"How long will it take ? " grated Crunch, slightly mollified the truth, over the formula needed the Cowardly Lion magic words had slipped his stone memory

"Oh, an hour or two," answered the lion uneasily, determined, if , to escape from both treacherous villains

"All right, old fellow " Crunch smiled as this afford generous, for in few hours the Cowardly Lion would belong to him for good So he leaned stolidly against the enclosure, while the Cowardly Lion hurried after Mustafa, who was running in cloud of sand toward his tent

"Where's that animated tombstone ? " gasped Mustafa, sinking down throne "Outside," panted the Cowardly Lion, too tired to notice the signal that passed between Mustafa and two Guardsmen opening tent In an instant gold collar and chain clapped 'round his tawny neck

"Now then," exulted Mustafa, "who says you're not captured " Forgeting all Stone Man threats, he bade the two Guardsmen drag the Cowardly Lion royal enclosure left through an opening in another side tent, Crunch knew nothing going The Cowardly Lion planted all four feet and roared terribly but six more Guardsmen came to help the others and ignominiously dragged along

"Now see famous fight, and discover whether this Cowardly Lion is as brave as said ," chuckled Mustafa, shuffling along beside him The part enclosure they were taking the lion was widened out into regular arena Already the nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine lions, with noses pressed against the bars, were watching the approach rival For Mustafa had talked and tiresomely Cowardly Lion, who was coming to fight the whole company , considered him an enemy destroyed spot have long to wait, for while two Guardsmen opened the gates enclosure, six more ends scimitars urged the Cowardly Lion forward Stars ! What an array of eyes, tails and gleaming teeth ! What thunder of savage growls, roars and rumbles !

made spring Cowardly Lion an unexpected interruption startled them Sir Hokus of Pokes, falling down like ton of kitchen tins beside the monarch of Mudge And lions had stopped blinking , down rattled the Tin Woodman and Tik Tok, Glinda little Wizard of Oz, followed by Dorothy, Snorer and Bob and last of all, Ozma, the Scarecrow and Notta Bit More

"Help ! " screeched the Guards running in every direction

"It's raining royalty ! " shrilled Tazzywaller, who had sneaked out to witness the fight "Fly for your life ! " The fat little lion feeder tugged at Mustafa's robe, for he had at once recognized Princess Dorothy and Ozma of Oz But before Mustafa could flee, or the company Emerald City had caught their breath, Mustafa's lions, recovering shock of fallers, sprang with nine thousand different dreadful roars toward the Cowardly Lion

Dorothy screamed Scarecrow recklessly tried to squeeze himself bars, but before anyone Emerald City could raise hand, Crunch, aroused thumps and roars, came pounding scene Just Cowardly Lion crouched to meet the overwhelming rush of Mustafa's lions, the Stone Man held up his arm and shouted seven magic words !

CHAPTER 21 Oz Magic Triumphs

SEVEN magic words ! No sooner were they uttered nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine lions were turned to stone statues-some just were about to spring, some half way air, so came clattering heavily down one on top other, poor Cowardly Lion bottom heap !

"Somebody stop him ! " gasped Ozma who was sitting exactly as she had fallen on small sand dune Sir Hokus of Pokes sprang bravely at Crunch, but his sword snapped first thrust, Stone Man, paying no more attention people Emerald City than flies, began bending out the iron bars lion enclosure Mustafa, petrified with terror, statue himself, Mudger Guards had long since taken heels

"What done ? " wailed Notta, trying to attract the Stone Man's attention He seized an iron bar that Crunch had loosened and began valiantly belaboring Crunch shins

"Oh, hello ! " rasped Crunch, glancing down clown "Back again ? Well, I've taken your advice,

"My advice ! " groaned Notta

"Yes " Crunch, who had now broken an opening for himself, stepped enclosure

"I've helped the Cowardly Lion by changing him to stone Now never feel cowardly again, and what's more, he belongs ! " Leaning over, he began tossing Mustafa's lions aside as paper weights

"Oh, help ! " screamed Snorer "Aren't there any wizards here to stop this fellow ? going to sit like images while he runs off bravest lion in Oz ? "

" think ! " groaned the Scarecrow, putting his white cotton glove head, while Dorothy and Bob ran close bars and looked anxiously first glimpse old friend But Glinda Wizard of Oz already had their heads together "First," whispered the little Wizard of Oz, " let him find the Cowardly Lion, statues too heavy to lift Then, deprive him of all power to move

