The Search for the Wicked Witch

           TheCowardlyLionwasmuchpleasedtohearthattheWickedWitchhadbeenmeltedbyabucketofwater,andDorothyatonceunlockedthegateofhisprisonandsethimfree. Theywentintogethertothecastle,whereDorothy’sfirstactwastocallalltheWinkiestogetherandtellthemthattheywerenolongerslaves. 

           TherewasgreatrejoicingamongtheyellowWinkies,fortheyhadbeenmadetoworkhardduringmanyyearsfortheWickedWitch,whohadalwaystreatedthemwithgreatcruelty. Theykeptthisdayasaholiday,thenandeverafter,andspentthetimeinfeastinganddancing. 

           "Ifourfriends,theScarecrowandtheTinWoodman,wereonlywithus,"saidtheLion,"Ishouldbequitehappy." 

           "Don’tyousupposewecouldrescuethem?"askedthegirlanxiously. 

           "Wecantry,"answeredtheLion. 

           SotheycalledtheyellowWinkiesandaskedthemiftheywouldhelptorescuetheirfriends,andtheWinkiessaidthattheywouldbedelightedtodoallintheirpowerforDorothy,whohadsetthemfreefrombondage. SoshechoseanumberoftheWinkieswholookedasiftheyknewthemost,andtheyallstartedaway. TheytraveledthatdayandpartofthenextuntiltheycametotherockyplainwheretheTinWoodmanlay,allbatteredandbent. Hisaxewasnearhim,butthebladewasrustedandthehandlebrokenoffshort. 

           TheWinkiesliftedhimtenderlyintheirarms,andcarriedhimbacktotheYellowCastleagain,Dorothysheddingafewtearsbythewayatthesadplightofheroldfriend,andtheLionlookingsoberandsorry. WhentheyreachedthecastleDorothysaidtotheWinkies: