Oz 17: The Cowardly Lion of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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but reassuring to Dorothy .Snatching a little silver whistle that hung on a ribbon on her neck, she blew on_it shrilly . the next instant running feet could_be heard on all the garden paths and in atwinkling Bob and Notta were surrounded .

" what_is it ? " boomed sir Hokus of Pokes, Dorothy's knight Errant . he brought his mailed fist heavily down upon Notta's witch shoulder . the soldier with_the green Whiskers, not to_be outdone, grasped Bob up and Tik Tok leaned over stiffly and seized Snorer by_the neck . more and more people kept arriving, and though Bob tried his best to_make himself heard, in_the general confusion his voice was drowned out, and in disgrace they were marched to_the palace .Ozma was having a quiet game of checkers with_the Scarecrow and looked up in amazement as_the company burst into_the throne room .

"A witch ! " shrilled the patchwork girl, dancing madly at_the head of_the procession,

"A witch, a witch, as black as pitch, has_come to steal your throne and sich ! "

" if_they_would only stop screaming," thought poor Bob, looking anxiously at_the lovely little figure of Ozma of Oz . just then they_did, for Ozma, glancing in surprise and displeasure at_the witch, raised her scepter for silence .

chapter 19 in_the emerald city

who found this witch ? " asked Ozma anxiously, for witches of any sort distressed the kind little fairy ruler .

" who found witch ? " repeated Scraps, waving her cotton arms wildly; but at areproving nod from_the Scarecrow she subsided . before Dorothy could answer, Tik Tok's machinery ran down and_his iron hold on nick's neck relaxed, much to_his relief .

"Villains ! " squalled Snorer, flapping into_the air ." this_is a fine way to receive friends .I've a mind to pull out your beard," he screamed angrily, beating his wings in_the face of_the soldier with_the green Whiskers .

" run, Bob," he cried, as_the terrified soldier let go of_the little orphan . everyone was so surprised at Snorer's sudden outbreak and_his unusual appearance that_they simply gasped . but Notta, realizing what a bad impression they were making, called pleadingly for Snorer to_take his claws out_of_the soldier's whiskers, and as Bob up added his voice to Notta's, Snorer let go and retired sulkily to_the top of a golden cabinet ." they're worse than Uns," he muttered, stamping his foot .

" i_think there_is no harm in_the boy," whispered the Scarecrow to Ozma, for he noticed that Bob made no attempt to escape .

" why do_you travel in_the company of a witch ? " asked Ozma rather sternly .

" he's not a witch ! " cried Bob up miserably .

" he's Notta ! "

" not a witch ? " puzzled Ozma, wrinkling up her brows .

all the celebrities stared suspiciously at their prisoner, but as sir Hokus had him firmly by one arm and_the tin woodman by_the other, Notta could_not remove his disguise ." the boy has spoken the truth," quavered the clown ." if these gentlemen will let me go for a moment i_will prove that I_am not a witch ."

"Don't let go," advised the Scarecrow, wrinkling his cotton forehead, " for she may bewitch us . have little Dorothy tell her story ." so, while Bob fumed with impatience and Notta groaned at_the delay, Dorothy told how they had come flying toward her in_the garden .

" but if_it had_been a witch, wouldn't she have melted when_you threw the water on her ? " asked trot, who had listened so_far in silence . she liked the looks of_this little boy and felt that some mistake had_been made .

" call the wizard of Oz ! " cried jack Pumpkinhead . this_was such a reasonable suggestion Bob wondered how apumpkinhead could_have thought of it . as there seemed no way of convincing these interesting folks that_the clown was not a witch, Bob gave it up for_the moment and began examining them with close attention .

Tik Tok simply fascinated the little boy, and he immediately decided that, next to Notta, he had never seen anyone more jolly than_the Scarecrow . even the knight, now that he had his visor up, no longer alarmed Bob up . and when_the Comforotable camel thrust his long neck in through one_of_the windows to inquire what_was the matter Bob burst out laughing in_spite of himself . right here the little, bald wizard of Oz came bouncing into_the throne room, a small black grip clutched in one hand .

" if_this person is a witch," sighed Ozma, after_the Scarecrow had related all that had happened, " she_must be destroyed . can_you discover by your magic whether or not it_is a witch ? "

" certainly," said the sprightly little wizard, laying out his tools in a businesslike manner .Snorer flew down from_the cabinet in alarm .

" will it hurt ? " he cawed uneasily .

