The Tin Woodman of Oz

by L. Frank Baum

  Chapter Nineteen

  The Invisible Country

  They were proceeding so easily and comfortably on their way to MountMunch that Woot said in a serious tone of voice:

  "I'm afraid something is going to happen."

  "Why?" asked Polychrome, dancing around the group of travelers.

  "Because," said the boy, thoughtfully, "I've noticed that when we havethe least reason for getting into trouble, something is sure to gowrong. Just now the weather is delightful; the grass is beautifullyblue and quite soft to our feet; the mountain we are seeking showsclearly in the distance and there is no reason anything should happento delay us in getting there. Our troubles all seem to be over,and--well, that's why I'm afraid," he added, with a sigh.

  "Dear me!" remarked the Scarecrow, "what unhappy thoughts you have, tobe sure. This is proof that born brains cannot equal manufacturedbrains, for my brains dwell only on facts and never borrow trouble.When there is occasion for my brains to think, they think, but I wouldbe ashamed of my brains if they kept shooting out thoughts that weremerely fears and imaginings, such as do no good, but are likely to doharm."

  "For my part," said the Tin Woodman, "I do not think at all, but allowmy velvet heart to guide me at all times."

  "The tinsmith filled my hollow head with scraps and clippings of tin,"said the Soldier, "and he told me they would do nicely for brains, butwhen I begin to think, the tin scraps rattle around and get so mixedthat I'm soon bewildered. So I try not to think. My tin heart is almostas useless to me, for it is hard and cold, so I'm sure the red velvetheart of my friend Nick Chopper is a better guide."

  "Thoughtless people are not unusual," observed the Scarecrow, "but Iconsider them more fortunate than those who have useless or wickedthoughts and do not try to curb them. Your oil can, friend Woodman, isfilled with oil, but you only apply the oil to your joints, drop bydrop, as you need it, and do not keep spilling it where it will do nogood. Thoughts should be restrained in the same way as your oil, andonly applied when necessary, and for a good purpose. If used carefully,thoughts are good things to have."

  Polychrome laughed at him, for the Rainbow's Daughter knew more aboutthoughts than the Scarecrow did. But the others were solemn, feelingthey had been rebuked, and tramped on in silence.

  Suddenly Woot, who was in the lead, looked around and found that allhis comrades had mysteriously disappeared. But where could they havegone to? The broad plain was all about him and there were neither treesnor bushes that could hide even a rabbit, nor any hole for one to fallinto. Yet there he stood, alone.

  Surprise had caused him to halt, and with a thoughtful and puzzledexpression on his face he looked down at his feet. It startled him anewto discover that he had no feet. He reached out his hands, but he couldnot see them. He could feel his hands and arms and body; he stamped hisfeet on the grass and knew they were there, but in some strange waythey had become invisible.

  While Woot stood, wondering, a crash of metal sounded in his ears andhe heard two heavy bodies tumble to the earth just beside him.

  "Good gracious!" exclaimed the voice of the Tin Woodman.

  "Mercy me!" cried the voice of the Tin Soldier.

  "Why didn't you look where you were going?" asked the Tin Woodmanreproachfully.

  "I did, but I couldn't see you," said the Tin Soldier. "Something hashappened to my tin eyes. I can't see you, even now, nor can I seeanyone else!"

  "It's the same way with me," admitted the Tin Woodman.

  Woot couldn't see either of them, although he heard them plainly, andjust then something smashed against him unexpectedly and knocked himover; but it was only the straw-stuffed body of the Scarecrow that fellupon him and while he could not see the Scarecrow he managed to pushhim off and rose to his feet just as Polychrome whirled against him andmade him tumble again.

  Sitting upon the ground, the boy asked:

  "Can you see us, Poly?"

  "No, indeed," answered the Rainbow's Daughter; "we've all becomeinvisible."

  "How did it happen, do you suppose?" inquired the Scarecrow, lyingwhere he had fallen.

  "We have met with no enemy," answered Poly-chrome, "so it must be thatthis part of the country has the magic quality of making peopleinvisible--even fairies falling under the charm. We can see the grass,and the flowers, and the stretch of plain before us, and we can stillsee Mount Munch in the distance; but we cannot see ourselves or oneanother."

  "Well, what are we to do about it?" demanded Woot.

  "I think this magic affects only a small part of the plain," repliedPolychrome; "perhaps there is only a streak of the country where anenchantment makes people become invisible. So, if we get together andhold hands, we can travel toward Mount Munch until the enchanted streakis passed."

