glinda of oz-第15部分

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Lion　leaves　us　we　will　have　no　protector。



〃The　Glass　Cat　could　go；〃　suggested　the　Frogman。

〃The　beasts　can　do　her　no　harm；　as　we　have　discovered。〃



The　Wizard　turned　to　Glinda。



〃Cannot　your　sorcery　discover　where　Button　Bright

is？〃　he　asked。



〃I　think　so；〃　replied　the　Sorceress。



She　called　to　Uncle　Henry；　who　had　been　carrying　her

wicker　box；　to　bring　it　to　her；　and　when　he　obeyed　she

opened　it　and　drew　out　a　small　round　mirror。　On　the

surface　of　the　glass　she　dusted　a　white　powder　and　then

wiped　it　away　with　her　handkerchief　and　looked　in　the

mirror。　It　reflected　a　part　of　the　forest；　and　there；

beneath　a　wide…spreading　tree；　Button　Bright　was　lying

asleep。　On　one　side　of　him　crouched　a　tiger；　ready　to

spring；　on　the　other　side　was　a　big　gray　wolf；　its

bared　fangs　glistening　in　a　wicked　way。



〃Goodness　me！〃　cried　Trot；　looking　over　Glinda's

shoulder。　〃They'll　catch　and　kill　him　sure。〃



Everyone　crowded　around　for　a　glimpse　at　the　magic

mirror。



〃Pretty　bad　　pretty　bad！〃　said　the　Scarecrow

sorrowfully。



〃Comes　of　getting　lost！〃　said　Cap'n　Bill；　sighing。



〃Guess　he's　a　goner！〃　said　the　Frogman；　wiping　his

eyes　on　his　purple　silk　handkerchief。



〃But　where　is　he？　　Can't　we　save　him？〃　asked　Ojo　the

Lucky。



〃If　we　knew　where　he　is　we　could　probably　save　him；〃

replied　the　little　Wizard；　〃but　that　tree　looks　so　much

like　all　the　other　trees；　that　we　can't　tell　whether

it's　far　away　or　near　by。〃



〃Look　at　Glinda！〃　exclaimed　Betsy



Glinda；　having　handed　the　mirror　to　the　Wizard；　had

stepped　aside　and　was　making　strange　passes　with　her

outstretched　arms　and　reciting　in　low；　sweet　tones　a

mystical　incantation。　Most　of　them　watched　the

Sorceress　with　anxious　eyes；　despair　giving　way　to　the

hope　that　she　might　be　able　to　save　their　friend。　the

Wizard；　however；　watched　the　scene　in　the　mirror；　while

over　his　shoulders　peered　Trot；　the　Scarecrow　and　the

Shaggy　Man。



What　they　saw　was　more　strange　than　Glinda's　actions。

The　tiger　started　to　spring　on　the　sleeping　boy；　but

suddenly　lost　its　power　to　move　and　lay　flat　upon　the

ground。　The　gray　wolf　seemed　unable　to　lift　its　feet

from　the　ground。　It　pulled　first　at　one　leg　and　then　at

another；　and　finding　itself　strangely　confined　to　the

spot　began　to　back　and　snarl　angrily。　They　couldn't

hear　the　barkings　and　snarls；　but　they　could　see　the

creature's　mouth　open　and　its　thick　lips　move。　Button

Bright；　however；　being　but　a　few　feet　away　from　the

wolf；　heard　its　cries　of　rage；　which　wakened　him　from

his　untroubled　sleep。　The　boy　sat　up　and　looked　first

at　the　tiger　and　then　at　the　wolf。　His　face　showed　that

for　a　moment　he　was　quite　frightened；　but　he　soon　saw

that　the　beasts　were　unable　to　approach　him　and　so　he

got　upon　his　feet　and　examined　them　curiously；　with　a

mischievous　smile　upon　his　face。　Then　he　deliberately

kicked　the　tiger's　head　with　his　foot　and　catching　up　a

fallen　branch　of　a　tree　he　went　to　the　wolf　and　gave　it

a　good　whacking。　Both　the　beasts　were　furious　at　such

treatment　but　could　not　resent　it。



Button　Bright　now　threw　down　the　stick　and　with　his

hands　in　his　pockets　wandered　carelessly　away。



〃Now；〃　said　Glinda；　〃let　the　Glass　Cat　run　and　find

