dorothy and the wizard in oz-第2章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！





〃Goodness！〃　she　cried；　grasping　the　iron　rail　of　the　seat。

〃What　was　that？〃



〃That　was　an　awful　big　quake；〃　replied　Zeb；　with　a　white　face。　　〃It

almost　got　us　that　time；　Dorothy。〃



The　horse　had　stopped　short；　and　stood　firm　as　a　rock。　　Zeb　shook　the

reins　and　urged　him　to　go；　but　Jim　was　stubborn。　　Then　the　boy　cracked

his　whip　and　touched　the　animal's　flanks　with　it；　and　after　a　low　moan

of　protest　Jim　stepped　slowly　along　the　road。



Neither　the　boy　nor　the　girl　spoke　again　for　some　minutes。　　There　was

a　breath　of　danger　in　the　very　air；　and　every　few　moments　the　earth

would　shake　violently。　　Jim's　ears　were　standing　erect　upon　his　head

and　every　muscle　of　his　big　body　was　tense　as　he　trotted　toward　home。

He　was　not　going　very　fast；　but　on　his　flanks　specks　of　foam　began　to

appear　and　at　times　he　would　tremble　like　a　leaf。



The　sky　had　grown　darker　again　and　the　wind　made　queer　sobbing　sounds

as　it　swept　over　the　valley。



Suddenly　there　was　a　rending；　tearing　sound；　and　the　earth　split　into

another　great　crack　just　beneath　the　spot　where　the　horse　was

standing。　　With　a　wild　neigh　of　terror　the　animal　fell　bodily　into　the

pit；　drawing　the　buggy　and　its　occupants　after　him。



Dorothy　grabbed　fast　hold　of　the　buggy　top　and　the　boy　did　the　same。

The　sudden　rush　into　space　confused　them　so　that　they　could　not　think。



Blackness　engulfed　them　on　every　side；　and　in　breathless　silence　they

waited　for　the　fall　to　end　and　crush　them　against　jagged　rocks　or　for

the　earth　to　close　in　on　them　again　and　bury　them　forever　in　its

dreadful　depths。



The　horrible　sensation　of　falling；　the　darkness　and　the　terrifying

noises；　proved　more　than　Dorothy　could　endure　and　for　a　few　moments

the　little　girl　lost　consciousness。　　Zeb；　begin　a　boy；　did　not　faint；

but　he　was　badly　frightened；　and　clung　to　the　buggy　seat　with　a　tight

grip；　expecting　every　moment　would　be　his　last。







2。　　The　Glass　City





When　Dorothy　recovered　her　senses　they　were　still　falling；　but　not　so

fast。　　The　top　of　the　buggy　caught　the　air　like　a　parachute　or　an

umbrella　filled　with　wind；　and　held　them　back　so　that　they　floated

downward　with　a　gentle　motion　that　was　not　so　very　disagreeable　to

bear。　　The　worst　thing　was　their　terror　of　reaching　the　bottom　of　this

great　crack　in　the　earth；　and　the　natural　fear　that　sudden　death　was

about　to　overtake　them　at　any　moment。　　Crash　after　crash　echoed　far

above　their　heads；　as　the　earth　came　together　where　it　had　split；　and

stones　and　chunks　of　clay　rattled　around　them　on　every　side。　　These

they　could　not　see；　but　they　could　feel　them　pelting　the　buggy　top；

and　Jim　screamed　almost　like　a　human　being　when　a　stone　overtook　him

and　struck　his　boney　body。　　They　did　not　really　hurt　the　poor　horse；

because　everything　was　falling　together；　only　the　stones　and　rubbish

fell　faster　than　the　horse　and　buggy；　which　were　held　back　by　the

pressure　of　the　air；　so　that　the　terrified　animal　was　actually　more

frightened　than　he　was　injured。



How　long　this　state　of　things　continued　Dorothy　could　not　even　guess；

she　was　so　greatly　bewildered。　　But　bye　and　bye；　as　she　stared　ahead

into　the　black　chasm　with　a　beating　heart；　she　began　to　dimly　see　the

form　of　the　horse　Jimhis　head　up　in　the　air；　his　ears　erect　and　his

long　legs　sprawling　in　every　direction　as　he　tumbled　through　space。

Also；　turning　her　head；　she　found　that　she　could　see　the　boy　beside

her；　who　had　until　now　remained　as　still　and　silent　as　she　herself。



Dorothy　sighed　and　commenced　to　breathe　easier。　　She　began　to　realize