" if she_is_not a witch she has nothing to fear," replied the wizard, eying Snorer with amazement . the wizard, sending for a tumbler, first mixed a pink and green powder together and then added a drop of red liquid that immediately set the powder to sizzling . when it bubbled to_the top he flung the contents of_the tumbler directly in_the witch's face . sir Hokus and_the tin woodman ducked and Notta spluttered, but the fiery liquid trickled harmlessly off his nose .

" it_is_not a witch ! " smiled the wizard of Oz, turning to Ozma .

" then why do_you pretend to_be ? " asked the little queen . her voice, though still stern, sounded very_much relieved .Taking heart, Notta begged his two captors to release him . this they_did, and_the clown hastily tore off his wig and stepped out_of_the black cloak .

" why, it's a clown ! " cried Dorothy in delight .

" i_told you he wasn't a witch," shrilled Bob up, wriggling away from_the soldier with_the green Whiskers and rushing over to Notta bit more .

" well, bless my heart ! " cried the wizard of Oz, bounding down the steps of_the throne two at_a_time ." this_is a surprise . sir, let me embrace you ! " and as Notta made no objection he_gave him several good hugs ."I used to work in a circus myself," beamed the little wizard, " and I tell you a clown is a sight that makes me homesick ! "

" as_to_that," said Notta with a little bow to Ozma, " this country surpasses any circus i_was ever in ! "

" can_you do funny tricks ? " asked Dorothy .

" he_can somersault, cartwheel, stand on_his head, walk on_his hands and he_knows lots of songs don't you, Notta ? " cried Bob, dancing with excitement .

" so do I," shrilled Scraps jealously, " and if he thinks I_cannot stand on my head, let him watch ."

sir Hokus of Pokes restrained the reckless girl, and Ozma, tapping on_the arm of her throne for order, begged Notta to explain his presence in_the emerald city and_his reason for coming as a witch .

" we_are sorry to_have treated you so rudely," said Ozma gravely, " but we_must blame your costume for_that ."

" certainly," said Scraps, shaking her cotton finger at Notta ." if_you come as a witch you_must expect to_be treated every witch way ." Notta looked rather embarrassed as he explained his rules of disguise, politeness, joke and run .

"I always seem to_choose the wrong disguise," sighed the clown .

"Don't you_think it_is better to_be natural ? " asked the Scarecrow in_his jolly voice ." especially when_you_are naturally so nice ? " Notta was quite flustered at_this charming speech .

" first be nice and then be natural . how's that for a rule ? " cried Scraps brilliantly, and_they were all so relieved that_the clown had turned out so_well they laughed heartily .

"Ver-ry good," ticked Tik Tok, whom somebody had wound up ." I_am naturally bright be- cause I_am nat-u-ral-ly cop-per ! "

" well, after_this," said Notta, when_the merriment had subsided, " after_this, i_will_be myself, for I guess it_is better to_be yourself even if_you_are a clown ."

" but how did you reach Oz ? who is_this little boy ? and do introduce us to your feathered friend," begged the Scarecrow, who had_been glancing curiously from one to_the other .

" this," said Notta, drawing Bob close to him, " is Bob up, an orphan from Philadelphia, and_the bravest and best little boy in America ."

"Hello, orphan ! " cried Scraps genially:

" orphan, orphan, howdedo, you love me and I'll love you ! first you're here, then gone again, do come orphan on again ! "

a stern " hush" from_the knight silenced her, and Notta introduced Nickadoodle from Un . nick immediately took the floor, and carefully demonstrated his telephone nose, which he explained had_been invented by uncle Billy . so, everyone, including the Scarecrow, came down and shook him gravely by_the claw . then, as_they were all anxious to hear what had brought the three travelers to_the emerald city, they grouped themselves about_the throne and Notta started to_tell the history of_his amazing three days in Oz .

but just as he_was explaining in a spirited manner their flight to Mudge, a bustle in_the great hall without interrupted the story, and a breathless footman came rushing in to announce the arrival of Glinda, the good sorceress, who ruled over the Quadling country of Oz .

" something must_have happened ! " cried Ozma, jumping up in distress .

"Don't be so previous, my dear," begged the Scarecrow, himself falling down the steps of_the throne to show how collected he_was . but at_that instant Glinda herself swept into_the throne room .Twelve little maidens in lovely red dresses held up her long train and Bob up, looking at Glinda's beautiful face and lovely flame- colored robes, thought he had never seen a more radiant fairy . the courtiers and celebrities hastily made way for Glinda .

