www.freeclassicebooks.com

Well, we have escaped the big woman, to be sure," remarked the Green

Monkey, "but we still wear the awful forms the cruel yookoohoo gave us.

How are we going to get rid of these shapes, and become ourselves again?"

None could answer that question. They sat around the cage, brooding over

the problem, until the Monkey fell asleep. Seeing this, the Canary tucked

her head under her wing and also slept, and the Tin Owl and the Brown

Bear did not disturb them until morning came and it was broad daylight.

"I'm hungry," said Woot, when he wakened, for his knapsack of food had

been left behind at the castle.

Then let us travel on until we can find something for you to eat," returned

the Scarecrow Bear.

There is no use in your lugging my cage any farther," declared the Canary.

Let me out, and throw the cage away. Then I can fly with you and find my

own breakfast of seeds. Also I can search for water, and tell you where to

find it."

So the Green Monkey unfastened the door of the golden cage and the

Canary hopped out. At first she flew high in the air and made great circles

overhead, but after a time she returned and perched beside them.

At the east in the direction we were following," announced the Canary,

there is a fine forest, with a brook running through it. In the forest there

may be fruits or nuts growing, or berry bushes at its edge, so let us go that

way."

They agreed to this and promptly set off, this time moving more deliberately.

The Tin Owl, which had guided their way during the night, now found the

sunshine very trying to his big eyes, so he shut them tight and perched

upon the back of the little Brown Bear, which carried the Owl's weight with

ease. The Canary sometimes perched upon the Green Monkey's shoulder

and sometimes fluttered on ahead of the party, and in this manner they

traveled in good spirits across that valley and into the next one to the east of

it.

This they found to be an immense hollow, shaped like a saucer, and on its

farther edge appeared the forest which Polychrome had seen from the sky.

"Come to think of it," said the Tin Owl, waking up and blinking comically at

his friends, "there's no object, now, in our traveling to the Munchkin

Country. My idea in going there was to marry Nimmie Amee, but however

The Tin Woodman of Oz