsatherselflightlyupontheflathead,holdingthebundleoftheScarecrow’sraimentinherhand.
Slowlytheelasticneckstretchedoutuntilitreachedthefarsideoftheditch,whenthebeastloweredhisheadandpermittedthebeautifulfairytoleaptotheground.
Wootmadethequeerjourneynext,andthentheTinSoldierandtheTinWoodmanwentover,andallwerewellpleasedtohaveovercomethisseriousbarriertotheirprogress.
“Now,Soldier,cutthehay,”saidtheScarecrow’shead,whichwasstillheldbyWoottheWanderer.
“I’dliketo,butIcan’tstoopover,withmybentleg,withoutfalling,”repliedCaptainFyter.
“Whatcanwedoaboutthatleg,anyhow?”askedWoot,appealingtoPolychrome.
Shedancedaroundinacircleseveraltimeswithoutreplying,andtheboyfearedshehadnotheardhim;buttheRainbow’sDaughterwasmerelythinkingupontheproblem,andpresentlyshepausedbesidetheTinSoldierandsaid:
“I’vebeentaughtalittlefairymagic,butI’veneverbeforebeenaskedtomendtinlegswithit,soI’mnotsureIcanhelpyou.
Italldependsonthegoodwillofmyunseenfairyguardians,soI’lltry,andifIfail,youwillbenoworseoffthanyouarenow.”
Shedancedaroundthecircleagain,andthenlaidbothhandsuponthetwistedtinlegandsanginhersweetvoice:
“FairyPowers,cometomyaid!
Thisbentlegoftinismade;
Makeitstraightandstrongandtrue,
AndI’llrenderthankstoyou.”
“Ah!”murmuredCaptainFyterinagladvoice,asshewithdrewherhandsanddancedaway,andtheysawhewasstandingstraightasever,becausehislegwasasshapelyandstrongasithadbeenbeforehisaccident.
TheTinWoodmanhadwatchedPolychromewithmuchinterest,andhenowsaid:
“Pleasetakethedentoutofmyside,Poly,forIammorecrippledthanwastheSoldier.”SotheRainbow’sDaughtertouchedhissidelightlyandsang:
“Here’sadentbyaccident;
Suchathingwasnevermeant.
FairyPowers,sowondrousgreat,
MakeourdearTinWoodmanstraight!”
“Good!”criedtheEmperor,againstandingerectandstruttingaroundtoshowhisfinefigure.
“Yourfairymagicmaynotbeabletoaccomplishallthings,sweetPolychrome,butitworkssplendidlyontin.Thankyouverymuch.”
“Thehay—thehay!”pleadedtheScarecrow’shead.
“Oh,yes;thehay,”saidWoot.“Whatareyouwaitingfor,CaptainFyter?”
AtoncetheTinSoldiersettoworkcuttinghaywithhisswordandinafewminutestherewasquiteenoughwithwhichtostufftheScarecrow’sbody.
WootandPolychromedidthisanditwasnoeasytaskbecausethehaypackedtogethermorethanstrawandastheyhadlittleexperienceinsuchworktheirjob,whencompleted,lefttheScarecrow’sarmsandlegsratherbunchy.
AlsotherewasahumponhisbackwhichmadeWootlaughandsayitremindedhimofacamel,butitwasthebesttheycoulddoandwhentheheadwasfastenedontothebodytheyaskedtheScarecrowhowhefelt.
“Alittleheavy,andnotquitenatural,”hecheerfullyreplied;“butI’llgetalongsomehowuntilwereachastraw-stack.
Don’tlaughatme,please,becauseI’malittleashamedofmyselfandIdon’twanttoregretagoodaction.”
TheystartedatonceinthedirectionofMountMunch,andastheScarecrowprovedveryclumsyinhismovements,WoottookoneofhisarmsandtheTinWoodmantheotherandsohelpedtheirfriendtowalkinastraightline.
AndtheRainbow’sDaughter,asbefore,dancedaheadofthemandbehindthemandallaroundthem,andtheynevermindedheroddways,becausetothemshewaslikearayofsunshine.
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