Oz 17: The Cowardly Lion of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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he held up his claw ." as I understand," croaked the bird, pushing his curly nose back of_his ear, "Mustafa's ring has turned black because you_have_not captured the cowardly lion ? "

" that's about_it," admitted Notta, trying to wink at Bob, but finding it impossible to move his eyelid .

" well, then," sniffled Snorer with a little hop, " why_not capture him ? wait, I'll get a rope . he flew off to_the Flyaboutabus, first stopping to comfort Bob up ." let_us meet magic with strategy," cawed nick, flying back with a long piece of rope in_his bill .

"I'll never urge him a step," declared Notta firmly ." not if I_have to stay blue and still for_the rest of_my life ."

" you won't have to," rumbled the cowardly lion, who was beginning to look quite cheerful ."I'll run all the way to Mudge and give myself up to_this ridiculous Mustafa ." he_made a little spring, but Snorer with a screech barred the way .

" have_you no sense ? " shrilled nick sharply ." I_said strategy ." he tied the rope hastily around the cowardly lion's neck and placed the end in Notta's stiff hand . and no sooner had he done so than Bob, with a little shout, ran over to Notta and_the clown also found himself able to move about once more . while nick and_the cowardly lion watched anxiously, the offensive blue faded out, leaving Notta's face white and powdery and Bob's rosy and freckled .

" so_long as_you keep hold of_the rope everything will_be all right," chuckled Snorer strutting proudly up and down, " for while you_have the rope the cowardly lion is captured ." " then we'll just run double harness until we_think of something else," said the cowardly lion ." tie the rope ' round your waist, Notta, old boy . then you'll be_sure not to lose me . rather thoughtfully Notta obeyed, but he_could_not help thinking that being tied to a cowardly lion might prove awfully awkward at times . the cowardly lion, however, was in fine spirits, so Notta, swallowing his misgivings, stepped with_the others into_the Flyaboutabus ." and now that

I'm captured," chuckled the cowardly lion mischievously, " what next ? "

"Oh, let someone else decide that," yawned Snorer .Flopping down in_the last seat of_the bus he_was soon sound asleep and snoring loudly .

chapter 14 Flying in a deluge

let'S find Dorothy," shouted Bob . it_was necessary to shout, for nick's snores rattled in their ears like a series of explosions . the cowardly lion and Notta looked doubtfully at each_other . they were_not sure that Mustafa's magic ring would allow them to_proceed toward the emerald city .

" we'll try it," shouted Notta ." which_way is_it ? "

"I don't know," roared the cowardly lion ." let's fly up and look around till I_see a familiar landmark ." so Notta pressed all the buttons necessary to start the bus, and up they went with_such a rush that Bob almost lost his cap and_the cowardly lion's mane waved like a flag .Bob put both fingers in_his ears, for with nick's snores and_the whir of_the feather wheels the noise was deafening . when_they were about a hundred feet above ground, Notta slowed the bus down and ran it gently and evenly over the pleasant blue fields and forests of_the Munchkins .Bob, slipping into_the seat beside Snorer, put his nose, which had fallen off his ear, back on its hook . immediately Snorer awoke and stamped his foot, but in a wink he_was asleep again and Bob watched in open- eyed wonder, for snoring in_his own ear wakened him about every three minutes, and when he wakened he stamped, so_that between snoring and stamping the noise was worse than ever .

" i_wish our friend was not such a loud sleeper," growled the cowardly lion ." I_can't even hear my own heart beat . say, was_that thunder or Snorer ? "

" thunder," quavered Notta anxiously ." see how dark it's growing ! let's go down ! "

" it's raining," cried Bob up in_the same breath .

Notta touched the button marked " faster," and was about to press the one marked " down," when ablinding flash of lightning zig-zagged across their path . the cowardly lion, with a roar of terror, dashed under the last seat of_the bus, dragging Notta with_him . in_his clutch to save himself the clown pressed the button marked " turn," so that_the Flyaboutabus not_only increased its speed but churned ' round and ' round till the four occupants were almost knocked senseless .

to_make matters worse, the rain came down in perfect torrents .Snorer, awakened by_the awful clamor, put his wing around Bob and clutched the arm of_the seat with_his curling claws . even so they were shaken up and down till Bob's teeth chattered and nearly drowned by_the storm .Notta and_the cowardly lion in_the bottom of_the bus were faring even worse . every time the clown scrambled to_his feet, the cowardly lion, terrified by a new flash of lightning, would spring in another direction and, tied to him by_the stout rope, Notta would_be dragged along .

