The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – 18 – Away to the South

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Chapter 18 – Away to the South

Dorothy cried bitterly at losing the chance to get home to Kansas again. But when she thought about it, she was glad she hadn’t gone up in a balloon. She also felt sorry for losing Oz, and so did her companions.

The tin man came to her and said:

“Truly, he gave me my lovely heart, so I’m sad that he is gone. I want to cry a little. Could you kindly wipe away my tears so that I don’t rust?”

“With pleasure,” she answered and brought a towel at once. Then the tin man wept for several minutes and she watched the tears carefully and wiped them away with the towel. When he had finished, he thanked her kindly and oiled himself with his jeweled oil can.

The scarecrow was not the ruler of the Emerald City, and although he was not a wizard, the people were proud of him. “Because,” they said, “there isn’t another city in the world that is ruled by a stuffed man.” And, as far as they knew, they were right.

The morning after the balloon had gone up with Oz, the four travelers met in the Throne Room and talked matters over. The scarecrow sat on the big throne and the others stood respectfully in front of him.

“We are not unlucky,” said the new ruler, “because this palace and the Emerald City belong to us, and we can do whatever we please. When I remember that a short time ago, I was up on a pole in a cornfield, and that now I am the ruler of this beautiful city, I am quite happy.”

“Me, too,” said the tin man, “I am happy with my heart and, really, that was the only thing I wanted.”

“As for me, I am happy that I am as brave as any beast that ever lived. Maybe even braver,” said the lion modestly.

“If Dorothy could be happy to live in the Emerald City,” continued the scarecrow, “we could all be happy together.”

“But I don’t want to live here,” cried Dorothy. “I want to go to Kansas and live with Aunt Em and Uncle Henry.”

“Well, then, what can we do?” inquired the tin man.

The scarecrow decided to think. He thought so hard that the pins and needles began to stick out of his brain. Finally, he said:

“Why not call the Winged Monkeys, and ask them to carry you over the desert?”

“I never thought of that!” said Dorothy joyfully. “It’s just the thing. I’ll go at once to get the Golden Cap.”

When she brought it into the Throne Room, she spoke the magic words, and soon the band of Winged Monkey flew in though the open window and stood beside her.

“This is the second time you have called us,” said the Monkey King, bowing before the little girl, “What do you wish?”

“I want you to fly me to Kansas,” said Dorothy.

But the Monkey King shook his head.

“That can’t be done,” he said. “We belong to only this country, and can’t leave. There has never been a Winged Monkey in Kansas yet, and I suppose there never will be, because they don’t belong there. We will be happy to serve you in any way in our power, but we can’t cross the desert. Goodbye.”

And with another bow, the Monkey King spread his wings and flew away through the window, followed by all his band.

Dorothy was ready to cry with disappointment. “I have wasted the charm of the Golden Cap for nothing,” she said, “because the Winged Monkey can’t help me.”

“It’s too bad,” said the tender hearted tin man.

The scarecrow was thinking again and his head bulged out so horribly that Dorothy feared it would burst.

“Let’s call in the soldier with the green beard,” he said, “and ask for his advice.”

So the soldier was summoned and entered the Throne Room timidly, because while Oz was alive, he was never allowed to enter the Throne Room.

“This little girl,” said the scarecrow to the soldier, “wishes to cross the desert. How can she?”

“I don’t know,” answered the soldier, “because nobody has ever crossed the desert, except Oz himself.”

“Isn’t there anyone who can help me?” asked Dorothy earnestly.

“Glinda might,” he suggested.

“Who is Glinda?” inquired the scarecrow.

“The Witch of the South. She is the most powerful of all the witches, and rules over the Quadlings. Besides, her castle stands on the edge of the desert, so she may know a way to cross it.”

“Glinda is a good witch, isn’t she?” asked the child.

“The Quadlings think she is good,” said the soldier, “and she is kind to everyone. I have heard that Glinda is a beautiful woman. She knows how to look young in spite of being very old.”

“How can I get to her castle?” asked Dorothy.

“The road is straight to the south,” he answered, “but it is said to be full of dangers to travelers. There are wild beasts in the woods, and strange people who do not like strangers to cross their country. For this reason, none of the Quadlings ever come to the Emerald City.”

The soldier then left, and the scarecrow said:

“It seems, in spite of danger, that the best thing Dorothy can do is to travel to the Land of the South and ask Glinda to help her. Because, of course, if Dorothy stays her, she will never get back to Kansas.”

“You must have been thinking again,” remarked the tin man.

“I have,” said the scarecrow.

“I’ll go with Dorothy,” declared the lion, “because I am tired of your city and I want to see the woods and country again. I really am a wild beast, you know. Besides, Dorothy will need someone to protect her.”

“That is true,” agreed the tin man. “My ax might be of service to her. So I will also go with her to the Land of the South.”

“When should we start?” asked the scarecrow.

“Are you going?” they asked, in surprise.

“Certainly. If it wasn’t for Dorothy, I would have never had a brain. She lifted me from the pole in the cornfield and brought me to the Emerald City. So my good luck is all due to her. I won’t leave her until she finds a way to get to Kansas.”

“Thank you,” said Dorothy gratefully. “You are all very kind to me. But I would like to start as soon as possible.”

“We will go tomorrow morning,” returned the scarecrow. “So let’s all get ready, because it will be a long journey.”