Tik-Tok of Oz

Repulse th

d ashore, the mule following closely behind her. The sun was now

ng more cheerful now that she was on dry land; "but we ca

d trotted up a little path

. A little way off stood a splendid big greenhouse, it

d Betsy thoughtfully; "gardeners, or somebody. Let's

stood ajar, so Hank went in first, thinking if there was any danger he could back out and warn his companion. B

n the central stem of each bush bloomed a splendid Rose, gorgeously colored and d

the mule was so amazed that he uttered a loud "Hee-haw!" and at the sound of his harsh voice the rose leaves

!" stammered Betsy,

ort of sighing chorus; and one of

nd as if to prove the truth of her words

e able and trembled as if some one were shaking their bushes.

somewhat indignant. "When you get used t

the mule less fearfull

vage beast

ed the girl, twining her arms around the little mul

y: "Hee-haw!" and at his br

"Can't you see you're frighten

Why, we've no place to go.

the Roses in a

ed the girl. "But Hank and I caught hold of a raft and floated ashore t

Rose, haughtily, "and it is devoted to the cu

d Betsy, admiring t

, bending her brows in a frown; "therefore you must go away befo

yal Gardener, then

be s

he a Ros

s a man-a wonderful

d, and even as she spoke the Royal Gardener popped into the gree

at his knees and elbows, and a bunch of ribbons in his hair. His eyes were

e Gardener threw the watering pot over the mule's head and danced around with his fork, in such agitati

s head. The little mule was angry at the treatment he ha

arningly and the Gardener scrambled to h

houted, sticking out his head to

w?" aske

gdom. No strangers are a

re shipwrecked?

s about to say more when suddenly there was a crash of glass and a man cam