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That's true," she replied; "so we'd better start on and see if we can find any of

the Winkies. They're nice people," she continued, as the little party began

walking toward the group of trees, "and I came here once with my friends the

Scarecrow, and the Tin Woodman, and the Cowardly Lion, to fight a wicked

witch who had made all the Winkies her slaves."

Did you conquer her?" asked Polly.

Why, I melted her with a bucket of water, and that was the end of her,"

replied Dorothy. "After that the people were free, you know, and they 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 I thought 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, you see; the little rulers are all captains, and Ozma's the general."

By this time they had reached the trees, which stood in a perfect circle and

just far enough apart so that their thick branches touched--or "shook hands,"

as Button-Bright remarked. Under the shade of the trees they found, in the

center of the circle, a crystal pool, its water as still as glass. It must have

been deep, too, for when Polychrome bent over it she gave a little sigh of

pleasure.

Why, it's a mirror!" she cried; for she could see all her pretty face and fluffy,

rainbow-tinted gown reflected in the pool, as natural as life.

Dorothy bent over, too, and began to arrange her hair, blown by the desert

wind into straggling tangles. Button-Bright leaned over the edge next, and

then began to cry, for the sight of his 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 of the pool, where his image could not

be reflected, and stared at the water thoughtfully. As he did this he noticed a

silver plate fastened to a rock just under the surface of the water, and on the

silver plate was engraved these words:

The Road to Oz