22. How the Wizard Found Dorothy

           Whentheycametothesignpost,there,totheirjoy,werethetentsoftheWizardpitchedbesidethepathandthekettlebubblingmerrilyoverthefire.TheShaggyManandOmbyAmbyweregatheringfirewoodwhileUncleHenryandAuntEmsatintheircampchairstalkingwiththeWizard.

           TheyallranforwardtogreetDorothy,assheapproached,andAuntEmexclaimed:"Goodnessgracious,child!Wherehaveyoubeen?"

           "You’veplayedhookeythewholeday,"addedtheShaggyMan,reproachfully.

           "Well,yousee,I’vebeenlost,"explainedthelittlegirl,"andI’vetriedawfulhardtofindthewaybacktoyou,butjustcouldn’tdoit."

           "Didyouwanderintheforestallday?"askedUncleHenry.

           "Youmustbea’moststarved!"saidAuntEm.

           "No,"saidDorothy,"I’mnothungry.Ihadawheelbarrowandapianoforbreakfast,andlunchedwithaKing."

           "Ah!"exclaimedtheWizard,noddingwithabrightsmile."Soyou’vebeenhavingadventuresagain."

           "She’sstarkcrazy!"criedAuntEm."Whoeverheardofeatingawheelbarrow?"

           "Itwasn’tverybig,"saidDorothy;"andithadazuzuwheel."

           "AndIatethecrumbs,"saidBillina,soberly.

           "Sitdownandtellusaboutit,"beggedtheWizard."We’vehuntedforyouallday,andatlastInoticedyourfootstepsinthispath--andthetracksofBillina.Wefoundthepathbyaccident,andseeingitonlyledtotwoplacesIdecidedyouwereateitheroneortheotherofthoseplaces.Sowemadecampandwaitedforyoutoreturn.