The Rescue of the Tin Woodman

           AllthistimeDorothyandhercompanionshadbeenwalkingthroughthethickwoods. Theroadwasstillpavedwithyellowbrick,buttheseweremuchcoveredbydriedbranchesanddeadleavesfromthetrees,andthewalkingwasnotatallgood. 

           Therewerefewbirdsinthispartoftheforest,forbirdslovetheopencountrywherethereisplentyofsunshine. Butnowandthentherecameadeepgrowlfromsomewildanimalhiddenamongthetrees. Thesesoundsmadethelittlegirl’sheartbeatfast,forshedidnotknowwhatmadethem; butTotoknew,andhewalkedclosetoDorothy’sside,anddidnotevenbarkinreturn. 

           "Howlongwillitbe,"thechildaskedoftheTinWoodman,"beforeweareoutoftheforest?" 

           "Icannottell,"wastheanswer,"forIhaveneverbeentotheEmeraldCity. Butmyfatherwentthereonce,whenIwasaboy,andhesaiditwasalongjourneythroughadangerouscountry,althoughnearertothecitywhereOzdwellsthecountryisbeautiful. ButIamnotafraidsolongasIhavemyoil-can,andnothingcanhurttheScarecrow,whileyoubearuponyourforeheadthemarkoftheGoodWitch’skiss,andthatwillprotectyoufromharm." 

           "ButToto!"saidthegirlanxiously."Whatwillprotecthim?" 

           "Wemustprotecthimourselvesifheisindanger,"repliedtheTinWoodman. 

           Justashespoketherecamefromtheforestaterribleroar,andthenextmomentagreatLionboundedintotheroad.