The Cowardly Lion, ashamed dreadful purpose that had brought him forest, outdid himself to entertain them And so enchanted were the kindly woodcutters conversation that tear himself away until late afternoon

"I'll never to eat woodcutter," groaned the Cowardly Lion, trotting slowly along gathering dusk "Never way treated me I'll have some other sort of brave person to swallow " Scraps' advice was proving difficult right start, and very thoughtfully the Cowardly Lion continued his journey

night time when he reached the edge forest-night time and not brave man in sight But southern part Munchkin Country many great mountains and sturdy Munchkin mountaineers surely there brave man So the lion, who mind at all traveling dark, ran steadily toward the south, through quiet little villages, through fragrant fields and meadows, even swimming the broad and turbulent Munchkin river rather lonely, and Dorothy or Sir Hokus of Pokes were along, but he well knew that neither would approve plan for acquiring courage not sure that he approved of it himself, but he kept on arguing head and shuddering heart, and sighing because so great coward Just sun rose upon brave man, asleep under blue rose bush brave, because dressed as huntsman and beside him lay terrible-looking gun

The Cowardly Lion's heart began to thump like triphammer, for much afraid of guns But it seem at all fair to swallow man sleep and, though he trembled so violently scarcely stand, he determined to waken the huntsman and to ascertain same time whether he were brave enough purpose Gathering himself together as best , he sprang sleeping huntsman crackle and snap he had stepped upon pillow stuffed with twigs Then an ear splitting shriek flattened back the Cowardly Lion's ears and fairly curdled his blood same time his tail was seized from behind, and twisted terrifically

"Help ! Help ! " screamed the huntsman, trying to rise

"Ouch, Stop ! " roared the Cowardly Lion, while the person who had hold tail screamed in seven different keys The Cowardly Lion removed his paw huntsman's chest " brave man ? " he asked in quavering voice

"Not very," chattered the huntsman, jumping up and backing cautiously toward tree

"Well, you don't sound brave," continued the lion in relieved voice "A brave man call for help Let go tail, little boy It's all mistake I don't want this huntsman after all "

"He's not huntsman," wailed the little boy, running over and clasping the man around the knees

"Not huntsman ? " roared the Cowardly Lion, waving his tail very fast "Then what-"

"I'm clown, you rude monster," spluttered the man indignantly

clown ! Well, say-and none our old friend Notta Bit More Snatching off his hat and false whiskers, he swung Bob Up into tree and nimbly followed himself were both seated on branch, far above the ground, he looked anxiously leaves what the lion would do next "Never saw such country for lions ! " he puffed resentfully The lion, with one paw shading his eyes, was looking up at them " afraid ? " pleasantly " afraid ? Well, don't be, for being coward myself makes me very sympathetic " word coward Notta almost fell tree

"Bob," whispered the clown hoarsely, "it's the Cowardly Lion himself ! Now we mustn't let him know we're going to capture him "

"He's very bad lion," interrupted Bob Up tearfully "He tried to bite you ! "

"What say ? " called the lion, only hear an indistinct muttering

" very bad lion," repeated Notta, looking seriously great creature below "He's right," sighed the lion dolefully " bad lion good lion eaten you up , but bad lion often makes good friend Come on down all mistake "

" friend of Dorothy's ? " asked Bob, leaning far out over the branch At mention of Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion gave guilty little jump

"Well, say so friends of Dorothy's ? "

"No, but we're same country," said the clown, "and 're you don't want to eat me up, we'd like to few questions "

"I've never eaten man in my life," roared the Cowardly Lion, rolling his eyes sadly

"Then why start on me ? " asked Notta, scratching his ear and winking at Bob Up Now incident was over it struck him as terribly funny perched in tree conversing Cowardly Lion some old pals circus him He'd never expect them it otherwise So Notta and Bob climbed down three regarded with frank interest

The Cowardly Lion had never seen clown clown had never seen Cowardly Lion, so much explained and accounted for First, Notta told sudden transportation to Mudge, of Doorways, and everything else except Mustafa's determination them capture the Cowardly Lion himself They were on their way, explained the clown, Emerald City whether or not Dorothy could find way to back United States

"Ozma can very easi1y with her magic belt," said the lion, "but go , for Oz is full of dangers for mortal folks like you, and Dorothy want anything to happen to anyone from her country, very sure He then told them lot marvelous land of Oz, with its four big countries and its many little ones

"This," roared the Cowardly Lion with sweep paw, " Munchkin Country north Kingdom Gillikens, west Winkie Country and south the Quadling Country, ruled over good sorceress, Glinda But all of Oz is under the rule of Ozma "

Bob's eyes grew rounder and rounder as them how Dorothy was first blown to Oz by cyclone, of her discovery scarecrow, how she had lifted him down his pole and, Cowardly Lion and Tin Woodman, traveled Emerald City, then ruled over Wizard of Oz Then how Ozma, the little fairy ruler, who real Queen of Oz, found and placed throne Then came the story of Scraps and Sir Hokus and of Tik Tok, and of amazing person living amazing Emerald City

Cowardly Lion paused for breath Bob was jumping up and down with excitement

"Oh, Dorothy Scarecrow ! Let's hurry," cried the little orphan, throwing his arms 'round the Cowardly Lion's neck The kind old Cowardly Lion blinked with pleasure

"I'm glad that," he rumbled in husky voice, "for now that you trust me, forgotten all unfortunate mistake ! "

"But why did you ask if brave ? " mused the clown, scarcely believe merry little boy hugging the Cowardly Lion same Bobbie Downs who had fallen into Mudge

"Because," the lion swallowed self-consciously, "because looking bravest man in Oz "

" find him ? " asked Notta, carefully folding up his huntsman suit and powdering his nose with another marshmallow

"Now, don't ask me that, please " The Cowardly Lion raised his paw pleadingly and looked so uncomfortable Notta dropped the subject at once little uncomfortable himself, for he had determined, opportunity presented itself, to tie up the great creature and somehow or other deliver him to Mustafa What else could he do ? The clown sighed regretfully, for already he had taken great fancy Cowardly Lion But fancy or not, one risk turning blue, and he had Bob Up of To gain the lion's confidence he decided to travel for while toward the Emerald City and, that fixed purpose of capturing the Cowardly Lion, Mustafa's ring turn black

Notta said nothing plans to Bob, boy was so happy thought of visiting the Emerald City, and so delighted new and interesting friend, he hated to spoil bit pleasure So he merely opened another pack of Mustafa's sandwiches all had cheerful breakfast together Then, with Bob proudly riding the lion, they started off once again toward the north