He has, by his many brave deeds, endeared himself whole populace and-"

"Panny ! " burst out Mustafa, without waiting to read any more, "Panny, lion , the Cowardly Lion of Oz ! "

" lion ! " repeated Mixtuppa, nodding her head approvingly

"And he it," sniffed Tazzywaller, relieved no longer chamberlain "Panapee, produce this Cowardly Lion At once ! "

" take little time," began the new chamberlain of Mudge nervously "An expedition fitted out and-"

"How warning book of Mudge ? " asked Tazzywaller sarcastically " suppose anyone is going to risk his head just honor of catching this Cowardly Lion ? "

"It great honor," said Panapee, looking slyly at his rival, "a very great honor about to you, dear Tazzywaller, undertake the journey Even though you were to lose your head, still feed the lions of Mudge "

"Me ! " screamed Tazzywaller, almost turning somersault "Oh, no, my brave Panapee, it too great an honor only the lion feeder feed them at once ! " Tazzywaller started on run door, but Mustafa called him back

"You used good advice, Tazzywaller," sighed the ruler of Mudge "Who could catch this Cowardly Lion of Oz ? "

" Panapee ? " asked the former chamberlain wickedly " strong, brave man "

"Yes, but what would your Highness do without an adviser ? " quavered Panapee in tremulous tone

" take my advice," drawled Mixtuppa, "and with I'd-" What Mixtuppa was about to advise will never be known, for right here fifteen Mudgers burst royal tent " Lion ! " screamed the first "Lion ! Lion -Lion ! " screamed all the others, whirling their scimitars until the confusion was terrible

"Let me catch him ! " cried Tazzywaller, but Panapee clutched at his sleeve

"No, let me ! " squealed Panapee, brushing past him " chief chamberlain of Mudge ! "

"Perhaps Cowardly Lion," puffed Mustafa, springing rapturously throne, and next minute they had all rolled, run or tumbled tent, screaming in way to curdle the blood of twenty lions Under the largest palm tree sandy waste Mustafa was pleased his garden stood very lumpy and peculiar-looking lion !

CHAPTER 2

Magic Circus

raining outside, hot and stuffy inside and it last day circus in Stumptown All over the big tent people moved about restlessly hard seats, and grumbled when sudden splashes of rain came pelting tent top Mothers were thinking anxiously wet journey home, young ladies were worrying about their spring bonnets, and even the boys and girls were only applauding half-heartedly as old Billy, the elephant, rang dinner bells in one ring Glicko sisters swung dizzily from trapezes other The chief clown ran distractedly around both rings He stood head, he walked hands, he leaped over the elephant, he pretended balky donkey But no one laughed They didn't even smile at his oldest jokes

" too terrible," gulped the clown, stepping behind pillar "Not one real laugh the whole afternoon ! What's the matter folks anyway ? " He wiped the perspiration forehead, hastily powdered his nose and dashed out again

beginning to thunder now, animals outside tent set up dreadful roaring From looking bored, the people began to look frightened Something The worried clown rushed center ring and sprang back big elephant

"Ladies and gentlemen ! " shouted the clown, waving his arms to attract attention "Ladies and gentlemen, about to perform astonishing and amazing feats ever executed-a trick that has astounded the crowned heads of Europe, Asia and Africa Ladies and gentlemen-"

People back rows, who were already pushing their way toward the exits, paused little girl twenty-five-cent seats cheered faintly Thus encouraged, the clown turned really marvelous somersault and landed tip elephant's trunk

"Will some small boy kindly step forward," begged the clown, glancing hurriedly along the front rows " trick small, active boy Ah, there ! "

Urging the elephant very edge ring, the clown snatched small, red-headed boy from group of solemn-eyed orphans, who brought circus for special treat The crowd gasped with surprise, orphan tried to wriggle out coat, but the clown held on firmly

"One toss boy air, and disappear; toss cap and reappear Watch ! " cried the clown, putting his fingers lips

" you trying ? " demanded the ringmaster in hoarse whisper " 't really make him disappear, "

The clown realized this, but going that crowd laugher disappear himself With shrill whistle that made even the old elephant prick up his ears, he tossed the orphan shoulder and reeled off the first ridiculous rhyme that popped into his head And it:

"Udge ! Budge ! Go to Mudge ! Udger budger, You're Mudger ! "

roar of delight went up crowd, and roar of terror ringmaster, orphan had disappeared - disappeared as completely as punctured balloon !

