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〃Look at me！〃 he cried。 〃Behold a real horse！〃
The wooden animal gave a start； and then examined the other intently。
〃Is it possible that you are a Real Horse？〃 he murmured。
〃Not only possible； but true；〃 replied Jim； who was gratified by the
impression he had created。 〃It is proved by my fine points。 For
example； look at the long hairs on my tail； with which I can whisk
away the flies。〃
〃The flies never trouble me；〃 said the Saw…Horse。
〃And notice my great strong teeth； with which I nibble the grass。〃
〃It is not necessary for me to eat；〃 observed the Sawhorse。
〃Also examine my broad chest； which enables me to draw deep； full
breaths；〃 said Jim； proudly。
〃I have no need to breathe；〃 returned the other。
〃No； you miss many pleasures；〃 remarked the cab…horse； pityingly。
〃You do not know the relief of brushing away a fly that has bitten
you； nor the delight of eating delicious food； nor the satisfaction of
drawing a long breath of fresh； pure air。 You may be an imitation of
a horse； but you're a mighty poor one。〃
〃Oh； I cannot hope ever to be like you；〃 sighed the Sawhorse。 〃But I
am glad to meet a last a Real Horse。 You are certainly the most
beautiful creature I ever beheld。〃
This praise won Jim completely。 To be called beautiful was a novelty
in his experience。 Said he：
〃Your chief fault； my friend； is in being made of wood； and that I
suppose you cannot help。 Real horses； like myself； are made of flesh
and blood and bones。〃
〃I can see the bones all right；〃 replied the Sawhorse； 〃and they are
admirable and distinct。 Also I can see the flesh。 But the blood； I
suppose is tucked away inside。〃
〃Exactly；〃 said Jim。
〃What good is it？〃 asked the Sawhorse。
Jim did not know； but he would not tell the Sawhorse that。
〃If anything cuts me；〃 he replied； 〃the blood runs out to show where I
am cut。 You； poor thing！ cannot even bleed when you are hurt。〃
〃But I am never hurt；〃 said the Sawhorse。 〃Once in a while I get
broken up some； but I am easily repaired and put in good order again。
And I never feel a break or a splinter in the least。〃
Jim was almost tempted to envy the wooden horse for being unable to
feel pain； but the creature was so absurdly unnatural that he decided
he would not change places with it under any circumstances。
〃How did you happen to be shod with gold？〃 he asked。
〃Princess Ozma did that；〃 was the reply； 〃and it saves my legs from
wearing out。 We've had a good many adventures together； Ozma and I；
and she likes me。〃
The cab…horse was about to reply when suddenly he gave a start and a
neigh of terror and stood trembling like a leaf。 For around the
corner had come two enormous savage beasts； treading so lightly that
they were upon him before he was aware of their presence。 Jim was in
the act of plunging down the path to escape when the Sawhorse cried out：
〃Stop； my brother！ Stop； Real Horse！ These are friends； and will do
you no harm。〃
Jim hesitated； eyeing the beasts fearfully。 One was an enormous Lion
with clear； intelligent eyes； a tawney mane bushy and well kept； and a
body like yellow plush。 The other was a great Tiger with purple
stripes around his lithe body； powerful limbs； and eyes that showed
through the half closed lids like coals of fire。 The huge forms of
these monarchs of the forest and jungle were enough to strike terror
to the stoutest heart； and it is no wonder Jim was afraid to face them。
But the Sawhorse introduced the stranger in a calm tone； saying：
〃This； noble Horse； is my friend the Cowardly Lion； who is the valiant King
of the Forest； but at the same time a faithful vassal of Princess Ozma。
And this is the Hungry Tiger； the terror of the jungle； who longs to
devour fat babies but is prevented by his conscience from doing so。
These royal beasts are both warm friends of little Dorothy and have come
to the Emerald City this morning to welcome her to our fairyland。〃
Hearing these words Jim resolved to conquer his alarm。 He bowed his
head with as much dignity as he could muster toward the savage looking
beasts； who in return nodded in a friendly way。
〃Is not the Real Horse a beautiful animal？〃 asked the Sawhorse admiringly。
〃That is doubtless a matter of taste；〃 returned the Lion。 〃In the
forest he would be thought ungainly； because his face is stretched out
and his neck is uselessly long。 His joints； I notice； are swollen and
overgrown； and he lacks flesh and is old in years。〃
〃And dreadfully tough；〃 added the Hungry Tiger； in a sad voice。 〃My
conscience would never permit me to eat so tough a morsel
as the Real Horse。〃
〃I'm glad of that；〃 said Jim； 〃for I； also； have a conscience； and it
tells me not to crush in your skull with a blow of my powerful hoof。〃
If he thought to frighten the striped beast by such language he was
mistaken。 The Tiger seemed to smile； and winked one eye slowly。
〃You have a good conscience； friend Horse；〃 it said； 〃and if you
attend to its teachings it will do much to protect you from harm。
Some day I will let you try to crush in my skull； and afterward you
will know more about tigers than you do now。〃
〃Any friend of Dorothy；〃 remarked the Cowardly Lion； 〃must be our
friend； as well。 So let us cease this talk of skull crushing and
converse upon more pleasant subjects。 Have you breakfasted； Sir Horse？〃
〃Not yet；〃 replied Jim。 〃But here is plenty of excellent clover； so
if you will excuse me I will eat now。〃
〃He's a vegetarian；〃 remarked the Tiger； as the horse began to munch
the clover。 〃If I could eat grass I would not need a conscience； for
nothing could then tempt me to devour babies and lambs。〃
Just then Dorothy； who had risen early and heard the voices of the
animals； ran out to greet her old friends。 She hugged both the Lion
and the Tiger with eager delight； but seemed to love the King of
Beasts a little better than she did his hungry friend； having known
him longer。
By this time they had indulged in a good talk and Dorothy had told
them all about the awful earthquake and her recent adventures； the
breakfast bell rang from the palace and the little girl went inside to
join her human comrades。 As she entered the great hall a voice called
out； in a rather harsh tone：
〃What！ are YOU here again？〃
〃Yes； I am；〃 she answered； looking all around to see where the voice
came from。
〃What brought you back？〃 was the next question； and Dorothy's eye
rested on an antlered head hanging on the wall just over the
fireplace； and caught its lips in the act of moving。
〃Good gracious！〃 she exclaimed。 〃I thought you were stuffed。〃
〃So I am；〃 replied the head。 〃But once on a time I was part of the
Gump； which Ozma sprinkled with the Powder of Life。 I was then for a
time the Head of the finest Flying Machine that was ever known to
exist； and we did many wonderful t