Oz 15: The Royal Book of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson
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candy- leg pulling ! Gr-ugh ! what next ? " growled the cowardly lion .

" why, lunch, if_you feel like eating," said Dorothy, beginning to_give out the vest buttons which the giant had obediently ripped off and left for_them . they were marshmallows, the size of pie plates, and Dorothy and sir Hokus found them quite delicious . the cowardly lion, however, after a doubtful sniff and sneeze from_the powdered sugar, declined and went off to_find something more to_his taste .

" we had better take some_of_these along," said Dorothy when she and sir Hokus had eaten several ." we_may need them later ."

" everything is yellow, so we_must_be in_the Winkie country," announced the cowardly lion, who had just returned from_his lunch ." there's a road, too ."

"Mayhap it_will take us to_the jeweled city of your gracious queen ." sir Hokus shaded his eyes and stared curiously at_the long lane stretching invitingly ahead of_them .

" well, anyway, we're out_of_the forest and Pokes, and maybe we'll meet someone who_will tell us about_the Scarecrow . come on ! " cried Dorothy gaily ." i_think we're on_the right track this_time ."

chapter 12

Dorothy and sir HOKUS come to fix city

the afternoon went pleasantly for_the three travelers . the road was wide and shady and really seemed a bit familiar . Dorothy rode comfortably on_the cowardly lion's back and to_pass the time told sir Hokus all about Oz . he_was particularly interested in_the Scarecrow .

"Grammercy ! he_should_be knighted ! " he exclaimed, slapping his knee, as Dorothy told how the clever straw man had helped outwit the gnome king when_that wicked little rascal had tried to_keep them prisoners in_his underground kingdom .

" but, go to ! where is_the gallant man now ? " the knight sobered quickly ."Mayhap in need of a strong arm ! Mayhap at_the mercy of some terrible monster ! "

"Oh, I_hope not ! " cried Dorothy, dismayed at so dark a picture ." why, oh why, did he bother about his family tree ? "

" trust the Scarecrow to_take care of himself," said the cowardly lion in a gruff voice . nevertheless, he quickened his steps ." the sooner we reach the emerald city, the sooner we'll know where he_is ! "

the country through which they were passing was beautiful, but quite deserted . about five o'clock, they came to a clear little stream, and after Dorothy and sir Hokus had washed their faces and_the cowardly lion had taken a little plunge, they all felt refreshed . later they came to a fine pear orchard, and as no one was about they helped themselves generously .

the more Dorothy and_the cowardly lion saw of sir Hokus, the fonder of him they grew . he_was so kind-hearted and so polite .

" he'll be great company for_us back in_the emerald city," whispered the cowardly lion as_the knight went off to_get Dorothy a drink from a little spring ." that_is, if he forgets this grammercy, bludgeon stuff ."

" i_think it sounds lovely," said Dorothy, " and he's remembering more of it all the time . but I wonder why there_are no people here . I_do hope we meet some before night ." but no person did they meet . as it grew darker, sir Hokus' armor began to creak in a quite frightful manner . armor is_not meant for walking, and_the poor knight was stiff and tired, but he_made no complaint .

" need oiling, don't you ? " asked the cowardly lion, peering anxiously at him through_the gloom .

"Joints in my armor a bit rusty," puffed sir Hokus, easing one foot and then the other ."Ah, had I my good horse ! " he expressively waved a piece of_the giant's button at which he had_been nibbling .

" better climb up behind Dorothy," advised the cowardly lion, but sir Hokus shook his head, for he_knew the lion was tired, too .

"I'll manage famously . this very night I_may find me asteed ! "

" how ? " asked the lion with a yawn .

" if I sleep beneath these trees, I_may_have a knight mare," chuckled sir Hokus triumphantly .

"Br-rrr ! " roared the cowardly lion while Dorothy clapped her hands . but they were_not to sleep beneath the trees after all, for a sudden turn in_the road brought them right to_the gates of another city . they knew it must_be a city because a huge, lighted sign hung over the gate .

" fix city," read Dorothy ." what a funny name ! "

" maybe they_can fix us up," rumbled the lion, winking at sir Hokus .

