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〃We must cross this strange place in order to get to the other side；〃
said Dorothy； 〃for it would be unwise for us to go any other way except
due South。〃
They began walking through the country of the china people；
and the first thing they came to was a china milkmaid milking a
china cow。 As they drew near； the cow suddenly gave a kick and
kicked over the stool； the pail； and even the milkmaid herself；
and all fell on the china ground with a great clatter。
Dorothy was shocked to see that the cow had broken her leg
off； and that the pail was lying in several small pieces； while
the poor milkmaid had a nick in her left elbow。
〃There！〃 cried the milkmaid angrily。 〃See what you have done！
My cow has broken her leg； and I must take her to the mender's
shop and have it glued on again。 What do you mean by coming here
and frightening my cow？〃
〃I'm very sorry；〃 returned Dorothy。 〃Please forgive us。〃
But the pretty milkmaid was much too vexed to make any answer。
She picked up the leg sulkily and led her cow away； the poor
animal limping on three legs。 As she left them the milkmaid cast
many reproachful glances over her shoulder at the clumsy strangers；
holding her nicked elbow close to her side。
Dorothy was quite grieved at this mishap。
〃We must be very careful here；〃 said the kind…hearted Woodman；
〃or we may hurt these pretty little people so they will never get over it。〃
A little farther on Dorothy met a most beautifully dressed
young Princess； who stopped short as she saw the strangers and
started to run away。
Dorothy wanted to see more of the Princess； so she ran after her。
But the china girl cried out：
〃Don't chase me！ Don't chase me！〃
She had such a frightened little voice that Dorothy stopped
and said； 〃Why not？〃
〃Because；〃 answered the Princess； also stopping； a safe
distance away； 〃if I run I may fall down and break myself。〃
〃But could you not be mended？〃 asked the girl。
〃Oh； yes； but one is never so pretty after being mended； you know；〃
replied the Princess。
〃I suppose not；〃 said Dorothy。
〃Now there is Mr。 Joker； one of our clowns；〃 continued the
china lady； 〃who is always trying to stand upon his head。 He has
broken himself so often that he is mended in a hundred places； and
doesn't look at all pretty。 Here he comes now； so you can see for
yourself。〃
Indeed； a jolly little clown came walking toward them； and
Dorothy could see that in spite of his pretty clothes of red and
yellow and green he was completely covered with cracks； running
every which way and showing plainly that he had been mended in
many places。
The Clown put his hands in his pockets； and after puffing out
his cheeks and nodding his head at them saucily； he said：
〃My lady fair；
Why do you stare
At poor old Mr。 Joker？
You're quite as stiff
And prim as if
You'd eaten up a poker！〃
〃Be quiet； sir！〃 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！ You have come in good time to
fight our enemy and bring peace to all the animals of the forest
once more。〃
〃What is your trouble？〃 asked the Lion quietly。
〃We are all threatened；〃 answered the tiger； 〃by a fierce
enemy which has lately come into this forest。 It is a most
tremendous monster； like a great spider； with a body as big as an
elephant and legs as long as a tree trunk。 It has eight of these
long legs； and as the monster crawls through the forest he seizes
an animal with a leg and drags it to his mouth； where he eats it
as a spider does a fly。 Not one of us is safe while this fierce
creature is alive； and we had called a meeting to decide how to
take care of ourselves when you came among us。〃
The Lion thought for a moment。
〃Are there any other lions in this forest？〃 he asked。
〃No； there were some； but the monster has eaten them all。 And；
besides； they were none of them nearly so large and brave as you。〃
〃If I put an end to your enemy； will you bow down to me and
obey me as King of the Forest？〃 inquired the Lion。
〃We will do that gladly；〃 returned the tiger； and all the
other beasts roared with a mighty roar： 〃We will！〃
〃Where is this great spider of yours now？〃 asked the Lion。
〃Yonder； among the oak trees；〃 said the tiger； pointing with
his forefoot。
〃Take good care of these friends of mine；〃 said the Lion； 〃and
I will go at once to fight the monster。〃
He bade his comrades good…bye and marched proudly away to do
battle with the enemy。
The great spider was lying asleep when the Lion found him；
and it looked so ugly that its foe turned up his nose in disgust。
Its legs were quite as long as the tiger had said； and its body
covered with coarse black hair。 It had a great mouth； with a row
of sharp teeth a foot