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Oh; it's a pig!" exclaimed Woot.

Pardon me; I am Mrs. Squealina Swyne, wife of Professor Grunter Swyne,

and this is our home," said the one in the window. "What do you want?"

"What sort of a Professor is your husband?" inquired the Tin Woodman

curiously.

He is Professor of Cabbage Culture and Corn Perfection. He is very famous

in his own family, and would be the wonder of the world if he went abroad,"

said Mrs. Swyne in a voice that was half proud and half irritable. "I must

also inform you intruders that the Professor is a dangerous individual, for

he files his teeth every morning until they are sharp as needles. If you are

butchers, you'd better run away and avoid trouble."

We are not butchers," the Tin Woodman assured her.

Then what are you doing with that axe? And why has the other tin man a

sword?"

"They are the only weapons we have to defend our friends from their

enemies," explained the Emperor of the Winkies, and Woot added:

Do not be afraid of us, Mrs. Swyne, for we are harmless travelers. The tin

men and the Scarecrow never eat anything and Polychrome feasts only on

dewdrops. As for me, I'm rather hungry, but there is plenty of food in your

garden to satisfy me."

Professor Swyne now joined his wife at the window, looking rather scared in

spite of the boy's assuring speech. He wore a blue Munchkin hat, with

pointed crown and broad brim, and big spectacles covered his eyes. He

peeked around from behind his wife and after looking hard at the strangers,

he said:

"My wisdom assures me that you are merely travelers, as you say, and not

butchers. Butchers have reason to be afraid of me, but you are safe. We

cannot invite you in, for you are too big for our house, but the boy who eats

is welcome to all the carrots and turnips he wants. Make yourselves at home

in the garden and stay all night, if you like; but in the morning you must go

away, for we are quiet people and do not care for company."

May I have some of your straw?" asked the Scarecrow.

Help yourself," replied Professor Swyne.

107

The Tin Woodman of Oz