"Does this dragon of yours bite ? " asked Button-Bright

"Mercy no ! I'd risk the safety innocent people by using biting dragon to draw my chariot ? I'm proud that my dragon is harmless, unless his steering gear breaks, and manufactured famous dragon factory City of Thi Here he comes, and examine him for yourselves "

They heard low rumble and shrill squeaking sound, and going out front house, they saw coming around the corner car drawn by gorgeous jeweled dragon, which moved its head to right and left and flashed its eyes like headlights of an automobile and uttered growling noise as it slowly moved toward them When it stopped High Coco-Lorum's house, Toto barked sharply sprawling beast, but even tiny Trot dragon was not alive Its scales were of gold, and was set with sparkling jewels, while it walked stiff, regular manner nothing else than machine The chariot that trailed behind likewise of gold and jewels, and entered it, they found there were no seats Everyone was supposed to stand up while riding The charioteer was little, diamond-headed fellow who straddled the neck dragon and moved the levers that made it go

"This," said the High Coco-Lorum pompously, "is wonderful invention all very proud auto-dragons, many are in use by our wealthy inhabitants Start the thing going, charioteer ! "

The charioteer move

"You forgot to order him in music," suggested Dorothy

"Ah, so "

He touched button and music box dragon's head began to play tune At once the little charioteer pulled over lever, dragon began to move, very slowly and groaning dismally as it drew the clumsy chariot after it Toto trotted wheels The Sawhorse, the Mule, the Lion Woozy followed after and had no trouble in keeping up machine Indeed, they had slow from running wheels turned, another music box concealed somewhere under the chariot played lively march tune in striking contrast dragging movement strange vehicle, and Button-Bright decided music he had heard first sighted this city was nothing else than chariot plodding its weary way streets

All the travelers Emerald City thought this ride the most uninteresting and dreary they had ever experienced, but the High Coco-Lorum seemed grand He pointed out the different buildings and parks and fountains in much the same way conductor does on an American "sightseeing wagon" does, and being guests they were obliged to submit ordeal But they became little worried when their host told them he had ordered banquet prepared City Hall " we going to eat ? "asked Button-Bright suspiciously

"Thistles," reply "Fine, fresh thistles, gathered this very day "

Scraps laughed, for she never ate anything, but Dorothy said in protesting voice, "OUR insides lined with gold, "

"How sad ! "exclaimed the High Coco-Lorum, and then he added as an afterthought, "but the thistles boiled, prefer "

I'm 'fraid they wouldn't taste good even then," said little Trot "Haven't you anything else to eat ? "

The High Coco-Lorum shook his diamond-shaped head

"Nothing that of," said he "But why should anything else when thistles ? However, 't eat what we eat, don't eat anything be offended, banquet just as merry and delightful "

Knowing his companions were all hungry, the Wizard said, "I trust excuse us banquet, sir, which merry enough without us, although given honor For, as Ozma in your city, leave here at once and seek her elsewhere "

"Sure ! " Dorothy, and she whispered to Betsy and Trot, "I'd rather starve somewhere else than city, and who knows, run across somebody who eats reg'lar food and will some "

So ride was finished, protests High Coco-Lorum, they insisted on continuing their journey " soon be dark," he objected

"We don't mind the darkness," replied the Wizard

"Some wandering Herku may get you "

" the Herkus would hurt us ? "asked Dorothy

"I , not having had the honor acquaintance But said so strong that had place to stand upon lift the world "

"All together ? "asked Button-Bright wonderingly

" could ," said the High Coco-Lorum

" heard of any magicians being among them ? " asked the Wizard, knowing that only magician stolen Ozma way she stolen

" told quite magical country," declared the High Coco-Lorum, "and magic is usually performed by magicians But never heard that any invention or sorcery to equal our wonderful auto-dragons "

They thanked him courtesy, and mounting their own animals rode farther side city and right Wall of Illusion out open country "I'm glad we got away so easily," said Betsy "I didn't like those queer-shaped people "

"Nor did I," agreed Dorothy "It seems dreadful lined with sheets of pure gold nothing to eat but thistles "

"They seemed happy and contented, though," remarked the Wizard, "and those contented have nothing to regret and nothing more to wish for "

CHAPTER 10

TOTO LOSES SOMETHING

For while the travelers were constantly losing their direction, for beyond the thistle fields they again found themselves turning-lands, which swung them around and then another But by keeping the City of Thi constantly behind them, the adventurers finally passed the treacherous turning-lands and came upon stony country where no grass grew at all There were plenty of bushes, however, and although now almost dark, the girls discovered some delicious yellow berries growing bushes, one taste set them all to picking as find The berries relieved their pangs of hunger for time, and as it now became too dark anything, they camped where they were

The three girls lay down upon blankets--all in row-- Wizard covered them other blanket and tucked them in Button-Bright crawled under the shelter of some bushes and was asleep

The Wizard sat down back to big stone and looked stars sky and thought gravely dangerous adventure they had undertaken, wondering ever their beloved Ozma again The animals lay in group , little distance others "I've lost my growl ! " said Toto, who very silent and sober all that day "What suppose has become of it ? "

" had asked me track of your growl, able you," remarked the Lion sleepily "But frankly, Toto, I supposed you were taking care of it yourself "

"It's an awful thing to lose one's growl," said Toto, wagging his tail disconsolately "What lost your roar, Lion ? Wouldn't you feel terrible ? "

"My roar,"replied the Lion, " fiercest thing about me I depend to frighten my enemies so badly won't dare to fight me "

"Once," said the Mule, "I lost my bray I couldn't call to Betsy to let her know hungry That was before talk, , for I yet come Land of Oz, and certainly very uncomfortable not noise "

"You make enough noise now," declared Toto "But none of answered my question: Where is my growl ? "

" search ME," said the Woozy "I don't care for such things, myself "

"You snore terribly," asserted Toto

"It ," said the Woozy "What one does when asleep one accountable for wake me up sometime when I'm snoring and let me hear the sound Then judge whether terrible or delightful "

"It isn't pleasant, I assure you," said the Lion, yawning

" it seems wholly unnecessary," declared Hank the Mule

"You ought to break yourself habit," said the Sawhorse "You never hear me snore, because I never sleep I don't even whinny puffy meat horses do that whoever stole Toto's growl had taken the Mule's bray Lion's roar Woozy's snore same time "

" , then, that my growl was stolen ? "

" never lost it before, ? " inquired inquired the Sawhorse

"Only once, when I had sore throat from barking too long moon "

"Is your throat sore now ? " asked the Woozy

"No," replied the dog

" 't understand," said Hank, "why dogs bark moon 't scare the moon, moon doesn't pay any attention bark So why do dogs ? "

"Were you ever dog ? " asked Toto