"Be quiet, sir ! " said the Princess "Can't these are strangers, and treated with respect ? "

"Well, that's respect, I expect," declared the Clown, and immediately stood upon his head

"Don't mind Mr Joker," said the Princess to Dorothy " considerably cracked head, makes him foolish "

"Oh, I don't mind him bit," said Dorothy "But so beautiful," she continued, "that love you dearly Won't you let me carry you back to Kansas, and stand you on Aunt Em's mantel ? carry you in my basket "

" make me very unhappy," answered the china Princess " , here country we live contentedly, and can talk and move around please But whenever any of us are taken away our joints at once stiffen, and only stand straight and look pretty all expected of us when on mantels and cabinets and drawing-room tables, but our lives are much pleasanter here own country "

" make you unhappy for all the world ! " exclaimed Dorothy "So I'll just say good-bye "

"Good-bye," replied the Princess

They walked carefully china country The little animals and all the people scampered out way, fearing the strangers would break them, and after an hour or so the travelers reached the other side country and came to another china wall

not so high first, however, and by standing Lion's back they all managed to scramble top Then the Lion gathered his legs under him and jumped wall; but just as he jumped, he upset china church tail and smashed it all to pieces

"That was too bad," said Dorothy, "but really we were lucky in not doing these little people more harm than breaking cow's leg and church all so brittle ! "

" , indeed," said the Scarecrow, "and thankful made of straw and easily damaged worse things than being Scarecrow "

21 The Lion Becomes the King of Beasts

After climbing down china wall the travelers found themselves in disagreeable country, full of bogs and marshes and covered with tall, rank grass difficult to walk without falling into muddy holes, grass was so thick hid them from sight However, by carefully picking their way, they got safely along until they reached solid ground But here the country seemed wilder than ever, and after long and tiresome walk underbrush they entered another forest, where the trees were bigger and older than any they had ever seen

"This forest is perfectly delightful," declared the Lion, looking around him with joy "Never have I seen more beautiful place "

"It seems gloomy," said the Scarecrow

"Not bit of it," answered the Lion " like to live here all my life See how soft the dried leaves are under your feet and how rich and green the moss clings old trees Surely no wild beast could wish pleasanter home "

"Perhaps wild beasts forest now," said Dorothy

"I suppose ," returned the Lion, "but any about "

They walked forest until it became too dark any farther Dorothy and Toto Lion lay down to sleep, while the Woodman Scarecrow kept watch over them as usual

When morning came, they started again had gone far they heard low rumble, as growling of many wild animals Toto whimpered little, but others was frightened, kept along the well-trodden path until they came to an opening wood, were gathered hundreds of beasts of every variety There were tigers and elephants and bears and wolves and foxes and all the others natural history, and for moment Dorothy was afraid But the Lion explained animals were holding meeting, and he judged by their snarling and growling were in great trouble

As he spoke several beasts caught sight of him, and at once the great assemblage hushed by magic The biggest tigers came Lion and bowed, saying:

"Welcome, O King of Beasts ! come in to fight our enemy and bring peace to all the animals forest once more "

" your trouble ? " asked the Lion quietly

" all threatened," answered the tiger, "by fierce enemy lately come forest most tremendous monster, like great spider, with body as big as an elephant and legs as long as tree trunk It has eight long legs, and monster crawls forest he seizes an animal with leg and drags it mouth, where he eats it as spider does fly Not one of us is safe while this fierce creature is alive, and we had called meeting to decide how care of ourselves came among us "

The Lion thought for moment

"Are there lions forest ? " he asked

"No; there were some, but the monster has eaten them all And, besides, they were nearly so large and brave "

"If I put an end to your enemy, bow down and obey me as King Forest ? " inquired the Lion

" gladly," returned the tiger; and all the other beasts roared with mighty roar: " ! "

"Where great spider of yours now ? " asked the Lion

"Yonder, oak trees," said the tiger, pointing forefoot

"Take good care friends ," said the Lion, " go at once to fight the monster "

He bade his comrades good-bye and marched proudly away battle enemy

The great spider was lying asleep Lion found him, and it looked so ugly that its foe turned up his nose in disgust Its legs were quite as long tiger had said, and its body covered with coarse black hair It had great mouth, with row of sharp teeth foot long; but its head was joined pudgy body by neck as slender as wasp's waist This gave the Lion hint best way to attack the creature, and as easier to fight it asleep than awake, great spring and landed directly monster's back Then, with one blow heavy paw, all armed with sharp claws, he knocked the spider's head from its body Jumping down, he watched it until the long legs stopped wiggling, when quite dead

The Lion went back opening where the beasts forest were waiting for him and said proudly:

" fear your enemy no longer "

Then the beasts bowed down Lion as their King, and he promised back and rule over them Dorothy was safely on her way to Kansas

22 The Country Quadlings

The four travelers passed rest forest in safety, and came out from its gloom saw before them steep hill, covered from top to bottom with great pieces of rock

" hard climb," said the Scarecrow, "but get over the hill, nevertheless "

So he led the way others followed They had nearly reached the first rock heard rough voice cry out, "Keep back ! "

"Who ? " asked the Scarecrow

Then head showed itself over the rock same voice said, "This hill belongs , and we don't allow anyone to cross it "

"But cross it," said the Scarecrow "We're going country Quadlings "

"But you ! " replied the voice, and there stepped from behind the rock the strangest man the travelers had ever seen

quite short and stout and had big head, flat top and supported by thick neck full of wrinkles But he had no arms at all, and, seeing this, the Scarecrow fear that so helpless creature could prevent them from climbing the hill So , "I'm sorry not wish, but pass over your hill whether you like it or not," and he walked boldly forward

As quick as lightning the man's head shot forward neck stretched out until the top head, where flat, struck the Scarecrow middle and sent him tumbling, over and over, down the hill Almost as quickly as it came the head went back body, man laughed harshly as , "It isn't as easy as ! "

chorus of boisterous laughter came other rocks, and Dorothy saw hundreds armless Hammer-Heads hillside, one behind every rock

The Lion became quite angry laughter caused Scarecrow's mishap, and giving loud roar that echoed like thunder, he dashed up the hill

Again head shot swiftly out, great Lion went rolling down the hill he struck by cannon ball

Dorothy ran down and helped the Scarecrow feet, Lion came her, feeling rather bruised and sore, and said, " useless to fight people with shooting heads; no one can withstand them "

"What can , then ? " she asked

"Call the Winged Monkeys," suggested the Tin Woodman " still the right to command them once more "

" ," she answered, and putting Golden Cap she uttered the magic words The Monkeys were as prompt as ever, and in the entire band stood before her

" your commands ? " inquired the King Monkeys, bowing low

"Carry us over the hill country Quadlings," answered the girl