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Polychrome laughed at him, for the Rainbow's Daughter knew more about

thoughts than the Scarecrow did. But the others were solemn, feeling they

had been rebuked, and tramped on in silence.

Suddenly Woot, who was in the lead, looked around and found that all his

comrades had mysteriously disappeared. But where could they have gone

to? The broad plain was all about him and there were neither trees nor

bushes that could hide even a rabbit, nor any hole for one to fall into. Yet

there he stood, alone.

Surprise had caused him to halt, and with a thoughtful and puzzled

expression on his face he looked down at his feet. It startled him anew to

discover that he had no feet. He reached out his hands, but he could not see

them. He could feel his hands and arms and body; he stamped his feet on

the grass and knew they were there, but in some strange way they had

become invisible.

While Woot stood, wondering, a crash of metal sounded in his ears and he

heard two heavy bodies tumble to the earth just beside him.

Good gracious!" exclaimed the voice of the Tin Woodman.

Mercy me!" cried the voice of the Tin Soldier.

Why didn't you look where you were going?" asked the Tin Woodman

reproachfully.

I did, but I couldn't see you," said the Tin Soldier. "Something has

happened to my tin eyes. I can't see you, even now, nor can I see anyone

else!"

"It's the same way with me," admitted the Tin Woodman.

Woot couldn't see either of them, although he heard them plainly, and just

then something smashed against him unexpectedly and knocked him over;

but it was only the straw-stuffed body of the Scarecrow that fell upon him

and while he could not see the Scarecrow he managed to push him off and

rose to his feet just as Polychrome whirled against him and made him

tumble again.

Sitting upon the ground, the boy asked:

"Can you see us, Poly?"

"No, indeed," answered the Rainbow's Daughter; "we've all become invisible."

The Tin Woodman of Oz