dorothy and the wizard in oz-第18章

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the　straw　man；　who　was　an　important　personage　in　the　Land　of　Oz。



〃How　are　your　brains？〃　enquired　the　little　humbug；　as　he　grasped　the

soft；　stuffed　hands　of　his　old　friend。



〃Working　finely；〃　answered　the　Scarecrow。　　〃I'm　very　certain；　Oz；　that

you　gave　me　the　best　brains　in　the　world；　for　I　can　think　with　them

day　and　night；　when　all　other　brains　are　fast　asleep。〃



〃How　long　did　you　rule　the　Emerald　City；　after　I　left　here？〃　was　the

next　question。



〃Quite　awhile；　until　I　was　conquered　by　a　girl　named　General　Jinjur。

But　Ozma　soon　conquered　her；　with　the　help　of　Glinda　the　Good；　and

after　that　I　went　to　live　with　Nick　Chopper；　the　Tin　Woodman。〃



Just　then　a　loud　cackling　was　heard　outside；　and；　when　a　servant　threw

open　the　door　with　a　low　bow；　a　yellow　hen　strutted　in。　　Dorothy

sprang　forward　and　caught　the　fluffy　fowl　in　her　arms；　uttering　at　the

same　time　a　glad　cry。



〃Oh；　Billina！〃　she　said；　〃how　fat　and　sleek　you've　grown。〃



〃Why　shouldn't　I？〃　asked　the　hen；　in　a　sharp；　clear　voice。　　〃I　live　on

the　fat　of　the　landdon't　I；　Ozma？〃



〃You　have　everything　you　wish　for；〃　said　the　Princess。



Around　Billina's　neck　was　a　string　of　beautiful　pearls；　and　on　her

legs　were　bracelets　of　emeralds。　　She　nestled　herself　comfortably　in

Dorothy's　lap　until　the　kitten　gave　a　snarl　of　jealous　anger　and

leaped　up　with　a　sharp　claw　fiercely　bared　to　strike　Billina　a　blow。

But　the　little　girl　gave　the　angry　kitten　such　a　severe　cuff　that　it

jumped　down　again　without　daring　to　scratch。



〃How　horrid　of　you；　Eureka！〃　cried　Dorothy。　　〃Is　that　the　way　to　treat

my　friends？〃



〃You　have　queer　friends；　seems　to　me；〃　replied　the　kitten；

in　a　surly　tone。



〃Seems　to　me　the　same　way；〃　said　Billina；　scornfully；　〃if　that　beastly

cat　is　one　of　them。〃



〃Look　here！〃　said　Dorothy；　sternly。　　〃I　won't　have　any　quarrelling　in

the　Land　of　Oz；　I　can　tell　you！　　Everybody　lives　in　peace　here；　and

loves　everybody　else；　and　unless　you　two；　Billina　and　Eureka；　make　up

and　be　friends；　I'll　take　my　Magic　Belt　and　wish　you　both　home　again；

IMMEJITLY。　　So；　there！〃



They　were　both　much　frightened　at　the　threat；　and　promised　meekly　to

be　good。　　But　it　was　never　noticed　that　they　became　very　warm　friends；

for　all　of　that。



And　now　the　Tin　Woodman　arrived；　his　body　most　beautifully

nickle…plated；　so　that　it　shone　splendidly　in　the　brilliant　light　of

the　room。　　The　Tin　Woodman　loved　Dorothy　most　tenderly；　and　welcomed

with　joy　the　return　of　the　little　old　Wizard。



〃Sir；〃　said　he　to　the　latter；　〃I　never　can　thank　you　enough　for　the

excellent　heart　you　once　gave　me。　　It　has　made　me　many　friends；

I　assure　you；　and　it　beats　as　kindly　and　lovingly　today　as　it　every　did。〃



〃I'm　glad　to　hear　that；〃　said　the　Wizard。　　〃I　was　afraid　it　would　get

moldy　in　that　tin　body　of　yours。〃



〃Not　at　all；〃　returned　Nick　Chopper。　　〃It　keeps　finely；　being　preserved

in　my　air…tight　chest。〃



Zeb　was　a　little　shy　when　first　introduced　to　these　queer　people；　but

they　were　so　friendly　and　sincere　that　he　soon　grew　to　admire　them

very　much；　even　finding　some　good　qualities　in　the　yellow　hen。　　But　he

became　nervous　again　when　the　next　visitor　was　announced。



〃This；〃　said　Princess　Ozma；　〃is　my　friend　Mr。　H。　M。　Woggle…Bug；　T。　E。；

who　assisted　me　one　time　when　I　was　in　great　distress；　and　is　now　the

Dean　of　the　Royal　College　of　Athletic　Science。〃



〃Ah；〃　said　the　Wizard；　〃I'm　pleased　to　meet　so　distinguished　a　personage。〃



〃H。　M。；〃　said　the　Woggle…Bug；　pompously；　〃means　Highly　Magnified；　and

