The Road to Oz · Chapter
The Deadly Desert Crossed explained
The group crosses the Deadly Desert in a sand-boat built by Johnny Dooit, crashes into rocks on the other side, and lands safely in the Land of Oz, though the boat is destroyed.
What happens
The group crosses the Deadly Desert in a sand-boat built by Johnny Dooit, crashes into rocks on the other side, and lands safely in the Land of Oz, though the boat is destroyed. They then set out to find the Emerald City.
Themes in this chapter
Journey and Discovery
The crossing of the Deadly Desert is a pivotal journey that brings the travelers into the Land of Oz, setting the stage for discovery of the Emerald City.
Friendship and Loyalty
The group works together during the perilous crossing and crash, showing mutual care and loyalty.
Hospitality and Generosity
Johnny Dooit's generous act of building the sand-boat enables the group to cross the desert, and Dorothy's wish to thank him reflects the theme of gratitude.
Characters to notice
- Dorothy
Dorothy travels in the sand-boat with Toto, is thrown clear in the crash, and confirms they are in the Land of Oz.
- Shaggy Man
The Shaggy Man steers the sand-boat across the desert, panics at the speed, and after the crash cheerfully leads the group toward the Emerald City.
- Button-Bright
Button-Bright sits in front of Dorothy during the crossing; after the crash his fox head gets stuck in a gopher hole.
- Polychrome
Polychrome leans over the bow during the crossing, warns of the rocks, and after the crash laments a tear in her gauze gown.
- Toto
Toto travels in Dorothy's arms, is thrown clear in the crash, and shakes one of the Shaggy Man's donkey ears.
- Johnny Dooit
Johnny Dooit built the sand-boat that carried the group across the desert; Dorothy regrets not being able to thank him.
Key passages
“Well, he said, cheerfully, “we’re here; but where the here is I don’t know.””
The Shaggy Man cheerfully admits they have arrived at an unknown location.
After the crash, the Shaggy Man expresses uncertainty about their whereabouts.
““It must be some part of the Land of Oz,” observed Dorothy, coming to his side. “Must it?” “ ’Course it must. We’re across the desert, aren’t we? And somewhere in the middle of Oz is the Emerald City.””
Dorothy reasons that since they crossed the desert, they must be in Oz, and the Emerald City lies ahead.
Dorothy confidently identifies their location as the Land of Oz and points toward their destination.