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walked over this first blanket and spread the second one farther on, in the

direction of the phantom city. "These blankets," said he, "are for the Lion and

the Mule to walk upon. The Sawhorse and the Woozy can walk on the

thistles."

So the Lion and the Mule walked over the first blanket and stood upon the

second one until the Wizard had picked up the one they had passed over and

spread it in front of them, when they advanced to that one and waited while

the one behind them was again spread in front. "This is slow work," said the

Wizard, "but it will get us to the city after a while."

The city is a good half mile away yet," announced Button-Bright.

And this is awful hard work for the Wizard," added Trot.

Why couldn't the Lion ride on the Woozy's back?" asked Dorothy. "It's a big,

flat back, and the Woozy's mighty strong. Perhaps the Lion wouldn't fall off."

You may try it if you like," said the Woozy to the Lion. "I can take you to the

city in a jiffy and then come back for Hank."

I'm--I'm afraid," said the Cowardly Lion. He was twice as big as the Woozy.

Try it," pleaded Dorothy.

And take a tumble among the thistles?" asked the Lion reproachfully.

But when the Woozy came close to him, the big beast suddenly bounded upon

its back and managed to balance himself there, although forced to hold his

four legs so close together that he was in danger of toppling over. The great

weight of the monster Lion did not seem to affect the Woozy, who called to his

rider, "Hold on tight!" and ran swiftly over the thistles toward the city.

The others stood on the blanket and watched the strange sight anxiously. Of

course, the Lion couldn't "hold on tight" because there was nothing to hold to,

and he swayed from side to side as if likely to fall off any moment. Still, he

managed to stick to the Woozy's back until they were close to the walls of the

city, when he leaped to the ground. Next moment the Woozy came dashing

back at full speed.

There's a little strip of ground next the wall where there are no thistles," he

told them when he had reached the adventurers once more. "Now then, friend

Hank, see if you can ride as well as the Lion did."

The Lost Princess of Oz