Oz 17: The Cowardly Lion of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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fashion . at_the same time the faint cries that had awakened him were repeated . with a frightened gulp, the lion saw the two fishing lines tied to_the tree and, winding his tail firmly around the slim trunk, began pulling up the first of_the lines . it_was hard work and two_or_three times he_was almost drawn over the edge, but he never hesitated, and presently he had dragged Notta safely back to land . the clown waved his hands feebly, then lay on_his stomach and panted like a fish . without waiting to restore him, the cowardly lion began to pull up the other line, and presently Bob, also breathless and panting, lay beside the clown . they were_not only breathless, but quite wet-having fallen into a cloud . the lion, puffing a little himself, watched anxiously .Notta, with a long and final gasp, sat up and gave a little sigh of relief .

" that makes the second time you've saved my life," said Notta faintly .

" what happened ? " asked the cowardly lion .

" well, first," said the clown, talking in little jerks and pausing every few_minutes to pat Bob on_the back, " first, I fell asleep, then, I fell awake . and if_it hadn't been for_these disguises I should_have_been cut in two ."

" the Uns ? " asked the lion, opening his eyes very wide .

" yes," said Notta, and told how the Featherheads had pushed both Bob and himself from_the skyle and, without stopping to notice that_they were tied or to touch the cowardly lion, had run off without making a sound ." it_was a mighty good thing we were anchored, eh, Bob, my boy ? feel better ? "

Bob shook his head uncertainly, for he_was still frightened and dizzy from swinging through_the air .

the stars had faded out and_the sun had_not yet risen and in_the cold gray mist of early morning the three huddled together and tried to_think what to_do .

" first, let's get away from_the edge," shuddered the cowardly lion .Cutting the fishing lines that had saved their lives, Notta set Bob on_the cowardly lion's back and_they moved slowly in_the half darkness toward the center of_the skyle . the Uns evidently had gone off to_their homes, and with some matches Notta had tucked under his wonderful belt they kindled a little fire and soon were dry and much more cheerful .Bob immediately went to sleep, but Notta and_the cowardly lion kept watch .

for an hour there_was not a sound . then the noise of someone sawing wood came distinctly through_the still air . leaving the cowardly lion on guard, Notta went to investigate . he tiptoed along quietly, resolved if_it were an Un to wish him away to Mudge . as he advanced the sawing grew louder and louder and, peering around a large tree, he_saw a huge and ridiculous bird flopped over against a rock, snoring at a great rate .

as Notta looked the bird opened one eye, stamped its big claws fretfully, and immediately fell to snoring again . the clown took off his cap, scratched his ear and then burst into a loud peal of laughter, which he_could_not have helped had he died the next minute . the bird stopped snoring instantly, and opened both eyes .

" what do_you_mean by waking me when i_was sound asleep, " it chirped crossly ."A great_many sounds of sleep," corrected Notta, winking at_the singular creature ." i_thought someone was sawing down a tree ."

" did you ? " the bird looked rather proud and began to puff out its feathers ."I'm the loudest snorer in_the sky," it announced, strutting about self- consciously ." that's why my beak curls in_this convenient fashion ."

it was_the bird's beak that had made Notta laugh in_the first place . it_was long and blue, and curved so_that it could fit over the comical creature's ear like a personal telephone connection ." but why does it curl ? " asked Notta, sitting down and staring at_the bird intently .

" so I_can hear myself snore, replied the bird ." as_soon_as I snore in my own ear I wake up and stop snoring ." with its claw the Snorer adjusted its beak, much as one would adjust a pair of spectacles, and looked blandly at Notta ."I'm unusual don't you_think ? "

" unusual," whistled the clown ."I'll say you_are ! and never have I seen such a country . why, if I_could take along a few of_these freaks, I'd have the finest show on earth ." he rubbed his forehead thoughtfully as he thought of_the Mudgers, the half- lion, and now this bewildering bird .

Snorer was about_the size of a small child, with enormous feet, short legs and pink feathers . his head was somewhat like that of a large crane, and_his eyes were as blue as his beak .

