L.Frank Baum. The marvelous land of Oz -
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done; "you have been guilty of the greatest crime any person can commit in
the Emerald City. If I remember rightly, the penalty for chopping leaves
from the royal palm-tree is to be killed seven times and afterward
imprisoned for life."
"It cannot be helped now" answered the Tin Woodman, throwing down the
big leaves upon the roof. "But it may be one more reason why it is
necessary for us to escape. And now let us see what you have found for me
to work with."
Many were the doubtful looks cast upon the heap of miscellaneous
material that now cluttered the roof, and finally the Scarecrow shook his
head and remarked:
"Well, if friend Nick can manufacture, from this mess of rubbish, a
Thing that will fly through the air and carry us to safety, then I will
acknowledge him to be a better mechanic than I suspected."
But the Tin Woodman seemed at first by no means sure of his powers,
and only after polishing his forehead vigorously with the chamois-leather
did he resolve to undertake the task.
"The first thing required for the machine," said he, "is a body big
enough to carry the entire party. This sofa is the biggest thing we have,
and might be used for a body. But, should the machine ever tip sideways,
we would all slide off and fall to the ground."
"Why not use two sofas?" asked Tip. "There's another one just like
this down stairs."
"That is a very sensible suggestion," exclaimed the Tin Woodman. "You
must fetch the other sofa at once."
So Tip and the Saw-Horse managed, with much labor, to get the second
sofa to the roof; and when the two were placed together, edge to edge, the
backs and ends formed a protecting rampart all around the seats.
"Excellent!" cried the Scarecrow. "We can ride within this snug nest