its water, in order to get back your own head. But
I advise you not to do that. This head is much more beautiful than the
old one."

"That's a matter of taste," said Dorothy.

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

"Somewhere in the Land of Oz; but just the exact location of it I can
not tell," was the answer.

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

"Oh! Are you going to the Land of Oz?" asked King Kik-a-bray.

"I don't know," she replied; "but we've been told we are nearer the Land
of Oz than to Kansas, and if that's so the quickest way for me to get
home is to find Ozma."

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

"'Course I do; she's my friend," said Dorothy.

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

"What is it?" she asked.

"Perhaps you can get me an invitation to Princess Ozma's birthday
celebration, which will be the grandest royal function ever held in
Fairyland. I'd love to go."

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

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

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

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

"What do you think, Polly? shall I promise the donkey king an invitation
to Ozma's party?" asked Dorothy of the Rainbow's Daughter, who was
flitting about the room like a sunbeam because she could never keep
still.

"Do as you please, dear," answered Polychrome. "He might help to amuse
the guests of the Princess."

"Then, if you will give us some supper and a place to sleep to-night,
and let us get started on our journey early tomorrow morning," said
Dorothy to the King, "I'll ask Ozma to invite you--if I happen to get 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, a bran
mash or ripe oats in th