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"
You have all been forced to endure a sad experience," said Ozma, "and so I
am anxious to do all in my power to break Mrs. Yoop's enchantments. But
first tell me how you happened to stray into that lonely Valley where Yoop
Castle stands."
Between them they related the object of their journey, the Scarecrow Bear
telling of the Tin Woodman's resolve to find Nimmie Amee and marry her, as
a just reward for her loyalty to him. Woot told of their adventures with the
Loons of Loonville, and the Tin Owl described the manner in which they had
been captured and transformed by the Giantess. Then Polychrome related
her story, and when all had been told, and Dorothy had several times
reproved Toto for growling at the Tin Owl, Ozma remained thoughtful for a
while, pondering upon what she had heard. Finally she looked up, and with
one of her delightful smiles, said to the anxious group:
"
I am not sure my magic will be able to restore every one of you, because
your transformations are of such a strange and unusual character. Indeed,
Mrs. Yoop was quite justified in believing no power could alter her
enchantments. However, I am sure I can restore the Scarecrow to his
original shape. He was stuffed with straw from the beginning, and even the
yookoohoo magic could not alter that. The Giantess was merely able to make
a bear's shape of a man's shape, but the bear is stuffed with straw, just as
the man was. So I feel confident I can make a man of the bear again."
"
Hurrah!" cried the Brown Bear, and tried clumsily to dance a jig of delight.
As for the Tin Woodman, his case is much the same," resumed Ozma, still
"
smiling. "The power of the Giantess could not make him anything but a tin
creature, whatever shape she transformed him into, so it will not be
impossible to restore him to his manly form. Anyhow, I shall test my magic
at once, and see if it will do what I have promised."
She drew from her bosom a small silver Wand and, making passes with the
Wand over the head of the Bear, she succeeded in the brief space of a
moment in breaking his enchantment. The original Scarecrow of Oz again
stood before them, well stuffed with straw and with his features nicely
painted upon the bag which formed his head.
The Scarecrow was greatly delighted, as you may suppose, and he strutted
proudly around while the powerful fairy, Ozma of Oz, broke the
enchantment that had transformed the Tin Woodman and made a Tin Owl
into a Tin Man again.
"Now, then," chirped the Canary, eagerly; "I'm next, Ozma!"
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