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！
again rushed forward； and the Lion crossed over the tree and
turned to see what they would do next。 Without stopping an
instant the fierce beasts also began to cross the tree。
And the Lion said to Dorothy：
〃We are lost； for they will surely tear us to pieces with
their sharp claws。 But stand close behind me； and I will fight
them as long as I am alive。〃
〃Wait a minute！〃 called the Scarecrow。 He had been thinking
what was best to be done； and now he asked the Woodman to chop
away the end of the tree that rested on their side of the ditch。
The Tin Woodman began to use his axe at once； and； just as the two
Kalidahs were nearly across； the tree fell with a crash into the
gulf； carrying the ugly； snarling brutes with it； and both were
dashed to pieces on the sharp rocks at the bottom。
〃Well；〃 said the Cowardly Lion； drawing a long breath of
relief； 〃I see we are going to live a little while longer； and I
am glad of it； for it must be a very uncomfortable thing not to be
alive。 Those creatures frightened me so badly that my heart is
beating yet。〃
〃Ah；〃 said the Tin Woodman sadly； 〃I wish I had a heart to beat。〃
This adventure made the travelers more anxious than ever to
get out of the forest； and they walked so fast that Dorothy became
tired； and had to ride on the Lion's back。 To their great joy the
trees became thinner the farther they advanced； and in the
afternoon they suddenly came upon a broad river； flowing swiftly
just before them。 On the other side of the water they could see
the road of yellow brick running through a beautiful country； with
green meadows dotted with bright flowers and all the road bordered
with trees hanging full of delicious fruits。 They were greatly
pleased to see this delightful country before them。
〃How shall we cross the river？〃 asked Dorothy。
〃That is easily done；〃 replied the Scarecrow。 〃The Tin Woodman
must build us a raft； so we can float to the other side。〃
So the Woodman took his axe and began to chop down small trees
to make a raft； and while he was busy at this the Scarecrow found
on the riverbank a tree full of fine fruit。 This pleased Dorothy；
who had eaten nothing but nuts all day； and she made a hearty meal
of the ripe fruit。
But it takes time to make a raft； even when one is as industrious
and untiring as the Tin Woodman； and when night came the work was not done。
So they found a cozy place under the trees where they slept well until the
morning； and Dorothy dreamed of the Emerald City； and of the good Wizard Oz；
who would soon send her back to her own home again。
8。 The Deadly Poppy Field
Our little party of travelers awakened the next morning
refreshed and full of hope； and Dorothy breakfasted like a
princess off peaches and plums from the trees beside the river。
Behind them was the dark forest they had passed safely through；
although they had suffered many discouragements； but before them
was a lovely； sunny country that seemed to beckon them on to the
Emerald City。
To be sure； the broad river now cut them off from this
beautiful land。 But the raft was nearly done； and after the Tin
Woodman had cut a few more logs and fastened them together with
wooden pins； they were ready to start。 Dorothy sat down in the
middle of the raft and held Toto in her arms。 When the Cowardly
Lion stepped upon the raft it tipped badly； for he was big and
heavy； but the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman stood upon the other
end to steady it； and they had long poles in their hands to push
the raft through the water。
They got along quite well at first； but when they reached the
middle of the river the swift current swept the raft downstream；
farther and farther away from the road of yellow brick。 And the
water grew so deep that the long poles would not touch the bottom。
〃This is bad；〃 said the Tin Woodman； 〃for if we cannot get to
the land we shall be carried into the country of the Wicked Witch
of the West； and she will enchant us and make us her slaves。〃
〃And then I should get no brains；〃 said the Scarecrow。
〃And I should get no courage；〃 said the Cowardly Lion。
〃And I should get no heart；〃 said the Tin Woodman。
〃And I should never get back to Kansas；〃 said Dorothy。
〃We must certainly get to the Emerald City if we can；〃
the Scarecrow continued； and he pushed so hard on his long pole
that it stuck fast in the mud at the bottom of the river。 Then；
before he could pull it out againor let gothe raft was swept
