"But he might easily float off," worried the Scarecrow, pursuing the luckless lion with outstretched arms. "Wait--I'll save you!" he puffed, and snatching the cord from a long bell pull, he leaped on Strut's throne. After several unsuccessful attempts he managed to lasso the lion and tie him fast to the arm of the throne. "How do you feel?" he called solicitously, for the lion, with closed eyes and a desperate expression, was paddling his legs like a drowning dog. "Oh, take it easy!" advised Jellia, relenting a little, "You'll float around all by yourself and come down presently, as light as a feather. I know 'cause I've tried it. Hello--here's Hippenscop! Now I wonder what he wants? Oh! My goodness! He's actually brought me two of those flying sticks!" "Flying sticks?" exclaimed the Scarecrow, sliding off Strut's throne. "You don't tell me?" The messenger, by this time had reached the top step of the Pavilion. After a fearful look at the people from Oz, he advanced timidly toward Jellia. "I have brought the flying sticks, your Majesty!" explained Hippenscop, holding them out with great pride and satisfaction. "I stole them from two sleeping watchmen, and managed to bring them here without Kabebe seeing me." "KABEBE?" said Jellia, with an uncomfortable start. "Why, where is Kabebe?" "In Star Park," whispered the Messenger, hoarsely. "She's got all the people worked up and excited! They're coming here presently to blow you away!" "What?" gasped Jellia in an exasperated voice, "Again? Why she knows Strut will never allow that." "But Kabebe says HE isn't Strut!" said the messenger with an apologetic bow toward the Cowardly Lion, who, paying no attention to the conversation, was floating in distracted circles above the throne. "Now Junnenrump and I believe your Majesty, and consider you the best and prettiest Starina Stratovania ever had! But no one else does, so first they are going to blow away the Friend Ship and then they are coming here to blow _you_ all away! So--while I do not presume to give orders--if I were in your Majesty's place, I'd fly, this very instant and while there still is time!" "The boy is right," declared the Soldier, grabbing up his blunder-buss. "Company! Fall in! Forward march!" "Wake up! Wake up!" cried the Scarecrow, pummeling the Wizard with both hands. "The Airlanders are destroying our Ozoplane!" While Jellia, really touched by the messenger's loyalty, gave him one of her emerald rings, Wantowin Battles lifted Dorothy off the sofa and set her hastily on her feet. "Forward! Forward!" he urged, pushing her ahead of him. "Kabebe's coming to blow us away!" Dorothy--blinking her eyes after a look at the Cowardly Lion floating over the throne--concluded she still was dreaming. But the Soldier kept shaking her till she finally realized she was awake and in danger.