Chapter: Chapter XVIII. Away to the South.


[Illustration]

[Illustration]

Dorothy wept bitterly at the passing of her hope to get home to
Kansas again; but when she thought it all over she was glad she had
not gone up in a balloon. And she also felt sorry at losing Oz, and
so did her companions.

The Tin Woodman came to her and said,

"Truly I should be ungrateful if I failed to mourn for the man who gave
me my lovely heart. I should like to cry a little because Oz is gone,
if you will kindly wipe away my tears, so that I shall not rust."

[Illustration]

"With pleasure," she answered, and brought a towel at once. Then
the Tin Woodman 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 thoroughly with his jewelled
oil-can, to guard against mishap.

The Scarecrow was now the ruler of the Emerald City, and although
he was not a Wizard the people were proud of him. "For," they said,
"there is not another city in all the world that is ruled by a
stuffed man." And, so far as they knew, they were quite right.

The morning after the balloon had gone up with Oz the four travellers
met in the Throne Room and talked matters over. The Scarecrow sat in
the big throne and the others stood respectfully before him.

"We are not so unlucky," said the new ruler; "for this Palace and
the Emerald City belong to us, and we can do just as we please. When
I remember that a short time ago I was up on a pole in a farmer's
cornfield, and that I am now the ruler of this beautiful City, I am
quite satisfied with my lot."

"I also," said the Tin Woodman, "am well pleased with my new heart;
and, really, that was the only thing I wished in all the world."

"For my part, I am content in knowing I am as brave as any beast that
ever lived, if not braver," said the Lion, modestly,

[Illustration: "_The Scarecrow sat on the big throne._"]

"If Dorothy would only be contented to live in the Emerald City,"
continued the Scarecrow, "we might 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 be done?" enquired the Woodman.

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

"Why not call the Winged Monkeys, and asked 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 for the Golden Cap."

When she brought it into the Throne Room she spoke the magic words,
and soon the band of Winged Monkeys flew in through an 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 with me to Kansas," said Dorothy.

But the Monkey King shook his head.

"That cannot be done," he said. "We belong to this country alone, and
cannot leave it. There has never been a Winged Monkey in Kansas yet,
and I suppose there never will be, for they don't belong there. We
shall be glad to serve you in any way in our power, but we cannot
cross the desert. Good-bye."

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

Dorothy was almost ready to cry with disappointment.

"I have wasted the charm of the Golden Cap to no purpose," she said,
"for the Winged Monkeys cannot help me."

"It is certainly too bad!" said the tender hearted Woodman.

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

"Let us call in the soldier with the green whiskers," he said, "and
ask his advice."

[Illustration]

So the soldier was summoned and entered the Throne Room timidly, for
while Oz was alive he never was allowed to come further than the door.

"This little girl," said the Scarecrow to the soldier, "wishes to
cross the desert. How can she do so?"

"I cannot tell," answered the soldier; "for nobody has ever crossed
the desert, unless it is Oz himself."

"Is there no one who can help me?" asked Dorothy, earnestly.

"Glinda might," he suggested.

"Who is Glinda?" enquired 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, who knows
how to keep young in spite of the many years she has lived."

"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 travellers. There are wild beasts in the woods, and
a race of queer men 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 them and the Scarecrow said,

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

"You must have been thinking again," remarked the Tin Woodman.

"I have," said the Scarecrow.

"I shall go with Dorothy," declared the Lion, "for I am tired of your
city and long for the woods and the country again. I am really a wild
beast, you know. Besides, Dorothy will need someone to protect her."

"That is true," agreed the Woodman. "My axe may be of service to her;
so I, also, will go with her to the Land of the South."

"When shall we start?" asked the Scarecrow.

"Are you going?" they asked, in surprise.

"Certainly. If it wasn't for Dorothy I should never have had brains.
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, and I shall never
leave her until she starts back to Kansas for good and all."

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

"We shall go to-morrow morning," returned the Scarecrow. "So now let
us all get ready, for it will be a long journey."

[Illustration]

 Dorothy is crying bitter tears about the whole balloon thing. She feels like that was her last ticket to Kansas. Then again, on reflection, she thinks that maybe the balloon wasn't such a great plan. The Tin Woodman is crying for Oz like he's dead. He asks Dorothy to wipe his tears so he doesn't rust. The Scarecrow is in charge now. People like him fine, but they miss the wizard. The gang is having a meeting in the throne room to plan their next steps. Everyone's in a great mood except for Dorothy, who's still fixated on getting back to Kansas. The Scarecrow has a long think. Finally he suggests that Dorothy should call the Winged Monkeys and ask them to fly her home. Dorothy calls them and the Monkey King is like, sorry, no can do. Now Dorothy's even more bummed because she's wasted a wish. The gang calls a soldier in for a consultation. The soldier suggests that Dorothy should seek out Glinda, the Good Witch of the South. She has a great reputation for helping people. The soldier gives them directions to head south. He warns Dorothy she may encounter some dangerous creatures along the way. The Lion says he's going to travel with Dorothy so he can protect her. The Woodman says he's going, too. So does the Scarecrow. It's road trip: the sequel! Dorothy declares that they'll leave in the morning. The group disbands to get ready.

