The Fight with the Fighting Trees

The travelers encounter trees that attack them with their branches, forcing them to fight their way through the forest.

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The Forest of Fighting Trees

The First Encounter The Thick Wood After leaving the Emerald City, the travelers come to a thick wood. They cannot go around it, so they must go through. They look for an easy entrance. The Scarecrow's Attempt The Scarecrow finds a large tree with wide branches. He walks under it, but the branches bend down and twine around him, throwing him back. He is surprised but not hurt. The Lion's Attempt The Lion tries another space, but the same thing happens. The trees seem to be fighting them. They are blocking the path.

The Tin Woodman's Axe

The Woodman's Solution The Chopping The Tin Woodman marches up to the first tree with his axe. When a branch bends to seize him, he chops it in two. The tree shakes in pain, and the Woodman passes safely. The Others Follow He calls to the others to come quickly. They all run under the tree. Toto is caught by a small branch, but the Woodman chops it off. They all get through. The Policemen of the Forest The other trees do not attack. They realize that only the first row of trees are the 'policemen' of the forest, given power to keep strangers out. The rest of the woods are safe.

Leaving the Forest

The China Wall Ahead The Safe Passage The travelers walk through the rest of the forest without incident. They reach the far edge and see a high white wall before them. The Next Challenge The wall is the entrance to the Dainty China Country. They will have to climb it. But for now, they are safe from the Fighting Trees. The Scarecrow's Reflection The Scarecrow remarks that it is lucky the Tin Woodman was with them. He is grateful for his friends. The forest is now behind them.

On the journey to the South

Immediately after

After the fight