Chapter X.
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The Guardian of the GateIT WAS SOME TIME BEFORE THE Cowardly Lion awakened, for he had lain among the poppies a long while, breathing in their deadly fragrance; but when he did open his eyes and roll off the truck he was very glad to find himself still alive.
"I ran as fast as I could," he said, sitting down and yawn- ing, "but the flowers were to for me. How did you get me out?”
Theold him of the field mice, and how they had generously saved him from death; and the Cowardly Lion laughed, and said:
"I have always thought myself very big and terrible; yet such little things as flowers came o killing me, and such small animals as mice have saved my life. How stra all is! But, rades, what shall we do now?”
"We must journey on until we find the road of yellow brick again," said Dorothy, "and then we keep on to the Emer- ald City.”
So, the Lion being fully refreshed, and feeling quite himself again, they all started upon the journey, greatly enjoying the walk through the soft, fresh grass; and it was not long before they reached the road of yellow brid turned again toward the Emerald City where the Great Oz dwelt.
The road was smooth and well paved, now, and the try about was beautiful, so that the travelers rejoiced in leaving the forest far behind, and with it the many dahey had met in its gloomy shades. Once more they could see fences built beside the road; but these were painted green, and when they came to a small house, in which a farmer evidently lived, that also ainted green. They passed by several of these houses during the afternoon, and sometimes people came to the doors and looked at them as if they would like to ask questions; but no one came hem nor spoke to them be- cause of the great Lion, of which they were very much afraid.
The people were all dressed in clothing of a lovely emerald- green color and wore peaked hats like those of the Muns.
"This must be the Land of Oz," said Dorothy, "and we are surely gettihe Emerald City.”
"Yes," answered the Scarecrow. "Everything is green here, while in the try of the Muns blue was the favorite color. But the people do not seem to be as friendly as the Muns, and Im afraid we shall be uo find a place to pass the night.”
"I should like something to eat besides fruit," said the girl, "and Im sure Toto is nearly starved. Let us stop at the house and talk to the people.”
So, when they came to a good-sized farmhouse, Dorothy walked boldly up to the door and knocked.
A e just far enough to look out, and said, "What do you want, child, and why is that great Lion with you?”
"We wish to pass the night with you, if you will allow us,”
answered Dorothy; "and the Lion is my friend and rade, and would not hurt you for the world.”
"Is he tame?" asked the woman, opening the door a little wider.
"Oh, yes," said the girl, "and he is a great coward, too. He will be more afraid of you than you are of him.”
"Well," said the woman, after thinking it over and taking another peep at the Lion, "if that is the case you may e in, and I will give you some supper and a place<mark></mark> to sleep.”
So they all ehe house, where there were, besides the woman, two children and a man. The man had hurt his leg, and was lying on the cou a er. They seemed greatly surprised to see se a pany, and while the woman was busy laying the table the man asked:
"Where are you all going?”
"To the Emerald City," said Dorothy, "to see the Great Oz.”
"Oh, indeed!" exclaimed the man. "Are you sure that Oz will see you?”
"Why not?" she replied.
"Why, it is said that he never lets anyone e into his presence. I have been to the Emerald City many times, and it is a beautiful and wonderful place; but I have never been per- mitted to see the Great Oz, nor do I know of any living person who has seen him.”
"Does he never go out?" asked the Scarecrow.
"Never. He sits day after day in the great Throne Room of his Palace, and even those who wait upon him do not see him face to face.”
"What is he like?" asked the girl.
"That is hard to tell," said the man thoughtfully. "You see, Oz is a Great Wizard, and take on any form he wishes. So that some say he looks like a bird; and some say he looks like an elephant; and some say he looks like a cat. To others he ap- pears as a beautiful fairy, or a brownie, or in any other form that pleases him. But who the real Oz is, when he is in his own form, no living person tell.”
"That is very strange," said Dorothy, "but we must try, in some way, to see him, or we shall have made our journey for nothing.”
"Why do you wish to see the terrible Oz?" asked the man.
"I want him to give me some brains," said the Scarecrow eagerly.
"Oh, Oz could do that easily enough," declared the man.
"He has more brains than he needs.”
"And I want him to give me a heart," said the Tin Wood- man.
"That will not trouble him," tihe man, "for Oz has a large colle of hearts, of all sizes and shapes.”
