He forgot to finish his directions to Slammer and instead mumbled hurriedly under his breath, "Choggin, foggin, doggon, noggin, loggin, joggin Ah, it-joggin ! " He opened his eyes and looked around triumphantly, but the clown and Bob Up were nowhere seen they had run King's eyes closed For Notta, while endeavoring their Majesties laugh, had discovered that doors said "Out " And out they went, bowling over doormen like ten pins in their headlong flight door slammed they slid down steep dark passageway and in about two minutes shot out middle of dusty road Above them on high hill rose the gray walls singular Kingdom of Doorways

"Toboggan was right," muttered the clown, rising stiffly "This country grows odder and odder, Bob What do they call it now-Oz ? But never mind, lots on stormy nights when we reach the states Lots and lots ! "

Bob answer Instead he clutched Notta's wide pantaloon and pointed toward large clump of bushes Looking out leaves head of huge, shaggy lion shudder ran down the clown's back He tried to remember the procedure of Bill, the old lion tamer circus 'Subdue the creature with your eye," Bill said Yes, that was what he had said Notta's knees rattled like castanets, but with frightened gulp he stared the lion straight eye For moment nothing happened, then with gusty sigh the lion began

"What have they done rest of me ? " it roared mournfully

"Who ? " stuttered Notta, getting good hold on Bob and making ready to run lion's first move

"The Mudgers," wheezed the lion, two tears rolling down its nose With many gulps and sighs it told them how Tazzywaller had cut it in two and imprisoned its back half lion enclosure

"You mean that you were cut in half and still live the tale ? " gasped Notta in astonishment

"I don't know what you mean by telling the tail How can I tell the tail anything when all my connections with it are Cut off ? Oh, my poor tail, how it must miss me ! " moaned the half lion "Then you only have two legs," said Bob in relieved tone and coming out from behind Notta The lion nodded gloomily "If I had four, I'd be standing propped up against these bushes I'd have eaten you

"What blessing," murmured the clown under his breath, " 's only half lion "

"I'd like little sympathy," continued the lion in its mournful voice " little fellow would pat me head, it would ease me bit "

"Shall I ? " asked Bob Up doubtfully

"How do you won't bite him ? " asked Notta cautiously

"I haven't the courage," replied the lion dolefully "Besides my stomach is gone rather takes the appetite away, Oh, my poor little empty stomach, how dreadfully it must feel ! Then, to bite person to work myself up into rage, do without tail to lash And half my heart is missing so I-"

"Do everything half-heartedly," finished Notta, with wink at Bob

"Exactly," blubbered the half lion Two more tears rolled down its nose, and these so affected

Bob Up that he stepped bravely over and patted its mane

"Harder ! " cried the half lion, closing its eyes "Harder ! Harder ! " Notta seized stick and fell to patting the lion's head , but it kept roaring harder until Bob Up and Notta were perfectly breathless

"Sorry," puffed the clown at last, "but we'll have goodbye now We're way Emerald City "

" ? " The half lion opened its eyes and regarded them with new interest "There's wonderful wizard Emerald City," it began in more cheerful roar "Could you, would you, tell him sad separation ? Tell him pining better half and perhaps put me together again Promise him " The poor beast was so earnest that he almost lost his balance

"Why, certainly tell him," said Notta, who most obliging soul imaginable

"We'll to, old fellow, but I didn't think there were any more wizards "

"No wizards ? " coughed the lion, surveying the clown in amazement "Why, Oz is full of wizards Just keep going north and you'll soon find that out go along , but I haven't quite learned to travel on two legs, and I'm so tired of standing "

"Why don't you sit down," asked Bob thoughtlessly The lion groaned and looked at him reproachfully, and seeing going to cry again Notta began to move off

" ," he asked, pausing suddenly, "did you come through Doorways ? "

"Yes ! " sobbed the lion, sniffing with each word, " right door "

"Which door ? "

