按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 tinsmith； 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 tinsmith
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
tinsmith 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 is 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 dangerthat 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 Oz 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 Tin Woodman； and 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 Tin Woodman； 〃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 her two friends was right； and she decided if she could
only get back to Kansas and Aunt Em； it did not matter so much
whether the Woodman had no brains and the Scarecrow 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。
6。 The Cowardly Lion
All this time Dorothy and her companions had been walking
through the thick woods。 The road was still paved with yellow
brick； but these were much covered by dried branches and dead
leaves from the trees； and the walking was not at all good。
There were few birds in this part of the forest； for birds
love the open country where there is plenty of sunshine。 But now
and then there came a deep growl from some wild animal hidden
among the trees。 These sounds made the little girl's heart beat
fast； for she did not know what made them； but Toto knew； and he
walked close to Dorothy's side； and did not even bark in return。
〃How long will it be；〃 the child asked of the Tin Woodman；
〃before we are out of the forest？〃
〃I cannot tell；〃 was the answer； 〃for I have never been to the
Emerald City。 But my father went there once； when I was a boy；
and he said it was a long journey through a dangerous country；
although nearer to the city where Oz dwells the country is beautiful。
But I am not afraid so long as I have my oil…can； and nothing can hurt
the Scarecrow； while you bear upon your forehead the mark of the
Good Witch's kiss； and that will protect you from harm。〃
〃But Toto！〃 said the girl anxiously。 〃What will protect him？〃
〃We must protect him ourselves if he is in danger；〃 replied
the Tin Woodman。
Just as he spoke there came from the forest a terrible roar；
and the next moment a great Lion bounded into the road。 With one
blow of his paw he sent the Scarecrow spinning over and over to
the edge of the road； and then he struck at the Tin Woodman with
his sharp claws。 But； to the Lion's surprise； he could make no
impression on the tin； although the Woodman fell over in the road
and lay still。
Little Toto； now that he had an enemy to face； ran barking
toward the Lion； and the great beast had opened his mouth to bite
the dog； when Dorothy； fearing Toto would be killed； and heedless
of danger； rushed forward and slapped the Lion upon his nose as
hard as she could； while she cried out：
〃Don't you dare to bite Toto！ You ought to be ashamed of
yourself； a big beast like you； to bite a poor little dog！〃
〃I didn't bite him；〃 said the Lion； as he rubbed his nose with
his paw where Dorothy had hit it。
〃No； but you tried to；〃 she retorted。 〃You are nothing but a
big coward。〃
〃I know it；〃 said the Lion； hanging his head in shame。 〃I've
always known it。 But how can I help it？〃
〃I don't know； I'm sure。 To think of your striking a stuffed
man； like the poor Scarecrow！〃
〃Is he stuffed？〃 asked the Lion in surprise； as he watched her
pick up the Scarecrow and set him upon his feet； while she patted
him into shape again。
〃Of course he's stuffed；〃 replied Dorothy； who was still angry。
〃That's why he went over so easily；〃 remarked the Lion。
〃It astonished me to see him whirl around so。 Is the other one
stuffed also？〃
〃No；〃 said Dorothy； 〃he's made of tin。〃 And she helped the
Woodman up again。
〃That's why he nearly blunted my claws；〃 said the Lion。
〃When they scratched against the tin it made a cold shiver run
down my back。 What is that little animal you are so tender of？〃
〃He is my dog； Toto；〃 answered Dorothy。
〃Is he made of tin； or stuffed？〃 asked the Lion。
〃Neither。 He's aaa meat dog；〃 said the girl。
〃Oh！ He's a curious animal and seems remarkably small；
now that I look at him。 No one would think of biting such a
little thing； except a coward like me；〃 continued the Lion sadly。
〃What makes you a coward？〃 asked Dorothy； looking at the great
beast in wonder； for he was as big as a small horse。
〃It's a mystery；〃 replied the Lion。 〃I suppose I was born
that way。 All the other animals in the forest naturally expect me
to be brave； for the Lion is everywhere thought to be the King of
Beasts。 I learned that if I roared very loudly every living thing
was frightened and got out of my way。 Whenever I've met a man
I've been awfully scared； but I just roared at him； and he has
always run away as fast as he could go。 If the elephants and the
tigers and the bears had ever tried to fight me； I should have run
myselfI'm such a coward； but just as soon as they hear me roar
they all try to get away from me； and of course I let them go。〃
〃But that isn't right。 The King of Beasts shouldn't be a coward；〃
said the Scarecrow。
〃I know it；〃 returned the Lion； wiping a tear from his eye
with the tip of his tail。 〃It is my great sorrow； and makes my
life very unhappy。 But whenever there is danger； my heart begins
to beat fast。〃
〃Perhaps you have heart disease；〃 said the Tin Woodman。
〃It may be；〃 said the Lion。
〃If you have；〃 continued the Tin Woodman； 〃you ought to be glad；
for it proves you have a heart。 For my part； I have no heart； so I
cannot have heart disease。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said the Lion thoughtfully； 〃if I had no heart I should
not be a coward。〃
〃Have you brains？〃 asked the Scarecrow。
〃I suppose so。 I've never looked to see；〃 replied the Lion。
〃I am going to the Great Oz to ask him to give me some；〃
remarked the Scarecrow； 〃for my head is stuffed with straw。〃
〃And I am going to ask him to give me a heart；〃 said the Woodman。
〃And I am going to ask him to send Toto and me back to Kansas；〃
added Dorothy。
〃Do you think Oz could give me courage？〃 asked the Cowardly Lion。
〃Just as easily as he could give me brains；〃 said the Scarecrow。
〃Or give me a heart；〃 said the Tin Woodman。
〃Or send me back to Kansas；〃 said Dorothy。
〃Then； if you don't mind； I'll go with you；〃 said the Lion；
〃for my life is simply unbearable without a bit of courage。〃
〃You will be very welcome；〃 answered Dorothy； 〃for you will help
to keep away the other wild beasts。 It seems to me they must be more
cowardly than you are if they allow you to scare them so easily。〃
〃They really are；〃 said the Lion； 〃but that doesn't make me any braver；
and as long as I know myself to be a coward I shall