" perchance we_shall hear news of_the valiant Scarecrow ! " cried the knight, and limping forward he thumped on_the gate with_his mailed fist . Dorothy and_the cowardly lion pressed close behind him and waited impatiently for someone to open the gate .

a bell rang loud back in_the town . the next instant, the gates flew open so suddenly that_the three adventurers were flung violently on their faces .

" out upon them ! " blustered sir Hokus, getting up stiffly and running to help Dorothy ." what way is_this to welcome strangers ? " he pulled the little girl hastily to her feet, then they all ran forward, for_the gates were swinging shut again .

it_was almost as light as day, for lanterns were everywhere, but strangely enough they seemed to dart about like huge fireflies, and Dorothy ducked involuntarily as a red one bobbed down almost in her face . then she gasped in real earnest and caught hold of sir Hokus .

"Uds daggers ! " wheezed the knight . two large bushes were running down the path, and right in front of Dorothy the larger caught the smaller and began pulling out its leaves .

" leave off ! leave off ! " screamed the little bush .

" that's what I'm doing," said the big bush savagely ." there won't be a leaf on when I get through with_you ."

"Unhand him, villain ! " cried sir Hokus, waving his sword at_the large bush . the two bushes looked up in surprise, and when_they saw Dorothy, the cowardly lion and sir Hokus, they fell into each_other's branches and burst into_the most uproarious laughter .

" my dear magnolia, this_is rich ! Oh, dear fellow, wait till sit sees this; he_will_be convulsed ! " quite forgetting their furious quarrel, the two went rollicking down the path together, stopping every few_minutes to look back and laugh at_the three strangers .

" is_this usual ? " asked sir Hokus, looking quite dazed .

"I never heard of bushes talking or running around, but I confess I'm a few centuries behind times ! "

" neither did I ! " exclaimed Dorothy ." but then -- almost anything's likely to happen in Oz ."

" if these lanterns don't look out something will happen .I'll break 'em to bits," growled the cowardly lion, who had_been dodging half a dozen at once .

" how would we look -- out ? " sniffed one, flying at Dorothy .

" you_could light out -- or go out," giggled the little girl .

" we never go out unless we're put out," cried another, but as_the cowardly lion made a few springs, they flew high into_the air and began talking indignantly among themselves . by_this_time, the three had become accustomed to_the changing lights .

"I wonder where the people are," said Dorothy, peering down a wide avenue ." there don't seem_to_be any houses .Oh, look ! "

three tables set for dinner with_the most appetizing viands were walking jauntily down the street, talking fluent china .

" there_must_be people ! " cried Dorothy .

" one dinner for each of us," rumbled the cowardly lion, licking his chops ." come on ! "

" perchance they_will invite us . if_we follow the dinners, we'll come to_the diners," said sir Hokus mildly .

" right -- as usual ." the cowardly lion looked embarrassed, for he had intended pouncing on_the tables without further ceremony .

" hush ! let's go quietly . if_they hear us, they_may run and upset the dishes," warned Dorothy . so the three walked softly after_the dinner tables, their curiosity about_the people of fix growing keener at every step . several chairs, a sofa and a clothes tree rushed past them, but as Dorothy said later to Ozma, after talking bushes, nothing surprised them . the tables turned the corner at_the end of_the avenue three abreast, and_the sight that greeted Dorothy and her comrades was strange indeed . down each side of a long street as far as they_could see stood rows and rows of people . each_one was in_the exact center of achalked circle, and_they were so still that Dorothy thought they_must_be statues .

but no sooner had the three tables made their appearance than bells began ringing furiously all up and down the street, and dinner tables and chairs came running from every direction . all the inhabitants of fix city looked alike . they had large, round heads, broad placid faces, double chins, and no waists whatever . their feet were flat and about three times as long as_the longest you_have ever seen . the women wore plain mother Hubbard dresses and straw sailor hats, and_the men gingham suits .

while the three friends were observing all this, the tables had_been taking their places . one stopped before each fix, and_the chairs, after much bumping and quarreling, placed themselves properly . at a signal from_the fix in_the center, the whole company sat down without so_much as moving their feet . Dorothy, sir Hokus and_the cowardly lion had_been too interested to_speak, but at_this minute a whole flock of_the mischievous lanterns clustered over their heads, and at_the sudden blare of light the whole street stopped eating and stared .

