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17. How They Came to Bunbury

Wandering through the woods, without knowing where you are going or

what adventure you are about to meet next, is not as pleasant as one

might think. The woods are always beautiful and impressive, and if you

are not worried or hungry you may enjoy them immensely; but Dorothy

was worried and hungry that morning, so she paid little attention to the

beauties of the forest, and hurried along as fast as she could go. She

tried to keep in one direction and not circle around, but she was not at

all sure that the direction she had chosen would lead her to the camp.

By and by, to her great joy, she came upon a path. It ran to the right

and to the left, being lost in the trees in both directions, and just before

her, upon a big oak, were fastened two signs, with arms pointing both

ways. One sign read:

TAKE THE OTHER ROAD TO BUNBURY

and the second sign read:

TAKE THE OTHER ROAD TO BUNNYBURY

Well!" exclaimed Billina, eyeing the signs, "this looks as if we were

getting back to civilization again."

I'm not sure about the civil'zation, dear," replied the little girl; "but it

looks as if we might get SOMEWHERE, and that's a big relief, anyhow."

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

Dorothy stared at the signs thoughtfully.

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

It's all the same to me," replied Billina. She had picked up enough bugs

and insects from the moss as she went along to satisfy her own hunger,

but the hen knew Dorothy could not eat bugs; nor could Toto.

The path to Bunbury seemed little traveled, but it was distinct enough

and ran through the trees in a zigzag course until it finally led them to

an open space filled with the queerest houses Dorothy had ever seen.

They were all made of crackers laid out in tiny squares, and were of

The Emerald City of Oz