fb.ozmaofoz-第15章

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　　〃Where　am　I？And　who　are　you？And　what　has　happened　to　me？〃
　　〃Well；　I　declare！〃　said　Dorothy。〃I've　really　done　it。〃
　　〃Done　what？〃　asked　the　boy。
　　〃Saved　myself　from　being　an　ornament；〃　replied　the　girl；　with　a　laugh；　〃and　saved　you　from　being　forever　a　purple　kitten。〃
　　〃A　purple　kitten？〃　he　repeated。〃There　IS　no　such　thing。〃
　　〃I　know；〃　she　answered。〃But　there　was；　a　minute　ago。Don't　you　remember　standing　on　a　corner　of　the　mantel？〃
　　〃Of　course　not。I　am　a　Prince　of　Ev；　and　my　name　is　Evring；〃　the　little　one　announced；　proudly。〃But　my　father；　the　King；　sold　my　mother　and　all　her　children　to　the　cruel　ruler　of　the　Nomes；　and　after　that　I　remember　nothing　at　all。〃
　　〃A　purple　kitten　can't　be　'spected　to　remember；　Evring；〃　said　Dorothy。
　　〃But　now　you　are　yourself　again；　and　I'm　going　to　try　to　save　some　of　your　brothers　and　sisters；　and　perhaps　your　mother；　as　well。So　e　with　me。〃
　　She　seized　the　child's　hand　and　eagerly　hurried　here　and　there；　trying　to　decide　which　object　to　choose　next。The　third　guess　was　another　failure；　and　so　was　the　fourth　and　the　fifth。
　　Little　Evring　could　not　imagine　what　she　was　doing；　but　he　trotted　along　beside　her　very　willingly；　for　he　liked　the　new　panion　he　had　found。
　　Dorothy's　further　quest　proved　unsuccessful；　but　after　her　first　disappointment　was　over；　the　little　girl　was　filled　with　joy　and　thankfulness　to　think　that　after　all　she　had　been　able　to　save　one　member　of　the　royal　family　of　Ev；　and　could　restore　the　little　Prince　to　his　sorrowing　country。Now　she　might　return　to　the　terrible　Nome　King　in　safety；　carrying　with　her　the　prize　she　had　won　in　the　person　of　the　fair…haired　boy。
　　So　she　retraced　her　steps　until　she　found　the　entrance　to　the　palace；　and　as　she　approached；　the　massive　doors　of　rock　opened　of　their　own　accord；　allowing　both　Dorothy　and　Evring　to　pass　the　portals　and　enter　the　throne　room。
　　
　　　15。Billina　Frightens　the　Nome　King
　　
　　Now　when　Dorothy　had　entered　the　palace　to　make　her　guesses　and　the　Scarecrow　was　left　with　the　Nome　King；　the　two　sat　in　moody　silence　for　several　minutes。Then　the　monarch　exclaimed；　in　a　tone　of　satisfaction：
　　〃Very　good！〃
　　〃Who　is　very　good？〃　asked　the　Scarecrow。
　　〃The　machine　man。He　won't　need　to　be　wound　up　any　more；　for　he　has　now　bee　a　very　neat　ornament。Very　neat；　indeed。〃
　　〃How　about　Dorothy？〃　the　Scarecrow　enquired。
　　〃Oh；　she　will　begin　to　guess；　pretty　soon；〃　said　the　King；　cheerfully。
　　〃And　then　she　will　join　my　collection；　and　it　will　be　your　turn。〃
　　The　good　Scarecrow　was　much　distressed　by　the　thought　that　his　little　friend　was　about　to　suffer　the　fate　of　Ozma　and　the　rest　of　their　party；　but　while　he　sat　in　gloomy　reverie　a　shrill　voice　suddenly　cried：
　　〃Kut；　kut；　kut…ka…daw…kutt！Kut；　kut；　kut…ka…daw…kutt！〃
　　The　Nome　King　nearly　jumped　off　his　seat；　he　was　so　startled。
　　〃Good　gracious！What's　that？〃　he　yelled。
　　〃Why；　it's　Billina；〃　said　the　Scarecrow。
　　〃What　do　you　mean　by　making　a　noise　like　that？〃　shouted　the　King；　angrily；　as　the　yellow　hen　came　from　under　the　throne　and　strutted　proudly　about　the　room。
　　〃I've　got　a　right　to　cackle；　I　guess；〃　replied　Billina。〃I've　just　laid　my　egg。〃
　　〃What！Laid　an　egg！In　my　throne　room！How　dare　you　do　such　a　thing？〃　asked　the　King；　in　a　voice　of　fury。
　　〃I　lay　eggs　wherever　I　happen　to　be；〃　said　the　hen；　ruffling　her　feathers　and　then　shaking　them　into　place。
　　〃But…thunder…ation！Don't　you　know　that　eggs　are　poison？〃　roared　the　King；　while　his　rock…colored　eyes　stuck　out　in　great　terror。
　　〃Poison！　well；　I　declare；〃　said　Billina；　indignantly。〃I'll　have　you　know　all　my　eggs　are　warranted　strictly　fresh　and　up　to　date。　Poison；　indeed！〃
