Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net The Cowardly Lion of Oz BY RUTH PLUMLY THOMPSON _Founded on and continuing the Famous Oz Stories_ BY L. FRANK BAUM "Royal Historian of Oz" Illustrated by JOHN R. NEILL The Reilly & Lee Co. Chicago _Printed in the United States of America_ Copyright, 1923 _by_ The Reilly & Lee Co. _The Cowardly Lion of Oz_ [Illustration: THE COWARDLY LION ENTERTAINS THE WOOD CUTTERS WITH HIS CONVERSATION _Chapter 9_] * * * * * Dear Girls and Boys: This is the Cowardly Lion's book, because it is mostly about him and the people who were hunting him. Why, I do not believe there has been so much excitement in Oz since the Scarecrow fell down his family tree. Imagine anyone daring to hunt our dear old jolly friend, just as if he were a common, man-eating creature, and imagine--! But here I go telling the whole story. Read it yourself and then tell me exactly what you think of this Mustafa of Mudge and his blue whiskers. I hope you will like Snorer. It must be convenient to have a radio ear like his. Speaking of radios, if you should happen to hear any OZ news over yours will you tell me? Will you? If there's anything I love better than strawberries in January it's Oz news in July or December or August--or any time! I've had some of the finest letters from boys and girls lately, but there is always room in my letter box for just one more. Maybe there is one there now from you to dear me? I must run down and look. Lots of good Oz luck until the Emerald clock in the royal palace strikes book time again! RUTH PLUMLY THOMPSON. Philadelphia, July of 1923. * * * * * This book is dedicated to My sister Dorothy Thompson Curtiss and all other lovely Dorothys including Dorothy of Oz Ruth Plumly Thompson * * * * * List of Chapters 1 Mustafa of Mudge 2 Magic at the Circus 3 At the Court of Mudge 4 Mustafa's Mandate 5 Two Cowardly Lion Hunters 6 The Seven Doors 7 The Escape from Doorways 8 The Cowardly Lion's Quest 9 In Search of a Brave Man 10 On the Isle of Un 11 A Strange Fishing Party 12 Saved by a Flyaboutabus