The Lion Becomes the King of Beasts

           Thefourtravelerspassedthroughtherestoftheforestinsafety,andwhentheycameoutfromitsgloomsawbeforethemasteephill,coveredfromtoptobottomwithgreatpiecesofrock. 

           "Thatwillbeahardclimb,"saidtheScarecrow,"butwemustgetoverthehill,nevertheless." 

           Soheledthewayandtheothersfollowed. Theyhadnearlyreachedthefirstrockwhentheyheardaroughvoicecryout, "Keepback!" 

           "Whoareyou?"askedtheScarecrow. 

           Thenaheadshoweditselfovertherockandthesamevoicesaid, "Thishillbelongstous,andwedon’tallowanyonetocrossit." 

           "Butwemustcrossit,"saidtheScarecrow."We’regoingtothecountryoftheQuadlings." 

           "Butyoushallnot!"repliedthevoice,andtheresteppedfrombehindtherockthestrangestmanthetravelershadeverseen. 

           Hewasquiteshortandstoutandhadabighead,whichwasflatatthetopandsupportedbyathickneckfullofwrinkles. Buthehadnoarmsatall,and,seeingthis,theScarecrowdidnotfearthatsohelplessacreaturecouldpreventthemfromclimbingthehill.Sohesaid, "I’msorrynottodoasyouwish,butwemustpassoveryourhillwhetheryoulikeitornot,"andhewalkedboldlyforward. 

           Asquickaslightningtheman’sheadshotforwardandhisneckstretchedoutuntilthetopofthehead,whereitwasflat,strucktheScarecrowinthemiddleandsenthimtumbling,overandover,downthehill.