Slowly the great Lion rose to his feet, his mane bristling.
"Friend Hank," said he, "either you are mistaken in judgment or you are willfully trying to deceive us.

The dearest, sweetest girl in the world is our Dorothy, and I will fight anyone--animal or human--who dares to deny it!" "So will I!" snarled the Tiger, showing two rows of enormous white teeth.
"You are all wrong!" asserted the Sawhorse in a voice of scorn.

"No girl living can compare with my mistress, Ozma of Oz!" Hank slowly turned around until his heels were toward the others.

Then he said stubbornly: "I am not mistaken in my statement, nor will I admit there can be a sweeter girl alive than Betsy Bobbin.

If you want to fight, come on--I'm ready for you!" While they hesitated, eyeing Hank's heels doubtfully, a merry peal of laughter startled the animals and turning their heads they beheld three lovely girls standing just within the richly carved entrance to the stable.