with　thousands　of　mice　standing　around　and　looking　at　her　timidly。
  But　the　Scarecrow　told　her　about　everything；　and　turning　to　the
  dignified　little　Mouse；　he　said：
  〃Permit　me　to　introduce　to　you　her　Majesty；　the　Queen。〃
  Dorothy　nodded　gravely　and　the　Queen　made　a　curtsy；　after
  which　she　became　quite　friendly　with　the　little　girl。
  The　Scarecrow　and　the　Woodman　now　began　to　fasten　the　mice　to
  the　truck；　using　the　strings　they　had　brought。　　One　end　of　a
  string　was　tied　around　the　neck　of　each　mouse　and　the　other　end　to
  the　truck。　　Of　course　the　truck　was　a　thousand　times　bigger　than
  any　of　the　mice　who　were　to　draw　it；　but　when　all　the　mice　had
  been　harnessed；　they　were　able　to　pull　it　quite　easily。　　Even　the
  Scarecrow　and　the　Tin　Woodman　could　sit　on　it；　and　were　drawn　swiftly
  by　their　queer　little　horses　to　the　place　where　the　Lion　lay　asleep。
  After　a　great　deal　of　hard　work；　for　the　Lion　was　heavy；　they
  managed　to　get　him　up　on　the　truck。　　Then　the　Queen　hurriedly　gave
  her　people　the　order　to　start；　for　she　feared　if　the　mice　stayed
  among　the　poppies　too　long　they　also　would　fall　asleep。
  At　first　the　little　creatures；　many　though　they　were；　could
  hardly　stir　the　heavily　loaded　truck；　but　the　Woodman　and　the
  Scarecrow　both　pushed　from　behind；　and　they　got　along　better。
  Soon　they　rolled　the　Lion　out　of　the　poppy　bed　to　the　green　fields；
  where　he　could　breathe　the　sweet；　fresh　air　again；　instead　of　the
  poisonous　scent　of　the　flowers。
  Dorothy　came　to　meet　them　and　thanked　the　little　mice　warmly
  for　saving　her　companion　from　death。　　She　had　grown　so　fond　of
  the　big　Lion　she　was　glad　he　had　been　rescued。
  Then　the　mice　were　unharnessed　from　the　truck　and　scampered
  away　through　the　grass　to　their　homes。　　The　Queen　of　the　Mice　was
  the　last　to　leave。
  〃If　ever　you　need　us　again；〃　she　said；　〃come　out　into　the
  field　and　call；　and　we　shall　hear　you　and　come　to　your　assistance。
  Good…bye！〃
  〃Good…bye！〃　they　all　answered；　and　away　the　Queen　ran；　while
  Dorothy　held　Toto　tightly　lest　he　should　run　after　her　and
  frighten　her。
  After　this　they　sat　down　beside　the　Lion　until　he　should
  awaken；　and　the　Scarecrow　brought　Dorothy　some　fruit　from　a　tree
  near　by；　which　she　ate　for　her　dinner。
  10。　　The　Guardian　of　the　Gate
  It　was　some　time　before　the　Cowardly　Lion　awakened；　for　he　had
  lain　among　the　poppies　a　long　while；　breathing　in　their　deadly
  fragrance；　but　when　he　did　open　his　eyes　and　roll　off　the　truck
  he　was　very　glad　to　find　himself　still　alive。
  〃I　ran　as　fast　as　I　could；〃　he　said；　sitting　down　and　yawning；
  〃but　the　flowers　were　too　strong　for　me。　　How　did　you　get　me　out？〃
  Then　they　told　him　of　the　field　mice；　and　how　they　had　generously
  saved　him　from　death；　and　the　Cowardly　Lion　laughed；　and　said：
  〃I　have　always　thought　myself　very　big　and　terrible；　yet　such
  little　things　as　flowers　came　near　to　killing　me；　and　such　small
  animals　as　mice　have　saved　my　life。　　How　strange　it　all　is！
  But；　comrades；　what　shall　we　do　now？〃
