no complaint.

"Need oiling, don't you?" asked the Cowardly Lion, peering anxiously
at him through the gloom.

"Joints in my armor a bit rusty," puffed Sir Hokus, easing one foot
and then the other. "Ah, had I my good horse!" He expressively waved
a piece of the giant's button at which he had been nibbling.

"Better climb up behind Dorothy," advised the Cowardly Lion, but Sir
Hokus shook his head, for he knew the lion was tired, too.

"I'll manage famously. This very night I may find me a steed!"

"How?" asked the lion with a yawn.

"If I sleep beneath these trees, I may have a Knight mare," chuckled
Sir Hokus triumphantly.

"Br-rrr!" roared the Cowardly Lion while Dorothy clapped her hands.
But they were not to sleep beneath the trees after all, for a sudden
turn in the road brought them right to the gates of another city.
They knew it must be a city because a huge, lighted sign hung over
the gate.

"Fix City," read Dorothy. "What a funny name!"

"Maybe they can fix us up," rumbled the lion, winking at Sir Hokus.

"Perchance we shall hear news of the valiant Scarecrow!" cried the
Knight, and limping forward he thumped on the gate with his mailed
fist. Dorothy and the Cowardly Lion pressed close behind him and
waited impatiently for someone to open the gate.

A bell rang loud back in the town. The next instant, the gates flew
open so suddenly that the three adventurers were flung violently on
their faces.

"Out upon them!" blustered Sir Hokus, getting up stiffly and running
to help Dorothy. "What way is this to welcome strangers?" He pulled
the little girl hastily to her feet, then they all ran forward, for
the gates were swinging shut again.

It was almost as light as day, for lanterns were everywhere, but
strangely enough they seemed to dart about like huge fireflies, and
Dorothy ducked involuntarily as a red one bobbed down almost in her
face. Then she gasped in real earnest and caught hold of Sir Hokus.

"Uds daggers!" wheezed the Knight. Two large bushes were running down
the path, and right in front of Dorothy the larger caught the smaller
and began pulling out its leaves.

"Leave off! Leave off!" screamed the little bush.

"That's what I'm doing," said the big bush savagely. "There won't be
a leaf on when I get through with you."

"Unhand him, villain!" cried Sir Hokus, waving his sword at the large
bush. The two bushes looked up in surprise, and when they saw
Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion and