dorothy and the wizard in oz-第9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！
contented in his new surroundings。
〃We can't walk in the air here； though；〃 called Eureka； who had tried
it and failed； but the others were satisfied to walk on the ground；
and the Wizard said they must be nearer the surface of the earth then
they had been in the Mangaboo country； for everything was more homelike
and natural。
〃But where are the people？〃 asked Dorothy。
The little man shook his bald head。
〃Can't imagine； my dear；〃 he replied。
They heard the sudden twittering of a bird； but could not find the
creature anywhere。 Slowly they walked along the path toward the
nearest cottage； the piglets racing and gambolling beside them and Jim
pausing at every step for another mouthful of grass。
Presently they came to a low plant which had broad； spreading leaves；
in the center of which grew a single fruit about as large as a peach。
The fruit was so daintily colored and so fragrant； and looked so
appetizing and delicious that Dorothy stopped and exclaimed：
〃What is it； do you s'pose？〃
The piglets had smelled the fruit quickly； and before the girl could
reach out her hand to pluck it every one of the nine tiny ones had
rushed in and commenced to devour it with great eagerness。
〃It's good； anyway；〃 said Zeb； 〃or those little rascals wouldn't have
gobbled it up so greedily。〃
〃Where are they？〃 asked Dorothy； in astonishment。
They all looked around； but the piglets had disappeared。
〃Dear me！〃 cried the Wizard； 〃they must have run away。 But I didn't
see them go； did you？〃
〃No！〃 replied the boy and the girl； together。
〃Here；piggy； piggy； piggy！〃 called their master； anxiously。
Several squeals and grunts were instantly heard at his feet； but the
Wizard could not discover a single piglet。
〃Where are you？〃 he asked。
〃Why； right beside you；〃 spoke a tiny voice。 〃Can't you see us？〃
〃No；〃 answered the little man； in a puzzled tone。
〃We can see you；〃 said another of the piglets。
The Wizard stooped down and put out his hand； and at once felt the
small fat body of one of his pets。 He picked it up； but could not see
what he held。
〃It is very strange；〃 said he； soberly。 〃The piglets have become
invisible； in some curious way。〃
〃I'll bet it's because they ate that peach！〃 cried the kitten。
〃It wasn't a peach； Eureka；〃 said Dorothy。 〃I only hope it wasn't poison。〃
〃It was fine； Dorothy；〃 called one of the piglets。
〃We'll eat all we can find of them；〃 said another。
〃But WE mus'n't eat them；〃 the Wizard warned the children； 〃or we too
may become invisible； and lose each other。 If we come across another
of the strange fruit we must avoid it。〃
Calling the piglets to him he picked them all up； one by one； and put
them away in his pocket； for although he could not see them he could
feel them； and when he had buttoned his coat he knew they were safe
for the present。
The travellers now resumed their walk toward the cottage； which they
presently reached。 It was a pretty place； with vines growing thickly
over the broad front porch。 The door stood open and a table was set
in the front room； with four chairs drawn up to it。 On the table
were plates； knives and forks； and dishes of bread； meat and fruits。
The meat was smoking hot and the knives and forks were performing
strange antics and jumping here and there in quite a puzzling way。
But not a single person appeared to be in the room。
〃How funny！〃 exclaimed Dorothy； who with Zeb and the Wizard now stood
in the doorway。
A peal of merry laughter answered her； and the knives and forks fell
to the plates with a clatter。 One of the chairs pushed back from the
table； and this was so astonishing and mysterious that Dorothy was
almost tempted to run away in fright。
〃Here are strangers； mama！〃 cried the shrill and childish voice of
some unseen person。
〃So I see； my dear；〃 answered another voice； soft and womanly。
〃What do you want？〃 demanded a third voice； in a stern； gruff accent。
〃Well； well！〃 said the Wizard； 〃are there really people in this room？〃
〃Of course；〃 replied the man's voice。
〃Andpardon me for the foolish questionbut； are you all invisible？〃
〃Surely；〃 the woman answered； repeating her low； rippling laughter。
〃Are you surprised that you are unable to see the people of Voe？〃
〃Why； yes；〃 stammered the Wizard。 〃All the people I have ever met
before were very plain to see。〃
〃Where do you come from； then？〃 asked the woman； in a curious tone。
〃We belong upon the face of the earth；〃 explained the Wizard； 〃but
recently； during an earthquake； we fell down a crack and landed in the
Country of the Mangaboos。〃
〃Dreadful creatures！〃 exclaimed the woman's voice。 〃I've heard of them。〃
〃They walled us up in a mountain；〃 continued the Wizard； 〃but we found
there was a tunnel through to this side； so we came here。 It is a
beautiful place。 What do you call it？〃
〃It is the Valley of Voe。〃
〃Thank you。 We have seen no people since we arrived； so we came to
this house to enquire our way。〃
〃Are you hungry？〃 asked the woman's voice。
〃I could eat something；〃 said Dorothy。
〃So could I；〃 added Zeb。
〃But we do not wish to intrude； I assure you；〃 the Wizard hastened to say。
〃That's all right；〃 returned the man's voice； more pleasantly than
before。 〃You are welcome to what we have。〃
