The Giant Horse of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson

Deeper and deeper the two travelers penetrated into the grim forest. / Except for the twitter of birds, and the occasional creaking of a / branch, as some animal made its way through the underbrush, there / was no sound. Almost holding his breath, Philador trotted after the / old Medicine Man, peering nervously to the right and left and half / expecting a bear or walapus to spring out of some hollow tree. But as / time passed and no wild beasts of any nature did appear, he began to / breathe easier and to look around with real interest and delight. The / huge gnarled trees were tinged with purple. Wild grape and wistaria / vines climbed in riotous profusion up the trunks and out over the / limbs, lacing them together and forming fairy-like arbors and leafy / lanes. The floor of the forest was thickly strewn with violets and the / fragrance of lavender was everywhere. Herby, being a native Gilliken, / was accustomed to the grandeur of the forest and pattered along in / a business-like manner, giving no attention to the purple pansies, / clustered around the great trees, nor the lordly flags, edging each / forest stream.

"I've heard that the Emerald City is but a day's journey from Mombi's / hut," he called over his shoulder, "and with this thinking cap to guide / us we'll be there for dinner. Then Ozma can magically transport us to / the Ozure Isles and save your father's Kingdom. I trust the Wizard of / Oz will give me an audience," he added hopefully. "I'd like to show him / my medicine chest and tell him my story."