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glinda of oz-第2部分

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them behave?〃



〃That;〃 returned Ozma; 〃is what I am now considering。

What would you advise; Glinda?〃



The Sorceress took a little time to consider this

question; before she made reply。 Then she said: 〃Had

you not learned of the existence of the Flatheads and

the Skeezers; through my Book of Records; you would

never have worried about them or their quarrels。 So; if

you pay no attention to these peoples; you may never

hear of them again。〃



〃But that wouldn't be right;〃 declared Ozma。 〃I am

Ruler of all the Land of Oz; which includes the

Gillikin Country; the Quadling Country; the Winkie

Country and the Munchkin Country; as well as the

Emerald City; and being the Princess of this fairyland

it is my duty to make all my people  wherever they

may be  happy and content and to settle their

disputes and keep them from quarreling。 So; while the

Skeezers and Flatheads may not know me or that I am

their lawful Ruler; I now know that they inhabit my

kingdom and are my subjects; so I would not be doing my

duty if I kept away from them and allowed them to

fight。〃



〃That's  a  fact;  Ozma;〃  commented  Dorothy。

〃You've got to go up to the Gillikin Country and make

these people behave themselves and make up their

quarrels。 But how are you going to do it?〃



〃That is what is puzzling me also; your Majesty;〃

said the Sorceress。 〃It may be dangerous for you to go

into those strange countries; where the people are

possibly fierce and warlike。〃



〃I am not afraid;〃 said Ozma; with a smile。



〃'Tisn't a question of being 'fraid;〃 argued Dorothy。

〃Of course we know you're a fairy; and can't be killed

or hurt; and we know you've a lot of magic of your own

to help you。 But; Ozma dear; in spite of all this

you've been in trouble before; on account of wicked

enemies; and it isn't right for the Ruler of all Oz to

put herself in danger。〃



〃Perhaps I shall be in no danger at all;〃 returned

Ozma; with a little laugh。 〃You mustn't imagine danger;

Dorothy; for one should only imagine nice things; and

we do not know that the Skeezers and Flatheads are

wicked people or my enemies。 Perhaps they would be good

and listen to reason。〃



〃Dorothy is right; your Majesty;〃 asserted the

Sorceress。 〃It is true we know nothing of these faraway

subjects; except that they intend to fight one another;

and have a certain amount of magic power at their

command。 Such folks do not like to submit to

interference and they are more likely to resent your

coming among them than to receive you kindly and

graciously; as is your due。〃



〃If you had an army to take with you;〃 added Dorothy;

〃it wouldn't be so bad; but there isn't such a thing as

an army in all Oz。〃



〃I have one soldier;〃 said Ozma。



〃Yes; the soldier with the green whiskers; but he's

dreadful 'fraid of his gun and never loads it。 I'm sure

he'd run rather than fight。 And one soldier; even if he

were brave; couldn't do much against two hundred and

one Flatheads and Skeezers。〃



〃What then; my friends; would you suggest?〃 inquired

Ozma。



〃I advise you to send the Wizard of Oz to them; and

let him inform them that it is against the laws of Oz

to fight; and that you command them to settle their

differences and become friends;〃 proposed Glinda。 〃Let

the Wizard tell them they will be punished if they

refuse to obey the commands of the Princess of all the

Land of Oz。〃



Ozma shook her head; to indicate that the advice was

not to her satisfaction。



〃If they refuse; what then?〃 she asked。 〃I should be

obliged to carry out my threat and punish them; and

that would be an unpleasant and difficult thing to do。

I am sure it would be better for me to go peacefully;

without an army and armed only with my authority as

Ruler; and plead with them to obey me。 Then; if they

prove obstinate I could resort to other means to win

their obedience。〃



〃It's a ticklish thing; anyhow you look at it;〃

sighed Dorothy。 〃I'm sorry now that I noticed the

Record in the Great Book。〃



〃But can't you realize; my dear; that I must do my

duty; now that I am aware of this trouble?〃 asked Ozma。

〃I am fully determined to go at once to the Magic Isle

of the Skeezers and to the enchanted mountain of the

Flatheads; and prevent war and strife between their

inhabitants。 The only question to decide is whether it

is better for me to go alone; or to assemble a party of

my friends and loyal supporters to accompany me。〃



〃If you go I want to go; too;〃 declared Dorothy。

〃Whatever happens it's going to be fun  'cause all

excitement is fun  and I wouldn't miss it for the

world!〃



Neither Ozma nor Glinda paid any attention to this

statement; for they were gravely considering the

serious aspect of this proposed adventure。



〃There are plenty of friends who would like to go

with you;〃 said the Sorceress; 〃but none of them would

afford your Majesty any protection in case you were in

danger。 You are yourself the most powerful fairy in Oz;