away； and the poor Scarecrow left clinging to the pole in the
middle of the river。
〃Good…bye！〃 he called after them； and they were very sorry to leave him。
Indeed； the Tin Woodman began to cry； but fortunately remembered that he
might rust； and so dried his tears on Dorothy's apron。
Of course this was a bad thing for the Scarecrow。
〃I am now worse off than when I first met Dorothy；〃 he
thought。 〃Then； I was stuck on a pole in a cornfield； where I
could make…believe scare the crows； at any rate。 But surely there
is no use for a Scarecrow stuck on a pole in the middle of a
river。 I am afraid I shall never have any brains； after all！〃
Down the stream the raft floated； and the poor Scarecrow was
left far behind。 Then the Lion said：
〃Something must be done to save us。 I think I can swim to the
shore and pull the raft after me； if you will only hold fast to
the tip of my tail。〃
So he sprang into the water； and the Tin Woodman caught fast
hold of his tail。 Then the Lion began to swim with all his might
toward the shore。 It was hard work； although he was so big； but
by and by they were drawn out of the current； and then Dorothy took
the Tin Woodman's long pole and helped push the raft to the land。
They were all tired out when they reached the shore at last
and stepped off upon the pretty green grass； and they also knew
that the stream had carried them a long way past the road of
yellow brick that led to the Emerald City。
〃What shall we do now？〃 asked the Tin Woodman； as the Lion lay
down on the grass to let the sun dry him。
〃We must get back to the road； in some way；〃 said Dorothy。
〃The best plan will be to walk along the riverbank until we
come to the road again；〃 remarked the Lion。
So； when they were rested； Dorothy picked up her basket and
they started along the grassy bank； to the road from which the
river had carried them。 It was a lovely country； with plenty of
flowers and fruit trees and sunshine to cheer them； and had they
not felt so sorry for the poor Scarecrow； they could have been
very happy。
They walked along as fast as they could； Dorothy only stopping
once to pick a beautiful flower； and after a time the Tin Woodman
cried out： 〃Look！〃
Then they all looked at the river and saw the Scarecrow perched
upon his pole in the middle of the water； looking very lonely and sad。
〃What can we do to save him？〃 asked Dorothy。
The Lion and the Woodman both shook their heads； for they did
not know。 So they sat down upon the bank and gazed wistfully at
the Scarecrow until a Stork flew by； who； upon seeing them；
stopped to rest at the water's edge。
〃Who are you and where are you going？〃 asked the Stork。
〃I am Dorothy；〃 answered the girl； 〃and these are my friends；
the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion； and we are going to the
Emerald City。〃
〃This isn't the road；〃 said the Stork； as she twisted her long
neck and looked sharply at the queer party。
〃I know it；〃 returned Dorothy； 〃but we have lost the
Scarecrow； and are wondering how we shall get him again。〃
〃Where is he？〃 asked the Stork。
〃Over there in the river；〃 answered the little girl。
〃If he wasn't so big and heavy I would get him for you；〃
remarked the Stork。
〃He isn't heavy a bit；〃 said Dorothy eagerly； 〃for he is
stuffed with straw； and if you will bring him back to us； we shall
thank you ever and ever so much。〃
〃Well； I'll try；〃 said the Stork； 〃but if I find he is too
heavy to carry I shall have to drop him in the river again。〃
So the big bird flew into the air and over the water till she
came to where the Scarecrow was perched upon his pole。 Then the
Stork with her great claws grabbed the Scarecrow by the arm and
carried him up into the air and back to the bank； where Dorothy
and the Lion and the Tin Woodman and Toto were sitting。
When the Scarecrow found himself among his friends again； he
was so happy that he hugged them all； even the Lion and Toto； and
as they walked along he sang 〃Tol…de…ri…de…oh！〃 at every step； he
felt so gay。
〃I was afraid I should have to stay in the river forever；〃
he said； 〃but the kind Stork saved me； and if I ever get any brains
I shall find the Stork again and do her some kindness in return。〃
〃That's all right；〃 said the Stork； who was flying along
beside them。 〃I always like to help anyone in trouble。 But I
must go now； for my babies are waiting in the nest for me。 I hope
you will find the Emerald City and that Oz will help you。〃
〃Thank you；〃 replied Dorothy； and then the kind Stork flew
into the air and was soon out of sight。
They walked along list