Oz 05: The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum
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friends, please come with me, for_it is my duty to escort you at once to_the royal palace ."

the soldiers marched back through_the arch again, and with_them marched the shaggy man, Dorothy, Toto, and button- bright . once through_the opening they found a fine, big city spread out before them, all the houses of carved marble in beautiful colors . the decorations were mostly birds and other fowl, such as peacocks, pheasants, turkeys, prairie-chickens, ducks, and geese . over each doorway was carved a head representing the fox who lived in_that house, this effect being quite pretty and unusual .

as our friends marched along, some_of_the foxes came out on_the porches and balconies to_get a view of_the strangers . these foxes were all handsomely dressed, the girl- foxes and women- foxes wearing gowns of feathers woven together effectively and colored in bright hues which Dorothy thought were quite artistic and decidedly attractive .

button- bright stared until his eyes were big and round, and he_would_have stumbled and fallen more than once had_not the shaggy man grasped his hand tightly . they were all interested, and Toto was so excited he_wanted to bark every_minute and to chase and fight every fox he caught sight of; but Dorothy held his little wiggling body fast in her arms and commanded him to_be good and behave himself . so he finally quieted down, like a wise doggy, deciding there were too many foxes in Foxville to fight at one_time .

by- and- by they came to a big square, and in_the center of_the square stood the royal palace . Dorothy knew it at once because it had over its great door the carved head of a fox just like the one she had seen on_the arch, and this fox was_the only_one who wore a golden crown .

there were many fox-soldiers guarding the door, but they bowed to_the captain and admitted him without question . the captain led them through many rooms, where richly dressed foxes were sitting on beautiful chairs or sipping tea, which_was being passed around by fox-servants in white aprons . they came to a big doorway covered with heavy curtains of cloth of gold .

beside this doorway stood a huge drum . the fox- captain went to_this drum and knocked his knees against it-- first one knee and then the other-- so that_the drum said: " boom- boom ."

" you_must all do exactly what I_do," ordered the captain; so the shaggy man pounded the drum with_his knees, and so did Dorothy and so did button- bright . the boy wanted to_keep on pounding it with_his little fat knees, because he liked the sound of it; but the captain stopped him .Toto couldn't pound the drum with_his knees and he didn't know enough to wag his tail against it, so Dorothy pounded the drum for him and_that made him bark, and when_the little dog barked the fox- captain scowled .

the golden curtains drew back far enough to_make an opening, through which marched the captain with_the others .

the broad, long room they entered was decorated in gold with stained- glass windows of splendid colors . in_the corner of_the room upon a richly carved golden throne, sat the fox- king, surrounded by a group of other foxes, all of whom wore great spectacles over their eyes, making them look solemn and important .

Dorothy knew the king at once, because she had seen his head carved on_the arch and over the doorway of_the palace .Having met with several_other kings in her travels, she knew what to_do, and at once made a low bow before_the throne . the shaggy man bowed, too, and button- bright bobbed his head and said "Hello ."

" most wise and noble potentate of Foxville," said the captain, addressing the king in a pompous voice, "I humbly beg to report that I_found these strangers on_the road leading to your foxy majesty's dominions, and_have therefore brought them before_you, as is my duty ."

" so-- so," said the king, looking at them keenly ." what brought you here, strangers ? "

" our legs, may it please your royal Hairiness," replied the shaggy man .

" what_is your business here ? " was_the next question .

" to_get away as_soon_as_possible," said the shaggy man .

the king didn't know about_the magnet, of_course; but it made him love the shaggy man at once .

" do just as_you please about going away," he_said; " but I'd like to show you the sights of_my city and to entertain your party while you_are here . we_feel highly honored to_have little Dorothy with_us, I assure you, and we appreciate her kindness in making us a visit . for whatever country Dorothy visits is sure to_become famous ."

this speech greatly surprised the little girl, who asked:

" how did your majesty know my name ? "

" why, everybody knows you, my dear," said the fox- king ."Don't you realize_that ? you_are quite an important personage since princess Ozma of Oz made you her friend ."

" do_you_know Ozma ? " she asked, wondering .

" I_regret to_say that I_do_not," he answered, sadly; " but I_hope to meet her soon . you_know the princess Ozma is to celebrate her birthday on_the twenty- first of this_month ."

" is she ? " said Dorothy ."I didn't know that ."

" yes; it is_to_be the most brilliant royal ceremony ever held in any city in fairyland, and I_hope_you_will try to_get me an invitation ."

Dorothy thought a moment .

"I'm sure Ozma would invite you if I asked her," she said; " but how could you get to_the land of Oz and_the emerald city ? it's a good way from Kansas ."

" Kansas ! " he exclaimed, surprised .

" why, yes; we_are in Kansas now, aren't we ? " she returned .

" what a queer notion ! " cried the fox- king, beginning to laugh ." whatever made you_think this_is Kansas ? "

"I left uncle Henry's farm only about two hours_ago; that's the reason," she said, rather perplexed .

" but, tell me, my dear, did you ever see so wonderful a city as Foxville in Kansas ? " he questioned .

" no, your majesty ."

" and haven't you traveled from Oz to Kansas in less_than half ajiffy, by_means of_the silver shoes and_the magic belt ? "

" yes, your majesty," she acknowledged .

" then why do_you wonder that an hour or two could bring you to Foxville, which_is nearer to Oz than it_is to Kansas ? "

" dear me ! " exclaimed Dorothy; " is_this another fairy adventure ? "

" it seems_to_be," said the fox- king, smiling .

Dorothy turned to_the shaggy man, and her face was grave and reproachful .

