Oz 17: The Cowardly Lion of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19]
about restlessly on_the hard seats, and grumbled when sudden splashes of rain came pelting through_the tent top .Mothers were thinking anxiously of_the wet journey home, young ladies were worrying about their spring bonnets, and even the boys and girls were only applauding half-heartedly as old Billy, the elephant, rang dinner bells in one ring and_the Glicko sisters swung dizzily from trapezes in_the other . the chief clown ran distractedly around both rings . he stood on_his head, he walked on_his hands, he leaped over the elephant, he pretended he_was abalky donkey . but no one laughed . they didn't even smile at his oldest jokes .

" this_is too terrible," gulped the clown, stepping behind a pillar " not one real laugh the whole afternoon ! what's the matter with_these folks anyway ? " he wiped the perspiration from_his forehead, hastily powdered his nose and dashed out again .

it_was beginning to thunder now, and_the animals in_the outside tent set up a dreadful roaring . from looking bored, the people began to look frightened . something must_be_done . the worried clown rushed into_the center ring and sprang to_the back of_the big elephant .

"Ladies and gentlemen ! " shouted the clown, waving his arms to attract attention ."Ladies and gentlemen, I_am about to perform one_of_the_most astonishing and amazing feats ever executed-a trick that has astounded the crowned heads of Europe, Asia and Africa .Ladies and gentlemen-"

people on_the back rows, who were already pushing their way toward the exits, paused .a little girl in_the twenty-five- cent seats cheered faintly . thus encouraged, the clown turned a really marvelous somersault and landed on_the tip of_the elephant's trunk .

" will some small boy kindly step forward," begged the clown, glancing hurriedly along the front rows ." for_this trick I_need a small, active boy .Ah, there he_is ! "

Urging the elephant to_the very edge of_the ring, the clown snatched a small, red- headed boy from a group of solemn- eyed orphans, who had_been brought to_the circus for a special treat . the crowd gasped with surprise, and_the orphan tried to wriggle out of_his coat, but the clown held on firmly .

" one toss of_this boy into_the air, and he_will disappear; a toss of_my cap and he_will reappear . watch ! " cried the clown, putting his fingers to_his lips .

" what_are you trying to_do ? " demanded the ringmaster in a hoarse whisper ." you_can't really make him disappear, you_know ."

the clown realized this, but he_was going to_make that crowd laugher disappear himself . with a shrill whistle that made even the old elephant prick up his ears, he tossed the orphan to_his shoulder and reeled off the first ridiculous rhyme that popped into his head . and this_was it:

"Udge ! budge ! go to Mudge ! Udger budger, you're aMudger ! "

a roar of delight went up from_the crowd, and a roar of terror from_the ringmaster, for_the orphan had disappeared - disappeared as completely as a punctured balloon !

" help ! " screamed the clown, dancing frantically up and down on_the elephant's head . the audience was enchanted and rocking to and fro with merriment .

" that's the best trick I've ever seen," gurgled a fat man, mopping his face ." look at him pretending to_be frightened . come on now, bring him back, you ! "

the clown cried out another verse:

"Udge ! budge ! go to Mudge ! Udger budger, I'm aMudger ! "

there_was atearing rip and a clap of thunder . the crowd stared, rubbed its eyes and stared again . no clown, no orphan ! why, this_was tremendous ! they stamped with glee and shouted their approval . but the ringmaster fell breathlessly against a post, and_the owner of_the circus, with popping eyes, started on a run for_the dressing tent . not a bit too soon, either, for in a few seconds the crowd stopped laughing as suddenly as it had begun .Umbrellas were brandished furiously, and people shouted at_the ringmaster to_produce the orphan at once . the ringmaster was shaking in_his shiny shoes, but he resolved to save himself if he_could .Raising his whip for silence, he announced in_his most impressive voice that_the best part of_the trick was to_come- that_the clown and orphan were at_that minute standing at_the circus gate to wave goodbye to_the company, one_of_the_most distinguished and delightful companies it had ever been their pleasure to entertain . he clicked his heels together, made a deep bow and_the crowd, convinced that he_was speaking the truth, began to stream out_of_the big tent .

without waiting another second, the ringmaster grasped old Billy by_the ear and ran him toward the animal tent . in five minutes the whole circus force was dashing about in_the pelting rain, dragging out cages, prodding the elephants, tugging at_the big horses, pulling down the tents .

