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.

"A prisoner is a captive," replied the fox-captain, strutting up and
down with much dignity.

"What's a captive?" asked Button-Bright.

"You're one," said the captain.

That made the shaggy man laugh.

"Good afternoon, captain," he said, bowing politely to all the foxes and
very low to their commander. "I trust you are in good health, and that
your families are all well?"

The fox-captain looked at the shaggy man, and his sharp features grew
pleasant and smiling.

"We're pretty well, thank you, Shaggy Man," said he; and Dorothy knew
that the Love Magnet was working and that all the foxes now loved the
shaggy man because of it. But Toto didn't know this, for he began
barking angrily and tried to bite the captain's hairy leg where it
showed between his red boots and his yellow pantaloons.

"Stop, Toto!" cried the little girl, seizing the dog in her arms. "These
are our friends."

"Why, so we are!" remarked the captain in tones of astonishment. "I
thought at first we were enemies, but it seems you are friends, instead.
You must come with me to see King Dox."

"Who's he?" asked Button-Bright, with earnest eyes.

"King Dox of Foxville; the great and wise sovereign who rules over our
community."

[Illustration]

"What's sov'rin, and what's c'u'nity?" inquired Button-Bright.

"Don't ask so many questions, little boy."

"Why?"

"Ah, why, indeed?" exclaimed the captain, looking at Button-Bright
admiringly. "If you don't ask questions you will learn nothing. True
enough. I was wrong. You're a very clever little boy, come to think of
it--very clever indeed. But now, f