the patchwork girl of oz-第16章
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admitted the Shaggy Man； thoughtfully； 〃but
people who are strangers； and don't know you
are here； won't be able to keep out of your way。〃
〃Tell you what；〃 said Scraps； who was trying
to pull the quills out of her own body； 〃let's
gather up all the quills and take them away with
us； then old Chiss won't have any left to throw
at people。〃
〃Ah； that's a clever idea。 You and Ojo must
gather up the quills while I hold Chiss a
prisoner； for； if I let him go he will get some of
his quills and be able to throw them again。〃
So Scraps and Ojo picked up all the quills
and tied them in a bundle so they might easily
be carried。 After this the Shaggy Man released
Chiss and let him go； knowing that he was
harmless to injure anyone。
〃It's the meanest trick I ever heard of；〃
muttered the porcupine gloomily。 〃How would you
like it； Shaggy Man； if I took all your shags away
from you？〃
〃If I threw my shags and hurt people； you would
be welcome to capture them；〃 was the reply。
Then they walked on and left Chiss standing in
the road sullen and disconsolate。 The Shaggy Man
limped as he walked； for his wound still hurt him；
and Scraps was much annoyed be cause the quills
had left a number of small holes in her patches。
When they came to a flat stone by the roadside
the Shaggy Man sat down to rest； and then Ojo
opened his basket and took out the bundle of
charms the Crooked Magician had given him。
〃I am Ojo the Unlucky；〃 he said； 〃or we would
never have met that dreadful porcupine。 But I will
see if I can find anything among these charms
which will cure your leg。〃
Soon he discovered that one of the charms
was labelled： 〃For flesh wounds；〃 and this the
boy separated from the others。 It was only a bit
of dried root； taken from some unknown shrub；
but the boy rubbed it upon the wound made by
the quill and in a few moments the place was
healed entirely and the Shaggy Man's leg was
as good as ever。
〃Rub it on the holes in my patches；〃 suggested
Scraps； and Ojo tried it； but without any effect。
〃The charm you need is a needle and thread；〃
said the Shaggy Man。 〃But do not worry； my
dear； those holes do not look badly； at all。〃
〃They'll let in the air； and I don't want people
to think I'm airy； or that I've been stuck
up；〃 said the Patchwork Girl。
〃You were certainly stuck up until we pulled
Out those quills；〃 observed Ojo； with a laugh。
So now they went on again and coming presently
to a pond of muddy water they tied a heavy stone
to the bundle of quills and sunk it to the bottom
of the pond； to avoid carrying it farther。
Chapter Thirteen
Scraps and the Scarecrow
From here on the country improved and the desert
places began to give way to fertile spots； still
no houses were yet to be seen near the road。 There
were some hills； with valleys between them； and on
reaching the top of one of these hills the
travelers found before them a high wall； running
to the right and the left as far as their eyes
could reach。 Immediately in front of them； where
the wall crossed the roadway； stood a gate having
stout iron bars that extended from top to bottom。
They found； on coming nearer； that this gate was
locked with a great padlock； rusty through lack of
use。
〃Well；〃 said Scraps； 〃I guess we'll stop here。〃
〃It's a good guess；〃 replied Ojo。 〃Our way is
barred by this great wall and gate。 It looks as if
no one had passed through in many years。
〃Looks are deceiving；〃 declared the Shaggy Man；
laughing at their disappointed faces； 〃and this
barrier is the most deceiving thing in all Oz。〃
〃It prevents our going any farther； anyhow；〃
said Scraps。 〃There is no one to mind the gate
and let people through； and we've no key to
the padlock。〃
〃True；〃 replied Ojo； going a little nearer to
peep through the bars of the gate。 〃What shall we
do； Shaggy Man？ If we had wings we might fly over
the wall； but we cannot climb it and unless we get
to the Emerald City I won't be able to find the
things to restore Unc Nunkie to life。〃
〃All very true；〃 answered the Shaggy Man；
quietly； 〃but I know this gate； having passed
through it many times。〃
〃How？〃 they all eagerly inquired。
〃I'll show you how；〃 said he。 He stood Ojo
in the middle of the road and placed Scraps
just behind him； with her padded hands on his
shoulders。 After the Patchwork Girl came the
Woozy； who held a part of her skirt in his
mouth。 Then； last of all； was the Glass Cat；
holding fast to the Woozy's tail with her glass
jaws。
〃Now；〃 said the Shaggy Man； 〃you must all
shut your eyes tight； and keep them shut until
I tell you to open them。〃
〃I can't；〃 objected Scraps。 〃My eyes are but…
tons； and they won't shut。〃
So the Shaggy Man tied his red handkerchief over
