The Cowardly Lion

           Theywereobligedtocampoutthatnightunderalargetreeintheforest,fortherewerenohousesnear. Thetreemadeagood,thickcoveringtoprotectthemfromthedew,andtheTinWoodmanchoppedagreatpileofwoodwithhisaxeandDorothybuiltasplendidfirethatwarmedherandmadeherfeellesslonely. SheandTotoatethelastoftheirbread,andnowshedidnotknowwhattheywoulddoforbreakfast. 

           "Ifyouwish,"saidtheLion,"Iwillgointotheforestandkilladeerforyou. Youcanroastitbythefire,sinceyourtastesaresopeculiarthatyouprefercookedfood,andthenyouwillhaveaverygoodbreakfast." 

           "Don’t!Pleasedon’t,"beggedtheTinWoodman. "Ishouldcertainlyweepifyoukilledapoordeer,andthenmyjawswouldrustagain." 

           ButtheLionwentawayintotheforestandfoundhisownsupper,andnooneeverknewwhatitwas,forhedidn’tmentionit. AndtheScarecrowfoundatreefullofnutsandfilledDorothy’sbasketwiththem,sothatshewouldnotbehungryforalongtime. ShethoughtthiswasverykindandthoughtfuloftheScarecrow,butshelaughedheartilyattheawkwardwayinwhichthepoorcreaturepickedupthenuts. Hispaddedhandsweresoclumsyandthenutsweresosmallthathedroppedalmostasmanyasheputinthebasket. ButtheScarecrowdidnotmindhowlongittookhimtofillthebasket,foritenabledhimtokeepawayfromthefire,ashefearedasparkmightgetintohisstrawandburnhimup. Sohekeptagooddistanceawayfromtheflames,andonlycameneartocoverDorothywithdryleaveswhenshelaydowntosleep. Thesekeptherverysnugandwarm,andshesleptsoundlyuntilmorning.