The shaggy man flew after them, head first, and lighted in heap beside Toto, who, being much excited , seized donkey ears between his teeth and shook and worried it as hard as , growling angrily The shaggy man made the little dog let go, and sat look around him

Dorothy was feeling one of her front teeth, loosened by knocking against her knee as she fell Polly was looking sorrowfully at rent in her pretty gauze gown, and Button-Bright's fox head had stuck fast in gopher hole and wiggling his little fat legs frantically in an effort free

Otherwise they were unhurt adventure; so the shaggy man stood up and pulled Button-Bright hole and went edge desert to look sand-boat mere mass of splinters now, crushed out of shape against the rocks The wind had torn away the sail and carried it top of tall tree, where the fragments of it fluttered like white flag

"Well," , cheerfully, "we're here; but where the I don't know "

"It some part Land of Oz," observed Dorothy, coming side

"Must it ? "

"'Course it must We're across the desert, aren't we ? And somewhere middle of Oz Emerald City "

" ," 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 ," he suggested " people somewhere; but perhaps expect us, and so at hand to welcome "

13 The Truth Pond

They now made more careful examination country around them All was fresh and beautiful sultriness desert, sunshine and sweet, crisp air were delightful wanderers Little mounds of yellowish green were away right, while left waved group of tall leafy trees bearing yellow blossoms that looked like tassels and pompoms grasses carpeting the ground were pretty buttercups and cowslips and marigolds After looking moment Dorothy said reflectively:

" Country Winkies, color country is yellow, and notice that 'most everything yellow that has any color at all "

"But the Land of Oz," replied the shaggy man, greatly disappointed

"So ," she declared; "but four parts Land of Oz The North Country is purple, and it's the Country Gillikins The East Country is blue, 's the Country Munchkins Down South red Country Quadlings, and here, West, the yellow Country Winkies part ruled Tin Woodman, "

"Who's he ? " asked Button-Bright

"Why, he's the tin man you about His name is Nick Chopper, and he has lovely heart given him wonderful Wizard "

"Where does HE live ? " asked the boy

"The Wizard ? Oh, he lives Emerald City, just middle of Oz, where the corners four countries meet "

"Oh," said Button-Bright, puzzled explanation

" some distance Emerald City," remarked the shaggy man

"That's true," she replied; "so we'd better start on find any Winkies They're nice people," she continued, little party began walking toward the group of trees, "and here once with my friends the Scarecrow, Tin Woodman, Cowardly Lion, to fight wicked witch who had made all the Winkies her slaves "

"Did you conquer her ? " asked Polly

"Why, I melted her with bucket of water, end of her," replied Dorothy " the people were free, , 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 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, ; the little rulers are all captains, and Ozma's the general "

they had reached the trees, which stood in perfect circle and just far enough apart their thick branches touched--or "shook hands," as Button-Bright remarked Under the shade trees they found, center circle, crystal pool, its water as still as glass It must deep, too, for when Polychrome bent over it she gave little sigh of pleasure

"Why, it's mirror ! " she cried; for she all her pretty face and fluffy, rainbow-tinted gown reflected pool, as natural as life

Dorothy bent over, too, and began to arrange her hair, blown desert wind into straggling tangles Button-Bright leaned over the edge next, and then began to cry, sight 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 pool, where his image reflected, and stared water thoughtfully As this he noticed silver plate fastened to rock just under the surface water, and silver plate was engraved these words:

THE TRUTH POND

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

"Found what ? " asked Dorothy, running to him

"The Truth Pond Now, at last, get rid frightful head; for we were told, you remember, that only the Truth Pond could restore my proper face "

"Me, too ! " shouted Button-Bright, trotting up

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

" , indeed," replied the shaggy man "I hated dreadfully to Princess Ozma looking like this; and she's birthday celebration, too "

Just then splash startled them, for Button-Bright, anxiety the pool "cure" him, had stepped too near the edge and tumbled heels over head water Down he went, out of sight entirely, only his sailor hat floated top Truth Pond

He soon bobbed up, shaggy man seized him by his sailor collar and dragged him shore, dripping and gasping for breath They all looked boy wonderingly, 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 darling ! " cried Polly, and hugged the little one had he not been so wet

Their joyful exclamations made the child rub the water out eyes and look at his friends questioningly

"You're all right now, dear," said Dorothy "Come and look at yourself " She led him pool, and although there were still few ripples surface water he his reflection plainly

"It's me ! " , in pleased yet awed whisper

"'Course ," replied the girl, "and we're all as glad , Button-Bright "

"Well," announced the shaggy man, "it's my turn next " off his shaggy coat and laid it grass and dived head first Truth Pond

When up the donkey head had disappeared, shaggy man's own shaggy head was in its place, water dripping in little streams shaggy whiskers He scrambled ashore and shook himself off wet, and then leaned over the pool to look admiringly at his reflected face

" not be strictly beautiful, even now," companions, who watched him with smiling faces; "but I'm handsomer than any donkey that as proud as "

"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 journey Emerald City "

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

14 Tik-Tok and Billina

They walked far across the flower-strewn meadows came upon fine road leading toward the northwest and winding gracefully pretty yellow hills

"That way," said Dorothy, " the direction Emerald City We'd better follow the road until we meet some one or come to house "

The sun soon dried Button-Bright's sailor suit shaggy man's shaggy clothes, and so pleased were they at regaining their own heads that mind at all the brief discomfort of getting wet

"It's good to whistle again," remarked the shaggy man, " donkey lips were so thick whistle note " He warbled tune as merrily as any bird

"You'll look more natural 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 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