d 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 bold, with mane of gold
And might besides to spa--ha--hare!
And might beside to spare!
The dauntless three, a company
Of wit and 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?"

"No, but I've swallowed some of it," coughed the Cowardly Lion,
looking suspiciously through the trees.

"I'll just step forward and see what it is," said the Knight. As he
disappeared, the truth dawned on Dorothy.

"Wait! Wait! Don't go! Please, please, Sir Hokus, come back, come
back!" cried the little girl, running after him as fast as she could.