3. A Queer Village

           Button-Brighttooktheshaggyman’shandwillingly;fortheshaggymanhadtheLoveMagnet,youknow,whichwasthereasonButton-Brighthadlovedhimatonce.Theystartedon,withDorothyononeside,andTotoontheother,thelittlepartytrudgingalongmorecheerfullythanyoumighthavesupposed.Thegirlwasgettingusedtoqueeradventures,whichinterestedherverymuch.WhereverDorothywentTotowassuretogo,likeMary’slittlelamb.Button-Brightdidn’tseemabitafraidorworriedbecausehewaslost,andtheshaggymanhadnohome,perhaps,andwasashappyinoneplaceasinanother.

           Beforelongtheysawaheadofthemafinebigarchspanningtheroad,andwhentheycamenearertheyfoundthatthearchwasbeautifullycarvedanddecoratedwithrichcolors.Arowofpeacockswithspreadtailsranalongthetopofit,andallthefeathersweregorgeouslypainted.Inthecenterwasalargefox’shead,andthefoxworeashrewdandknowingexpressionandhadlargespectaclesoveritseyesandasmallgoldencrownwithshinypointsontopofitshead.

           Whilethetravelerswerelookingwithcuriosityatthisbeautifularchtheresuddenlymarchedoutofitacompanyofsoldiers—onlythesoldierswereallfoxesdressedinuniforms.Theyworegreenjacketsandyellowpantaloons,andtheirlittleroundcapsandtheirhighbootswereabrightredcolor.Also,therewasabigredbowtiedaboutthemiddleofeachlong,bushytail.Eachsoldierwasarmedwithawoodenswordhavinganedgeofsharpteethsetinarow,andthesightoftheseteethatfirstcausedDorothytoshudder.