by
                 L. FRANK BAUM
             "Royal historian of Oz"

                   This Book
                 is dedicated
                 to the son of
                     my son
                Frank Alden Baum

   TO MY READERS

    I know
         that some of you
              have been waiting
                 for this story
                       of the Tin Woodman,
           because many of my correspondents
              have asked me,
         time and again
             what ever became of the
         "pretty Munchkin girl"
            whom Nick Chopper
            was engaged to marry
             before the Wicked Witch
                  enchanted his axe and
                 he traded
                       his flesh for tin.

    I,
           too,
         have wondered
             what became of her,
           but until Woot the Wanderer
              interested himself
                   in the matter
                       the Tin Woodman
            knew no
                   more than we did.

    However,
           he found her,
         after many thrilling adventures,
           as you will discover
             when you
                  have read this story.

    I am
          delighted at the continued
               interest of
                   both young and old
                       in the Oz stories.

    A learned college professor recently
        wrote me to ask:
         "For readers of
             what age
                are your books intended?"

    It puzzled me to answer
         that properly,
           until I
            had looked
                   over some of the letters
             I have received.

    One says:
      "I'm a little boy
           5 years old,
               and I Just
                  love your Oz stories.

    My sister,
           who is
              writing this for me,
         reads me the Oz books,
           but I wish
             I could read them myself."

    Another letter says:
      "I'm a great girl
           13 years old,
               so you'll be surprised
                 when I tell you
                     I am
                           not too old yet
                         for the Oz stories."

    Here's another letter:
         "Since I
            was a young girl
               I've never missed
                getting a Baum book
                      for Christmas.

    I'm married,
           now,
         but am as eager
              to get
                  and read the Oz stories
                       as ever."

    And still another writes:
         "My good wife and I,
               both more
                   than 70 years of age,
             believe that
                 we find more real enjoyment
                       in your Oz books
                     than in any other books
                     we read."

    Considering these statements,
           I wrote the college professor
             that my books
                are intended for all those
             whose hearts are young,
         no matter
             what their ages may be.

    I think
         I am justified in promising
           that there
            will be some astonishing revelations
                   about The Magic of Oz
                       in my book for 1919.

    Always your loving
           and grateful friend,

    L. FRANK
        BAUM.

    Royal Historian of Oz.

    "OZCOT"
        at HOLLYWOOD in CALIFORNIA 1918.
 
  Chapter One
  Woot the Wanderer

    The Tin Woodman
        sat on
               his glittering tin throne
             in the handsome tin hall
                   of his splendid tin castle
               in the Winkie Country
                   of the Land of Oz.

    Beside him,
           in a chair
               of woven straw,
         sat his best friend,
           the Scarecrow of Oz.

    At times
         they spoke
               to one
                   another of curious things
         they had
              seen and strange adventures
             they had known
         since first
             they two
                had met and become comrades.

    But at times
         they were silent,
           for these things
            had been
                  talked over many times
                       between them,
         and they found
               themselves contented in merely
            being together,
           speaking now
               and then a brief sentence
             to prove
          they were wide awake
                and attentive.

    But then,
        these two quaint persons
                 never slept.

    Why should they sleep,
           when they never tired?

    And now,