〃Thank　you；〃　replied　Dorothy；　and　then　the　kind　Stork　flew
  into　the　air　and　was　soon　out　of　sight。
  They　walked　along　listening　to　the　singing　of　the　brightly
  colored　birds　and　looking　at　the　lovely　flowers　which　now　became
  so　thick　that　the　ground　was　carpeted　with　them。　　There　were　big
  yellow　and　white　and　blue　and　purple　blossoms；　besides　great
  clusters　of　scarlet　poppies；　which　were　so　brilliant　in　color　they
  almost　dazzled　Dorothy's　eyes。
  〃Aren't　they　beautiful？〃　the　girl　asked；　as　she　breathed　in
  the　spicy　scent　of　the　bright　flowers。
  〃I　suppose　so；〃　answered　the　Scarecrow。　　〃When　I　have　brains；
  I　shall　probably　like　them　better。〃
  〃If　I　only　had　a　heart；　I　should　love　them；〃　added　the　Tin　Woodman。
  〃I　always　did　like　flowers；〃　said　the　Lion。　　〃They　of　seem　so
  helpless　and　frail。　　But　there　are　none　in　the　forest　so　bright　as　these。〃
  They　now　came　upon　more　and　more　of　the　big　scarlet　poppies；
  and　fewer　and　fewer　of　the　other　flowers；　and　soon　they　found
  themselves　in　the　midst　of　a　great　meadow　of　poppies。　　Now　it　is
  well　known　that　when　there　are　many　of　these　flowers　together
  their　odor　is　so　powerful　that　anyone　who　breathes　it　falls
  asleep；　and　if　the　sleeper　is　not　carried　away　from　the　scent　of
  the　flowers；　he　sleeps　on　and　on　forever。　　But　Dorothy　did　not
  know　this；　nor　could　she　get　away　from　the　bright　red　flowers　that
  were　everywhere　about；　so　presently　her　eyes　grew　heavy　and　she
  felt　she　must　sit　down　to　rest　and　to　sleep。
  But　the　Tin　Woodman　would　not　let　her　do　this。
  〃We　must　hurry　and　get　back　to　the　road　of　yellow　brick　before　dark；〃
  he　said；　and　the　Scarecrow　agreed　with　him。　　So　they　kept　walking　until
  Dorothy　could　stand　no　longer。　　Her　eyes　closed　in　spite　of　herself　and
  she　forgot　where　she　was　and　fell　among　the　poppies；　fast　asleep。
  〃What　shall　we　do？〃　asked　the　Tin　Woodman。
  〃If　we　leave　her　here　she　will　die；〃　said　the　Lion。　　〃The　smell　of
  the　flowers　is　killing　us　all。　　I　myself　can　scarcely　keep　my　eyes　open；
  and　the　dog　is　asleep　already。〃
  It　was　true；　Toto　had　fallen　down　beside　his　little　mistress。
  But　the　Scarecrow　and　the　Tin　Woodman；　not　being　made　of　flesh；
  were　not　troubled　by　the　scent　of　the　flowers。
  〃Run　fast；〃　said　the　Scarecrow　to　the　Lion；　〃and　get　out　of
  this　deadly　flower　bed　as　soon　as　you　can。　　We　will　bring　the
  little　girl　with　us；　but　if　you　should　fall　asleep　you　are　too　big
  to　be　carried。〃
  So　the　Lion　aroused　himself　and　bounded　forward　as　fast　as　he
  could　go。　　In　a　moment　he　was　out　of　sight。
  〃Let　us　make　a　chair　with　our　hands　and　carry　her；〃　said　the
  Scarecrow。　　So　they　picked　up　Toto　and　put　the　dog　in　Dorothy's
  lap；　and　then　they　made　a　chair　with　their　hands　for　the　seat　and
  their　arms　for　the　arms　and　carried　the　sleeping　girl　between　them
  through　the　flowers。
  On　and　on　they　walked；　and　it　seemed　that　the　great　carpet　of
  deadly　flowers　that　surrounded　them　would　never　end。　　They　followed
  the　bend　of　the　river；　and　at　last　came　upon　their　friend　the　Lion；
