3. Letters in the Sand

           Walkingalittlewaybackfromthewater’sedge,towardthegroveoftrees,Dorothycametoaflatstretchofwhitesandthatseemedtohavequeersignsmarkeduponitssurface,justasonewouldwriteuponsandwithastick.

           "Whatdoesitsay?"sheaskedtheyellowhen,whotrottedalongbesideherinaratherdignifiedfashion.

           "HowshouldIknow?"returnedthehen."Icannotread."

           "Oh!Can’tyou?"

           "Certainlynot;I’veneverbeentoschool,youknow."

           "Well,Ihave,"admittedDorothy;"butthelettersarebigandfarapart,andit’shardtospelloutthewords."

           Butshelookedateachlettercarefully,andfinallydiscoveredthatthesewordswerewritteninthesand:

           "BEWARETHEWHEELERS!"

           "That’sratherstrange,"declaredthehen,whenDorothyhadreadaloudthewords."WhatdoyousupposetheWheelersare?"

           "Folksthatwheel,Iguess.Theymusthavewheelbarrows,orbaby-cabsorhand-carts,"saidDorothy.

           "Perhapsthey’reautomobiles,"suggestedtheyellowhen."Thereisnoneedtobewareofbaby-cabsandwheelbarrows;butautomobilesaredangerousthings.Severalofmyfriendshavebeenrunoverbythem."

           "Itcan’tbeauto’biles,"repliedthegirl,"forthisisanew,wildcountry,withouteventrolley-carsortel’phones.Thepeopleherehaven’tbeendiscoveredyet,I’msure;thatis,ifthereAREanypeople.SoIdon’tb’lievethereCANbeanyauto’biles,Billina."

           "Perhapsnot,"admittedtheyellowhen."Whereareyougoingnow?"

           "Overtothosetrees,toseeifIcanfindsomefruitornuts,"answeredDorothy.