Oz 05: The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum
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amere mass of splinters now, crushed out of shape against the rocks . the wind had torn away the sail and carried it to_the top of a tall tree, where the fragments of it fluttered like a white flag .

" well," he_said, cheerfully, " we're here; but where the here_is I don't know ."

" 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 ."

" to_be_sure," said the shaggy man, nodding ." let's go there ."

" but I don't see any people about, to show us the way," she continued .

" let's hunt for_them," he suggested ." there_must_be people somewhere; but perhaps they_did_not expect us, and so are_not at hand to_give us a welcome ."

13 . the truth pond

they now made a more careful examination of_the country around them . all was fresh and beautiful after_the sultriness of_the desert, and_the sunshine and sweet, crisp air were delightful to_the wanderers . little mounds of yellowish green were away at_the right, while on_the left waved a group of tall leafy trees bearing yellow blossoms that looked like tassels and pompoms . among_the grasses carpeting the ground were pretty buttercups and cowslips and marigolds . after looking at_these a moment Dorothy said reflectively:

" we_must_be in_the country of_the Winkies, for_the color of_that country is yellow, and you_will notice that ' most everything here_is yellow that has any color at all ."

" but i_thought this_was the land of Oz," replied the shaggy man, as_if greatly disappointed .

" so it_is," she declared; " but there_are four parts to_the land of Oz . the north country is purple, and it's the country of_the Gillikins . the east country is blue, and_that's the country of_the Munchkins . down at_the south is_the red country of_the Quadlings, and here, in_the west, the yellow country of_the Winkies . this_is_the part that_is ruled by_the tin woodman, you_know ."

" who's he ? " asked button- bright .

" why, he's the tin man i_told you about . his name is nick chopper, and he has a lovely heart given him by_the wonderful wizard ."

" where does he live ? " asked the boy .

" the wizard ? Oh, he lives in_the emerald city, which_is just in_the middle of Oz, where the corners of_the four countries meet ."

"Oh," said button- bright, puzzled by_this explanation .

" we_must_be some distance from_the emerald city," remarked the shaggy man .

" that's true," she replied; " so we'd better start on and_see if_we_can find any of_the Winkies . they're nice people," she continued, as_the little party began walking toward the group of trees, " and I_came here once with my friends the Scarecrow, and_the tin woodman, and_the cowardly lion, to fight a wicked witch who had made all the Winkies her slaves ."

" did you conquer her ? " asked Polly .

" why, I melted her with a bucket of water, and_that was_the end of her," replied Dorothy ." after_that the people were free, you_know, and_they made nick chopper-- that's the tin woodman-- their Emp'ror ."

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

"Emp'ror ? Oh, it's something like an alderman, I guess ."

"Oh," said the boy .

" but i_thought princess Ozma ruled Oz," said the shaggy man .

" so she does; she rules the emerald city and all the four countries of Oz; but each country has another little ruler, not so big as Ozma . it's like the officers of an army, you_see; the little rulers are all captains, and Ozma's the general ."

by_this_time they had reached the trees, which stood in a perfect circle and just far enough apart so_that their thick branches touched-- or " shook hands," as button- bright remarked . under the shade of_the trees they found, in_the center of_the circle, a crystal pool, its water as still as glass . it must_have been deep, too, for when polychrome bent over it she gave a little sigh of pleasure .

" why, it's a mirror ! " she cried; for she_could see all her pretty face and fluffy, rainbow- tinted gown reflected in_the pool, as natural as life .

Dorothy bent over, too, and began to arrange her hair, blown by_the desert wind into straggling tangles . button- bright leaned over the edge next, and then began to cry, for_the sight of_his fox head frightened the poor little fellow .

"I guess I won't look," remarked the shaggy man, sadly, for he didn't like his donkey head, either . while Polly and Dorothy tried to comfort button- bright, the shaggy man sat down near the edge of_the pool, where his image could_not_be reflected, and stared at_the water thoughtfully . as he_did this he noticed a silver plate fastened to a rock just under the surface of_the water, and on_the silver plate was engraved these words:

the truth pond

"Ah ! " cried the shaggy man, springing to_his feet with eager joy; " we've found it at last ."

