the Nome waved his arms and fluttered his wings to try to make
them listen to him again, but the beasts paid no attention. Some
wanted to fight the Oz people, some wanted to be transformed, and some
wanted to do nothing at all.

The growling and confusion had grown greater than ever when in a flash
silence fell on all the beasts present, the arguments were hushed, and
all gazed in astonishment at a strange sight.

For into the circle strode a great Lion--bigger and more powerful than
any other lion there--and on his back rode a little girl who smiled
fearlessly at the multitude of beasts. And behind the Lion and the
little girl came another beast--a monstrous Tiger, who bore upon his
back a funny little man carrying a black bag. Right past the rows of
wondering beasts the strange animals walked, advancing until they stood
just before the rock throne of Gugu.

Then the little girl and the funny little man dismounted, and the great
Lion demanded in a loud voice:

"Who is King in this forest?"

"I am!" answered Gugu, looking steadily at the other. "I am Gugu the
Leopard, and I am King of this forest."

"Then I greet Your Majesty with great respect," said the Lion.
"Perhaps you have heard of me, Gugu. I am called the 'Cowardly Lion,'
and I am King of all Beasts, the world over."

Gugu's eyes flashed angrily.

"Yes," said he, "I have heard of you. You have long claimed to be King
of Beasts, but no beast who is a coward can be King over me."

"He isn't a coward, Your Majesty," asserted the little girl, "He's just
cowardly, that's all."

Gugu looked at her. All the other beasts were looking at her, too.

"Who are you?" asked the King.

"Me? Oh, I'm just Dorothy," she answered.

"How dare you come here?" demanded the King.

"Why, I'm not afraid to go anywhere, if the Cowardly Lion is with me,"
she said. "I know him pretty well, and so I can trust him. He's
always afraid, when we get into trouble, and that's why he's cowardly;
but he's a terrible fighter, and that's why he isn't a coward. He
doesn't like to fight, you know, but when he HAS to, there isn't any
beast living that can conquer him."

Gugu the King looked at the big, powerful form of the Cowardly Lion,
and knew she spoke the truth. Also the other Lions of the forest now
came forward and bowed low before the strange Lion.

"We welcome Your Majesty," said one. "We have known you many years
ago, before you went to live at the Emerald Cit