　　〃You　don't　understand；〃　retorted　the　little　monarch；　nervously。〃Eggs　belong　only　to　the　outside　world…to　the　world　on　the　earth's　surface；　where　you　came　from。Here；　in　my　underground　kingdom；　they　are　rank　poison；　as　I　said；　and　we　Nomes　can't　bear　them　around。〃
　　〃Well；　you'll　have　to　bear　this　one　around；〃　declared　Billina；　〃for　I've　laid　it。〃
　　〃Where？〃　asked　the　King。
　　〃Under　your　throne；〃　said　the　hen。
　　The　King　jumped　three　feet　into　the　air；　so　anxious　was　he　to　get　away　from　the　throne。
　　〃Take　it　away！Take　it　away　at　once！〃　he　shouted。
　　〃I　can't；〃　said　Billina。〃I　haven't　any　hands。〃
　　〃I'll　take　the　egg；〃　said　the　Scarecrow。〃I'm　making　a　collection　of　Billina's　eggs。There's　one　in　my　pocket　now；　that　she　laid　yesterday。〃
　　Hearing　this；　the　monarch　hastened　to　put　a　good　distance　between　himself　and　the　Scarecrow；　who　was　about　to　reach　under　the　throne　for　the　egg　when　the　hen　suddenly　cried：
　　〃Stop！〃
　　〃What's　wrong？〃　asked　the　Scarecrow。
　　〃Don't　take　the　egg　unless　the　King　will　allow　me　to　enter　the　palace　and　guess　as　the　others　have　done；〃　said　Billina。
　　〃Pshaw！〃　returned　the　King。〃You're　only　a　hen。How　could　you　guess　my　enchantments？〃
　　〃I　can　try；　I　suppose；〃　said　Billina。〃And；　if　I　fail；　you　will　have　another　ornament。〃
　　〃A　pretty　ornament　you'd　make；　wouldn't　you？〃　growled　the　King。〃But　you　shall　have　your　way。It　will　properly　punish　you　for　daring　to　lay　an　egg　in　my　presence。After　the　Scarecrow　is　enchanted　you　shall　follow　him　into　the　palace。But　how　will　you　touch　the　objects？〃
　　〃With　my　claws；〃　said　the　hen；　〃and　I　can　speak　the　word　'Ev'　as　plainly　as　anyone。Also　I　must　have　the　right　to　guess　the　enchantments　of　my　friends；　and　to　release　them　if　I　succeed。〃
　　〃Very　well；〃　said　the　King。〃You　have　my　promise。〃
　　〃Then；〃　said　Billina　to　the　Scarecrow；　〃you　may　get　the　egg。〃
　　He　knelt　down　and　reached　underneath　the　throne　and　found　the　egg；　which　he　placed　in　another　pocket　of　his　jacket；　fearing　that　if　both　eggs　were　in　one　pocket　they　would　knock　together　and　get　broken。
　　Just　then　a　bell　above　the　throne　rang　briskly；　and　the　King　gave　another　nervous　jump。
　　〃Well；　well！〃　said　he；　with　a　rueful　face；　〃the　girl　has　actually　done　it。〃
　　〃Done　what？〃　asked　the　Scarecrow。
　　〃She　has　made　one　guess　that　is　right；　and　broken　one　of　my　neatest　enchantments。By　ricketty；　it's　too　bad！I　never　thought　she　would　do　it。〃
　　〃Do　I　understand　that　she　will　now　return　to　us　in　safety？〃　enquired　the　Scarecrow；　joyfully　wrinkling　his　painted　face　into　a　broad　smile。
　　〃Of　course；〃　said　the　King；　fretfully　pacing　up　and　down　the　room。〃I　always　keep　my　promises；　no　matter　how　foolish　they　are。But　I　shall　make　an　ornament　of　the　yellow　hen　to　replace　the　one　I　have　just　lost。〃
　　〃Perhaps　you　will；　and　perhaps　you　won't；〃　murmured　Billina；　calmly。　〃I　may　surprise　you　by　guessing　right。〃
　　〃Guessing　right？〃　snapped　the　King。〃How　could　you　guess　right；　where　your　betters　have　failed；　you　stupid　fowl？〃
　　Billina　did　not　care　to　answer　this　question；　and　a　moment　later　the　doors　flew　open　and　Dorothy　entered；　leading　the　little　Prince　Evring　by　the　hand。
　　The　Scarecrow　weled　the　girl　with　a　close　embrace；　and　he　would　have　embraced　Evring；　too；　in　his　delight。But　the　little　Prince　was　shy；　and　shrank　away　from　the　painted　Scarecrow　because　he　did　not　yet　know　his　many　excellent　qualities。
　　But　there　was　little　time　for　the　friends　to　talk；　because　the　Scarecrow　must　now　enter　the　palace。Dorothy's　success　had　greatly　encouraged　him；　and　they　both　hoped　he　would　manage　to　make　at　least　one　correct　guess。
　　However；　he　proved　as　unfortunate　as　the　others　except　Dorothy；　and　although　he　took　a　good　deal　of　time　to　select　his　objects；　not　one　did　the　poor　Scarecrow　guess　aright。
