"Then I would roar so loudly it would shake the earth and stalk away to the jungle to hide myself, before anyone could attack me or kill me for what I had done."
"I see," nodded the Tiger. "You are really cowardly."
"To be sure. That is why I am named the Cowardly Lion. That is why I have always been so tame and peaceable. But I'm awfully tired of being tame," added the Lion, with a sigh, "and it would be fun to raise a row and show people what a terrible beast I really am."
The Tiger remained silent for several minutes, thinking deeply as he slowly washed his face with his left paw. Then he said:
"I'm getting old, and it would please me to eat at least one fat baby before I die. Suppose we surprise these people of Oz and prove our power. What do you say? We will walk out of here just as usual and the first baby we meet I'll eat in a jiffy, and the first man or woman you meet you will tear to pieces. Then we will both run out of the city gates and gallop across the country and hide in the jungle before anyone can stop us."
"All right; I'm game," said the Lion, yawning again so that he showed two rows of dreadfully sharp teeth.
The Tiger got up and stretched his great, sleek body.
"Come on," he said. The Lion stood up and proved he was the larger of the two, for he was almost as big as a small horse.
Out of the palace they walked, and met no one. They passed through the beautiful grounds, past fountains and beds of lovely flowers, and met no one. Then they unlatched a gate and entered a street of the city, and met no one.
"I wonder how a fat baby will taste," remarked the Tiger, as they stalked majestically along, side by side.