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CHAPTER 8 - THE MYSTERIOUS CITY

There they sat upon the grass, their heads still swimming from their dizzy

flights, and looked at one another in silent bewilderment. But presently, when

assured that no one was injured, they grew more calm and collected, and the

Lion said with a sigh of relief, "Who would have thought those Merry-Go-

Round Mountains were made of rubber?"

Are they really rubber?" asked Trot.

They must be," replied the Lion, "for otherwise we would not have bounded so

swiftly from one to another without getting hurt."

That is all guesswork," declared the Wizard, unwinding the blankets from his

body, "for none of us stayed long enough on the mountains to discover what

they are made of. But where are we?"

That's guesswork," said Scraps. "The shepherd said the Thistle-Eaters live

this side of the mountains and are waited on by giants."

Oh no," said Dorothy, "it's the Herkus who have giant slaves, and the Thistle-

Eaters hitch dragons to their chariots."

How could they do that?" asked the Woozy. "Dragons have long tails, which

would get in the way of the chariot wheels."

And if the Herkus have conquered the giants," said Trot, "they must be at

least twice the size of giants. P'raps the Herkus are the biggest people in all

the world!"

Perhaps they are," assented the Wizard in a thoughtful tone of voice. "And

perhaps the shepherd didn't know what he was talking about. Let us travel

on toward the west and discover for ourselves what the people of this country

are like."

It seemed a pleasant enough country, and it was quite still and peaceful when

they turned their eyes away from the silently whirling mountains. There were

trees here and there and green bushes, while throughout the thick grass were

scattered brilliantly colored flowers. About a mile away was a low hill that hid

from them all the country beyond it, so they realized they could not tell much

about the country until they had crossed the hill. The Red Wagon having

been left behind, it was now necessary to make other arrangements for

The Lost Princess of Oz