the Patchwork Girl's eyes and examined all the
others to make sure they had their eyes fast shut
and could see nothing。
〃What's the game； anyhowblind…man's…buff？〃
asked Scraps。
〃Keep quiet！〃 commanded the Shaggy Man；
sternly。 〃All ready？ Then follow me。〃
He took Ojo's hand and led him forward over the
road of yellow bricks； toward the gate。 Holding
fast to one another they all followed in a row；
expecting every minute to bump against the iron
bars。 The Shaggy Man also had his eyes closed； but
marched straight ahead； nevertheless； and after
he had taken one hundred steps； by actual count；
he stopped and said：
〃Now you may open your eyes。〃
They did so； and to their astonishment found
the wall and the gateway far behind them；
while in front the former Blue Country of the
Munchkins had given way to green fields； with
pretty farm…houses scattered among them。
〃That wall；〃 explained the Shaggy Man； 〃is
what is called an optical illusion。 It is quite real
while you have your eyes open； but if you are
not looking at it the barrier doesn't exist at all。
It's the same way with many other evils in life；
they seem to exist； and yet it's all seeming and
not true。 You will notice that the wallor what
we thought was a wallseparates the Munchkin
Country from the green country that surrounds
the Emerald City； which lies exactly in the
center of Oz。 There are two roads of yellow
bricks through the Munchkin Country； but the
one we followed is the best of the two。 Dorothy
once traveled the other way； and met with more
dangers than we did。 But all our troubles are
over for the present； as another day's journey
will bring us to the great Emerald City。〃
They were delighted to know this； and proceeded
with new courage。 In a couple of hours they
stopped at a farmhouse； where the people were very
hospitable and invited them to dinner。 The farm
folk regarded Scraps with much curiosity but no
great astonishment； for they were accustomed to
seeing extraordinary people in the Land of Oz。
The woman of this house got her needle and
thread and sewed up the holes made by the
porcupine quills in the Patchwork Girl's body；
after which Scraps was assured she looked as
beautiful as ever。
〃You ought to have a hat to wear；〃 remarked
the woman； 〃for that would keep the sun from
fading the colors of your face。 I have some
patches and scraps put away； and if you will
wait two or three days I'll make you a lovely
hat that will match the rest of you。〃
〃Never mind the hat；〃 said Scraps； shaking
her yarn braids； 〃it's a kind offer； but we can't
stop。 I can't see that my colors have faded a
particle； as yet； can you？〃
〃Not much；〃 replied the woman。 〃You are still
very gorgeous； in spite of your long journey。〃
The children of the house wanted to keep the
Class Cat to play with； so Bungle was offered
a good home if she would remain； but the cat
was too much interested in Ojo's adventures and
refused to stop。
〃Children are rough playmates；〃 she remarked to
the Shaggy Man； 〃and although this home is more
pleasant than that of the Crooked Magician I fear
I would soon be smashed to pieces by the boys and
girls。〃
After they had rested themselves they renewed
their journey； finding the road now smooth and
pleasant to walk upon and the country growing more
beautiful the nearer they drew to the Emerald
City。
By and by Ojo began to walk on the green
grass； looking carefully around him。
〃What are you trying to find？〃 asked Scraps。
〃A six…leaved clover；〃 said he。
〃Don't do that！〃 exclaimed the Shaggy Man；
earnestly。 〃It's against the Law to pick a six…
leaved clover。 You must wait until you get Ozma's
consent。〃
〃She wouldn't know it；〃 declared the boy。
〃Ozma knows many things；〃 said the Shaggy Man。
〃In her room is a Magic Picture that shows any
scene in the Land of Oz where strangers or
travelers happen to be。 She may be watching the
picture of us even now； and noticing everything
that we do。〃
〃Does she always watch the Magic Picture？〃
asked Ojo。
〃Not always； for she has many other things
to do； but； as I said； she may be watching us
this very minute。〃
〃I don't care；〃 said Ojo； in an obstinate tone
of voice； 〃Ozma's only a girl。〃
The Shaggy Man looked at him in surprise。
〃You ought to care for Ozma；〃 said he； 〃if you
expect to save your uncle。 For； if you displease
our powerful Ruler； your journey will surely prove
a failure； whereas； if you make a friend of Ozma；
she will gladly assist you。 As for her being a
girl； that is another reason why you should obey
her laws； if you are courteous and polite。
Everyone in Oz loves Ozma and hates her enemies；
for she is as just as she is powerful。〃
Ojo sulked a while； but finally returned to the
road and kept away from the green clover。 The
boy was m
