Chapter 17. How the Balloon Was Launched

Dorothy hadn't heard from Oz for three days, which saddened her. Her friends, however, were happy and content. The Scarecrow claimed he had wonderful thoughts but chose not to share, thinking no one else would understand. The Tin Woodman, when walking, could feel his heart rattling in his chest. He told Dorothy his heart was kinder and more tender than when he was made of flesh. The Lion boldly declared he feared nothing on earth, ready to face an army or a dozen fierce Kalidahs.

Unlike her friends, Dorothy was unhappy, longing to return to Kansas.

On the fourth day, Oz called her in, making her happy. He greeted her in the Throne Room:

"Sit down, my dear; I think I've found a way for you to get you out of this country."

"To Kansas?" she asked eagerly.

"I'm unsure about Kansas," Oz replied, "I don't know its direction. But first, you must cross the desert. Then, it should be easy to find your way home."

"How can I cross the desert?" she asked.

"I have an idea," the little man began. "When I arrived here, I was in a balloon. You also came through the air, carried by a tornado. So, crossing the desert by air seems best. I can't make a tornado, but I think I can make a balloon."

"How?" Dorothy asked.

"A balloon," Oz explained, "is silk coated with glue to keep the gas in. I have plenty of silk, so making the balloon isn't a problem. But there's no gas in this country to make it float."

"If it won't float," Dorothy pointed out, "it won't be any good to us."

"True," answered Oz. "But there's another way to make it float, by filling it with hot air," Oz said. "Hot air isn't as good as gas. If the air cools, the balloon will descend in the desert, and we'd be lost."

"We?" Dorothy exclaimed. "Are you coming with me?"

"Yes, of course," replied Oz. "I'm tired of being a fraud. If I leave the Palace, they'll discover I'm not a Wizard, and they'll be upset for being deceived. I'm trapped in these rooms all day. It's tiresome. I'd rather return to Kansas with you and join a circus."

"I'd be happy to have your company," said Dorothy.

"Thank you," he responded. "If you'll help me sew the silk, we can start to work on our balloon."

Dorothy grabbed a needle and thread, and as Oz cut the silk into strips, she quickly sewed them neatly together. They used light green, dark green, and emerald green silk, reflecting Oz's preference for varying shades. After three days of sewing, they had a big, twenty-foot-long bag of green silk.

Oz then coated the inside with a thin layer of glue to make it airtight. Afterward, he announced that the balloon was ready.

"We need a basket to ride in," Oz said. So he sent the soldier with the green whiskers to fetch a large clothes basket, tying it with many ropes to the balloon's bottom.

Once ready, Oz told his people he'd visit a brother Wizard in the clouds. The news spread quickly, drawing a crowd eager to witness the show.

Oz placed the balloon in front of the Palace, attracting curious onlookers. The Tin Woodman had prepared a large pile of wood. He lit a fire, and Oz held the balloon's bottom over it, capturing the rising hot air. The balloon slowly expanded and lifted until the basket touched the ground.


Oz climbed into the basket, addressing the crowd loudly: "I'm leaving for a visit. The Scarecrow will rule in my absence. Obey him as you would obey me."

By this time, the balloon was tugging hard at the rope that held it to the ground. Its interior was filled with hot air, making it much lighter than the outside air. This caused the balloon to strain hard, eager to rise into the sky.

"Come, Dorothy!" Oz cried. "Hurry, or the balloon will fly away."

"I can't find Toto," Dorothy answered, unwilling to leave her dog. Toto had dashed off to bark at a kitten, but she eventually found him. Picking him up, she ran towards the balloon.

Just steps away, with Oz reaching out to help her into the basket, the ropes suddenly snapped, and the balloon rose into the air without her.

"Come back!" she yelled. "I want to go, too!"

"I can't come back, my dear," Oz shouted from the basket. "Goodbye!"

"Goodbye!" everyone echoed, eyes fixed on the Wizard in the balloon, ascending further into the sky.

And that was the last any of them ever saw of Oz, the Wonderful Wizard, though he may have reached Omaha safely and be there now, for all we know. But the people remembered him lovingly and said to one another:

"Oz was always our friend. When he was here, he built for us this beautiful Emerald City, and now he is gone. He has left the Wise Scarecrow to rule over us."

Still, for many days, they grieved over the loss of the Wonderful Wizard, and would not be comforted.

That was their last sight of Oz, the Wonderful Wizard. He might've made it to Omaha, for all we know. People remembered him fondly, saying:

"Oz was always our friend. He built the beautiful Emerald City and left the Wise Scarecrow to rule over us."

Still heartbroken, they mourned the loss of the Wonderful Wizard for many days.