Oz 05: The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum
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beg of you," pleaded king Renard ."I intend to_have several_days of feasting and merry-making in honor of your visit ."

" have it after we're gone, for we_can't wait," said Dorothy, decidedly . but seeing this displeased the king, she added: " if I'm going to_get Ozma to invite you to her party I'll have to_find her as_soon_as poss'ble, you_know ."

in_spite of all the beauty of Foxville and_the gorgeous dresses of_its inhabitants, both the girl and_the shaggy man felt they were_not quite safe there, and would be_glad_to_see the last of it .

" but it_is now evening," the king reminded them, " and you_must stay with_us until morning, anyhow . therefore, I invite you to_be my guests at dinner, and to attend the theater afterward and sit in_the royal box . to- morrow morning, if_you really insist upon it, you_may resume your journey ."

they consented to_this, and some_of_the fox-servants led them to a suite of lovely rooms in_the big palace .

button- bright was afraid to_be left alone, so Dorothy took him into her own room . while a maid- fox dressed the little girl's hair-- which_was a bit tangled-- and put some bright, fresh ribbons in_it, another maid- fox combed the hair on poor button- bright's face and head and brushed it carefully, tying a pink bow to each of_his pointed ears . the maids wanted to dress the children in fine costumes of woven feathers, such as all the foxes wore; but neither of_them consented to_that .

"A sailor suit and a fox head do_not go well together," said one_of_the maids, " for no fox was ever a sailor that I_can remember ."

"I'm not a fox ! " cried button- bright .

" alas, no," agreed the maid ." but you've got a lovely fox head on_your skinny shoulders, and_that's almost as good as being a fox ."

the boy, reminded of_his misfortune, began to cry again . Dorothy petted and comforted him and promised to_find some way to restore him his own head .

" if_we_can manage to_get to Ozma," she said, " the princess will change you back to yourself in half a second; so you just wear that fox head as comf't'bly as_you_can, dear, and don't worry about_it at all . it isn't nearly as pretty as_your own head, no matter what the foxes say; but you_can_get along with it for a little while longer, can't you ? "

"Don't know," said button- bright, doubtfully; but he didn't cry any more after_that .

Dorothy let the maids pin ribbons to her shoulders, after which they were ready for_the king's dinner . when_they met the shaggy man in_the splendid drawing room of_the palace they found him just the same as before . he had refused to_give up his shaggy clothes for new ones, because if he_did that he_would no longer be the shaggy man, he_said, and he_might_have to_get acquainted with himself all over again .

he_told Dorothy he had brushed his shaggy hair and whiskers; but she thought he_must_have brushed them the wrong way, for they were quite as shaggy as before .

as for_the company of foxes assembled to dine with_the strangers, they were most beautifully costumed, and their rich dresses made Dorothy's simple gown and button- bright's sailor suit and_the shaggy man's shaggy clothes look commonplace . but they treated their guests with great respect and_the king's dinner was a very_good dinner indeed . foxes, as_you_know, are fond of chicken and other fowl; so they served chicken soup and roasted turkey and stewed duck and fried grouse and broiled quail and goose pie, and as_the cooking was excellent the king's guests enjoyed the meal and ate heartily of_the various dishes .

the party went to_the theater, where they saw a play acted by foxes dressed in costumes of brilliantly colored feathers . the play was about a fox- girl who was stolen by some wicked wolves and carried to_their cave; and just as_they were about to kill her and eat her a company of fox-soldiers marched up, saved the girl, and put all the wicked wolves to death .

" how do_you like it ? " the king asked Dorothy .

" pretty well," she answered ." it reminds me of one of Mr Aesop's fables ."

"Don't mention Aesop to_me, I beg of you ! " exclaimed king Dox ."I hate that man's name . he wrote a good_deal about foxes, but always made them out cruel and wicked, whereas we_are gentle and kind, as_you_may see ."

