"Can't you help?" asked the crow.
"How?" inquired the tin man.
"Catch the line and hook it around your neck."
The Tin Woodman made the attempt and after several trials wound the line around his neck and hooked it securely.
"Good!" cried the King Crow, a mischievous old fellow. "Now, then, we'll all grab the line and pull you out."
At once the air was filled with black crows, each of whom seized the cord with beak or talons. The Scarecrow watched them with much interest and forgot that he had tied the other end of the line around his own waist, so he would not lose it while fishing for his friend.
"All together for the good caws!" shrieked the King Crow, and with a great flapping of wings the birds rose into the air.
The Scarecrow clapped his stuffed hands in glee as he saw his friend drawn from the water into the air; but the next moment the straw man was himself in the air, his stuffed legs kicking wildly; for the crows had flown straight up through the trees. On one end of the line dangled the Tin Woodman, hung by the neck, and on the other dangled the Scarecrow, hung by the waist and clinging fast to the spare anchor of the boat, which he had seized hoping to save himself.
"Hi, there—be careful!" shouted the Scarecrow to the crows. "Don't take us so high. Land us on the river bank."