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"Slow down," read Dorothy with great difficulty. "What nonsense! If we slow

down, how shall we ever get anywhere?"

Wait a minute," mused the Cowardly Lion, half closing his eyes. "Aren't

there two roads just ahead, one going up and one going down? We're to take

the down road, I suppose. 'Slow down,' isn't that what it says?"

Slow down it surely was, for the road was so steep and full of stones that

Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion had to pick their way with utmost care. But

even bad roads must end somewhere, and coming suddenly to the edge of

the woods, they saw a great city lying just below. A dim light burned over

the main gate, and toward this the Cowardly Lion and Dorothy hurried as

fast as they could. This was not very fast, for an unaccountable drowsiness

was stealing over them.

Slowly and more slowly, the tired little girl and her great four-footed

companion advanced toward the dimly lighted gate. They were so drowsy

that they had ceased to talk. But they dragged on.

Hah, hoh, hum!" yawned the Cowardly Lion. "What makes my feet so

heavy?"

He stopped short and examined each of his four feet sleepily.

Dorothy swallowed a yawn and tried to run, but a walk was all she could

manage.

Hah, hoh, hum!" she gaped, stumbling along with her eyes closed.

By the time they had reached the gate, they were yawning so hard that the

Cowardly Lion had nearly dislocated his jaw, and Dorothy was perfectly

breathless. Holding to the lion's mane to steady herself, Dorothy blinked up

uncertainly at the sign over the gate.

Hah--here we are--Hoh!" She held her hand wearily before her mouth.

Then, with a great effort, she read the words of the sign.

Um--Great--Grand and Mighty Slow Kingdom of Pokes! Uh-hah--Pokes! Do

you hear? Hah, hoh, hu, uum!"

Dorothy looked about in alarm, despite her sleepiness.

Do you hear?" she repeated anxiously as no answer came through the

gloom.

The Royal Book of Oz