"What means this unwonted clamor?" asked Sir Hokus, peering curiously at the prisoners.
"We're sorry to waken you," said Dorothy politely, "but could you please give us some breakfast?"
"A lot!" added the Cowardly Lion, licking his chops.
"It's safer for me to sing," said the Knight mournfully, and throwing back his head he roared in a high hoarse voice:
"Don't yawn! Don't yawn
We're out of breath—
Begone—BEGONE
Or die the death!"
The Cowardly Lion growled threateningly and began lashing his tail.
"If he weren't in a can I'd eat him," he rumbled, "but I never could abide tinned meat."
"He's not in a can, he's in armor," explained Dorothy, too interested to pay much attention to the Cowardly Lion, for at the first note of the Knight's song the Pokes began scowling horribly and by the time he had finished they were backing out of the room faster than Dorothy ever imagined they could go.
"So that's why the sign said don't sing," thought Dorothy to herself. The air seemed clearer somehow, and she no longer felt sleepy.
77
