Oz 17: The Cowardly Lion of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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great Elephants ! " puffed Notta at last, squinting up at_the sun ." it must_be nearly five o'clock and we've had nothing to eat since morning . have_you still got those eggs, Bob up ? " Bob felt hurriedly in_his blouse and, with a triumphant smile, produced the eggs they had picked from_the travelers' tree . they were somewhat squashed, but when_the shells had_been removed they tasted delicious to_the famished travelers . washed down with some water from a little spring, the food renewed their strength and courage for_the journey ahead .

" I_hope nothing happens to_the cowardly lion," said Bob, as_they started up the mountain again, " for I love him ."

" so do I," croaked the Snorer, who was flying a little ahead, " and I_shall miss him very_much when we go to America to_make our fortune . but, of_course I_could_not leave that beautiful person ." he rolled his eyes proudly at Notta, and_the clown quite unconsciously sighed . life in a circus would seem terribly tame after_this marvelous trip through Oz .

" we ought_to_be home tomorrow, if everything works out," he remarked soberly, with an anxious glance at Bob . at_the word " home" the little boy shivered slightly, for home to him meant a great, dreary institution where little boys whom nobody wanted were grudgingly sheltered and eternally shaken . in_his heart he hoped the magic of_this wizard of Oz would_not_be strong enough to send_them back .Notta was wondering to himself whether the managers of_the home would trust a little boy's future to a clown and resolving darkly that, if_they wouldn't, he'd take him anyhow . but he_said nothing of_this to Bob up, and presently broke into such a comical song Bob forgot all about going back . this_was the song:

"A goblin's ears are very long, a goblin's nose goes wobble, but what I'd really like to_know is what makes goblins gobble ? perhaps they gobble ' cause they're imps- and dreadfully imp-olite ! Pshaw, all they_do is squabble hobble, gobble through_the night ! "

"Speaking of night," chuckled Snorer, balancing on_the branch of a low tree, " we'll probably have to_spend it in_that forest below, for_it would hardly be safe to travel in_the dark and it'll be dark by_the_time we're down this mountain .

" well," laughed Notta, " it wouldn't be the first time Bob and I_have slept in a forest, and your snores ought to scare off any wild animals ."

" that's so," sighed nick, adjusting his nose, and quite satisfied he flew on ahead . the path was rough and uneven and, though Notta and Bob frequently slipped and slid, in another hour they were safely down the mountain . it_was dusk as_they stepped into_the strange forest, and Bob fancied the trees were peering down at him kindly . they were so tired Notta paused under an immense maple tree and nick leaned up against the trunk and fell instantly to snoring and stamping, while Notta began gathering branches and leaves for beds . the clown spread his old lion disguise over Bob's pile and_the little boy, stretching out comfortably, gazed up at_the first star twinkling merrily in_the evening sky and thought how strange his narrow bed at_the home would seem after_this . the wind sighed in_the tree tops with a gentle and soothing sound, and even nick's snoring seemed comforting and pleasant to Bob up .

"Bob," said Notta, as he dropped down beside him, " this_is_the friendliest forest i_was ever in .Bob nodded, and at_this a little rustle went rippling through_the forest as if_the trees had actually heard him, and in_the same instant each tree quietly opened its trunk and drew forth a fiddle .

before Notta and Bob had recovered from their surprise a wave of music swept through_the wood, now soft, now loud, but more entrancing than any they had ever heard . and_the trees, swaying and bending in_the dim starlight, plied their bows with more skill than any orchestra in_the mortal world . for Bob and Notta, you_see, had come to_the Fiddlestick forest of Oz .

chapter 18 Notta's last disguise

of all his adventures, Bob remembered this strange concert longest . the fairylike music, that even made the moon bend down to listen, the drumlike accompaniment of nick's snores and_the misty faces of_the trees themselves, bending down in_the dim starlight, all added to_the enchantment .Bob could_not remember falling asleep, for all through his dreams marched the music of_the fiddles- but he_must_have slept, for opening his eyes suddenly, he_found the sun out and shining merrily . he looked around to ask Notta whether he had dreamed about_the fiddles or really heard them, but Notta was nowhere to_be seen . nick, too, had vanished .

rather alarmed, Bob jumped up . as he_did so a large green leaf with white lines traced on_it fluttered to_the ground .

