" no harm boy," whispered the Scarecrow to Ozma, for he noticed that Bob made no attempt to escape

"Why travel company of witch ? " asked Ozma rather sternly

"He's not witch ! " cried Bob Up miserably

"He's Notta ! "

"Not witch ? " puzzled Ozma, wrinkling up her brows

All the celebrities stared suspiciously at their prisoner, but as Sir Hokus had him firmly by one arm Tin Woodman other, Notta remove his disguise "The boy has spoken the truth," quavered the clown "If these gentlemen will let me go for moment prove that not witch "

"Don't let go," advised the Scarecrow, wrinkling his cotton forehead, "for she may bewitch us Have little Dorothy tell her story " So, while Bob fumed with impatience and Notta groaned delay, Dorothy told how they had come flying toward her garden

"But witch, wouldn't she have melted threw the water on her ? " asked Trot, who had listened in silence She liked the looks little boy and felt that some mistake made

"Call the Wizard of Oz ! " cried Jack Pumpkinhead such reasonable suggestion Bob wondered how pumpkinhead thought of it As there seemed no way of convincing these interesting folks clown was not witch, Bob gave it up moment and began examining them with close attention

Tik Tok simply fascinated the little boy, and he immediately decided that, next to Notta, he had never seen anyone more jolly Scarecrow Even the Knight, now that he had his visor up, no longer alarmed Bob Up And Comforotable Camel thrust his long neck in through windows to inquire the matter Bob burst out laughing of himself Right here the little, bald Wizard of Oz came bouncing throne room, small black grip clutched in one hand

" person is witch," sighed Ozma, Scarecrow had related all that had happened, " be destroyed discover by your magic whether or not witch ? "

"Certainly," said the sprightly little wizard, laying out his tools in businesslike manner Snorer flew down cabinet in alarm

"Will it hurt ? " he cawed uneasily

"If witch she has nothing to fear," replied the Wizard, eying Snorer with amazement The Wizard, sending for tumbler, first mixed pink and green powder together and then added drop of red liquid that immediately set the powder to sizzling When it bubbled top he flung the contents tumbler directly witch's face Sir Hokus Tin Woodman ducked and Notta spluttered, but the fiery liquid trickled harmlessly off his nose

" witch ! " smiled the Wizard of Oz, turning to Ozma

"Then why pretend ? " asked the little Queen Her voice, though still stern, sounded relieved Taking heart, Notta begged his two captors to release him This , clown hastily tore off his wig and stepped black cloak

"Why, it's clown ! " cried Dorothy in delight

" you he wasn't witch," shrilled Bob Up, wriggling away Soldier Green Whiskers and rushing over to Notta Bit More

"Well, bless my heart ! " cried the Wizard of Oz, bounding down the steps throne two " surprise Sir, let me embrace you ! " And as Notta made no objection him several good hugs "I used to work in circus myself," beamed the little wizard, "and I tell you clown is sight that makes me homesick ! "

" ," said Notta with little bow to Ozma, "this country surpasses any circus ever in ! "

" do funny tricks ? " asked Dorothy

" somersault, cartwheel, stand head, walk hands and lots of songs don't you, Notta ? " cried Bob, dancing with excitement

"So do I," shrilled Scraps jealously, "and if he thinks stand on my head, let him watch "

Sir Hokus of Pokes restrained the reckless girl, and Ozma, tapping arm of her throne for order, begged Notta to explain his presence Emerald City reason for coming as witch

" sorry treated you so rudely," said Ozma gravely, "but blame your costume "

"Certainly," said Scraps, shaking her cotton finger at Notta " come as witch expect treated every witch way " Notta looked rather embarrassed as he explained his rules of disguise, politeness, joke and run

"I always seem the wrong disguise," sighed the clown

"Don't better natural ? " asked the Scarecrow jolly voice "Especially naturally so nice ? " Notta was quite flustered charming speech

"First be nice and then be natural How's that for rule ? " cried Scraps brilliantly, were all so relieved clown had turned out they laughed heartily

"Ver-ry good," ticked Tik Tok, whom somebody had wound up " naturally bright be-cause nat-u-ral-ly cop-per ! "