" something terrible has happened; we've got to move out of here," chattered the owner of_the show, rushing from group to group . by_the_time the indignant old gentleman who had brought the orphans to_the circus had_been to_the gate and back, the first of_the heavy circus wagons was already rattling over the hill . the few workmen, hastening the last bits of loading, shook their heads dully when he demanded the orphan and, after threatening and stamping in vain, the distracted old gentleman ran off to fetch the police, with_the thirty-nine other orphans splashing delightedly behind him .

police ! what could police do against magic ? how did the clown know that_the rhyme that had popped into his head was an old Oz formula ? it had carried off the orphan like a skyrocket, and when_the clown had frantically repeated the magic words, he too had_been snatched into_the air, hurled through_the tent top, and flung down beside the frightened little boy in_the strangest land he had ever seen .Fortunately they had fallen on a soft dune of sand, and around them for miles and miles stretched a flat and silvery desert .

chapter 3 at_the court of Mudge

neither the clown nor the boy spoke for several minutes . to_tell the truth, they were breathless . then the clown sat up and looked doubtfully at_the orphan .

" well, here we_are," he_said, winking more from force of habit than because he_felt particularly jolly .

" yes, sir ! " gulped the orphan, swallowing hard .

" now don't call me sir," begged the clown, making conversation to gain time ."Don't call me sir because I worked in a circus . my name is Notta-Notta bit more .I was_the last of twelve children, and my mother and father could_not agree on a name for_me . every time my mother said, ' call him Augustus Elmer more,' my father said, ' not a bit of it .' after while, being a clown himself and a joker by trade, he began calling me 'Notta bit more' and Notta I've been ever_since ." the clown winked again ." call me Notta, won't you ? "

" yes, sir," replied the orphan, swallowing again and trying not to cry .Seeing this, Notta turned a double somersault and stood on_his head .

" and what_is your_name ? " he asked, waving his legs cheerfully ."Bobbie Downs," sniffed the orphan, with another swallow .

" how did you get it ? " the clown dropped down beside the little boy .

" i_think it came with me, sir," said Bobbie faintly .

" well, if_you don't mind, we'll change it to Bob up- for_that's what we've done- and Bob up sounds more lively than Bobbie Downs, don't you_think ? "

while Notta was talking he_was glancing anxiously around him ."Bob," he_said finally, " i_think we've fallen in with another circus . see, there_are tents, and I hear lions roaring ." " so do I," said Bobbie beginning to look more interested than frightened .

" yes, it's either a circus or a sea shore without any sea," continued the clown, running his fingers through_the sand ." but anyway, here I_am and here you_are, and so_long as_you_are here we'll bob up together . let's go on to_the main tent and_see the show ."

Bobbie stood up and shook the water from_his cap . they were both dripping wet from_the storm they had passed through, but the sun and wind of_this queer desert country soon dried them off and, conversing almost cheerfully, they trudged through_the deep sand toward a large blue, striped tent .

"I've done a heap of traveling in my_time," confided Notta, " but never in just this_way .I've run into some strange places and walked into others; but this_is_the first time I ever talked myself into a country . there we were in a circus, quiet and natural like, then that rhyme pops into my head . I_say it and off we go like a couple of skyrockets . we were just talked into_this country, Bob, my boy, and a mighty tricky business I call it . but never mind, we'll just follow the rules anyway .

" what rules ? " asked Bob, looking curiously at some tall palm trees, waving in_the distance . he had never supposed palm trees existed outside of geography books .

" why," explained Notta, " just four simple little rules I_made up_to use in_case of danger or trouble . first," he pulled out his little finger, " first I disguise myself . if_that fails, I'm extreemly polite . if politeness doesn't do, I tell a joke . if_the joke fails, I shout something no one can understand and run like sixty . so don't you worry, Bob; stick to_me and run when I run and everything will turn out right . do_you_know what makes me so fat ? "

Bob shook his head .

