into a cocked hat," gasped the Cowardly Lion, for Dorothy, in her excitement, had forgotten to lower the parasol.
Now the little girl lowered the parasol carefully at first, then faster and faster and finally shut it altogether.
Sir Hokus took a high dive from the top. Down tumbled the others, over and over. But fortunately for all there was a great hay stack below and upon this they landed in a jumbled heap, close to the magic bean pole.
As it happened, there was no one in sight. Up they jumped in a trice, and while the Comfortable Camel and Doubtful Dromedary munched contentedly at the hay, Sir Hokus and the Scarecrow placed some loose boards over the opening around the bean pole and covered them with dirt and corn stalks.
"I will get Ozma to close it properly with the Magic Belt," said the Scarecrow gravely. "It wouldn't do to have people sliding down my family tree and scaring poor Tappy. As for me—I shall never leave Oz again!"
"I hope not," growled the Cowardly Lion, tenderly examining his scratched hide.
"But, if you hadn't, I'd never have had such lovely adventures nor found Sir Hokus and the Comfortable
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