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11. Johnny Dooit Does It
Hishairwasgrey,hiswhiskersweregrey;andthesewhiskersweresolongthathehadwoundtheendsofthemaroundhiswaistandtiedtheminahardknotunderneaththeleatherapronthatreachedfromhischinnearlytohisfeet,andwhichwassoiledandscratchedasifithadbeenusedalongtime.Hisnosewasbroad,andstuckupalittle;buthiseyesweretwinklingandmerry.Thelittleman’shandsandarmswereashardandtoughastheleatherinhisapron,andDorothythoughtJohnnyDooitlookedasifhehaddonealotofhardworkinhislifetime.
"Goodmorning,Johnny,"saidtheshaggyman."Thankyouforcomingtomesoquickly."
"Ineverwastetime,"saidthenewcomer,promptly."Butwhat’shappenedtoyou?Wheredidyougetthatdonkeyhead?Really,Iwouldn’thaveknownyouatall,ShaggyMan,ifIhadn’tlookedatyourfeet."
TheshaggymanintroducedJohnnyDooittoDorothyandTotoandButton-BrightandtheRainbow’sDaughter,andtoldhimthestoryoftheiradventures,addingthattheywereanxiousnowtoreachtheEmeraldCityintheLandofOz,whereDorothyhadfriendswhowouldtakecareofthemandsendthemsafehomeagain.
"But,"saidhe,"wefindthatwecan’tcrossthisdesert,whichturnsalllivingfleshthattouchesitintodust;soIhaveaskedyoutocomeandhelpus."
JohnnyDooitpuffedhispipeandlookedcarefullyatthedreadfuldesertinfrontofthem—stretchingsofarawaytheycouldnotseeitsend.
"Youmustride,"hesaid,briskly.
"Whatin?"askedtheshaggyman.
"Inasand-boat,whichhasrunnerslikeasledandsailslikeaship.