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CHAPTER 12 - THE CZAROVER OF HERKU
Trot wakened just as the sun rose, and slipping out of the blankets, went to
the edge of the Great Orchard and looked across the plain. Something
glittered in the far distance. "That looks like another city," she said half
aloud.
"
And another city it is," declared Scraps, who had crept to Trot's side unheard,
for her stuffed feet made no sound. "The Sawhorse and I made a journey in
the dark while you were all asleep, and we found over there a bigger city than
Thi. There's a wall around it, too, but it has gates and plenty of pathways."
"
"
Did you get in?" asked Trot.
No, for the gates were locked and the wall was a real wall. So we came back
here again. It isn't far to the city. We can reach it in two hours after you've
had your breakfasts."
Trot went back, and finding the other girls now awake, told them what Scraps
had said. So they hurriedly ate some fruit--there were plenty of plums and
fijoas in this part of the orchard--and then they mounted the animals and set
out upon the journey to the strange city. Hank the Mule had breakfasted on
grass, and the Lion had stolen away and found a breakfast to his liking; he
never told what it was, but Dorothy hoped the little rabbits and the field mice
had kept out of his way. She warned Toto not to chase birds and gave the dog
some apple, with which he was quite content. The Woozy was as fond of fruit
as of any other food except honey, and the Sawhorse never ate at all.
Except for their worry over Ozma, they were all in good spirits as they
proceeded swiftly over the plain. Toto still worried over his lost growl, but like
a wise little dog kept his worry to himself. Before long, the city grew nearer
and they could examine it with interest.
In outward appearance the place was more imposing than Thi, and it was a
square city, with a square, four-sided wall around it, and on each side was a
square gate of burnished copper. Everything about the city looked solid and
substantial; there were no banners flying, and the towers that rose above the
city wall seemed bare of any ornament whatever.
A path led from the fruit orchard directly to one of the city gates, showing that
the inhabitants preferred fruit to thistles. Our friends followed this path to
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