15. How Dorothy Happened to Get Lost

           Itwasabeautifulevening,sotheydrewtheircampchairsinacirclebeforeoneofthetentsandbegantotellstoriestoamusethemselvesandpassawaythetimebeforetheywenttobed.

           Prettysoonazebrawasseencomingoutoftheforest,andhetrottedstraightuptothemandsaidpolitely:

           "Goodevening,people."

           Thezebrawasasleeklittleanimalandhadaslenderhead,astubbymaneandapaint-brushtail--verylikeadonkey’s.Hisneatlyshapedwhitebodywascoveredwithregularbarsofdarkbrown,andhishoofsweredelicateasthoseofadeer.

           "Goodevening,friendZebra,"saidOmbyAmby,inreplytothecreature’sgreeting."Canwedoanythingforyou?"

           "Yes,"answeredthezebra."Ishouldlikeyoutosettleadisputethathaslongbeenabothertome,astowhetherthereismorewaterorlandintheworld."

           "Whoareyoudisputingwith?"askedtheWizard.

           "Withasoft-shellcrab,"saidthezebra."HelivesinapoolwhereIgotodrinkeveryday,andheisaveryimpertinentcrab,Iassureyou.Ihavetoldhimmanytimesthatthelandismuchgreaterinextentthanthewater,buthewillnotbeconvinced.Eventhisveryevening,whenItoldhimhewasaninsignificantcreaturewholivedinasmallpool,heassertedthatthewaterwasgreaterandmoreimportantthantheland.So,seeingyourcamp,Idecidedtoaskyoutosettlethedisputeforonceandall,thatImaynotbefurtherannoyedbythisignorantcrab."

           WhentheyhadlistenedtothisexplanationDorothyinquired:

           "Whereisthesoft-shellcrab?"

           "Notfaraway,"repliedthezebra."IfyouwillagreetojudgebetweenusIwillrunandgethim.