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〃Thank you；〃 replied Dorothy； and then the kind Stork flew
into the air and was soon out of sight。
They walked along listening to the singing of the brightly
colored birds and looking at the lovely flowers which now became
so thick that the ground was carpeted with them。 There were big
yellow and white and blue and purple blossoms； besides great
clusters of scarlet poppies； which were so brilliant in color they
almost dazzled Dorothy's eyes。
〃Aren't they beautiful？〃 the girl asked； as she breathed in
the spicy scent of the bright flowers。
〃I suppose so；〃 answered the Scarecrow。 〃When I have brains；
I shall probably like them better。〃
〃If I only had a heart； I should love them；〃 added the Tin Woodman。
〃I always did like flowers；〃 said the Lion。 〃They of 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 fewer and fewer 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 odor 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。
〃We must hurry and get back to the road of 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。 I myself can scarcely keep my eyes open；
and the dog is asleep already。〃
It was true； Toto 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 aroused himself and bounded 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 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 he 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。
9。 The Queen of the 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 a
strange beast come bounding over the grass toward them。 It was；
indeed； a great yellow Wildcat； 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 gray field
mouse； and although he had no heart he knew it was wrong for the
Wildcat to try to kill such a pretty； harmless creature。
So the Woodman raised his axe； and as the Wildcat 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！ Thank 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 am careful to help all those
who may need a friend； even if it happens to be only a mouse。〃
〃Only a mouse！〃 cried the little animal； indignantly。
〃Why； I am a Queenthe Queen of all the Field Mice！〃
〃Oh； indeed；〃 said the Woodman； making a bow。
〃Therefore you have done a great deed； as well as a brave one；
in saving my life；〃 added the Queen。
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 escape the great Wildcat？〃 They all bowed so low to
the little Queen that they almost stood upon their heads。
〃This funny tin man；〃 she answered； 〃killed the Wildcat and
saved my life。 So hereafter you must all serve him； and obey his
slightest wish。〃
〃We will！〃 cried all the mice； in a 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！ Come back！ Toto shall not hurt you。〃
At this the Queen of the Mice stuck her head out from underneath 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 had 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； he would eat us all up。〃
〃Oh； no；〃 declared the Scarecrow； 〃this Lion is a coward。〃
〃Really？〃 asked the Mouse。
〃He says so 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 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 send 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 mouth。 It was about this
time that Dorothy woke 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 ever