  lying　fast　asleep　among　the　poppies。　　The　flowers　had　been　too　strong
  for　the　huge　beast　and　he　had　given　up　at　last；　and　fallen　only　a　short
  distance　from　the　end　of　the　poppy　bed；　where　the　sweet　grass　spread　in
  beautiful　green　fields　before　them。
  〃We　can　do　nothing　for　him；〃　said　the　Tin　Woodman；　sadly；　〃for
  he　is　much　too　heavy　to　lift。　　We　must　leave　him　here　to　sleep　on
  forever；　and　perhaps　he　will　dream　that　he　has　found　courage　at　last。〃
  〃I'm　sorry；〃　said　the　Scarecrow。　　〃The　Lion　was　a　very　good
  comrade　for　one　so　cowardly。　　But　let　us　go　on。〃
  They　carried　the　sleeping　girl　to　a　pretty　spot　beside　the　river；
  far　enough　from　the　poppy　field　to　prevent　her　breathing　any　more　of
  the　poison　of　the　flowers；　and　here　they　laid　her　gently　on　the　soft
  grass　and　waited　for　the　fresh　breeze　to　waken　her。
  9。　　The　Queen　of　the　Field　Mice
  〃We　cannot　be　far　from　the　road　of　yellow　brick；　now；〃　remarked
  the　Scarecrow；　as　he　stood　beside　the　girl；　〃for　we　have　come
  nearly　as　far　as　the　river　carried　us　away。〃
  The　Tin　Woodman　was　about　to　reply　when　he　heard　a　low　growl；
  and　turning　his　head　（which　worked　beautifully　on　hinges）　he　saw　a
  strange　beast　come　bounding　over　the　grass　toward　them。　　It　was；
  indeed；　a　great　yellow　Wildcat；　and　the　Woodman　thought　it　must
  be　chasing　something；　for　its　ears　were　lying　close　to　its　head
  and　its　mouth　was　wide　open；　showing　two　rows　of　ugly　teeth；　while
  its　red　eyes　glowed　like　balls　of　fire。　　As　it　came　nearer　the　Tin
  Woodman　saw　that　running　before　the　beast　was　a　little　gray　field
  mouse；　and　although　he　had　no　heart　he　knew　it　was　wrong　for　the
  Wildcat　to　try　to　kill　such　a　pretty；　harmless　creature。
  So　the　Woodman　raised　his　axe；　and　as　the　Wildcat　ran　by　he　gave
  it　a　quick　blow　that　cut　the　beast's　head　clean　off　from　its　body；
  and　it　rolled　over　at　his　feet　in　two　pieces。
  The　field　mouse；　now　that　it　was　freed　from　its　enemy；　stopped　short；
  and　coming　slowly　up　to　the　Woodman　it　said；　in　a　squeaky　little　voice：
  〃Oh；　thank　you！　　Thank　you　ever　so　much　for　saving　my　life。〃
  〃Don't　speak　of　it；　I　beg　of　you；〃　replied　the　Woodman。
  〃I　have　no　heart；　you　know；　so　I　am　careful　to　help　all　those
  who　may　need　a　friend；　even　if　it　happens　to　be　only　a　mouse。〃
  〃Only　a　mouse！〃　cried　the　little　animal；　indignantly。
  〃Why；　I　am　a　Queenthe　Queen　of　all　the　Field　Mice！〃
  〃Oh；　indeed；〃　said　the　Woodman；　making　a　bow。
  〃Therefore　you　have　done　a　great　deed；　as　well　as　a　brave　one；
  in　saving　my　life；〃　added　the　Queen。
  At　that　moment　several　mice　were　seen　running　up　as　fast　as
  their　little　legs　could　carry　them；　and　when　they　saw　their　Queen
  they　exclaimed：
  〃Oh；　your　Majesty；　we　thought　you　would　be　killed！　　How　did
  you　manage　to　escape　the　great　Wildcat？〃　　They　all　bowed　so　low　to
  the　little　Queen　that　they　almost　stood　upon　their　heads。
  〃This　funny　tin　man；〃　she　answered；　〃killed　the　Wildcat　and
  saved　my　life。　　So　hereafter　you　must　all　serve　him；　and　obey　his
  slightest　wish。〃
  〃We　will！〃　cried　all　the　mice；　in　a　shrill　chorus。　　And　then　they
