9. The Queen of the Field Mice
We cannot be far from the road of yellow brick, now, remarked theScarecrow, as he stood beside the girl, for we have come nearly as faras the river carried us away.
The Tin Woodman was about to reply when he heard a low growl, andturning his head (which worked beautifully on hinges) he saw a strangebeast come bounding over the grass toward them. It was, indeed, agreat yellow Wildcat, and the Woodman thought it must be chasingsomething, for its ears were lying close to its head and its mouth waswide open, showing two rows of ugly teeth, while its red eyes glowedlike balls of fire. As it came nearer the Tin Woodman saw that runningbefore the beast was a little gray field mouse, and although he had noheart he knew it was wrong for the Wildcat to try to kill such apretty, harmless creature.
So the Woodman raised his axe, and as the Wildcat ran by he gave it aquick blow that cut the beast's head clean off from its body, and itrolled over at his feet in two pieces.
The field mouse, now that it was freed from its enemy, stopped short;and coming slowly up to the Woodman it said, in a squeaky little voice:
Oh, thank you! Thank you ever so much for saving my life.
Don't speak of it, I beg of you, replied the Woodman. I have noheart, you know, so I am careful to help all those who may need afriend, even if it happens to be only a mouse.
Only a mouse! cried the little animal, indignantly. Why, I am aQueen--the Queen of all the Field Mice!
Oh, indeed, said the Woodman, making a bow.
Therefore you have done a great deed, as well as a brave one, insaving my life, added the Queen.
At that moment several mice were seen running up as fast as theirlittle legs could carry them, and when they saw their Queen theyexclaimed:
Oh, your Majesty, we thought you would be killed! How did you manageto escape the great Wildcat? They all bowed so low to the littleQueen that they almost stood upon their heads.
This funny tin man, she answered, killed the Wildcat and saved mylife. So hereafter you must all serve him, and obey his slightestwish.
We will! cried all the mice, in a shrill chorus. And then theyscampered in all directions, for Toto had awakened from his sleep, andseeing all these mice around him he gave one bark of delight and jumpedright into the middle of the group. Toto had always loved to chasemice when he lived in Kansas, and he saw no harm in it.
But the Tin Woodman caught the dog in his arms and held him tight,while he called to the mice, Come back! Come back! Toto shall nothurt you.
At this the Queen of the Mice stuck her head out from underneath aclump of grass and asked, in a timid voice, Are you sure he will notbite us?
I will not let him, said the Woodman; so do not be afraid.
One by one the mice came creeping back, and Toto did not bark again,although he tried to get out of the Woodman's arms, and would havebitten him had he not known very well he was made of tin. Finally oneof the biggest mice spoke.
Is there anything we can do, it asked, to repay you for saving thelife of our Queen?
Nothing that I know of, answered the Woodman; but the Scarecrow, whohad been trying to think, but could not because his head was stuffedwith straw, said, quickly, Oh, yes; you can save our friend, theCowardly Lion, who is asleep in the poppy bed.
A Lion! cried the little Queen. Why, he would eat us all up.
Oh, no, declared the Scarecrow; this Lion is a coward.
Really? asked the Mouse.
He says so himself, answered the Scarecrow, and he would never hurtanyone who is our friend. If you will help us to save him I promisethat he shall treat you all with kindness.
Very well, said the Queen, we trust you. But what shall we do?
Are there many of these mice which call you Queen and are willing toobey you?
Oh, yes; there are thousands, she replied.
Then send for them all to come here as soon as possible, and let eachone bring a long piece of string.
The Queen turned to the mice that attended her and told them to go atonce and get all her people. As soon as they heard her orders they ranaway in every direction as fast as possible.
Now, said the Scarecrow to the Tin Woodman, you must go to thosetrees by the riverside and make a truck that will carry the Lion.
So the Woodman went at once to the trees and began to work; and he soonmade a truck out of the limbs of trees, from which he chopped away allthe leaves and branches. He fastened it together with wooden pegs andmade the four wheels out of short pieces of a big tree trunk. So fastand so well did he work that by the time the mice began to arrive thetruck was all ready for them.
They came from all directions, and there were thousands of them: bigmice and little mice and middle-sized mice; and each one brought apiece of string in his mouth. It was about this time that Dorothy wokefrom her long sleep and opened her eyes. She was greatly astonished tofind herself lying upon the grass, with thousands of mice standingaround and looking at her timidly. But the Scarecrow told her abouteverything, and turning to the dignified little Mouse, he said:
Permit me to introduce to you her Majesty, the Queen.
Dorothy nodded gravely and the Queen made a curtsy, after which shebecame quite friendly with the little girl.
The Scarecrow and the Woodman now began to fasten the mice to thetruck, using the strings they had brought. One end of a string wastied around the neck of each mouse and the other end to the truck. Ofcourse the truck was a thousand times bigger than any of the mice whowere to draw it; but when all the mice had been harnessed, they wereable to pull it quite easily. Even the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodmancould sit on it, and were drawn swiftly by their queer little horses tothe place where the Lion lay asleep.
After a great deal of hard work, for the Lion was heavy, they managedto get him up on the truck. Then the Queen hurriedly gave her peoplethe order to start, for she feared if the mice stayed among the poppiestoo long they also would fall asleep.
At first the little creatures, many though they were, could hardly stirthe heavily loaded truck; but the Woodman and the Scarecrow both pushedfrom behind, and they got along better. Soon they rolled the Lion outof the poppy bed to the green fields, where he could breathe the sweet,fresh air again, instead of the poisonous scent of the flowers.
Dorothy came to meet them and thanked the little mice warmly for savingher companion from death. She had grown so fond of the big Lion shewas glad he had been rescued.
Then the mice were unharnessed from the truck and scampered awaythrough the grass to their homes. The Queen of the Mice was the lastto leave.
If ever you need us again, she said, come out into the field andcall, and we shall hear you and come to your assistance. Good-bye!
Good-bye! they all answered, and away the Queen ran, while Dorothyheld Toto tightly lest he should run after her and frighten her.
After this they sat down beside the Lion until he should awaken; andthe Scarecrow brought Dorothy some fruit from a tree near by, which sheate for her dinner.