Now and then,
someone would become entangled, and the Tin Woodman would stop and run
back to hack off the vines. Each time he did so, a loud, human-sounding
scream would ring out from the tree. The sounds of those screams chilled
Dorothy to her bones. As she ran, she could feel herself getting weaker.
She was becoming exhausted.
The vines seemed to be everywhere, clutching and clawing at her.
Suddenly, the dense foliage came to an end as they all found themselves
in an open clearing. Dorothy dropped to her knees, completely exhausted.
"Thank Heaven!" she panted. "Thank Heaven we're out of that awful
place." She got up and embraced the Tin Woodman. "What would we have
done without you?" she panted breathlessly.
The Tin Woodman looked a bit sheepish. "I am a woodman, you know, and I
know my work. Though I must admit my work has never attacked me before."
Everyone laughed. "Well, thank goodness we're out of that mess," said
Dorothy. "It was horrifying."
Unfortunately, the feeling of relief they all felt was to be
short-lived.
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