" really think so ? " asked Polychrome, anxiously

"I'm pretty sure "

"Then I'll go ," said the little maid; "for travel will help keep me warm, and father can find me in one part world as another--if he gets time to look "

"Come along, then," said the shaggy man, cheerfully; started on once more Polly walked beside Dorothy while, holding her new friend's hand she feared to let it go; but her nature seemed as light and buoyant as her fleecy robes, for suddenly she darted ahead and whirled round in giddy dance Then she tripped back with sparkling eyes and smiling cheeks, having regained her usual happy mood and forgotten all her worry about being lost

They found her charming companion, and her dancing and laughter-- for she laughed at times like the tinkling of silver bell--did much to enliven their journey and keep them contented

6 The City Of Beasts

When noon came they opened the Fox-King's basket of luncheon, and found nice roasted turkey with cranberry sauce and some slices of bread and butter sat grass roadside the shaggy man cut up the turkey pocket-knife and passed slices of it around

"Haven't you any dewdrops, or mist-cakes, or cloudbuns ? " asked Polychrome, longingly

"'Course not," replied Dorothy "We eat solid things, down here earth But there's bottle of cold tea Try some, won't you ? "

The Rainbow's Daughter watched Button-Bright devour one leg turkey

" good ? " she asked

He nodded

" eat it ? "

"Not this," said Button-Bright

"But I mean another piece ? "

"Don't know," he replied

"Well, I'm going , for I'm very hungry," she decided, and took thin slice white breast of turkey which the shaggy man cut for her, as bit of bread and butter When she tasted it Polychrome thought the turkey was good--better even than mist-cakes; but little satisfied her hunger and she finished with tiny sip of cold tea

"That's about as fly would eat," said Dorothy, who was making good meal herself "But some people in Oz who eat nothing at all "

" they ? " inquired the shaggy man

"One is scarecrow who's stuffed with straw, other woodman made out of tin They haven't any appetites inside of 'em, ; so they never eat anything at all "

"Are they alive ? " asked Button-Bright

"Oh yes," replied Dorothy; " 're very clever and very nice, too get to Oz I'll introduce them "

" really expect to Oz ? " inquired the shaggy man, taking drink of cold tea

"I don't know just what to 'spect," answered the child, seriously; "but I've noticed if I happen lost I'm almost sure Land of Oz end, somehow 'r other; so get there But 't promise, ; all do is wait "

"Will the Scarecrow scare me ? " asked Button-Bright

"No; 'cause you're not crow," she returned "He loveliest smile you ever saw--only it's painted on and 't help it "

Luncheon being over they started again upon their journey, the shaggy man, Dorothy and Button-Bright walking soberly along, side by side, Rainbow's Daughter dancing merrily before them

Sometimes she darted along the road so swiftly that she was nearly out of sight, then she came tripping back to greet them with her silvery laughter But once she came back more sedately, :

"There's city little way off "

"I 'spected that," returned Dorothy; " fox-people warned us one road It's filled with stupid beasts of some sort, but we musn't be afraid of 'em 'cause they won't hurt us "

"All right," said Button-Bright; but Polychrome didn't know whether all right or not

"It's big city," she said, " road runs straight through it "

"Never mind," said the shaggy man; "as long as I carry the Love Magnet every living thing will love me, and I shan't allow any friends harmed in "

This comforted them somewhat, moved on again Pretty soon they came to signpost that read:

"HAF MYLE TO DUNKITON "

"Oh," said the shaggy man, " 're donkeys, we've nothing to fear at all "

" kick," said Dorothy, doubtfully

"Then cut some switches, and make them behave," he replied first tree he cut himself long, slender switch from branches, and shorter switches others

"Don't be afraid to order the beasts around," ; "they're used "

Before long the road brought them gates city high wall all around, which whitewashed, gate just before our travelers was mere opening wall, with no bars across it No towers or steeples or domes showed above the enclosure, nor was any living thing seen as our friends drew near