"And I want him to give me ce," said the Cowardly Lion.
"Oz keeps a great pot <dfn>９９lｉｂ?</dfn>of ce in his Throne Room," said the man, "which he has covered with a golden plate, to keep it from running over. He will be glad to give you some.”
"And I want him to send me back to Kansas," said Dorothy.
"Where is Kansas?" asked the man, with surprise.
"I dont know," replied Dorothy sorrowfully, "but it is my home, and Im sure its somewhere.”
"Very likely. Well, Oz do anything; so I suppose he will find Kansas for you. But first you must get to see him, and that will be a hard task; for the Great Wizard does not like to see anyone, and he usually has his own way. But what do YOU want?" he tinu藏书网ed, speaking to Toto. Toto only wagged his tail; for, strao say, he could not speak.
The woman now called to them that supper was ready, so they gathered around the table and Dorothy ate some deli- cious pe and a dish of scrambled eggs and a plate of nice white bread, and enjoyed her meal. The Lion ate some of the pe, but did not care for it, saying it was made from oats and oats were food for horses, not for lions. The Scare- crow and the Tin Woodmahing at all. Toto ate a little of everything, and was glad to get a good supper again.
The woman now gave Dorothy a bed to sleep in, and Toto lay down beside her, while the Lion guarded the door of her room so she might not be disturbed. The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman stood up in a er a quiet all night, although of course they could not sleep.
The m, as soon as the sun , they started on their way, and soon saw a beautiful green glow in the sky just before them.
"That must be the Emerald City," said Dorothy.
As they walked on, the green glow became brighter and brighter, and it seemed that at last they were nearing the end of their travels. Yet it was afternoon before they came to the great wall that surrouhe City. It was high and thid of a bright green color.
In front of them, and at the end of the road of yellow brick, was a big gate, all studded with emeralds that glittered so in the sun that even the painted eyes of the Scarecrow were daz- zled by their brilliancy.
There was a bell beside the gate, and Dorothy pushed the button and heard a silvery tinkle sound within. Then the big gate swung slowly open, and they all passed through and found themselves in a high arched room, the walls of which glistened with tless emeralds.
Before them stood a little man about the same size as the Muns. He was clothed all in green, from his head to his feet, and even his skin was of a greenish tint. At his side was a large green box.
When he saw Dorothy and her panions the man asked, "What do you wish in the Emerald City?”
"We came here to see the Great Oz," said Dorothy.
The man was so surprised at this ahat he sat down to think it over.
"It has been many years sinyone asked me to see Oz,”
he said, shaking his head in perplexity. "He is powerful and terrible, and if you e on an idle or foolish errand to bother the wise refles of the Great Wizard, he might be angry aroy you all in an instant.”
"But it is not a foolish errand, nor an idle one,&<df</dfn>quot; replied the Scarecrow; "it is important. And we have been told that Oz is a good Wizard.”
"So he is," said the green man, "and he rules the Emerald City wisely and well. But to those who are not ho, or roach him from curiosity, he is most terrible, and few have ever dared ask to see his face. I am the Guardian of the Gates, and since you de<samp>?</samp>mand to see the Great Oz I must take you to his Palace. But first you must put on the spectacles.”
"Why?" asked Dorothy.
"Because if you did not ectacles the brightness and glory of the Emerald City would blind you. Even those who live iy must ectacles night and day. They are all locked on, for Oz so ordered it whey was first built, and I have the only key that will unlock them.”
He opehe big box, and Dorothy saw that it was filled with spectacles of every size and shape. All of them had green glasses ihe Guardian of the Gates found a pair that would just fit Dorothy and put them over her eyes. There were two golden bands fasteo them that passed around the back of her head, where they were locked together by a little key that was at the end of a the Guardian of the Gates wore around his neck. When they were on, Dorothy could not take them off had she wished, but of course she did not wish to be blinded by the glare of the Emerald City, so she said nothing.
Then the green man fitted spectacles for the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman and the Lion, and even on little Toto; and all were locked fast with the key.
Then the Guardian of the Gates put on his own glasses and told them he was ready to show them to the Palace. Taking a big golden key from a peg on the wall, he opened anate, and they all followed him through the portal into the streets of the Emerald City.
L. Frank Baum
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