Путешествие в Страну Оз

           "Don’tasksomanyquestions,littleboy."

           "Why?"

           "Ah,whyindeed?"exclaimedthecaptain,lookingatButton-Brightadmiringly."Ifyoudon’taskquestionsyouwilllearnnothing.Trueenough.Iwaswrong.You’reaverycleverlittleboy,cometothinkofit—verycleverindeed.Butnow,friends,pleasecomewithme,foritismydutytoescortyouatoncetotheroyalpalace."

           Thesoldiersmarchedbackthroughthearchagain,andwiththemmarchedtheshaggyman,Dorothy,Toto,andButton-Bright.Oncethroughtheopeningtheyfoundafine,bigcityspreadoutbeforethem,allthehousesofcarvedmarbleinbeautifulcolors.Thedecorationsweremostlybirdsandotherfowl,suchaspeacocks,pheasants,turkeys,prairie-chickens,ducks,andgeese.Overeachdoorwaywascarvedaheadrepresentingthefoxwholivedinthathouse,thiseffectbeingquiteprettyandunusual.

           Asourfriendsmarchedalong,someofthefoxescameoutontheporchesandbalconiestogetaviewofthestrangers.Thesefoxeswereallhandsomelydressed,thegirl-foxesandwomen-foxeswearinggownsoffeatherswoventogethereffectivelyandcoloredinbrighthueswhichDorothythoughtwerequiteartisticanddecidedlyattractive.

           Button-Brightstareduntilhiseyeswerebigandround,andhewouldhavestumbledandfallenmorethanoncehadnottheshaggymangraspedhishandtightly.Theywereallinterested,andTotowassoexcitedhewantedtobarkeveryminuteandtochaseandfighteveryfoxhecaughtsightof;butDorothyheldhislittlewigglingbodyfastinherarmsandcommandedhimtobegoodandbehavehimself.