Hurrying up_to Ozma the sorceress asked anxiously, " where is_the cowardly lion ? has anyone seen the cowardly lion ? "

now, strangely enough, no one in_the palace had missed their big chum, but at Glinda's words they all began shaking their heads and looking uneasily at one another .

" why, I haven't seen him for two days," cried Dorothy, with a worried little frown .

" we_have ! " cried Bob up, forgetting for a moment he_was in_the presence of royalty ." we saw him yesterday ."

" what's happened ? " cried Notta ." I_see now we never should_have left him ."

" why, do_you_know the cowardly lion ? " asked Ozma in surprise, for Notta had_not yet come to_their meeting, nor even told them of Mustafa's determination to add the cowardly lion to_his collection .

so, as quickly as he_could, and without stopping to describe Doorways or Un, the clown told his story .

"Ah," sighed Glinda, as he finished, " that explains the entry in_the magic record book . hurry up, my friends . some of us must go instantly to Mudge ."

" what did the records say ? " asked Dorothy, and all the celebrities looked frightened and anxious, for_the cowardly lion was a great favorite . the magic record book is one_of_the treasures of Oz . it tells, just as_they happen, all the events in_that marvelous country and in every_other country .

" it said," began Glinda in her soft voice, " that_the cowardly lion is in grave danger, and unless help comes before noon he_will_be destroyed ."

"Wha-aat ? " shrilled Notta in horrified tones, while sir Hokus of Pokes began sharpening his dagger on_his leg and_the scarecrow fell on_his nose from_the very shock of_the thing .

" where's my magic belt ? " cried Ozma, clapping her small hands frantically ."Jellia, fetch my magic belt ! " Ozma, with_this belt, meant to transport as many_of_the company as possible to Mudge .

but before_the little serving maid returned, Notta himself had accomplished that very thing .Glancing around hurriedly, he began touching everyone who looked as_if he might prove useful in a battle . sir Hokus vanished first, for Notta was very_much impressed by_the knight's warlike appearance, then the tin woodman, because his ax looked so sharp, then Tik Tok, because he_was so solid and dependable, then Glinda because she was a sorceress and_the wizard because he_was also versed in magic, then Dorothy, because she was crying and Bob because Notta could_not bear to leave him behind and then Snorer, because he had proven himself so faithful .Ozma, who had forgotten about_the magic verse, was startled almost out of her senses by_these sudden disappearances . she put up her scepter to object, but Notta ran forward and touched her too and she was gone with_the others .

" help ! " wailed Scraps, tumbling out_of_the window, and_the rest of_the company began backing into corners . but the clown, now satisfied with_his army of invasion, seized the yellow hand of_the Scarecrow and repeated his verse for_the_last time:

"Udge ! budge ! come to Mudge ! Udgers Budgers, we_are Mudgers ! "

in a flash they were in Mudge- every single person the clown had touched . and_the sight that met their eyes was simply terrifying .

chapter 20 the cowardly lion's Peril

to understand how the cowardly lion made the journey to Mudge in one day instead of three, we_must go back to_the afternoon he started down the mountain with_the stone man of Oz . crunch, as he tramped along beside the cowardly lion, was thinking harder than in all the stone ages of_his hard life . the wizard Wam had given him brains of a sort, and though they had_not_been used before_the events of_the afternoon had brought them quite suddenly into action . the mountain where crunch had stood for so_many centuries, while quite near the emerald city, was never visited by anyone; so that_the stone man knew very little of life as it_was lived in Oz .Notta's suggestions had aroused his curiosity, and for_the cowardly lion he_was developing a great fondness . as_the afternoon progressed the cowardly lion grew positively embarrassed by his terms of endearment .

" you_are the handsomest creature in Oz," insisted crunch over and over, " and if_you were only of stone you_would_be more beautiful still ."

" very still," rumbled the cowardly lion, putting back his ears ." though I suppose," he added thoughtfully, "a stone lion is never afraid ." to_change the subject he began telling crunch about his cowardice, and how he had started out originally to_find himself some courage .

" would it make you happy to_be afraid of nothing ? " asked the stone man in_his grinding voice .

" perfectly happy," sighed the cowardly lion, " for though I fight when danger threatens; I suffer terribly from a desire to run away ."

" then if_you had no desire to run away you_would_be perfectly happy ? " asked

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