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9. Facing the Scoodlers
"Lotsof’em!"criedButton-Bright;andsotherewere—quitearowofthetwo-sidedblackandwhitecreaturessittingontherocksallaround.
TotostoppedbarkingandranbetweenDorothy’sfeet,wherehecroucheddownasifafraid.Thecreaturesdidnotlookpleasantorfriendly,tobesure,andtheshaggyman’sdonkeyfacebecamesolemn,indeed.
"Ask’emwhotheyare,andwhattheywant,"whisperedDorothy;sotheshaggymancalledoutinaloudvoice:
"Whoareyou?"
"Scoodlers!"theyyelledinchorus,theirvoicessharpandshrill.
"Whatdoyouwant?"calledtheshaggyman.
"You!"theyyelled,pointingtheirthinfingersatthegroup;andtheyallfloppedaround,sotheywerewhite,andthenallfloppedbackagain,sotheywereblack.
"Butwhatdoyouwantusfor?"askedtheshaggyman,uneasily.
"Soup!"theyallshouted,asifwithonevoice.
"Goodnessme!"saidDorothy,tremblingalittle;"theScoodlersmustbereg’larcannibals."
"Don’twanttobesoup,"protestedButton-Bright,beginningtocry.
"Hush,dear,"saidthelittlegirl,tryingtocomforthim;"wedon’tanyofuswanttobesoup.Butdon’tworry;theshaggymanwilltakecareofus."
"Willhe?"askedPolychrome,whodidnotliketheScoodlersatall,andkeptclosetoDorothy.
"I’lltry,"promisedtheshaggyman;buthelookedworried.
HappeningjustthentofeeltheLoveMagnetinhispocket,hesaidtothecreatures,withmoreconfidence:
"Don’tyouloveme?"
"Yes!"theyshouted,alltogether.
"Thenyoumustn’tharmme,ormyfriends,"saidtheshaggyman,firmly
