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9. The Queen of the Field Mice
"We cannot be far from the road of yellow brick, now," remarkedthe Scarecrow, as he stood beside the girl, "for we have comenearly as far as the river carried us away."The Tin Woodman was about to reply when he heard a low growl,and turning his head (which worked beautifully on hinges) he saw astrange beast come bounding over the grass toward them. It was,indeed, a great yellow Wildcat, and the Woodman thought it mustbe chasing something, for its ears were lying close to its headand its mouth was wide open, showing two rows of ugly teeth, whileits red eyes glowed like balls of fire. As it came nearer the TinWoodman saw that running before the beast was a little gray fieldmouse, and although he had no heart he knew it was wrong for theWildcat to try to kill such a pretty, harmless creature.So the Woodman raised his axe, and as the Wildcat ran by he gaveit a quick blow that cut the beast's head clean off from its body,and it rolled over at his feet in two pieces.The field mouse, now that it was freed from its enemy, stopped short;and coming slowly up to the Woodman it said, in a squeaky little voice:"Oh, thank you! Thank you ever so much for saving my life.""Don't speak of it, I beg of you," replied the Woodman."I have no heart, you know, so I am careful to help all thosewho may need a friend, even if it happens to be only a mouse.""Only a mouse!" cried the little animal, indignantly."Why, I am a Queen--the Queen of all the Field Mice!""Oh, indeed," said the Woodman, making a bow."Therefore you have done a great deed, as well as a brave one,in saving my life," added the Queen.At that moment several mice were seen running up as fast astheir little legs could carry them, and when they saw their Queenthey exclaimed:
"Oh, your Majesty, we thought you would be killed! How didyou manage to escape the great Wildcat?" They all bowed so low tothe little Queen that they almost stood upon their heads."This funny tin man," she answered, "killed the Wildcat andsaved my life. So hereafter you must all serve him, and obey hisslightest wish."
"We will!" cried all the mice, in a shrill chorus. And then theyscampered in all directions, for Toto had awakened from his sleep, andseeing all these mice around him he gave one bark of delight and jumpedright into the middle of the group. Toto had always loved to chase micewhen he lived in Kansas, and he saw no harm in it.But the Tin Woodman caught the dog in his arms and held him tight,while he called to the mice, "Come back! Come back! Toto shall not hurt you."At this the Queen of the Mice stuck her head out from underneath a clumpof grass and asked, in a timid voice, "Are you sure he will not bite us?""I will not let him," said the Woodman; "so do not be afraid."One by one the mice came creeping back, and Toto did not bark again,although he tried to get out of the Woodman's arms, and would have bittenhim had he not known very well he was made of tin. Finally one of the