  "All right," said Woot, jumping up, "give me your hand, Polychrome.Where are you?"

  "Here," she answered. "Whistle, Woot, and keep whistling until I cometo you."

  So Woot whistled, and presently Polychrome found him and grasped hishand.

  "Someone must help me up," said the Scarecrow, lying near them; so theyfound the straw man and sat him upon his feet, after which he held fastto Polychrome's other hand.

  Nick Chopper and the Tin Soldier had managed to scramble up withoutassistance, but it was awkward for them and the Tin Woodman said:

  "I don't seem to stand straight, somehow. But my joints all work, so Iguess I can walk."

  Guided by his voice, they reached his side, where Woot grasped his tinfingers so they might keep together.

  The Tin Soldier was standing near by and the Scarecrow soon touched himand took hold of his arm.

  "I hope you're not wobbly," said the straw man, "for if two of us walkunsteadily we will be sure to fall."

  "I'm not wobbly," the Tin Soldier assured him, "but I'm certain thatone of my legs is shorter than the other. I can't see it, to tellwhat's gone wrong, but I'll limp on with the rest of you until we areout of this enchanted territory."

  They now formed a line, holding hands, and turning their faces towardMount Munch resumed their journey. They had not gone far, however, whena terrible growl saluted their ears. The sound seemed to come from aplace just in front of them, so they halted abruptly and remainedsilent, listening with all their ears.

  "I smell straw!" cried a hoarse, harsh voice, with more growls andsnarls. "I smell straw, and I'm a Hip-po-gy-raf who loves straw andeats all he can find. I want to eat this straw! Where is it? Where isit?"

  The Scarecrow, hearing this, trembled but kept silent. All the otherswere silent, too, hoping that the invisible beast would be unable tofind them. But the creature sniffed the odor of the straw and drewnearer and nearer to them until he reached the Tin Woodman, on one endof the line. It was a big beast and it smelled of the Tin Woodman andgrated two rows of enormous teeth against the Emperor's tin body.

  "Bah! that's not straw," said the harsh voice, and the beast advancedalong the line to Woot.

  "Meat! Pooh, you're no good! I can't eat meat," grumbled the beast, andpassed on to Polychrome.

  "Sweetmeats and perfume--cobwebs and dew! Nothing to eat in a fairylike you," said the creature.

  Now, the Scarecrow was next to Polychrome in the line, and he realizedif the beast devoured his straw he would be helpless for a long time,because the last farmhouse was far behind them and only grass coveredthe vast expanse of plain. So in his fright he let go of Polychrome'shand and put the hand of the Tin Soldier in that of the Rainbow'sDaughter. Then he slipped back of the line and went to the other end,where he silently seized the Tin Woodman's hand.

  Meantime, the beast had smelled the Tin Soldier and found he was thelast of the line.

  "That's funny!" growled the Hip-po-gy-raf; "I can smell straw, but Ican't find it. Well, it's here, somewhere, and I must hunt around untilI do find it, for I'm hungry."

  His voice was now at the left of them, so they started on, hoping toavoid him, and traveled as fast as they could in the direction of MountMunch.

 
"I don't like this invisible country," said Woot with a shudder. "Wecan't tell how many dreadful, invisible beasts are roaming around us,or what danger we'll come to next."

  "Quit thinking about danger, please," said the Scarecrow, warningly.

  "Why?" asked the boy.

  "If you think of some dreadful thing, it's liable to happen, but if youdon't think of it, and no one else thinks of it, it just can't happen.Do you see?"

  "No," answered Woot. "I won't be able to see much of anything until weescape from this enchantment."

  But they got out of the invisible strip of country as suddenly as theyhad entered it, and the instant they got out they stopped short, forjust before them was a deep ditch, running at right angles as far astheir eyes could see and stopping all further progress toward MountMunch.

  "It's not so very wide," said Woot, "but I'm sure none of us can jumpacross it."

  Polychrome began to laugh, and the Scarecrow said: "What's the matter?"

  "Look at the tin men!" she said, with another burst of merry laughter.

  Woot and the Scarecrow looked, and the tin men looked at themselves.

  "It was the collision," said the Tin Woodman regretfully. "I knewsomething was wrong with me, and now I can see that my side is dentedin so that I lean over toward the left. It was the Soldier's fault; heshouldn't have been so careless."

  "It is your fault that my right leg is bent, making it shorter than theother, so that I limp badly," retorted the Soldier. "You shouldn't havestood where I was walking."

