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10. The Giant with the Hammer
Then,beforeanyonethoughthewasready,hemadeasuddenleapstraightbetweentheirongiant’slegs,andbeforethemalletstruckthegroundagaintheLionandOzmaweresafeontheotherside.
TheTigerwentnext.Dorothysatuponhisbackandlockedherarmsaroundhisstripedneck,forhehadnomanetoclingto.Hemadetheleapstraightandtrueasanarrowfromabow,andereDorothyrealizeditshewasoutofdangerandstandingbyOzma’sside.
NowcametheScarecrowontheSawhorse,andwhiletheymadethedashinsafetytheywerewithinahair’sbreadthofbeingcaughtbythedescendinghammer.
Tiktokwalkeduptotheveryedgeofthespotthehammerstruck,andasitwasraisedforthenextblowhecalmlysteppedforwardandescapeditsdescent.ThatwasanideafortheTinWoodmantofollow,andhealsocrossedinsafetywhilethegreathammerwasintheair.Butwhenitcametothetwenty-sixofficersandtheprivate,theirkneesweresoweakthattheycouldnotwalkastep.
"Inbattlewearewonderfullycourageous,"saidoneofthegenerals,"andourfoesfindusveryterribletoface.Butwarisonethingandthisisanother.Whenitcomestobeingpoundedupontheheadbyanironhammer,andsmashedintopancakes,wenaturallyobject."
"Makearunforit,"urgedtheScarecrow.
"Ourkneesshakesothatwecannotrun,"answeredacaptain."Ifweshouldtryitwewouldallcertainlybepoundedtoajelly."
"Well,well,"sighedtheCowardlyLion,"Isee,friendTiger,thatwemustplaceourselvesingreatdangertorescuethisboldarmy.Comewithme,andwewilldothebestwecan.