"Disguises ! " whispered Notta triumphantly ."I use them for padding . mighty handy when I tumble about . yes, sir, in here ." Notta fondly patted his bulging suit ." in here I_have six marvelous disguises ready to_put on at a moment's notice, and in here," Notta tapped his powdery forehead, " in here, I've sixty different jokes, and lots of things I don't understand myself, so you_see we_are prepared for everything ." " yes, sir," said Bobbie solemnly, for he_was a very solemn little boy .Living in an orphan asylum had made him that way and, as for adventures, he had never had an adventure in_his life . there were lessons and meals and punishments, and once in a while a fight among_the older boys, but no one in_that big, busy home had time to_talk to Bobbie Downs, nor answer his questions . so Bobbie had grown quieter and more solemn each year of_the seven he had spent in_the dull gray asylum .

Notta looked at_the little boy curiously as he trudged along beside him . the kindly clown decided that he_was going to like Bob up, and right there he decided that Bob up was going to_have a little fun ."I'll bet he's never laughed out loud in_his whole life," thought the clown to himself, and began running over in_his head the funniest jokes that he_knew . he had just determined on_the one about_the Pig and_the pound of bacon, when an ear splitting screech knocked all thought of joking out of_his mind .a huge figure, with bristling blue whiskers, had stepped out from behind a palm tree, taken one look at_the two strangers and then disappeared in_the direction of_the blue tent, shouting at_the top of_his lungs .

" is_it blue beard ? " quavered Bob, clutching Notta .

"Bob," said the clown, swallowing hard, "I don't know, but we'll just try rule one ." fumbling in_the bosom of_his suit he dragged out a brown bundle, and before_the little boy could wink had stepped into_it and dropped on all fours .

"I'm a lion," panted Notta, " and if I roar loudly enough I_may frighten them off . stick close to_me, Bob, and try to remember the rules . if I run, you run- understand ? "

" yes, sir ! " gasped Bob, his eyes as round as cookies, for Notta's disguise was so real that he_was almost afraid himself . scarcely had Notta cleared his throat for a growl than a white robed company burst out_of_the blue tent, and descended upon them in a whirl of sand and scimitars .Bob was as brave as any boy, but his retired life in an orphan asylum had_not prepared him for anything like this .Tears started to_his eyes . with a scream . of fright, he grasped Notta's woolly mane .

" you'd better stop crying and get ready to run," whispered the clown nervously and finished his sentence with_such a roar that Bob jumped quite three feet . but the wild white company kept right on coming and, before Notta could get another growl going, a net was thrown over his head, a dozen of_the blue whiskered villains were upon him and next instant he_was rolling over and over in_the sandy road .

Bob had shut his eyes tight, expecting to_be snatched himself, but when nothing happened he opened them and saw with a little gasp that_they were hustling Notta, with pricks and prods, towards the billowing blue tent . this_was Bob's first adventure and he_might_have run away, but something inside of him, that he hadn't known about, kept him there . right in_that moment, and all of a sudden, Bob discovered that he_was fonder of_this clown whom he had known only a few_moments than of anyone he had ever known before . he_felt that if something terrible was going to happen to Notta it might as_well happen to him too .

"Bob up," the clown had called him . well, bob up he_would . with trembling legs, he ran after_the shouting company, and managed to squeeze into_the royal tent unnoticed, behind the broad back of Tazzywaller . for as_you_have all guessed long before now, it_was to Mudge that Notta had transported himself and_the little boy .

Notta's disguise, though somewhat askew, still held together and he_was growling terribly to_keep up his courage, at_the same time looking anxiously around for Bob . his lion head had_been knocked sideways, so_that he_could only see out of one eye, but what he managed to_see with one eye was enough to_make him quake with terror . the Mudgers were shouting and hopping about in front of a large blue throne, pointing at him with their flashing scimitars .

then a tall, particularly thin fellow seized him by_the ear . it_was Panapee .

" lion," cried Panapee

Section [1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19]