  "You shouldn't have walked where I was standing," replied the TinWoodman.

  It was almost a quarrel, so Polychrome said soothingly:

  "Never mind, friends; as soon as we have time I am sure we canstraighten the Soldier's leg and get the dent out of the Woodman'sbody. The Scarecrow needs patting into shape, too, for he had a badtumble, but our first task is to get over this ditch."

  "Yes, the ditch is the most important thing, just now," added Woot.

  They were standing in a row, looking hard at the unexpected barrier,when a fierce growl from behind them made them all turn quickly. Out ofthe invisible country marched a huge beast with a thick, leathery skinand a surprisingly long neck. The head on the top of this neck wasbroad and flat and the eyes and mouth were very big and the nose andears very small. When the head was drawn down toward the beast'sshoulders, the neck was all wrinkles, but the head could shoot up veryhigh indeed, if the creature wished it to.

  "Dear me!" exclaimed the Scarecrow, "this must be the Hip-po-gy-raf."

  "Quite right," said the beast; "and you're the straw which I'm to eatfor my dinner. Oh, how I love straw! I hope you don't resent myaffectionate appetite?"

  With its four great legs it advanced straight toward the Scarecrow, butthe Tin Woodman and the Tin Soldier both sprang in front of theirfriend and flourished their weapons.

  "Keep off!" said the Tin Woodman, warningly, "or I'll chop you with myaxe."

  "Keep off!" said the Tin Soldier, "or I'll cut you with my sword."

  "Would you really do that?" asked the Hip-po-gy-raf, in a disappointedvoice.

  "We would," they both replied, and the Tin Woodman added: "TheScarecrow is our friend, and he would be useless without his strawstuffing. So, as we are comrades, faithful and true, we will defend ourfriend's stuffing against all enemies."

  The Hip-po-gy-raf sat down and looked at them sorrowfully.

  "When one has made up his mind to have a meal of delicious straw, andthen finds he can't have it, it is certainly hard luck," he said. "Andwhat good is the straw man to you, or to himself, when the ditch keepsyou from going any further?"

  "Well, we can go back again," suggested Woot.

  "True," said the Hip-po; "and if you do, you'll be as disappointed as Iam. That's some comfort, anyhow."

  The travelers looked at the beast, and then they looked across theditch at the level plain beyond. On the other side the grass had growntall, and the sun had dried it, so there was a fine crop of hay thatonly needed to be cut and stacked.

  "Why don't you cross over and eat hay?" the boy asked the beast.

  "I'm not fond of hay," replied the Hip-po-gy-raf; "straw is much moredelicious, to my notion, and it's more scarce in this neighborhood,too. Also I must confess that I can't get across the ditch, for my bodyis too heavy and clumsy for me to jump the distance. I can stretch myneck across, though, and you will notice that I've nibbled the hay onthe farther edge--not because I liked it, but because one must eat, andif one can't get the sort of food he desires, he must take what isoffered or go hungry."

  "Ah, I see you are a philosopher," remarked the Scarecrow.

  "No, I'm just a Hip-po-gy-raf," was the reply.

  Polychrome was not afraid of the big beast. She danced close to him andsaid:

  "If you can stretch your neck across the ditch, why not help us over?We can sit on your big head, one at a time, and then you can lift usacross."

  "Yes; I can, it is true," answered the Hip-po; "but I refuse to do it.Unless--" he added, and stopped short.

  "Unless what?" asked Polychrome.

  "Unless you first allow me to eat the straw with which the Scarecrow isstuffed."

  "No," said the Rainbow's Daughter, "that is too high a price to pay.Our friend's straw is nice and fresh, for he was restuffed only alittle while ago."

  "I know," agreed the Hip-po-gy-raf. "That's why I want it. If it wasold, musty straw, I wouldn't care for it."

  "Please lift us across," pleaded Polychrome.

  "No," replied the beast; "since you refuse my generous offer, I can beas stubborn as you are."

  After that they were all silent for a time, but then the Scarecrow saidbravely:

  "Friends, let us agree to the beast's terms. Give him my straw, andcarry the rest of me with you across the ditch. Once on the other side,the Tin Soldier can cut some of the hay with his sharp sword, and youcan stuff me with that material until we reach a place where there isstraw. It is true I have been stuffed with straw all my life and itwill be somewhat humiliating to be filled with common hay, but I amwilling to sacrifice my pride in a good cause. Moreover, to abandon ourerrand and so deprive the great Emperor of the Winkies--or this nobleSoldier--of his bride, would be equally humiliating, if not more so."

