"Madam, your Highness, gracious and lovely lady," began the clown with deep bow, "we fell charming country through no fault own

"Well, it wasn't our fault; no faults here," snapped Mustafa ungraciously "How did you get past the lion enclosure ? " demanded Panapee "How explain this being lion one minute and creature of another sort the next ? "

"Well, something very queer ," admitted Notta, rubbing his forehead in puzzled way "One minute Bob and I were in circus doing bit of trick and-"

" trick," exclaimed Panapee triumphantly "He admits it ! "

"Silence ! " cried Mustafa, who was beginning to enjoy the recital "You were in circus ? Tazzywaller, circus ? "

"It's show," explained Notta hastily, for tell puzzled faces Mudgers had never heard thing "And we were I put Bob on my shoulder and shouted silly rhyme, and in flash gone I shout it again and I'm gone too ! "

"Gone where ? " asked Mustafa, rubbing his chin

"To here," replied Notta, gazing about him uneasily "Funny how little verse could carry us " He recited:

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

No sooner had he done so than Mustafa sprang air and all the Mudgers began roaring with fright and fury

"He's discovered the secret of Mudge," shrilled Mustafa, pulling out handful whiskers

"How dare you use our own privately patented, particular, magic transformation formula ? Now you'll be wishing all sorts of people country ! "

"He's wizard ! " screamed Panapee " you wizard ! Twist his tail; off head; throw him lions ! "

"Wait, let me explain," pleaded the clown, but his voice was drowned angry hubbub Then all at once gong back tent rang thunderously Mustafa, who had already seized the tail of Notta's disguise, paused So did the others On platform other end tent stood Tazzywaller, thumping the gong with all his might The noise was so terrible that even Notta and Bob, frightened though they were, had their ears Not until Mustafa ran little platform and commanded Tazzywaller to stop, did the awful clangor cease

"What impertinence ? " panted Mustafa, seizing Tazzy's arm

"It only way get your attention," said Tazzywaller calmly " something important About lions," he finished meaningly

"Well, it ? " puffed Mustafa eagerly "Be quiet ! " Mudgers who were again closing in on Notta and Bob

"That person," cried Tazzywaller, with wave toward Notta, "is undoubtedly a- wizard Instead of snatching off his head, which of no use , even as an ornament, compel him us ? wizard, or in Mudge Well then, let him go Emerald City and bring back the Cowardly Lion ! "

Mustafa stared at his former chamberlain in amazed admiration, then flinging both arms about his neck, hugged him almost to suffocation Next instant he had clapped his hands and issued dozen orders to little servitors first the shouting Mudgers retired backward tent, second Panapee also retired, leaving Bob and Notta alone with Tazzy and their Majesties Outside, the marching and countermarching blue guard heard surrounded the royal tent

"The rules aren't working at all well, Bob," breathed Notta anxiously Bob said nothing . He just clutched the clown's hand little tighter and stared at Mustafa in open-eyed wonder

"Now then," chuckled the monarch of Mudge, "now then, my handsome wizard, what call yourself ? "

"Notta," began the clown, resolved polite as long as possible, "Notta Bit More "

"Notta ! " coughed Mustafa, opening his eyes wide That doesn't sound like name It sounds like-"

"A joke," put clown, with one broad smiles, "a little joke on me meant funny "

"Well, it doesn't amuse me at all " Mustafa stared solemnly clown's face "Why so white ? And why is his hair," Mustafa jerked his thumb at Bob-"so red ? "

" same reason that your Majesty's whiskers are blue," replied Notta promptly Mustafa quite like this answer

"Your business ? " he inquired next "I suppose you deny being wizard ? "

"Oh, absolutely ! " said Notta "But my busi ness, if your Majesty insists, is fun I make people laugh and thus prolong their lives "

"A funny business," sniffed Mustafa, with puzzled look at Tazzywaller "Well, me laugh to prolong your life, and that makes me laugh is lions ! "

