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lively march tune which was in striking contrast with the dragging movement
of the strange vehicle, and Button-Bright decided that the music he had heard
when they first sighted this city was nothing else than a chariot plodding its
weary way through the streets.
All the travelers from the Emerald City thought this ride the most
uninteresting and dreary they had ever experienced, but the High Coco-Lorum
seemed to think it was grand. He pointed out the different buildings and
parks and fountains in much the same way that the conductor does on an
American "sightseeing wagon" does, and being guests they were obliged to
submit to the ordeal. But they became a little worried when their host told
them he had ordered a banquet prepared for them in the City Hall.
"
"
What are we going to eat?" asked Button-Bright suspiciously.
Thistles," was the reply. "Fine, fresh thistles, gathered this very day."
Scraps laughed, for she never ate anything, but Dorothy said in a protesting
voice, "OUR insides are not lined with gold, you know."
"
How sad!" exclaimed the High Coco-Lorum, and then he added as an
afterthought, "but we can have the thistles boiled, if you prefer."
"
I'm 'fraid they wouldn't taste good even then," said little Trot. "Haven't you
anything else to eat?"
The High Coco-Lorum shook his diamond-shaped head.
"
Nothing that I know of," said he. "But why should we have anything else
when we have so many thistles? However, if you can't eat what we eat, don't
eat anything. We shall not be offended, and the banquet will be just as merry
and delightful."
Knowing his companions were all hungry, the Wizard said, "I trust you will
excuse us from the banquet, sir, which will be merry enough without us,
although it is given in our honor. For, as Ozma is not in your city, we must
leave here at once and seek her elsewhere."
"
Sure we must!" Dorothy, and she whispered to Betsy and Trot, "I'd rather
starve somewhere else than in this city, and who knows, we may run across
somebody who eats reg'lar food and will give us some."
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