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They may kick," said Dorothy, doubtfully.

Then we will cut some switches, and make them behave," he replied. At the

first tree he cut himself a long, slender switch from one of the branches, and

shorter switches for the others.

Don't be afraid to order the beasts around," he said; "they're used to it."

Before long the road brought them to the gates of the city. There was a high

wall all around, which had been whitewashed, and the gate just before our

travelers was a mere opening in the wall, with no bars across it. No towers or

steeples or domes showed above the enclosure, nor was any living thing to be

seen as our friends drew near.

Suddenly, as they were about to boldly enter through the opening, there arose

a harsh clamor of sound that swelled and echoed on every side, until they

were nearly deafened by the racket and had to put their fingers to their ears to

keep the noise out.

It was like the firing of many cannon, only there were no cannon-balls or other

missiles to be seen; it was like the rolling of mighty thunder, only not a cloud

was in the sky; it was like the roar of countless breakers on a rugged

seashore, only there was no sea or other water anywhere about.

They hesitated to advance; but, as the noise did no harm, they entered

through the whitewashed wall and quickly discovered the cause of the

turmoil. Inside were suspended many sheets of tin or thin iron, and against

these metal sheets a row of donkeys were pounding their heels with vicious

kicks.

The shaggy man ran up to the nearest donkey and gave the beast a sharp

blow with his switch.

Stop that noise!" he shouted; and the donkey stopped kicking the metal sheet

and turned its head to look with surprise at the shaggy man. He switched the

next donkey, and made him stop, and then the next, so that gradually the

rattling of heels ceased and the awful noise subsided. The donkeys stood in a

group and eyed the strangers with fear and trembling.

What do you mean by making such a racket?" asked the shaggy man, sternly.

We were scaring away the foxes," said one of the donkeys, meekly. "Usually

they run fast enough when they hear the noise, which makes them afraid."

The Road to Oz