"I wonder what when it rains ? " said Dorothy, looking curiously solemn rows of people

"Call for roofs, silly ! " snapped Fix, staring at her rudely " spend your time thinking instead of walking, you'd know more "

"Go to, and swallow gooseberry ! " roared the Knight, waving his sword Fix, and Dorothy, fearing an encounter, begged him on, which -- though with many backward glances

Fix City seemed to consist of one long street, had soon come very end

"Uds daggers ! " gasped Sir Hokus

"Great palm trees," roared the Cowardly Lion

As for Dorothy, do nothing but stare The street ended surely enough, and beyond nothing at all , nothing but air

"Well," said the Cowardly Lion, backing few paces, " pretty fix "

"Glad you like it," said wheezy voice The three travelers turned in surprise huge Fix was regarding them with interest His circle, the last row, was about twenty times as large other circles, and edge stood big sign:'

ROAD SHOP

"Don't you remember, the King said something about buying road," said Dorothy in an excited undertone Knight

"Can'st direct us to road, my good man ? " asked Sir Hokus with bow The Fix jerked his thumb back sign "What kind of road to ? " he asked hoarsely

"A road take us back Emerald City, please," said Dorothy

" 't guarantee anything like that," declared the Fix, shaking his head

"Our roads go where they please, and you'll have where they take you on or off ? "

"On," shivered the Cowardly Lion, looking with shudder over the precipice end street

"What kind of road will ? Make up your minds, please busy "

"What kind of roads ? " asked Dorothy timidly her first experience at buying roads, and she felt bit perplexed

"Sunny, shady, straight, crooked, and cross-roads," snapped the Fix

"We wouldn't want cross one," said Dorothy positively " any with trees at both sides and water end ? "

" yards ? " asked the Fix, taking pair of shears as large as himself off long counter beside him

"Five miles," said Sir Hokus as Dorothy looked confused "That ought us somewhere ! "

The Fix rang bells counter The next minute, big trap door ground opened, and perfectly huge roll bounced out at his feet

"Get on," commanded the Fix sharp tone three jumped to obey Holding fast to Sir Hokus, Dorothy stepped piece of road that had already unrolled The Cowardly Lion, looking very anxious, followed No sooner had they done so road gave terrific leap forward that stretched the three flat upon their backs and started unwinding from its spool at terri- fying speed As it unrolled, tall trees snapped erect on each side and began laughing derisively three travelers huddled together middle

"G-g-glad we only took five miles," stuttered Dorothy Knight, whose armor was rattling like Ford

The Cowardly Lion had wound his tail around tree and dug his claws road, for he had no intention of falling off into nothingness As road, it snapped along at about mile minute, and had time to grow accustomed singular mode of travel, it gave final jump that sent them circling air, and began rapidly winding itself up

Down, down, down whirled Dorothy, falling with resounding splash into broad stream of water Then down, down, down again, almost bottom

"Help ! " screamed Dorothy as her head rose above water, and she began striking out feebly But the fall air had taken all her breath

"What ? " thin, neat little man was watching her anxiously bank, making careful notes in book that he held in one hand

"Help ! Save me ! " choked Dorothy, feeling herself going down muddy stream again

"Wait ! I'll look it up under the 'H's," called the little man, making trumpet hands " an island ? An island is body of land entirely surrounded by water, but this some-body," Dorothy heard him mutter as he whipped over several pages book "Sorry," back, shaking his head slowly, "but wrong day I only save lives on Monday "

"Stand aside, Mem, you villain ! " second little man exactly like the first except that exceedingly untidy plunged stream

"It's no use," thought Dorothy, closing her eyes, for he had jumped in far below the spot where she had fallen and was making no progress whatever The waters rushed over her head the second time Then she felt herself being dragged upward

When she opened her eyes, the Cowardly Lion was standing over her " all right ? " he rumbled anxiously " Fell in way upstream Seen Hokus ? "

"Oh, he'll drown," cried Dorothy, forgetting her own narrow escape " 't swim heavy armor ! "

