“There’s a much funnier one on page seventy-six,” said the bookman gaily. “Wait!”
“What for?” Coming up behind them, Ozwold looked severely at their new friend. “What are we waiting for?” he repeated sternly.
“This is the man you ran over,” explained Peter quickly, “and he’s letting us read his book.”
“And you stand here reading with the whole Kingdom in danger?” hissed the oztrich, thrusting his long neck forward angrily. “A nice way to save the Queen, I must say.”
“I’ve a chapter on saving, somewhere, but I’m afraid it’s on saving money,” mumbled the bookman, thumbing his pages over hurriedly. Peter and Scraps looked rather crest-fallen and, while they walked slowly toward the oztrich, he again addressed the bookman.
“If you know so much, perhaps you can tell us the way to the Emerald City,” he wheezed disagreeably.
“I’m not a guide book,” answered the bookman stiffly.
“Then shut up,” advised the oztrich so sharply that without intending to at all the bookman did shut up.
“Are you coming, or do I have to save the Kingdom myself?” asked the oztrich, turning impatiently to Peter.
“I’ll come, too, and entertain you as you go along. Read as you run,” said the bookman brightly.