T。　E。　means　Thoroughly　Educated。　　I　am；　in　reality；　a　very　big　bug；

and　doubtless　the　most　intelligent　being　in　all　this　broad　domain。〃



〃How　well　you　disguise　it；〃　said　the　Wizard。　　〃But　I　don't　doubt　your

word　in　the　least。〃



〃Nobody　doubts　it；　sir；〃　replied　the　Woggle…Bug；　and　drawing　a　book

from　its　pocket　the　strange　insect　turned　its　back　on　the　company　and

sat　down　in　a　corner　to　read。



Nobody　minded　this　rudeness；　which　might　have　seemed　more　impolite　in

one　less　thoroughly　educated；　so　they　straightway　forgot　him　and

joined　in　a　merry　conversation　that　kept　them　well　amused　until

bed…time　arrived。







16。　　Jim；　The　Cab…Horse





Jim　the　Cab…horse　found　himself　in　possession　of　a　large　room　with　a

green　marble　floor　and　carved　marble　wainscoting；　which　was　so　stately

in　its　appearance　that　it　would　have　awed　anyone　else。　　Jim　accepted

it　as　a　mere　detail；　and　at　his　command　the　attendants　gave　his　coat　a

good　rubbing；　combed　his　mane　and　tail；　and　washed　his　hoofs　and

fetlocks。　　Then　they　told　him　dinner　would　be　served　directly　and　he

replied　that　they　could　not　serve　it　too　quickly　to　suit　his

convenience。　　First　they　brought　him　a　steaming　bowl　of　soup；　which

the　horse　eyed　in　dismay。



〃Take　that　stuff　away！〃　he　commanded。　　〃Do　you　take　me　for　a　salamander？〃



They　obeyed　at　once；　and　next　served　a　fine　large　turbot　on　a　silver

platter；　with　drawn　gravy　poured　over　it。



〃Fish！〃　cried　Jim；　with　a　sniff。　　〃Do　you　take　me　for　a　tom…cat？　　Away

with　it！〃



The　servants　were　a　little　discouraged；　but　soon　they　brought　in　a

great　tray　containing　two　dozen　nicely　roasted　quail　on　toast。



〃Well；　well！〃　said　the　horse；　now　thoroughly　provoked。　　〃Do　you　take

me　for　a　weasel？　　How　stupid　and　ignorant　you　are；　in　the　Land　of　Oz；

and　what　dreadful　things　you　feed　upon！　　Is　there　nothing　that　is

decent　to　eat　in　this　palace？〃



The　trembling　servants　sent　for　the　Royal　Steward；　who　came　in　haste

and　said：



〃What　would　your　Highness　like　for　dinner？〃



〃Highness！〃　repeated　Jim；　who　was　unused　to　such　titles。



〃You　are　at　least　six　feet　high；　and　that　is　higher　than　any　other

animal　in　this　country；〃　said　the　Steward。



〃Well；　my　Highness　would　like　some　oats；〃　　declared　the　horse。



〃Oats？　　We　have　no　whole　oats；〃　the　Steward　replied；　with　much　deference。

〃But　there　is　any　quantity　of　oatmeal；　which　we　often　cook　for　breakfast。

Oatmeal　is　a　breakfast　dish；〃　added　the　Steward；　humbly。



〃I'll　make　it　a　dinner　dish；〃　said　Jim。　　〃Fetch　it　on；　but　don't　cook

it；　as　you　value　your　life。〃



You　see；　the　respect　shown　the　worn…out　old　cab…horse　made　him　a

little　arrogant；　and　he　forgot　he　was　a　guest；　never　having　been

treated　otherwise　than　as　a　servant　since　the　day　he　was　born；　until

his　arrival　in　the　Land　of　Oz。　　But　the　royal　attendants　did　not　heed

the　animal's　ill　temper。　　They　soon　mixed　a　tub　of　oatmeal　with　a

little　water；　and　Jim　ate　it　with　much　relish。



Then　the　servants　heaped　a　lot　of　rugs　upon　the　floor　and　the　old

horse　slept　on　the　softest　bed　he　had　ever　known　in　his　life。



In　the　morning；　as　soon　as　it　was　daylight；　he　resolved　to　take　a　walk

and　try　to　find　some　grass　for　breakfast；　so　he　ambled　calmly　through

the　handsome　arch　of　the　doorway；　turned　the　corner　of　the　palace；

wherein　all　seemed　asleep；　and　came　face　to　face　with　the　Sawhorse。



Jim　stopped　abruptly；　being　startled　and　amazed。　　The　Sawhorse　stopped

at　the　same　time　and　stared　at　the　other　with　its　queer　protruding

eyes；　which　were　mere　knots　in　the　log　that　formed　its　body。　　The　legs

of　the　Sawhorse　were　four　sticks　driving　into　holes　bored　in　the　log；