"Never fear, I'll get him," puffed the Cowardly Lion, and without waiting to catch his breath he plunged back stream The little man who only saved lives on Monday now approached timidly "I'd like statement , don't mind It might help me "

"You helped me present," said Dorothy, wringing out her dress "You ashamed of yourself "

"I'll make note ," said the little man earnestly "But how did you feel went down ? " He waited, his pencil poised over the little book

"Go away," cried Dorothy in disgust

"But my dear young lady --"

"I'm not your dear young lady Oh, dear, why doesn't the Cowardly Lion come back ? "

"Go away, Mem " The second little man, dripping wet, came up hurriedly

" only trying little information," grumbled Mem sulkily

"I'm sorry I couldn't swim faster," said the wet little man, approaching Dorothy apologetically

"Well, trying," said Dorothy "Is he your brother ? And could you tell me where ? You're dressed in yellow, so I 'spose it somewhere Winkie Country "

"Right in both cases," chuckled the little fellow "My name is Ran name is Memo " He jerked his thumb retiring twin "Randum and Memo -- see ? "

" ," said Dorothy, half closing her eyes " why he's always taking notes ? "

"Exactly," said Ran " everything at Random, and everything at memorandum "

"It rather confusing," said Dorothy Then as she caught sight Cowardly Lion dragging Sir Hokus, she jumped up excitedly Ran, however, took one look huge beast and then fled, calling for Mem top voice And last Dorothy saw singular twins

The Lion dropped Sir Hokus in limp heap When Dorothy unfastened his armor, gallons of water rushed out

"Sho good of -- of -- you," choked the poor Knight, trying to straighten up

"Save your breath, old fellow," said the Cowardly Lion, regarding him affectionately

"Oh, why did I ask for water end road ? " sighed Dorothy "But, anyway, we're in some part Winkie Country "

Sir Hokus, though still spluttering, was beginning to revive "Yon noble bheast shall be knighted Uds daggers ! That's the shecond time he's shaved my life ! " Rising unsteadily, he tottered over Lion and struck him sharp blow shoulder "Rishe, Shir Cowardly Lion," he cried hoarsely, and fell headlong, and before Dorothy or the lion had recovered from their surprise fast asleep, mumbling happily of dragons and bludgeons

"We'll have to wait till he gets rested," said Dorothy "And until I get dry " She began running up and down, then stopped suddenly Lion

"And there's something else for Professor Wogglebug book, Sir Cowardly Lion "

"Oh, that ! " mumbled the Cowardly Lion, looking terribly embarrassed "Whoever heard of Cowardly Knight ? Nonsense ! "

"No, it isn't nonsense," said Dorothy stoutly "You're knight from now on Won't the Scarecrow be pleased ? "

" ever find him," sighed the Lion, settling himself beside Sir Hokus

" ," said Dorothy gaily "I just feel it "

CHAPTER 14

SONS AND GRANDSONS GREET THE SCARECROW

Although the Scarecrow on Silver Island only , he had already instituted many reforms, and thanks cleverness the people were more prosperous than ever before Cheers greeted him wherever he went, and even old Chew Chew was more agreeable and no longer made bitter remarks to Happy Toko The Scarecrow himself, however, had four new wrinkles and was exceedingly melancholy He missed the carefree life in Oz, and that not ruling the island thinking about his old home and dear, jolly comrades Emerald City

"I almost hope look Magic Picture and wish me back again," he mused pensively "But my duty to stay here family to support " So he resolved the best face matter, and Happy Toko did his utmost to cheer up his royal master The second morning great victory, running silver throne room in great state of excitement

"The honorable Offspring have arriven ! " (sic) announced Happy, turning somersault "Come, ancient and amiable Sir, and gaze upon your sons and grandsons ! " The Scarecrow sprang joyously silver throne, upsetting bowl of silver fish and three silver vases At last real family ! his arrival, the three Princes and their fifteen little sons cruising royal pleasure barge, so Scarecrow caught glimpse