"Help ! " screamed the clown, dancing frantically up and down elephant's head The audience was enchanted and rocking to and fro with merriment

"That's the best trick I've ever seen," gurgled fat man, mopping his face "Look at him pretending frightened Come on now, bring him back, you ! "

The clown cried out another verse:

"Udge ! Budge ! Go to Mudge ! Udger budger, I'm Mudger ! "

tearing rip and clap of thunder The crowd stared, rubbed its eyes and stared again No clown, no orphan ! Why, tremendous ! They stamped with glee and shouted their approval But the ringmaster fell breathlessly against post, owner circus, with popping eyes, started on run dressing tent Not bit too soon, either, for in few seconds the crowd stopped laughing as suddenly as it had begun Umbrellas were brandished furiously, and people shouted ringmaster the orphan at once The ringmaster was shaking shiny shoes, but he resolved to save himself if Raising his whip for silence, he announced most impressive voice best part trick was - clown and orphan were minute standing circus gate to wave goodbye company, distinguished and delightful companies it had ever been their pleasure to entertain He clicked his heels together, made deep bow crowd, convinced that speaking the truth, began to stream big tent

Without waiting another second, the ringmaster grasped old Billy ear and ran him toward the animal tent In five minutes the whole circus force was dashing about pelting rain, dragging out cages, prodding the elephants, tugging big horses, pulling down the tents

"Something terrible has happened; we've got to move out of here," chattered the owner show, rushing from group to group the indignant old gentleman who had brought the orphans circus gate and back, the first heavy circus wagons was already rattling over the hill The few workmen, hastening the last bits of loading, shook their heads dully when he demanded the orphan and, after threatening and stamping in vain, the distracted old gentleman ran off to fetch the police, thirty-nine other orphans splashing delightedly behind him

Police ! What could police do against magic ? How did the clown know rhyme that had popped into his head was an old Oz formula ? It had carried off the orphan like skyrocket, and clown had frantically repeated the magic words, he too snatched air, hurled tent top, and flung down beside the frightened little boy strangest land he had ever seen Fortunately they had fallen on soft dune of sand, and around them for miles and miles stretched flat and silvery desert

CHAPTER 3 Court of Mudge

NEITHER the clown nor the boy spoke for several minutes the truth, they were breathless Then the clown sat up and looked doubtfully orphan

"Well, here ," , winking more from force of habit than because particularly jolly

"Yes, sir ! " gulped the orphan, swallowing hard

"Now don't call me sir," begged the clown, making conversation to gain time "Don't call me sir because I worked in circus My name is Notta-Notta Bit More I last of twelve children, and my mother and father agree on name Every time my mother said, 'Call him Augustus Elmer More,' my father said, 'not bit of it ' After while, being clown himself and joker by trade, he began calling me 'Notta Bit More' and Notta I've been " The clown winked again "Call me Notta, won't you ? "

"Yes, sir," replied the orphan, swallowing again and trying not to cry Seeing this, Notta turned double somersault and stood head

"And ? " he asked, waving his legs cheerfully "Bobbie Downs," sniffed the orphan, with another swallow

"How did you get it ? " The clown dropped down beside the little boy

" it came with me, sir," said Bobbie faintly

"Well, don't mind, we'll change it to Bob Up- 's what we've done-and Bob Up sounds more lively than Bobbie Downs, don't ? "

While Notta was talking glancing anxiously around him "Bob," finally, " we've fallen in with another circus See, tents, and I hear lions roaring " "So do I," said Bobbie beginning to look more interested than frightened