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Oh yes," replied Dorothy; "and they're very clever and very nice, too. If we get

to Oz I'll introduce them to you."

Do you really expect to get to Oz?" inquired the shaggy man, taking a drink of

cold tea.

I don't know just what to 'spect," answered the child, seriously; "but I've

noticed if I happen to get lost I'm almost sure to come to the Land of Oz in the

end, somehow 'r other; so I may get there this time. But I can't promise, you

know; all I can do is wait and see."

Will the Scarecrow scare me?" asked Button-Bright.

No; 'cause you're not a crow," she returned. "He has the loveliest smile you

ever saw--only it's painted on and he can't help it."

Luncheon being over they started again upon their journey, the shaggy man,

Dorothy and Button-Bright walking soberly along, side by side, and the

Rainbow's Daughter dancing merrily before them.

Sometimes she darted along the road so swiftly that she was nearly out of

sight, then she came tripping back to greet them with her silvery laughter.

But once she came back more sedately, to say:

There's a city a little way off."

I 'spected that," returned Dorothy; "for the fox-people warned us there was

one on this road. It's filled with stupid beasts of some sort, but we musn't be

afraid of 'em 'cause they won't hurt us."

All right," said Button-Bright; but Polychrome didn't know whether it was all

right or not.

It's a big city," she said, "and the road runs straight through it."

Never mind," said the shaggy man; "as long as I carry the Love Magnet every

living thing will love me, and you may be sure I shan't allow any of my friends

to be harmed in any way."

This comforted them somewhat, and they moved on again. Pretty soon they

came to a signpost that read:

HAF A MYLE TO DUNKITON."

Oh," said the shaggy man, "if they're donkeys, we've nothing to fear at all."

The Road to Oz