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"You're not talking Camelia, you're talking Ozish," laughed Dorothy. "All

animals can talk here."

"Well, now, that's very comfortable, I must say," sighed the Camel, "and if

you'd just tell me where to go, it would be more comfortable still."

"I doubt that," snapped the Dromedary. "They're no caravan."

Where do you want to go?" asked the Cowardly Lion, ignoring the Doubtful

Dromedary.

"Anywhere, just so we keep moving. We're used to being told when to start

and stop, and life is mighty lonely without our Karwan Bashi," sighed the

Comfortable Camel.

Why, I didn't know you smoked!" exclaimed Dorothy in surprise. She

thought the camel was referring to a brand of tobacco.

He means his camel driver," whispered Sir Hokus, eyeing the soft, pillowed

seat on the camel's back longingly. Besides the seat, great sacks and bales

of goods hung from its sides. The Doubtful Dromedary was similarly loaded.

Goodness!" exclaimed Dorothy. A sudden idea had struck her. "You haven't

anything to eat in those sacks, have you?"

"Plenty, my child--plenty!" answered the Camel calmly.

Three cheers for the Comfortable Camel!" roared the Cowardly Lion, while

Sir Hokus, following the camel's directions, carefully unfastened a large,

woven basket from one of the sacks on its side.

"You may be my Karwan Bashi," announced the Comfortable Camel

judiciously as Sir Hokus paused for breath.

Hear that, Lady Dot?" Sir Hokus swept the camel a bow and fairly beamed

with pleasure. Dorothy, meanwhile, had set out an appetizing repast on a

small, rocky ledge--a regular feast, it appeared to the hungry travelers.

There were loaves of black bread, figs, dates, cheese, and a curious sort of

dried meat which the Cowardly Lion swallowed in great quantities.

"Isn't this cozy?" said Dorothy, forgetting the long, weary way ahead. "My,

I'm glad we met you!"

Very comforting to us, too, my dear," said the Camel, swaying complacently.

Isn't it, Doubty?"

The Royal Book of Oz