"Regular signals, aren't we, Bob ? " The clown thoughtlessly turned handspring, but the short rope spoiled it Cowardly Lion was quite choked

"We don't twin , old fellow, do we ? " sighed Notta "But let's see the way to Mudge, seems that to Mudge trudge "

Hopping Cowardly Lion's back he waved him left, but first step both Notta and Bob turned quite blue

"Try the right," suggested the clown, pulling the lion's right ear So the Cowardly Lion pranced right, but gone dozen steps before Bob and Notta were bluer than ever

"Back ! " directed Notta, swinging around and seizing the lion's tail But their blueness only increased

"Straight ahead then," cried Notta, standing up and waving his arms So the Cowardly Lion obligingly trotted few paces straight ahead, and as Bob clown promptly turned back natural complexions, they concluded that straight ahead road to Mudge

Bob could hardly help feeling pleased also led toward the strange city, for Bob was very curious about Oz and its singular peoples, little fellow was enjoying adventures Even the wreck thunderstorm had given him new kind of thrill

" all think of way to outwit Mustafa," said Notta, took their places Flyaboutabus "But until simply follow my usual rules " So saying, he untied, for moment, the rope that bound him Cowardly Lion and stepped into another disguises almost the strangest lot It covered him all but the feet, and in place jolly companion stood huge goggle-eyed fish The fish skin buttoned down the front, and Notta's arms protruded under the fins, but unable to sit down This, however, he bore quite cheerfully and, standing up very straight and stiff, seized the wheel Flyaboutabus, pressed the button marked "Go," and away go in series of bumps and bounces, feathery vehicle seem its wheels ground

"Too bad put rig during the storm," chuckled Nick, hanging on with both claws "Then swum to earth But what good now ? "

"Just you wait," promised Notta confidently "When these people, whoever , see fish walking about on dry land, do just as I ask them to ! " Nick looked rather nervous as he adjusted his nose, Cowardly Lion shook his head doubtfully

"But help his disguises any more than Nick can help his snoring, or I, my cowardice," whispered the big beast huskily to Bob Bob Up said nothing, but he always felt uncomfortable when Notta put on one queer costumes The bus was bouncing and jerking so crazily that conversation was now impossible came nearer and nearer strange city, it became at once apparent unlike any city or town any had ever seen or visited Even the Cowardly Lion, old Oz adventurer that and accustomed to unusual sights and places, gave snort of surprise Flyaboutabus rushed glittering glass gates

CHAPTER 15 Mustafa Keeps Watch

MUSTAFA, seated blue throne, stared steadily at his magic ring He had done little else since Bob and Notta's departure, and in consequence was beginning to squint fearfully lap lay the lion book, and when not gazing at his ring, the blue-whiskered Monarch looked longingly picture Cowardly Lion

In one corner tent, in large cage, crouched the twenty Uns Notta had wished into Mudge, and tent top were twenty blue patches where they had burst through At first Mustafa terribly angry and ordered the Featherheads thrown lions But Mixtuppa, pleased color and brilliancy feathers, begged be saved, so she might always have fresh feathers for her turbans Then the Uns, seeing that Mustafa was almost as wicked and bad tempered as themselves, promised to teach him all the Unish they knew- every hour Mustafa was growing unhappier and unpleasanter

Panapee stepped about breathlessly on tiptoe, for Notta had done anything Mustafa's ring black the ruler of Mudge had flown at his royal chamberlain and shaken him unmercifully

" escaping, you villain ! " screamed Mustafa the first time-that was when Notta had determined not to betray his faithful four-footed friend

"Help ! Ouch ! Does your Majesty expect to stop him by pulling my beard ? Let go ! Take off your ring," spluttered the unhappy Mudger, " no magic in my whiskers "

Realizing the truth , Mustafa snatched off his ring, with what alarming consequences to Bob and Notta we all know Since then his watchfulness had increased, and even while he ate he held his thumb before his eyes no move clown would escape him While Mustafa kept watch, the royal jewelers worked day and night upon gold collar, studded with sapphires, forger of swords and scimitars hammered early and late upon heavy gold chain-for once the Cowardly Lion entered Mudge, Mustafa was determined never leave the kingdom Tazzywaller, who was still lion feeder, peering at intervals tent flap thanked his lucky stars no longer high chamberlain of Mudge

