www.freeclassicebooks.com

In the chamber were grouped dozens of queer creatures, and these so

astonished the Tin Man that Woot had to push his metal body aside, that he

might see, too. And the Scarecrow pushed Woot aside, so that the three

travelers stood in a row, staring with all their eyes.

The creatures they beheld were round and ball-like; round in body, round in

legs and arms, round in hands and feet and round of head. The only

exception to the roundness was a slight hollow on the top of each head,

making it saucer-shaped instead of dome-shaped. They wore no clothes on

their puffy bodies, nor had they any hair. Their skins were all of a light gray

color, and their eyes were mere purple spots. Their noses were as puffy as

the rest of them.

"Are they rubber, do you think?" asked the Scarecrow, who noticed that the

creatures bounded, as they moved, and seemed almost as light as air.

"It is difficult to tell what they are," answered Woot, "they seem to be covered

with warts."

The Loons--for so these folks were called--had been doing many things,

some playing together, some working at tasks and some gathered in groups

to talk; but at the sound of strange voices, which echoed rather loudly

through the clearing, all turned in the direction of the intruders. Then, in a

body, they all rushed forward, running and bounding with tremendous

speed.

The Tin Woodman was so surprised by this sudden dash that he had no

time to raise his axe before the Loons were on them. The creatures swung

their puffy hands, which looked like boxing-gloves, and pounded the three

travelers as hard as they could, on all sides. The blows were quite soft and

did not hurt our friends at all, but the onslaught quite bewildered them, so

that in a brief period all three were knocked over and fell flat upon the

ground. Once down, many of the Loons held them, to prevent their getting

up again, while others wound long tendrils of vines about them, binding

their arms and legs to their bodies and so rendering them helpless.

"Aha!" cried the biggest Loon of all; "we've got 'em safe; so let's carry 'em to

King Bal and have 'em tried, and condemned and perforated!" They had to

drag their captives to the center of the domed chamber, for their weight, as

compared with that of the Loons, prevented their being carried. Even the

Scarecrow was much heavier than the puffy Loons. But finally the party

halted before a raised platform, on which stood a sort of throne, consisting

The Tin Woodman of Oz