Suddenly, were about to boldly enter opening, there arose harsh clamor of sound that swelled and echoed on every side, until they were nearly deafened racket and had their fingers ears the noise out

like the firing of many cannon, only there were no cannon-balls or other missiles seen; like the rolling of mighty thunder, only not cloud was sky; like the roar of countless breakers on rugged seashore, only no sea or other water anywhere about

They hesitated to advance; but, noise did no harm, they entered whitewashed wall and quickly discovered the cause turmoil Inside were suspended many sheets of tin or thin iron, and against these metal sheets row of donkeys were pounding their heels with vicious kicks

The shaggy man ran nearest donkey and gave the beast sharp blow switch

"Stop that noise ! " he shouted; donkey stopped kicking the metal sheet and turned its head to look with surprise shaggy man He switched the next donkey, and made him stop, and then the next, gradually the rattling of heels ceased awful noise subsided The donkeys stood in group and eyed the strangers with fear and trembling

"What by making such racket ? " asked the shaggy man, sternly

"We were scaring away the foxes," said donkeys, meekly "Usually they run fast enough hear the noise, which makes them afraid "

" no foxes here," said the shaggy man

"I beg to differ There's one, anyhow," replied the donkey, sitting upright on its haunches and waving hoof toward Button-Bright "We saw him coming and thought the whole army of foxes was marching to attack us "

"Button-Bright isn't fox," explained the shaggy man "He's only wearing fox head for time, until get his own head back "

"Oh, ," remarked the donkey, waving its left ear reflectively "I'm sorry such mistake, and had all our work and worry for nothing "

The other donkeys were sitting up and examining the strangers with big, glassy eyes They made queer picture, indeed; for they wore wide, white collars around their necks collars had many scallops and points The gentlemen-donkeys wore high pointed caps set between their great ears, lady-donkeys wore sunbonnets with holes cut top ears to stick through But they had no other clothing except their hairy skins, although many wore gold and silver bangles on their front wrists and bands of different metals on their rear ankles were kicking they had braced themselves with their front legs, but now they all stood or sat upright on their hind legs and used the front ones as arms Having no fingers or hands the beasts were rather clumsy, guess; but Dorothy was surprised to observe things do with their stiff, heavy hoofs

donkeys were white, some were brown, or gray, or black, or spotted; but their hair was sleek and smooth and their broad collars and caps gave them neat, if whimsical, appearance

" nice way to welcome visitors, say ! " remarked the shaggy man, in reproachful tone

"Oh, mean impolite," replied grey donkey which spoken before "But you expected, nor did you send in your visiting cards, proper "

" some truth ," admitted the shaggy man; "but, now informed that important and distinguished travelers, I trust accord us proper consideration "

These big words delighted the donkeys, and made them bow shaggy man with great respect Said the grey one:

"You shall be taken before his great and glorious Majesty King Kik-a-bray, greet you as becomes your exalted stations "

"That's right," answered Dorothy "Take us to some one who knows something "

"Oh, we all know something, my child, or we shouldn't be donkeys," asserted the grey one, with dignity "The word 'donkey' means 'clever,' "

"I didn't know it," she replied " it meant 'stupid' "

"Not at all, my child look Encyclopedia Donkaniara I'm correct But come; myself lead you before our splendid, exalted, and most intellectual ruler "

All donkeys love big words, so no wonder the grey one used

7 The Shaggy Man's Transformation

They found the houses town all low and square and built of bricks, neatly whitewashed inside and out The houses set in rows, forming regular streets, but placed here and there in haphazard manner which made it puzzling for stranger his way

"Stupid people streets and numbered houses in their cities, to guide them where ," observed the grey donkey, as he walked visitors hind legs, in an awkward but comical manner; "but clever donkeys know their way about without such absurd marks Moreover, mixed city is much prettier than one with straight streets "

Dorothy agree , but she said nothing to contradict it Presently she saw sign on house that read: "Madam de Fayke, Hoofist," and she asked their conductor:

"What's 'hoofist,' please ? "

"One who reads your fortune in your hoofs," replied the grey donkey