"Well, ," said Notta, merriment had subsided, " , myself, for I guess better yourself even clown "

"But how did you reach Oz ? Who little boy ? And do introduce us to your feathered friend," begged the Scarecrow, who glancing curiously from one other

"This," said Notta, drawing Bob close to him, "is Bob Up, an orphan from Philadelphia, bravest and best little boy in America "

"Hello, orphan ! " cried Scraps genially:

"Orphan, orphan, howdedo, You love me and I'll love you ! First you're here, then gone again, Do come orphan on again ! "

stern "hush" Knight silenced her, and Notta introduced Nickadoodle from Un Nick immediately took the floor, and carefully demonstrated his telephone nose, which he explained invented by Uncle Billy So, everyone, including the Scarecrow, came down and shook him gravely claw Then, were all anxious to hear what had brought the three travelers Emerald City, they grouped themselves throne and Notta started the history amazing three days in Oz

But just as explaining in spirited manner their flight to Mudge, bustle great hall without interrupted the story, and breathless footman came rushing in to announce the arrival of Glinda, the Good Sorceress, who ruled over the Quadling country of Oz

"Something happened ! " cried Ozma, jumping up in distress

"Don't be so previous, my dear," begged the Scarecrow, himself falling down the steps throne to show how collected But instant Glinda herself swept throne room Twelve little maidens in lovely red dresses held up her long train and Bob Up, looking at Glinda's beautiful face and lovely flame-colored robes, thought he had never seen more radiant fairy The courtiers and celebrities hastily made way for Glinda

Hurrying Ozma the sorceress asked anxiously, "Where Cowardly Lion ? Has anyone seen the Cowardly Lion ? "

Now, strangely enough, no one palace had missed their big chum, but at Glinda's words they all began shaking their heads and looking uneasily at one another

"Why, I haven't seen him for two days," cried Dorothy, with worried little frown

" ! " cried Bob Up, forgetting for moment presence of royalty "We saw him yesterday "

"What's happened ? " cried Notta " now we never left him "

"Why, the Cowardly Lion ? " asked Ozma in surprise, for Notta yet come meeting, nor even told them of Mustafa's determination to add the Cowardly Lion collection

So, as quickly as , and without stopping to describe Doorways or Un, the clown told his story

"Ah," sighed Glinda, as he finished, "that explains the entry Magic Record Book Hurry up, my friends Some of us must go instantly to Mudge "

"What did the records say ? " asked Dorothy, and all the celebrities looked frightened and anxious, Cowardly Lion was great favorite The Magic Record Book is treasures of Oz It tells, just happen, all the events marvelous country and in country

"It said," began Glinda in her soft voice, " Cowardly Lion is in grave danger, and unless help comes before noon destroyed "

"Wha-aat ? " shrilled Notta in horrified tones, while Sir Hokus of Pokes began sharpening his dagger leg scarecrow fell nose very shock thing

"Where's my Magic Belt ? " cried Ozma, clapping her small hands frantically "Jellia, fetch my Magic Belt ! " Ozma, belt, meant to transport as company as possible to Mudge

But little serving maid returned, Notta himself had accomplished that very thing Glancing around hurriedly, he began touching everyone who looked he might prove useful in battle Sir Hokus vanished first, for Notta was impressed Knight's warlike appearance, then the Tin Woodman, because his ax looked so sharp, then Tik Tok, because so solid and dependable, then Glinda because she was sorceress Wizard because also versed in magic, then Dorothy, because she was crying and Bob because Notta bear to leave him behind and then Snorer, because he had proven himself so faithful Ozma, who had forgotten magic verse, was startled almost out of her senses sudden disappearances She put up her scepter to object, but Notta ran forward and touched her too and she was gone others

"Help ! " wailed Scraps, tumbling window, rest company began backing into corners But the clown, now satisfied army of invasion, seized the yellow hand Scarecrow and repeated his verse time:

"Udge ! Budge ! Come to Mudge ! Udgers Budgers, Mudgers ! "

In flash they were in Mudge-every single person the clown had touched sight that met their eyes was simply terrifying

CHAPTER 20 The Cowardly Lion's Peril