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merchants and maidens in their gay sedans and the people afoot made a
bright and lively picture.
"
If I could just live here instead of in the palace," mused the Scarecrow,
pausing before a modest rice shop. It is dangerous to stop in the narrow
streets, and Happy jerked his master aside just in time to prevent his being
trodden on by a huge camel. It sniffed at the Scarecrow suspiciously, and
they were forced to flatten themselves against a wall to let it pass. Happy
anxiously hurried the Emperor through the town, and they soon arrived at
the kite flying field. A great throng had gathered to watch the exhibition, and
there were more kites than one would see in a lifetime here. Huge fish, silver
paper dragons, birds--every sort and shape of kite was tugging at its string,
and hundreds of Silver Islanders--boys, girls and grown-ups-- were looking
on.
"
How interesting," said the Scarecrow, fascinated by a huge dragon that
floated just over his head. "I wish Dorothy could see this, I do indeed!"
But the dragon kite seemed almost alive, and horrors! Just as it swooped
down, a hook in the tail caught in the Scarecrow's collar, and before Happy
Toko could even wink, the Emperor of the Silver Islands was sailing towards
the clouds. The Scarecrow, as you must know, weighs almost nothing, and
the people shouted with glee, for they thought him a dummy man and part
of the performance. But Happy Toko ran after the kite as fast as his fat little
legs would carry him.
"Alas, alas, I shall lose my position!" wailed Happy Toko, quite convinced
that the Scarecrow would be dashed to pieces on the rocks. "Oh, putty head
that I am to set myself against the Grand Chew Chew!"
The Scarecrow, however, after recovering from the first shock, began to
enjoy himself. Holding fast to the dragon's tail, he looked down with great
interest upon his dominions. Rocks, mountains, tall silver pagodas,
drooping willow trees, flashed beneath him. Truly a beautiful island! His
gaze strayed over the silver waters surrounding the island, and he was
astonished to see a great fleet sailing into the harbor--a great fleet of
singular vessels with silken sails.
"
What's this?" thought the Scarecrow. But just then the dragon kite became
suddenly possessed. It jerked him up, it jerked him down, and shook him
this way and that. His hat flew off, his arms and legs whirled wildly, and
pieces of straw began to float downward. Then the hook ripped and tore
through his coat and, making a terrible slit in his back, came out. Down,
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