" but his fables showed you to_be wise and clever, and more shrewd than other animals," said the shaggy man, thoughtfully .

" so we_are . there_is no question about our knowing more than men do," replied the king, proudly ." but we employ our wisdom to_do good, instead of harm; so_that horrid Aesop did_not know what he_was talking about ."

they_did_not like to contradict him, because they felt he ought to_know the nature of foxes better than men did; so they sat still and watched the play, and button- bright became so interested that for_the_time he forgot he wore a fox head .

Afterward they went back to_the palace and slept in soft beds stuffed with feathers; for_the foxes raised many fowl for food, and used their feathers for clothing and to sleep upon .

Dorothy wondered why the animals living in Foxville did_not wear just their own hairy skins as wild foxes do; when she mentioned it to king Dox he_said they clothed themselves because they were civilized .

" but you were born without clothes," she observed, " and you don't seem to_me to need them ."

" so were human beings born without clothes," he replied; " and until they became civilized they wore only their natural skins . but to_become civilized means to dress as elaborately and prettily as possible, and to_make a show of your clothes so your neighbors will envy you, and for_that reason both civilized foxes and civilized humans spend most of_their time dressing themselves ."

"I don't," declared the shaggy man .

" that_is true," said the king, looking at him carefully; " but perhaps you_are_not civilized ."

after a sound sleep and a good night's rest they had their breakfast with_the king and then bade his majesty good-bye .

" you've been kind to_us--'cept poor button- bright," said Dorothy, " and we've had a nice time in Foxville ."

" then," said king Dox, " perhaps you'll be good enough to_get me an invitation to princess Ozma's birthday celebration ."

"I'll try," she promised; " if I_see her in_time ."

" it's on_the twenty- first, remember," he continued; " and if_you'll just see that I'm invited I'll find a way to cross the dreadful desert into_the marvelous land of Oz .I've always wanted to visit the emerald city, so I'm sure it_was fortunate you arrived here just when_you did, you being princess Ozma's friend and able to assist me in getting the invitation ."

" if I_see Ozma I'll ask her to invite you," she replied .

the fox- king had a delightful luncheon put up for_them, which the shaggy man shoved in_his pocket, and_the fox- captain escorted them to an arch at_the side of_the village opposite the one by_which they had entered . here they found more soldiers guarding the road .

" are_you afraid of enemies ? " asked Dorothy .

" no; because we_are watchful and able to protect ourselves," answered the captain ." but this road leads to another village peopled by big, stupid beasts who_might cause us trouble if_they thought we were afraid of_them ."

" what beasts are they ? " asked the shaggy man .

the captain hesitated to answer . finally, he_said:

" you_will learn all about_them when_you arrive at their city . but do_not be afraid of_them . button- bright is so wonderfully clever and has now such an intelligent face that I'm sure he_will manage to_find a way to protect you ."

this made Dorothy and_the shaggy man rather uneasy, for they had_not so_much confidence in_the fox- boy's wisdom as_the captain seemed to_have . but as their escort would say no more about_the beasts, they bade him good-bye and proceeded on their journey .

5 . the rainbow's daughter

Toto, now allowed to run about as he pleased, was glad to_be free again and able to bark at_the birds and chase the butterflies . the country around them was charming, yet in_the pretty fields of wild-flowers and groves of leafy trees were no houses whatever, or sign of any inhabitants .Birds flew through_the air and cunning white rabbits darted amongst the tall grasses and green bushes; Dorothy noticed even the ants toiling busily along the roadway, bearing gigantic loads of clover seed; but of people there were none at all .

they walked briskly on for an hour or two, for even little button- bright was a good walker and did_not tire easily . at_length as_they turned a curve in_the road they beheld just before them a curious sight .

