Near Button-Bright, ground, lay sailor hat with gilt anchor band His sailor trousers were long and wide bottom, broad collar blouse had gold anchors sewed on its corners The boy was still digging at his hole

" ever been to sea ? " asked Dorothy

" what ? " answered Button-Bright

"I mean, ever been where there's water ? "

"Yes," said Button-Bright; "there's well back yard "

"You don't understand," cried Dorothy "I mean, ever been on big ship floating on big ocean ? "

"Don't know," said he

"Then why wear sailor clothes ? "

"Don't know," he answered, again

Dorothy was in despair

"You're just AWFUL stupid, Button-Bright," she said

"Am I ? " he asked

"Yes, "

"Why ? " looking up at her with big eyes

She was going : "Don't know," but stopped herself

"That's to answer," she replied

"It's no use asking Button-Bright questions," said the shaggy man, who eating another apple; "but someone ought care poor little chap, don't ? So he'd better come along "

Toto looking with great curiosity hole which the boy was digging, and growing more and more excited , perhaps thinking that Button-Bright was after some wild animal The little dog began barking loudly and jumped hole himself, where he began to dig tiny paws, making the earth fly in all directions It spattered over the boy Dorothy seized him and raised him feet, brushing his clothes with her hand

"Stop that, Toto ! " she called "There aren't any mice or woodchucks hole, so don't be foolish "

Toto stopped, sniffed hole suspiciously, and jumped out of it, wagging his tail he had done something important

"Well," said the shaggy man, "let's start on, or we won't get anywhere before night comes "

"Where expect to ? " asked Dorothy

"I'm like Button-Bright I don't know," answered the shaggy man, with laugh "But I've learned from long experience that every road leads somewhere, or there wouldn't be any road; so it's likely that travel long enough, my dear, come to some place or another end What place 't even guess moment, but we're sure out when we get there "

"Why, yes," said Dorothy; "that seems reas'n'ble, Shaggy Man "

3 Queer Village

Button-Bright took the shaggy man's hand willingly; shaggy man had the Love Magnet, , the reason Button-Bright had loved him at once They started on, with Dorothy on one side, and Toto other, the little party trudging along more cheerfully than you supposed The girl was getting used to queer adventures, which interested her Wherever Dorothy went Toto was sure , like Mary's little lamb Button-Bright didn't seem bit afraid or worried because lost, shaggy man had no home, perhaps, and was as happy in one place as in another

Before long they saw ahead fine big arch spanning the road, and came nearer they found arch was beautifully carved and decorated with rich colors row of peacocks with spread tails ran along the top of it, and all the feathers were gorgeously painted center was large fox's head, fox wore shrewd and knowing expression and had large spectacles over its eyes and small golden crown with shiny points on top head

While the travelers were looking with curiosity beautiful arch there suddenly marched out of it company of soldiers--only the soldiers were all foxes dressed in uniforms They wore green jackets and yellow pantaloons, and their little round caps and their high boots were bright red color Also, big red bow tied middle of each long, bushy tail Each soldier was armed with wooden sword having an edge of sharp teeth set in row, sight teeth at first caused Dorothy to shudder

captain marched in front company of fox-soldiers, his uniform embroidered with gold braid it handsomer others

Almost before our friends realized it the soldiers had surrounded them on all sides, captain was calling out in harsh voice:

"Surrender ! our prisoners "

"What's pris'ner ? " asked Button-Bright

"A prisoner is captive," replied the fox-captain, strutting up and down with much dignity

"What's captive ? " asked Button-Bright

"You're one," said the captain

That made the shaggy man laugh

"Good afternoon, captain," , bowing politely to all the foxes and very low commander "I trust in good health, your families are all well ? "

The fox-captain looked shaggy man, sharp features grew pleasant and smiling

"We're pretty well, , Shaggy Man," said he; and Dorothy knew Love Magnet was working all the foxes now loved the shaggy man because of it But Toto didn't know this, for he began barking angrily and tried to bite the captain's hairy leg where it showed between his red boots yellow pantaloons

"Stop, Toto ! " cried the little girl, seizing the dog in her arms "These are our friends "

"Why, so ! " remarked the captain in tones of astonishment " at first we were enemies, but it seems friends instead come with me King Dox "

"Who's he ? " asked Button-Bright, with earnest eyes

"King Dox of Foxville; the great and wise sovereign who rules over our community "

"What's sov'rin, and what's c'u'nity ? " inquired Button-Bright

"Don't ask questions, little boy "

"Why ? "

"Ah, why indeed ? " exclaimed the captain, looking at Button-Bright admiringly " don't ask questions learn nothing True enough wrong You're very clever little boy, come of it--very clever indeed But now, friends, please come with me, is my duty to escort you at once royal palace "

The soldiers marched back arch again, and marched the shaggy man, Dorothy, Toto, and Button-Bright Once opening they found 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 head representing the fox who lived house, this effect being quite pretty and unusual

As our friends marched along, foxes came out porches and balconies view 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 stumbled and fallen more than once the shaggy man grasped his hand tightly They were all interested, and Toto was so excited to bark 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 good and behave himself So he finally quieted down, like wise doggy, deciding there were too many foxes in Foxville to fight at

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

There were many fox-soldiers guarding the door, but they bowed 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, being passed around by fox-servants in white aprons They came to big doorway covered with heavy curtains of cloth of gold

Beside this doorway stood huge drum The fox-captain went drum and knocked his knees against it-- first one knee and then the other--so drum said: "Boom-boom "

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

The golden curtains drew back far enough an opening, through which marched the captain others

The broad, long room they entered was decorated in gold with stained-glass windows of splendid colors corner room upon richly carved golden throne, sat the fox-king, surrounded by 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 arch and over the doorway palace Having met with kings in her travels, she knew what , and at once made low bow 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 pompous voice, "I humbly beg to report that these strangers road leading to your Foxy Majesty's dominions, therefore brought them , 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

" your business here ? " next question

" away ," said the shaggy man

The King didn't know Magnet, ; but it made him love the shaggy man at once

"Do just please about going away," ; "but I'd like to show you the sights city and to entertain your party while here highly honored little Dorothy , I assure you, and we appreciate her kindness in making us visit For whatever country Dorothy visits is sure 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 ? quite an important personage since Princess Ozma of Oz made you her friend "

" Ozma ? " she asked, wondering