友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
glinda of oz-第22部分
快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!
the streets of the village were gathered all the
Skeezers; men; women and children; and you may be sure
that Ozma and Dorothy; with Lady Aurex; were filled
with joy that their friends were at last coming to
their rescue。
The Queen's palace; now occupied by Ozma; was
directly in the center of the Dome; so that when the
rope was let down the end of it came just in front of
the palace entrance。 Several Skeezers held fast to the
rope's end to steady it and the Wizard reached the
ground in safety。 He hugged first Ozma and then
Dorothy; while all the Skeezers cheered as loud as they
could。
The Wizard now discovered that the rope was long
enough to reach from the top of the Dome to the ground
when doubled; so he tied a chair to one end of the rope
and called to Glinda to sit in the chair while he and
some of the Skeezers lowered her to the pavement。 In
this way the Sorceress reached the ground quite
comfortably and the three Adepts and Ervic soon
followed her。
The Skeezers quickly recognized the three Adepts at
Magic; whom they had learned to respect before their
wicked Queen betrayed them; and welcomed them as
friends。 All the inhabitants of the village had been
greatly frightened by their imprisonment under water;
but now realized that an attempt was to be made to
rescue them。
Glinda; the Wizard and the Adepts followed Ozma and
Dorothy into the palace; and they asked Lady Aurex and
Ervic to join them。 After Ozma had told of her
adventures in trying to prevent war between the
Flatheads and the Skeezers; and Glinda had told all
about the Rescue Expedition and the restoration of the
three Adepts by the help of Ervic; a serious
consultation was held as to how the island could be
made to rise。
〃I've tried every way in my power;〃 said Ozma; 〃but
Coo…ee…oh used a very unusual sort of magic which I do
not understand。 She seems to have prepared her
witchcraft in such a way that a spoken word is
necessary to accomplish her designs; and these spoken
words are known only to herself。〃
〃That is a method we taught her;〃 declared Aurah the
Adept。
〃I can do no more; Glinda;〃 continued Ozma; 〃so I
wish you would try what your sorcery can accomplish。〃
〃First; then;〃 said Glinda; 〃let us visit the
basement of the island; which I am told is underneath
the village。〃
A flight of marble stairs led from one of Coo…ee…oh's
private rooms down to the basement; but when the party
arrived all were puzzled by what they saw。 In the
center of a broad; low room; stood a mass of great cog…
wheels; chains and pulleys; all interlocked and seeming
to form a huge machine; but there was no engine or
other motive power to make the wheels turn。
〃This; I suppose; is the means by which the island is
lowered or raised;〃 said Ozma; 〃but the magic word
which is needed to move the machinery is unknown to
us。〃
The three Adepts were carefully examining the mass of
wheels; and soon the golden…haired one said:
〃These wheels do not control the island at all。 On
the contrary; one set of them is used to open the doors
of the little rooms where the submarines are kept; as
may be seen from the chains and pulleys used。 Each boat
is kept in a little room with two doors; one to the
basement room where we are now and the other letting
into the lake。
〃When Coo…ee…oh used the boat in which she attacked
the Flatheads; she first commanded the basement door to
open and with her followers she got into the boat and
made the top close over them。 Then the basement door
being closed; the outer door was slowly opened; letting
the water fill the room to float the boat; which then
left the island; keeping under water。〃
〃But how could she expect to get back again?〃 asked
the Wizard。
〃Why the boat would enter the room filled with water
and after the outer door was closed a word of command
started a pump which pumped all the water from the
room。 Then the boat would open and Coo…ee…oh could
enter the basement。〃
〃I see;〃 said the Wizard。 〃It is a clever
contrivance; but won't work unless one knows the magic
words。〃
〃Another part of this machinery;〃 explained the
white…haired Adept; 〃is used to extend the bridge from
the island to the mainland。 The steel bridge is in a
room much like that in which the boats are kept; and at
Coo…ce…oh's command it would reach out; joint by joint;
until its far end touched the shore of the lake。 The
same magic command would make the bridge return to its
former position。 Of course the bridge could not be used
unless the island was on the surface of the water。〃
〃But how do you suppose Coo…ee…oh managed to sink the
island; and make it rise again?〃 inquired Glinda。
This the Adepts could not yet explain。 As nothing
more could be learned from the basement they mounted
the steps to the Queen's private suite again; and Ozma
