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Wizard and I am only a little girl。〃
〃But you were strong enough to kill the Wicked Witch of the East；〃
said Oz。
〃That just happened；〃 returned Dorothy simply； 〃I could not help it。〃
〃Well；〃 said the Head； 〃I will give you my answer。 You have no
right to expect me to send you back to Kansas unless you do something
for me in return。 In this country everyone must pay for everything
he gets。 If you wish me to use my magic power to send you home again
you must do something for me first。 Help me and I will help you。〃
〃What must I do？〃 asked the girl。
〃Kill the Wicked Witch of the West；〃 answered Oz。
〃But I cannot！〃 exclaimed Dorothy； greatly surprised。
〃You killed the Witch of the East and you wear the silver shoes；
which bear a powerful charm。 There is now but one Wicked Witch left
in all this land； and when you can tell me she is dead I will send
you back to Kansasbut not before。〃
The little girl began to weep； she was so much disappointed；
and the eyes winked again and looked upon her anxiously； as if the
Great Oz felt that she could help him if she would。
〃I never killed anything； willingly；〃 she sobbed。 〃Even if I
wanted to； how could I kill the Wicked Witch？ If you； who are Great
and Terrible； cannot kill her yourself； how do you expect me to do it？〃
〃I do not know；〃 said the Head； 〃but that is my answer； and
until the Wicked Witch dies you will not see your uncle and aunt
again。 Remember that the Witch is Wickedtremendously Wicked
…and ought to be killed。 Now go； and do not ask to see me again
until you have done your task。〃
Sorrowfully Dorothy left the Throne Room and went back where
the Lion and the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman were waiting to
hear what Oz had said to her。 〃There is no hope for me；〃 she
said sadly； 〃for Oz will not send me home until I have killed
the Wicked Witch of the West； and that I can never do。〃
Her friends were sorry； but could do nothing to help her； so
Dorothy went to her own room and lay down on the bed and cried
herself to sleep。
The next morning the soldier with the green whiskers came to
the Scarecrow and said：
〃Come with me； for Oz has sent for you。〃
So the Scarecrow followed him and was admitted into the great
Throne Room； where he saw； sitting in the emerald throne； a most
lovely Lady。 She was dressed in green silk gauze and wore upon
her flowing green locks a crown of jewels。 Growing from her
shoulders were wings； gorgeous in color and so light that they
fluttered if the slightest breath of air reached them。
When the Scarecrow had bowed； as prettily as his straw stuffing would
let him； before this beautiful creature； she looked upon him sweetly；
and said：
〃I am Oz； the Great and Terrible。 Who are you； and why do you seek me？〃
Now the Scarecrow； who had expected to see the great Head Dorothy had
told him of； was much astonished； but he answered her bravely。
〃I am only a Scarecrow； stuffed with straw。 Therefore I have
no brains； and I come to you praying that you will put brains in
my head instead of straw； so that I may become as much a man as
any other in your dominions。〃
〃Why should I do this for you？〃 asked the Lady。
〃Because you are wise and powerful； and no one else can help me；〃
answered the Scarecrow。
〃I never grant favors without some return；〃 said Oz； 〃but this
much I will promise。 If you will kill for me the Wicked Witch of
the West； I will bestow upon you a great many brains； and such
good brains that you will be the wisest man in all the Land of Oz。〃
〃I thought you asked Dorothy to kill the Witch；〃 said the Scarecrow；
in surprise。
〃So I did。 I don't care who kills her。 But until she is dead
I will not grant your wish。 Now go； and do not seek me again
until you have earned the brains you so greatly desire。〃
The Scarecrow went sorrowfully back to his friends and told
them what Oz had said； and Dorothy was surprised to find that the
Great Wizard was not a Head； as she had seen him； but a lovely Lady。
〃All the same；〃 said the Scarecrow； 〃she needs a heart as much
as the Tin Woodman。〃
On the next morning the soldier with the green whiskers came
to the Tin Woodman and said：
〃Oz has sent for you。 Follow me。〃
So the Tin Woodman followed him and came to the great Throne
