17. How They Came to Bunbury
Wanderingthroughthewoods,withoutknowingwhereyouaregoingorwhatadventureyouareabouttomeetnext,isnotaspleasantasonemightthink.Thewoodsarealwaysbeautifulandimpressive,andifyouarenotworriedorhungryyoumayenjoythemimmensely;butDorothywasworriedandhungrythatmorning,soshepaidlittleattentiontothebeautiesoftheforest,andhurriedalongasfastasshecouldgo.Shetriedtokeepinonedirectionandnotcirclearound,butshewasnotatallsurethatthedirectionshehadchosenwouldleadhertothecamp.
Byandby,tohergreatjoy,shecameuponapath.Itrantotherightandtotheleft,beinglostinthetreesinbothdirections,andjustbeforeher,uponabigoak,werefastenedtwosigns,witharmspointingbothways.Onesignread:
TAKETHEOTHERROADTOBUNBURY
andthesecondsignread:
TAKETHEOTHERROADTOBUNNYBURY
"Well!"exclaimedBillina,eyeingthesigns,"thislooksasifweweregettingbacktocivilizationagain."
"I’mnotsureaboutthecivil’zation,dear,"repliedthelittlegirl;"butitlooksasifwemightgetSOMEWHERE,andthat’sabigrelief,anyhow."
"Whichpathshallwetake?"inquiredtheYellowHen.
Dorothystaredatthesignsthoughtfully.
"Bunburysoundslikesomethingtoeat,"shesaid."Let’sgothere."
"It’sallthesametome,"repliedBillina.Shehadpickedupenoughbugsandinsectsfromthemossasshewentalongtosatisfyherownhunger,butthehenknewDorothycouldnoteatbugs;norcouldToto.