Chapter Sixteen
Captain Fyter
"Are you really a soldier?" asked Woot, when they had all watched thisstrange tin person parade up and down the path and proudly flourish hissword.
"I was a soldier," was the reply, "but I've been a prisoner to Mr. Rustso long that I don't know exactly what I am."
"But--dear me!" cried the Tin Woodman, sadly perplexed; "how came youto be made of tin?"
"That," answered the Soldier, "is a sad, sad story I was in love with abeautiful Munchkin girl, who lived with a Wicked Witch. The Witch didnot wish me to marry the girl, so she enchanted my sword, which beganhacking me to pieces. When I lost my legs I went to the tinsmith,Ku-Klip, and he made me some tin legs. When I lost my arms, Ku-Klipmade me tin arms, and when I lost my head he made me this fine one outof tin. It was the same way with my body, and finally I was all tin.But I was not unhappy, for Ku-Klip made a good job of me, having hadexperience in making another tin man before me."
"Yes," observed the Tin Woodman, "it was Ku-Klip who made me. But, tellme, what was the name of the Munchkin girl you were in love with?"
"She is called Nimmie Amee," said the Tin Soldier.
Hearing this, they were all so astonished that they were silent for atime, regarding the stranger with wondering looks. Finally the TinWoodman ventured to ask:
"And did Nimmie Amee return your love?"
"Not at first," admitted the Soldier. "When first I marched into theforest and met her, she was weeping over the loss of her formersweetheart, a woodman whose name was Nick Chopper."
"That is me," said the Tin Woodman.
"She told me he was nicer than a soldier, because he was all made oftin and shone beautifully in the sun. She said a tin man appealed toher artistic instincts more than an ordinary meat man, as I was then.But I did not despair, because her tin sweetheart had disappeared, andcould not be found. And finally Nimmie Amee permitted me to call uponher and we became friends. It was then that the Wicked Witch discoveredme and became furiously angry when I said I wanted to marry the girl.She enchanted my sword, as I said, and then my troubles began. When Igot my tin legs, Nimmie Amee began to take an interest in me; when Igot my tin arms, she began to like me better than ever, and when I wasall made of tin, she said I looked like her dear Nick Chopper and shewould be willing to marry me.
"The day of our wedding was set, and it turned out to be a rainy day.Nevertheless I started out to get Nimmie Amee, because the Witch hadbeen absent for some time, and we meant to elope before she got back.As I traveled the forest paths the rain wetted my joints, but I paid noattention to this because my thoughts were all on my wedding withbeautiful Nimmie Amee and I could think of nothing else until suddenlymy legs stopped moving. Then my arms rusted at the joints and I becamefrightened and cried for help, for now I was unable to oil myself. Noone heard my calls and before long my jaws rusted, and I was unable toutter another sound. So I stood helpless in this spot, hoping somewanderer would come my way and save me. But this forest path is seldomused, and I have been standing here so long that I have lost all trackof time. In my mind I composed poetry and sang songs, but not a soundhave I been able to utter. But this desperate condition has now beenrelieved by your coming my way and I must thank you for my rescue."
"This is wonderful!" said the Scarecrow, heaving a stuffy, long sigh."I think Ku-Klip was wrong to make two tin men, just alike, and thestrangest thing of all is that both you tin men fell in love with thesame girl."
"As for that," returned the Soldier, seriously, "I must admit I lost myability to love when I lost my meat heart. Ku-Klip gave me a tin heart,to be sure, but it doesn't love anything, as far as I can discover, andmerely rattles against my tin ribs, which makes me wish I had no heartat all."
"Yet, in spite of this condition, you were going to marry Nimmie Amee?"
"Well, you see I had promised to marry her, and I am an honest man andalways try to keep my promises. I didn't like to disappoint the poorgirl, who had been disappointed by one tin man already."
"That was not my fault," declared the Emperor of the Winkies, and thenhe related how he, also, had rusted in the forest and after a long timehad been rescued by Dorothy and the Scarecrow and had traveled withthem to the Emerald City in search of a heart that could love.
"If you have found such a heart, sir," said the Soldier, "I will gladlyallow you to marry Nimmie Amee in my place."
"If she loves you best, sir," answered the Woodman, "I shall notinterfere with your wedding her. For, to be quite frank with you, Icannot yet love Nimmie Amee as I did before I became tin."
"Still, one of you ought to marry the poor girl," remarked Woot; "and,if she likes tin men, there is not much choice between you. Why don'tyou draw lots for her?"
"That wouldn't be right," said the Scarecrow.
"The girl should be permitted to choose her own husband," assertedPolychrome. "You should both go to her and allow her to take herchoice. Then she will surely be happy."
"That, to me, seems a very fair arrangement," said the Tin Soldier.
"I agree to it," said the Tin Woodman, shaking the hand of his twin toshow the matter was settled. "May I ask your name, sir?" he continued.
"Before I was so cut up," replied the other, "I was known as CaptainFyter, but afterward I was merely called 'The Tin Soldier.'"
"Well, Captain, if you are agreeable, let us now go to Nimmie Amee'shouse and let her choose between us."
"Very well; and if we meet the Witch, we will both fight her--you withyour axe and I with my sword."
"The Witch is destroyed," announced the Scarecrow, and as they walkedaway he told the Tin Soldier of much that had happened in the Land ofOz since he had stood rusted in the forest.
"I must have stood there longer than I had imagined," he saidthoughtfully.
The Tin Woodman of Oz Page 16
