gulf, Dorothy would be killed, or the Tin Woodman badly dented on the rocks below. But if 
I am on your back it will not matter so much, for the fall would not hurt me at all."
  "I am terribly afraid of falling, myself," said the Cowardly Lion, "but I suppose there 
is nothing to do but try it. So get on my back and we will make the attempt." The 
Scarecrow sat upon the Lion's back, and the big beast walked to the edge of the gulf and 
crouched down.
  "Why don't you run and jump?" asked the Scarecrow.
  "Because that isn't the way we Lions do these things," he replied.
  Then giving a great spring, he shot through the air and landed safely on the other 
side. They were all greatly pleased to see how easily he did it, and after the Scarecrow 
had got down from his back the Lion sprang across the ditch again.
  Dorothy thought she would go next; so she took Toto in her arms and climbed on the 
Lion's back, holding tightly to his mane with one hand. The next moment it seemed as if 
she were flying through the air; and then, before she had time to think about it, she was 
safe on the other side. The Lion went back a third time and got the Tin Woodman, and then 
they all sat down for a few moments to give the beast a chance to rest, for his great 
leaps had made his breath short, and he panted like a big dog that has been running too 
long.
  They found the forest very thick on this side, and it looked dark and gloomy. After the 
Lion had rested they started along the road of yellow brick, silently wondering, each in 
his own mind, if ever they would come to the end of the woods and reach the bright 
sunshine again. To add to their discomfort, they soon heard strange noises in the depths 
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." So Dorothy went first, holding Toto 
in her arms, the Tin Woodman followed, and the Scarecrow came next. The Lion, although he 
was certainly afraid, turned to face the Kalidahs, and then he gave so loud and terrible 
a roar that Dorothy screamed and the Scarecrow fell over backward, while even the fierce 
beasts stopped short and looked at him in surprise.
  But, seeing they were bigger than the Lion, and remembering that there were two of them 
and only one of him, the Kalidahs again rushed forward, and the Lion crossed over the 
tree and turned to see what they would do next. Without stopping an instant the fierce 
beasts also began to cross the tree.
  And the Lion said to Dorothy: "We are lost, for they will surely tear us to pieces with 
their sharp claws. But stand close behind me, and I will fight them as long as I am 
alive."
  "Wait a minute!" called the Scarecrow. He had been thinking what was best to be done, 
and now he asked the Woodman to chop away the end of the tree that rested on their side 
of the ditch.
  The Tin Woodman began to use his axe at once, and, just as the two Kalidahs were nearly 
across, the tree fell with a crash into the gulf, carrying the ugly, snarling brutes with 
it, and both were dashed to pieces on the sharp rocks at the bottom.
  "Well," said the Cowardly Lion, drawing a long breath of relief, "I see we are going to 
live a little while longer, and I am glad of it, for it must be a very uncomfortable 
thing not to be alive. Those creatures frightened me so badly that my heart is beating 
yet."
  "Ah," said the Tin Woodman sadly, "I wish I had a heart to beat." This adventure made 
the travelers more anxious than ever to get out of the forest, and they walked so fast 
that Dorothy became tired, and had to ride on the Lion's back. To their great joy the 
trees became thinner the farther they advanced, and in the afternoon they suddenly came 
upon a broad river, flowing swiftly just before them. On the other side of the water they 
could see the road of yellow brick running through a beautiful country, with green 
meadows dotted with bright flowers and all the road bordered with trees hanging full of 
delicious fruits. They were greatly pleased to see this delightful country before them.
  "How shall we cross the river?" asked Dorothy.
  "That is easily done," replied the Scarecrow. "The Tin Woodman must build us a raft, so 
we can float to the other side." So the Woodman took his axe and began to chop down small 
trees to make a raft, and while he was busy at this the Scarecrow found on the riverbank 
a tree full of fine fruit. This pleased Dorothy, who had eaten nothing but nuts all day, 
and she made a hearty meal of the ripe fruit.
  But it takes time to make a raft, even when one is as industrious and untiring as the 
Tin Woodman, and when night came the work was not done.
  So they found a cozy place under the trees where they slept well until the morning; and 
Dorothy dreamed of the Emerald City, and of the good Wizard Oz, who would soon send her 
back to her own home again.
  
  
  
  8. The Deadly Poppy Field 
  Our little party of travelers awakened the next morning refreshed and full of hope, and 
Dorothy breakfasted like a princess off peaches and plums from the trees beside the river.
  Behind them was the dark forest they had passed safely through, although they had 
suffered many discouragements; but before them was a lovely, sunny country that seemed to 
beckon them on to the Emerald City.
  To be sure, the broad river now cut them off from this beautiful land. But the raft was 
nearly done, and after the Tin Woodman had cut a few more logs and fastened them together 
with wooden pins, they were ready to start. Dorothy sat down in the middle of the raft 
and held Toto in her arms. When the Cowardly Lion stepped upon the raft it tipped badly, 
for he was big and heavy; but the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman stood upon the other end