9. Facing the Scoodlers

           Thecountrywasn’tsoprettynow.Beforethetravelersappearedarockyplaincoveredwithhillsonwhichgrewnothinggreen.Theywerenearingsomelowmountains,too,andtheroad,whichbeforehadbeensmoothandpleasanttowalkupon,grewroughanduneven.

           Button-Bright’slittlefeetstumbledmorethanonce,andPolychromeceasedherdancingbecausethewalkingwasnowsodifficultthatshehadnotroubletokeepwarm.

           Ithadbecomeafternoon,yettherewasn’tathingfortheirluncheonexcepttwoappleswhichtheshaggymanhadtakenfromthebreakfasttable.Hedividedtheseintofourpiecesandgaveaportiontoeachofhiscompanions.DorothyandButton-Brightweregladtogettheirs;butPollywassatisfiedwithasmallbite,andTotodidnotlikeapples.

           "Doyouknow,"askedtheRainbow’sDaughter,"ifthisistherightroadtotheEmeraldCity?"

           "No,Idon’t,"repliedDorothy,"butit’stheonlyroadinthispartofthecountry,sowemayaswellgototheendofit."

           "Itlooksnowasifitmightendprettysoon,"remarkedtheshaggyman;"andwhatshallwedoifitdoes?"

           "Don’tknow,"saidButton-Bright.

           "IfIhadmyMagicBelt,"repliedDorothy,thoughtfully,"itcoulddousalotofgoodjustnow."

           "WhatisyourMagicBelt?"askedPolychrome.

           "It’sathingIcapturedfromtheNomeKingoneday,anditcando’mostanywonderfulthing.ButIleftitwithOzma,youknow;’causemagicwon’tworkinKansas,butonlyinfairycountries."

           "Isthisafairycountry?"askedButton-Bright.

           "Ishouldthinkyou’dknow,"saidthelittlegirl,gravely.