www.freeclassicebooks.com

Why, where are we?" cried the little girl, stopping short. The lion's eyes flew

open, and forgetting all about his bump, he looked around in dismay. No

sign of the Emerald City anywhere. Indeed, they were in a great, dim forest,

and considering the number of trees, it is a wonder that they had not run

into one long ago.

"I must have run the wrong way," faltered the Cowardly Lion in a distressed

voice.

"You couldn't help that; anyone would lose his way in the dark," said

Dorothy generously. "But I wish we hadn't fallen in the sandwiches. I'm

hungry!"

"So am I. Do you think anyone lives in this forest, Dorothy?"

Dorothy did not answer, for just then she caught sight of a big sign nailed to

one of the trees.

Turn to the right," directed the sign.

Oh, come on!" cried Dorothy, cheering up immediately. "I believe we're going

to have another adventure."

"I'd rather have some supper," sighed the Cowardly Lion wistfully, "but

unless we want to spend the night here, we might as well move along. I'm to

be fed up on adventure, I suppose."

Turn to the left," advised the next sign, and the two turned obediently and

hurried on, trying to keep a straight course through the trees. In a Fairyland

like Oz, where there are no trains or trolleys or even horses for traveling

('cepting Ozma's sawhorse), there are bound to be unexplored portions. And

though Dorothy had been at one time or another in almost every part of Oz,

the country through which they were now passing was totally unfamiliar to

her. Night was coming on, and it was growing so dark that she could hardly

read the third sign when they presently came upon it.

Don't sing," directed the sign sternly.

Sing!" snapped Dorothy indignantly, "Who wants to sing?"

We might as well keep to the left," said the Cowardly Lion in a resigned

voice, and they walked along for some time in silence. The trees were

thinning out, and as they came to the edge of the forest, another sign

confronted them.

The Royal Book of Oz