DM Margo In Oz Chapter 4
''Do not be afraid'' said the tin man, ''The mark of a good witch's kiss on your forehead will protect you from harm''. Just as he spoke, there was a terrible roar, and the next moment a great lion bounded onto the road. With one blow of his paw, he sent the scarecrow spinning over and over to the edge of the road.
Then he struck at the tin man with his claws and knocked him to the ground. Little Lucky ran bleating towards the lion. The huge beast opened his mouth to bite the goat, but Margo rushed forward and slapped him hard on the nose. ''Don't you dare bite Lucky!'' she cried, ''You ought to be ashamed of yourself, a big beast like you biting a poor little goat''.
''I did not bite him'' said the lion rubbing his nose with his paw. ''No, but you were going to. You're nothing but a-a big coward'' Margo pointed out.
''I know it'' said the lion, hanging his head in shame, ''It is my great sorrow and makes my life very unhappy. If the elephants and the tigers and the bears even tried to fight me, I should run away. I'm such a coward. But they all think of me as King of the Beasts and I only have to roar to make them all run away from me''.
He wiped a tear from his eye with the tip of his tail and sighed. ''Oh, if only I had courage''. ''Perhaps the Great Wizard of Oz can help you?'' suggested Margo, ''We are all on our way to visit him in the Emerald City. The scarecrow is gonna ask him for brains and the tin man for a heart. You could ask him for courage''. ''Then if you do not mind, I will go with you'' said the lion, ''You'll be very welcome, for you'll help to keep away the other wild beasts''. So once more the little company set off, the lion walking with stately strides at Margo's side. They had gone some distance when Margo noticed the tin man brushing tears from his face.
''I stepped on a beetle and killed the poor little thing'' he explained, ''I-I must keep my eyes on the road and walk more carefully. People with no heart should try not to be cruel or unkind to anything''.
Soon after this, they began to hear strange growling noises among the trees. ''I fear we are in the country of Kalidahs'' whispered the lion, ''They are monstrous beasts with bodies like bears and heads like tigers, and with claws so long and sharp they could tear me in two as I could kill Lucky''.
Margo shuddered and was about to speak when suddenly they came to a broad deep chasm. The friends looked at each other in dismay and then sat down to consider what they should do. ''I think I have the answer'' the scarecrow said finally, ''Here is a great tree standing close to the chasm , if the tin man chops it down so that it will fall to the other side. We can walk across it''.
''That is a first rate idea'' said the lion, ''One would almost suspect you had brains in your head instead of straw!''. The tin man set to work at once and so sharp was his axe that they soon had a bridge.
They were just about to cross the bridge when, to their horror, they heard a sharp growl and saw two beasts running towards them. ''They are the Kailidahs'' said the lion beginning to tremble. 'Quick'' cried the scarecrow, ''We must get across the bridge''. Margo went first, holding Lucky in her arms, the tin man followed and the scarecrow came next. The lion turned to face the Kailidahs and gave so terrible a roar that for a brief moment they hesitated. But then they rushed forward again.
The lion crossed over the bridge and looked back to see what the fierce beasts would do next. Without stopping, they too began to cross. ''Stay close behind me'' said the lion to Margo, ''I will fight them as long as there is breath in my body''.
''Don't despair!'' called the scarecrow, ''If the tin man can chop away our end of the bridge, we will all be saved!''. The tin man began to use his axe at once and just as the two Kailidahs were nearly across, the tree fell with a crash into the chasm, carrying the snarling beasts with it.
The lion gave out a huge sigh of relief. ''Ooh! My heart is still pounding with fear''. ''Ah'' said the tin man sadly, ''I wish I had a heart to beat''. This adventure made the travellers more anxious than ever to get out of the forest. They began to walk so fast that Margo and Lucky became very tired and as darkness fell, they had to ride on the lion's back.
When the last glimmer of light disappeared from the forest, the travellers camped under a large tree. Margo lit a fire and the scarecrow hurried off to collect some nuts for her supper. Next morning, the first thing Margo noticed was that the trees no longer meet overhead. Perhaps, she thought, they were at last coming to the end of the forest.
The travellers pressed on and soon they came to a broad, fast flowing river. They gasped with pleasure when they saw what was on the other side. It was a beautiful country of green meadows clotted with bright flowers. Trees laden with succulent fruit lined the road of yellow brick.
''The tin man will have to build a raft so we can cross the river'' said the scarecrow. The tin man got to work with his axe and some hours later, the travellers stepped onto a raft made from logs. The tin man and the scarecrow held long poles to push the raft through the water.
At first they managed quite well. But when they reached the middle of the river, the swift current swept the raft downstream further and further away from the brick of yellow road.