"I don't remember," sighed the half lion drearily "I remember nothing nowadays When I used to forget fact all I had was to scratch my head with my hind leg and instantly it came back, but now- " The lion began to sob heavily

"Well, goodbye ! " said Notta uneasily, taking Bob's hand " see this wizard you've mentioned we'll tell him your sad story "

"Goodbye," choked the lion, waving his paw feebly

"I'd like real wizard, Notta," said Bob Up, trudged down the dusty road

"Odder and odder ! " murmured the clown, shaking his head in bewilderment "I declare, Bob, weren't along think I were asleep and dreaming all this "

"Here's another sign," whispered Bob Up in low voice so the sign hear him "Wonder talks too "

"I dare say they all can if to replied Notta "At any rate sort of sign language "

"North Road to U," said this sign, in large blue letters

"D stood for doorways I wonder what U stands for ? " mused the little boy, staring up sign with both hands pockets

"Maybe it stands ? " chuckled the clown, turning handspring

"You ! " sneered the sign, giving itself little shake "Why, I wouldn't stand single minute I'd rather- " What it would rather Notta and Bob wait to hear Seizing hands, they ran gaily down the road toward the unknown and curious country of U

CHAPTER 8 The Cowardly Lion's Quest

Quite unconscious of Mustafa's evil plans capture, the Cowardly Lion of Oz paced to and fro wide veranda loveliest palace in Oz early morning Emerald City, and Ozma and her court yet risen, but palace pets were abroad and talking sociably together garden Ozma's Saw Horse was running races with Hank, Betsy Bobbin's small mule, the Comfortable Camel and Doubtful Drome dary were ambling down the paths in their wobbly-kneed fashion, while Dorothy's little dog, Toto, Glass Cat were arguing over the Patchwork Girl's last verses They all seemed happy and contented Cowardly Lion, noting this, sighed heavily "Not is ever afraid," he murmured sorrowfully "I, of all creatures in Oz, am the only cowardly one

"What say ? " The Cowardly Lion jumped, as he always did at an unexpected sound, then gave little roar of relief Soldier Green Whiskers stepped out from behind pillar

"What say ? " repeated the Soldier, putting down his gun never loaded, and regarding the Cowardly Lion inquiringly

" saying that the only cowardly person in Oz "

"Well, fight, can't you ? " The Soldier tugged his green whiskers thoughtfully as he asked this question "Now, very brave man, but never fight, so there perfectly true The Soldier Green Whiskers, who was Ozma's entire army, never was afraid, but he always ran first sign of danger While the Cowardly Lion trembled terribly as enemies approached, he always fought until he overcame them

"So what's the difference," said the Soldier Green Whiskers, shouldering his gun and marching down the steps "You feel cowardly and act bravely brave and act cowardly " "It makes great difference ," mumbled the Cowardly Lion " brave Oh, if only once feel brave ! " Shaking his mane mournfully, he padded down the steps Soldier Green Whiskers, and soon came Comfortable Camel and Doubtful Dromedary, who were swaying idly under tall breakfast tree

"Morning," wheezed the Comfortable Camel, twitching his crooked nose "Handsome as ever, "

" that, Camy," said the Doubtful Dromedary, eyeing the Cowardly Lion solemnly

"He's always doubting things," smiled the Comfortable Camel, rolling his large, limpid eyes "Now, I never do "

"He's right I'm not handsome at all; no coward handsome," said the lion gruffly, flinging himself ground beside the strange pair "Ah, if only feel courageous ! "

"You're nice , you dear cowardly old thing," snorted the camel, wagging his head affectionately "Why, were brave, just like lion It's being cowardly that makes you so interesting "

"I'd rather be brave than interesting," rumbled the lion sadly " perfectly well that courage finest thing "

" that," put dromedary, shifting mouthful of grass from one cheek other, " that "

"What's the matter ? " cried the Patchwork Girl, bouncing out merrily other side tree "You all sound as solemn as Pokes ! "