" help ! help ! I'm drowning," gurgled Notta after_the eighth fall .a sudden flash of lightning showed Snorer that_the Flyaboutabus was more than half full of water, and Notta lying entirely immersed .

"Bob," cried nick, " can_you hold on a minute by yourself ? " Bob nodded his head and with closed eyes grasped the side of_the bus . he_did_not dare open his eyes, for flying in a circle had made him dreadfully dizzy .

Snorer sidled cautiously to_the edge of_the seat and with a little spring jumped on_the cowardly lion's back . the big beast was trembling like arunaway race horse, and_the beating of_his heart shook Snorer up and down . but holding on to_his mane with one claw, he_felt about in_the water till his other one fastened in_the belt of Notta's baggy suit . then he pulled with all his might till, dripping and breathless, the poor clown lay across the cowardly lion's back ." climb on_the seat," directed nick sternly ." do_you_want to drown the most beautiful person in Oz ? " with shaking legs the cowardly lion obeyed, nick holding Notta safely in place, and when_they were both on_the seat he begged the lion, with tears in_his eyes, to control himself . the cowardly lion, catching a glimpse of poor Notta, and realizing for_the first time what he had done, wept with embarrassment .

" this_is what comes of being tied to a coward," he roared dismally, " but someone clapped me on_the back ."

" it_was athunderclap," chattered Snorer ." just close your eyes and hang together, and Bob and_I_will do_the same ." hastily he flew back to_the little boy, who was rolling and slipping around on_the wet seat .Notta, wise from past experiences, fastened his arms tightly around the cowardly lion's neck .

" divided we fall, together we stand," he panted weakly ." if_you're going to jump give_me a signal, won't you ? " the cowardly lion made no answer but just dug his claws into_the seat and closed his eyes tighter . the wind whistled shrilly in their ears, the rain pelted mercilessly upon their heads and_the bus tumbled and tossed through_the air like arudderless ship .

suddenly Snorer, who was less affected by_the motion of_the bus than_the others, felt water on_his feet .

" somebody bail out the boat," he shrieked in real terror, " it's sinking ! " and so it_was . the feather wheels, wet and draggled by_the rain, moved slower and slower, and_the bus was now so full of water that every time it lurched sideways the luckless voyagers were submerged . it_was like flying in a very deep and dangerous tub .

"I never expected to_be drowned in_the air," screamed Notta ." shall we jump overboard ? " " do_you_want to_be dashed to pieces ? " shouted nick in reply ." hold on to_the sides ." he_called more directions, but the fury of_the storm drowned even his shrill voice, and each found he had enough to_do to_keep from being washed over the edge . the water rose higher and higher and_the bus sank lower and lower . with eyes closed, and only their heads above water, the four clung grimly to_the feathery edges . when_the bus finally struck the ground it did so with_such force that_they all let go and fell back into_the water . the cowardly lion sprang out first, pulling Notta along with_him . then, realizing Bob was still struggling in_the water, he impulsively sprang back, seized the little boy in_his teeth and jumped out again .a shout from Snorer made him pause .Notta was bumping along on_the end of_the rope like a big bag of clothes .

" you've killed him," wailed nick angrily . but just then, with a watery sigh, the clown opened his eyes . immediately he began fumbling in_his chest pocket ." what_are you trying to_do ? " screamed Snorer .

" my disguise," choked the clown ." I_must put on my disguise- first disguise, then joke and run, you_know ! "

" you don't need any disguise," wailed the cowardly lion remorsefully ." you look like almost anyone .

