I want to eat this straw! Where is it?
Where is it ?" The Scarecrow, hearing this, trembled but kept silent.

All the others were silent, too, hoping that the invisible beast would be unable to find them.

But the creature sniffed the odor of the straw and drew nearer and nearer to them until he reached the Tin Woodman, on one end of the line.

It was a big beast and it smelled of the Tin Woodman and grated two rows of enormous teeth against the Emperor's tin body.
"Bah! that's not straw," said the harsh voice, and the beast advanced along the line to Woot.
"Meat! Pooh, you're no good! I can't eat meat," grumbled the beast, and passed on to Polychrome.
"Sweetmeats and perfume--cobwebs and dew! Nothing to eat in a fairy like you," said the creature.
Now, the Scarecrow was next to Polychrome in the line, and he realized if the beast devoured his straw he would be helpless for a long time, because the last farmhouse was far behind them and only grass covered the vast expanse of plain.

So in his fright he let go of Polychrome's hand and put the hand of the Tin Soldier in that of the Rainbow's Daughter.