"Dunkiton," he replied, " center world's highest civilization "

They came to house where two youthful donkeys were whitewashing the wall, and Dorothy stopped moment to watch them They dipped the ends tails, which were much like paint-brushes, into pail of whitewash, backed up against the house, and wagged their tails right and left until the whitewash was rubbed wall, after which they dipped these funny brushes pail again and repeated the performance

" be fun," said Button-Bright

"No, it's work," replied the old donkey; "but our youngsters do all the whitewashing, them out of mischief "

"Don't they go to school ? " asked Dorothy

"All donkeys are born wise," reply, "so the only school school of experience Books are only nothing, and so are obliged to learn things from other people "

"In other words, the more stupid one is, the more he thinks ," observed the shaggy man The grey donkey paid no attention speech because he had just stopped before house which had painted over the doorway pair of hoofs, with donkey tail and rude crown and sceptre above

"I'll see if his magnificent Majesty King Kik-a-bray is at home," said he He lifted his head and called "Whee-haw ! whee-haw ! whee-haw ! " three times, in shocking voice, turning about and kicking heels against the panel door For time no reply; then the door opened far enough to permit donkey's head to stick out and look at them

white head, with big, awful ears and round, solemn eyes

"Have the foxes gone ? " it asked, in trembling voice

"They haven't been here, most stupendous Majesty," replied the grey one "The new arrivals prove travelers of distinction "

"Oh," said the King, in relieved tone of voice "Let them come in "

He opened the door wide, party marched into big room, which, Dorothy thought, looked quite unlike king's palace There were mats of woven grasses floor place was clean and neat; but his Majesty had no other furniture at all--perhaps because he didn't need it He squatted down center room and little brown donkey ran and brought big gold crown which it placed monarch's head, and golden staff with jeweled ball end of it, which the King held between his front hoofs as he sat upright

"Now then," said his Majesty, waving his long ears gently to and fro, "tell me why here, and what you expect me " He eyed Button-Bright rather sharply, afraid little boy's queer head, though it shaggy man who undertook to reply

"Most noble and supreme ruler of Dunkiton," , trying not to laugh solemn King's face, " strangers traveling through your dominions entered your magnificent city because the road led through it, and no way around All is our respects to your Majesty--the cleverest king in all the world, I'm sure--and then way "

This polite speech pleased the King ; indeed, it pleased him proved an unlucky speech shaggy man Perhaps the Love Magnet helped to win his Majesty's affections flattery, but however , the white donkey looked kindly speaker and said:

"Only donkey able to use such fine, big words, and too wise and admirable in all ways mere man Also, that I love you as my own favored people, so bestow upon you the greatest gift within my power--a donkey's head "

As he spoke he waved his jeweled staff Although the shaggy man cried out and tried to leap backward and escape, it proved of no use Suddenly his own head was gone and donkey head appeared in its place--a brown, shaggy head so absurd and droll that Dorothy and Polly both broke into merry laughter, and even Button-Bright's fox face wore smile

"Dear me ! dear me ! " cried the shaggy man, feeling shaggy new head long ears "What misfortune--what great misfortune ! back my own head, you stupid king-- love me at all ! "

"Don't you like it ? " asked the King, surprised

"Hee-haw ! I hate it ! Take it away, quick ! " said the shaggy man

"But 't ," reply "My magic works way DO things, but 't UNdo them You'll have the Truth Pond, and bathe in its water, back your own head But I advise you not to This head is much more beautiful old one "

"That's matter of taste," said Dorothy

"Where Truth Pond ? " asked the shaggy man, earnestly

"Somewhere Land of Oz; but just the exact location of it not tell," answer

"Don't worry, Shaggy Man," said Dorothy, smiling because her friend wagged his new ears so comically " Truth Pond is in Oz, we'll it when we get there "

"Oh ! going Land of Oz ? " asked King Kik-a-bray

"I don't know," she replied, "but we've been told nearer the Land of Oz than to Kansas, and 's so, the quickest way home is Ozma "

"Haw-haw ! the mighty Princess Ozma ? " asked the King, his tone both surprised and eager

"'Course ; she's my friend," said Dorothy

"Then perhaps you'll do me favor," continued the white donkey, much excited

" it ? " she asked

"Perhaps me an invitation to Princess Ozma's birthday celebration, which the grandest royal function ever held in Fairyland I'd love "

"Hee-haw ! You deserve punishment, rather than reward, for giving me this dreadful head," said the shaggy man, sorrowfully

" you wouldn't say 'hee-haw' ," Polychrome begged him; "it makes cold chills run down my back "

"But 't help it, my dear; my donkey head wants to bray continually," he replied "Doesn't your fox head want to yelp ? " he asked Button-Bright

"Don't know," said the boy, still staring shaggy man's ears These seemed to interest him greatly, sight also made him forget his own fox head, comfort

"What , Polly ? Shall I promise the donkey king an invitation to Ozma's party ? " asked Dorothy Rainbow's Daughter, who was flitting room like sunbeam because never keep still

"Do please, dear," answered Polychrome "He might help to amuse the guests Princess "

"Then, some supper and place to sleep to-night, get started journey early to-morrow morning," said Dorothy King, "I'll ask Ozma to invite you--if I happen to Oz "

"Good ! Hee-haw ! Excellent ! " cried Kik-a-bray, much pleased "You shall all have fine suppers and good beds What food would you prefer, bran mash or ripe oats shell ? "

"Neither one," replied Dorothy, promptly

"Perhaps plain hay, or some sweet juicy grass would suit you better," suggested Kik-a-bray, musingly

" all to eat ? " asked the girl

"What more do ? "

"Well, we're not donkeys," she explained, "and so we're used to other food The foxes nice supper in Foxville "

"We'd like some dewdrops and mist-cakes," said Polychrome

"I'd prefer apples and ham sandwich," declared the shaggy man, "for although I've donkey head, I still have my own particular stomach "

" pie," said Button-Bright

" some beefsteak and chocolate layer-cake would taste best," said Dorothy

"Hee-haw ! I declare ! " exclaimed the King "It seems of you wants different food How queer all living creatures are, except donkeys ! "

"And donkeys like queerest of all," laughed Polychrome

"Well," decided the King, "I suppose my Magic Staff will produce the things you crave; lacking in good taste my fault "

, he waved his staff jeweled ball, and before them instantly appeared tea-table, set with linen and pretty dishes, and table were the very things each had wished for Dorothy's beefsteak was smoking hot, shaggy man's apples were plump and rosy-cheeked The King thought chairs, so they all stood in their places around the table and ate with good appetite, being hungry The Rainbow's Daughter found three tiny dewdrops on crystal plate, and Button-Bright had big slice of apple pie, which he devoured eagerly

Afterward the King called the brown donkey, his favorite servant, and bade it lead his guests vacant house where they were the night It had room and no furniture except beds of clean straw and few mats of woven grasses; but our travelers were contented simple things because they realized it best the Donkey-King had to offer them dark they lay down mats and slept comfortably until morning

At daybreak dreadful noise city Every donkey place brayed When he heard this the shaggy man woke up and called out "Hee-haw ! " as loud as

"Stop that ! " said Button-Bright, in cross voice Both Dorothy and Polly looked shaggy man reproachfully

"I couldn't help it, my dears," , ashamed bray; "but I'll try not again "

Of coursed they forgave him, for as he still had the Love Magnet pocket they were all obliged to love him as ever

see the King again, but Kik-a-bray remembered them; for table appeared again in their room same food upon it as night before

"Don't want pie for breakfus'," said Button-Bright

"I'll some beefsteak," proposed Dorothy; "there's plenty all "