" found what ? " asked Dorothy, running to him .

" the truth pond . now, at last, I_may get rid of_this frightful head; for we were told, you remember, that only the truth pond could restore to_me my proper face ."

" me, too ! " shouted button- bright, trotting up to_them .

" of_course," said Dorothy ." it_will cure you both of your bad heads, I guess .Isn't it lucky we_found it ? "

" it_is, indeed," replied the shaggy man ."I hated dreadfully to_go to princess Ozma looking like this; and she's to_have a birthday celebration, too ."

just then a splash startled them, for button- bright, in_his anxiety to_see the pool that_would " cure" him, had stepped too near the edge and tumbled heels over head into_the water . down he went, out of sight entirely, so_that only his sailor hat floated on_the top of_the truth pond .

he soon bobbed up, and_the shaggy man seized him by his sailor collar and dragged him to_the shore, dripping and gasping for breath . they all looked upon_the boy wonderingly, for_the fox head with its sharp nose and pointed ears was gone, and in its place appeared the chubby round face and blue eyes and pretty curls that had belonged to button- bright before king Dox of Foxville transformed him .

"Oh, what a darling ! " cried Polly, and would_have hugged the little one had he not been so wet .

their joyful exclamations made the child rub the water out of_his eyes and look at his friends questioningly .

" you're all right now, dear," said Dorothy ." come and look at yourself ." she led him to_the pool, and although there were still a few ripples on_the surface of_the water he could_see his reflection plainly .

" it's me ! " he_said, in a pleased yet awed whisper .

"' course it_is," replied the girl, " and we're all as glad as_you_are, button- bright ."

" well," announced the shaggy man, " it's my turn next ." he_took off his shaggy coat and laid it on_the grass and dived head first into_the truth pond .

when he_came up the donkey head had disappeared, and_the shaggy man's own shaggy head was in its place, with_the water dripping in little streams from_his shaggy whiskers . he scrambled ashore and shook himself to_get off some_of_the wet, and then leaned over the pool to look admiringly at his reflected face .

" I_may not be strictly beautiful, even now," he_said to_his companions, who watched him with smiling faces; " but I'm so_much handsomer than any donkey that I_feel as proud as I_can_be ."

" you're all right, shaggy man," declared Dorothy ." and button- bright is all right, too . so let's thank the truth pond for being so nice, and start on_our journey to_the emerald city ."

"I hate to leave it," murmured the shaggy man, with a sigh ."A truth pond wouldn't be a bad thing to carry around with_us ." but he put on_his coat and started with_the others in search of some one to direct them on their way .

14 .Tik-Tok and Billina

they had_not walked far across the flower- strewn meadows when_they came upon a fine road leading toward the northwest and winding gracefully among_the pretty yellow hills .

" that way," said Dorothy, " must_be the direction of_the emerald city . we'd better follow the road until we meet some one or come to a house ."

the sun soon dried button- bright's sailor suit and_the shaggy man's shaggy clothes, and so pleased were they at regaining their own heads that they_did_not mind at all the brief discomfort of getting wet .

" it's good to_be_able to whistle again," remarked the shaggy man, " for_those donkey lips were so thick I_could_not whistle a note with_them ." he warbled a tune as merrily as any bird .

" you'll look more natural at_the birthday celebration, too," said Dorothy, happy in seeing her friends so happy .

polychrome was dancing ahead in her usual sprightly manner, whirling gaily along the smooth, level road, until she passed from sight around the curve of one_of_the mounds . suddenly they heard her exclaim "Oh ! " and she appeared again, running toward them at full speed .

" what's the matter, Polly ? " asked Dorothy, perplexed .

there_was no need for_the rainbow's daughter to answer, for turning the bend in_the road there came advancing slowly toward them a funny round man made of burnished copper, gleaming brightly in_the sun .Perched on_the copper man's shoulder sat a yellow hen, with fluffy feathers and a pearl necklace around her throat .

