正文 Chapter XVIII.

Away to the South

Dorothy wept bitterly at the passing of her hope to get home to Kansas again; but whehought 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 panions.

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 you will kindly wipe away my tears, so that I shall not rust.」

"With pleasure," she answered, and brought a towel at ohein Woodma 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 thhly with his jeweled oil-, to guard against mishap.

The Scarecrow 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 city in all the world that is ruled by a stuffed man." And, so far as they khey were quite right.

The m after the balloon had gone up with Oz, the four travelers met ihrone Room and talked matters over. The Scarecrow sat in the big throne and the others stood respectfully before him.

"We are not so unlucky," said the new ruler, "for this Palad the Emerald City belong to us, and we do just as we please. When I remember that a short time ago I on a pole in a farmers field, and that now I am 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 all the world.」

"For my part, I am tent in knowing I am as brave as a that ever lived, if not braver," said the Lion modestly.

"If Dorothy would only be teo live in the Emerald City," tihe Scarecrow, "we might all be happy together.」

"But I dont want to live here," cried Dorothy. "I want to go to Kansas, and live with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry.」

"Well, then, what be done?" inquired the Woodman.

The Scarecrow decided to think, ahought so hard that the pins and needles began to stick out of his brains. Fi- nally he said:

"Why not call the Winged Monkeys, and ask them to carry you over the desert?」

"I hought of that!" said Dorothy joyfully. "Its just the thing. Ill go at once for the Golden Cap.」

When she brought it into the Throne Room she spoke the magic words, and soon the band of Winged Monkeys flew in through the open window and stood beside her.

"This is the sed time you have called us," said the Mon- key King, bowing before the little girl. "What do you wish?」

"I want you to fly with me to Kansas," said Dorothy.

But the Monkey King shook his head.

"That ot be done," he said. "We belong to this try alone, and ot leave it. There has never been a Winged Monkey in Kansas yet, and I suppose there never will be, for they dont belong there. We shall be glad to serve you in any way in our power, but we ot cross the desert. Good-bye.」

And with another bow, the Monkey King spread his wings and flew away through the window, followed by all his band.

Dorothy was ready to cry with disappoi. "I have wasted the charm of the Golden Cap to no purpose," she said, "for the Winged Monkeys ot 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

上一章目錄+書簽下一頁