We must hurry and get back to the road of yellow brick before dark,
he said; and the Scarecrow agreed with him. So they kept walking until
Dorothy could stand no longer. Her eyes closed in spite of herself and
she forgot where she was and fell among the poppies, fast asleep.
What shall we do? asked the Tin Woodman.
If we leave her here she will die, said the Lion. The smell of the
flowers is killing us all. I myself can scarcely keep my eyes open, and
the dog is asleep already.
It was true; Toto had fallen down beside his little mistress. But the
Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, not being made of flesh, were not
troubled by the scent of the flowers.
Run fast, said the Scarecrow to the Lion, and get out of this deadly
flower bed as soon as you can. We will bring the little girl with us,
but if you should fall asleep you are too big to be carried.
So the Lion aroused himself and bounded forward as fast as he could go.
In a moment he was out of sight.
Let us make a chair with our hands and carry her, said the Scarecrow.
So they picked up Toto and put the dog in Dorothy s lap, and then they
made a chair with their hands for the seat and their arms for the arms
and carried the sleeping girl between them through the flowers.
On and on they walked, and it seemed that the great carpet of deadly
flowers that surrounded them would never end. They followed the bend of
the river, and at last came upon their friend the Lion, lying fast
asleep among the poppies. The flowers had been too strong for the huge
beast and he had given up at last, and fallen only a short distance
from the end of the poppy bed, where the sweet grass spread in
beautiful green fields before them.
We can do nothing for him, said the Tin Woodman, sadly; for he is
much too heavy to lift. We must leave him here to sleep on forever, and
perhaps he will dream that he has found courage at last.
I m sorry, said the Scarecrow. The Lion was a very good comrade for
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