The Winkies were very grateful to Dorothy and her friends so they gave them many gifts.
They gave the Lion and Toto gold collars.
They gave the Tin Man a gold-handled ax and a jewel-covered oilcan.
They gave the Scarecrow a walking stick with a gold handle, and they gave Dorothy a gold bracelet.
It had jewels to match the golden hat she had taken after the Witch melted.
The journey back to Oz was long and difficult.
The Winged Monkeys had flown the Tin Man and Scarecrow a great distance before dropping them.
Dorothy and the Lion had been taken all the way to the castle.
They followed the rising sun, but then it became cloudy and the sun was gone.
It remained cloudy for several days, but the group continued.
"We have lost our way," said the Scarecrow.
"If we walk far enough," said Dorothy, "we will arrive somewhere."
The others didn't look hopeful.
"Let's call the field mice," suggested the Tin Man.
"Why didn't we think of that before?" asked the Scarecrow.
Dorothy took out the Witch's silver whistle and blew.
Soon many gray field mice, as well as the Queen herself, arrived.
"How can we help you?" asked the Queen.
"We are lost," answered Dorothy. "How do we get to Oz?"
"It is quite far," replied the Queen.
"Because you've been walking in the wrong direction.
It will take you many days to reach Oz.
Why don't you call the Winged Monkeys to take you there?"
"The Winged Monkeys?" asked Dorothy, not understanding the Queen.
"You are wearing the golden hat so you can command the Winged Monkeys," said the Queen.
"But how?" asked Dorothy.
"The directions are inside the hat," answered the Queen.
After reading the directions, Dorothy put the hat back on her head and stood with her feet apart.
She raised her hands above her head and said, "By my command!"
The magic of the hat changed Dorothy's voice, and the sound scared her and her friends.
The King of the Monkeys bowed before Dorothy and asked, "What is your command?"
"We wish to go to the Emerald City," said Dorothy.
"We will carry you," replied the King.
The Monkeys quickly obeyed Dorothy's command, and soon they were flying toward Oz.
"Why must you obey me?" asked Dorothy.
"It is our punishment," replied the King. "We made mischief on a princess.
Her husband gave the golden hat to her on her wedding day.
She used the hat to order us out of her kingdom."
"How did the Wicked Witch get the hat?" asked Dorothy.
"We don't know," said the King. "But she made us do terrible things.
We enslaved the Winkies and drove Oz himself out of the Land of the West.
Then she ordered us to kill you, but we couldn't because of the Good Witch's kiss."
"Look!" shouted Dorothy. "There's the Emerald City."
The Winged Monkeys left Dorothy and her friends at the Emerald City's gate.
Dorothy and her friends thanked them for the ride, and the Winged Monkeys flew away.
"Now we will get what we have been promised," said the Scarecrow happily, and they rang the bell.
"What! Back again?" asked the gatekeeper in surprise.
"You see us, so you know we are here," said the Tin Man.
"But you went to visit the Witch," he replied.
"We did visit her," said the Lion.
"And she let you go?" the gatekeeper asked in disbelief.
"She melted, so we were free to go," answered the Scarecrow.
"She melted? Who melted her?" the gatekeeper asked.
"I did, sir," said Dorothy quietly.
"My goodness!" the gatekeeper exclaimed. "Well, come in. Come in."
While the gatekeeper placed special eyeglasses on the visitors, a large crowd gathered.
News of the Witch's death had spread fast, and everyone wanted to see what Oz would give to the heroes.
The soldier went and spoke to Oz, but Oz did not see them that day.
Dorothy and her friends returned to their former rooms and waited.
Many days passed and Oz still did not summon them.
Tired of waiting, Dorothy and her friends sent a message to Oz:
If you do not see us, we will call the Winged Monkeys and tell them to destroy the Emerald City.