tect ourselves," answered
the captain. "But this road leads to another village peopled by big,
stupid beasts who might cause us trouble if they thought we were afraid
of them."

"What beasts are they?" asked the shaggy man.

The captain hesitated to answer. Finally he said:

"You will learn all about them when you arrive at their city. But do not
be afraid of them. Button-Bright is so wonderfully clever and has now
such an intelligent face that I'm sure he will manage to find a way to
protect you."

This made Dorothy and the shaggy man rather uneasy, for they had not so
much confidence in the fox-boy's wisdom as the captain seemed to have.
But as their escort would say no more about the beasts, they bade him
good-bye and proceeded on their journey.

[Illustration]

The Rainbow's Daughter

[Illustration]

Toto, now allowed to run about as he pleased, was glad to be free again
and able to bark at the birds and chase the butterflies. The country
around them was charming, yet in the pretty fields of wild-flowers and
groves of leafy trees were no houses whatever, or sign of any
inhabitants. Birds flew through the air and cunning white rabbits darted
amongst the tall grasses and green bushes; Dorothy noticed even the ants
toiling busily along the roadway, bearing gigantic loads of clover seed;
but of people there were none at all.

They walked briskly on for an hour or two, for even little Button-Bright
was a good walker and did not tire easily. At length as they turned a
curve in the road they beheld just before them a curious sight.

A little girl, radiant and beautiful, shapely as a fairy and exquisitely
dressed, was dancing gracefully in the middle of the lonely road,
whirling slowly this way and that, her dainty feet twinkling in
sprightly fashion. She was clad in flowing, fluffy robes of soft
material that reminded Dorothy of woven cobwebs, only it was colored in
soft tintings of violet, rose, topaz, olive, azure, and white, mingled
together most harmoniously in stripes which melted one into the other
with soft blendings. Her hair was like spun gold and floated around her
in a cloud, no strand being fastened or confined by either pin or
ornament or ribbon.

Filled with wonder and admiration our friends approached and stood
watching this fascinating dance. The girl was no taller than Dorothy,
although more slender; nor did she seem any older than our little
heroine.

Suddenly she paused and aband