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reached to the knees of the marching giants. The girls and Button-Bright
were anxious to know what sort of a city they had entered, and what the
people were like who had made these powerful creatures their slaves.
Through the legs of the giants as they walked, Dorothy could see rows of
houses on each side of the street and throngs of people standing on the
sidewalks, but the people were of ordinary size and the only remarkable thing
about them was the fact that they were dreadfully lean and thin. Between
their skin and their bones there seemed to be little or no flesh, and they were
mostly stoop-shouldered and weary looking, even to the little children.
More and more, Dorothy wondered how and why the great giants had ever
submitted to become slaves of such skinny, languid masters, but there was no
chance to question anyone until they arrived at a big palace located in the
heart of the city. Here the giants formed lines to the entrance and stood still
while our friends rode into the courtyard of the palace. Then the gates closed
behind them, and before them was a skinny little man who bowed low and
said in a sad voice, "If you will be so obliging as to dismount, it will give me
pleasure to lead you into the presence of the World's Most Mighty Ruler, Vig
the Czarover."
"
"
"
"
I don't believe it!" said Dorothy indignantly.
What don't you believe?" asked the man.
I don't believe your Czarover can hold a candle to our Ozma."
He wouldn't hold a candle under any circumstances, or to any living person,"
replied the man very seriously, "for he has slaves to do such things and the
Mighty Vig is too dignified to do anything that others can do for him. He even
obliges a slave to sneeze for him, if ever he catches cold. However, if you dare
to face our powerful ruler, follow me."
"
We dare anything," said the Wizard, "so go ahead."
Through several marble corridors having lofty ceilings they passed, finding
each corridor and doorway guarded by servants. But these servants of the
palace were of the people and not giants, and they were so thin that they
almost resembled skeletons. Finally, they entered a great circular room with a
high, domed ceiling, where the Czarover sat on a throne cut from a solid block
of white marble and decorated with purple silk hangings and gold tassels.
The ruler of these people was combing his eyebrows when our friends entered
the throne room and stood before him, but he put the comb in his pocket and
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