Oz 17: The Cowardly Lion of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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which_is the way to Mudge, for_it seems that to Mudge we_must trudge ."

Hopping on_the cowardly lion's back he waved him to_the left, but at_the first step both Notta and Bob turned quite blue .

" try the right," suggested the clown, pulling the lion's right ear . so the cowardly lion pranced to_the right, but had_not gone a dozen steps before Bob and Notta were bluer than ever .

" back ! " directed Notta, swinging around and seizing the lion's tail . but their blueness only increased .

" straight ahead then," cried Notta, standing up and waving his arms . so the cowardly lion obligingly trotted a few paces straight ahead, and as Bob and_the clown promptly turned back to_their natural complexions, they concluded that straight ahead was_the road to Mudge .

Bob could hardly help feeling pleased that_it also led toward the strange city, for Bob was very curious about Oz and its singular peoples, and_the little fellow was enjoying every_minute of_his adventures . even the wreck and_the thunderstorm had given him a new kind of thrill .

" we_must all think of a way to outwit Mustafa," said Notta, as_they took their places in_the Flyaboutabus ." but until we_do I_shall simply follow my usual rules ." so saying, he untied, for a moment, the rope that bound him to_the cowardly lion and stepped into another of_his disguises . this_was almost the strangest of_the lot . it covered him all but the feet, and in place of_their jolly companion stood a huge goggle- eyed fish . the fish skin buttoned down the front, and Notta's arms protruded under the fins, but he_was unable to sit down . this, however, he bore quite cheerfully and, standing up very straight and stiff, seized the wheel of_the Flyaboutabus, pressed the button marked " go," and away they_did go in a series of bumps and bounces, for_the feathery vehicle could_not seem to_keep its wheels on_the ground .

" too bad you_did_not put on_that rig during the storm," chuckled nick, hanging on with both claws ." then you_could_have swum to earth . but what good is_it now ? "

" just you wait," promised Notta confidently ." when these people, whoever they_are, see a fish walking about on dry land, they_will do just as I ask them to . you_see ! " nick looked rather nervous as he adjusted his nose, and_the cowardly lion shook his head doubtfully .

" but he_cannot help his disguises any more than nick can help his snoring, or I, my cowardice," whispered the big beast huskily to Bob .Bob up said nothing, but he always felt uncomfortable when Notta put on one of_his queer costumes . the bus was bouncing and jerking so crazily that conversation was now impossible . as_they came nearer and nearer to_the strange city, it became at once apparent that_it_was unlike any city or town any of_them had ever seen or visited . even the cowardly lion, old Oz adventurer that he_was and accustomed to unusual sights and places, gave a snort of surprise as_the Flyaboutabus rushed through_the glittering glass gates .

chapter 15 Mustafa Keeps watch

MUSTAFA, seated on_his blue throne, stared steadily at his magic ring . he had done little else since Bob and Notta's departure, and in consequence was beginning to squint fearfully . on_his lap lay the lion book, and when he_was not gazing at his ring, the blue- whiskered monarch looked longingly at_the picture of_the cowardly lion .

in one corner of_the tent, in a large cage, crouched the twenty Uns Notta had wished into Mudge, and in_the tent top were twenty blue patches where they had burst through . at first Mustafa had_been terribly angry and ordered the Featherheads thrown to_the lions . but Mixtuppa, pleased by_the color and brilliancy of_their feathers, begged that_they be saved, so she might always have fresh feathers for her turbans . then the Uns, seeing that Mustafa was almost as wicked and bad tempered as themselves, promised to teach him all the Unish they knew- so_that every hour Mustafa was growing unhappier and unpleasanter .

Panapee stepped about breathlessly on tiptoe, for each_time Notta had done anything to_turn Mustafa's ring black the ruler of Mudge had flown at his royal chamberlain and shaken him unmercifully .

" he_is escaping, you villain ! " screamed Mustafa the first time- that was when Notta had determined not to betray his faithful four- footed friend .

" help ! Ouch ! Does your majesty expect to stop him by pulling my beard ? let go ! take off your ring," spluttered the unhappy Mudger, " there_is no magic in my whiskers ."

