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"
Yes, the Whiskered Friskers are really very clever," he replied. "I shall
hate to part with them when I go away, for they have often amused me
when I was very miserable. I wonder if you would ask Glinda--"
"
No, it wouldn't do at all," declared Dorothy, positively. "There wouldn't
be room in your hole in the ground for so many rabbits, 'spec'ly when
you get the lily chair and your clothes there. Don't think of such a thing,
your Majesty."
The King sighed. Then he stood up and announced to the company:
"
We will now hold a military drill by my picked Bodyguard of Royal
Pikemen."
Now the band played a march and a company of rabbit soldiers came in.
They wore green and gold uniforms and marched very stiffly but in
perfect time. Their spears, or pikes, had slender shafts of polished silver
with golden heads, and during the drill they handled these weapons with
wonderful dexterity.
"
I should think you'd feel pretty safe with such a fine Bodyguard,"
remarked Dorothy.
"
I do," said the King. "They protect me from every harm. I suppose
Glinda wouldn't--"
"
No," interrupted the girl; "I'm sure she wouldn't. It's the King's own
Bodyguard, and when you are no longer King you can't have 'em."
The King did not reply, but he looked rather sorrowful for a time.
When the soldiers had marched out he said to the company:
"
The Royal Jugglers will now appear."
Dorothy had seen many jugglers in her lifetime, but never any so
interesting as these. There were six of them, dressed in black satin
embroidered with queer symbols in silver--a costume which contrasted
strongly with their snow-white fur.
First, they pushed in a big red ball and three of the rabbit jugglers stood
upon its top and made it roll. Then two of them caught up a third and
tossed him into the air, all vanishing, until only the two were left. Then
one of these tossed the other upward and remained alone of all his
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