that　death　was　not　in　store　for　her；　after　all；　but　that　she　had　merely

started　upon　another　adventure；　which　promised　to　be　just　as　queer　and

unusual　as　were　those　she　had　before　encountered。



With　this　thought　in　mind　the　girl　took　heart　and　leaned　her　head　over

the　side　of　the　buggy　to　see　where　the　strange　light　was　coming　from。

Far　below　her　she　found　six　great　glowing　balls　suspended　in　the　air。

The　central　and　largest　one　was　white；　and　reminded　her　of　the　sun。

Around　it　were　arranged；　like　the　five　points　of　a　star；　the　other

five　brilliant　balls；　one　being　rose　colored；　one　violet；　one　yellow；

one　blue　and　one　orange。　　This　splendid　group　of　colored　suns　sent

rays　darting　in　every　direction；　and　as　the　horse　and　buggywith

Dorothy　and　Zebsank　steadily　downward　and　came　nearer　to　the　lights；

the　rays　began　to　take　on　all　the　delicate　tintings　of　a　rainbow；

growing　more　and　more　distinct　every　moment　until　all　the　space　was

brilliantly　illuminated。



Dorothy　was　too　dazed　to　say　much；　but　she　watched　one　of　Jim's　big

ears　turn　to　violet　and　the　other　to　rose；　and　wondered　that　his　tail

should　be　yellow　and　his　body　striped　with　blue　and　orange　like　the

stripes　of　a　zebra。　　Then　she　looked　at　Zeb；　whose　face　was　blue　and

whose　hair　was　pink；　and　gave　a　little　laugh　that　sounded　a　bit　nervous。



〃Isn't　it　funny？〃　she　said。



The　boy　was　startled　and　his　eyes　were　big。　　Dorothy　had　a　green

streak　through　the　center　of　her　face　where　the　blue　and　yellow　lights

came　together；　and　her　appearance　seemed　to　add　to　his　fright。



〃II　don't　s…s…see　any…thing　funny'bout　it！〃　he　stammered。



Just　then　the　buggy　tipped　slowly　over　upon　its　side；　the　body　of　the

horse　tipping　also。　　But　they　continued　to　fall；　all　together；　and　the

boy　and　girl　had　no　difficulty　in　remaining　upon　the　seat；　just　as

they　were　before。　　Then　they　turned　bottom　side　up；　and　continued　to

roll　slowly　over　until　they　were　right　side　up　again。　　During　this

time　Jim　struggled　frantically；　all　his　legs　kicking　the　air；　but　on

finding　himself　in　his　former　position　the　horse　said；　in　a　relieved

tone　of　voice：



〃Well；　that's　better！〃



Dorothy　and　Zeb　looked　at　one　another　in　wonder。



〃Can　your　horse　talk？〃　she　asked。



〃Never　knew　him　to；　before；〃　replied　the　boy。



〃Those　were　the　first　words　I　ever　said；〃　called　out　the　horse；　who

had　overheard　them；　〃and　I　can't　explain　why　I　happened　to　speak　then。

This　is　a　nice　scrape　you've　got　me　into；　isn't　it？〃



〃As　for　that；　we　are　in　the　same　scrape　ourselves；〃　answered　Dorothy；

cheerfully。　　〃But　never　mind；　something　will　happen　pretty　soon。〃



〃Of　course；〃　growled　the　horse；　〃and　then　we　shall　be　sorry　it　happened。〃



Zeb　gave　a　shiver。　　All　this　was　so　terrible　and　unreal　that　he　could

not　understand　it　at　all；　and　so　had　good　reason　to　be　afraid。



Swiftly　they　drew　near　to　the　flaming　colored　suns；　and　passed　close

beside　them。　　The　light　was　then　so　bright　that　it　dazzled　their　eyes；

and　they　covered　their　faces　with　their　hands　to　escape　being　blinded。

There　was　no　heat　in　the　colored　suns；　however；　and　after　they　had

passed　below　them　the　top　of　the　buggy　shut　out　many　of　the　piercing

rays　so　that　the　boy　and　girl　could　open　their　eyes　again。



〃We've　got　to　come　to　the　bottom　some　time；〃　remarked　Zeb；　with　a　deep

sigh。　　〃We　can't　keep　falling　forever；　you　know。〃



〃Of　course　not；〃　said　Dorothy。　　〃We　are　somewhere　in　the　middle　of　the

earth；　and　the　chances　are　we'll　reach　the　other　side　of　it　before

long。　　But　it's　a　big　hollow；　isn't　it？〃



〃Awful　big！〃　answered　the　boy。



〃We're　coming　to　something　now；〃　announced　the　horse。



