www.freeclassicebooks.com

CHAPTER 16 - DOROTHY AND HER GUARDIANS MEET NEW FRIENDS

While all these exciting things were happening to the poor Scarecrow,

Dorothy, Sir Hokus and the Cowardly Lion had been having adventures of

their own. For three days, they had wandered through a deserted part of the

Winkie Country, subsisting largely on berries, sleeping under trees, and

looking in vain for a road to lead them back to the Emerald City. On the

second day, they had encountered an ancient woodsman, too old and deaf to

give them any information. He did, however, invite them into his hut and

give them a good dinner and a dozen sandwiches to carry away with them.

"But, oh, for a good old pasty!" sighed Sir Hokus late on the third afternoon

as they finished the last of the crumbly sandwiches.

Do you know," said Dorothy, looking through the straggly fields and woods

ahead, "I believe we've been going in the wrong direction again."

"Again!" choked the Cowardly Lion. "You mean still. I've been in a good many

parts of Oz, but this--this is the worst."

"Not even one little dragon!" Sir Hokus shook his head mournfully. Then,

seeing that Dorothy was tired and discouraged, he pretended to strum on a

guitar and sang in his high-pitched voice:

A rusty Knight in steel bedite

And Lady Dot, so fair,

Sir Lion

And

Of wit and

bold, with mane of gold

might beside to spare!

And might besides to spa--ha--hare!

The dauntless three, a company

bravery are,

Who seek the valiant Scarecrow man,

Who seek him

near and fa--har--har,

Who seek him near and fa--har!

"Oh, I like that!" cried Dorothy, jumping up and giving Sir Hokus a little

squeeze. "Only you should have said trusty Knight."

The Cowardly Lion shook his golden mane. "Let's do a little reconnoitering,

Hokus," he said carelessly. He felt he must live up to the song somehow.

"Perhaps we'll find a sign."

"I don't believe in signs anymore," laughed Dorothy, "but I'm coming too." Sir

Hokus' song had cheered them all, and it wasn't the first time the Knight

had helped make the best of a tiresome journey.

The air seemeth to grow very hot," observed Sir Hokus after they had

walked along silently for a time. "Hast noticed it, Sir Cowardly?"

The Royal Book of Oz