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that is to go to the land of the Winkies； seek out the Wicked
Witch； and destroy her。〃
〃But suppose we cannot？〃 said the girl。
〃Then I shall never have courage；〃 declared the Lion。
〃And I shall never have brains；〃 added the Scarecrow。
〃And I shall never have a heart；〃 spoke the Tin of Woodman。
〃And I shall never see Aunt Em and Uncle Henry；〃 said Dorothy；
beginning to cry。
〃Be careful！〃 cried the green girl。 〃The tears will fall on
your green silk gown and spot it。〃
So Dorothy dried her eyes and said； 〃I suppose we must try it；
but I am sure I do not want to kill anybody； even to see Aunt Em again。〃
〃I will go with you； but I'm too much of a coward to kill the
Witch；〃 said the Lion。
〃I will go too；〃 declared the Scarecrow； 〃but I shall not be
of much help to you； I am such a fool。〃
〃I haven't the heart to harm even a Witch；〃 remarked the Tin
Woodman； 〃but if you go I certainly shall go with you。〃
Therefore it was decided to start upon their journey the next
morning； and the Woodman sharpened his axe on a green grindstone
and had all his joints properly oiled。 The Scarecrow stuffed
himself with fresh straw and Dorothy put new paint on his eyes
that he might see better。 The green girl； who was very kind to
them； filled Dorothy's basket with good things to eat； and
fastened a little bell around Toto's neck with a green ribbon。
They went to bed quite early and slept soundly until daylight；
when they were awakened by the crowing of a green cock that lived
in the back yard of the Palace； and the cackling of a hen that had
laid a green egg。
12。 The Search for the Wicked Witch
The soldier with the green whiskers led them through the
streets of the Emerald City until they reached the room where the
Guardian of the Gates lived。 This officer unlocked their spectacles
to put them back in his great box； and then he politely opened the
gate for our friends。
〃Which road leads to the Wicked Witch of the West？〃 asked
Dorothy。
〃There is no road；〃 answered the Guardian of the Gates。
〃No one ever wishes to go that way。〃
〃How； then； are we to find her？〃 inquired the girl。
〃That will be easy；〃 replied the man； 〃for when she knows you
are in the country of the Winkies she will find you； and make you
all her slaves。〃
〃Perhaps not；〃 said the Scarecrow； 〃for we mean to destroy her。〃
〃Oh； that is different；〃 said the Guardian of the Gates。
〃No one has ever destroyed her before； so I naturally thought she
would make slaves of you； as she has of the rest。 But take care；
for she is wicked and fierce； and may not allow you to destroy her。
Keep to the West； where the sun sets； and you cannot fail to find her。〃
They thanked him and bade him good…bye； and turned toward the West；
walking over fields of soft grass dotted here and there with daisies
and buttercups。 Dorothy still wore the pretty silk dress she had put on
in the palace； but now； to her surprise； she found it was no longer green；
but pure white。 The ribbon around Toto's neck had also lost its green
color and was as white as Dorothy's dress。
The Emerald City was soon left far behind。 As they advanced
the ground became rougher and hillier； for there were no farms nor
houses in this country of the West； and the ground was untilled。
In the afternoon the sun shone hot in their faces； for there
were no trees to offer them shade； so that before night Dorothy
and Toto and the Lion were tired； and lay down upon the grass and
fell asleep； with the Woodman and the Scarecrow keeping watch。
Now the Wicked Witch of the West had but one eye； yet that was as
powerful as a telescope； and could see everywhere。 So； as she sat in
the door of her castle； she happened to look around and saw Dorothy
lying asleep； with her friends all about her。 They were a long
distance off； but the Wicked Witch was angry to find them in her
country； so she blew upon a silver whistle that hung around her neck。
At once there came running to her from all directions a pack
of great wolves。 They had long legs and fierce eyes and sharp teeth。
〃Go to those people；〃 said the Witch； 〃and tear them to pieces。〃
〃Are you not going to make them your slaves？〃 asked the leader
of the wolves。
〃No；〃 she answered； 〃one is of tin； and one of straw； one is
