www.freeclassicebooks.com

recovered from their first alarm and were following at a safe distance. The

gates of the city were only a short distance off, but it seemed to Dorothy that

she could not go another step.

A large group of Pokes had gathered at the gates, and unless they could sing

their way through, they would fall asleep and be carried ignominiously back

to the castle.

"Now!" wheezed Sir Hokus, "Remember, it is for the Scarecrow!" All of them

swallowed, took a deep breath, and put their last remaining strength into

their voices. But a wily Poke who had stuffed some cotton in his ears now

approached pushing a little cart.

"Take--!" he drawled, and before Dorothy realized what she was doing, she

had accepted a cone from the Poke.

Hah, hoh, hum! Why, it's hokey pokey!" spluttered Dorothy, and with a

deep sigh of delight she took a large bite of the pink ice cream. How cool it

felt on her dry throat! She opened her mouth for a second taste, yawned

terrifically, and fell with a thud to the stone pavement.

Dorothy!" wailed Sir Hokus, stopping short in his song and bending over

the little girl. The poor Cowardly Lion gave a gulp of despair and began

running around the two, roaring and singing in a choked voice. The Pokes

nodded to each other in a pleased fashion, and the Chief Poker started

cautiously toward them with a long, thick rope. The Cowardly Lion

redoubled his efforts. Then, seeing Sir Hokus about to fall, he jumped on the

Knight with all his strength. Down crashed Sir Hokus, his armor clanging

against the stones that paved the gateway.

"Sing!" roared the Cowardly Lion, glaring at him fiercely. The fall wakened

the poor Knight, but he had not the strength to rise. Sitting on the hard

stones and looking reproachfully at the Cowardly Lion, he began his ballad

in a half-hearted fashion. The Cowardly Lion's heart was like to burst

between lack of breath and fear, but making one last tremendous effort and

still roaring his song, he bounded at the Chief Poker, seized the rope, and

was back before the stupid creature had time to yawn.

Tie it around your waist; take Dorothy in your arms!" gasped the Cowardly

Lion out of the corner of his mouth. Sir Hokus, though completely dazed,

had just enough presence of mind to obey, and the next minute the

Cowardly Lion, growling between his teeth like a good fellow, was dashing

through the group of Pokes, the other end of the rope in his mouth.

The Royal Book of Oz