CHAPTER 17
DOUBTY AND CAMY VANISH INTO SPACE
For a short time, everything went well. Then Dorothy, turning to seehow Sir Hokus was getting along, discovered that the DoubtfulDromedary had disappeared.
"Why, where in the world?" exclaimed Dorothy. The Comfortable Camelcraned 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 andflung him, helmet first, into the dust.
"Go to!" exploded the Knight, sitting up. "If I were a bird, ridingin yon nest would be easier." The last of his sentence ended in ahoarse croak. Sir Hokus vanished, and a great raven flopped down inthe center of the road.
"Oh, where is my dear Karwan Bashi? Oh, where is Doubty?" screamedthe Comfortable Camel, running around in frenzied circles. "I wishI'd never come on this path!"
"Magic!" gasped Dorothy, clutching the Cowardly Lion's mane. TheComfortable Camel had melted into air before their very eyes.
"I doubt it, I doubt it very much!" coughed a faint voice close toher ear. Dorothy ducked her head involuntarily as a big yellowbutterfly 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 magictransformations, and the little girl, pressing her fingers to hereyes, tried to think of something to do. The raven was making awkwardattempts to fly and cawing "Go to, now!" every other second.
"Oh, I wish dear Sir Hokus were himself again," wailed Dorothy aftertrying in vain to recall some magic sentences. Presto! The Knightstood before them, a bit breathless from flying, but hearty as ever.
"I see! I see!" said the Cowardly Lion with a little prance. "Everywish you make on this road comes true. Remember the sign: 'Wish Way.'I wish the Comfortable Camel were back. I wish the Doubtful Dromedarywere himself again," muttered the Cowardly Lion rapidly, and in aninstant 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 doubtvery much whether I'd care for butterflying. I just happened to wishmyself one!"
"Don't make any more wishes," said the Cowardly Lion sternly.
"Methinks a proper wish might serve us well," observed Sir Hokus. Hehad 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 stopwishing!" Sir Hokus looked at her reproachfully. No wonder. AtDorothy's words, they all found themselves unable to speak. TheDoubtful Dromedary's eyes grew rounder and rounder. For the firsttime in its life, it was unable to doubt anything.
"Now I'll have to do it all," thought Dorothy, and closing her eyesshe tried to think of the very best wish for everybody concerned. Itwas night and growing darker. The Cowardly Lion, the Camel andDromedary and Sir Hokus peered anxiously at the little girl,wondering what in the world was going to happen. Being wished aroundis 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 onlyeight words. Eight--short--little words! But stars! No sooner werethey out of Dorothy's mouth than the earth opened with a splinteringcrash and swallowed up the whole company!