Sir Hokus sighed and sat heavily down on large rock " no sort of honor, methinks, in overcoming candy giant," he observed, looking wistfully plume still pinned to Dorothy's dress "Ah, had it but been proper fight ! "

"You didn't know candy you were just splendid " Jumping up, Dorothy fastened the plume Knight's helmet "And you're talking just beautifully, more like Knight ," she added with conviction Sir Hokus tried not to look pleased

" meat enemy ! My teeth ache yet ! First singing, then candy-leg pulling ! Gr-ugh ! What next ? " growled the Cowardly Lion

"Why, lunch, feel like eating," said Dorothy, beginning out the vest buttons which the giant had obediently ripped off and left They were marshmallows, the size of pie plates, and Dorothy and Sir Hokus found them quite delicious The Cowardly Lion, however, after doubtful sniff and sneeze powdered sugar, declined and went off something more taste

"We had better take along," said Dorothy when she and Sir Hokus had eaten several " need them later "

"Everything is yellow, so Winkie Country," announced the Cowardly Lion, who had just returned lunch "There's road, too "

"Mayhap take us jeweled city of your gracious Queen " Sir Hokus shaded his eyes and stared curiously long lane stretching invitingly ahead

"Well, anyway, we're forest and Pokes, and maybe we'll meet someone tell us Scarecrow Come on ! " cried Dorothy gaily " we're right track "

CHAPTER 12

DOROTHY AND SIR HOKUS COME TO FIX CITY

The afternoon went pleasantly three travelers The road was wide and shady and really seemed bit familiar Dorothy rode comfortably Cowardly Lion's back and the time told Sir Hokus all about Oz particularly interested Scarecrow

"Grammercy ! knighted ! " he exclaimed, slapping his knee, as Dorothy told how the clever straw man had helped outwit the Gnome King wicked little rascal had tried them prisoners underground kingdom

"But, go to ! Where gallant man now ? " The Knight sobered quickly "Mayhap in need of strong arm ! Mayhap mercy of some terrible monster ! "

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

"Trust the Scarecrow care of himself," said the Cowardly Lion in gruff voice Nevertheless, he quickened his steps "The sooner we reach the Emerald City, the sooner we'll know where ! "

The country through which they were passing was beautiful, but quite deserted About five o'clock, they came to clear little stream, and after Dorothy and Sir Hokus had washed their faces Cowardly Lion had taken little plunge, they all felt refreshed Later they came to fine pear orchard, and as no one was about they helped themselves generously

The more Dorothy Cowardly Lion saw of Sir Hokus, the fonder of him they grew so kind-hearted and so polite

"He'll be great company back Emerald City," whispered the Cowardly Lion Knight went off Dorothy drink from little spring " , if he forgets this grammercy, bludgeon stuff "

" it sounds lovely," said Dorothy, "and he's remembering more of it all the time But I wonder why no people here hope we meet some before night " But no person did they meet As it grew darker, Sir Hokus' armor began to creak in quite frightful manner Armor meant for walking, poor Knight was stiff and tired, but no complaint

"Need oiling, don't you ? " asked the Cowardly Lion, peering anxiously at him gloom

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

"Better climb up behind Dorothy," advised the Cowardly Lion, but Sir Hokus shook his head, for the lion was tired, too

"I'll manage famously This very night find me steed ! "

"How ? " asked the lion with yawn

"If I sleep beneath these trees, Knight mare," chuckled Sir Hokus triumphantly

"Br-rrr ! " roared the Cowardly Lion while Dorothy clapped her hands But they to sleep beneath the trees after all, for sudden turn road brought them right gates of another city They knew it city because huge, lighted sign hung over the gate

"Fix City," read Dorothy "What funny name ! "

"Maybe fix us up," rumbled the lion, winking at Sir Hokus

"Perchance hear news valiant Scarecrow ! " cried the Knight, and limping forward he thumped gate mailed fist Dorothy Cowardly Lion pressed close behind him and waited impatiently for someone to open the gate

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

"Out upon them ! " blustered Sir Hokus, getting up stiffly and running to help Dorothy "What way to welcome strangers ? " He pulled the little girl hastily to her feet, then they all ran forward, gates were swinging shut again

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 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 leaf on when I get through "

"Unhand him, villain ! " cried Sir Hokus, waving his sword large bush The two bushes looked up in surprise, and saw Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion and Sir Hokus, they fell into 's branches and burst most uproarious laughter

"My dear Magnolia, rich ! Oh, dear fellow, wait till Sit sees this; convulsed ! " Quite forgetting their furious quarrel, the two went rollicking down the path together, stopping every to look back and laugh three strangers

" usual ? " asked Sir Hokus, looking quite dazed

"I never heard of bushes talking or running around, but I confess I'm 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 dodging half dozen at once

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

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

"We never go out unless we're put out," cried another, but Cowardly Lion made few springs, they flew high air and began talking indignantly among themselves , the three had become accustomed changing lights

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

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

" people ! " cried Dorothy

"One dinner for each of us," rumbled the Cowardly Lion, licking his chops "Come on ! "

"Perchance invite us follow the dinners, we'll come diners," said Sir Hokus mildly

"Right -- as usual " The Cowardly Lion looked embarrassed, for he had intended pouncing tables without further ceremony

"Hush ! Let's go quietly hear us, run and upset the dishes," warned Dorothy So the three walked softly dinner tables, their curiosity people of Fix growing keener at every step Several chairs, sofa and clothes tree rushed past them, but as Dorothy said later to Ozma, after talking bushes, nothing surprised them The tables turned the corner end avenue three abreast, sight that greeted Dorothy and her comrades was strange indeed Down each side of long street as far as see stood rows and rows of people was exact center of chalked circle, were so still that Dorothy thought 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 longest ever seen The women wore plain Mother Hubbard dresses and straw sailor hats, men gingham suits

While the three friends were observing all this, the tables taking their places One stopped before each Fix, chairs, after much bumping and quarreling, placed themselves properly At signal Fix center, the whole company sat down without as moving their feet Dorothy, Sir Hokus Cowardly Lion too interested , but minute whole flock mischievous lanterns clustered over their heads, and sudden blare of light the whole street stopped eating and stared

"Oh ! " cried the Fix nearest them, pointing fork, "Look runabouts ! "

" , please ! , please ! Don't bark your shins Don't take any more steps than help ! " boomed an important voice middle street So down the center marched the three, feeling -- Cowardly Lion put it -- exactly like circus

"Stop ! Names, please ! " The Fix next center put up his knife commandingly Sir Hokus stepped forward with bow:

"Princess Dorothy of Oz, the Cowardly Lion of Oz "

"And Sir Hokus of Pokes," roared the Lion 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, noble Fixitives "

"Little Girl Beginning with D ! That's too long," complained the King, who, exception crown, looked like all the rest , "I'll leave out the middle What , Little With D ? "

"My name is Dorothy, and if your Highness could some dinner and tell us something Scarecrow and --"