Tik Tok and Sir Hokus had followed the Stone Man enclosure, but stone lion flung carelessly to one side, knocked Tik Tok head over heels, and Sir Hokus, deciding that flight better part of valor, retired to safe distance, where he began threatening the Stone Man with every sort of destruction from hammering to hanging But Crunch continued calmly tossing the lions about, and at last uncovered the Cowardly Lion himself He recognized him at once, mane, mass of stony waves, stood straight on end The Cowardly Lion, , petrified in one most trying moments, and, while preparing to fight with all his might, control his mane and hence looked as natural as possible

Dorothy help crying as Crunch tucked this lifelike image of her old chum under his arm and prepared to tramp off But he got no further than two steps, for second step the combined magic of Glinda Wizard of Oz deprived him of all power to move Crunch dropped the Cowardly Lion with crash that chipped off piece mane, and with one foot raised air stood perfecly motionless The Stone Man was no longer alive !

"Oh ! " cried Notta, frightened ease Glinda had deprived the stone giant of life, " bring the Cowardly Lion to himself again ? " And at once everyone ran over poor petrified lion, and tugging and pulling, managed him feet

" do," puffed the little Wizard of Oz, gazing up worriedly huge statue of Crunch " know how to use the gift of life, and would only have brought more trouble upon us "

"Isn't this trouble enough ? " cried Dorothy, throwing her arms around the cold, still figure Cowardly Lion

"There, there, my dear ! Glinda way out of all this," comforted the Scarecrow, and Notta and Bob joined him efforts to console the little girl, while Sir Hokus Tin Woodman ran to help Tik Tok feet

"All this has happened because of you ! " declared Ozma, stamping her foot first time in her gentle little life, and looking sternly at Mustafa

"And for punishment," she pointed huge, craggy figure of Crunch, "for punishment this Stone Man shall stand forever in Mudge, monument to your greediness and folly "

"Take away his ring," whispered Bob, tiptoeing little fairy ruler, for he had seen Mustafa slyly beginning it off and Bob knew its dreadful power Without losing minute, Ozma commanded Mustafa to hand over the ring Tremblingly, the wretched old Mudger obeyed had happened last , positively stunned by his misfortune had he offended the ruler of all Oz, lost the Cowardly Lion ring, but all other lions were turned to stone Jerking his turban over one eye, the miserable monarch shuffled mournfully tent, and no one cared enough to stop him Then, whole party was heartily disgusted hot, desert city Mudgers, Glinda, by quick transportation phrase, wished them all safely back Emerald City

There, for several hours Glinda, the Wizard of Oz, and Ozma worked over the Cowardly Lion, but all magic failed to undo the Stone Man's spell, and it looked as huge beast the rest life as garden ornament Twenty palace servants bore him down the steps and placed him gently center of large flower bed, and all the inhabitants city came and gazed sadly at their once lively and cowardly comrade

"He image of himself," choked the Scarecrow, hanging wreath of daisies round his neck, still adorned with Mustafa's gold collar

"But I don't want an image," cried Princess Dorothy and, climbing Cowardly Lion's stone back, she cried her heart would break Notta and Bob were too overcome dreadful misfortune about themselves It even seem right to enjoy the lovely sights Emerald City, so the clown and little boy sat on bench garden and gazed sorrowfully monument faithful old friend

Then, all at once Bob jumped up with little shout "Look," he cried, waving his cap joyfully "Look ! He's coming alive again ! " And so ! For tears are more magic than anything else, when it comes to melting stone, and every spot where Dorothy's tears fell was beginning to quiver with life When Notta ran palace news, the excitement was tremendous Everyone, from Ozma down littlest kitchen maid, came to weep over the Cowardly Lion, and bring him back to life The Tin Woodman cried perfect torrent of tears and quite rusted his chain The Scarecrow and Scraps tear in their cotton constitutions, but Snorer made up by crying enough for three Everybody cried, and in minute the dear, old kind-hearted lion opened his eyes Shaking himself sleepily, he looked inquiringly weeping company and wanted the matter All talking at once, and each trying to hug him first, they explained what had happened The Cowardly Lion remembered nothing after being pushed lion enclosure well imagine his relief when he discovered what hard and horrible fate he had escaped