As the
strides of the animals brought them nearer to the Emerald City
every one bowed respectfully to the children, as well as to the Tin
Woodman, Tik-tok, and the shaggy man, who were following behind.
The Yellow Hen had perched upon the back of the chariot, where she
could tell Dorothy more about her wonderful chickens as they rode.
And so the grand chariot came finally to the high wall surrounding the
City, and paused before the magnificent jewel-studded gates.
These were opened by a cheerful-looking little man who wore green
spectacles over his eyes. Dorothy introduced him to her friends as
the Guardian of the Gates, and they noticed a big bunch of keys
suspended on the golden chain that hung around his neck. The chariot
passed through the outer gates into a fine arched chamber built in
the thick wall, and through the inner gates into the streets of the
Emerald City.
Polychrome exclaimed in rapture at the wondrous beauty that met her
eyes on every side as they rode through this stately and imposing
City, the equal of which has never been discovered, even in Fairyland.
Button-Bright could only say "My!" so amazing was the sight; but his
eyes were wide open and he tried to look in every direction at the
same time, so as not to miss anything.
The shaggy man was fairly astounded at what he saw, for the graceful
and handsome buildings were covered with plates of gold and set with
emeralds so splendid and valuable that in any other part of the world
any one of them would have been worth a fortune to its owner.
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