Realizing the truth of_this, Mustafa snatched off his ring, with what alarming consequences to Bob and Notta we all know . since then his watchfulness had increased, and even while he ate he held his thumb before his eyes so_that no move of_the clown would escape him . while Mustafa kept watch, the royal jewelers worked day and night upon a gold collar, studded with sapphires, and_the forger of swords and scimitars hammered early and late upon a heavy gold chain- for once the cowardly lion entered Mudge, Mustafa was determined he_should never leave the kingdom .Tazzywaller, who was still lion feeder, peering at intervals through_the tent flap thanked his lucky stars he_was no longer high chamberlain of Mudge .

" when_this cowardly lion actually appears will_be time enough for_me to_be reinstated," muttered the wily fellow to himself ." meanwhile let Panny take his majesty's ill- tempered thumps and shakings ! "

chapter 16 a fall from_the sky

TENTS and trapezes ! " shouted Notta bit more, as he tried to_keep the Flyaboutabus in_the center of_the glass street .

" i_think we had better run straight through," roared the cowardly lion, beginning to tremble slightly ."I don't like the look of_this at all ."

" well, whatever happens, try to remember you're tied to_me," begged Notta, straightening his fish head hastily .

" then woe betide us," sighed the cowardly lion .

nick put his wing around Bob and all of_them gazed in bewilderment at_this bewildering city ."Preservatory," said a large sign just beyond the glass gates, and over the whole city hung a sweet, smoky haze . the houses had glass fronts and were more like cupboards than ordinary dwellings . each had three stories, or as Bob up explained later to Dorothy, three shelves . and on_these shelves, swinging their legs, sat the oddest individuals in Oz . from head to knee they were enclosed in glass jars . their arms and legs came through especially cut places, but these were carefully soldered so as not to let in any air . and their heads, somewhat flattened by_the glass lids, had a squashed and foolish look .

as_the Flyaboutabus bounced merrily along the main street, they began to tumble off the shelves and run down the glass steps of_their comical houses . they made no attempt to_keep out_of_the way, so Notta hastily stopped the bus . but even so, one managed to_get under the wheels and Bob shivered as_the creature's jar splintered to bits on_the glass paving stones .

" now you've done it," groaned nick, slamming his nose back on its hook . the jarred populace evidently thought so too, for they began hopping up and down, shouting all sorts of threats and abuse . the four travelers could only hear a dull muttering, for_the voices of_the creatures did_not carry through their lids, but the Visitors could tell from_the dreadful faces they were making through_the glass that_they were being threatened and abused . the cries of_the unhappy victim under the wheels were quite distinct .

" save me ! save me, or I_shall spoil ! " he cried in heartrending tones .Notta was so moved by his evident distress hat he impulsively started to jump out_of_the bus, forgetting the tie between himself and_the cowardly lion . he therefore got a terrible wrench that twisted his fish head sideways, so he could_not_see at all . while Bob was straightening this out, the jarmen dragged their companion from beneath the feather wheels, and a simply enormous fellow came running down the street . in one hand he had a pad and in_the other a pencil, "Looks like the prime pickle," chattered Snorer, as_the jarman began scribbling on_his pad ." you_have broken the peace," read Notta, as_the angry official held up his pad . he_was magnificently attired under his jar and was evidently a person of some importance . he had, however, been preserved by pickling and was of an unhealthy shade of green .

Notta leaned out_of_the bus and, seizing the pencil and pad, wrote back, " he broke himself, save the pieces ."

the rage of_the Preserves, as_they read these words, increased to a perfect fury . one, evidently a relation of_the broken man, snatched off his lid and cried shrilly, " you'll be minced for_this ! "

the prime preserve again scratched furiously on_his pad ." you_are under arrest . come with me," directed the pad, when he held it up .