  "You're a very honest and clever man!" exclaimed the Hip-po-gy-raf,admiringly. "When I have eaten your head, perhaps I also will becomeclever."

  "You're not to eat my head, you know," returned the Scarecrow hastily."My head isn't stuffed with straw and I cannot part with it. When oneloses his head he loses his brains."

  "Very well, then; you may keep your head," said the beast.

  The Scarecrow's companions thanked him warmly for his loyal sacrificeto their mutual good, and then he laid down and permitted them to pullthe straw from his body. As fast as they did this, the Hip-po-gy-rafate up the straw, and when all was consumed Polychrome made a neatbundle of the clothes and boots and gloves and hat and said she wouldcarry them, while Woot tucked the Scarecrow's head under his arm andpromised to guard its safety.

  "Now, then," said the Tin Woodman, "keep your promise, Beast, and liftus over the ditch."

  "M-m-m-mum, but that was a fine dinner!" said the Hip-po, smacking histhick lips in satisfaction, "and I'm as good as my word. Sit on myhead, one at a time, and I'll land you safely on the other side."

  He approached close to the edge of the ditch and squatted down.Polychrome climbed over his big body and sat herself lightly upon theflat head, holding the bundle of the Scarecrow's raiment in her hand.Slowly the elastic neck stretched out until it reached the far side ofthe ditch, when the beast lowered his head and permitted the beautifulfairy to leap to the ground.

  Woot made the queer journey next, and then the Tin Soldier and the TinWoodman went over, and all were well pleased to have overcome thisserious barrier to their progress.

  "Now, Soldier, cut the hay," said the Scarecrow's head, which was stillheld by Woot the Wanderer.

  "I'd
like to, but I can't stoop over, with my bent leg, withoutfalling," replied Captain Fyter.

  "What can we do about that leg, anyhow?" asked Woot, appealing toPolychrome.

  She danced around in a circle several times without replying, and theboy feared she had not heard him; but the Rainbow's Daughter was merelythinking upon the problem, and presently she paused beside the TinSoldier and said:

  "I've been taught a little fairy magic, but I've never before beenasked to mend tin legs with it, so I'm not sure I can help you. It alldepends on the good will of my unseen fairy guardians, so I'll try, andif I fail, you will be no worse off than you are now."

  She danced around the circle again, and then laid both hands upon thetwisted tin leg and sang in her sweet voice:

  "Fairy Powers, come to my aid! This bent leg of tin is made; Make it straight and strong and true, And I'll render thanks to you."

  "Ah!" murmured Captain Fyter in a glad voice, as she withdrew her handsand danced away, and they saw he was standing straight as ever, becausehis leg was as shapely and strong as it had been before his accident.

  The Tin Woodman had watched Polychrome with much interest, and he nowsaid:

  "Please take the dent out of my side, Poly, for I am more crippled thanwas the Soldier."

  So the Rainbow's Daughter touched his side lightly and sang:

  "Here's a dent by accident; Such a thing was never meant. Fairy Powers, so wondrous great, Make our dear Tin Woodman straight!"

  "Good!" cried the Emperor, again standing erect and strutting around toshow his fine figure. "Your fairy magic may not be able to accomplishall things, sweet Polychrome, but it works splendidly on tin. Thank youvery much."

  "The hay--the hay!" pleaded the Scarecrow's head.

  "Oh, yes; the hay," said Woot. "What are you waiting for, CaptainFyter?"

  At once the Tin Soldier set to work cutting hay with his sword and in afew minutes there was quite enough with which to stuff the Scarecrow'sbody. Woot and Polychrome did this and it was no easy task because thehay packed together more than straw and as they had little experiencein such work their job, when completed, left the Scarecrow's arms andlegs rather bunchy. Also there was a hump on his back which made Wootlaugh and say it reminded him of a camel, but it was the best theycould do and when the head was fastened on to the body they asked theScarecrow how he felt.

  "A little heavy, and not quite natural," he cheerfully replied; "butI'll get along somehow until we reach a straw-stack. Don't laugh at me,please, because I'm a little ashamed of myself and I don't want toregret a good action."

  They started at once in the direction of Mount Munch, and as theScarecrow proved very clumsy in his movements, Woot took one of hisarms and the Tin Woodman the other and so helped their friend to walkin a straight line.

  And the Rainbow's Daughter, as before, danced ahead of them and behindthem and all around them, and they never minded her odd ways, becauseto them she was like a ray of sunshine.