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The animals came to a sudden halt, for the city had really disappeared, walls

and all, and before them lay the clear, unbroken sweep of the country. "Dear

me!" exclaimed the Wizard. "This is rather disagreeable. It is annoying to

travel almost to a place and then find it is not there."

Where can it be, then?" asked Dorothy. "It cert'nly was there a minute ago."

I can hear the music yet," declared Button-Bright, and when they all listened,

the strains of music could plainly be heard.

Oh! There's the city over at the left," called Scraps, and turning their eyes,

they saw the walls and towers and fluttering banners far to the left of them.

We must have lost our way," suggested Dorothy.

Nonsense," said the Lion.

I, and all the other animals, have been tramping straight toward the city ever

since we first saw it."

Then how does it happen--"

Never mind," interrupted the Wizard, "we are no farther from it than we were

before. It is in a different direction, that's all, so let us hurry and get there

before it again escapes us."

So on they went directly toward the city, which seemed only a couple of miles

distant. But when they had traveled less than a mile, it suddenly disappeared

again. Once more they paused, somewhat discouraged, but in a moment the

button eyes of Scraps again discovered the city, only this time it was just

behind them in the direction from which they had come. "Goodness gracious!"

cried Dorothy. "There's surely something wrong with that city. Do you s'pose

it's on wheels, Wizard?"

It may not be a city at all," he replied, looking toward it with a speculative

glance.

What COULD it be, then?"

Just an illusion."

What's that?" asked Trot.

Something you think you see and don't see."

The Lost Princess of Oz