At　this　they　both　put　their　heads　over　the　side　of　the　buggy　and

looked　down。　　Yes；　there　was　land　below　them；　and　not　so　very　far

away；　either。　　But　they　were　floating　very；　very　slowlyso　slowly

that　it　could　no　longer　be　called　a　falland　the　children　had　ample

time　to　take　heart　and　look　about　them。



They　saw　a　landscape　with　mountains　and　plains；　lakes　and　rivers；　very

like　those　upon　the　earth's　surface；　but　all　the　scene　was　splendidly

colored　by　the　variegated　lights　from　the　six　suns。　　Here　and　there

were　groups　of　houses　that　seemed　made　of　clear　glass；　because　they

sparkled　so　brightly。



〃I'm　sure　we　are　in　no　danger；〃　said　Dorothy；　in　a　sober　voice。　　〃We

are　falling　so　slowly　that　we　can't　be　dashed　to　pieces　when　we　land；

and　this　country　that　we　are　coming　to　seems　quite　pretty。〃



〃We'll　never　get　home　again；　though！〃　declared　Zeb；　with　a　groan。



〃Oh；　I'm　not　so　sure　of　that；〃　replied　the　girl。　　〃But　don't　let　us

worry　over　such　things；　Zeb；　we　can't　help　ourselves　just　now；　you

know；　and　I've　always　been　told　it's　foolish　to　borrow　trouble。〃



The　boy　became　silent；　having　no　reply　to　so　sensible　a　speech；　and

soon　both　were　fully　occupied　in　staring　at　the　strange　scenes　spread

out　below　them。　　They　seemed　to　be　falling　right　into　the　middle　of　a

big　city　which　had　many　tall　buildings　with　glass　domes　and

sharp…pointed　spires。　　These　spires　were　like　great　spear…points；

and　if　they　tumbled　upon　one　of　them　they　were　likely　to　suffer

serious　injury。



Jim　the　horse　had　seen　these　spires；　also；　and　his　ears　stood　straight

up　with　fear；　while　Dorothy　and　Zeb　held　their　breaths　in　suspense。

But　no；　they　floated　gently　down　upon　a　broad；　flat　roof；　and　came　to

a　stop　at　last。



When　Jim　felt　something　firm　under　his　feet　the　poor　beast's　legs

trembled　so　much　that　he　could　hardly　stand；　but　Zeb　at　once　leaped

out　of　the　buggy　to　the　roof；　and　he　was　so　awkward　and　hasty　that　he

kicked　over　Dorothy's　bird…cage；　which　rolled　out　upon　the　roof　so

that　the　bottom　came　off。　　At　once　a　pink　kitten　crept　out　of　the

upset　cage；　sat　down　upon　the　glass　roof；　and　yawned　and　blinked　its

round　eyes。



〃Oh；〃　said　Dorothy。　　〃There's　Eureka。〃



〃First　time　I　ever　saw　a　pink　cat；〃　said　Zeb。



〃Eureka　isn't　pink；　she's　white。　　It's　this　queer　light　that　gives　her

that　color。〃



〃Where's　my　milk？〃　asked　the　kitten；　looking　up　into　Dorothy's　face。

〃I'm　'most　starved　to　death。〃



〃Oh；　Eureka！　　Can　you　talk？〃



〃Talk！　　Am　I　talking？　　Good　gracious；　I　believe　I　am。　　Isn't　it

funny？〃　asked　the　kitten。



〃It's　all　wrong。〃　said　Zeb；　gravely。　　〃Animals　ought　not　to　talk。　　But

even　old　Jim　has　been　saying　things　since　we　had　our　accident。〃



〃I　can't　see　that　it's　wrong；〃　remarked　Jim；　in　his　gruff　tones。　　〃At

least；　it　isn't　as　wrong　as　some　other　things。　　What's　going　to　become

of　us　now？〃



〃I　don't　know；〃　answered　the　boy；　looking　around　him　curiously。



The　houses　of　the　city　were　all　made　of　glass；　so　clear　and

transparent　that　one　could　look　through　the　walls　as　easily　as　through

a　window。　　Dorothy　saw；　underneath　the　roof　on　which　she　stood；

several　rooms　used　for　rest　chambers；　and　even　thought　she　could　make

out　a　number　of　queer　forms　huddled　into　the　corners　of　these　rooms。



The　roof　beside　them　had　a　great　hole　smashed　through　it；　and　pieces

of　glass　were　lying　scattered　in　every　direction。　　A　nearby　steeple

had　been　broken　off　short　and　the　fragments　lay　heaped　beside　it。

Other　buildings　were　cracked　in　places　or　had　corners　chipped　off　from

them；　but　they　must　have　been　very　beautiful　before　these　accidents

had　happe