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3. Letters in the Sand
Butwhenourlittlegirlfirstcaughtsightofthefirstindividualofaracethatwasdestinedtocauseheralotoftrouble,shehadanideathatthebrilliantly-clothedpersonagewasonroller-skates,whichwereattachedtohishandsaswellastohisfeet.
"Run!"screamedtheyellowhen,flutteringawayingreatfright."It’saWheeler!"
"AWheeler?"exclaimedDorothy."Whatcanthatbe?"
"Don’tyourememberthewarninginthesand:’BewaretheWheelers’?Run,Itellyou--run!"
SoDorothyran,andtheWheelergaveasharp,wildcryandcameafterherinfullchase.
Lookingoverhershoulderassheran,thegirlnowsawagreatprocessionofWheelersemergingfromtheforest--dozensanddozensofthem--allcladinsplendid,tight-fittinggarmentsandallrollingswiftlytowardherandutteringtheirwild,strangecries.
"They’resuretocatchus!"pantedthegirl,whowasstillcarryingtheheavydinner-pailshehadpicked."Ican’trunmuchfarther,Billina."
"Climbupthishill,--quick!"saidthehen;andDorothyfoundshewasveryneartotheheapoflooseandjaggedrockstheyhadpassedontheirwaytotheforest.Theyellowhenwasevennowflutteringamongtherocks,andDorothyfollowedasbestshecould,halfclimbingandhalftumblinguptheroughandruggedsteep.
Shewasnonetoosoon,fortheforemostWheelerreachedthehillamomentafterher;butwhilethegirlscrambleduptherocksthecreaturestoppedshortwithhowlsofrageanddisappointment.
Dorothynowheardtheyellowhenlaughing,inhercackling,hennyway.
"Don’thurry,mydear,"criedBillina.
