"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" by L. Frank Baum, Chapters 6–10

Little Toto, now that he had an enemy to face, ran barking toward the Lion, and the great beast had opened his mouth to bite the dog, when Dorothy, fearing Toto would be killed, and heedless of danger, rushed forward and slapped the Lion upon his nose as hard as she could, while she cried out: “Don’t you dare to bite Toto! You ought to be ashamed of yourself, a big beast like you, to bite a poor little dog!”

“I didn’t bite him,” said the Lion, as he rubbed his nose with his paw where Dorothy had hit it.
"No, but you tried to," she retorted.

“No,” said Dorothy, “he’s made of tin.” And she helped the Woodman up again.
“That’s why he nearly blunted my claws,” said the Lion.

“Then, if you don’t mind, I’ll go with you,” said the Lion, “for my life is simply unbearable without a bit of courage.”

During the rest of that day there was no other adventure to mar the peace of their journey.

Thereafter he walked very carefully, with his eyes on the road, and when he saw a tiny ant toiling by he would step over it, so as not to harm it.

The Lion was about to reply when suddenly they came to another gulf across the road. But this one was so broad and deep that the Lion knew at once he could not leap across it.

But it takes time to make a raft, even when one is as industrious and untiring as the Tin Woodman, and when night came the work was not done.

Behind them was the dark forest they had passed safely through, although they had suffered many discouragements; but before them was a lovely, sunny country that seemed to beckon them on to the Emerald City.

So they sat down upon the bank and gazed wistfully at the Scarecrow until a Stork flew by, who, upon seeing them, stopped to rest at the water's edge.

"Only a mouse!" cried the little animal, indignantly. "Why, I am a Queen — the Queen of all the Field Mice!"

But the Scarecrow told her about everything, and turning to the dignified little Mouse, he said: “Permit me to introduce to you her Majesty, the Queen.”

It was some time before the Cowardly Lion awakened, for he had lain among the poppies a long while, breathing in their deadly fragrance; but when he did open his eyes and roll off the truck he was very glad to find himself still alive.

"It has been many years since anyone asked me to see Oz," he said, shaking his head in perplexity.

Taking a big golden key from a peg on the wall, he opened another gate, and they all followed him through the portal into the streets of the Emerald City.