the lion bees the king of beasts
after climbing down from the a wall the travelers found themselves in a disagreeable try, 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 pick- ing their way, they got safely along until they reached solid ground. but here the try seemed wilder than ever, and af- ter a long and tiresome walk through the underbrush they en- tered 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 rid green the moss is that gs 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," returhe 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 m 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 un- til they came to an opening in the wood, in which were gath- ered hundreds of beasts of every variety. there were tigers and elephants and bears and wolves and foxes and all the oth- ers iural history, and for a moment dorothy was afraid. but the lion explaihat the animals were holding a meeting, and he judged by their snarling and growling that they were irouble.
as he spoke several of the beasts caught sight of him, and at ohe great assemblage hushed as if by magic. the biggest of the tigers came up to the lion and bowed, saying:
"wele, o king of beasts! you have e 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 fier- emy which has lately e into this forest. it is a most tremendous monster, like
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