Oz 17: The Cowardly Lion of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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he_made a safety belt for himself . then, while the cowardly lion shivered with fright, they sat upon_the edge of_the skyle and cast their lines far into_the air below ." now, Bob my lad, don't expect a bite too soon," said the clown, " for fishing is a mortal slow business, but a fine one for thinking, and all of us must think of a way to_get off this island before we're pushed off by_the Uns ."

the cowardly lion, with_his back to_the two fishermen, kept a sharp lookout for_the enemy, and all three tried to_think . but thinking when_you're hungry is hard work . besides, there were so_many things to distract one's attention . the sky, as_the afternoon advanced, turned a soft and dreamy pink, and_the clouds drifting by were of every shape and color imaginable- green, purple, amber and gold- and of_such marvelous form that each seemed lovelier than_the last . there were castles and tall masted ships, there were caravans and chariots, and once a white and wonderful princess waved to_the little boy from_the back of a feathery swan . so it_was small wonder Notta and Bob forgot the Uns, and even their fishing lines, blowing gently to and fro in_the soft pink air waves . then, all at once, Bob's line gave a jerk and had he not been tied to_the tree he_would certainly have_been pulled off the skyle .

"Oh ! Oh ! " screamed the little boy in delight, "I've caught something ! "

Giving his rod to_the cowardly lion, who was blinking dreamily at a wonderful cloud city, the clown ran to help Bob, and hand over hand they pulled up the line . what do_you suppose was on_it ? a goose-a simply enormous goose . it_was smoking gently as_they drew it over the edge .

" why, it's cooked ! " marveled Notta, unfastening the line which had caught in_the bird's legs . and so it_was cooked in all its feathers with its head tucked under its wing .

"Aha, so our goose is cooked, is_it ? " observed the cowardly lion, sniffing the air hungrily .

" must_have flown too near the sun .

" well," chuckled Notta, " that I don't pretend to_know .Fishing for birds is strange enough, but catching acooked goose is almost too good to_be true ."

" but it_is true," exulted Bob, clapping his hands, " and I caught it ! " while the cowardly lion watched the two rods, and Bob proudly picked his goose, Notta ran off in search of water . in_a_few_minutes he_came running back with a bucket full which he had drawn from a small sky well . the bucket, one_of_the canvas collapsible kind used in circuses, the clown had fortunately stowed under his capacious belt . as neither meat nor drink was now lacking, they sat down under a small tree and dined quite merrily . the cowardly lion ate one half the goose, bones and all, and Notta and Bob finished off the rest .

" it looks," and_the clown, rising to_take a drink of water out_of_the bucket, which he hung on a branch of_the tree, " it looks as if_the Uns had forgotten us .

" maybe," mused the lion, shaking his mane, " but we mustn't forget them . have_you thought of anything yet ? "

" not a thing," confessed the clown cheerfully . he turned a dozen cartwheels, walked a few paces on_his hands, and ended up with a somersault over Bob ." you're a spry one," said the cowardly lion admiringly, as_the clown sat down with_his back against a tree, as spry a one as I've ever met ."

" thank_you," laughed Notta ." if thinking came as easily as cartwheeling we'd be off this skyle in no time . but now that we're fed and comfortable, suppose we_think again ."

"I'd rather fish," said Bob up promptly .

" can't we fish a little longer, Notta ? "

" well, there's no harm in_it," replied the clown, winking at_the cowardly lion, " and as_we'll probably have to_spend the night here we_may as_well catch something for breakfast ."

" try to catch me something uncooked this_time, won't you ? " asked the cowardly lion, thumping his tail lazily on_the ground ." you_know I prefer my food uncooked ." Bob smiled a little at_this and, moving his rod gently to and fro, thought about_the comical adventures he_was having .Notta, with_his back to_the tree, was fishing too, and everything was very quiet . all around them the light was fading, and_the clouds turned from pink to a dull gray and rushed past with an angry sort of sighing . night was coming on, and soon the stars began to twinkle above and below the little skyland .Bob had never seen stars so large nor so bright, but then Bob had never been so close to_them before . he_was thinking rather solemnly that_it would_be fun to catch a star, when Notta, oppressed by_the silence, burst into a merry song:

"A little chocolate cooky man went calling on a plate . she said, ' sir, it_is ten o'clock ! why do_you come so late ? '

' because I'm made that way,' said he, ' my little china girly, I'm always choco- late, you_see, so how could I come early ?