  scampered　in　all　directions；　for　Toto　had　awakened　from　his　sleep；　and
  seeing　all　these　mice　around　him　he　gave　one　bark　of　delight　and　jumped
  right　into　the　middle　of　the　group。　　Toto　had　always　loved　to　chase　mice
  when　he　lived　in　Kansas；　and　he　saw　no　harm　in　it。
  But　the　Tin　Woodman　caught　the　dog　in　his　arms　and　held　him　tight；
  while　he　called　to　the　mice；　〃Come　back！　　Come　back！　　Toto　shall　not　hurt　you。〃
  At　this　the　Queen　of　the　Mice　stuck　her　head　out　from　underneath　a　clump
  of　grass　and　asked；　in　a　timid　voice；　〃Are　you　sure　he　will　not　bite　us？〃
  〃I　will　not　let　him；〃　said　the　Woodman；　〃so　do　not　be　afraid。〃
  One　by　one　the　mice　came　creeping　back；　and　Toto　did　not　bark　again；
  although　he　tried　to　get　out　of　the　Woodman's　arms；　and　would　have　bitten
  him　had　he　not　known　very　well　he　was　made　of　tin。　　Finally　one　of　the
  biggest　mice　spoke。
  〃Is　there　anything　we　can　do；〃　it　asked；　〃to　repay　you　for
  saving　the　life　of　our　Queen？〃
  〃Nothing　that　I　know　of；〃　answered　the　Woodman；　but　the
  Scarecrow；　who　had　been　trying　to　think；　but　could　not　because　his
  head　was　stuffed　with　straw；　said；　quickly；　〃Oh；　yes；　you　can　save
  our　friend；　the　Cowardly　Lion；　who　is　asleep　in　the　poppy　bed。〃
  〃A　Lion！〃　cried　the　little　Queen。　　〃Why；　he　would　eat　us　all　up。〃
  〃Oh；　no；〃　declared　the　Scarecrow；　〃this　Lion　is　a　coward。〃
  〃Really？〃　asked　the　Mouse。
  〃He　says　so　himself；〃　answered　the　Scarecrow；　〃and　he　would
  never　hurt　anyone　who　is　our　friend。　　If　you　will　help　us　to　save
  him　I　promise　that　he　shall　treat　you　all　with　kindness。〃
  〃Very　well；〃　said　the　Queen；　〃we　trust　you。　　But　what　shall　we　do？〃
  〃Are　there　many　of　these　mice　which　call　you　Queen　and　are　willing
  to　obey　you？〃
  〃Oh；　yes；　there　are　thousands；〃　she　replied。
  〃Then　send　for　them　all　to　come　here　as　soon　as　possible；
  and　let　each　one　bring　a　long　piece　of　string。〃
  The　Queen　turned　to　the　mice　that　attended　her　and　told　them
  to　go　at　once　and　get　all　her　people。　　As　soon　as　they　heard　her
  orders　they　ran　away　in　every　direction　as　fast　as　possible。
  〃Now；〃　said　the　Scarecrow　to　the　Tin　Woodman；　〃you　must　go　to
  those　trees　by　the　riverside　and　make　a　truck　that　will　carry　the　Lion。〃
  So　the　Woodman　went　at　once　to　the　trees　and　began　to　work；
  and　he　soon　made　a　truck　out　of　the　limbs　of　trees；　from　which　he
  chopped　away　all　the　leaves　and　branches。　　He　fastened　it　together
  with　wooden　pegs　and　made　the　four　wheels　out　of　short　pieces　of　a
  big　tree　trunk。　　So　fast　and　so　well　did　he　work　that　by　the　time
  the　mice　began　to　arrive　the　truck　was　all　ready　for　them。
  They　came　from　all　directions；　and　there　were　thousands　of
  them：　big　mice　and　little　mice　and　middle…sized　mice；　and　each
  one　brought　a　piece　of　string　in　his　mouth。　　It　was　about　this
  time　that　Dorothy　woke　from　her　long　sleep　and　opened　her　eyes。
  She　was　greatly　astonished　to　find　herself　lying　upon　the　grass；
  with　thousands　of　mice　standing　around　and　looking　at　her　timidly。
  But　the　Scarecrow　told　her　about　ever