hundreds gentle Oz folk, who live little green cottages and bow politely when friends pass the magnificent courtiers and palace servants, ready at moment's notice round lemonade, while the Scarecrow dishes out Oz-cream and cake And last but not least the amusing animals come to live royal stables No wonder everyone is anxious to visit the Emerald City If just find magic umbrella or handy cyclone go myself Why, it worth the journey just to hear the Cowardly Lion and Comfortable Camel talking together like old cronies The Comfortable Camel Doubtful Dromedary were recently discovered by Sir Hokus of Pokes and Dorothy, comparative new comers Emerald City, but the Cowardly Lion was very first Oz creatures to arrive capital prime favorite with everyone from Princess Dorothy royal cook

But all the time I've been telling you this, the conversation under the breakfast tree growing more interesting

" the Wizard of Oz large dose of courage first came here," drawled the camel, looking anxiously up Patchwork Girl, who was swinging head down breakfast tree

" ," mourned the Cowardly Lion dreamily, "but it has worn off and, though he has tried and tried, 't seem to mix up any more

" courage ? Does it grow Like potatoes in row ? Don't ask me for I don't know ! "

shouted Scraps, the Patchwork Girl, diving suddenly tree top and bouncing Doubtful Dromedary Being stuffed with cotton made Scraps very daring

"I've hunch," began the Comfortable Camel, relieved Patchwork Girl had fallen friend

"Where ? back ? " screamed Scraps, flinging her arms about his neck

"I've hunch," continued the camel calmly, paying no attention at all Patchwork Girl, "that courage isn't the way you feel, but the way you act always act bravely, why worry way you feel ? "

"But you never felt as frightened as ," objected the Cowardly Lion

"His knees do quake, His teeth do chatter, His big old heart goes pitter patter ! But what's the odds-Though stiff with fright He still can fight with mane and might ! "

cried Scraps, sitting down with thud "The more mane the more might," she finished brilliantly

"So rub some tonic brain And just increase your might and mane ! "

" that," mumbled the Doubtful Dromedary, looking at Scraps reprovingly

" something ," said the camel, chewing wisp of grass slow precise fashion

"My mane is little thin," mused the Cowardly Lion, rubbing it thoughtfully paw

"If I were you," said the Patchwork Girl, rising unsteadily, " find very brave person and then eat him up That ought big dose of courage

" that," said the Doubtful Dromedary sharply

"Think how uncomfortable it poor brave person," sighed the camel "My dear, afraid no heart "

" no heart," cried Scraps, starting to run down the path, "but marvelous head "

The Comfortable Camel sighed and glanced uneasily Cowardly Lion The Cowardly Lion had faraway look eye, Scraps' naughty suggestion had given him an idea, and not long before some excuse away two gentle creatures After all, why should he, the most famous lion in all Oz, forever be called cowardly ? tell no one, but go off on long journey and perhapseven to himself the Cowardly Lion say it, but the idea of swallowing brave person did seem reasonable way to acquire courage " never tell little Dorothy," muttered the great beast uncomfortably, "but how proud she when I return full of courage ! "

He slipped noiselessly quiet, lovely garden and, avoiding the yellow brick road, struck off through deep forest toward the Munchkin Country south Many brave woodcutters live Munchkin forests, Cowardly Lion was resolved darkly to swallow the bravest , ax and all "If only my cowardly heart fail me last moment," he groaned nervously, as he went crackling heavy underbrush " swallow one whole, oughtn't to hurt much " Already his kind, cowardly, comfortable old heart was beginning to quake thought of swallowing woodcutter But, arguing and rumbling to himself, he continued his race toward the south the castle clocks chimed eight, miles and miles away safe and delightful Emerald City of Oz

CHAPTER 9 In Search of Brave Man

The Cowardly Lion was familiar with all the forests in Oz, and though the one through which passing was so dense that, even morning, only dim light filtered trees, he had no difficulty finding his way center forest lived small colony of woodcutters, Cowardly Lion was heading straight colony, roaring and growling up his courage The more he thought about devouring brave man, the faster he ran The thing quickly or not at all-quickly before his heart failed him entirely hollow blows of an ax came echoing stillness, shiver ran down his back and, when sudden leap brought him almost upon tall Munchkin forester, he stopped altogether sound crackling branches, the man turned, but when the new comer was lion, he calmly went on work

"There's bravery ," gulped the Cowardly Lion to himself Now was his chance, man's back was turned But no use; he simply spring on man brave enough his back, so instead he sighed heavily and sat down

"How's the hunting ? " asked the woodcutter gruffly, after he had brought down his tree

"Why, not , ," replied the lion pensively worse still Could one eat up man middle of conversation ?

"Well, now that's too bad " The woodcutter mopped his brow and turned 'round slowly "Tell me," asked the lion, blinking his eyes unhappily, " brave man ? "

"Well, that," pondered the woodcutter, sitting down on stump and wiping off his ax with bunch of leaves, "that I hardly know "

"Don't talking to lion is pretty brave ? " asked the great beast hopefully He gathered himself for spring man said yes, certainly eat him up an end disagreeable business But instead, the woodcutter regarded him closely

"Say ! " he burst out, hopping feet and giving the Cowardly Lion resounding whack back, "say, an honor Sorry I didn't recognize you at once Boys ! " He raised his voice joyfully, "Boys, here's the good old Cowardly Lion, the Cowardly Lion himself Come on out We've often heard about you," explained the big man, fairly beaming embarrassed lion, "but as none of us ever go Emerald City first we've seen of you How Scarecrow and Ozma, and how's Princess Dorothy ? , even though we live woods, all about you famous folks "

The Cowardly Lion put his paw head and tried upsetting man you intended to devour so frightfully polite "How did I Cowardly Lion ? " he asked in husky voice

"Why, first you were like lion, then you were all of tremble, and I says to myself, says I, 'Wilby, my lad, you're looking straight famous Cowardly Lion of Oz ' I tell you it's proud day I'm talking with lion who has saved his country as I declare now, it's pleasure "