The Discovery of Oz, the Terrible
ForthreedaysDorothyheardnothingfromOz. Theseweresaddaysforthelittlegirl,althoughherfriendswereallquitehappyandcontented. TheScarecrowtoldthemtherewerewonderfulthoughtsinhishead;buthewouldnotsaywhattheywerebecauseheknewnoonecouldunderstandthembuthimself. WhentheTinWoodmanwalkedabouthefelthisheartrattlingaroundinhisbreast;andhetoldDorothyhehaddiscoveredittobeakinderandmoretenderheartthantheonehehadownedwhenhewasmadeofflesh. TheLiondeclaredhewasafraidofnothingonearth,andwouldgladlyfaceanarmyoradozenofthefierceKalidahs.
ThuseachofthelittlepartywassatisfiedexceptDorothy,wholongedmorethanevertogetbacktoKansas.
Onthefourthday,tohergreatjoy,Ozsentforher,andwhensheenteredtheThroneRoomhegreetedherpleasantly:
"Sitdown,mydear;IthinkIhavefoundthewaytogetyououtofthiscountry."
"AndbacktoKansas?"sheaskedeagerly.
"Well,I’mnotsureaboutKansas,"saidOz,"forIhaven’tthefaintestnotionwhichwayitlies. Butthefirstthingtodoistocrossthedesert,andthenitshouldbeeasytofindyourwayhome."
"HowcanIcrossthedesert?"sheinquired.
"Well,I’lltellyouwhatIthink,"saidthelittleman. "Yousee,whenIcametothiscountryitwasinaballoon. Youalsocamethroughtheair,beingcarriedbyacyclone.