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"
"
Wonder if this works with strings," said Dorothy; but Polychrome cried
Look!" for another creature just like the first had suddenly appeared sitting
on another rock, its black side toward them. The two twisted their heads
around and showed a black face on the white side of one and a white face on
the black side of the other.
"
How curious," said Polychrome; "and how loose their heads seem to be! Are
they friendly to us, do you think?"
"
Can't tell, Polly," replied Dorothy. "Let's ask 'em."
The creatures flopped first one way and then the other, showing black or white
by turns; and now another joined them, appearing on another rock. Our
friends had come to a little hollow in the hills, and the place where they now
stood was surrounded by jagged peaks of rock, except where the road ran
through.
"
"
"
"
Now there are four of them," said the shaggy man.
Five," declared Polychrome.
Six," said Dorothy.
Lots of 'em!" cried Button-Bright; and so there were--quite a row of the two-
sided black and white creatures sitting on the rocks all around.
Toto stopped barking and ran between Dorothy's feet, where he crouched
down as if afraid. The creatures did not look pleasant or friendly, to be sure,
and the shaggy man's donkey face became solemn, indeed.
"
Ask 'em who they are, and what they want," whispered Dorothy; so the
shaggy man called out in a loud voice:
"
"
"
"
Who are you?"
Scoodlers!" they yelled in chorus, their voices sharp and shrill.
What do you want?" called the shaggy man.
You!" they yelled, pointing their thin fingers at the group; and they all flopped
around, so they were white, and then all flopped back again, so they were
black.
"
But what do you want us for?" asked the shaggy man, uneasily.
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