"So --" yawned the Cowardly Lion, awakened clatter, "Knight has fallen ! "

"Prisoners -- Sir Hokus ! " shouted the Chief Poker, lifting the Knight's plume and speaking helmet he were telephoning

The Knight arose with great dignity, and after straightening his armor, let down his visor, and Dorothy saw kind, timid face with melancholy blue eyes -- not at all Pokish, as she explained to Ozma later

"What means this unwonted clamor ? " asked Sir Hokus, peering curiously prisoners

"We're sorry to waken you," said Dorothy politely, "but could you please some breakfast ? "

"A lot ! " added the Cowardly Lion, licking his chops

"It's safer to sing," said the Knight mournfully, and throwing back his head, he roared in high, hoarse voice:

"Don't yawn ! Don't yawn ! We're out of breath -- Begone -- BEGONE Or die the death ! "

The Cowardly Lion growled threateningly and began lashing his tail

"If he weren't in can, I'd eat him," he rumbled, "but I never could abide tinned meat "

"He's not in can, he's in armor," explained Dorothy, too interested much attention Cowardly Lion, for first note Knight's song, the Pokes began scowling horribly, and he had finished they were backing room faster than Dorothy ever imagined go

" 's why the sign said don't sing," thought Dorothy to herself The air seemed clearer somehow, and she no longer felt sleepy

last Poke had disappeared, the Knight sighed and climbed gravely back stone chair

"My singing makes them very wroth In faith, endure music; it wakens them," explained Sir Hokus "But hold, 'twas food you asked of me Breakfast, I believe you called it " With an uneasy glance Cowardly Lion, who was sniffing the air hungrily, the Knight banged steel armor sword, and fat, lazy Poke shuffled slowly hall

"Pid, bring the stew," roared Sir Hokus Poke stood blinking at them dully

"Stew, Pid ! " he repeated loudly, and began to hum under his breath, at which Pid fairly ran room, returning with large yellow bowl This he handed ungraciously to Dorothy Then he brought great copper tub stuff Cowardly Lion and retired sulkily

Dorothy thought she had never tasted anything more delicious The Cowardly Lion was gulping down his share with closed eyes, and both, very sorry , forgot even to thank Sir Hokus

" perchance damsel in distress ? "

Quite startled, Dorothy looked up from her bowl and saw the Knight regarding her wistfully

"She's in Pokes, 's the same thing," said the Cowardly Lion without opening his eyes

"We're lost," began the little girl, "but --"

something so quaint and gentle Knight, that she soon found herself talking to him like an old friend She told him all adventures since leaving the Emerald City and even told disappearance Scarecrow

"Passing strange, yet how refreshing," murmured Sir Hokus "And if I seem little behind times, not blame me For centuries, dozed gray castle, and it cometh over me that things have greatly changed This beast now, he talks quite manfully, and this Kingdom that you mention, this Oz ? Never heard of it ! "

"Never heard of Oz ? " gasped the little girl "Why, you're subject of Oz, and Pokes is in Oz, though I don't know just where "

Here Dorothy gave him short history Fairy country, and many adventures she had had since she had come there Sir Hokus listened with growing melancholy

" ," he sighed mournfully, "that prisoner here while all that was happening ! "

" prisoner ? " asked Dorothy in surprise " you were King Pokes ! "

"Uds daggers ! " thundered Sir Hokus so suddenly that Dorothy jumped " knight ! "

Seeing her startled expression, he controlled himself " knight," he continued brokenly "Long , mounted on my goodly steed, I fared from my father's castle to offer my sword to mighty king His name ? " Sir Hokus tapped his forehead uncertainly "Go to, forgot "

"Could it King Arthur ? " exclaimed Dorothy, wide-eyed with interest "Why, just think of your being still alive ! "

"That's just the point," choked the Knight "I've been alive -- still, so still that I've forgotten everything Why, 't even remember how I used ," he confessed miserably

"But how did you get here ? " rumbled the Cowardly Lion, who like being left conversation

"I had barely left my father's castle before I met stranger," said Sir Hokus, sitting up very straight, "who challenged me to battle I spurred my horse forward, our lances met, stranger was unseated But by my faith, 'twas no mortal Knight " Sir Hokus sighed deeply and lapsed into silence

"What happened ? " asked Dorothy curiously, for Sir Hokus seemed forgotten them

"The Knight," said he with another mighty sigh, "struck the ground lance and cried, 'Live Wretch, for centuries stupidest country world,' and disappeared And here -- here ! " With despairing gesture, Sir Hokus arose, big tears splashing down his armor

" that brave, very brave, but how am I until encountered danger ? Ah, friends, behold in me Knight who has never had real adventure, never killed dragon, nor championed Lady, nor gone on Quest ! "

Dropping knees little girl, Sir Hokus took her hand "Let me go Quest valiant Scarecrow Let me be your good Night ! " he begged eagerly

