按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to work with his axe and chopped so well that soon he cleared a
passage for the entire party。
Dorothy was thinking so earnestly as they walked along that
she did not notice when the Scarecrow stumbled into a hole and
rolled over to the side of the road。 Indeed he was obliged to
call to her to help him up again。
〃Why didn't you walk around the hole？〃 asked the Tin Woodman。
〃I don't know enough；〃 replied the Scarecrow cheerfully。
〃My head is stuffed with straw； you know； and that is why I am
going to Oz to ask him for some brains。〃
〃Oh； I see；〃 said the Tin Woodman。 〃But； after all； brains
are not the best things in the world。〃
〃Have you any？〃 inquired the Scarecrow。
〃No； my head is quite empty；〃 answered the Woodman。
〃But once I had brains； and a heart also； so； having tried
them both； I should much rather have a heart。〃
〃And why is that？〃 asked the Scarecrow。
〃I will tell you my story； and then you will know。〃
So； while they were walking through the forest； the Tin Woodman
told the following story：
〃I was born the son of a woodman who chopped down trees in the
forest and sold the wood for a living。 When I grew up； I too became
a woodchopper； and after my father died I took care of my old mother
as long as she lived。 Then I made up my mind that instead of living
alone I would marry； so that I might not become lonely。
〃There was one of the Munchkin girls who was so beautiful
that I soon grew to love her with all my heart。 She； on her part；
promised to marry me as soon as I could earn enough money to
build a better house for her； so I set to work harder than ever。
But the girl lived with an old woman who did not want her to marry
anyone； for she was so lazy she wished the girl to remain with her
and do the cooking and the housework。 So the old woman went to
the Wicked Witch of the East； and promised her two sheep and a cow
if she would prevent the marriage。 Thereupon the Wicked Witch
enchanted my axe； and when I was chopping away at my best one day；
for I was anxious to get the new house and my wife as soon as
possible； the axe slipped all at once and cut off my left leg。
〃This at first seemed a great misfortune； for I knew a
one…legged man could not do very well as a wood…chopper。 So I
went to a tinsmith and had him make me a new leg out of tin。 The
leg worked very well； once I was used to it。 But my action
angered the Wicked Witch of the East； for she had promised the old
woman I should not marry the pretty Munchkin girl。 When I began
chopping again； my axe slipped and cut off my right leg。 Again I
went to the tinsmith； and again he made me a leg out of tin。
After this the enchanted axe cut off my arms； one after the
other； but； nothing daunted； I had them replaced with tin ones。
The Wicked Witch then made the axe slip and cut off my head； and
at first I thought that was the end of me。 But the tinsmith
happened to come along； and he made me a new head out of tin。
〃I thought I had beaten the Wicked Witch then； and I worked
harder than ever； but I little knew how cruel my enemy could be。
She thought of a new way to kill my love for the beautiful
Munchkin maiden； and made my axe slip again； so that it cut right
through my body； splitting me into two halves。 Once more the
tinsmith came to my help and made me a body of tin； fastening my
tin arms and legs and head to it； by means of joints； so that I
could move around as well as ever。 But； alas！ I had now no
heart； so that I lost all my love for the Munchkin girl； and did
not care whether I married her or not。 I suppose she is still
living with the old woman； waiting for me to come after her。
〃My body shone so brightly in the sun that I felt very proud
of it and it did not matter now if my axe slipped； for it could
not cut me。 There was only one dangerthat my joints would
rust； but I kept an oil…can in my cottage and took care to oil
myself whenever I needed it。 However； there came a day when I
forgot to do this； and； being caught in a rainstorm； before I
thought of the danger my joints had rusted； and I was left to
stand in the woods until you came to help me。 It was a terrible
thing to undergo； but during the year I stood there I had time to
think that the greatest loss I had known was the loss of my heart。
