The Tin Woodman had just noticed the cupboards and wascurious to know what they contained, so he went to oneof them and opened the door. There were shelves inside,and upon one of the shelves which was about on a levelwith his tin chin the Emperor discovered a Head -- itlooked like a doll's head, only it was larger, and hesoon saw it was the Head of some person. It was facingthe Tin Woodman and as the cupboard door swung back,the eyes of the Head slowly opened and looked at him.The Tin Woodman was not at all surprised, for in theLand of Oz one runs into magic at every turn.

"Dear me!" said the Tin Woodman, staring hard. "Itseems as if I had met you, somewhere, before. Goodmorning, sir!"

"You have the advantage of me," replied the Head. "Inever saw you before in my life."

"Still, your face is very familiar," persisted theTin Woodman. "Pardon me, but may I ask if you -- eh --eh -- if you ever had a Body?"

"Yes, at one time," answered the Head, "but that isso long ago I can't remember it. Did you think," with apleasant smile, "that I was born just as I am? That aHead would be created without a Body?"

"No, of course not," said the other. "But how cameyou to lose your body?"

"Well, I can't recollect the details; you'll have toask Ku-Klip about it," returned the Head. "For, curiousas it may seem to you, my memory is not good since myseparation from the rest of me. I still possess mybrains and my intellect is as good as ever, but mymemory of some of the events I formerly experienced isquite hazy."

"How long have you been in this cupboard?" asked theEmperor.

"I don't know."

"Haven't you a name?"

"Oh, yes," said the Head; "I used to be called NickChopper, when I was a woodman and cut down trees for aliving."

"Good gracious!" cried the Tin Woodman inastonishment. "If you are Nick Chopper's Head, then youare Me -- or I'm You -- or -- or -- What relation arewe, anyhow?"

"Don't ask me," replied the Head. "For my part, I'mnot anxious to claim relationship with any common,manufactured article, like you. You may be all right inyour class, but your class isn't my class. You're tin."

The poor Emperor felt so bewildered that for a time he couldonly stare at his old Head in silence. Then he said:

"I must admit that I wasn't at all bad looking beforeI became tin. You're almost handsome -- for meat. Ifyour hair was combed, you'd be quite attractive."

"How do you expect me to comb my hair without help?"demanded the Head, indignantly. "I used to keep itsmooth and neat, when I had arms, but after I wasremoved from the rest of me, my hair got mussed,and old Ku-Klip never has combed it for me."

"I'll speak to him about it," said the Tin Woodman."Do you remember loving a pretty Munchkin girl namedNimmie Amee?"

"No," answered the Head. "That is a foolish question.The heart in my body -- when I had a body -- might haveloved someone, for all I know, but a head isn't made tolove; it's made to think."

"Oh; do you think, then?"

"I used to think."

"You must have been shut up in this cupboard foryears and years. What have you thought about, in allthat time?"

"Nothing. That's another foolish question. A littlereflection will convince you that I have had nothing tothink about, except the boards on the inside of thecupboard door, and it didn't take me long to think ofeverything about those boards that could be thought of.Then, of course, I quit thinking."

"And are you happy?"

"Happy? What's that?"

"Don't you know what happiness is?" inquired the TinWoodman.

"I haven't the faintest idea whether it's round orsquare, or black or white, or what it is. And, if youwill pardon my lack of interest in it, I will say thatI don't care."

The Tin Woodman was much puzzled by these answers.His traveling companions had grouped themselves at hisback, and had fixed their eyes on the Head and listenedto the conversation with much interest, but until now,they had not interrupted because they thought the TinWoodman had the best right to talk to his own head andrenew acquaintance with it.

But now the Tin Soldier remarked:

"I wonder if my old head happens to be in any ofthese cupboards," and he proceeded to open all thecupboard doors. But no other head was to be found onany of the shelves.

"Oh, well; never mind," said Woot the Wanderer; "Ican't imagine what anyone wants of a cast-off head,anyhow."

"I can understand the Soldier's interest," assertedPolychrome, dancing around the grimy workshop until herdraperies formed a cloud around her dainty form. "Forsentimental reasons a man might like to see his oldhead once more, just as one likes to revisit an oldhome."

"And then to kiss it good-bye," added the Scarecrow.

"I hope that tin thing won't try to kiss me good-bye!" exclaimed the Tin Woodman's former head. "And Idon't see what right you folks have to disturb my peaceand comfort, either."

"You belong to me," the Tin Woodman declared.

"I do not!"

"You and I are one."

"We've been parted," asserted the Head. "It would beunnatural for me to have any interest in a man made oftin. Please close the door and leave me alone."

"I did not think that my old Head could be sodisagreeable," said the Emperor. "I -- I'm quiteashamed of myself; meaning you."

"You ought to be glad that I've enough sense to knowwhat my rights are," retorted the Head. "In thiscupboard I am leading a simple life, peaceful anddignified, and when a mob of people in whom I am notinterested disturb me, they are the disagreeable ones;not I."

