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CHAPTER 17 - DOUBTY AND CAMY VANISH INTO SPACE

For a short time, everything went well. Then Dorothy, turning to see how Sir

Hokus was getting along, discovered that the Doubtful Dromedary had

disappeared.

Why, where in the world?" exclaimed Dorothy. The Comfortable Camel

craned his wobbly neck and, when he saw that his friend was gone, burst

into tears. His sobs heaved Sir Hokus clear out of his seat and flung him,

helmet first, into the dust.

Go to!" exploded the Knight, sitting up. "If I were a bird, riding in yon nest

would be easier." The last of his sentence ended in a hoarse croak. Sir

Hokus vanished, and a great raven flopped down in the center of the road.

Oh, where is my dear Karwan Bashi? Oh, where is Doubty?" screamed the

Comfortable Camel, running around in frenzied circles. "I wish I'd never

come on this path!"

"Magic!" gasped Dorothy, clutching the Cowardly Lion's mane. The

Comfortable Camel had melted into air before their very eyes.

I doubt it, I doubt it very much!" coughed a faint voice close to her ear.

Dorothy ducked her head involuntarily as a big yellow butterfly settled on

the Cowardly Lion's ear.

Our doubtful friend," whispered the lion weakly. "Oh, be careful, Dorothy

dear. We may turn into frogs or something worse any minute."

Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion had had experiences with magic

transformations, and the little girl, pressing her fingers to her eyes, tried to

think of something to do. The raven was making awkward attempts to fly

and cawing "Go to, now!" every other second.

Oh, I wish dear Sir Hokus were himself again," wailed Dorothy after trying

in vain to recall some magic sentences. Presto! The Knight stood before

them, a bit breathless from flying, but hearty as ever.

"I see! I see!" said the Cowardly Lion with a little prance. "Every wish you

make on this road comes true. Remember the sign: 'Wish Way.' I wish the

Comfortable Camel were back. I wish the Doubtful Dromedary were himself

again," muttered the Cowardly Lion rapidly, and in an instant the two

creatures were standing in the path.

The Royal Book of Oz