Oz 17: The Cowardly Lion of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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meet the overwhelming rush of Mustafa's lions, the stone man held up his arm and shouted seven magic words !

chapter 21 Oz magic Triumphs

SEVEN magic words ! no sooner were they uttered than_the nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine lions were turned to so_many stone statues- some just as_they were about to spring, some half way in_the air, so that_they came clattering heavily down one on top of_the other, and_the poor cowardly lion at_the bottom of_the heap !

" somebody stop him ! " gasped Ozma who was sitting exactly as she had fallen on a small sand dune . sir Hokus of Pokes sprang bravely at crunch, but his sword snapped at_the first thrust, and_the stone man, paying no more attention to_the people from_the emerald city than if_they had_been so_many flies, began bending out the iron bars of_the lion enclosure .Mustafa, petrified with terror, might_have_been a statue himself, and_the Mudger Guards had long since taken to_their heels .

" what have_you done ? " wailed Notta, trying to attract the stone man's attention . he seized an iron bar that crunch had loosened and began valiantly belaboring crunch about_the shins .

"Oh, hello ! " rasped crunch, glancing down at_the clown ." back again ? well, I've taken your advice, you_see .

" my advice ! " groaned Notta .

" yes ." crunch, who had now broken an opening for himself, stepped into_the enclosure .

"I've helped the cowardly lion by changing him to stone . now he_will never feel cowardly again, and what's more, he belongs to_me ! " Leaning over, he began tossing Mustafa's lions aside as if_they had_been so_many paper weights .

"Oh, help ! " screamed Snorer ."Aren't there any wizards here to stop this fellow ? are_you going to sit like images while he runs off with_the bravest lion in Oz ? "

" I_must think ! " groaned the Scarecrow, putting his white cotton glove to_his head, while Dorothy and Bob ran close to_the bars and looked anxiously for_the first glimpse of_their old friend . but Glinda and_the wizard of Oz already had their heads together ." first," whispered the little wizard of Oz, " we_will let him find the cowardly lion, for_those statues would_be too heavy for_us to lift . then, we_will deprive him of all power to move .

Tik Tok and sir Hokus had followed the stone man into_the enclosure, but a stone lion flung carelessly to one side, knocked Tik Tok head over heels, and sir Hokus, deciding that flight was_the better part of valor, retired to a safe distance, where he began threatening the stone man with every sort of destruction from hammering to hanging . but crunch continued calmly tossing the lions about, and at last uncovered the cowardly lion himself . he recognized him at once, for_his mane, a mass of stony waves, stood straight on end . the cowardly lion, you_see, had_been petrified in one of_his most trying moments, and, while he_was preparing to fight with all his might, he_could_not control his mane and hence looked as natural as possible .

Dorothy could_not help crying as crunch tucked this lifelike image of her old chum under his arm and prepared to tramp off . but he got no further than two steps, for at_the second step the combined magic of Glinda and_the wizard of Oz deprived him of all power to move . crunch dropped the cowardly lion with a crash that chipped off a piece of_his mane, and with one foot raised in_the air stood perfecly motionless . the stone man was no longer alive !

"Oh ! " cried Notta, frightened by_the ease with_which Glinda had deprived the stone giant of life, " who_will bring the cowardly lion to himself again ? " and at once everyone ran over to_the poor petrified lion, and tugging and pulling, managed to_get him to_his feet .

" it_was the_only_thing we_could do," puffed the little wizard of Oz, gazing up worriedly at_the huge statue of crunch ." he_did_not know how to use the gift of life, and would only have brought more trouble upon us ."

"Isn't this trouble enough ? " cried Dorothy, throwing her arms around the cold, still figure of_the cowardly lion .

" there, there, my dear ! Glinda will_find a way out of all this," comforted the Scarecrow, and Notta and Bob joined him in_his efforts to console the little girl, while sir Hokus and_the tin woodman ran to help Tik Tok to_his feet .

" all this has happened because of you ! " declared Ozma, stamping her foot for_the first time in her gentle little life, and looking sternly at Mustafa .

" and for a punishment," she pointed at_the huge, craggy figure of crunch, " for a punishment this stone man shall stand forever in Mudge, a monument to your greediness and folly ."

