s," he said, as if ashamed of his bray; "but
I'll try not to do it again."

Of course they forgave him, for as he still had the Love Magnet in his
pocket they were all obliged to love him as much as ever.

They did not see the King again, but Kik-a-bray remembered them; for a
table appeared again in their room with the same food upon it as on the
night before.

"Don't want pie for breakfus'," said Button-Bright.

"I'll give you some of my beefsteak," proposed Dorothy; "there's plenty
for us all."

That suited the boy better, but the shaggy man said he was content with
his apples and sandwiches, although he ended the meal by eating
Button-Bright's pie. Polly liked her dewdrops and mist-cakes better than
any other food, so they all enjoyed an excellent breakfast. Toto had the
scraps left from the beefsteak, and he stood up nicely on his hind legs
while Dorothy fed them to him.

Breakfast ended, they passed through the village to the side opposite
that by which they had entered, the brown servant-donkey guiding them
through the maze of scattered houses. There was the road again, leading
far away into the unknown country beyond.

"King Kik-a-bray says you must not forget his invitation," said the
brown donkey, as they passed through the opening in the wall.

"I shan't," promised Dorothy.

[Illustration]

Perhaps no one ever beheld a more strangely assorted group than the one
which now walked along the road, through pretty green fields and past
groves of feathery pepper-trees and fragrant mimosa. Polychrome, her
beautiful gauzy robes floating around her like a rainbow cloud, went
first, dancing back and forth and darting now here to pluck a
wild-flower or there to watch a beetle crawl across the path. Toto ran
after her at times, barking joyously the while, only to become sober
again and trot along at Dorothy's heels. The little Kansas girl walked
holding Button-Bright's hand clasped in her own, and the wee boy with
his fox head covered by the sailor hat presented an odd appearance.
Strangest of all, perhaps, was the shaggy man, with his shaggy donkey
head, who shuffled along in the rear with his hands thrust deep in his
big pockets.

None of the party was really unhappy. All were straying in an unknown
land and had suffered more or less annoyance and discomfort; but they
realized they were having a fairy adventure in a fairy country, and were
much interested in finding out what would happen next.

The