www.freeclassicebooks.com

Never sing that song again!" commanded the Knight sternly.

No, Sir," answered the giant meekly. "Did your dog chew much of my leg,

Sir?" Then, before Dorothy or Sir Hokus had time to way a word, they were

snatched up in sticky fingers and next minute were dropped with a thump

in a large field of daisies.

Oh!" spluttered Dorothy as the giant made off on his taffy legs. "Oh, we've

forgotten the Cowardly Lion!" But at that minute, the giant reappeared, and

the lion was dropped beside them.

"What's this? What's this?" growled the Cowardly Lion, looking around

wildly.

We got him to lift us out of the forest," explained Dorothy. "Have you

swallowed the taffy?" The lion was still dizzy from his ride and only shook

his head feebly.

Sir Hokus sighed and sat heavily down on a large rock. "There is no sort of

honor, methinks, in overcoming a candy giant," he observed, looking

wistfully at the plume still pinned to Dorothy's dress. "Ah, had it but been a

proper fight!"

"You didn't know he was candy. I think you were just splendid." Jumping

up, Dorothy fastened the plume in the Knight's helmet. "And you're talking

just beautifully, more like a Knight every minute," she added with

conviction. Sir Hokus tried not to look pleased.

Give me a meat enemy! My teeth ache yet! First singing, then candy-leg

pulling! Gr-ugh! What next?" growled the Cowardly Lion.

"Why, lunch, if you feel like eating," said Dorothy, beginning to give out the

vest buttons which the giant had obediently ripped off and left for them.

They were marshmallows, the size of pie plates, and Dorothy and Sir Hokus

found them quite delicious. The Cowardly Lion, however, after a doubtful

sniff and sneeze from the powdered sugar, declined and went off to find

something more to his taste.

We had better take some of these along," said Dorothy when she and Sir

Hokus had eaten several. "We may need them later."

Everything is yellow, so we must be in the Winkie Country," announced the

Cowardly Lion, who had just returned from his lunch. "There's a road, too."

The Royal Book of Oz