a girl and another a Lion。 None of them is fit to work； so you
may tear them into small pieces。〃
〃Very well；〃 said the wolf； and he dashed away at full speed；
followed by the others。
It was lucky the Scarecrow and the Woodman were wide awake and
heard the wolves coming。
〃This is my fight；〃 said the Woodman； 〃so get behind me and I
will meet them as they come。〃
He seized his axe； which he had made very sharp； and as the
leader of the wolves came on the Tin Woodman swung his arm and
chopped the wolf's head from its body； so that it immediately died。
As soon as he could raise his axe another wolf came up； and he also
fell under the sharp edge of the Tin Woodman's weapon。 There were
forty wolves； and forty times a wolf was killed； so that at last
they all lay dead in a heap before the Woodman。
Then he put down his axe and sat beside the Scarecrow； who said；
〃It was a good fight； friend。〃
They waited until Dorothy awoke the next morning。 The little
girl was quite frightened when she saw the great pile of shaggy
wolves； but the Tin Woodman told her all。 She thanked him for
saving them and sat down to breakfast； after which they started
again upon their journey。
Now this same morning the Wicked Witch came to the door of her
castle and looked out with her one eye that could see far off。
She saw all her wolves lying dead； and the strangers still
traveling through her country。 This made her angrier than before；
and she blew her silver whistle twice。
Straightway a great flock of wild crows came flying toward her；
enough to darken the sky。
And the Wicked Witch said to the King Crow； 〃Fly at once to
the strangers； peck out their eyes and tear them to pieces。〃
The wild crows flew in one great flock toward Dorothy and her
companions。 When the little girl saw them coming she was afraid。
But the Scarecrow said； 〃This is my battle； so lie down beside
me and you will not be harmed。〃
So they all lay upon the ground except the Scarecrow； and he
stood up and stretched out his arms。 And when the crows saw him
they were frightened； as these birds always are by scarecrows； and
did not dare to come any nearer。 But the King Crow said：
〃It is only a stuffed man。 I will peck his eyes out。〃
The King Crow flew at the Scarecrow； who caught it by the head
and twisted its neck until it died。 And then another crow flew at
him； and the Scarecrow twisted its neck also。 There were forty
crows； and forty times the Scarecrow twisted a neck； until at last
all were lying dead beside him。 Then he called to his companions
to rise； and again they went upon their journey。
When the Wicked Witch looked out again and saw all her crows
lying in a heap； she got into a terrible rage； and blew three
times upon her silver whistle。
Forthwith there was heard a great buzzing in the air； and a
swarm of black bees came flying toward her。
〃Go to the strangers and sting them to death！〃 commanded
the Witch； and the bees turned and flew rapidly until they came
to where Dorothy and her friends were walking。 But the Woodman
had seen them coming； and the Scarecrow had decided what to do。
〃Take out my straw and scatter it over the little girl and the
dog and the Lion；〃 he said to the Woodman； 〃and the bees cannot
sting them。〃 This the Woodman did； and as Dorothy lay close beside
the Lion and held Toto in her arms； the straw covered them entirely。
The bees came and found no one but the Woodman to sting； so
they flew at him and broke off all their stings against the tin；
without hurting the Woodman at all。 And as bees cannot live when
their stings are broken that was the end of the black bees； and
they lay scattered thick about the Woodman； like little heaps of
fine coal。
Then Dorothy and the Lion got up； and the girl helped the Tin
Woodman put the straw back into the Scarecrow again； until he was
as good as ever。 So they started upon their journey once more。
The Wicked Witch was so angry when she saw her black bees in
little heaps like fine coal that she stamped her foot and tore her
hair and gnashed her teeth。 And then she called a dozen of her
slaves； who were the Winkies； and gave them sharp spears； telling
them to go to the strangers and destroy them。
The Winkies were not a brave people； but they h