The Wizard of Oz

L. Frank Baum 李斌

The raft

The Tin Woodman built a raft①. When it was finished， they all pushed it into the water and got on. Dorothy and Toto sat in the middle. The Lion stood at the front. The Scarecrow and the Woodman were at the back. They had long poles② to push the raft through the water.

At first they got along quite well. Then they reached the middle of the river. The water was very strong there. It pulled them away from the yellow-brick road. They went further③ and further down the river. There was nothing they could do.

“This is bad，” said the Tin Woodman. “We are going into the country of the Wicked④ Witch of the West. If we go there， the Witch will make us her slaves⑤.”

“Something must be done，” said the Lion. “I think I can swim to the bank. Just hold on to the end of my tail， and I will pull the raft after me.”

He jumped into the water. The Tin Woodman caught hold of the Lion's tail. The Lion began to swim. It was hard work， but slowly they got nearer the bank. Then Dorothy took the Tin Woodman's long pole and helped push the raft to the land.

They started to walk back along the river bank， towards the yellow-brick road.

The poppy field

Together they walked along the river bank， towards the yellow-brick road. They noticed more and more flowers growing in the fields. They were red， and they smelt very sweet.

Dorothy began to feel sleepy， and so did Toto and the great Lion. They stopped to rest. Soon Dorothy and Toto were lying in the field. They were fast asleep.

“These flowers are making them go to sleep，” said the Tin Woodman. “If Dorothy and Toto stay here， it will be bad for them. They will never wake up again.”

The flowers did not make the Tin Woodman sleepy， for he was made of tin. The Scarecrow did not feel sleepy， either. He never went to sleep. But the poor Lion felt more and more sleepy every minute.

“Run on as fast as you can，” said the Tin Woodman. “If you fall asleep here， we shall never be able to move you. You are too heavy⑥.”

The Lion ran on. The Tin Woodman picked up Dorothy. The Scarecrow picked up Toto. They walked through the field until they came to the fresh⑦ green grass on the other side. There they laid Dorothy and Toto down. They were not in danger any longer.

“But where is the Lion？” asked the Tin Woodman.

Saved by the field mice

The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman looked around. Then they saw the Lion. He was lying on the ground not far away， but his head was still in the field. He was asleep.

Suddenly a small mouse ran across the grass. Close behind her was a wild cat. The wild⑧ cat was trying to catch the little mouse. The Tin Woodman threw his axe at the wild cat and killed it.

“Oh， thank you， thank you，” the little mouse said to the Tin Woodman. “You have saved my life. If I can do anything to help you， please let me know.”

“We do need some help，” said the Scarecrow. “We want to move this great sleeping lion away from the poppies.”

“I am the Queen of all the Field Mice in this country，” she said. “I shall ask my people to help you.” She called to her people. From north， south， east and west， hundreds of little mice came running to their Queen. They all agreed to help. The Tin Woodman made a cart① with wheels②. He and the Scarecrow put the Lion on that. Then the little mice pushed and pulled the cart. Slowly they moved  the  great body of the Lion out of the poppy field.

A beautiful green light

When Dorothy， Toto and the Lion woke up， they heard all about what had happened.

Then they started upon their journey once more. Soon they reached the yellow-brick road and turned towards the Emerald③ City.

The country was beautiful. The travellers were glad to be out of the forest. They could see fences beside the road. The fences were painted green. The houses they passed were painted green， too.

“I am sure this is the Land of Oz，” said Dorothy.

They stopped for the night at a farmhouse. A kind farmer's wife gave them something to eat and a place to sleep.

The next morning they got up early. They walked along the yellow-brick road once more. Soon the sky began to turn a beautiful green colour. In the afternoon they reached the great wall of the City of Emeralds.

That was where the yellow-brick road ended. In front of them were some big green gates.

Spectacles

Dorothy pulled a rope④ at the side of the gates. A bell rang. The big gates opened slowly. A little man stood in front of them. He was dressed all in green， and at his side was a large green box.

“If you want to come in， you must put on some spectacles⑤ first，” said the little man.

“Why？” asked Dorothy.

“If you do not wear spectacles， the brightness of the Emerald City will blind⑥ you，” the little man explained.

He opened the big box. Dorothy saw that it was filled with spectacles of every size and shape. He fitted⑦ spectacles on each of the visitors， and even on little Toto. He opened another gate. They followed him through into the streets of the Emerald City.

At the palace of Oz

They reached the palace⑧ of Oz.

“Come inside and wait，” a soldier said to them. “I will tell the Great Wizard that you have come.”

After a while， the soldier was out， “But I spoke to him. He said he will see you. But he will only see one person each day. You must stay in the Emerald City for four days.”

“You must help me”

The next morning Dorothy and Toto went to see Oz. A soldier opened a little door to the Throne Room， and Dorothy walked in. She found herself in a big， round room with a high ceiling⑨. In the ceiling was a great light， as bright as the sun. In the middle of the room was a big green chair. Dorothy saw a very big Head sitting on the chair. The Head seemed to have no body or arms or legs. It had no hair， but it had eyes and a nose and mouth.

The eyes of the Head turned slowly and looked at Dorothy. Then the mouth moved.

“I am Oz， the Great and Terrible，” the Head said. “Who are you？ Why have you come here？”

Dorothy was frightened. “I am Dorothy，” she said.

“I have come to you for help.”

Then Oz asked， “How do you wish me to help you？”

“Toto and I have come from Kansas，” she said. “I want you to send us back there.”

“Well，” said the Head. “I will give you my answer. If you want me to help you， you must help me first.”

“What must I do？” asked the girl.

“Destroy⑩ the Wicked Witch of the West. She lives in the country of the Winkies，” answered Oz.

“But I cannot！” said Dorothy， very surprised.

“When you can tell me the Wicked Witch of the West is dead， I will send you back to Kansas - but not before.”