" you_may use the Fiddlebow boat," said the leaf and, looking up, Bob fancied the big tree was smiling at him . so he_made a stiff little bow and, holding fast to_the leaf, started off uneasily to_find his friends . the sound of water rippling over stones took him to_the left, for he_was terribly thirsty and in a few seconds he had come out on a rapid little stream . the water was so clear Bob could_see the white stones gleaming on_the bottom .Throwing himself down, he_took a long, satisfying drink . when he straightened up he_was astonished to_see a boat tied to a slim birch that leaned far out over the water's edge .

" why, this must_be the Fiddlebow boat," cried the little boy, hastening over to examine it . it_was of a smooth and satiny garnet, and exactly the shape of a huge, hollowed- out fiddle . it rode gaily at_the end of_its pink line, and this discovery only made Bob more anxious than ever to_find the clown .Calling first Notta and then nick, he ran back to_the big tree, and just as he reached it_was horrified to_see a witch bending over the pile of leaves he had slept on . with a shrill scream Bob turned to flee but the witch came bounding and hobbling after, calling to him in pleading tones not to run away . but the more the witch called, the faster Bob ran, and he_might_have_been running yet, had he not tripped over the roots of a tree and fallen headlong . in an instant the black hands of_his pursuer jerked him to_his feet .

"Bob ! Bob ! " cried the witch remorsefully, "don't you_know me ? Bob, it's Notta only old Notta ! "

"Notta ? " gasped Bob, for he_was entirely out of breath and trembling like a leaf .

" there ! there ! " coaxed the clown ." it's only_one of_my disguises ." as Bob continued to regard him with disfavor, he explained hurriedly, " you_see we're going to_this emerald city, Bob up, where every_other person is more or less magic . now, what attention would they pay to a silly clown ? why, they_might_not even listen to_me . but if I pretend to_be a powerful witch, princess Ozma and_the wizard of Oz, whom we've been hearing so_much about, will hasten to_do what I_say ."

" you'll frighten them," said Bob stubbornly, but Notta shook his head ." people in fairy cities aren't frightened as easily as little boys," he chuckled knowingly ." and just look what I've found you for breakfast ! "

in Bob's cap he had gathered nuts and berries of every kind, and Bob, seeing Notta was determined to_go to_the emerald city as a witch, said nothing more but began to eat hungrily . after a hearty breakfast, nick came flapping back and was so startled by_the clown's disguise that his nose fell off the hook with a crash . but Notta soon reassured him and, as Bob was tingling with impatience to show them the boat they finished the berries in great haste .

" this_is_the friendliest forest I ever was in," repeated the clown, viewing Bob's discovery with delight ." this_will take us out faster than we_could walk and it's much safer than_the Flyaboutabus . now then, all aboard for_the emerald city ! "

Gathering up his witch skirts, Notta leaped into_the Fiddlebow boat and, seizing . the long oar, pushed it in close to_the bank .Snorer alighted on_the end, and Bob settled himself cozily among_the cushions . merrily the boat went dancing down the stream, propelled by Notta's strong arm . the_only_thing that marred Bob's pleasure was_the thought of Notta's disguise . but he determined to_tell Dorothy, or the first person they met, that_the clown was not a witch, but the jolliest fellow in_the_world . somewhat comforted by_this thought, Bob gave himself up_to pure enjoyment .

" did you hear the fiddles last night ? " asked the little boy presently .

"Bob," sighed Notta, " I_did, and never heard any like it in_the whole of_my travels ."

" it must_have been my snoring you heard," said nick, preening his feathers busily, for he_wished to appear at his best in_the emerald city .Notta laughed uproariously at_this and almost upset the boat . they all felt light-hearted and gay, and Bob was no more like the solemn little orphan who had fallen into Mudge than nick's snoring was like the music in_the Fiddlestick forest .

"I wonder if_there_are any_other boys and girls in_the emerald city besides Dorothy ? " asked Bob, after a little pause ." and I wonder if Dorothy ever heard of Un or Doorways ? "

" you'll have plenty to_tell this little girl from Kansas, eh, Bob up ? " smiled the clown, and Snorer, after adjusting his nose, related all that he_knew of_the emerald city, which unfortunately wasn't much, as very little news of_the capital ever came to Un .