although both I and the Wizard have more varied arts of

magic at our command。 However; you have one art that no

other in all the world can equal  the art of winning

hearts and making people love to bow to your gracious

presence。 For that reason I believe you can accomplish

more good alone than with a large number of subjects in

your train。〃



〃I believe that also;〃 agreed the Princess。 〃I shall

be quite able to take care of myself; you know; but

might not be able to protect others so well。 I do not

look for opposition; however。 I shall speak to these

people in kindly words and settle their dispute 

whatever it may be  in a just manner。〃



〃Aren't you going to take me?〃 pleaded Dorothy。

〃You'll need some companion; Ozma。〃



The Princess smiled upon her little friend。



〃I see no reason why you should not accompany me;〃

was her reply。 〃Two girls are not very warlike and they

will not suspect us of being on any errand but a kindly

and peaceful one。 But; in order to prevent war and

strife between these angry peoples; we must go to them

at once。 Let us return immediately to the Emerald City

and prepare to start on our journey early tomorrow

morning。〃



Glinda was not quite satisfied with this plan; but

could not think of any better way to meet the problem。

She knew that Ozma; with all her gentleness and sweet

disposition; was accustomed to abide by any decision

she had made and could not easily be turned from her

purpose。 Moreover she could see no great danger to the

fairy Ruler of Oz in the undertaking; even though the

unknown people she was to visit proved obstinate。 But

Dorothy was not a fairy; she was a little girl who had

come from Kansas to live in the Land of Oz。 Dorothy

might encounter dangers that to Ozma would be as

nothing but to an 〃Earth child〃 would be very serious。



The very fact that Dorothy lived in Oz; and had been

made a Princess by her friend Ozma; prevented her from

being killed or suffering any great bodily pain as long

as she lived in that fairyland。 She could not grow big;

either; and would always remain the same little girl

who had come to Oz; unless in some way she left that

fairyland or was spirited away from it。 But Dorothy was

a mortal; nevertheless; and might possibly be

destroyed; or hidden where none of her friends could

ever find her。 She could; for instance be cut into

pieces; and the pieces; while still alive and free from

pain; could be widely scattered; or she might be buried

deep underground or 〃destroyed〃 in other ways by evil

magicians; were she not properly protected。 These facts

Glinda was considering while she paced with stately

tread her marble hall。



Finally the good Sorceress paused and drew a ring

from her finger; handing it to Dorothy。



〃Wear this ring constantly until your return;〃 she

said to the girl。 〃If serious danger threatens you;

turn the ring around on your finger once to the right

and another turn to the left。 That will ring the alarm

bell in my palace and I will at once come to your

rescue。 But do not use the ring unless you are actually

in danger of destruction。 While you remain with

Princess Ozma I believe she will be able to protect you

from all lesser ills。〃



〃Thank you; Glinda;〃 responded Dorothy gratefully; as

she placed the ring on her finger。 〃I'm going to wear

my Magic Belt which I took from the Nome King; too; so

I guess I'll be safe from anything the Skeezers and

Flatheads try to do to me。〃



Ozma had many arrangements to make before she could

leave her throne and her palace in the Emerald City;

even for a trip of a few days; so she bade goodbye to

Glinda and with Dorothy climbed into the Red Wagon。 A

word to the wooden Sawhorse started that astonishing

creature on the return journey; and so swiftly did he

run that Dorothy was unable to talk or do anything but

hold tight to her seat all the way back to the Emerald

City。









Chapter Two



Ozma and Dorothy







Residing in Ozma's palace at this time was a live

Scarecrow; a most remarkable and intelligent creature

who had once ruled the Land of Oz for a brief period

and was much loved and respected by all the people。

Once a Munchkin farmer had stuffed an old suit of

clothes with straw and put stuffed boots on the feet

and used a pair of stuffed cotton gloves for hands。 The

head of the Scarecrow was a stuffed sack fastened to

the body; with eyes; nose; mouth and ears painted on

the sack。 When a hat had been put on the head; the

thing was a good imitation of a man。 The farmer placed

the Scarecrow on a pole in his cornfield and it came to

life in a curious manner。 Dorothy; who was passing by

the field; was hailed by the live Scarecrow and lifted

him off his pole。 He then went with her to the Emerald

City; where the Wizard of Oz gave him some excellent

brains; and the Scarecr
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