With a sigh the Tin Woodman closed and latched thecupboard door and turned away.

"Well," said the Tin Soldier, "if my old head wouldhave treated me as coldly and in so unfriendly a manneras your old head has treated you, friend Chopper, I'mglad I could not find it."

"Yes; I'm rather surprised at my head, myself,"replied the Tin Woodman, thoughtfully. "I thought I hada more pleasant disposition when I was made of meat."

But just then old Ku-Klip the Tinsmith arrived, andhe seemed surprised to find so many visitors. Ku-Klipwas a stout man and a short man. He had his sleevesrolled above his elbows, showing muscular arms, and hewore a leathern apron that covered all the front ofhim, and was so long that Woot was surprised he didn'tstep on it and trip whenever he walked. And Ku-Klip hada gray beard that was almost as long as his apron, andhis head was bald on top and his ears stuck out fromhis head like two fans. Over his eyes, which werebright and twinkling, he wore big spectacles. It waseasy to see that the tinsmith was a kind hearted man,as well as a merry and agreeable one. "Oh-ho!" he criedin a joyous bass voice; "here are both my tin men cometo visit me, and they and their friends are welcomeindeed. I'm very proud of you two characters, I assureyou, for you are so perfect that you are proof that I'ma good workman. Sit down. Sit down, all of you -- ifyou can find anything to sit on -- and tell me why youare here."

So they found seats and told him all of theiradventures that they thought he would like to know. Ku-Klip was glad to learn that Nick Chopper, the TinWoodman, was now Emperor of the Winkies and a friend ofOzma of Oz, and the tinsmith was also interested in theScarecrow and Polychrome.

He turned the straw man around, examining himcuriously, and patted him on all sides, and then said:

"You are certainly wonderful, but I think you wouldbe more durable and steady on your legs if you weremade of tin. Would you like me to --"

"No, indeed!" interrupted the Scarecrow hastily; "Ilike myself better as I am."

But to Polychrome the tinsmith said:

"Nothing could improve you, my dear, for you are themost beautiful maiden I have ever seen. It is purehappiness just to look at you."

"That is praise, indeed, from so skillful a workman,"returned the Rainbow's Daughter, laughing and dancingin and out the room.

"Then it must be this boy you wish me to help," saidKu-Klip, looking at Woot.

"No," said Woot, "we are not here to seek your skill,but have merely come to you for information."

Then, between them, they related their search forNimmie Amee, whom the Tin Woodman explained he hadresolved to marry, yet who had promised to become thebride of the Tin Soldier before he unfortunately becamerusted. And when the story was told, they asked Ku-Klipif he knew what had become of Nimmie Amee.

"Not exactly," replied the old man, "but I know thatshe wept bitterly when the Tin Soldier did not come tomarry her, as he had promised to do. The old Witch wasso provoked at the girl's tears that she beat NimmieAmee with her crooked stick and then hobbled away togather some magic herbs, with which she intended totransform the girl into an old hag, so that no onewould again love her or care to marry her. It was whileshe was away on this errand that Dorothy's house fellon the Wicked Witch, and she turned to dust and blewaway. When I heard this good news, I sent Nimmie Ameeto find the Silver Shoes which the Witch had worn, butDorothy had taken them with her to the Emerald City."

"Yes, we know all about those Silver Shoes," said theScarecrow.

"Well," continued Ku-Klip, "after that, Nimmie Ameedecided to go away from the forest and live with somepeople she was acquainted with who had a house on MountMunch. I have never seen the girl since."

"Do you know the name of the people on Mount Munch,with whom she went to live?" asked the Tin Woodman.

"No, Nimmie Amee did not mention her friend's name,and I did not ask her. She took with her all that shecould carry of the goods that were in the Witch'shouse, and she told me I could have the rest. But whenI went there I found nothing worth taking except somemagic powders that I did not know how to use, and abottle of Magic Glue."

"What is Magic Glue?" asked Woot.

"It is a magic preparation with which to mend peoplewhen they cut themselves. One time, long ago, I cut offone of my fingers by accident, and I carried it to theWitch, who took down her bottle and glued it on againfor me. See!" showing them his finger, "it is as goodas ever it was. No one else that I ever heard of hadthis Magic Glue, and of course when Nick Chopper cuthimself to pieces with his enchanted axe and CaptainFyter cut himself to pieces with his enchanted sword,the Witch would not mend them, or allow me to glue themtogether, because she had herself wickedly enchantedthe axe and sword. Nothing remained but for me to makethem new parts out of tin; but, as you see, tinanswered the purpose very well, and I am sure their tinbodies are a great improvement on their meat bodies.""Very true," said the Tin Soldier.

"I quite agree with you," said the Tin Woodman. "Ihappened to find my old head in your cupboard, a whileago, and certainly it is not as desirable a head as thetin one I now wear."

