The Discovery of Oz, the Terrible

           ForthreedaysDorothyheardnothingfromOz. Theseweresaddaysforthelittlegirl,althoughherfriendswereallquitehappyandcontented. TheScarecrowtoldthemtherewerewonderfulthoughtsinhishead;buthewouldnotsaywhattheywerebecauseheknewnoonecouldunderstandthembuthimself. WhentheTinWoodmanwalkedabouthefelthisheartrattlingaroundinhisbreast;andhetoldDorothyhehaddiscoveredittobeakinderandmoretenderheartthantheonehehadownedwhenhewasmadeofflesh. TheLiondeclaredhewasafraidofnothingonearth,andwouldgladlyfaceanarmyoradozenofthefierceKalidahs. 

           ThuseachofthelittlepartywassatisfiedexceptDorothy,wholongedmorethanevertogetbacktoKansas. 

           Onthefourthday,tohergreatjoy,Ozsentforher,andwhensheenteredtheThroneRoomhegreetedherpleasantly: 

           "Sitdown,mydear;IthinkIhavefoundthewaytogetyououtofthiscountry." 

           "AndbacktoKansas?"sheaskedeagerly. 

           "Well,I’mnotsureaboutKansas,"saidOz,"forIhaven’tthefaintestnotionwhichwayitlies. Butthefirstthingtodoistocrossthedesert,andthenitshouldbeeasytofindyourwayhome." 

           "HowcanIcrossthedesert?"sheinquired. 

           "Well,I’lltellyouwhatIthink,"saidthelittleman. "Yousee,whenIcametothiscountryitwasinaballoon. Youalsocamethroughtheair,beingcarriedbyacyclone.