　　So　he　became　a　solid　gold　card…receiver；　and　the　beautiful　but　terrible　palace　awaited　it's　next　visitor。
　　〃It's　all　over；〃　remarked　the　King；　with　a　sigh　of　satisfaction；　〃and　it　has　been　a　very　amusing　performance；　except　for　the　one　good　guess　the　Kansas　girl　made。I　am　richer　by　a　great　many　pretty　ornaments。
　　〃It　is　my　turn；　now；〃　said　Billina；　briskly。
　　〃Oh；　I'd　forgotten　you；〃　said　the　King。〃But　you　needn't　go　if　you　don't　wish　to。I　will　be　generous；　and　let　you　off。〃
　　〃No　you　won't；〃　replied　the　hen。〃I　insist　upon　having　my　guesses；　as　you　promised。〃
　　〃Then　go　ahead；　you　absurd　feathered　fool！〃　grumbled　the　King；　and　he　caused　the　opening　that　led　to　the　palace　to　appear　once　more。
　　〃Don't　go；　Billina；〃　said　Dorothy；　earnestly。〃It　isn't　easy　to　guess　those　orn'ments；　and　only　luck　saved　me　from　being　one　myself。Stay　with　me　and　we'll　go　back　to　the　Land　of　Ev　together。I'm　sure　this　little　Prince　will　give　us　a　home。〃
　　〃Indeed　I　will；〃　said　Evring；　with　much　dignity。
　　〃Don't　worry；　my　dear；〃　cried　Billina；　with　a　cluck　that　was　meant　for　a　laugh。〃I　may　not　be　human；　but　I'm　no　fool；　if　I　AM　a　chicken。〃
　　〃Oh；　Billina！〃　said　Dorothy；　〃you　haven't　been　a　chicken　in　a　long　time。
　　Not　since　you…you've　been…grown　up。〃
　　〃Perhaps　that's　true；〃　answered　Billina；　thoughtfully。〃But　if　a　Kansas　farmer　sold　me　to　some　one；　what　would　he　call　me？…a　hen　or　a　chicken！〃
　　〃You　are　not　a　Kansas　farmer；　Billina；〃　replied　the　girl；　〃and　you　said〃
　　〃Never　mind　that；　Dorothy。I'm　going。I　won't　say　good…bye；　because　I'm　ing　back。Keep　up　your　courage；　for　I'll　see　you　a　little　later。〃
　　Then　Billina　gave　several　loud　〃cluck…clucks〃　that　seemed　to　make　the　fat　little　King　MORE　nervous　than　ever；　and　marched　through　the　entrance　into　the　enchanted　palace。
　　〃I　hope　I've　seen　the　last　of　THAT　bird；〃　declared　the　monarch；　seating　himself　again　in　his　throne　and　mopping　the　perspiration　from　his　forehead　with　his　rock…colored　handkerchief。〃Hens　are　bothersome　enough　at　their　best；　but　when　they　can　talk　they're　simply　dreadful。〃
　　〃Billina's　my　friend；〃　said　Dorothy　quietly。〃She　may　not　always　be　'zactly　polite；　but　she　MEANS　well；　I'm　sure。〃
　　
　　　16。Purple；　Green；　and　Gold
　　
　　The　yellow　hen；　stepping　high　and　with　an　air　of　vast　importance；　walked　slowly　over　the　rich　velvet　carpets　of　the　splendid　palace；　examining　everything　she　met　with　her　sharp　little　eyes。
　　Billina　had　a　right　to　feel　important；　for　she　alone　shared　the　Nome　King's　secret　and　knew　how　to　tell　the　objects　that　were　transformations　from　those　that　had　never　been　alive。She　was　very　sure　that　her　guesses　would　be　correct；　but　before　she　began　to　make　them　she　was　curious　to　behold　all　the　magnificence　of　this　underground　palace；　which　was　perhaps　one　of　the　most　splendid　and　beautiful　places　in　any　fairyland。
　　As　she　went　through　the　rooms　she　counted　the　purple　ornaments；　and　although　some　were　small　and　hidden　in　queer　places；　Billina　spied　them　all；　and　found　the　entire　ten　scattered　about　the　various　rooms。　The　green　ornaments　she　did　not　bother　to　count；　for　she　thought　she　could　find　them　all　when　the　time　came。
　　Finally；　having　made　a　survey　of　the　entire　palace　and　enjoyed　its　splendor；　the　yellow　hen　returned　to　one　of　the　rooms　where　she　had　noticed　a　large　purple　footstool。She　placed　a　claw　upon　this　and　said　〃Ev；〃　and　at　once　the　footstool　vanished　and　a　lovely　lady；　tall　and　slender　and　most　beautifully　robed；　stood　before　her。
　　The　lady's　eyes　were　round　with　astonishment　for　a　moment；　for　she　could　not　remember　her　transformation；　nor　imagine　what　had　restored　her　to　life。
　　〃Good　morning；　ma'am；〃　said　Billina；　in　her　sharp　voice。