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another mountain, disappearing from view just as the Patchwork Girl had

done.

It seems to work, all right," remarked Button-Bright. "I guess I'll try it."

Wait a minute," urged the Wizard. "Before any more of us make this

desperate leap into the beyond, we must decide whether all will go or if some

of us will remain behind."

Do you s'pose it hurt them much to bump against those mountains?" asked

Trot.

I don't s'pose anything could hurt Scraps or the Woozy," said Dorothy, "and

nothing can hurt ME, because I wear the Magic Belt. So as I'm anxious to

find Ozma, I mean to swing myself across too."

I'll take my chances," decided Button-Bright.

I'm sure it will hurt dreadfully, and I'm afraid to do it," said the Lion, who was

already trembling, "but I shall do it if Dorothy does."

Well, that will leave Betsy and the Mule and Trot," said the Wizard, "for of

course I shall go that I may look after Dorothy. Do you two girls think you can

find your way back home again?" he asked, addressing Trot and Betsy.

I'm not afraid. Not much, that is," said Trot. "It looks risky, I know, but I'm

sure I can stand it if the others can."

If it wasn't for leaving Hank," began Betsy in a hesitating voice.

But the Mule interrupted her by saying, "Go ahead if you want to, and I'll

come after you. A mule is as brave as a lion any day."

Braver," said the Lion, "for I'm a coward, friend Hank, and you are not. But

of course the Sawhorse--"

Oh, nothing ever hurts ME," asserted the Sawhorse calmly. "There's never

been any question about my going. I can't take the Red Wagon, though."

No, we must leave the wagon," said the wizard, "and also we must leave our

food and blankets, I fear. But if we can defy these Merry-Go-Round

Mountains to stop us, we won't mind the sacrifice of some of our comforts."

No one knows where we're going to land!" remarked the Lion in a voice that

sounded as if he were going to cry.

The Lost Princess of Oz