"Oh, Tik-tok ! " cried Dorothy, running forward . when she came to him, the copper man lifted the little girl in_his copper arms and kissed her cheek with_his copper lips .

"Oh, Billina ! " cried Dorothy, in a glad voice, and_the yellow hen flew to her arms, to_be hugged and petted by turns .

the others were curiously crowding around the group, and_the girl said to_them:

" it's Tik-tok and Billina; and oh ! I'm so glad_to_see them again ."

"Wel- come to Oz," said the copper man in a monotonous voice .

Dorothy sat right down in_the road, the yellow hen in her arms, and began to stroke Billina's back . said the hen:

" Dorothy, dear, I've got some wonderful news to_tell you ."

" tell it quick, Billina ! " said the girl .

just then Toto, who had_been growling to himself in a cross way, gave a sharp bark and flew at_the yellow hen, who ruffled her feathers and let out such an angry screech that Dorothy was startled .

" stop, Toto ! stop that_this minute ! " she commanded ." can't you_see that Billina is my friend ? " in_spite of_this warning had she not grabbed Toto quickly by_the neck the little dog would_have done the yellow hen a mischief, and even now he struggled madly to escape Dorothy's grasp . she slapped his ears once_or_twice and told him to behave, and_the yellow hen flew to Tik-tok's shoulder again, where she was safe .

" what a brute ! " croaked Billina, glaring down at_the little dog .

"Toto isn't a brute," replied Dorothy, " but at home uncle Henry has_to whip him sometimes for chasing the chickens . now look here, Toto," she added, holding up her finger and speaking sternly to him, " you've got to understand that Billina is one of_my dearest friends, and musn't be hurt-- now or ever ."

Toto wagged his tail as_if he understood .

" the miserable thing can't talk," said Billina, with a sneer .

" yes, he_can," replied Dorothy; " he talks with_his tail, and I_know everything he_says . if_you_could wag your tail, Billina, you wouldn't need words to_talk with ."

" nonsense ! " said Billina .

" it isn't nonsense at all . just now Toto says he's sorry, and_that he'll try to love you for_my sake .Don't you, Toto ? "

" bow-wow ! " said Toto, wagging his tail again .

" but I've such wonderful news for_you, Dorothy," cried the yellow hen; "I've--"

" wait a minute, dear," interrupted the little girl; "I've got to introduce you all, first . that's manners, Billina . this," turning to her traveling companions, " is Mr Tik-tok, who works by machinery ' cause his thoughts wind up, and_his talk winds up, and_his action winds up-- like aclock ."

" do they all wind up together ? " asked the shaggy man .

" no; each_one separate . but he works just lovely, and Tik-tok was a good friend to_me once, and saved my life-- and Billina's life, too ."

" is he alive ? " asked button- bright, looking hard at_the copper man .

"Oh, no, but his machinery makes him just as good as alive ." she turned to_the copper man and said politely: " Mr Tik-tok, these are my new friends: the shaggy man, and Polly the rainbow's daughter, and button- bright, and Toto . only Toto isn't a new friend, ' cause he's been to Oz before ."

the copper man bowed low, removing his copper hat as he_did so .

"I'm ve-ry pleased to meet Dor-o- thy's fr-r-r-r---" here he stopped short .

"Oh, I guess his speech needs winding ! " said the little girl, running behind the copper man to_get the key off a hook at his back . she wound him up at a place under his right arm and he went on to_say:

" par-don me for run-ning down . i_was a- bout to_say I_am pleased to meet Dor-o- thy's friends, who_must be my friends ." the words were somewhat jerky, but plain to understand .

" and this_is Billina," continued Dorothy, introducing the yellow hen, and_they all bowed to her in turn .

"I've such wonderful news," said the hen, turning her head so_that one bright eye looked full at Dorothy .

" what_is it, dear ? " asked the girl .

"I've hatched out ten of_the loveliest chicks you

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