"Lions ! " Notta wrinkled up his forehead "I'm afraid lions in my line at all I didn't work part show "

"You pretended lion," interrupted Mustafa sternly, "and you haye proved yourself wizard So unless capture the Cowardly Lion of Oz and bring him back to Mudge, you shall be thrown lion reservation, whereby nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine lions will tear you to bits agree ? "

"Tear me to bits ! " gulped the clown "My father often said I'd go dogs, but he never dreamed I'd be thrown lions Say, Cowardly Lion very fierce ? " Instead of answering, Mustafa handed him Panapee's lion book, saying, " read that while I make preparations for your journey

Smiling almost pleasantly, the Monarch of Mudge linked his arm through Tazzywaller's and disappeared behind the blue curtain back tent Mixtuppa also drew in her head and Bob Up and Notta were left alone

"Isn't it time to run ? " asked the little boy anxiously He had never whole life heard about lions But Notta put his fingers lips and shook his head

"No use," whispered the clown "The tent's surrounded pretend, my boy pretend going to hunt this Cowardly Lion Then, once country, we'll first train home " He sat down on huge cushion and began turning the pages lion book, Bob Up looking curiously over his shoulder They were both quite interested in description Cowardly Lion and Princess Dorothy, when Mustafa came whirling back followed by small Mudger servant, with three white packets upon his head

"Here," said Mustafa, with wave packets, "are provisions for three days Travel straight north until you reach yellow brick road and follow that road till you come Emerald City There the Cowardly Lion "

"But, see here," began Notta, who doing some quick thinking, "why your Majesty transport this lion to Mudge magic verse ? "

"For wizard," sniffed Mustafa, " astonishingly stupid That verse only transports people, and one must touch the person

"Well then, send some of your valiant tribesmen to capture him ? I, stranger here never captured lion in my life "

"Because written book of Mudge that any Mudger leaving his country will lose his head," droned Mixtuppa, thrusting her turban curtain "And take my advice go at once All this arguing keeps me awake, and when I'm awake I lose my temper, and when I lose my temper other folks lose their heads, and -"

"I'll go," sighed Notta, seeing that no sense at all was had ridiculous pair He stepped out lion disguise and, rolling it up into small bundle, thrust it into his trouser leg Next he slung the three packets around his neck and, taking Bob's hand, declared himself ready

Rubbing his hands gleefully, Mustafa led them royal tent, through double line Mudger Guard, great iron enclosure that surrounded his kingdom The lions were snarling and quarreling among themselves, but Mustafa came in sight they began calling him names and screaming for their dinner

"Be quiet, my little pets," chuckled the Monarch of Mudge good-naturedly " dinner, only silly wizard "

" the boy, then," roared the largest lions, licking his chops " the boy," roared all the other lions immediately Notta and Bob Up stared at Mustafa's pets in horror and disbelief, for neither had in their lives ever heard lion talk before Bob, especially, was terribly dismayed personal nature conversation But, while they were still trembling, two heavy doors were slipped bars, about five feet apart, making safe and narrow passageway enclosure The gates inside and outside enclosure were unlocked and Mustafa waved imperiously

This Notta and Bob lost no time in doing

"Remember," called Mustafa warningly, scurried through, " run away instead of hunting Cowardly Lion, know of it When messenger disobeys me, my magic ring turns black turns black know deceiving me, and case Mustafa held up his thumb Notta his ring" case take it off, and if I take it off both turn as blue as my whiskers and find yourselves unable to move until you decide as commanded Goodbye, my chalk-faced wizard, pleasant journey and swift return ! "

Notta was too shocked and astounded to answer Grasping Bob Up more firmly than before, he rushed out the iron gate and off through field of blue daisies, until the dreadful roaring lions of Mudge could no longer be heard

"And this," puffed the clown at last, sinking down under great tree, " what comes of trying funny Never try funny, my boy "

"No, sir," answered Bob, staring anxiously over his shoulder whether any of Mustafa's lions had followed them

CHAPTER 5

Two Cowardly Lion Hunters