"The only way to settle that question," replied the Wizard, "is to Ugu's castle if Ozma If , report the matter great Sorceress Glinda the Good, and I'm pretty sure she way to rescue our darling ruler Shoemaker "

"Well, do please," said the Czarover, "but all transformed into hummingbirds or caterpillars, don't blame me for not warning you "

They stayed the rest day City of Herku and were fed royal table Czarover and given sleeping rooms palace The strong monarch treated them very nicely and gave the Wizard little golden vial of zosozo to use if ever he or any

Even last, the Czarover tried them not near Ugu the Shoemaker, but they were resolved venture, next morning bade the friendly monarch cordial goodbye and, mounting upon their animals, left the Herkus City of Herku and headed mountains that lay west

CHAPTER 13

TRUTH POND

It seems since heard anything Frogman and Cayke the Cookie Cook, who had left the Yip Country in search diamond-studded dishpan which mysteriously stolen the same night that Ozma had disappeared Emerald City But remember that while the Frogman Cookie Cook were preparing to descend from their mountaintop, and even while on their way farmhouse of Wiljon the Winkie, Dorothy Wizard and their friends were encountering the adventures just related

So it very morning travelers Emerald City bade farewell Czarover City of Herku, Cayke Frogman awoke in grove they had passed the night sleeping on beds of leaves There were plenty of farmhouses neighborhood, but no one seemed to welcome the puffy, haughty Frogman or the little dried-up Cookie Cook, and so they slept comfortably enough underneath the trees grove The Frogman wakened first on , and after going tree where Cayke slept and finding her still wrapped in slumber, he decided little walk and seek some breakfast Coming edge grove, he observed half mile away pretty yellow house that was surrounded by yellow picket fence, so he walked toward this house and on entering the yard found Winkie woman picking up sticks to build fire to cook her morning meal

"For goodness sake ! " she exclaimed on seeing the Frogman " you doing out of your frog-pond ? "

" traveling in search of jeweled gold dishpan, my good woman," he replied with an air of great dignity

"You won't find it here, then," said she "Our dishpans are tin, 're good enough for anybody So go back to your pond and leave me alone " She spoke rather crossly and with lack of respect that greatly annoyed the Frogman

"Allow me you, madam," said he, "that although frog, the Greatest and Wisest Frog in all the world add that I possess much more wisdom than any Winkie--man or woman-- land Wherever I go, people fall on their knees before me and render homage Great Frogman ! No one else knows as I; no one else is so grand, so magnificent ! "

" ," she retorted, "why don't where your dishpan is instead of chasing around the country after it ? "

"Presently," he answered, " going where , but just now traveling and no breakfast Therefore I honor you by asking you for something to eat "

"Oho ! The Great Frogman is hungry as any tramp, is he ? Then pick up these sticks and help me to build the fire," said the woman contemptuously

"Me ! The Great Frogman pick up sticks ? " he exclaimed in horror " Yip Country where more honored and powerful than any King , people weep with joy when I ask them to feed me "

"Then that's the place for your breakfast," declared the woman

" realize my importance," urged the Frogman "Exceeding wisdom renders me superior to menial duties "

"It's great wonder ," remarked the woman, carrying her sticks house, "that your wisdom doesn't inform you that you'll get no breakfast here " And she went in and slammed the door behind her

The Frogman felt he insulted, so loud croak of indignation and turned away After going short distance, upon faint path which led across meadow direction of grove of pretty trees, and thinking this circle of evergreens must surround house where perhaps kindly received, he decided the path And by and by trees, which were set close together, and pushing aside some branches no house inside the circle, but instead very beautiful pond of clear water

Now the Frogman, although so big and well educated and now aped the ways and customs of human beings, was still frog As he gazed solitary, deserted pond, his love for water returned to him with irresistible force "If get breakfast, have fine swim," said he, and pushing his way trees, he reached the bank There off his fine clothing, laying his shiny purple hat gold-headed cane beside it moment later, he sprang with one leap water and dived very bottom pond

The water was deliciously cool and grateful thick, rough skin, Frogman swam around the pond before he stopped to rest Then he floated surface and examined the pond bottom and sides were all lined with glossy tiles of light pink color; just one place bottom where the water bubbled up from hidden spring left free banks, the green grass grew edge pink tiling And now, Frogman examined the place, that on one side pool, just above the water line, set golden plate some words were deeply engraved He swam toward this plate, and on reaching it read the following inscription:

THE TRUTH POND

$$Whoever bathes

water must always afterward tell

THE TRUTH &&

This statement startled the Frogman It even worried him, he leaped bank and hurriedly began to dress himself "A great misfortune has befallen me," himself, "for hereafter tell people wise, since the truth The truth my boasted wisdom is all sham, assumed by me to deceive people and make them defer In truth, no living creature can know much more than his fellows, may know , and another know another thing, wisdom is evenly scattered world But--ah me ! --what terrible fate will now be mine Even Cayke the Cookie Cook will soon discover that my knowledge is no greater than her own, for having bathed enchanted water Truth Pond, no longer deceive her or tell lie "

More humbled than he for many years, the Frogman went back grove where he had left Cayke and found the woman now awake and washing her face in tiny brook "Where has Your Honor been ? " she asked

"To farmhouse to ask for something to eat," said he, "but the woman refused me "

"How dreadful ! " she exclaimed "But never mind, other houses where the people to feed the Wisest Creature in all the World "

" yourself ? " he asked

"No, I mean you "

The Frogman felt strongly impelled the truth, but struggled hard against it His reason told him no use in letting Cayke know not wise, for then lose much respect for him, but he opened his mouth , he realized about the truth and shut it again as quickly as possible He tried about something else, but the words necessary to undeceive the woman would force themselves lips of all his struggles Finally, knowing that either remain dumb or let the truth prevail, low groan of despair and said, "Cayke, NOT the Wisest Creature in all the World; not wise at all "

"Oh, ! " she protested "You told me so yourself, only last evening "

"Then last evening I failed you the truth," he admitted, looking very shamefaced for frog " sorry you this lie, my good Cayke, but know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, not really as wise "

The Cookie Cook was greatly shocked to hear this, shattered one of her most pleasing illusions She looked gorgeously dressed Frogman in amazement "What has caused you your mind so suddenly ? " she inquired

" bathed Truth Pond," , "and whoever bathes water is ever afterward obliged the truth "

"You were foolish to ," declared the woman

" often very embarrassing the truth I'm glad I didn't bathe dreadful water ! "

The Frogman looked at his companion thoughtfully "Cayke," said he, " you Truth Pond and take bath in its water For to travel together and encounter unknown adventures, it fair that I alone must always tell you the truth, while tell me whatever you pleased both dip enchanted water, no chance deceiving one another "

"No," she asserted, shaking her head positively, "I won't , Your Honor For if you the truth, I'm sure you wouldn't like me No Truth Pond