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times, forgetting the respect a giant owes to a giantess. Often he kicked me

on my shins, when I wouldn't wait on him. So I'm glad he is gone."

It's a wonder the people didn't capture you, too," remarked Woot.

Well, I was too clever for them," said she, giving a sudden laugh that

caused such a breeze that the wobbly Scarecrow was almost blown off his

feet and had to grab his friend Nick Chopper to steady himself. "I saw the

people coining," continued Mrs. Yoop, "and knowing they meant mischief I

transformed myself into a mouse and hid in a cupboard. After they had gone

away, carrying my shin-kicking husband with them, I transformed myself

back to my former shape again, and here I've lived in peace and comfort ever

since."

"Are you a Witch, then?" inquired Woot.

Well, not exactly a Witch," she replied, "but I'm an Artist in

Transformations. In other words, I'm more of a Yookoohoo than a Witch, and

of course you know that the Yookoohoos are the cleverest magic-workers in

the world."

The travelers were silent for a time, uneasily considering this statement and

the effect it might have on their future. No doubt the Giantess had wilfully

made them her prisoners; yet she spoke so cheerfully, in her big voice, that

until now they had not been alarmed in the least.

By and by the Scarecrow, whose mixed brains had been working steadily,

asked the woman:

"Are we to consider you our friend, Mrs. Yoop, or do you intend to be our

enemy?"

"I never have friends," she said in a matter-of-fact tone, "because friends get

too familiar and always forget to mind their own business. But I am not your

enemy; not yet, anyhow. Indeed, I'm glad you've come, for my life here is

rather lonely. I've had no one to talk to since I transformed Polychrome, the

Daughter of the Rainbow, into a canary-bird."

How did you manage to do that?" asked the Tin Woodman, in amazement.

Polychrome is a powerful fairy!"

She was," said the Giantess; "but now she's a canary-bird. One day after a

rain, Polychrome danced off the Rainbow and fell asleep on a little mound in

this valley, not far from my castle. The sun came out and drove the Rainbow

away, and before Poly wakened, I stole out and transformed her into a

The Tin Woodman of Oz