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said the Princess. "Can't you see these are

strangers, and should be 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. "He is

considerably cracked in his head, and that makes him foolish."

"Oh, I don't mind him a bit," said Dorothy. "But you are so

beautiful," she continued, "that I am sure I could love you dearly.

Won't you let me carry you back to Kansas, and stand you on

Aunt Em's mantel? I could carry you in my basket."

"That would make me very unhappy," answered the china Princess.

"You see, here in our country we live contentedly, and can talk and

move around as we please. But whenever any of us are taken away our

joints at once stiffen, and we can only stand straight and look pretty.

Of course that is all that is expected of us when we are on mantels and

cabinets and drawing-room tables, but our lives are much pleasanter

here in our own country."

"I would not make you unhappy for all the world!" exclaimed Dorothy.

"So I'll just say good-bye."

"Good-bye," replied the Princess.

They walked carefully through the china country. The little

animals and all the people scampered out of their way, fearing the

strangers would break them, and after an hour or so the travelers

reached the other side of the country and came to another china wall.

It was not so high as the first, however, and by standing upon

the Lion's back they all managed to scramble to the top. Then the

Lion gathered his legs under him and jumped on the wall; but just

as he jumped, he upset a china church with his tail and smashed it

all to pieces.

"That was too bad," said Dorothy, "but really I think we were

lucky in not doing these little people more harm than breaking a

cow's leg and a church. They are all so brittle!"

"They are, indeed," said the Scarecrow, "and I am thankful I

am made of straw and cannot be easily damaged. There are worse

things in the world than being a Scarecrow."

21. The Lion Becomes the King of Beasts

After climbing down from the china wall the travelers found

themselves in a disagreeable country, full of bogs and marshes and

covered with tall, rank grass. It was difficult to walk without

falling into muddy holes, for the grass was so thick that it 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 a long and tiresome

walk through the 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 a more beautiful place."

"It seems gloomy," said the Scarecrow.

"Not a bit of it," answered the Lion. "I should like to live

here all my life. See how soft the dried leaves are under your

feet and how rich and green the moss is that clings to these old

trees. Surely no wild beast could wish a pleasanter home."

"Perhaps there are wild beasts in the forest now," said Dorothy.

"I suppose there are," returned the Lion, "but I do not see

any of them about."

They walked through the forest until it became too dark to go

any farther. Dorothy and Toto and the Lion lay down to sleep,

while the Woodman and the Scarecrow kept watch over them as usual.

When morning came, they started again. Before they had gone

far they heard a low rumble, as of the growling of many wild animals.

Toto whimpered a little, but none of the others was frightened,

and they kept along the well-trodden path until they came to

an opening in the wood, in which were gathered hundreds of

beasts of every variety. There were tigers and elephants and

bears and wolves and foxes and all the others in the natural

history, and for a moment Dorothy was afraid. But the Lion

explained that the animals were holding a meeting, and he judged

by their snarling and growling that they were in great trouble.

As he spoke several of the beasts caught sight of him, and at

once the great assemblage hushed as if by magic. The biggest of

the tigers came up to the Lion and bowed, saying:

"Welcome, O King of Beasts!