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Chapter Twenty-Three - Through the Tunnel

It didn't rain just then, although the clouds in the sky grew thicker and

more threatening. Polychrome hoped for a thunder-storm, followed by her

Rainbow, but the two tin men did not relish the idea of getting wet. They

even preferred to remain in Nimmie Amee's house, although they felt they

were not welcome there, rather than go out and face the coming storm. But

the Scarecrow, who was a very thoughtful person, said to his friends:

"If we remain here until after the storm, and Polychrome goes away on her

Rainbow, then we will be prisoners inside the Wall of Solid Air; so it seems

best to start upon our return journey at once. If I get wet, my straw stuffing

will be ruined, and if you two tin gentlemen get wet, you may perhaps rust

again, and become useless. But even that is better than to stay here. Once

we are free of the barrier, we have Woot the Wanderer to help us, and he can

oil your joints and restuff my body, if it becomes necessary, for the boy is

made of meat, which neither rusts nor gets soggy or moldy."

"Come along, then!" cried Polychrome from the window, and the others,

realizing the wisdom of the Scarecrow's speech, took leave of Nimmie Amee,

who was glad to be rid of them, and said good-bye to her husband, who

merely scowled and made no answer, and then they hurried from the house.

Your old parts are not very polite, I must say," remarked the Scarecrow,

when they were in the garden.

"No," said Woot, "Chopfyt is a regular grouch. He might have wished us a

pleasant journey, at the very least."

"I beg you not to hold us responsible for that creature's actions," pleaded the

Tin Woodman. "We are through with Chopfyt and shall have nothing further

to do with him."

Polychrome danced ahead of the party and led them straight to the burrow

of the Blue Rabbit, which they might have had some difficulty in finding

without her. There she lost no time in making them all small again. The

Blue Rabbit was busy nibbling cabbage leaves in Nimmie Amee's garden, so

they did not ask his permission but at once entered the burrow.

Even now the raindrops were beginning to fall, but it was quite dry inside

the tunnel and by the time they had reached the other end, outside the

circular Wall of Solid Air, the storm was at its height and the rain was

coming down in torrents.

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The Tin Woodman of Oz