The Tin Woodman of Oz

by L. Frank Baum

  Chapter Seventeen

  The Workshop of Ku-Klip

  It was not more than a two hours' journey to the house where NimmieAmee had lived, but when our travelers arrived there they found theplace deserted. The door was partly off its hinges, the roof had fallenin at the rear and the interior of the cottage was thick with dust. Notonly was the place vacant, but it was evident that no one had livedthere for a long time.

  "I suppose," said the Scarecrow, as they all stood looking wonderinglyat the ruined house, "that after the Wicked Witch was destroyed, NimmieAmee became lonely and went somewhere else to live."

  "One could scarcely expect a young girl to live all alone in a forest,"added Woot. "She would want company, of course, and so I believe shehas gone where other people live."

  "And perhaps she is still crying her poor little heart out because notin man comes to marry her," suggested Polychrome.

  "Well, in that case, it is the clear duty of you two tin persons toseek Nimmie Amee until you find her," declared the Scarecrow.

  "I do not know where to look for the girl," said the Tin Soldier, "forI am almost a stranger to this part of the country."

  "I was born here," said the Tin Woodman, "but the forest has fewinhabitants except the wild beasts. I cannot think of anyone livingnear here with whom Nimmie Amee might care to live."

  "Why not go to Ku-Klip and ask him what has become of the girl?"proposed Polychrome.

  That struck them all as being a good suggestion, so once more theystarted to tramp through the forest, taking the direct path toKu-Klip's house, for both the tin twins knew the way, having followedit many times.

  Ku-Klip lived at the far edge of the great forest, his house facing thebroad plains of the Munchkin Country that lay to the eastward. But,when they came to this residence by the forest's edge, the tinsmith wasnot at home.

  It was a pretty place, all painted dark blue with trimmings of lighterblue. There was a neat blue fence around the yard and several bluebenches had been placed underneath the shady blue trees which markedthe line between forest and plain. There was a blue lawn before thehouse, which was a good sized building. Ku-Klip lived in the front partof the house and had his work-shop in the back part, where he had alsobuilt a lean-to addition, in order to give him more room.

  Although they found the tinsmith absent on their arrival, there wassmoke coming out of his chimney, which proved that he would soon return.

  "And perhaps Nimmie Amee will be with him," said the Scarecrow in acheerful voice.

  While they waited, the Tin Woodman went to the door of the workshopand, finding it unlocked, entered and looked curiously around the roomwhere he had been made.

  "It seems almost like home to me," hie told his friends, who hadfollowed him in. "The first time I came here I had lost a leg, so I hadto carry it in my hand while I hopped on the other leg all the way fromthe place in the forest where the enchanted axe cut me. I remember thatold Ku-Klip carefully put my meat leg into a barrel--I think that isthe same barrel, still standing in the corner yonder--and then at oncehe began to make a tin leg for me. He worked fast and with skill, and Iwas much interested in the job."

  "My experience was much the same," said the Tin Soldier. "I used tobring all the parts of me, which the enchanted sword had cut away, hereto the tinsmith, and Ku-Klip would put them into the barrel."

  "I wonder," said Woot, "if those cast-off parts of you two unfortunatesare still in that barrel in the corner?"

  "I suppose so." replied the Tin Woodman. "In the Land of Oz no part ofa living creature can ever be destroyed."

  "If that is true, how was that Wicked Witch destroyed?" inquired Woot.

  "Why, she was very old and was all dried up and withered before Ozbecame a fairyland," explained the Scarecrow. "Only her magic arts hadkept her alive so long, and when Dorothy's house fell upon her she justturned to dust, and was blown away and scattered by the wind. I do notthink, however, that the parts cut away from these two young men couldever be entirely destroyed and, if they are still in those barrels,they are likely to be just the same as when the enchanted axe or swordsevered them."

  "It doesn't matter, however," said the Tin Woodman; "our tin bodies aremore brilliant and durable, and quite satisfy us."

  "Yes, the tin bodies are best," agreed the Tin Soldier. "Nothing canhurt them."

  "Unless they get dented or rusted," said Woot, but both the tin menfrowned on him.

  Scraps of tin, of all shapes and sizes, lay scattered around theworkshop. Also there were hammers and anvils and soldering irons and acharcoal furnace and many other tools such as a tinsmith works with.Against two of the side walls had been built stout work-benches and inthe center of the room was a long table. At the end of the shop, whichadjoined the dwelling, were several cupboards.

  After examining the interior of the workshop until his curiosity wassatisfied, Woot said:

  "I think I will go outside until Ku-Klip comes. It does not seem quiteproper for us to take possession of his house while he is absent."

  "That is true," agreed the Scarecrow, and they were all about to leavethe room when the Tin Woodman said: "Wait a minute," and they halted inobedience to the command.