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3. A Queer Village

Button-Bright took the shaggy man's hand willingly; for the shaggy man had

the Love Magnet, you know, which was the reason Button-Bright had loved

him at once. They started on, with Dorothy on one side, and Toto on the

other, the little party trudging along more cheerfully than you might have

supposed. The girl was getting used to queer adventures, which interested

her very much. Wherever Dorothy went Toto was sure to go, like Mary's little

lamb. Button-Bright didn't seem a bit afraid or worried because he was lost,

and the shaggy man had no home, perhaps, and was as happy in one place as

in another.

Before long they saw ahead of them a fine big arch spanning the road, and

when they came nearer they found that the arch was beautifully carved and

decorated with rich colors. A row of peacocks with spread tails ran along the

top of it, and all the feathers were gorgeously painted. In the center was a

large fox's head, and the fox wore a shrewd and knowing expression and had

large spectacles over its eyes and a small golden crown with shiny points on

top of its head.

While the travelers were looking with curiosity at this beautiful arch there

suddenly marched out of it a company of soldiers--only the soldiers were all

foxes dressed in uniforms. They wore green jackets and yellow pantaloons,

and their little round caps and their high boots were a bright red color. Also,

there was a big red bow tied about the middle of each long, bushy tail. Each

soldier was armed with a wooden sword having an edge of sharp teeth set in a

row, and the sight of these teeth at first caused Dorothy to shudder.

A captain marched in front of the company of fox-soldiers, his uniform

embroidered with gold braid to make it handsomer than the others.

Almost before our friends realized it the soldiers had surrounded them on all

sides, and the captain was calling out in a harsh voice:

Surrender! You are our prisoners."

What's a pris'ner?" asked Button-Bright.

A prisoner is a captive," replied the fox-captain, strutting up and down with

much dignity.

What's a captive?" asked Button-Bright.

The Road to Oz