www.freeclassicebooks.com

"Polychrome," said the Giantess, "permit me to introduce to you a Green

Monkey, which used to be a boy called Woot the Wanderer, and a Tin Owl,

which used to be a Tin Woodman named Nick Chopper, and a straw-stuffed

little Brown Bear which used to be a live Scarecrow."

We already know one another," declared the Scarecrow. "The bird is

Polychrome, the Rainbow's Daughter, and she and I used to be good

friends."

"Are you really my old friend, the Scarecrow?" asked; the bird, in a sweet,

low voice.

"There!" cried Mrs. Yoop; "that's the first time she has spoken since she was

transformed."

"I am really your old friend," answered the Scarecrow; "but you must pardon

me for appearing just now in this brutal form."

"I am a bird, as you are, dear Poly," said the Tin Woodman; "but, alas! a Tin

Owl is not as beautiful as a Canary-Bird."

How dreadful it all is!" sighed the Canary. "Couldn't you manage to escape

from this terrible Yookoohoo?"

"No," answered the Scarecrow, "we tried to escape, but failed. She first made

us her prisoners and then transformed us. But how did she manage to get

you, Polychrome?"

"I was asleep, and she took unfair advantage of me," answered the bird

sadly. "Had I been awake, I could easily have protected myself."

Tell me," said the Green Monkey earnestly, as he came close to the cage,

what must we do, Daughter of the Rainbow, to escape from these

transformations? Can't you help us, being a Fairy?"

"At present I am powerless to help even myself," replied the Canary.

That's the exact truth!" exclaimed the Giantess, who seemed pleased to

hear the bird talk, even though it complained; "you are all helpless and in

my power, so you may as well make up your minds to accept your fate and

be content. Remember that you are transformed for good, since no magic on

earth can break your enchantments. I am now going out for my morning

walk, for each day after breakfast I walk sixteen times around my castle for

exercise. Amuse yourselves while I am gone, and when I return I hope to

find you all reconciled and happy."

The Tin Woodman of Oz