" are_you a magician ? or a fairy in disguise ? " she asked ." did you enchant me when_you asked the way to Butterfield ? "

the shaggy man shook his head .

" who ever heard of a shaggy fairy ? " he replied ." no, Dorothy, my dear; I'm not to blame for_this journey in any_way, I assure you . there's been something strange about me ever_since I owned the love magnet; but I don't know what it_is any more than you_do .I didn't try to_get you away from home, at all . if_you_want to_find your way back to_the farm I'll go with_you willingly, and do my best to help_you ."

" never mind," said the little girl, thoughtfully ." there isn't so_much to_see in Kansas as there_is here, and I guess aunt Em won't be very_much worried; that_is, if I don't stay away too long ."

" that's right," declared the fox- king, nodding approval ." be contented with your lot, whatever it happens to_be, if_you_are wise . which reminds me that you_have a new companion on_this adventure-- he looks very clever and bright ."

" he_is," said Dorothy; and_the shaggy man added:

" that's his name, your royal Foxiness-- button- bright ."

4 . king Dox

it_was amusing to note the expression on_the face of king Dox as he looked the boy over, from_his sailor hat to_his stubby shoes, and it_was equally diverting to watch button- bright stare at_the king in return . no fox ever beheld a fresher, fairer child's face, and no child had ever before heard a fox talk, or met with one who dressed so handsomely and ruled so big a city . I_am sorry to_say that no one had ever told the little boy much about fairies of any kind; this being the case, it_is easy to understand how_much this strange experience startled and astonished him .

" how do_you like us ? " asked the king .

"Don't know," said button- bright .

" of_course you don't . it's too short an acquaintance," returned his majesty ." what do_you suppose my name is ? "

"Don't know," said button- bright .

" how should you ? well, I'll tell you . my private name is Dox, but a king can't be called by his private name; he has to_take one that_is official . therefore my official name is king Renard the fourth .Ren-ard with_the accent on_the 'Ren' ."

" what's 'ren' ? " asked button- bright .

" how clever ! " exclaimed the king, turning a pleased face toward his counselors ." this boy is indeed remarkably bright .' what's 'ren' ? ' he asks; and of_course 'ren' is nothing at all, all by itself . yes, he's very bright indeed ."

" that question is what your majesty might call foxy," said one_of_the counselors, an old grey fox .

" so it_is," declared the king .Turning again to button- bright, he asked:

"Having told you my name, what would you call me ? "

" king Dox," said the boy .

" why ? "

"' cause 'ren''s nothing at all," was_the reply .

" good ! very_good indeed ! you certainly have a brilliant mind . do_you_know why two and two make four ? "

" no," said button- bright .

" clever ! clever indeed ! of_course you don't know . nobody knows why; we only know it's so, and can't tell why it's so . button- bright, those curls and blue eyes do_not go well with so_much wisdom . they make you look too youthful, and hide your real cleverness . therefore, i_will do_you a great favor . i_will confer upon you the head of a fox, so_that you_may hereafter look as bright as_you really are ."

as he spoke the king waved his paw toward the boy, and at once the pretty curls and fresh round face and big blue eyes were gone, while in their place a fox's head appeared upon button- bright's shoulders--a hairy head with a sharp nose, pointed ears, and keen little eyes .

"Oh, don't do_that ! " cried Dorothy, shrinking back from her transformed companion with a shocked and dismayed face .

" too late, my dear; it's done . but you also shall_have a fox's head if_you_can prove you're as clever as button- bright ."

"I don't want it; it's dreadful ! " she exclaimed; and, hearing this verdict, button- bright began to boo-hoo just as_if he were still a little boy .

" how can_you call that lovely head dreadful ? " asked the king ." it's a much prettier face than he had before, to my notion, and my wife says I'm a good judge of beauty .Don't cry, little fox- boy . laugh and be proud, because you_are so highly favored . how do_you like the new head, button- bright ? "

"D-d-don't n-n-n- know ! " sobbed the child .

" please, please change him back again, your majesty ! " begged Dorothy .

king Renard IV shook his head .

" I_can't do_that," he_said; "I haven't the power, even if i_wanted to . no, button- bright must wear his fox head, and he'll be_sure to love it dearly as_soon_as he gets used to_it ."

both the shaggy man and Dorothy looked grave and anxious, for they were sorrowful that such a misfortune had overtaken their little companion .Toto barked at_the fox- boy once_or_twice, not realizing it_was his former friend who now wore the animal head; but Dorothy cuffed the dog and made him stop . as for_the foxes, they all seemed to_think button- bright's new head very becoming and_that their king had conferred a great honor on_this little stranger . it_was funny to_see the boy reach up to_feel of_his sharp nose and wide mouth, and wail afresh with grief . he wagged his ears in a comical manner and tears were in_his little black eyes . but Dorothy couldn't laugh at her friend just yet, because she felt so sorry .

just then three little fox-princesses, daughters of_the king, entered the room, and when_they saw button- bright one exclaimed: " how lovely he_is ! " and_the next one cried in delight: " how sweet he_is ! " and_the third princess clapped her hands with pleasure and said, " how beautiful he_is ! "

button- bright stopped crying and asked timidly:

"Am I ? "

" in all the world there_is not another face so pretty," declared the biggest fox- princess .

" you_must live with_us always, and be our brother," said the next .

" we_shall all love you dearly," the third said .

this praise did much to comfort the boy, and he looked around and tried to smile . it_was a pitiful attempt, because the fox face was new and stiff, and Dorothy thought his expression more stupid than before_the transformation .

" i_think we ought_to_be going now," said the shaggy man, uneasily, for he didn't know what the king might take into his head to_do next .

"Don't leave us yet, I beg

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