Before long they saw ahead of them a fine big arch spanning the
road, and when they came nearer they found that the arch was
beautifully carved and decorated with rich colors. A row of peacocks
with spread tails ran along the top of it, and all the feathers were
gorgeously painted. In the center was a large fox's head, and the fox
wore a shrewd and knowing expression and had large spectacles over its
eyes and a small golden crown with shiny points on top of its head.
While the travelers were looking with curiosity at this beautiful
arch there suddenly marched out of it a company of soldiers--only the
soldiers were all foxes dressed in uniforms. They wore green jackets
and yellow pantaloons, and their little round caps and their high
boots were a bright red color. Also, there was a big red bow tied
about the middle of each long, bushy tail. Each soldier was armed
with a wooden sword having an edge of sharp teeth set in a row, and
the sight of these teeth at first caused Dorothy to shudder.
A captain marched in front of the company of fox-soldiers, his uniform
embroidered with gold braid to make it handsomer than the others.
Almost before our friends realized it the soldiers had surrounded
them on all sides, and the captain was calling out in a harsh voice:
"Surrender! You are our prisoners."
"What's a pris'ner?" asked Button-Bright.
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