" take away his ring," whispered Bob, tiptoeing up_to_the little fairy ruler, for he had seen Mustafa slyly beginning to_take it off and Bob knew its dreadful power . without losing a minute, Ozma commanded Mustafa to hand over the ring . tremblingly, the wretched old Mudger obeyed . so_much had happened in_the last few_minutes, he_was positively stunned by his misfortune . not_only had he offended the ruler of all Oz, lost the cowardly lion and_his ring, but all of_his other lions were turned to stone .Jerking his turban over one eye, the miserable monarch shuffled mournfully to_his tent, and no one cared enough to stop him . then, as_the whole party was heartily disgusted with_the hot, desert city of_the Mudgers, Glinda, by a quick transportation phrase, wished them all safely back to_the emerald city .

there, for several hours Glinda, the wizard of Oz, and Ozma worked over the cowardly lion, but all of_their magic failed to undo the stone man's spell, and it looked as if_the huge beast would_have to_spend the rest of_his life as a garden ornament .Twenty of_the palace servants bore him down the steps and placed him gently in_the center of a large flower bed, and all the inhabitants of_the city came and gazed sadly at their once lively and cowardly comrade .

" he is_the image of himself," choked the Scarecrow, hanging a wreath of daisies round his neck, which_was still adorned with Mustafa's gold collar .

" but I don't want an image," cried princess Dorothy and, climbing on_the cowardly lion's stone back, she cried as_if her heart would break .Notta and Bob were too overcome by_this dreadful misfortune to_think about themselves . it did_not even seem right to enjoy the lovely sights in_the emerald city, so the clown and little boy sat on a bench in_the garden and gazed sorrowfully at_the monument of_their faithful old friend .

then, all at once Bob jumped up with a little shout ." look," he cried, waving his cap joyfully ." look ! he's coming alive again ! " and so he_was ! for tears are more magic than anything else, when it comes to melting stone, and every spot where Dorothy's tears fell was beginning to quiver with life . when Notta ran to_the palace with_the news, the excitement was tremendous . everyone, from Ozma down to_the littlest kitchen maid, came to weep over the cowardly lion, and bring him back to life . the tin woodman cried a perfect torrent of tears and quite rusted his chain . the Scarecrow and Scraps had_not a tear in their cotton constitutions, but Snorer made up for_this by crying enough for three . everybody cried, and in less_than a minute the dear, old kind-hearted lion opened his eyes .Shaking himself sleepily, he looked inquiringly at_the weeping company and wanted to_know what_was the matter . all talking at once, and each trying to hug him first, they explained what had happened . the cowardly lion remembered nothing after being pushed into_the lion enclosure . you_can well imagine his relief when he discovered what a hard and horrible fate he had escaped .

" all this comes of_my foolish wish for courage," roared the cowardly lion, shaking his mane, which_was quite perfect except for_the piece crunch had broken off ." i_would rather be a cowardly lion for five minutes than a stone lion for a century . why, a stone lion has_not enough sense to_be frightened ."

"Hurrah for_the cowardly lion of Oz ! " shouted the Scarecrow, and Bob up, who felt more at home among_these odd and friendly people than he had ever felt anywhere in_his life, climbed on_the cowardly lion's back and hugged him with both arms . Dorothy hopped up again too, and in triumph they all trooped back to_the throne room .

chapter 22 a happy home in Oz

" and now," sighed the little queen of Oz, sinking down among_the soft cushions of her emerald throne, " let's have the whole story ! " nothing could_have exceeded her amazement, as Notta told of_their marvelous adventures in Oz of Doorways and Un and Preserva the great, of_the Flyaboutabus and_the Fiddlebow boat . Dorothy was so curious about_the Skyle of Un that_they all ran to look in Ozma's magic picture, which shows any place or person one wishes to_see ." show us the Uns," commanded Ozma breathlessly, and Bob and Notta almost tumbled over backwards when_the magic picture showed them I- wish-I- was and_his Featherheads .a great battle was in progress, for I- wish-I- was was furious at_the loss of_the Flyaboutabus . the Guards and their friends on one side and_the wicked ruler on_the other were fighting tumultuously .

Sticks and feathers were flying in every direction and_they were even pulling down their tree houses .

