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after them。 But my feet would not touch the ground； and I was
forced to stay on that pole。 It was a lonely life to lead； for I
had nothing to think of； having been made such a little while before。
Many crows and other birds flew into the cornfield； but as soon as
they saw me they flew away again； thinking I was a Munchkin； and this
pleased me and made me feel that I was quite an important person。
By and by an old crow flew near me； and after looking at me carefully
he perched upon my shoulder and said：
〃‘I wonder if that farmer thought to fool me in this clumsy
manner。 Any crow of sense could see that you are only stuffed
with straw。' Then he hopped down at my feet and ate all the corn
he wanted。 The other birds； seeing he was not harmed by me； came
to eat the corn too； so in a short time there was a great flock of
them about me。
〃I felt sad at this； for it showed I was not such a good
Scarecrow after all； but the old crow comforted me； saying；
‘If you only had brains in your head you would be as good a man
as any of them； and a better man than some of them。 Brains are
the only things worth having in this world； no matter whether one
is a crow or a man。'
〃After the crows had gone I thought this over； and decided I
would try hard to get some brains。 By good luck you came along
and pulled me off the stake； and from what you say I am sure the
Great Oz will give me brains as soon as we get to the Emerald City。〃
〃I hope so；〃 said Dorothy earnestly； 〃since you seem anxious
to have them。〃
〃Oh； yes； I am anxious；〃 returned the Scarecrow。 〃It is such
an uncomfortable feeling to know one is a fool。〃
〃Well；〃 said the girl； 〃let us go。〃 And she handed the basket
to the Scarecrow。
There were no fences at all by the roadside now； and the land
was rough and untilled。 Toward evening they came to a great
forest； where the trees grew so big and close together that their
branches met over the road of yellow brick。 It was almost dark
under the trees； for the branches shut out the daylight； but the
travelers did not stop； and went on into the forest。
〃If this road goes in； it must come out；〃 said the Scarecrow；
〃and as the Emerald City is at the other end of the road； we must
go wherever it leads us。〃
〃Anyone would know that；〃 said Dorothy。
〃Certainly； that is why I know it；〃 returned the Scarecrow。
〃If it required brains to figure it out； I never should have said it。〃
After an hour or so the light faded away； and they found
themselves stumbling along in the darkness。 Dorothy could not see
at all； but Toto could； for some dogs see very well in the dark；
and the Scarecrow declared he could see as well as by day。 So she
took hold of his arm and managed to get along fairly well。
〃If you see any house； or any place where we can pass the
night；〃 she said； 〃you must tell me； for it is very uncomfortable
walking in the dark。〃
Soon after the Scarecrow stopped。
〃I see a little cottage at the right of us；〃 he said；
〃built of logs and branches。 Shall we go there？〃
〃Yes； indeed；〃 answered the child。 〃I am all tired out。〃
So the Scarecrow led her through the trees until they reached
the cottage； and Dorothy entered and found a bed of dried leaves
in one corner。 She lay down at once； and with Toto beside her
soon fell into a sound sleep。 The Scarecrow； who was never tired；
stood up in another corner and waited patiently until morning came。
5。 The Rescue of the Tin Woodman
When Dorothy awoke the sun was shining through the trees and
Toto had long been out chasing birds around him and squirrels。
She sat up and looked around her。 Scarecrow； still standing
patiently in his corner； waiting for her。
〃We must go and search for water；〃 she said to him。
〃Why do you want water？〃 he asked。
〃To wash my face clean after the dust of the road； and to
drink； so the dry bread will not stick in my throat。〃
〃It must be inconvenient to be made of flesh；〃 said the
Scarecrow thoughtfully； 〃for you must sleep； and eat and drink。
However； you have brains； and it is worth a lot of bother to be
able to think properly。〃
They left the cottage and walked through the trees until they
found a little spring of clear water； where Dorothy drank and