While I was in love I was the happiest man on earth； but no one
can love who has not a heart； and so I am resolved to ask Oz to
give me one。 If he does； I will go back to the Munchkin maiden
and marry her。〃
Both Dorothy and the Scarecrow had been greatly interested
in the story of the Tin Woodman； and now they knew why he was so
anxious to get a new heart。
〃All the same；〃 said the Scarecrow； 〃I shall ask for brains
instead of a heart； for a fool would not know what to do with a
heart if he had one。〃
〃I shall take the heart；〃 returned the Tin Woodman； 〃for
brains do not make one happy； and happiness is the best thing
in the world。〃
Dorothy did not say anything； for she was puzzled to know
which of her two friends was right； and she decided if she could
only get back to Kansas and Aunt Em； it did not matter so much
whether the Woodman had no brains and the Scarecrow no heart；
or each got what he wanted。
What worried her most was that the bread was nearly gone； and
another meal for herself and Toto would empty the basket。 To be sure
neither the Woodman nor the Scarecrow ever ate anything； but she was
not made of tin nor straw； and could not live unless she was fed。
6。 The Cowardly Lion
All this time Dorothy and her companions had been walking
through the thick woods。 The road was still paved with yellow
brick； but these were much covered by dried branches and dead
leaves from the trees； and the walking was not at all good。
There were few birds in this part of the forest； for birds
love the open country where there is plenty of sunshine。 But now
and then there came a deep growl from some wild animal hidden
among the trees。 These sounds made the little girl's heart beat
fast； for she did not know what made them； but Toto knew； and he
walked close to Dorothy's side； and did not even bark in return。
〃How long will it be；〃 the child asked of the Tin Woodman；
〃before we are out of the forest？〃
〃I cannot tell；〃 was the answer； 〃for I have never been to the
Emerald City。 But my father went there once； when I was a boy；
and he said it was a long journey through a dangerous country；
although nearer to the city where Oz dwells the country is beautiful。
But I am not afraid so long as I have my oil…can； and nothing can hurt
the Scarecrow； while you bear upon your forehead the mark of the
Good Witch's kiss； and that will protect you from harm。〃
〃But Toto！〃 said the girl anxiously。 〃What will protect him？〃
〃We must protect him ourselves if he is in danger；〃 replied
the Tin Woodman。
Just as he spoke there came from the forest a terrible roar；
and the next moment a great Lion bounded into the road。 With one
blow of his paw he sent the Scarecrow spinning over and over to
the edge of the road； and then he struck at the Tin Woodman with
his sharp claws。 But； to the Lion's surprise； he could make no
impression on the tin； although the Woodman fell over in the road
and lay still。
Little Toto； now that he had an enemy to face； ran barking
toward the Lion； and the great beast had opened his mouth to bite
the dog； when Dorothy； fearing Toto would be killed； and heedless
of danger； rushed forward and slapped the Lion upon his nose as
hard as she could； while she cried out：
〃Don't you dare to bite Toto！ You ought to be ashamed of
yourself； a big beast like you； to bite a poor little dog！〃
〃I didn't bite him；〃 said the Lion； as he rubbed his nose with
his paw where Dorothy had hit it。
〃No； but you tried to；〃 she retorted。 〃You are nothing but a
big coward。〃
〃I know it；〃 said the Lion； hanging his head in shame。 〃I've
always known it。 But how can I help it？〃
〃I don't know； I'm sure。 To think of your striking a stuffed
man； like the poor Scarecrow！〃
〃Is he stuffed？〃 asked the Lion in surprise； as he watched her
pick up the Scarecrow and set him upon his feet； while she patted
him into shape again。
〃Of course he's stuffed；〃 replied Dorothy； who was still angry。
〃That's why he went over so easily；〃 remarked the Lion。
〃It astonished me to see him whirl around so。 Is the other one
stuffed also？〃
〃No；〃 said Dorothy； 〃he's made of tin。〃 And she helped the
Woodman up again。
〃That's why he nearly blunted my claws；〃 said the Lion。
〃When they scratched against the tin it made a cold shiver run
down my back。 What is that lit