Ozma shook her head gravely, but Bob up, who had_been thinking about_the only good Un ever_since they left the skyland, suddenly remembered his name and triumphantly whispered it to Ozma . instantly Ozma, with_the help of Glinda and_the wizard, commanded the good Un to_come out from_his hiding and sit upon_the throne . the fighting ceased at once and_the Uns began to look at one another with puzzled expressions, as_if they_could_not remember what they had_been quarreling about .Bob and Notta and_the cowardly lion shouted with approval, forgetting in their interest that_the Uns in_the picture could_not hear them .

the good Un's name was unselfish and, as Glinda assured Ozma that_the skyle would thereafter be ruled wisely and well, they all returned to_the throne room . after Dorothy had hugged Notta a dozen times for_his devotion to_the cowardly lion, and_the clown had turned his best somersaults, told his best jokes and generally made himself so funny that everyone was doubled up with laughter, Ozma again raised her scepter for silence .

"I suppose," said the little fairy regretfully, for she had taken a great fancy to_the clown and Snorer and Bob up, "I suppose that now you_are anxious to return to America ."

Notta took off his cap and scratched his ear, a habit he had when puzzled or embarrassed .

"Don't go yet ! " begged Dorothy, seizing the clown's arm imploringly . as for Bob up, he retired behind an emerald pillar so_that no one could_see that he_was crying .

"Oh, yes," cawed Snorer, flapping down from_the back of a tall chair where he had_been enjoying a noisy little nap ."Oh, yes, we_must go to America and make our fortune . I_am going to_have my nose patented and teach the people there how to snore properly ."

" that's right," agreed Notta soberly ."I'm a family man now and must go back and earn enough to send Bob to college, and I_must save up for_my old age, for clowns can't be tumbling around the country forever ."

" why, it's nothing but fun," cried Scraps, who had_been quiet as long as she_could contain herself .

" not always," sighed Notta ."Making people laugh is_the hardest work in_the_world . look how easy it_is to_make them cry ? but come along, Bob up . it's high time we were going, and if_this little lady will just say the magic word we'll bid you all goodbye . I_must_be saving up for_my old age," he repeated mournfully .

when Notta was sad, he always thought about his old age, and_the idea of leaving the cowardly lion and all of_this merry and childlike company made him sad indeed . and Ozma, who is_the cleverest little mind and heart reader anywhere in_the_world or out-Ozma guessed his secret .

"Don't go ! " cried the little queen impulsively .

" stay with_us and you won't have any old age .

stay in Oz, dear Notta, and be happy forever ."

at_this the excitement was terrific . every man, woman, child, animal, and celebrity added his or her voice to Ozma's, and when_the clown, with tears in_his eyes, accepted the little queen's generous offer, they seized hands or paws, as_the case might_be, and danced merrily ' round Bob, Snorer and Notta bit more .

" you_shall_have the jolliest cottage in Oz," promised the Scarecrow, when_the excitement had subsided a bit .

"A tent would seem more homelike," whispered Notta in_the cloth ear of_that charming gentleman . and a tent he_did have, on_the outskirts of_the emerald city-a tent shared with Snorer and Bob, where, with_the help of_the charming and unusual inhabitants of Oz, the clown gave the most surprising shows that had ever been seen in_that magical country .

Bob, in_his good fortune, did_not forget the half a lion, and_the wizard of Oz reunited the unfortunate creature, after bringing both halves, with_the aid of Ozma's magic belt, to_the emerald city . the poor beast, whose hind quarters had fortunately escaped crunch's stone spell, was so overjoyed to_see his tail again that he raced round in circles for several hours after his reunion .

as for Mustafa, he grew amazingly rich from_the sale of_his stone lions, and you_can see them any fine day, guarding the doors of public buildings or standing proudly in_the various parks of Oz . but in_spite of_his great wealth, he_was far from happy, for_his eyes, from staring so hard at his ring, had become hopelessly crossed, and cross- eyed he remained to_the end of_his days .Bob up is friends with everyone, but most of all with button bright, a little boy who once visited sky island and who_could_not hear enough of_the Skyle of Un .

Notta has saved up enough for Bob's entire education and has gone off to confer with professor Wogglebug, president of_the college of art and athletic perfection, about_the future of_the little boy .

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