Toto, now allowed to run about as he pleased, was glad to be freeagain and able to bark at the birds and chase the butterflies.The country around them was charming, yet in the pretty fields ofwild-flowers and groves of leafy trees were no houses whatever, or signof any inhabitants. Birds flew through the air and cunning whiterabbits darted amongst the tall grasses and green bushes; Dorothynoticed even the ants toiling busily along the roadway, bearinggigantic loads of clover seed; but of people there were none at all.

They walked briskly on for an hour or two, for even little Button-Brightwas a good walker and did not tire easily. At length as they turneda curve in the road they beheld just before them a curious sight.

A little girl, radiant and beautiful, shapely as a fairy andexquisitely dressed, was dancing gracefully in the middle of thelonely road, whirling slowly this way and that, her dainty feettwinkling in sprightly fashion. She was clad in flowing, fluffy robesof soft material that reminded Dorothy of woven cobwebs, only it wascolored in soft tintings of violet, rose, topaz, olive, azure, andwhite, mingled together most harmoniously in stripes which melted oneinto the other with soft blendings. Her hair was like spun gold andflowed around her in a cloud, no strand being fastened or confined byeither pin or ornament or ribbon.

Filled with wonder and admiration our friends approached andstood watching this fascinating dance. The girl was no taller thanDorothy, although more slender; nor did she seem any older than ourlittle heroine.

Suddenly she paused and abandoned the dance, as if for the first timeobserving the presence of strangers. As she faced them, shy as afrightened fawn, poised upon one foot as if to fly the next instant,Dorothy was astonished to see tears flowing from her violet eyes andtrickling down her lovely rose-hued cheeks. That the dainty maidenshould dance and weep at the same time was indeed surprising; soDorothy asked in a soft, sympathetic voice:

"Are you unhappy, little girl?"

"Very!" was the reply; "I am lost."

"Why, so are we," said Dorothy, smiling; "but we don't cry about it."

"Don't you? Why not?"

"'Cause I've been lost before, and always got found again,"answered Dorothy simply.

"But I've never been lost before," murmured the dainty maiden,"and I'm worried and afraid."

"You were dancing," remarked Dorothy, in a puzzled tone of voice.

"Oh, that was just to keep warm," explained the maiden, quickly."It was not because I felt happy or gay, I assure you."

Dorothy looked at her closely. Her gauzy flowing robes might not bevery warm, yet the weather wasn't at all chilly, but rather mild andbalmy, like a spring day.

"Who are you, dear?" she asked, gently.

"I'm Polychrome," was the reply.

"Polly whom?"

"Polychrome. I'm the Daughter of the Rainbow."

"Oh!" said Dorothy with a gasp; "I didn't know the Rainbow hadchildren. But I MIGHT have known it, before you spoke. Youcouldn't really be anything else."

"Why not?" inquired Polychrome, as if surprised.

"Because you're so lovely and sweet."

The little maiden smiled through her tears, came up to Dorothy, andplaced her slender fingers in the Kansas girl's chubby hand.

"You'll be my friend--won't you?" she said, pleadingly.

"Of course."

"And what is your name?"

"I'm Dorothy; and this is my friend Shaggy Man, who owns the LoveMagnet; and this is Button-Bright--only you don't see him as he reallyis because the Fox-King carelessly changed his head into a fox head.But the real Button-Bright is good to look at, and I hope to get himchanged back to himself, some time."

The Rainbow's Daughter nodded cheerfully, no longer afraid ofher new companions.

"But who is this?" she asked, pointing to Toto, who was sittingbefore her wagging his tail in the most friendly manner andadmiring the pretty maid with his bright eyes. "Is this, also,some enchanted person?"

"Oh no, Polly--I may call you Polly, mayn't I? Your whole name'sawful hard to say."

"Call me Polly if you wish, Dorothy."

"Well, Polly, Toto's just a dog; but he has more sense thanButton-Bright, to tell the truth; and I'm very fond of him."

"So am I," said Polychrome, bending gracefully to pat Toto's head.

"But how did the Rainbow's Daughter ever get on this lonely road,and become lost?" asked the shaggy man, who had listened wonderinglyto all this.

"Why, my father stretched his rainbow over here this morning, so thatone end of it touched this road," was the reply; "and I was dancingupon the pretty rays, as I love to do, and never noticed I was gettingtoo far over the bend in the circle. Suddenly I began to slide, andI went faster and faster until at last I bumped on the ground, at thevery end. Just then father lifted the rainbow again, without noticingme at all, and though I tried to seize the end of it and hold fast,it melted away entirely and I was left alone and helpless on the cold,hard earth!"

"It doesn't seem cold to me, Polly," said Dorothy; "but perhaps you'renot warmly dressed."

"I'm so used to living nearer the sun," replied the Rainbow's Daughter,"that at first I feared I would freeze down here. But my dance haswarmed me some, and now I wonder how I am ever to get home again."

"Won't your father miss you, and look for you, and let down anotherrainbow for you?"

"Perhaps so, but he's busy just now because it rains in so many partsof the world at this season, and he has to set his rainbow in a lot ofdifferent places. What would you advise me to do, Dorothy?"

"Come with us," was the answer. "I'm going to try to find my way tothe Emerald City, which is in the fairy Land of Oz. The Emerald Cityis ruled by a friend of mine, the Princess Ozma, and if we can manageto get there I'm sure she will know a way to send you home to yourfather again."

"Do you really think so?" asked Polychrome, anxiously.

"I'm pretty sure."

"Then I'll go with you," said the little maid; "for travel will helpkeep me warm, and father can find me in one part of the world as wellas another--if he gets time to look for me."

"Come along, then," said the shaggy man, cheerfully; and they startedon once more. Polly walked beside Dorothy a while, holding her newfriend's hand as if she feared to let it go; but her nature seemed aslight and buoyant as her fleecy robes, for suddenly she darted aheadand whirled round in a giddy dance. Then she tripped back to themwith sparkling eyes and smiling cheeks, having regained her usualhappy mood and forgotten all her worry about being lost.

They found her a charming companion, and her dancing and laughter--for she laughed at times like the tinkling of a silver bell--did muchto enliven their journey and keep them contented.