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THE TRUTH POND
"
Ah!" cried the shaggy man, springing to his feet with eager joy; "we've found
it at last."
"
"
Found what?" asked Dorothy, running to him.
The Truth Pond. Now, at last, I may get rid of this frightful head; for we were
told, you remember, that only the Truth Pond could restore to me my proper
face."
"
"
Me, too!" shouted Button-Bright, trotting up to them.
Of course," said Dorothy. "It will cure you both of your bad heads, I guess.
Isn't it lucky we found it?"
"
It is, indeed," replied the shaggy man. "I hated dreadfully to go to Princess
Ozma looking like this; and she's to have a birthday celebration, too."
Just then a splash startled them, for Button-Bright, in his anxiety to see the
pool that would "cure" him, had stepped too near the edge and tumbled heels
over head into the water. Down he went, out of sight entirely, so that only his
sailor hat floated on the top of the Truth Pond.
He soon bobbed up, and the shaggy man seized him by his sailor collar and
dragged him to the shore, dripping and gasping for breath. They all looked
upon the boy wonderingly, for the 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 a darling!" cried Polly, and would have hugged the little one had he
not been so wet.
Their joyful exclamations made the child rub the water out of his eyes and
look at his friends questioningly.
"
You're all right now, dear," said Dorothy. "Come and look at yourself." She
led him to the pool, and although there were still a few ripples on the surface
of the water he could see his reflection plainly.
"
It's me!" he said, in a pleased yet awed whisper.
"
'Course it is," replied the girl, "and we're all as glad as you are, Button-
Bright."
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