"But Toto's
got to be more sociable. See here, sir!" she
continued, addressing the dog, "I've just learned,
for the first time, that you can say words--if you
want to. Don't you want to, Toto?"
"Woof!" said Toto, and that meant "no."
"Not just one word, Toto, to prove you're as
any other animal in Oz?"
"Woof!"
"Just one word, Toto--and then you may run
away."
He looked at her steadily a moment.
"All right. Here I go!" he said, and darted away
as swift as an arrow.
Dorothy clapped her hands in delight, while
Betsy and Ozma both laughed heartily at her
pleasure and the success of her experiment. Arm in
arm they sauntered away through the beautiful
gardens of the palace, where magnificent flowers
bloomed in abundance and fountains shot their
silvery sprays far into the air. And by and by, as
they turned a corner, they came upon Shaggy Man
and his brother, who were seated together upon a
golden bench.
The two arose to bow respectfully as the Ruler
of Oz approached them.
"How are you enjoying our Land of Oz?" Ozma
asked the stranger.
"I am very happy here, Your Highness," replied
Shaggy's brother. "Also I am very grateful to you
for permitting me to live in this delightful
place."
"You must thank Shaggy for that," said Ozma.
"Being his brother, I have made you welcome here."
"When you know Brother better," said Shaggy
earnestly, "you will be glad he has become one of
your loyal subjects. I am just getting acquainted
with him myself and I find much in his character
to admire.
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