him。　He　is　in　that　direction；〃　pointing　the　way；　〃but

how　far　off　I　do　not　know。　Make　haste　and　lead　him　back

to　us　as　quickly　as　you　can。〃



The　Glass　Cat　did　not　obey　everyone's　orders；　but　she

really　feared　the　great　Sorceress；　so　as　soon　as　the

words　were　spoken　the　crystal　animal　darted　away　and

was　quickly　lost　to　sight。



The　Wizard　handed　the　mirror　back　to　Glinda；　for　the

woodland　scene　had　now　faded　from　the　glass。　Then　those

who　cared　to　rest　sat　down　to　await　Button　Bright's

coming。　It　was　not　long　before　be　appeared　through　the

trees　and　as　he　rejoined　his　friends　he　said　in　a

peevish　tone：



〃Don't　ever　send　that　Glass　Cat　to　find　me　again。　She

was　very　impolite　and；　if　we　didn't　all　know　that　she

had　no　manners；　I'd　say　she　insulted　me。〃



Glinda　turned　upon　the　boy　sternly。



〃You　have　caused　all　of　us　much　anxiety　and

annoyance；〃　said　she。　〃Only　my　magic　saved　you　from

destruction。　I　forbid　you　to　get　lost　again。〃



〃Of　course；〃　he　answered。　〃It　won't　be　my　fault　if　I

get　lost　again；　but　it　wasn't　my　fault　this　time。〃









Chapter　Sixteen



The　Enchanted　Fishes







I　must　now　tell　you　what　happened　to　Ervic　and　the

three　other　Skeezers　who　were　left　floating　in　the　iron

boat　after　Queen　Coo…ee…oh　had　been　transformed　into　a

Diamond　Swan　by　the　magic　of　the　Flathead　Su…dic。



The　four　Skeezers　were　all　young　men　and　their　leader

was　Ervic。　Coo…ee…oh　had　taken　them　with　her　in　the

boat　to　assist　her　if　she　captured　the　Flathead　chief；

as　she　hoped　to　do　by　means　of　her　silver　rope。　They

knew　nothing　about　the　witchcraft　that　moved　the

submarine　and　so；　when　left　floating　upon　the　lake；

were　at　a　loss　what　to　do。　The　submarine　could　not　be

submerged　by　them　or　made　to　return　to　the　sunken

island。　There　were　neither　oars　nor　sails　in　the　boat；

which　was　not　anchored　but　drifted　quietly　upon　the

surface　of　the　lake。



The　Diamond　Swan　had　no　further　thought　or　care　for

her　people。　She　had　sailed　over　to　the　other　side　of

the　lake　and　all　the　calls　and　pleadings　of　Ervic　and

his　companions　were　unheeded　by　the　vain　bird。　As　there

was　nothing　else　for　them　to　do；　they　sat　quietly　in

their　boat　and　waited　as　patiently　as　they　could　for

someone　to　come　to　their　aid。



The　Flatheads　had　refused　to　help　them　and　had　gone

back　to　their　mountain。　All　the　Skeezers　were

imprisoned　in　the　Great　Dome　and　could　not　help　even

themselves。　When　evening　came；　they　saw　the　Diamond

Swan；　still　keeping　to　the　opposite　shore　of　the　lake；

walk　out　of　the　water　to　the　sands；　shake　her　diamond…

sprinkled　feathers；　and　then　disappear　among　the　bushes

to　seek　a　resting　place　for　the　night。



〃I'm　hungry；〃　said　Ervic。



〃I'm　cold；〃　said　another　Skeezer。



〃I'm　tired；〃　said　a　third。



〃I'm　afraid；〃　said　the　last　one　of　them。



But　it　did　them　no　good　to　complain。　Night　fell　and

the　moon　rose　and　cast　a　silvery　sheen　over　the　surface

of　the　water。



〃Go　to　sleep；〃　said　Ervic　to　his　companions。　〃I'll

stay　awake　and　watch；　for　we　may　be　rescued　in　some

unexpected　way。



So　the　other　three　laid　themselves　down　in　the　bottom

of　the　boat　and　were　soon　fast　asleep。



Ervic　watched。　He　rested　himself　by　leaning　over　the

bow　of　the　boat；　his　face　near　to　the　moonlit　water；

