The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Page 9

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