"' and_is it not, my darling, better chocolate than never ? ' the wee plate cracked a little smile .'Oh, sir,' said she, ' you're clever !

" ' and you_may call to- morrow- even though you're choco- late ! ' but pshaw ! he never came, because that cooky man was ate ! "

Bob laughed right out loud, and Notta, who had_been trying to_make Bob merry, tossed his cap triumphantly into_the air .

" very_good," murmured the cowardly lion, waving his tail gently, " except that last line .' was ate .'Isn't that a bit ungrammatical, even for Oz ? "

" there you go getting unish," teased Notta ."I guess I_can_be ungrammatical in Un ."

"Notta ! Notta ! I've got another bite," screamed Bob, hopping about on one foot . that finished the argument .

" hope it's a bite for_me," said the cowardly lion . then he_gave a little roar of surprise, for over the edge of_the skyle came a dog- as dear and shaggy a little bow-wow as had ever barked at an ice man . the hook had caught neatly in its collar and, though it_was a little out of breath, it_was otherwise unhurt .

" well," rumbled the cowardly lion, rising on_his haunches, " so this_is breakfast ? Bob, what do_you_mean by catching a dog for_my breakfast ? "

"Oh, please," whimpered the dog, rolling its soft eyes in terror ." you wouldn't eat a little fellow who was only out for a walk, would you ? " he sat up and begged so prettily Bob caught him up in_his arms and hugged him ."Oh, Notta, may I keep him ? I've never had a dog ! "

" well, now," said the clown, scratching his ear, "I don't see why_not ."

"Don't keep me," wailed the dog piteously, " for I belong to a little boy on another star, and he_would miss me very_much ."

" what kind of a dog are_you ? " gasped the clown, staring at_the little creature ." what do_you_mean by taking a walk through_the sky, and living on a star ? "

" I_am askye terrier," answered the little dog, looking anxiously from one to_the other ." you wouldn't hurt a little fellow like me, would you ? "

" but how will_you get home ? " asked Notta .

" just throw me back into_the air," barked the dog, and licked Bob on_the nose so coaxingly he couldn't bear to refuse, though his heart was heavy at_the thought of losing him .

"I guess that other little boy would miss you, sighed Bob . so, kissing the shaggy little terrier right on_the nose, he dropped him gently over the edge of_the skyle, and as_they watched he scampered hurriedly over a cloud and then along through_the sky, as easily as_if he had_been on land instead of air . he paused once and looked over his shoulder, then with a joyful bark and wave of_his tail ran off, vanishing like a speck in_the distance .Notta, seeing that Bob was downhearted at losing the little fellow, suggested that_they start fishing again ." who knows what we_may catch this_time ? " exclaimed the clown, pushing back his cap, and snapping his line energetically .

almost at once both lines became taut, and when_they were drawn up, two shiny silver packages fell from_the slender hooks ."Dreams for a little boy," said a small label on Bob's package ."Dreams for a big boy," said the label on Notta's package . with trembling fingers they untied the silver ribbons, and had no sooner done so than Bob drooped gently against Notta, and_the clown fell back against a tree . in another second both were fast asleep-dreaming the lovely stories they had caught in_the sky . it happened so quickly that_the cowardly lion was completely taken by surprise . he sniffed the silver papers ."Dreams," read the cowardly lion by_the light of_the stars ." well, I guess they're regular sleeping powders . it's a good thing I didn't catch a dream, for somebody must stay awake and keep guard ." the big beast yawned and stretched, then carefully dragging Bob and Notta back from_the edge of_the skyle, set himself to_keep the watch while they slept . he_was terribly sleepy himself and keeping awake was a hard fight, but the cowardly lion knew that_the lives of_these two mortals depended upon him so he walked up and down, and down and up the edge of_the Skyland, and presently he heard a sound that made him quake with terror .Footsteps in_the woods ! Hundreds of_them coming nearer every_minute !

