Page:The Royal Book of Oz.djvu/134

The Royal Book of Oz little pennants hung from each door, the merchants and maidens in their gay sedans and the people afoot made a bright and lively picture.

"If I could just live here, instead of in the palace," mused the Scarecrow, pausing before a modest rice shop. It is dangerous to stop in the narrow streets and Happy jerked his master aside just in time to prevent his being trodden on by a huge camel. It sniffed at the Scarecrow suspiciously and they were forced to flatten themselves against a wall to let it pass. Happy anxiously hurried the Emperor through the town and they soon arrived at the kite flying field. A great throng had gathered to watch the exhibition and there were more kites than one would see in a lifetime here. Huge fish, silver paper dragons, birdsevery sort and shape of kite was tugging at its string, and hundreds of Silver Islandersboys, girls and grown-upswere looking on.

"How interesting," said the Scarecrow, fascinated by a huge dragon that floated just over his head. "I wish Dorothy could see this, I do indeed!"

But the dragon kite seemed almost alive, and horrors! Just as it swooped down, a hook in the tail caught in the Scarecrow's collar and before Happy Toko could even wink, the Emperor of the Silver