me up on a tall stick, where you found me. He and his friend soon
after walked away and left me alone.
"I did not like to be deserted this way. So I tried to walk
after them. But my feet would not touch the ground, and I was
forced to stay on that pole. It was a lonely life to lead, for I
had nothing to think of, having been made such a little while
before. Many crows and other birds flew into the cornfield, but as
soon as they saw me they flew away again, thinking I was a
Munchkin; and this pleased me and made me feel that I was quite an
important person. By and by an old crow flew near me, and after
looking at me carefully he perched upon my shoulder and said:
"`I wonder if that farmer thought to fool me in this clumsy
manner. Any crow of sense could see that you are only stuffed with
straw.' Then he hopped down at my feet and ate all the corn he
wanted. The other birds, seeing he was not harmed by me, came to
eat the corn too, so in a short time there was a great flock of
them about me.
"I felt sad at this, for it showed I was not such a good
Scarecrow after all; but the old crow comforted me, saying, `If you
only had brains in your head you would be as good a man as any of
them, and a better man than some of them. Brains are the only
things worth having in this world, no matter whether one is a crow
or a man.'
"After the crows had gone I thought this over, and decided I
would try hard to get some brains. By good luck you came along and
pulled me off the stake, and from what you say I am sure the Great
Oz will give me brains as soon as we get to the Emerald City."
"I hope so," said Dorothy earnestly, "since you seem anxious to
have them."
"Oh, yes; I am anxious," returned the Scarecrow. "It is such an
uncomfortable feeling to know one is a fool."
"Well," said the girl, "let us go." And she handed the basket to
the Scarecrow.
There were no fences at all by the roadside now, and the land
was rough and untilled. Toward evening they came to a great forest,was rough and untilled. Toward evening they came to a great forest,
where the trees grew so big and close together that their branches
met over the road of yellow brick. It was almost dark under the
trees, for the branches shut out the daylight; but the travelers
did not stop, and went on into the forest.
"If this road goes in, it must come out," said the Scarecrow,
"and as the Emerald City is at the other end of the road, we must
go wherever it leads us."
"Anyone would know that," said Dorothy.
"Certainly; that is why I know it," returned the Scarecrow. "If
it required brains to figure it out, I never should have said
it."
After an hour or so the light faded away, and they found
themselves stumbling along in the darkness. Dorothy could not see
at all, but Toto could, for some dogs see very well in the dark;
and the Scarecrow declared he could see as well as by day. So she
took hold of his arm and managed to get along fairly well.
"If you see any house, or any place where we can pass the
night," she said, "you must tell me; for it is very uncomfortable
walking in the dark."
Soon after the Scarecrow stopped.
"I see a little cottage at the right of us," he said, "built of
logs and branches. Shall we go there?"
"Yes, indeed," answered the child. "I am all tired out."
So the Scarecrow led her through the trees until they reached
the cottage, and Dorothy entered and found a bed of dried leaves in
one corner. She lay down at once, and with Toto beside her soon
fell into a sound sleep. The Scarecrow, who was never tired, stood
up in another corner and waited patiently until morning came.When Dorothy awoke the sun was shining through the trees and
Toto had long been out chasing birds around him and squirrels. She
sat up and looked around her. Scarecrow, still standing patiently
in his corner, waiting for her.
"We must go and search for water," she said to him.
"Why do you want water?" he asked.
"To wash my face clean after the dust of the road, and to drink,
so the dry bread will not stick in my throat."
"It must be inconvenient to be made of flesh," said the
Scarecrow thoughtfully, "for you must sleep, and eat and drink.
However, you have brains, and it is worth a lot of bother to be
able to think properly."
They left the cottage and walked through the trees until they
found a little spring of clear water, where Dorothy drank and
bathed and ate her breakfast. She saw there was not much bread left
in the basket, and the girl was thankful the Scarecrow did not have
to eat anything, for there was scarcely enough for herself and Toto
for the day.
When she had finished her meal, and was about to go back to the
road of yellow brick, she was startled to hear a deep groan near
by.
"What was that?" she asked timidly.
"I cannot imagine," replied the Scarecrow; "but we can go and
see."
Just then another groan reached their ears, and the sound seemed
to come from behind them. They turned and walked through the forest
a few steps, when Dorothy discovered something shining in a ray of
sunshine that fell between the trees. She ran to the place and then
stopped short, with a little cry of surprise.
One of the big trees had been partly chopped through, and
standing beside it, with an uplifted axe in his hands, was a man
made entirely of tin. His head and arms and legs were jointed upon
his body, but he stood perfectly motionless, as if he could not
stir at all.
Dorothy looked at him in amazement, and so did the Scarecrow,
while Toto barked sharply and made a snap at the tin legs, which
hurt his teeth.
"Did you groan?" asked Dorothy.
"Yes," answered the tin man, "I did. I've been groaning for more