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Then giving a great spring； he shot through the air and landed safely
on the other side。 They were all greatly pleased to see how easily
he did it； and after the Scarecrow had got down from his back the Lion
sprang across the ditch again。
Dorothy thought she would go next； so she took Toto in her
arms and climbed on the Lion's back； holding tightly to his mane
with one hand。 The next moment it seemed as if she were flying
through the air； and then； before she had time to think about it；
she was safe on the other side。 The Lion went back a third time
and got the Tin Woodman； and then they all sat down for a few
moments to give the beast a chance to rest； for his great leaps
had made his breath short； and he panted like a big dog that has
been running too long。
They found the forest very thick on this side； and it looked
dark and gloomy。 After the Lion had rested they started along the
road of yellow brick； silently wondering； each in his own mind； if
ever they would come to the end of the woods and reach the bright
sunshine again。 To add to their discomfort； they soon heard strange
noises in the depths of the forest； and the Lion whispered to them
that it was in this part of the country that the Kalidahs lived。
〃What are the Kalidahs？〃 asked the girl。
〃They are monstrous beasts with bodies like bears and heads
like tigers；〃 replied the Lion； 〃and with claws so long and sharp
that they could tear me in two as easily as I could kill Toto。
I'm terribly afraid of the Kalidahs。〃
〃I'm not surprised that you are；〃 returned Dorothy。
〃They must be dreadful beasts。〃
The Lion was about to reply when suddenly they came to another
gulf across the road。 But this one was so broad and deep that the
Lion knew at once he could not leap across it。
So they sat down to consider what they should do； and after
serious thought the Scarecrow said：
〃Here is a great tree； standing close to the ditch。 If the
Tin Woodman can chop it down； so that it will fall to the other
side； we can walk across it easily。〃
〃That is a first…rate idea；〃 said the Lion。 〃One would almost
suspect you had brains in your head； instead of straw。〃
The Woodman set to work at once； and so sharp was his axe that
the tree was soon chopped nearly through。 Then the Lion put his
strong front legs against the tree and pushed with all his might；
and slowly the big tree tipped and fell with a crash across the
ditch； with its top branches on the other side。
They had just started to cross this queer bridge when a sharp growl
made them all look up； and to their horror they saw running toward them
two great beasts with bodies like bears and heads like tigers。
〃They are the Kalidahs！〃 said the Cowardly Lion； beginning to tremble。
〃Quick！〃 cried the Scarecrow。 〃Let us cross over。〃
So Dorothy went first； holding Toto in her arms； the Tin
Woodman followed； and the Scarecrow came next。 The Lion； although
he was certainly afraid； turned to face the Kalidahs； and then he
gave so loud and terrible a roar that Dorothy screamed and the
Scarecrow fell over backward； while even the fierce beasts stopped
short and looked at him in surprise。
But； seeing they were bigger than the Lion； and remembering
that there were two of them and only one of him； the Kalidahs
again rushed forward； and the Lion crossed over the tree and
turned to see what they would do next。 Without stopping an
instant the fierce beasts also began to cross the tree。
And the Lion said to Dorothy：
〃We are lost； for they will surely tear us to pieces with
their sharp claws。 But stand close behind me； and I will fight
them as long as I am alive。〃
〃Wait a minute！〃 called the Scarecrow。 He had been thinking
what was best to be done； and now he asked the Woodman to chop
away the end of the tree that rested on their side of the ditch。
The Tin Woodman began to use his axe at once； and； just as the two
Kalidahs were nearly across； the tree fell with a crash into the
gulf； carrying the ugly； snarling brutes with it； and both were
dashed to pieces on the sharp rocks at the bottom。
〃Well；〃 said the Cowardly Lion； drawing a long breath of
relief； 〃I see we are going to live a little while longer； and I
am glad of it； for it must be a very uncomfortable thing not to be
alive。 Those creatures frightened me so badly that my heart is
beating yet。〃
〃Ah；〃 said the Tin Woodman sadly； 〃I wish I had a heart to beat。〃
This adventure made the travelers more anxious than ever to
get out of the forest； and they walked so fast that Dorothy became
tired； and had to ride on the Lion's back。 To their great joy the
trees became thinner the farther they advanced； and in the
afternoon they suddenly came upon a broad river； flowing swiftly
just before them。 On the other side of the water they could see
the road of yellow brick running through a beautiful country； with
green meadows dotted with bright flowers and all the road bordered
with trees hanging full of delicious fruits。 They were greatly
pleased to see this delightful country before them。
〃How shall we cross the river？〃 asked Dorothy。
〃That is easily done；〃 replied the Scarecrow。 〃The Tin Woodman
must build us a raft； so we can float to the other side。〃
So the Woodman took his axe and began to chop down small trees
to make a raft； and while he was busy at this the Scarecrow found
on the riverbank a tree full of fine fruit。 This pleased Dorothy；
who had eaten nothing but nuts all day； and she made a hearty meal
of the ripe fruit。
But it takes time to make a raft； even when one is as industrious
and untiring as the Tin Woodman； and when night came the work was not done。
So they found a cozy place under the trees where they slept well until the
morning； and Dorothy dreamed of the Emerald City； and of the good Wizard Oz；
who would soon send her back to her own home again。
8。 The Deadly Poppy Field
Our little party of travelers awakened the next morning
refreshed and full of hope； and Dorothy breakfasted like a
princess off peaches and plums from the trees beside the river。
Behind them was the dark forest they had passed safely through；
although they had suffered many discouragements； but before them
was a lovely； sunny country that seemed to beckon them on to the
Emerald City。
To be sure； the broad river now cut them off from this
beautiful land。 But the raft was nearly done； and after the Tin
Woodman had cut a few more logs and fastened them together with
wooden pins； they were ready to start。 Dorothy sat down in the
middle of the raft and held Toto in her arms。 When the Cowardly
Lion stepped upon the raft it tipped badly； for he was big and
heavy； but the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman stood upon the other
end to steady it； and they had long poles in their hands to push
the raft through the water。
They got along quite well at first； but when they reached the
middle of the river the swift current swept the raft downstream；
farther and farther away from the road of yellow brick。 And the
water grew so deep that the long poles would not touch the bottom。
〃This is bad；〃 said the Tin Woodman； 〃for if we cannot get to
the land we shall be carried into the country of the Wicked Witch
of the West； and she will enchant us and make us her slaves。〃
〃And then I should get no brains；〃 said the Scarecrow。
〃And I should get no courage；〃 said the Cowardly Lion。
〃And I should get no heart；〃 said the Tin Woodman。
〃And I should never get back to Kansas；〃 said Dorothy。
〃We must certainly get to the Emerald City if we can；〃
the Scarecrow continued； and he pushed so hard on his long pole
that it stuck fast in the mud at the bottom of the river。 Then；
before he could pull it out againor let gothe raft was swept
away； and the poor Scarecrow left clinging to the pole in the
middle of the river。
〃Good…bye！〃 he called after them； and they were very sorry to leave him。
Indeed； the Tin Woodman began to cry； but fortunately remembered that he
might rust； and so dried his tears on Dorothy's apron。
Of course this was a bad thing for the Scarecrow。
〃I am now worse off than when I first met Dorothy；〃 he
thought。 〃Then； I was stuck on a pole in a cornfield； where I
could make…believe scare the crows； at any rate。 But surely there
is no use for a Scarecrow stuck on a pole in the middle of a
river。 I am afraid I shall never have any brains； after all！〃
Down the stream the raft floated； and the poor Scarecrow was
left far behind。 Then the Lion said：
〃Something must be done to save us。 I think I can swim to the
shore and pull the raft after me； if you will only hold fast to