"Except me," said sieve "I'm the whole thing when it comes to holes "

"What ," remarked the King, rebukingly, "is wireless sieve speak to Marconi These old-fashioned sieves talk Now, duty King's Counselors to counsel the King at all times of emergency, so I beg you out and advise me what prisoners "

"I demand be killed , until dead ! " shouted pepperbox, hopping around very excitedly

"Compose yourself, Mr Paprica," advised the King "Your remarks are piquant and highly-seasoned, but scattering of commonsense only necessary to kill person once him dead; but necessary to kill this little girl at all "

"I don't, either," said Dorothy

"Pardon me, but expected to advise me ," replied King Kleaver

" ? " asked Dorothy

" prejudiced in your own favor, and so mislead us," "Now then, good subjects, who speaks next ? "

"I'd like to smooth this thing over, in some way," said flatiron, earnestly " supposed useful to mankind, "

"But the girl isn't mankind ! She's womankind ! " yelled corkscrew

"What ? " inquired the King

"I'm lawyer," said the corkscrew, proudly " accustomed to appear bar "

"But you're crooked," retorted the King, " debars you corking good lawyer, Mr Popp, but to withdraw your remarks "

" ," said the corkscrew, sadly; " I haven't any pull court "

"Permit me," continued the flatiron, "to press my suit, your Majesty wish to gloss over any fault the prisoner committed, if such fault exists; but we owe her some consideration, 's flat ! "

"I'd like to hear from Prince Karver," said the King

stately carvingknife stepped forward and bowed

"The Captain was wrong to bring this girl here, and she was wrong ," "But now foolish deed is done all prove our mettle slashing "

"That's it ! that's it ! " screamed fat choppingknife "We'll make mincemeat girl and hash chicken and sausage dog ! "

shout of approval King had to rap again for order

"Gentlemen, gentlemen ! " , "your remarks are somewhat cutting and rather disjointed, as expected from such acute intellects But you no reasons for your demands "

"See here, Kleaver; you make me tired," said saucepan, strutting King very impudently "You're worst King that ever reigned in Utensia, 's saying Why don't you run things yourself, instead of asking everybody's advice, like the big, clumsy idiot ? "

The King sighed

" there wasn't saucepan in my kingdom," "You fellows are always stewing, over something, and every once in while you slop over and make mess of it Go hang yourself, sir-- handle--and don't let me again "

Dorothy was much shocked dreadful language the utensils employed, and she thought that had very little proper training So she said, addressing the King, who seemed very unfit to rule his turbulent subjects:

" you'd decide my fate right away 't stay here all day, trying out what you're going with me "

"This thing is becoming regular broil, and it's time part ," observed big gridiron, coming forward

"What I'd like ," said can-opener, in shrill voice, "is why the little girl came to our forest anyhow and why she intruded upon Captain Dipp--who called Dippy--and who , and where she came from, and where going, and why and wherefore and therefore and when "

"I'm sorry , Sir Jabber," remarked the King can-opener, "that such prying disposition As matter of fact, all the things you mention are none business "

Having said this the King relighted his pipe, which had gone out

"Tell me, please, our business ? " inquired potato-masher, winking at Dorothy somewhat impertinently "I'm fond of little girls, myself, and it seems she has right to wander forest as "

"Who accuses the little girl, anyway ? " inquired rolling-pin "What has she done ? "

"I don't know," said the King "What has she done, Captain Dipp ? "

"That's the trouble, your Majesty She hasn't done anything," replied the Captain

"What me ? " asked Dorothy

This question seemed to puzzle them all Finally, chafingdish, exclaimed irritably:

"If no one can throw any light subject excuse me if I go out "

, big kitchen fork pricked up its ears and said in tiny voice:

"Let's hear from Judge Sifter "

"That's proper," returned the King

So Judge Sifter turned around slowly and then said:

" nothing against the girl except the stove-hearth she sits Therefore I order her instantly discharged "

"Discharged ! " cried Dorothy "Why, I never was discharged in my life, and I don't intend 's all the same , I'll resign "

"It's all the same," declared the King " free--you and your companions--and may go wherever you like "

" ," said the little girl "But haven't you anything to eat in your kingdom ? I'm hungry "

"Go woods and pick blackberries," advised the King, lying down upon his back again and preparing to sleep "There isn't morsel to eat in all Utensia, that of "

So Dorothy jumped up and said:

"Come on, Toto and Billina 't find the camp, find some blackberries "

The utensils drew back and allowed them without protest, although Captain Dipp marched the Spoon Brigade in close order after them until they had reached the edge clearing

There the spoons halted; but Dorothy and her companions entered the forest again and began searching diligently for way back camp, that rejoin their party

17 How They Came to Bunbury

Wandering woods, without knowing where going or what adventure about to meet next, as pleasant as one might think The woods are always beautiful and impressive, and if worried or hungry enjoy them immensely; but Dorothy was worried and hungry that morning, so she paid little attention beauties forest, and hurried along as fast as go She tried in one direction and not circle around, but she was not at all sure direction she had chosen would lead her camp

By and by, to her great joy, she came upon path It ran right and left, being lost trees in both directions, and just before her, upon big oak, were fastened two signs, with arms pointing both ways One sign read:

OTHER ROAD TO BUNBURY

second sign read:

OTHER ROAD TO BUNNYBURY

"Well ! " exclaimed Billina, eyeing the signs, "this looks we were getting back to civilization again "

"I'm not sure civil'zation, dear," replied the little girl; "but it looks get SOMEWHERE, 's big relief, anyhow "

"Which path shall we take ? " inquired the Yellow Hen

Dorothy stared signs thoughtfully

"Bunbury sounds like something to eat," she said "Let's go there "

"It's all the same ," replied Billina She had picked up enough bugs and insects moss as she went along to satisfy her own hunger, but the hen knew Dorothy eat bugs; nor could Toto

The path to Bunbury seemed little traveled, but distinct enough and ran trees in zigzag course until it finally led them to an open space filled queerest houses Dorothy had ever seen They were all made of crackers laid out in tiny squares, and were of many pretty and ornamental shapes, having balconies and porches with posts of bread-sticks and roofs shingled with wafer-crackers

There were walks of bread-crusts leading from house to house and forming streets, place seemed many inhabitants

When Dorothy, followed by Billina and Toto, entered the place, they found people walking the streets or assembled in groups talking together, or sitting porches and balconies

And what funny people they were !

Men, women and children were all made of buns and bread Some were thin and others fat; some were white, some light brown and some very dark of complexion few buns, which seemed the more important class people, were neatly frosted Some had raisins for eyes and currant buttons on their clothes; others had eyes of cloves and legs of stick cinnamon, and many wore hats and bonnets frosted pink and green

something of commotion in Bunbury strangers suddenly appeared among them Women caught up their children and hurried into their houses, shutting the cracker doors carefully behind them Some men ran so hastily tumbled over one another, while others, more brave, assembled in group and faced the intruders defiantly

Dorothy at once realized that act with caution not to frighten these shy people, who were evidently unused presence of strangers delightful fragrant odor of fresh bread town, and this made the little girl more hungry than ever She told Toto and Billina to stay back while she slowly advanced toward the group that stood silently awaiting her

" 'scuse me for coming unexpected," she said, softly, "but I really didn't know coming here until I arrived lost woods, , and I'm as hungry as anything "