of the forest, and the Lion whispered to them that it was in this part
of the country that the Kalidahs lived.
What are the Kalidahs? asked the girl.
They are monstrous beasts with bodies like bears and heads like
tigers, replied the Lion, and with claws so long and sharp that they
could tear me in two as easily as I could kill Toto. I m terribly
afraid of the Kalidahs.
I m not surprised that you are, returned Dorothy. They must be
dreadful beasts.
The Lion was about to reply when suddenly they came to another gulf
across the road. But this one was so broad and deep that the Lion knew
at once he could not leap across it.
So they sat down to consider what they should do, and after serious
thought the Scarecrow said:
Here is a great tree, standing close to the ditch. If the Tin Woodman
can chop it down, so that it will fall to the other side, we can walk
across it easily.
That is a first-rate idea, said the Lion. One would almost suspect
you had brains in your head, instead of straw.
The Woodman set to work at once, and so sharp was his axe that the tree
was soon chopped nearly through. Then the Lion put his strong front
legs against the tree and pushed with all his might, and slowly the big
tree tipped and fell with a crash across the ditch, with its top
branches on the other side.
They had just started to cross this queer bridge when a sharp growl
made them all look up, and to their horror they saw running toward them
two great beasts with bodies like bears and heads like tigers.
They are the Kalidahs! said the Cowardly Lion, beginning to tremble.
Quick! cried the Scarecrow. Let us cross over.
35