"Good night," coughed the Cowardly Lion, who, the truth, was feeling bit jealous But Dorothy was thrilled, and as Sir Hokus continued to look at her pleadingly, she took off her hair ribbon and bound it 'round his arm

"You shall be my own true Knight, and I your Lady Fair ! " she announced solemnly, and exactly as she had read in books

interesting juncture the Cowardly Lion gave tremendous yawn, and Sir Hokus with an exclamation of alarm jumped feet The Pokes had returned hall, and Dorothy felt herself falling asleep again

Up, up, my lieges and away ! We field again -- For Ladies fair we fight today And KING ! Up, up, my merry men !

shrilled the Knight he were leading an army to battle The Pokes opened both eyes, but immediately retire Sir Hokus bravely swallowed yawn and hastily clearing his throat shouted another song, which he evidently made up spur moment:

Avaunt ! Be off ! Be gone - Methinks We'll be asleep in forty winks !

the Pokes left sullenly, but the effect presence had thrown Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, Knight into violent fit gapes

"If I fall asleep, nothing can save you," said Sir Hokus in an agitated voice "Hah, hoh, hum ! Hah -- ! "

The Knight's eyes closed

"Don't , don't ! " begged Dorothy, shaking him violently "Can't we run away ? "

"I've been trying for five centuries," wailed the Knight in discouraged voice, "but I always fall asleep before I reach the gate, bring me back here They're rather fond of me in their slow way," he added apologetically

"Couldn't you keep singing ? " asked the Cowardly Lion anxiously, prospect of five-century stay in Pokes was more than bear

"Couldn't we all sing ? " suggested Dorothy "Surely all three of us won't fall asleep at once "

"I'm not much of singer," groaned the Cowardly Lion, beginning to tremble, "but I'm willing my share ! "

"I like you," said Sir Hokus, going over and thumping the Cowardly Lion approvingly back "You knighted ! "

The lion blinked his eyes, for Sir Hokus' iron fist bruised him severely, but knowing kindly meant, he bore it bravely

" henceforth beknighted lion," he whispered to Dorothy while Sir Hokus was straightening his armor Next the Knight took down an iron poker, which he handed to Dorothy

"To wake us up with," he explained "And now, Lady Dorothy, ready, start Quest honorable Scarecrow, and remember, everybody sing -- Sing for your life ! "

CHAPTER 6

SINGING THEIR WAY OUT OF POKES

Taking deep breath, Sir Hokus, the Cowardly Lion and Dorothy burst hall singing top voices

"Three blind mice -- ! " sang Dorothy

"Across the plain ! " shouted Sir Hokus

" the Cowardly Lion of Oz ! " roared the lion

The Pokes were so taken aback horrid sounds ran scurrying right and left In another minute the three were castle and singing their way gloomy garden Dorothy stuck Three Blind Mice Sir Hokus sang verse after verse of an old English ballad, Cowardly Lion roared and gurgled song own making, which, considering first attempt, was not so bad:

the Cowardly Lion of Oz ! Be good ! Begone ! Beware ! Becoz When scared full fierce I be; Br--rah--grr--ruff, look out !

The Pokes stumbled , and all went well until they rushed into company of Pokes who were playing croquet The slowness they raised their mallets fascinated Dorothy, and she stopped to watch them of herself

"Don't stop ! Sing ! " growled the Cowardly Lion middle of line up for lost time, Dorothy closed her eyes and sang harder than ever, but alas ! next instant she fell over wicket, which so deprived her of breath that barely scramble up, let alone sing she stopped singing, the Pokes paused in their flight, and they paused Dorothy began to gape Singing for dear life, Sir Hokus jerked Dorothy arm, Cowardly Lion roared so loud Pokes covered their ears and began backing away

" Knight ! Come on, come on ! " sang Sir Hokus, and Dorothy came, and was able up the "Three Blind Mice" again But running and singing same time an easy task And running through Pokes is like trying to run through water ( how hard ? )

"Three Blind Mice -- uh -- hah -- Three Blind -- Mice -- uh-hah -- 't sing another note ! Thu -- ree-- ! " gasped poor Dorothy, stumbling along, while the Cowardly Lion was puffing like an engine The Pokes garden had recovered from their first alarm and were following at safe distance The gates city were only short distance off, but it seemed to Dorothy that go another step

large group of Pokes had gathered gates, and unless sing their way through, fall asleep and be carried ignominiously back castle

"Now ! " wheezed Sir Hokus, "Remember, Scarecrow ! " All swallowed, took deep breath, and put their last remaining strength into their voices But wily Poke who had stuffed some cotton ears now approached pushing little cart

"Take -- ! " he drawled, and before Dorothy realized what she was doing, she had accepted cone Poke

"Hah, hoh, hum ! Why, it's hokey pokey ! " spluttered Dorothy, and with deep sigh of delight she took large bite pink ice cream How cool it felt on her dry throat ! She opened her mouth for second taste, yawned terrifically, and fell with thud stone pavement