s opened. "You're out of turn," he interrupted crossly.
"We're only to the second question. How will you spend the night?"

"In sleep," answered Sir Hokus promptly, "if your Majesty permits."

"I do," said the King solemnly. "That gets me out of entertaining.
Early to bed and late to rise, that's my motto. Next! It's your
turn," he added irritably as Sir Hokus did not immediately answer.

"Have you seen aught of the noble Scarecrow?" asked Sir Hokus, and
all of them waited anxiously for the King's reply.

"I don't know about _the_ Scarecrow. I've seen _a_ Scarecrow, and a
sensible chap he was, hanging still like a reasonable person and
letting chairs and tables chase themselves 'round."

"Where was he?" asked Sir Hokus in great agitation.

"In a picture," said the King. "Wait, I'll ring for it."

"No use," said the Knight in a disappointed voice. "We're looking for
a man."

"Would you mind telling me why you are all so still, and why all your
furniture runs around?" asked Dorothy, who was growing a little
restless.

"You forget where you are, and you're out of turn. But I'll overlook
it this once," said the King. "Have you ever noticed, Little With D,
that furniture lasts longer than people?"

"Why, yes," admitted Dorothy.

"Well, there you are!" King Fix Sit folded his hands and regarded her
complacently. "Here we manage things better. We stand still and let
the furniture run around and wear itself out. How does it strike
you?"

"It seem sensible," acknowledged Dorothy. "But don't you ever grow
tired of standing still?"

"I've heard of growing hair and flowers and corn, but never of
growing tired. What is it?" asked Sticken Plaster, leaning toward
Dorothy.

"I think she's talked enough," said the King, closing his eyes.

Sir Hokus had been staring anxiously at the King for some time. Now
he came close to the monarch's side, and standing on tiptoe whispered
hoarsely: "Hast any dragons here?"

"Did you say wagons?" asked the King, opening his eyes with a
terrible yawn.

"Dragons!" hissed the Knight.

"Never heard of 'em," said the King. The Cowardly Lion chuckled
behind his whiskers, and Sir Hokus in great confusion stepped back.

"What time is it?" demanded the King suddenly. He touched a bell, and
next minute a whole company of clocks came running down the street.
The big ones pushed the little ones, and a grandfather clock ran so
fast that it tripped over a cobblestone and fell on its face, wh