bathed and ate her breakfast。 She saw there was not much bread
left in the basket； and the girl was thankful the Scarecrow did
not have to eat anything； for there was scarcely enough for
herself and Toto for the day。
When she had finished her meal； and was about to go back to the
road of yellow brick； she was startled to hear a deep groan near by。
〃What was that？〃 she asked timidly。
〃I cannot imagine；〃 replied the Scarecrow； 〃but we can go and see。〃
Just then another groan reached their ears； and the sound
seemed to come from behind them。 They turned and walked through
the forest a few steps； when Dorothy discovered something shining
in a ray of sunshine that fell between the trees。 She ran to the
place and then stopped short； with a little cry of surprise。
One of the big trees had been partly chopped through； and
standing beside it； with an uplifted axe in his hands； was a man
made entirely of tin。 His head and arms and legs were jointed
upon his body； but he stood perfectly motionless； as if he could
not stir at all。
Dorothy looked at him in amazement； and so did the Scarecrow；
while Toto barked sharply and made a snap at the tin legs； which
hurt his teeth。
〃Did you groan？〃 asked Dorothy。
〃Yes；〃 answered the tin man； 〃I did。 I've been groaning for more
than a year； and no one has ever heard me before or come to help me。〃
〃What can I do for you？〃 she inquired softly； for she was
moved by the sad voice in which the man spoke。
〃Get an oil…can and oil my joints；〃 he answered。 〃They are
rusted so badly that I cannot move them at all； if I am well oiled
I shall soon be all right again。 You will find an oil…can on a
shelf in my cottage。〃
Dorothy at once ran back to the cottage and found the oil…can；
and then she returned and asked anxiously； 〃Where are your joints？〃
〃Oil my neck； first；〃 replied the Tin Woodman。 So she oiled it；
and as it was quite badly rusted the Scarecrow took hold of the tin
head and moved it gently from side to side until it worked freely；
and then the man could turn it himself。
〃Now oil the joints in my arms；〃 he said。 And Dorothy oiled
them and the Scarecrow bent them carefully until they were quite
free from rust and as good as new。
The Tin Woodman gave a sigh of satisfaction and lowered his
axe； which he leaned against the tree。
〃This is a great comfort；〃 he said。 〃I have been holding that
axe in the air ever since I rusted； and I'm glad to be able to put
it down at last。 Now； if you will oil the joints of my legs； I
shall be all right once more。〃
So they oiled his legs until he could move them freely； and he
thanked them again and again for his release； for he seemed a very
polite creature； and very grateful。
〃I might have stood there always if you had not come along；〃 he said；
〃so you have certainly saved my life。 How did you happen to be here？〃
〃We are on our way to the Emerald City to see the Great Oz；〃
she answered； 〃and we stopped at your cottage to pass the night。〃
〃Why do you wish to see Oz？〃 he asked。
〃I want him to send me back to Kansas； and the Scarecrow wants
him to put a few brains into his head；〃 she replied。
The Tin Woodman appeared to think deeply for a moment。 Then he said：
〃Do you suppose Oz could give me a heart？〃
〃Why； I guess so；〃 Dorothy answered。 〃It would be as easy as
to give the Scarecrow brains。〃
〃True；〃 the Tin Woodman returned。 〃So； if you will allow me
to join your party； I will also go to the Emerald City and ask Oz
to help me。〃
〃Come along；〃 said the Scarecrow heartily； and Dorothy added
that she would be pleased to have his company。 So the Tin Woodman
shouldered his axe and they all passed through the forest until
they came to the road that was paved with yellow brick。
The Tin Woodman had asked Dorothy to put the oil…can in her basket。
〃For；〃 he said； 〃if I should get caught in the rain； and rust again；
I would need the oil…can badly。〃
It was a bit of good luck to have their new comrade join the
party； for soon after they had begun their journey again they came
to a place where the trees and branches grew so thick over the
road that the travelers could not pass。 But the Tin Woodman set
to work with his axe and chopped so well that soon he cleared a
passage for the entire party。
Dorothy was thinking so earn