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7. The Shaggy Man's Transformation
Totohadthescrapsleftfromthebeefsteak,andhestoodupnicelyonhishindlegswhileDorothyfedthemtohim.
Breakfastended,theypassedthroughthevillagetothesideoppositethatbywhichtheyhadentered,thebrownservant-donkeyguidingthemthroughthemazeofscatteredhouses.Therewastheroadagain,leadingfarawayintotheunknowncountrybeyond.
"KingKik-a-braysaysyoumustnotforgethisinvitation,"saidthebrowndonkey,astheypassedthroughtheopeninginthewall.
"Ishan’t,"promisedDorothy.
Perhapsnooneeverbeheldamorestrangelyassortedgroupthantheonewhichnowwalkedalongtheroad,throughprettygreenfieldsandpastgrovesoffeatherypepper-treesandfragrantmimosa.Polychrome,herbeautifulgauzyrobesfloatingaroundherlikearainbowcloud,wentfirst,dancingbackandforthanddartingnowheretopluckawild-flowerortheretowatchabeetlecrawlacrossthepath.Totoranafterherattimes,barkingjoyouslythewhile,onlytobecomesoberagainandtrotalongatDorothy’sheels.ThelittleKansasgirlwalkedholdingButton-Bright’shandclaspedinherown,andtheweeboywithhisfoxheadcoveredbythesailorhatpresentedanoddappearance.Strangestofall,perhaps,wastheshaggyman,withhisshaggydonkeyhead,whoshuffledalongintherearwithhishandsthrustdeepinhisbigpockets.
Noneofthepartywasreallyunhappy.Allwerestrayinginanunknownlandandhadsufferedmoreorlessannoyanceanddiscomfort;buttheyrealizedtheywerehavingafairyadventureinafairycountry,andweremuchinterestedinfindingoutwhatwouldhappennext.