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The Pokes regarded her sternly. Some even opened both eyes. Then the one

who had first addressed them, covering a terrific gape with one hand,

pointed with the other to a sign on a large post at the corner of the street.

"Speed limit 1/4 mile an hour" said the sign.

"We're arrested for speeding!" shouted Dorothy in the Cowardly Lion's ear.

Did you say feeding?" asked the poor lion, waking up with a start. "If I go to

sleep again before I'm fed, I'll starve to death!"

Then keep awake," yawned Dorothy. By this time, the Pokes had

surrounded them and were waving them imperiously ahead. They looked so

threatening that Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion began to creep in the

direction of a gloomy, gray castle. Of the journey neither of them

remembered a thing, for with the gaping and yawning Pokes it was almost

impossible to keep awake. But they must have walked in their sleep, for the

next thing Dorothy knew, a harsh voice called slowly:

"Poke--him!"

Greatly alarmed, Dorothy opened her eyes. They were in a huge stone hall

hung all over with rusty armor, and seated on a great stone chair, snoring

so loudly that all the steel helmets rattled, was a Knight. The tallest and

crossest of the Pokes rushed at him with a long poker, giving him such a

shove that he sprawled to the floor.

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

fallen!"

"Prisoners--Sir Hokus!" shouted the Chief Poker, lifting the Knight's plume

and speaking into the helmet as if he were telephoning.

The Knight arose with great dignity, and after straightening his armor, let

down his visor, and Dorothy saw a 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 at

the prisoners.

We're sorry to waken you," said Dorothy politely, "but could you please give

us some breakfast?"

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

The Royal Book of Oz