trange city. Hank the Mule
had breakfasted on grass and the Lion had stolen away and found a
breakfast to his liking; he never told what it was, but Dorothy hoped
the little rabbits and the field mice had kept out of his way. She
warned Toto not to chase birds and gave the dog some apple, with which
he was quite content. The Woozy was as fond of fruit as of any other
food, except honey, and the Sawhorse never ate at all.

Except for their worry over Ozma they were all in good spirits as they
proceeded swiftly over the plain. Toto still worried over his lost
growl, but like a wise little dog kept his worry to himself. Before long
the city grew nearer and they could examine it with interest.

In outward appearance the place was more imposing than Thi, and it was a
square city, with a square, four-sided wall around it and on each side
was a square gate of burnished copper. Everything about the city looked
solid and substantial; there were no banners flying and the towers that
rose above the city wall seemed bare of any ornament whatever.

A path led from the fruit orchard directly to one of the city gates,
showing that the inhabitants preferred fruit to thistles. Our friends
followed this path to the gate, which they found fast shut. But the
Wizard advanced and pounded upon it with his fist, saying in a loud
voice: "Open!"

At once there rose above the great wall a row of immense heads, all of
which looked down at them as if to see who was intruding. The size of
these heads was astonishing and our friends at once realized that they
belonged to giants, who were standing within the city. All had thick,
bushy hair and whiskers, on some the hair being white and on others
black or red or yellow, while the hair of a few was just turning gray,
showing that the giants were of all ages. However fierce the heads might
seem the eyes were mild in expression, as if the creatures had been long
subdued, and their faces expressed patience rather than ferocity.

"What's wanted?" asked one old giant, in a low, grumbling voice.

"We are strangers and we wish to enter the city," replied the Wizard.

"Do you come in war or peace?" asked another.

"In peace, of course," retorted the Wizard, and he added impatiently:
"Do we look like an army of conquest?"

"No," said the first giant who had spoken, "you look like innocent
tramps; but one never can tell by appearances. Wait here until we report
to our masters. No one can enter here witho