Bobbie stood up and shook the water cap They were both dripping wet storm they had passed through, but the sun and wind queer desert country soon dried them off and, conversing almost cheerfully, they trudged deep sand toward large blue, striped tent

"I've done heap of traveling in ," confided Notta, "but never in just I've run into some strange places and walked into others; but first time I ever talked myself into country There we were in circus, quiet and natural like, then that rhyme pops into my head it and off we go like couple of skyrockets We were just talked country, Bob, my boy, and mighty tricky business I call it But never mind, we'll just follow the rules anyway

"What rules ? " asked Bob, looking curiously at some tall palm trees, waving distance He had never supposed palm trees existed outside of geography books

"Why," explained Notta, "just four simple little rules use of danger or trouble First," he pulled out his little finger, "first I disguise myself fails, I'm extreemly polite If politeness doesn't do, I tell joke joke fails, I shout something no one can understand and run like sixty So don't you worry, Bob; stick and run when I run and everything will turn out right what makes me so fat ? "

Bob shook his head

"Disguises ! " whispered Notta triumphantly "I use them for padding Mighty handy when I tumble about Yes, sir, in here " Notta fondly patted his bulging Suit "In here six marvelous disguises ready on at moment's notice, and in here," Notta tapped his powdery forehead, "in here, I've sixty different jokes, and lots of things I don't understand myself, so prepared for everything " "Yes, sir," said Bobbie solemnly, for very solemn little boy Living in an orphan asylum had made him that way and, as for adventures, he had never had an adventure life There were lessons and meals and punishments, and once in while fight older boys, but no one big, busy home had time to Bobbie Downs, nor answer his questions So Bobbie had grown quieter and more solemn each year seven he had spent dull gray asylum

Notta looked little boy curiously as he trudged along beside him The kindly clown decided that going to like Bob Up, and right there he decided that Bob Up was going little fun "I'll bet he's never laughed out loud whole life," thought the clown to himself, and began running over head the funniest jokes that He had just determined one pig pound of bacon, when an ear splitting screech knocked all thought of joking out mind huge figure, with bristling blue whiskers, had stepped out from behind palm tree, taken one look two strangers and then disappeared direction blue tent, shouting top lungs

" Blue Beard ? " quavered Bob, clutching Notta

"Bob," said the clown, swallowing hard, "I don't know, but we'll just try rule one " Fumbling bosom suit he dragged out brown bundle, and little boy could wink had stepped and dropped on all fours

"I'm lion," panted Notta, "and if I roar loudly enough frighten them off Stick close , Bob, and try to remember the rules If I run, you run-understand ? "

"Yes, sir ! " gasped Bob, his eyes as round as cookies, for Notta's disguise was so real that almost afraid himself Scarcely had Notta cleared his throat for growl than white robed company burst blue tent, and descended upon them in whirl of sand and scimitars Bob was as brave as any boy, but his retired life in an orphan asylum prepared him for anything like this Tears started eyes With scream of fright, he grasped Notta's woolly mane

"You'd better stop crying and get ready to run," whispered the clown nervously and finished his sentence roar that Bob jumped quite three feet But the wild white company kept right on coming and, before Notta could get another growl going, net was thrown over his head, dozen blue whiskered villains were upon him and next instant rolling over and over sandy road

Bob had shut his eyes tight, expecting snatched himself, but when nothing happened he opened them and saw with little gasp were hustling Notta, with pricks and prods, towards the billowing blue tent Bob's first adventure and run away, but something inside of him, that he hadn't known about, kept him there Right moment, and all of sudden, Bob discovered that fonder clown whom he had known only than of anyone he had ever known before that if something terrible was going to happen to Notta it might happen to him too

"Bob Up," the clown had called him Well, bob up With trembling legs, he ran shouting company, and managed to squeeze royal tent unnoticed, behind the broad back of Tazzywaller For all guessed long before now, to Mudge that Notta had transported himself little boy

Notta's disguise, though somewhat askew, still held together and growling terribly up his courage, same time looking anxiously around for Bob His lion head knocked sideways, only see out of one eye, but what he managed with one eye was enough him quake with terror The Mudgers were shouting and hopping about in front of large blue throne, pointing at him with their flashing scimitars

Then tall, particularly thin fellow seized him ear Panapee

"Lion," cried Panapee haughtily, " your new master, Mustafa of Mudge Your Highness, lion you were just wishing for ! "

"An odd looking beast," puffed the ruler of Mudge, tugging at his mustache

"An awful looking creature I call it," sniffed Tazzywaller, who was jealous another lion really captured after there were no more

"Maybe it's the Cowardly Lion," mused Mustafa " that his knees are trembling the Cowardly Lion ? " he demanded, pointing his scimitar at poor Notta The clown roared dismally, no coward How was he that land of Oz all animals can expected ? Why, even know in Oz, and hands Mudgers

"He refuses to answer," said Mustafa gloomily "Well, dumb lion is better than no lion at all Take him away, Panny, and lock him up other lions he's good fighter Let me see, that makes ten thousand to feed, Tazzywaller, others don't chew up He rubbed his hands joyfully together "I'll come out later on how they take to him But not going satisfied until the Cowardly Lion, Panny This lion is cowardly lion but not the Cowardly Lion Take him away ! "

Mustafa picked up the lion book and, waving Notta tent, fell to looking picture Cowardly Lion of Oz

All during this conversation Notta's hair prickling under his mane Ten thousand lions ! Sizzling sawdust ! Better face these wild-looking men than that Rule one had failed, time rule two

"Come on," growled the Mudger at his head and gave the rope arouhd his neck sharp tug But clown had chance to move or speak, shrill scream, and out rushed Bob Up, almost upsetting old Tazzywaller He flung both arms around the trembling lion

"You shan't take him away," cried the little boy stormily "It isn't lion It's Notta ! "

"Notta ? " roared Mustafa, lurching forward and looking at Bobbie with astonishment

"Not lion," cried the clown, rising hind legs and hastily removing his lion head

CHAPTER 4 Mustafa's Mandate

moment of absolute silence following Notta's disclosure lion body and clown head he presented an amazing and ridiculous appearance Nothing like this had ever been seen in Mudge, Mudgers simply gaped with astonishment

"Steady now, Bob," whispered the clown, putting his lion paw around the little boy "All polite-rule two, ! "

Mustafa first to recover "Not lion ! " cried the Monarch of Mudge hoarsely "Why, how dare you disappoint me like this ? Did you hear that, Tazzywaller, Panny, Mixtuppa-all of you ? he's not lion " sob of rage choked Mustafa's voice

"I apologize for not being lion," said Notta, in polite, slightly shaky voice "Ten thousand pardons ! "

"Ten thousand puddings ! " screamed Mustafa furiously

"Puddings by all means, if your Highness prefers them," corrected Notta hastily " you there were no more lions in Mudge," wheezed Tazzywaller with triumphant glance

at Panapee " it wasn't lion all along " "Well, it then ? " asked Mustafa angrily "The little fellow's boy of some kind, but this other ? " He waved scornfully poor clown

"A wizard, your Highness ? " hissed Panapee "A wizard, that's what

"Now don't call me names," begged Notta, extending the front paws disguise "I'm Notta "

"Not wizard, I suppose," said Tazzywaller scornfully

"Why don't you ask him how he got here ? " sighed Mixtuppa, reasonably enough Notta stared curiously large head of Mixtuppa, wagging blue curtain Perhaps here was someone understand politeness