Page:The Royal Book of Oz.djvu/72

The Royal Book of Oz "It was my heart," explained the Cowardly Lion sorrowfully. "It jumped so hard that it upset me, but climb on my back again and I'll run very fast to some place of shelter."

"But where are you?" Dorothy asked in real alarm, for it had grown absolutely dark.

"Here," quavered the Cowardly Lion, and guided by his voice Dorothy stumbled over to him and climbed again on his back. One crash of thunder followed another and at each crash the Cowardly Lion leapt forward a bit faster, until they fairly flew through the dark.

"It won't take us long to reach the Emerald City at this rate!" called Dorothy, but the wind tossed the words far behind her, and seeing that conversation was impossible she clung fast to the lion's mane and began thinking about the Scarecrow. The thunder continued at frequent intervals but there was no rain and after they had been running for what seemed to Dorothy hours and hours a sudden terrific bump sent her flying over the lion's head into a bush. Too breathless to speak she felt herself carefully all over. Then, finding that she was still in one piece, she called to the Cowardly Lion. She could hear him moaning and muttering about his heart.