her pleadingly she took off her hair ribbon and bound it 'round his arm.
"You shall be my own true Knight and I your Lady Fair!" she announced solemnly, and exactly as she had read in books.
At this interesting juncture the Cowardly Lion gave a tremendous yawn and Sir Hokus with an exclamation of alarm jumped to his feet. The Pokes had returned to the hall and Dorothy felt herself falling asleep again.
Up, up, my lieges and away!
We take the field again—
For Ladies fair we fight to-day
And KING! Up, up, my merry men!
shrilled the Knight as if he were leading an army to battle. The Pokes opened both eyes but did not immediately retire. Sir Hokus bravely swallowed a yawn and hastily clearing his throat shouted another song, which he evidently made up on the spur of the moment:
Avaunt! Be off! Be gone—Methinks
We'll be asleep in forty winks!
This time the Pokes left sullenly, but the effect of their presence had thrown Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, and the Knight into a violent fit of the gapes.
83
