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"
Great palm trees," roared the Cowardly Lion.
As for Dorothy, she could do nothing but stare. The street ended surely
enough, and beyond there was nothing at all. That is, nothing but air.
"Well," said the Cowardly Lion, backing a few paces, "this is a pretty fix."
"
Glad you like it," said a wheezy voice. The three travelers turned in
surprise. A huge Fix was regarding them with interest. His circle, which was
the last in the row, was about twenty times as large as the other circles, and
on the edge stood a big sign:'
"
Don't you remember, the King said something about buying a road," said
Dorothy in an excited undertone to the Knight.
"Can'st direct us to a road, my good man?" asked Sir Hokus with a bow. The
Fix jerked his thumb back at the sign. "What kind of a road to you want?"
he asked hoarsely.
"A road that will take us back to the Emerald City, please," said Dorothy.
"I can't guarantee anything like that," declared the Fix, shaking his head.
"Our roads go where they please, and you'll have to go where they take you.
Do you want to go on or off?"
"
On," shivered the Cowardly Lion, looking with a shudder over the precipice
at the end of the street.
"What kind of a road will you have? Make up your minds, please. I am
busy."
"
What kind of roads have you?" asked Dorothy timidly. It was her first
experience at buying roads, and she felt a bit perplexed.
"Sunny, shady, straight, crooked, and cross-roads," snapped the Fix.
"
We wouldn't want a cross one," said Dorothy positively. "Have you any with
trees at both sides and water at the end?"
"
How many yards?" asked the Fix, taking a pair of shears as large as himself
off a long counter beside him.
"Five miles," said Sir Hokus as Dorothy looked confused. "That ought to take
us somewhere!"
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