He had been trying to think, but could not

Finally, one of the biggest mice spoke.
‘Is there nothing we can do,’ it asked, ‘to repay you for saving the life of our Queen?’
‘Nothing that I know of,’ answered the Woodman; but the Scarecrow, who had been trying to think, but could not because his head was stuffed with straw, said, quickly, ‘Oh, yes; you can save our friend, the Cowardly Lion, who is asleep in the poppy bed.’

– The Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum.

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