" the Uns," choked the cowardly lion, and hesitated between waking Notta and Bob, or advancing to meet the enemy . before he_could make up his mind, a whole party, their feathers gleaming strangely in_the moonlight, burst out_of_the trees .

" push 'em off ! shove 'em off ! " screamed the leader, waving on_the rest . it_was I- wish-I- was, and in little hops and springs they came tumbling toward him .

with a roar that sounded more terrible than anything you_could imagine, because it_was mostly made up of terror, the cowardly lion sprang straight at them . down went I- wish-I- was and a dozen of_his warriors .Shaking and quaking with fear, the cowardly lion made quick springs and snatches, and when_the Uns with little screams of rage, drew back, his mouth was full of feathers . but they were far from giving up and after a brief parley came on again . once more the cowardly lion struck out, left and right . this_time two dozen more were down, but the cowardly lion was slowly being forced toward Notta and Bob, and_the treacherous edge of_the Skyle .

armed with feathered sticks and screaming horribly, the Uns came on a third time, and though the cowardly lion fought them with might, mane, claw, tooth and nail, he_was almost smothered by_the attack . something of_the alarm made the clown stir in_his sleep, and_the triumphant shout of I- wish-I- was brought him wide awake . he sat up just in_time to_see the cowardly lion go down under a perfect wave of Uns .

" help ! help ! " screamed Notta, but there_was no one to help them . he_made a little dash to_the left, but the line that tied him to_the tree caught him with a jerk . he_made a little dash to_the right, spun around and clasped his stomach in despair . just then the cowardly lion; growling like a whole menagerie, shook off the mass of Uns and bounded to_his side .Feathers were strewn in every direction, and a hundred of_the Uns lay where they had fallen .

the poor cowardly lion was shaking with exhaustion and fright, but never thought of giving up, and when_the Uns made another rush, he met them as valiantly as ever . wild screams from_the Featherheads in_the rear made him pause and look over in alarm at Notta . the clown, with staring eyes, was mumbling continuously under his breath, and touching first one and then another of_the crowd swarming around him, and each_time he touched an Un, the Un disappeared .

the cowardly lion stopped fighting and sat down with a thud . the Uns stopped fighting, and those in front began to tread on_the toes of_the ones in back, in their anxiety to_get away . when twenty had vanished in as_many seconds, the rest ran howling to_the woods .

" well," panted the cowardly lion, rolling his eyes wildly at Notta .

" you saved my life, old fellow," cried the clown, giving him an impulsive hug .

" and you saved mine," gasped the lion, as_soon_as he had breath enough to gasp ." but how did you_do it and where are they ? "

" in Mudge," explained the clown, drawing his knees up to_his chin and winking at_the cowardly lion, " in Mudge and scaring the life out of Mustafa, I'll wager . remember the magic verse that brought us here ? well, every time an Un came near I_said:

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

" marvelous ! " sighed the cowardly lion ." but how did you_think of it so quick ? "

"I had to," replied Notta modestly ." you_see, when there's nothing else to_do i_think, and not thinking very often makes me do_it rather well . but do_you suppose the other Uns will come back ? "

the cowardly lion shook his head ." not in an 'undred years," he yawned ." and now that_they_are good and frightened let's all get some sleep ."

the cowardly lion was bruised and ruffled, and so tired he_could_not keep his eyes open another minute .Stretching himself beside Bob, who had_not even heard the battle, he fell instantly into a heavy slumber .Notta, lying on_the other side of_the little boy, was soon enjoying the rest of_the dreams in_his silver package .

towards morning faint cries aroused the cowardly lion . though only half awake he sprang up blinking his eyes nervously . then he_gave a howl of dismay, for Notta and Bob were nowhere to_be seen !

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GROANING because he had_been foolish enough to trust the Uns, the cowardly lion ran up and down the edge of_the skyle . there_was no_doubt about_it, Bob and Notta had_been pushed off while he_was asleep . then a tree, jutting far over the edge, attracted his attention . it_was swaying and trembling in a most unusual fashion

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