" I_hope the cowardly lion is having as pleasant a journey as_this," said Notta, as_they skimmed along under the branches of_the trees, " and I_hope crunch is behaving himself properly ."

" i_should think he'd be a hard person to_get along with," chirped nick, giving the clown a nudge so he_would_be sure to_see the joke .

" because he's made of stone, you mean ? " replied Notta ." well, trust the cowardly lion to manage him .Hello ! Looks as_if we were out_of_the woods ."

a turn of_the rapid little stream had brought them into a broad meadow and_the Fiddlebow boat stopped of_its own accord .

" guess this_is as far as it goes," puffed the clown, after vainly endeavoring to push it forward with_the oar . so he guided it to_the bank and_they all hopped out, " but it doesn't seem right to leave it here," observed Notta, scratching his ear anxiously .

no sooner had he spoken than a tall tree near the edge of_the water leaned down, seized the boat in its branches, and passed it along to_the next tree, and in a second it_was being tossed lightly from tree to tree, much to_the amazement of Notta and Bob .

with wonders happening every moment, you_would expect them to_be used to_it, but each_time they were newly astonished . when_the last trace of_the magic boat disappeared, they struck out across the meadow, for already over the top of a little hill they_could see the sparkling green towers of_the emerald city of Oz .

nick, hopping sidewise, paused every few_minutes to_see that his curly nose was safely on its hook .Notta began rehearsing long speeches he meant to_make to_the lovely little ruler of Oz, while Bob skipped between_the two, nearly bursting with excitement . on_the other side of_the meadow they came to_the yellow brick road mentioned by Mustafa . from_the windows of_the little green cottages scattered here and there, the inhabitants looked at them curiously, and several of_the quaintly dressed town folk whom they met on_the road, at sight of a witch, took immediately to_their heels . but without waiting to explain themselves or talk to anyone, the three hurried on to_the gates of_the emerald city itself .

Bob gazed with round- eyed delight, nick began to snort with surprise, and Notta, who had seen in_the course of_his travels every great city on two continents, was struck dumb with amazement, for_the capital city of Oz outshone them all in beauty and magnificence . its streets of green marble sparkled with emeralds, and_the palace, rising majestically from its flowering gardens, shone with splendor in_the bright morning sunshine . the guardian of_the gate was breakfasting in_his cottage, and nick flew over the bars and, turning the emerald key, quietly admitted Bob and Notta .

" let_us proceed to_the main tent," puffed the clown a bit nervously, for he_felt ill at ease among so_much magnificence . he had forgotten every word of_his speech and, with a sigh, resolved to stick to_his old rules disguise, politeness, joke and run ." though I_see no reason why we_should_have to run," he muttered uneasily, settling his witch hat a bit more firmly .

it_was still rather early and_the gardens were deserted, but all at once Bob, who was a bit ahead of_the others, spied a little girl in pink, sitting on_the edge of a fountain, reading .

" it's Dorothy ! " cried Bob, waving excitedly .

" she looks just like a picture in_the lion book ! come on ! " immediately Snorer spread his wings and flung himself into_the air .Notta grasped his black cloak and catching Bob's hand started on a run for_the fountain .

the flapping of nick's wings made Dorothy look up . with a little scream she jumped to her feet, for any little girl, even though she_is a princess of Oz, cannot help being afraid of witches .

" help ! " cried Dorothy, turning to run . but just then she caught sight of a gold bucket that always stood beside the fountain, and she remembered an experience she had had long_ago with_the wicked witch of_the west . water had melted one witch- why_not another ? Seizing the bucket, she filled it hastily at_the fountain and, just as_the witch, strange bird and little boy reached her, she flung its contents over the witch's head .

"Oh ! Oh ! " screamed Snorer ." you_have insulted the most beautiful person in Oz ."

Notta, taken completely by surprise, could do nothing but choke and splutter .

" wait ! " panted Bob, for Dorothy was refilling the bucket . but he_was too late and down splashed another bucket on Notta's head, carrying away his hat and drenching his black wig . unable to_speak, Notta began to wave his arms, and this_was anything but reassuring

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