a little girl, radiant and beautiful, shapely as a fairy and exquisitely dressed, was dancing gracefully in_the middle of_the lonely road, whirling slowly this_way and_that, her dainty feet twinkling in sprightly fashion . she was clad in flowing, fluffy robes of soft material that reminded Dorothy of woven cobwebs, only it_was colored in soft tintings of violet, rose, topaz, olive, azure, and white, mingled together most harmoniously in stripes which melted one into_the other with soft blendings . her hair was like spun gold and flowed around her in a cloud, no strand being fastened or confined by either pin or ornament or ribbon .

filled with wonder and admiration our friends approached and stood watching this fascinating dance . the girl was no taller than Dorothy, although more slender; nor did she seem any older than our little heroine .

suddenly she paused and abandoned the dance, as_if for_the first time observing the presence of strangers . as she faced them, shy as a frightened fawn, poised upon one foot as_if to fly the next instant, Dorothy was astonished to_see tears flowing from her violet eyes and trickling down her lovely rose-hued cheeks . that_the dainty maiden should dance and weep at_the same time was indeed surprising; so Dorothy asked in a soft, sympathetic voice:

" are_you unhappy, little girl ? "

" very ! " was_the reply; " I_am lost ."

" why, so are we," said Dorothy, smiling; " but we don't cry about_it ."

"Don't you ? why_not ? "

"' cause I've been lost before, and always got found again," answered Dorothy simply .

" but I've never been lost before," murmured the dainty maiden, " and I'm worried and afraid ."

" you were dancing," remarked Dorothy, in a puzzled tone of voice .

"Oh, that was just to_keep warm," explained the maiden, quickly ." it_was not because I_felt happy or gay, I assure you ."

Dorothy looked at her closely . her gauzy flowing robes might_not_be very warm, yet the weather wasn't at all chilly, but rather mild and balmy, like a spring day .

" who_are you, dear ? " she asked, gently .

"I'm polychrome," was_the reply .

"Polly whom ? "

" polychrome .I'm the daughter of_the rainbow ."

"Oh ! " said Dorothy with a gasp; "I didn't know the rainbow had children . but I_might_have known it, before_you spoke . you couldn't really be anything else ."

" why_not ? " inquired polychrome, as_if surprised .

" because you're so lovely and sweet ."

the little maiden smiled through her tears, came up_to Dorothy, and placed her slender fingers in_the Kansas girl's chubby hand .

" you'll be my friend-- won't you ? " she said, pleadingly .

" of_course ."

" and what_is your_name ? "

"I'm Dorothy; and this_is my friend shaggy man, who owns the love magnet; and this_is button- bright-- only you don't see him as he really is because the fox- king carelessly changed his head into a fox head . but the real button- bright is good to look at, and I_hope to_get him changed back to himself, some_time ."

the rainbow's daughter nodded cheerfully, no longer afraid of her new companions .

" but who is_this ? " she asked, pointing to Toto, who was sitting before her wagging his tail in_the most friendly manner and admiring the pretty maid with_his bright eyes ." is_this, also, some enchanted person ? "

"Oh no, Polly-- I_may call you Polly, mayn't I ? your whole name's awful hard to_say ."

" call me Polly if_you_wish, Dorothy ."

" well, Polly, Toto's just a dog; but he has more sense than button- bright, to_tell the truth; and I'm very fond of him ."

" so am I," said polychrome, bending gracefully to pat Toto's head .

" but how did the rainbow's daughter ever get on_this lonely road, and become lost ? " asked the shaggy man, who had listened wonderingly to all this .

" why, my father stretched his rainbow over here this_morning, so_that one end of it touched this road," was_the reply; " and i_was dancing upon_the pretty rays, as I love to_do, and never noticed i_was getting too far over the bend in_the circle . suddenly I began to slide, and I went faster and faster until at last I bumped on_the ground, at_the very end . just then father lifted the rainbow again, without noticing me at all, and though I tried to seize the end of it and hold fast, it melted away entirely and i_was left alone and helpless on_the cold, hard earth ! "

" it doesn't seem

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