showed them to a special room where Coo…ee…oh kept her
magical instruments and performed all her arts of
witchcraft。
Chapter Twenty…Three
The Magic Words
Many interesting things were to be seen in the Room
of Magic; including much that had been stolen from the
Adepts when they were transformed to fishes; but they
had to admit that Coo…ee…oh had a rare genius for
mechanics; and had used her knowledge in inventing a
lot of mechanical apparatus that ordinary witches;
wizards and sorcerers could not understand。
They all carefully inspected this room; taking care
to examine every article they came across。
〃The island;〃 said Glinda thoughtfully; 〃rests on a
base of solid marble。 When it is submerged; as it is
now; the base of the island is upon the bottom of the
lake。 What puzzles me is how such a great weight can be
lifted and suspended in the water; even by magic。〃
〃I now remember;〃 returned Aujah; 〃that one of the
arts we taught Coo…ee…oh was the way to expand steel;
and I think that explains how the island is raised and
lowered。 I noticed in the basement a big steel pillar
that passed through the floor and extended upward to
this palace。 Perhaps the end of it is concealed in this
very room。 If the lower end of the steel pillar is
firmly embedded in the bottom of the lake; Coo…ee…oh
could utter a magic word that would make the pillar
expand; and so lift the entire island to the level of
the water。〃
〃I've found the end of the steel pillar。 It's just
here;〃 announced the Wizard; pointing to one side of
the room where a great basin of polished steel seemed
to have been set upon the floor。
They all gathered around; and Ozma said:
〃Yes; I am quite sure that is the upper end of the
pillar that supports the island。 I noticed it when I
first came here。 It has been hollowed out; you see; and
something has been burned in the basin; for the fire
has left its marks。 I wondered what was under the great
basin and got several of the Skeezers to come up here
and try to lift it for me。 They were strong men; but
could not move it at all。〃
〃It seems to me;〃 said Audah the Adept; 〃that we have
discovered the manner in which Coo…ee…oh raised the
island。 She would burn some sort of magic powder in the
basin; utter the magic word; and the pillar would
lengthen out and lift the island with it。〃
〃What's this?〃 asked Dorothy; who had been searching
around with the others; and now noticed a slight hollow
in the wall; near to where the steel basin stood。 As
she spoke Dorothy pushed her thumb into the hollow and
instantly a small drawer popped out from the wall。
The three Adepts; Glinda and the Wizard sprang
forward and peered into the drawer。 It was half filled
with a grayish powder; the tiny grains of which
constantly moved as if impelled by some living force。
〃It may be some kind of radium;〃 said the Wizard。
〃No;〃 replied Glinda; 〃it is more wonderful than even
radium; for I recognize it as a rare mineral powder
called Gaulau by the sorcerers。 I wonder how Coo…ee…oh
discovered it and where she obtained it。〃
〃There is no doubt;〃 said Aujah the Adept; 〃that this
is the magic powder Coo…ee…oh burned in the basin。 If
only we knew the magic word; I am quite sure we could
raise the island。〃
〃How can we discover the magic word?〃 asked Ozma;
turning to Glinda as she spoke。
〃That we must now seriously consider;〃 answered the
Sorceress。
So all of them sat down in the Room of Magic and
began to think。 It was so still that after a while
Dorothy grew nervous。 The little girl never could keep
silent for long; and at the risk of displeasing her
magic…working friends she suddenly said:
〃Well; Coo…ee…oh used just three magic words; one to
make the bridge work; and one to make the submarines go
out of their holes; and one to raise and lower the
island。 Three words。 And Coo…ee…oh's name is made up of
just three words。 One is 'Coo;' and one is 'ee;' and
one is 'oh。'
The Wizard frowned but Glinda looked wonderingly at
the young girl and Ozma cried out:
〃A good thought; Dorothy dear! You may have solved
our problem。〃
〃I believe it is worth a trial;〃 agreed Glinda。 〃It
would be quite natural for Coo…ee…oh to divide her
name into three magic syllables; and Dorothy's
suggestion seems like an inspiration。〃
The three Adepts also approved the trial but the
brown…haired one said:
〃We must be careful not to use the wrong word; and
send the bridge out under water。 The main thing; if
Dorothy's idea is correct; is to hit upon the one word
that moves the island。〃
〃Let us experiment;〃 suggested the Wizard。
In the drawer with the moving gray powder was a tiny
golden cup; which they thought was used for measuring。
Glinda filled this cup with the powder and carefully
poured it into the shallow basin; which was the top of
the great steel pillar supporting the
快捷操作: 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!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!