wish the Comfortable Camel were back. I wish the Doubtful Dromedary
were himself again," muttered the Cowardly Lion rapidly, and in an
instant the two creatures were standing in the path.

"Uds bodikins! So I did wish myself a bird!" gasped the Knight,
rubbing his gauntlets together excitedly.

"There you are! There you are!" cried the Comfortable Camel,
stumbling toward him and resting his foolish head on his shoulder.
"Dear, dear Karwan Bashi! And Doubty, old fellow, there you are too!
Ah, how comfortable this all is."

"Not two--one," wheezed the Doubtful Dromedary. "And Camy, I doubt
very much whether I'd care for butterflying. I just happened to wish
myself one!"

"Don't make any more wishes," said the Cowardly Lion sternly.

"Methinks a proper wish might serve us well," observed Sir Hokus. He
had been pacing up and down in great excitement. "Why not wish--"

"Oh, stop!" begged Dorothy. "Wait till we've thought it all out.
Wishing's awfully particular work!"

"One person better speak for the party," said the Cowardly Lion.
"Now, I suggest--"

"Oh, be careful!" screamed Dorothy again. "I wish you would all stop
wishing!" Sir Hokus looked at her reproachfully. No wonder. At
Dorothy's words, they all found themselves unable to speak. The
Doubtful Dromedary's eyes grew rounder and rounder. For the first
time in its life, it was unable to doubt anything.

"Now I'll have to do it all," thought Dorothy, and closing her eyes
she tried to think of the very best wish for everybody concerned. It
was night and growing darker. The Cowardly Lion, the Camel and
Dromedary and Sir Hokus peered anxiously at the little girl,
wondering what in the world was going to happen. Being wished around
is no joke. For five minutes Dorothy thought and thought. Then,
standing in the middle of the road, she made her wish in a clear,
distinct voice. It was not a very long wish. To be exact, it had only
eight words. Eight--short--little words! But stars! No sooner were
they out of Dorothy's mouth than the earth opened with a splintering
crash and swallowed up the whole company!

CHAPTER 18

DOROTHY FINDS THE SCARECROW!

The next thing Dorothy knew, she was sitting on the hard floor of a
great, dark hall. One lantern burned feebly, and in the dim, silvery
light she could just make out the Comfortable Camel scrambling
awkwardly to his feet.

"I smell straw," sniffed the Camel softly.

"I doubt very much whether I am going to li