Room。 He did not know whether he would find Oz a lovely Lady or a
Head； but he hoped it would be the lovely Lady。 〃For；〃 he said to
himself； 〃if it is the head； I am sure I shall not be given a
heart； since a head has no heart of its own and therefore cannot
feel for me。 But if it is the lovely Lady I shall beg hard for a
heart； for all ladies are themselves said to be kindly hearted。
But when the Woodman entered the great Throne Room he saw
neither the Head nor the Lady； for Oz had taken the shape of a
most terrible Beast。 It was nearly as big as an elephant； and the
green throne seemed hardly strong enough to hold its weight。 The
Beast had a head like that of a rhinoceros； only there were five
eyes in its face。 There were five long arms growing out of its
body； and it also had five long； slim legs。 Thick； woolly hair
covered every part of it； and a more dreadful…looking monster
could not be imagined。 It was fortunate the Tin Woodman had no
heart at that moment； for it would have beat loud and fast from
terror。 But being only tin； the Woodman was not at all afraid；
although he was much disappointed。
〃I am Oz； the Great and Terrible；〃 spoke the Beast； in a voice
that was one great roar。 〃Who are you； and why do you seek me？〃
〃I am a Woodman； and made of tin。 Therefore I have no heart；
and cannot love。 I pray you to give me a heart that I may be as
other men are。〃
〃Why should I do this？〃 demanded the Beast。
〃Because I ask it； and you alone can grant my request；〃
answered the Woodman。
Oz gave a low growl at this； but said； gruffly： 〃If you indeed
desire a heart； you must earn it。〃
〃How？〃 asked the Woodman。
〃Help Dorothy to kill the Wicked Witch of the West；〃 replied
the Beast。 〃When the Witch is dead； come to me； and I will then
give you the biggest and kindest and most loving heart in all the
Land of Oz。〃
So the Tin Woodman was forced to return sorrowfully to his
friends and tell them of the terrible Beast he had seen。
They all wondered greatly at the many forms the Great Wizard
could take upon himself； and the Lion said：
〃If he is a Beast when I go to see him； I shall roar my
loudest； and so frighten him that he will grant all I ask。 And if
he is the lovely Lady； I shall pretend to spring upon her； and so
compel her to do my bidding。 And if he is the great Head； he will
be at my mercy； for I will roll this head all about the room until
he promises to give us what we desire。 So be of good cheer； my
friends； for all will yet be well。〃
The next morning the soldier with the green whiskers led the
Lion to the great Throne Room and bade him enter the presence of Oz。
The Lion at once passed through the door； and glancing around saw；
to his surprise； that before the throne was a Ball of Fire； so fierce
and glowing he could scarcely bear to gaze upon it。 His first thought
was that Oz had by accident caught on fire and was burning up； but when
he tried to go nearer； the heat was so intense that it singed his whiskers；
and he crept back tremblingly to a spot nearer the door。
Then a low； quiet voice came from the Ball of Fire； and these
were the words it spoke：
〃I am Oz； the Great and Terrible。 Who are you； and why do you seek me？〃
And the Lion answered； 〃I am a Cowardly Lion； afraid of everything。
I came to you to beg that you give me courage； so that in reality I may
become the King of Beasts； as men call me。〃
〃Why should I give you courage？〃 demanded Oz。
〃Because of all Wizards you are the greatest； and alone have
power to grant my request；〃 answered the Lion。
The Ball of Fire burned fiercely for a time； and the voice said；
〃Bring me proof that the Wicked Witch is dead； and that moment I will
give you courage。 But as long as the Witch lives； you must remain a coward。〃
The Lion was angry at this speech； but could say nothing in reply；
and while he stood silently gazing at the Ball of Fire it became
so furiously hot that he turned tail and rushed from the room。
He was glad to find his friends waiting for him； and told them
of his terrible interview with the Wizard。
〃What shall we do now？〃 asked Dorothy sadly。
〃There is only one thing we can do；〃 returned the Lion； 〃and
that is to go to the land of the Winkies； seek out the Wicked
Witch； and destroy her。〃
〃But suppose