and　thought　dreamily　of　the　day's　surprising　events　and

wondered　what　would　happen　to　the　prisoners　in　the

Great　Dome。



Suddenly　a　tiny　goldfish　popped　its　head　above　the

surface　of　the　lake；　not　more　than　a　foot　from　his

eyes。　A　silverfish　then　raised　its　head　beside　that　of

the　goldfish；　and　a　moment　later　a　bronzefish　lifted

its　head　beside　the　others。　The　three　fish；　all　in　a

row；　looked　earnestly　with　their　round；　bright　eyes

into　the　astonished　eyes　of　Ervic　the　Skeezer。



〃We　are　the　three　Adepts　whom　Queen　Coo…ee…oh

betrayed　and　wickedly　transformed；〃　said　the　goldfish；

its　voice　low　and　soft　but　distinctly　heard　in　the

stillness　of　the　night。



〃I　know　of　our　Queen's　treacherous　deed；〃　replied

Ervic；　〃and　I　am　sorry　for　your　misfortune。　Have　you

been　in　the　lake　ever　since？〃



〃Yes；〃　was　the　reply。



〃I　　I　hope　you　are　well　　and　comfortable；〃

stammered　Ervic；　not　knowing　what　else　to　say。



〃We　knew　that　some　day　Ooo…ee…oh　would　meet　with　the

fate　she　so　richly　deserves；〃　declared　the　bronzefish。

〃We　have　waited　and　watched　for　this　time。　Now　if　you

will　promise　to　help　us　and　will　be　faithful　and　true；

you　can　aid　us　in　regaining　our　natural　forms；　and　save

yourself　and　all　your　people　from　the　dangers　that　now

threaten　you。〃



〃Well；〃　said　Ervic；　〃you　can　depend　on　my　doing　the

best　I　can。　But　I'm　no　witch；　nor　magician；　you　must

know。〃



〃All　we　ask　is　that　you　obey　our　instructions；〃

returned　the　silverfish。　〃We　know　that　you　are　honest

and　that　you　served　Coo…ee…oh　only　because　you　were

obliged　to　in　order　to　escape　her　anger。　Do　as　we

command　and　all　will　be　well。〃



〃I　promise！〃　exclaimed　the　young　man。　〃Tell　me　what　I

am　to　do　first。〃



〃You　will　find　in　the　bottom　of　your　boat　the　silver

cord　which　dropped　from　Coo…ee…oh's　hand　when　she　was

transformed；〃　said　the　goldfish。　〃Tie　one　end　of　that

cord　to　the　bow　of　your　boat　and　drop　the　other　end　to

us　in　the　water。　Together　we　will　pull　your　boat　to　the

shore。〃



Ervic　much　doubted　that　the　three　small　fishes　could

move　so　heavy　a　boat；　but　he　did　as　he　was　told　and　the

fishes　all　seized　their　end　of　the　silver　cord　in　their

mouths　and　headed　toward　the　nearest　shore；　which　was

the　very　place　where　the　Flatheads　had　stood　when　they

conquered　Queen　Coo…ee…oh。



At　first　the　boat　did　not　move　at　all；　although　the

fishes　pulled　with　all　their　strength。　But　presently

the　strain　began　to　tell。　Very　slowly　the　boat　crept

toward　the　shore；　gaining　more　speed　at　every　moment。　A

couple　of　yards　away　from　the　sandy　beach　the　fishes

dropped　the　cord　from　their　mouths　and　swam　to　one

side；　while　the　iron　boat；　being　now　under　way；

continued　to　move　until　its　prow　grated　upon　the　sands。



Ervic　leaned　over　the　side　and　said　to　the　fishes：

〃What　next？〃



〃You　will　find　upon　the　sand；〃　said　the　silverfish；

〃a　copper　kettle；　which　the　Su…dic　forgot　when　he　went

away。　Cleanse　it　thoroughly　in　the　water　of　the　lake；

for　it　has　had　poison　in　it。　When　it　is　cleaned；　fill

it　with　fresh　water　and　hold　it　over　the　side　of　the

boat；　so　that　we　three　may　swim　into　the　kettle。　We

will　then　instruct　you　further。〃



〃Do　you　wish　me　to　catch　you；　then？〃　asked　Ervic　in

surprise。



〃Yes；〃　was　the　reply。



So　Ervic　jumped　out　of　th