  〃We　must　journey　on　until　we　find　the　road　of　yellow　brick　again；〃
  said　Dorothy；　〃and　then　we　can　keep　on　to　the　Emerald　City。〃
  So；　the　Lion　being　fully　refreshed；　and　feeling　quite　himself　again；
  they　all　started　upon　the　journey；　greatly　enjoying　the　walk　through　the　soft；
  fresh　grass；　and　it　was　not　long　before　they　reached　the　road　of　yellow　brick
  and　turned　again　toward　the　Emerald　City　where　the　Great　Oz　dwelt。
  The　road　was　smooth　and　well　paved；　now；　and　the　country　about
  was　beautiful；　so　that　the　travelers　rejoiced　in　leaving　the
  forest　far　behind；　and　with　it　the　many　dangers　they　had　met　in
  its　gloomy　shades。　　Once　more　they　could　see　fences　built　beside
  the　road；　but　these　were　painted　green；　and　when　they　came　to　a
  small　house；　in　which　a　farmer　evidently　lived；　that　also　was
  painted　green。　　They　passed　by　several　of　these　houses　during　the
  afternoon；　and　sometimes　people　came　to　the　doors　and　looked　at
  them　as　if　they　would　like　to　ask　questions；　but　no　one　came　near
  them　nor　spoke　to　them　because　of　the　great　Lion；　of　which　they
  were　very　much　afraid。　　The　people　were　all　dressed　in　clothing　of
  a　lovely　emerald…green　color　and　wore　peaked　hats　like　those　of
  the　Munchkins。
  〃This　must　be　the　Land　of　Oz；〃　said　Dorothy；　〃and　we　are
  surely　getting　near　the　Emerald　City。〃
  〃Yes；〃　answered　the　Scarecrow。　　〃Everything　is　green　here；
  while　in　the　country　of　the　Munchkins　blue　was　the　favorite　color。
  But　the　people　do　not　seem　to　be　as　friendly　as　the　Munchkins；　and
  I'm　afraid　we　shall　be　unable　to　find　a　place　to　pass　the　night。〃
  〃I　should　like　something　to　eat　besides　fruit；〃　said　the　girl；
  〃and　I'm　sure　Toto　is　nearly　starved。　　Let　us　stop　at　the　next
  house　and　talk　to　the　people。〃
  So；　when　they　came　to　a　good…sized　farmhouse；　Dorothy　walked
  boldly　up　to　the　door　and　knocked。
  A　woman　opened　it　just　far　enough　to　look　out；　and　said；
  〃What　do　you　want；　child；　and　why　is　that　great　Lion　with　you？〃
  〃We　wish　to　pass　the　night　with　you；　if　you　will　allow　us；〃
  answered　Dorothy；　〃and　the　Lion　is　my　friend　and　comrade；　and
  would　not　hurt　you　for　the　world。〃
  〃Is　he　tame？〃　asked　the　woman；　opening　the　door　a　little　wider。
  〃Oh；　yes；〃　said　the　girl；　〃and　he　is　a　great　coward；　too。
  He　will　be　more　afraid　of　you　than　you　are　of　him。〃
  〃Well；〃　said　the　woman；　after　thinking　it　over　and　taking
  another　peep　at　the　Lion；　〃if　that　is　the　case　you　may　come　in；
  and　I　will　give　you　some　supper　and　a　place　to　sleep。〃
  So　they　all　entered　the　house；　where　there　were；　besides　the
  woman；　two　children　and　a　man。　　The　man　had　hurt　his　leg；　and　was
  lying　on　the　couch　in　a　corner。　　They　seemed　greatly　surprised　to
  see　so　strange　a　company；　and　while　the　woman　was　busy　laying　the
  table　the　man　asked：
  〃Where　are　you　all　going？〃
  〃To　the　Emerald　City；〃　said　Dorothy；　〃to　see　the　Great　Oz。〃
  〃Oh；　indeed！〃　exclaimed　the　man。　　〃Are　you　sure　that　Oz　will　see　you？〃
  〃Why　not？〃　she　replied。
  〃Why；　it　is　said　that　he　never　lets　anyone　come　into　his　presence。