"By the way," said the Tin Soldier, "what ever becameof my old head, Ku-Klip?"

"And of the different parts of our bodies?" added theTin Woodman.

"Let me think a minute," replied Ku-Klip. "If Iremember right, you two boys used to bring me most ofyour parts, when they were cut off, and I saved them inthat barrel in the corner. You must not have brought meall the parts, for when I made Chopfyt I had hard workfinding enough pieces to complete the job. I finallyhad to finish him with one arm."

"Who is Chopfyt?"inquired Woot.

"Oh, haven't I told you about Chopfyt?" exclaimed Ku-Klip. "Of course not! And he's quite a curiosity, too.You'll be interested in hearing about Chopfyt. This ishow he happened:

"One day, after the Witch had been destroyed andNimmie Amee had gone to live with her friends on MountMunch, I was looking around the shop for something andcame upon the bottle of Magic Glue which I had broughtfrom the old Witch's house. It occurred to me to piecetogether the odds and ends of you two people, which ofcourse were just as good as ever, and see if I couldn'tmake a man out of them. If I succeeded, I would have anassistant to help me with my work, and I thought itwould be a clever idea to put to some practical use thescraps of Nick Chopper and Captain Fyter. There weretwo perfectly good heads in my cupboard, and a lot offeet and legs and parts of bodies in the barrel, so Iset to work to see what I could do.

"First, I pieced together a body, gluing it with theWitch's Magic Glue, which worked perfectly. That wasthe hardest part of my job, however, because the bodiesdidn't match up well and some parts were missing. Butby using a piece of Captain Fyter here and a piece ofNick Chopper there, I finally got together a verydecent body, with heart and all the trimmingscomplete."

"Whose heart did you use in making asked the Tin.Woodman anxiously. the body?"

"I can't tell, for the parts had no tags on them andone heart looks much like another. After the body wascompleted, I glued two fine legs and feet onto it. Oneleg was Nick Chopper's and one was Captain Fyter's and,finding one leg longer than the other, I trimmed itdown to make them match. I was much disappointed tofind that I had but one arm. There was an extra leg inthe barrel, but I could find only one arm. Having gluedthis onto the body, I was ready for the head, and I hadsome difficulty in making up my mind which head to use.Finally I shut my eyes and reached out my hand towardthe cupboard shelf, and the first head I touched Iglued upon my new man."

"It was mine!" declared the Tin Soldier, gloomily.

"No, it was mine," asserted Ku-Klip, "for I had givenyou another in exchange for it -- the beautiful tinhead you now wear. When the glue had dried, my man wasquite an interesting fellow. I named him Chopfyt, usinga part of Nick Chopper's name and a part of CaptainFyter's name, because he was a mixture of both yourcast-off parts. Chopfyt was interesting, as I said,but he did not prove a very agreeable companion. Hecomplained bitterly because I had given him but one arm-- as if it were my fault! -- and he grumbled because thesuit of blue Munchkin clothes, which I got for him froma neighbor, did not fit him perfectly."

"Ah, that was because he was wearing my old head,"remarked the Tin Soldier. "I remember that head used tobe very particular about its clothes."

"As an assistant," the old tinsmith continued,"Chopfyt was not a success. He was awkward with toolsand was always hungry. He demanded something to eat sixor eight times a day, so I wondered if I had fitted hisinsides properly. Indeed, Chopfyt ate so much thatlittle food was left for myself; so, when he proposed,one day, to go out into the world and seek adventures,I was delighted to be rid of him. I even made him a tinarm to take the place of the missing one, and thatpleased him very much, so that we parted good friends."

"What became of Chopfyt after that?" the Scarecrowinquired.

"I never heard. He started off toward the east, intothe plains of the Munchkin Country, and that was thelast I ever saw of him."

"It seems to me," said the Tin Woodman reflectively,"that you did wrong in making a man out of our cast-offparts. It is evident that Chopfyt could, with justice,claim relationship with both of us."

"Don't worry about that," advised Ku-Klip cheerfully;"it is not likely that you will ever meet the fellow.And, if you should meet him, he doesn't know who he ismade of, for I never told him the secret of hismanufacture. Indeed, you are the only ones who know ofit, and you may keep the secret to yourselves, if youwish to."

"Never mind Chopfyt," said the Scarecrow. "Ourbusiness now is to find poor Nimmie Amee and let herchoose her tin husband. To do that, it seems, from theinformation Ku-Klip has given us, we must travel toMount Munch."

"If that's the programme, let us start at once,"suggested Woot.

So they all went outside, where they found Polychromedancing about among the trees and talking with thebirds and laughing as merrily as if she had not losther Rainbow and so been separated from all her fairysisters.

They told her they were going to Mount Munch, and shereplied:

"Very well; I am as likely to find my Rainbow thereas here, and any other place is as likely as there. Itall depends on the weather. Do you think it looks likerain?"

They shook their heads, and Polychrome laughed againand danced on after them when they resumed theirjourney.