" why are_you on_the isle of Un ? " asked Notta, as_the creature continued to look solemnly at him ." because I'm unusual," said the bird with a triumphant little hop ." but why are_you here ? "

" because I'm unlucky, I guess," sighed the clown ruefully ." won't you come along and meet my friends ? "

" yes, I'll come with_you," said the bird calmly . it put its head on one side and looked at Notta ." you're beautiful," it sighed tremulously, " beautifully beautiful .I love you ! "

Notta had all he_could do to_keep from laughing, but seeing that Snorer was really in earnest, he patted it awkwardly on_the head, and started back, the bird hopping happily beside him .

" what's this you've caught ? " asked the cowardly lion, blinking suspiciously at Notta's odd companion . as for Bob, who had wakened a moment before, he_gave a little shout of laughter ." it's because I'm so unusual," whispered Snorer, putting up a claw and winking at Notta ." tell them my name's Nickadoodle ."

so Notta gravely introduced nick to Bob and_the cowardly lion and, after nick carefully explained his queer telephone nose, the four regarded one another with deep interest ." maybe you_can tell us the way to escape from Un," suggested the cowardly lion in a rather choked voice, for every time he looked at nick, he_felt like roaring . before Snorer could answer, Bob, who had_been staring fixedly at_the cowardly lion, burst out laughing .

" what's the matter ? " demanded the cowardly lion gruffly .

" what's the matter ? " asked Notta . then he too clapped his hand to_his mouth and began to rock backward and forward ."Feathers ! " gasped the clown, " you've a big bunch of blue feathers in your mane ! "

" what ? " roared the cowardly lion, angrily putting his paw to_his head .

"Oh, everyone grows feathers in Un," chirped nick cheerily, hopping toward Bob ." take off your cap and_see ."

Snatching off his hat Bob ran his fingers hastily through his hair .Horrors ! right at_the crown of_his head were at_least ten stiff red feathers .Notta had as_many green ones, but his hung down over his right eye when he_took off his cap . the desire to laugh at Snorer suddenly left them . to laugh at someone who was funny was one_thing, but to_be funny yourself- well, that was different ! head on one side ." i_think they're quite becoming ! "

"Becoming ! " screamed the cowardly lion ." well, they'll be coming out by_the roots . it's bad enough to_be chicken hearted, but being feathered headed, I simply will not stand ! " he_gave the bunch of feathers a furious tweak, but he might as_well have tried to pull off his ears .

" we've got to_get off this skyland," blustered the poor lion, stamping around in a fury ."I'll jump off before I grow another feather ." Bob was thinking that his would come in mighty handy for playing Indian .

"I suppose we'll soon grow enough to fly off," said Notta, blowing the green feathers out of_his eye and pushing them back under his cap ." I_say, Nickadoodle, can't you tell us a way out of_this ? "

"I'll tell you one_thing," murmured the great bird, nestling close to Notta ." you're beautiful, beauti-ful ! " he rolled his eyes rapturously .

" well, if_you don't want my beauty broken to pieces tell us a way to escape, begged the clown, looking nervously toward the edge of_the skyland .

" there's only_one way for_you to leave," said Snorer, " and_that is in_the royal Flyaboutabus ."

" what_is it ? " choked Notta .

" where is_it ? " roared the cowardly lion .

" tied to a tree near the palace . but we'll have to wait till the Uns go to wish," replied nick, rubbing his head against Notta's knee . and while the three listened in amazement Snorer told them a bit about life on_the isle of Un . no one on Un, explained nick gravely, ever worked, but each_morning they went regularly to wish, and nothing was allowed to interrupt their wishing . for three hours they shouted their wishes as loudly as they_could, and I- wish-I- was, because he_could wish faster and shout louder than any of_the rest, had_been made king .

" you'll hear them at it soon," said Snorer, adjusting his nose, " and_that's the best time for_you to leave .Afternoons they fish and evenings they fight . wish, fish and fight- that's the program here ."

" but how do they get anything done ? " asked Notta, standing on_his head to settle his feathers .

" they don't," replied Snorer calmly ." everything is undone; and about_your feathers," he pointed his claw at_the cowardly lion's mane, " every time anything unish happens to_you you'll grow another . first you were unwise to_come here . that accounts for_one; then you were uncomfortable and unsafe ."