" Cowardly Lion actually appears time enough reinstated," muttered the wily fellow to himself "Meanwhile let Panny take his Majesty's ill-tempered thumps and shakings ! "

CHAPTER 16 Fall Sky

TENTS and trapezes ! " shouted Notta Bit More, as he tried the Flyaboutabus center glass street

" we had better run straight through," roared the Cowardly Lion, beginning to tremble slightly "I don't like the look at all "

"Well, whatever happens, try to remember you're tied ," begged Notta, straightening his fish head hastily

"Then woe betide us," sighed the Cowardly Lion

Nick put his wing around Bob and all gazed in bewilderment bewildering city "Preservatory," said large sign just beyond the glass gates, and over the whole city hung sweet, smoky haze The houses had glass fronts and were more like cupboards than ordinary dwellings Each had three stories, or as Bob Up explained later to Dorothy, three shelves And shelves, swinging their legs, sat the oddest individuals in Oz From head to knee they were enclosed in glass jars Their arms and legs came through especially cut places, but these were carefully soldered so as not to let in any air And their heads, somewhat flattened glass lids, had squashed and foolish look

Flyaboutabus bounced merrily along the main street, they began to tumble off the shelves and run down the glass steps comical houses They made no attempt way, so Notta hastily stopped the bus But even so, one managed under the wheels and Bob shivered creature's jar splintered to bits glass paving stones

"Now you've done it," groaned Nick, slamming his nose back on its hook The jarred populace evidently thought so too, for they began hopping up and down, shouting all sorts of threats and abuse The four travelers could only hear dull muttering, voices creatures carry through their lids, but the Visitors could tell dreadful faces they were making glass were being threatened and abused The cries unhappy victim under the wheels were quite distinct

"Save me ! Save me, or spoil ! " he cried in heartrending tones Notta was so moved by his evident distress hat he impulsively started to jump bus, forgetting the tie between himself Cowardly Lion He therefore got terrible wrench that twisted his fish head sideways, so he at all While Bob was straightening this out, the jarmen dragged their companion from beneath the feather wheels, and simply enormous fellow came running down the street In one hand he had pad and other pencil, "Looks like the Prime Pickle," chattered Snorer, jarman began scribbling pad " broken the peace," read Notta, angry official held up his pad magnificently attired under his jar and was evidently person of some importance He had, however, been preserved by pickling and was of an unhealthy shade of green

Notta leaned bus and, seizing the pencil and pad, wrote back, "He broke himself, save the pieces "

The rage Preserves, read these words, increased to perfect fury One, evidently relation broken man, snatched off his lid and cried shrilly, "You'll be minced ! "

The Prime Preserve again scratched furiously pad " under arrest Come with me," directed the pad, when he held it up

" because I forgot the rules," sighed Notta "If I more polite not have happened Shall we fly or follow ? "

"Let's follow," rumbled the Cowardly Lion " fly , and I'd like all the Preserves while I'm , for Dorothy will enjoy hearing " Notta ran the Flyaboutabus slowly and carefully down the glass street solemn jarmen, the rest population following at safe distance Bob's eyes grew larger and larger and when preserved dog ran briskly in front bus shout of glee " Oz funniest place , don't you, Nick ? " cried the little boy merrily "Well," chirruped Snorer, "as never any place else, hardly say Look, look ! There goes canned cat ! " And so , as canned cat 'd ever But right here their guide turned the corner found themselves presence of another Queen They knew she was Queen, for pad held up for their inspection the guide had written, "Preserva the Great " Notta stopped the bus low glass throne stared in wonder at her Majesty Preserva seemed surprised

"Well, I'll be jellied ! " wheezed the Queen, taking off her lid and thrusting out moist head Bob thought she need not have said this, for she was jellied already-her face and royal robes being quivery and delicious pink

The Prime Preserve seemed alarmed Queen's action and quickly wrote pad, "Shut your lid " Bob considered this dreadfully disrespectful, and Snorer began to chuckle with enjoyment Preserva quite meekly obeyed, but her eyes, behind the thick glass jar, grew larger and larger, and finally, snatching the pad Prime Preserve, she dashed off in great excitement these words, "A tomato can about right for him ! " Holding up the pad she pointed joyfully at Notta

"Serves you right for coming as fish," chortled the Cowardly Lion "So we'll have you back in can Well, well ! "