" I_feel the same way," coughed the clown ."Am I dashed or drowned or both ? "

" neither," croaked Snorer sorrowfully ." only tied to a very forgetful friend ." the disguises, concealed in various parts of Notta's apparel, were dragged down in disfiguring lumps about his knees . there were four bumps on_his forehead and one was coming on_the back of_his head .Bob, though shivering and wet, was otherwise unhurt, so he and nick helped Notta to_the cowardly lion's back, and, dripping and shaken, the air- wrecked party started toward a little hut near which they had fallen .

" where's the Fallaboutabus ? " muttered Notta thickly, as_the cowardly lion stumbled over the sill .

"I don't care where it_is," groaned the lion ." I_hope it's busted .I'm against flying in all its branches ." he dropped panting on_the hearth, and Notta did_not even move from_his back . the hut evidently belonged to some thrifty woodcutter . it_was quite neat and comfortable and there_was a fire all ready to light .

Bob, feeling very_important, started a cheerful blaze, and though the rain still rattled on_the roof, inside it_was quite cozy and comfortable .Notta, with Bob's help, took out all of_his disguises, and_the three that had already been used he hung out in full view . but the clown was so downhearted when Bob started to shake out the others, and seemed to attach so_much importance to keeping them secret, that Snorer, without unrolling them, carried them into_the next room and hung them on hooks to dry .Notta was quite thin and fallen without them, but when his suit had dried and he had powdered his nose with some_of_the woodcutter's flour he_felt quite restored, and it_was not until then that he discovered his feathers were gone . with a little shout he looked at_the cowardly lion and Bob .

" we've all shed our feathers," he cried exultantly ." they_must_have washed away . the cowardly lion was so pleased that he jumped for joy, and started to run and look in_the woodcutter's mirror, upsetting Notta as usual .

" it's because you're no longer unish," explained Snorer wisely, as Notta scrambled to_his feet and hastened to accompany the lion to_the mirror ." when_you both stopped planning unwise and unfair things the feathers just naturally dropped out, and Bob's followed suit, for there isn't an unish bone in_that boy's body," continued Snorer, rolling his eyes knowingly ." and now that we've all decided to stick together everything will_be as happy as possible ."

" we don't stick together very_well," sighed the cowardly lion, hanging his head ." did I hurt you, Notta, old fellow ? "

" not much," said the clown, " but I'll have to use more padding if_you_are going to_be so impetuous ." being tied to a cowardly lion was proving even worse than he had expected . the cowardly lion himself felt uncomfortable and ill at ease .

" see here," he rumbled, as_they gathered round the fire again, " i_think we had better separate .I'll go on to Mudge and you three go to_the emerald city for help ."

" no," objected Notta, wrinkling his poor bumped forehead, " let's stick together a bit longer, for I don't know the way to_the emerald city, and_the nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine lions might tear you to pieces before we got back .Traveling in_this country is dreadfully uncertain . why, we don't even know where we_are now ? "

" but the sun's out," cried Bob, running to_the window ." let's see if_the Flyaboutabus is still around ." the cowardly lion started at once to run toward the door, but Notta, with aflying leap jumped on_his back and thus avoided another fall . the bus was full of water, but the feather wheels, already somewhat drier, were slowly revolving . as_they drew nearer the bus began to run ' round in circles, spraying water in every direction .

"I'll stop it," volunteered Snorer and, swooping down over the wheel, quickly pushed the button marked " stop ." then Notta and_the cowardly lion, shoving with all their strength, turned the huge bus over on its side so the water could run out . after_this they went back to_the hut to fetch the clown's disguises, and then they all sat down under a tree and waited for_the bus to dry . just beyond a little fringe of trees they_could see the roofs of a small city, and Snorer, sensibly enough, proposed that_they run the bus into_the city and inquire of_its inhabitants just where they were ." though as far as I_can make out," finished nick, " if_we move toward Mudge all will_be well, but if_we take any_other direction this beautiful person," he pointed his claw at Notta, " will turn blue ."

" regular signals, aren't we, Bob ? " the clown thoughtlessly turned a handspring, but the short rope spoiled it and_the cowardly lion was quite choked .

" we don't twin very_well, old fellow, do we ? " sighed Notta ." but let's see which_is

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