  I　have　been　to　the　Emerald　City　many　times；　and　it　is　a　beautiful　and
  wonderful　place；　but　I　have　never　been　permitted　to　see　the　Great　Oz；
  nor　do　I　know　of　any　living　person　who　has　seen　him。〃
  〃Does　he　never　go　out？〃　asked　the　Scarecrow。
  〃Never。　　He　sits　day　after　day　in　the　great　Throne　Room　of　his
  Palace；　and　even　those　who　wait　upon　him　do　not　see　him　face　to　face。〃
  〃What　is　he　like？〃　asked　the　girl。
  〃That　is　hard　to　tell；〃　said　the　man　thoughtfully。　　〃You　see；
  Oz　is　a　Great　Wizard；　and　can　take　on　any　form　he　wishes。　　So　that
  some　say　he　looks　like　a　bird；　and　some　say　he　looks　like　an
  elephant；　and　some　say　he　looks　like　a　cat。　　To　others　he　appears
  as　a　beautiful　fairy；　or　a　brownie；　or　in　any　other　form　that
  pleases　him。　　But　who　the　real　Oz　is；　when　he　is　in　his　own　form；
  no　living　person　can　tell。〃
  〃That　is　very　strange；〃　said　Dorothy；　〃but　we　must　try；　in
  some　way；　to　see　him；　or　we　shall　have　made　our　journey　for　nothing。〃
  〃Why　do　you　wish　to　see　the　terrible　Oz？〃　asked　the　man。
  〃I　want　him　to　give　me　some　brains；〃　said　the　Scarecrow　eagerly。
  〃Oh；　Oz　could　do　that　easily　enough；〃　declared　the　man。
  〃He　has　more　brains　than　he　needs。〃
  〃And　I　want　him　to　give　me　a　heart；〃　said　the　Tin　Woodman。
  〃That　will　not　trouble　him；〃　continued　the　man；　〃for　Oz　has　a
  large　collection　of　hearts；　of　all　sizes　and　shapes。〃
  〃And　I　want　him　to　give　me　courage；〃　said　the　Cowardly　Lion。
  〃Oz　keeps　a　great　pot　of　courage　in　his　Throne　Room；〃　said
  the　man；　〃which　he　has　covered　with　a　golden　plate；　to　keep　it
  from　running　over。　　He　will　be　glad　to　give　you　some。〃
  〃And　I　want　him　to　send　me　back　to　Kansas；〃　said　Dorothy。
  〃Where　is　Kansas？〃　asked　the　man；　with　surprise。
  〃I　don't　know；〃　replied　Dorothy　sorrowfully；　〃but　it　is　my　home；
  and　I'm　sure　it's　somewhere。〃
  〃Very　likely。　　Well；　Oz　can　do　anything；　so　I　suppose　he　will
  find　Kansas　for　you。　　But　first　you　must　get　to　see　him；　and　that
  will　be　a　hard　task；　for　the　Great　Wizard　does　not　like　to　see　anyone；
  and　he　usually　has　his　own　way。　　But　what　do　YOU　want？〃　he　continued；
  speaking　to　Toto。　　Toto　only　wagged　his　tail；　for；　strange　to　say；
  he　could　not　speak。
  The　woman　now　called　to　them　that　supper　was　ready；　so　they
  gathered　around　the　table　and　Dorothy　ate　some　delicious　porridge
  and　a　dish　of　scrambled　eggs　and　a　plate　of　nice　white　bread；　and
  enjoyed　her　meal。　　The　Lion　ate　some　of　the　porridge；　but　did　not
  care　for　it；　saying　it　was　made　from　oats　and　oats　were　food　for
  horses；　not　for　lions。　　The　Scarecrow　and　the　Tin　Woodman　ate
  nothing　at　all。　　Toto　ate　a　little　of　everything；　and　was　glad　to
  get　a　good　supper　again。
  The　woman　now　gave　Dorothy　a　bed　to　sleep　in；　and　Toto　lay
  down　beside　her；　while　the　Lion　guarded　the　door　of　her　room　so
  she　might　not　be　disturbed。　　The　Scarecrow　and　the　Tin　Woodman
  stood　up　in　a　corner　and　kept　quiet　all　night；　although　of　course
  they　could　not　sleep。
  The　next　morning；　as　soon　as　the　sun　was　up；　they　started　on
  their　way；　and　soon　saw　a　beautiful　green　glow　in　the　sky　just