"Oh ! " cried the fix nearest them, pointing with_his fork, " look at_the runabouts ! "

" this_way, please ! this_way, please ! Don't bark your shins .Don't take any more steps than you_can help ! " boomed an important voice from_the middle of_the street . so down the center marched the three, feeling -- as_the cowardly lion put it -- exactly like a circus .

" stop ! Names, please ! " the fix next to_the center put up his knife commandingly . sir Hokus stepped forward with a bow:

" princess Dorothy of Oz, the cowardly lion of Oz ."

" and sir Hokus of Pokes," roared the lion as_the knight modestly stepped back without announcing himself .

" sir Pokus of hoax, Howardly Kion of Boz, and little girl Beginning with D," bellowed the fix, " meet his royal highness, king fix it, and_the noble Fixitives ."

" little girl Beginning with D ! that's too long," complained the king, who, with_the exception of_his crown, looked like all the rest of_them, "I'll leave out the middle . what do_you_want, little with D ? "

" my name is Dorothy, and if your highness could give_us some dinner and tell us something about_the Scarecrow and --"

" one_thing at_a_time, please," said the king reprovingly ." what does poker want, and Boz ? have they anything to_spend ? "

" only the night, an' it please your gracious highness," said sir Hokus with_his best bow .

" it doesn't please me especially," said the king, taking a sip of water ." and there ! you've brought up another question . how do_you_want to_spend it ? "

he folded his hands helplessly on_the table and looked appealingly at_the fix next to him ." how am I to settle all these questions, Sticken ? first they_come running around like crazy chairs, and --"

" you_might ring for a settle," suggested Sticken, looking curiously at sir Hokus . the king leaned back with a sigh of relief, then touched a bell . there were at_least twenty bells set on a high post at his right hand, and all of_the Fixes seemed to_have similar bell posts .

" he's talking perfect nonsense," said Dorothy angrily . the cowardly lion began to roll his eyes ominously .

" let me handle this, my dear .I'm used to Kings," whispered sir Hokus ." most of 'em talk nonsense . but if he grows wroth, we'll have all the furniture in_the place around our ears . now just --"

bump ! sir Hokus and Dorothy sat down quite suddenly . the settle had arrived and hit them smartly behind the knees . the cowardly lion dodged just in_time and lay down with a growl beside it .

" now that you're settled," began the king in a resigned voice, " we_might try again . what_is your motto ? "

this took even sir Hokus by surprise, but before he_could answer, the king snapped out:

" come late and stay early ! how's that ? "

" very_good," said sir Hokus with a wink at Dorothy .

" next_time, don't come at all," mumbled Sticken plaster, his mouth full of biscuit .

" and you_wanted ? " the king asked uneasily .

" dinner for three," said the knight promptly and with another bow .

" now that's talking ." the king looked admiringly at sir Hokus ." this little with D had matters all tangled up . one_time at a thing ! that's my motto ! "

Leaning over, the king pressed another button . by_this_time, the Fixes had lost interest in_the visitors and went calmly on with their dinners . three tables came pattering up, and_the settle drew itself up of_its own accord . Dorothy placed the cowardly lion's dinner on_the ground, and then she and sir Hokus enjoyed the first good meal they had had since they left Pokes . they were gradually becoming used to_their strange surroundings .

" you ask him about_the Scarecrow," begged Dorothy . everybody had finished, and_the tables were withdrawing in orderly groups . the king was leaning sleepily back in_his chair .

"Ahem," began the knight, rising stiffly, " has your majesty seen aught of a noble Scarecrow ? and could your supreme fixity tell us aught --"

the king's eyes opened ." you're out of turn," he interrupted crossly ." we're only to_the second question . how will_you spend the night ? "

" in sleep," answered sir Hokus promptly, " if your majesty permits ."

" I_do," said the king solemnly ." that gets me out of entertaining . early to bed and late to rise, that's my motto . next ! it's your turn," he added irritably as

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