its　tail　was　a　small　branch　that　had　been　left　by　accident　and　its

mouth　a　place　chopped　in　one　end　of　the　body　which　projected　a　little

and　served　as　a　head。　　The　ends　of　the　wooden　legs　were　shod　with

plates　of　solid　gold；　and　the　saddle　of　the　Princess　Ozma；　which　was　of

red　leather　set　with　sparkling　diamonds；　was　strapped　to　the　clumsy　body。



Jim's　eyes　stuck　out　as　much　as　those　of　the　Sawhorse；　and　he　stared

at　the　creature　with　his　ears　erect　and　his　long　head　drawn　back　until

it　rested　against　his　arched　neck。



In　this　comical　position　the　two　horses　circled　slowly　around　each

other　for　a　while；　each　being　unable　to　realize　what　the　singular　thing

might　be　which　it　now　beheld　for　the　first　time。　　Then　Jim　exclaimed：



〃For　goodness　sake；　what　sort　of　a　being　are　you？〃



〃I'm　a　Sawhorse；〃　replied　the　other。



〃Oh；　I　believe　I've　heard　of　you；〃　said　the　cab…horse；　〃but　you　are

unlike　anything　that　I　expected　to　see。〃



〃I　do　not　doubt　it；〃　the　Sawhorse　observed；　with　a　tone　of　pride。　　〃I

am　considered　quite　unusual。〃



〃You　are；　indeed。　　But　a　rickety　wooden　thing　like　you　has　no　right　to

be　alive。〃



〃I　couldn't　help　it；〃　returned　the　other；　rather　crestfallen。　　〃Ozma

sprinkled　me　with　a　magic　powder；　and　I　just　had　to　live。　　I　know　I'm

not　much　account；　but　I'm　the　only　horse　in　all　the　Land　of　Oz；　so

they　treat　me　with　great　respect。〃



〃You；　a　horse！〃



〃Oh；　not　a　real　one；　of　course。　　There　are　no　real　horses　here　at　all。

But　I'm　a　splendid　imitation　of　one。〃



Jim　gave　an　indignant　neigh。



〃Look　at　me！〃　he　cried。　　〃Behold　a　real　horse！〃



The　wooden　animal　gave　a　start；　and　then　examined　the　other　intently。



〃Is　it　possible　that　you　are　a　Real　Horse？〃　he　murmured。



〃Not　only　possible；　but　true；〃　replied　Jim；　who　was　gratified　by　the

impression　he　had　created。　　〃It　is　proved　by　my　fine　points。　　For

example；　look　at　the　long　hairs　on　my　tail；　with　which　I　can　whisk

away　the　flies。〃



〃The　flies　never　trouble　me；〃　said　the　Saw…Horse。



〃And　notice　my　great　strong　teeth；　with　which　I　nibble　the　grass。〃



〃It　is　not　necessary　for　me　to　eat；〃　observed　the　Sawhorse。



〃Also　examine　my　broad　chest；　which　enables　me　to　draw　deep；　full

breaths；〃　said　Jim；　proudly。



〃I　have　no　need　to　breathe；〃　returned　the　other。



〃No；　you　miss　many　pleasures；〃　remarked　the　cab…horse；　pityingly。

〃You　do　not　know　the　relief　of　brushing　away　a　fly　that　has　bitten

you；　nor　the　delight　of　eating　delicious　food；　nor　the　satisfaction　of

drawing　a　long　breath　of　fresh；　pure　air。　　You　may　be　an　imitation　of

a　horse；　but　you're　a　mighty　poor　one。〃



〃Oh；　I　cannot　hope　ever　to　be　like　you；〃　sighed　the　Sawhorse。　　〃But　I

am　glad　to　meet　a　last　a　Real　Horse。　　You　are　certainly　the　most

beautiful　creature　I　ever　beheld。〃



This　praise　won　Jim　completely。　　To　be　called　beautiful　was　a　novelty

in　his　experience。　　Said　he：



〃Your　chief　fault；　my　friend；　is　in　being　made　of　wood；　and　that　I

suppose　you　cannot　help。　　Real　horses；　like　myself；　are　made　of　flesh

and　blood　and　bones。〃



〃I　can　see　the　bones　all　right；〃　replied　the　Sawhorse；　〃and　they　are

admirable　and　distinct。　　Also　I　can　see　the　flesh。　　But　the　blood；　I

suppose　is　tucked　away　inside。〃



〃Exactly；〃　said　Jim。



〃What　good　is　it？〃　asked　the　Sawhorse。



Jim　did　not　know；　but　he　would　not　tell　the　Sawhorse　that。



〃If　anything　cuts　me；〃　he　replied；　〃the　blood　runs　out　to　show　where　I

am　cut。　　You；　poor　thing！　cannot　even　bleed　when　you　are　hurt。〃



〃But　I　am　never　hurt；〃　said　the　Sawhorse。　　〃Once　in　a　while　I　get

broken　up　some；　but　I　am　easily　repaired　and　put　in　good　ord