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I should think she would get used to your coming, and not be afraid,"

said Dorothy.

It isn't that," replied the kangaroo. "They're not a bit afraid, when

they're put together, and usually they're very jolly and pleasant. It's just

a habit they have, to scatter themselves, and if they didn't do it they

wouldn't be Fuddles."

The travelers thought upon this quite seriously for a time, while the

Sawhorse continued to carry them rapidly forward. Then Aunt Em

remarked:

I don't see much use our visitin' these Fuddles. If we find them

scattered, all we can do is to sweep 'em up, and then go about our

business."

Oh, I b'lieve we'd better go on," replied Dorothy. "I'm getting hungry,

and we must try to get some luncheon at Fuddlecumjig. Perhaps the

food won't be scattered as badly as the people."

You'll find plenty to eat there," declared the kangaroo, hopping along in

big bounds because the Sawhorse was going so fast; "and they have a

fine cook, too, if you can manage to put him together. There's the town

now--just ahead of us!"

They looked ahead and saw a group of very pretty houses standing in a

green field a little apart from the main road.

Some Munchkins came here a few days ago and matched a lot of people

together," said the kangaroo. "I think they are together yet, and if you go

softly, without making any noise, perhaps they won't scatter."

Let's try it," suggested the Wizard.

So they stopped the Sawhorse and got out of the wagon, and, after

bidding good bye to the kangaroo, who hopped away home, they entered

the field and very cautiously approached the group of houses.

So silently did they move that soon they saw through the windows of the

houses, people moving around, while others were passing to and fro in

the yards between the buildings. They seemed much like other people

from a distance, and apparently they did not notice the little party so

quietly approaching.

The Emerald City of Oz