As he spoke the voice came so near to Zeb that he jumped back in
alarm。 Two childish voices laughed merrily at this action； and
Dorothy was sure they were in no danger among such light…hearted
folks； even if those folks couldn't be seen。
〃What curious animal is that which is eating the grass on my lawn？〃
enquired the man's voice。
〃That's Jim；〃 said the girl。 〃He's a horse。〃
〃What is he good for？〃 was the next question。
〃He draws the buggy you see fastened to him； and we ride in the buggy
instead of walking；〃 she explained。
〃Can he fight？〃 asked the man's voice。
〃No！ he can kick pretty hard with his heels； and bite a little； but
Jim can't 'zactly fight；〃 she replied。
〃Then the bears will get him；〃 said one of the children's voices。
〃Bears！〃 exclaimed Dorothy。 〃Are these bears here？〃
〃That is the one evil of our country；〃 answered the invisible man。
〃Many large and fierce bears roam in the Valley of Voe； and when they
can catch any of us they eat us up； but as they cannot see us； we
seldom get caught。〃
〃Are the bears invis'ble； too？〃 asked the girl。
〃Yes； for they eat of the dama…fruit； as we all do； and that keeps
them from being seen by any eye； whether human or animal。〃
〃Does the dama…fruit grow on a low bush； and look something like a
peach？〃 asked the Wizard。
〃Yes；〃 was the reply。
〃If it makes you invis'ble； why do you eat it？〃 Dorothy enquired。
〃For two reasons； my dear；〃 the woman's voice answered。 〃The
dama…fruit is the most delicious thing that grows； and when it makes
us invisible the bears cannot find us to eat us up。 But now； good
wanderers； your luncheon is on the table； so please sit down and eat
as much as you like。〃
9。 They Fight the Invisible Bears
The strangers took their seats at the table willingly enough； for they
were all hungry and the platters were now heaped with good things to
eat。 In front of each place was a plate bearing one of the delicious
dama…fruit； and the perfume that rose from these was so enticing and
sweet that they were sorely tempted to eat of them and become invisible。
But Dorothy satisfied her hunger with other things； and her companions
did likewise； resisting the temptation。
〃Why do you not eat the damas？〃 asked the woman's voice。
〃We don't want to get invis'ble；〃 answered the girl。
〃But if you remain visible the bears will see you and devour you；〃
said a girlish young voice； that belonged to one of the children。 〃We
who live here much prefer to be invisible； for we can still hug and
kiss one another； and are quite safe from the bears。〃
〃And we do not have to be so particular about our dress；〃
remarked the man。
〃And mama can't tell whether my face is dirty or not！〃 added the other
childish voice； gleefully。
〃But I make you wash it； every time I think of it；〃 said the mother；
〃for it stands to reason your face is dirty； Ianu； whether I can see
it or not。〃
Dorothy laughed and stretched out her hands。
〃Come here； pleaseIanu and your sisterand let me feel of you；〃
she requested。
They came to her willingly； and Dorothy passed her hands over their
faces and forms and decided one was a girl of about her own age and
the other a boy somewhat smaller。 The girl's hair was soft and fluffy
and her skin as smooth as satin。 When Dorothy gently touched her nose
and ears and lips they seemed to be well and delicately formed。
〃If I could see you I am sure you would be beautiful；〃 she declared。
The girl laughed； and her mother said：
〃We are not vain in the Valley of Voe； because we can not display our
beauty； and good actions and pleasant ways are what make us lovely to
our companions。 Yet we can see and appreciate the beauties of nature；
the dainty flowers and trees； the green fields and the clear blue of
the sky。〃
〃How about the birds and beasts and fishes？〃 asked Zeb。
〃The birds we cannot see； because they love to eat of the damas as
much as we do； yet we hear their sweet songs and enjoy them。 Neither
can we see the cruel bears； for they also eat the fruit。 But the fishes
that swim in our brooks we can see； and often we catch them to eat。〃
〃It occurs to me you have a great deal to make you happy； even while
invisible；〃 remarked the Wizard。 〃Nevertheless； we prefer to remain
visible while we are in your valley。〃
Just then Eureka came in； for she had been until now wandering outside
with Jim； and when the kitten saw the table set with food she cried out：
〃Now you must feed me； Dorothy； for I'm half starved。〃
The children were inclined to be frightened by the sight of the small
animal； which reminded them of the bears； but Dorothy reassured them
by explaining that Eureka was a pet and could do no harm even if she
wished to。 Then； as the others had by this time moved away from the
table； the kitten sprang upon the chair and put her paws upon the
cloth to see what there was to eat。 To her surprise an unseen hand
clutched her and held her suspended in the air。 Eureka was frantic
with terror； and tried to scratch and bite； so the next moment she was
dropped to the floor；
〃Did you see that； Dorothy？〃 she gasped。
〃Yes； dear；〃 her mistress replied； 〃there are people living in this
house； although we cannot see them。 And you must have better manners；
Eureka； or something worse will happen to you。〃
She placed a plate of food upon