" unlucky, unhappy and unfed ! " spluttered the clown, turning a somersault with each word ." lead us to_the Flyaboutabus, old fellow, or we'll soon be as feathered as geese .

" all right," chirped Nickadoodle obligingly, " but step softly and do just as I tell you .

"Aren't there any good Uns ? " asked Bob with a little sigh .

" well, there_was one," nick paused to adjust his nose, which_was continually falling off its hook, " but I've forgotten his name, and_the others treated him so unkindly that he's hidden himself in some cave somewhere on_the skyle . but they_do say if he ever becomes king, the Uns will all have to reform ."

Bob was hungry and far from rested, but as he stumbled along the rocky beach he fell to thinking about_this good Un and wishing he might see him before_they left the skyland . but Notta was so cheered at_the thought of leaving Un that every few seconds he sprang into_the air or somersaulted over the cowardly lion . the cowardly lion was dreadfully down-hearted . the feathers preyed on_his mind, his ears dropped and_his tail dragged and nothing Notta could_say made him feel any better .

" it's all very_well for_you and Bob . you_can wear hats and hide your feathers, but a lion in a hat would look as ridiculous as a lion with feathers . I_shall_be the laughing stock of Oz," groaned the poor beast .

" well, it's not so bad to_make people laugh," comforted Notta ." that_is my business, and I_know . come with me to America and your fortune will_be made ." but the cowardly lion only shook his head and padded sadly over the rough stones .

" this_is a punishment," thought the poor lion, "a punishment for_my wickedness in planning to devour a brave man ." and perhaps he_was right .

by_this_time they were so near the palace that nick held up his claw for silence .Hiding behind a huge rock, they watched the Uns climb down from their tree houses and hurry off to wish, just as sensible folk hurry off to work ." too bad I didn't send I- wish-I- was to Mudge," whispered Notta ." hush," said Nickadoodle ." as_soon_as you hear an earfull of noise run for_that third juniper tree ." he pointed out the tree with_his claw and_the three watchers waited anxiously for_the signal . soon there_was not an Un in sight and a second later a perfect explosion of screeches rent the air . it_was, as Notta explained afterward, an elephant earfull of noise, for every Un on_the skyle was wishing at_the top of_his lungs .

as_soon_as they had recovered from_the first shock, Notta, Bob and_the cowardly lion rushed toward the juniper tree . nick had flown ahead and was already calling down directions when_they reached it .

from_the top branch of_the juniper tree the king's feathery Flyaboutabus was tugging merrily at its rope .Following nick's instructions, Notta climbed to_the top of_the tree and, hanging on to_the rope, managed to bring it down a bit . nick, bidding Bob catch him around the neck, flew up next, and their weight brought it down still further . it_was still terribly high for_the cowardly lion, who_could_not very_well climb the tree .

" hurry ! hurry ! " croaked nick, flapping his wings warningly ." there's an Un ." and sure enough, a tardy Featherhead was staring at them in astonishment from_the door of_his tree house . with an ear splitting squall, he fell down the ladder and rushed off to_the wishing place to_tell the others .Prickling with terror, the cowardly lion made spring after spring, but each_time he just missed the Flyaboutabus . and every time he_made an unsuccessful leap, another feather sprouted gaily in_his mane ." better cut loose and leave him," whispered nick anxiously, but Notta and Bob hushed him up indignantly and by jumping tried to bring the bus lower .

" go on and save yourselves," coughed the lion after_the tenth attempt . he mopped his forehead dejectedly with_his tail, and growled terribly as each feather pricked through .a shout from_the clown made him turn .Rushing toward them in tumbling waves of fury were the Uns, led by I- wish-I- was . in a last despairing frenzy, the cowardly lion hurled himself into_the air, and this_time his front paws caught the feather wheels of_the bus, and Bob and Notta, pulling together, helped him aboard . there_was not a minute to lose, for_the Uns were already surrounding the tree . just as I- wish-I- was sprang into_the lower branches, Snorer cut the rope with_his knifelike beak and up sailed the Flyaboutabus like a balloon released

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