a pretty good road," said the Comfortable Camel,
squinting up its eyes.

"I doubt it, Camy, I doubt it very much," said the Doubtful Dromedary
tremulously.

"What does my dear Karwan Bashi think?" asked the Comfortable Camel,
looking adoringly back at the Knight.

"It is unwise to go back when the journey lieth forward," said the
Knight, and immediately returned to his song. So, single file, the
little company turned in at the narrow path, the Comfortable Camel
advancing with timid steps and the Doubtful Dromedary bobbing his
head dubiously.

CHAPTER 17

DOUBTY AND CAMY VANISH INTO SPACE

For a short time, everything went well. Then Dorothy, turning to see
how Sir Hokus was getting along, discovered that the Doubtful
Dromedary had disappeared.

"Why, where in the world?" exclaimed Dorothy. The Comfortable Camel
craned his wobbly neck and, when he saw that his friend was gone,
burst into tears. His sobs heaved Sir Hokus clear out of his seat and
flung him, helmet first, into the dust.

"Go to!" exploded the Knight, sitting up. "If I were a bird, riding
in yon nest would be easier." The last of his sentence ended in a
hoarse croak. Sir Hokus vanished, and a great raven flopped down in
the center of the road.

"Oh, where is my dear Karwan Bashi? Oh, where is Doubty?" screamed
the Comfortable Camel, running around in frenzied circles. "I wish
I'd never come on this path!"

"Magic!" gasped Dorothy, clutching the Cowardly Lion's mane. The
Comfortable Camel had melted into air before their very eyes.

"I doubt it, I doubt it very much!" coughed a faint voice close to
her ear. Dorothy ducked her head involuntarily as a big yellow
butterfly settled on the Cowardly Lion's ear.

"Our doubtful friend," whispered the lion weakly. "Oh, be careful,
Dorothy dear. We may turn into frogs or something worse any minute."

Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion had had experiences with magic
transformations, and the little girl, pressing her fingers to her
eyes, tried to think of something to do. The raven was making awkward
attempts to fly and cawing "Go to, now!" every other second.

"Oh, I wish dear Sir Hokus were himself again," wailed Dorothy after
trying in vain to recall some magic sentences. Presto! The Knight
stood before them, a bit breathless from flying, but hearty as ever.

"I see! I see!" said the Cowardly Lion with a little prance. "Every
wish you make on this road comes true. Remember the sign: 'Wish Way.'
I