" this_is because I forgot the rules," sighed Notta ." if I had_been more polite this_would not have happened . shall we fly or follow ? "

" let's follow," rumbled the cowardly lion ." we_can fly any_time, and I'd like to_see all the Preserves while I'm about_it, for i_think Dorothy will enjoy hearing about_them ." Notta ran the Flyaboutabus slowly and carefully down the glass street after_the solemn jarmen, the rest of_the population following at a safe distance .Bob's eyes grew larger and larger and when apreserved dog ran briskly in front of_the bus he_gave a shout of glee ." i_think Oz is_the funniest place in_the_world, don't you, nick ? " cried the little boy merrily ." well," chirruped Snorer, " as i_was never any place else, I_can hardly say . look, look ! there goes a canned cat ! " and so it_was, as canned acat as_you'd ever want_to_see . but right here their guide turned the corner and_they found themselves in_the presence of another queen . they knew she was a queen, for on_the pad held up for their inspection the guide had written, "Preserva the great ." Notta stopped the bus before_the low glass throne and_they stared in wonder at her majesty .Preserva seemed as_much surprised as_they .

" well, I'll be jellied ! " wheezed the queen, taking off her lid and thrusting out a moist head .Bob thought she need not have said this, for she was jellied already- her face and royal robes being aquivery and delicious pink .

the prime preserve seemed very_much alarmed at_the queen's action and quickly wrote on_his pad, " shut your lid ." Bob considered this dreadfully disrespectful, and Snorer began to chuckle with enjoyment .Preserva quite meekly obeyed, but her eyes, behind the thick glass of_the jar, grew larger and larger, and finally, snatching the pad from_the prime preserve, she dashed off in great excitement these words, "A tomato can would_be about right for him ! " Holding up the pad she pointed joyfully at Notta .

"Serves you right for coming as a fish," chortled the cowardly lion ." so we'll have to_take you back in a can . well, well ! "

then he craned his neck to_see what else the queen had written .a rapid conversation was going on between Preserva and their guide . one would write a message and pass it to_the other . the other would snatch the page and dash off an answer, and so quickly was_it done, the four in_the bus had all they_could do to_keep up with_the conversation .

" pickle the boy, can the fish, mince the lion and pot the fowl,"

commanded the queen .

" now that's what I'd call taking pot luck," chirped nick, balancing himself on_the edge of_the bus .

but the prime preserve replied, " why_not preserve them whole for_the royal museum ? "

while the queen was considering this suggestion, Notta began feeling in_the pockets under his disguise for a paper and pencil, so_that he_could get into_the conversation, but without result .

" no use being polite ! let's joke and run," puffed the clown, after an unsuccessful search .Leaning over the edge of_the bus, he tapped the queen sharply on_the jar .Preserva dropped her pad and pencil and almost rolled from_the throne . inside the jar, they_could see her jellied figure bubbling with fright and indignation . the prime preserve also trembled in_his jar, then leaning down to read the last command of her majesty, he ran off as fast as his crooked green legs would carry him .

" fetch the imperial Squawmos," read the cowardly lion, with an amused twinkle in_his yellow eyes as Notta tore off the page .

" if_we stay here it_is plain we_shall_be pickled to death," scrawled the clown, " so we bid you a fond but final farewell ."

the queen leaned forward, the better to read Notta's message and, while nick, Bob and_the cowardly lion fairly rocked with merriment at her discomfited expression, she suddenly unscrewed her lid ." help ! " screamed Preserva loudly, sticking her head out_of_the jar ." help ! help ! " then back went her head and down went the lid, only to_have the whole performance repeated the next second . this she kept up at regular intervals until the whole party were simply convulsed . but it would_have_been wiser had they, instead of laughing, looked behind them, for presently a terrible thump on_the back sent all the scales on Notta's disguise to trembling . it was_the imperial Squawmos, followed by all the Preserves in_the city . while a dozen ran to calm the agitated queen, who was still quivering in her jar, the rest surrounded the Flyaboutabus . most alarming of all, the imperial Squawmos was not in a jar . she was, in_fact, a huge and towering cookywitch with a passion for preserving . and acookywitch, I don't mind telling you, is next in wizardry to a sorceress . she had put up the inhabitants of_the entire city and was_the real ruler of_the preserve .

"A fish ! " shrilled the Cookywitch, prodding Notta with a fork as long as an umbrella ."Ah, what an extreme pleasure . I_have canned cats, dogs and people, but never a fish . and a boy," she chucked Bob familiarly under the chin ." spare the jar

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