glinda of oz-第3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！



City；　where　the　Wizard　of　Oz　gave　him　some　excellent

brains；　and　the　Scarecrow　soon　became　an　important

personage。



Ozma　considered　the　Scarecrow　one　of　her　best　friends

and　most　loyal　subjects；　so　the　morning　after　her　visit

to　Glinda　she　asked　him　to　take　her　place　as　Ruler　of

the　Land　of　Oz　while　she　was　absent　on　a　journey；　and

the　Scarecrow　at　once　consented　without　asking　any

questions。



Ozma　had　warned　Dorothy　to　keep　their　journey　a

secret　and　say　nothing　to　anyone　about　the　Skeezers　and

Flatheads　until　their　return；　and　Dorothy　promised　to

obey。　She　longed　to　tell　her　girl　friends；　tiny　Trot

and　Betsy　Bobbin；　of　the　adventure　they　were

undertaking；　but　refrained　from　saying　a　word　on　the

subject　although　both　these　girls　lived　with　her　in

Ozma's　palace。



Indeed；　only　Glinda　the　Sorceress　knew　they　were

going；　until　after　they　had　gone；　and　even　the

Sorceress　didn't　know　what　their　errand　might　be。



Princess　Ozma　took　the　Sawhorse　and　the　Red　Wagon；

although　she　was　not　sure　there　was　a　wagon　road　all

the　way　to　the　Lake　of　the　Skeezers。　The　Land　of　Oz　is

a　pretty　big　place；　surrounded　on　all　sides　by　a　Deadly

Desert　which　it　is　impossible　to　cross；　and　the　Skeezer

Country；　according　to　the　map；　was　in　the　farthest

northwestern　part　of　Oz；　bordering　on　the　north　desert。

As　the　Emerald　City　was　exactly　in　the　center　of　Oz；　it

was　no　small　journey　from　there　to　the　Skeezers。



Around　the　Emerald　City　the　country　is　thickly

settled　in　every　direction；　but　the　farther　away　you

get　from　the　city　the　fewer　people　there　are；　until

those　parts　that　border　on　the　desert　have　small

populations。　Also　those　faraway　sections　are　little

known　to　the　Oz　people；　except　in　the　south；　where

Glinda　lives　and　where　Dorothy　has　often　wandered　on

trips　of　exploration。



The　least　known　of　all　is　the　Gillikin　Country；　which

harbors　many　strange　bands　of　people　among　its

mountains　and　valleys　and　forests　and　streams；　and　Ozma

was　now　bound　for　the　most　distant　part　of　the　Gillikin

Country。



〃I　am　really　sorry；〃　said　Ozma　to　Dorothy；　as　they

rode　away　in　the　Red　Wagon；　〃not　to　know　more　about　the

wonderful　Land　I　rule。　It　is　my　duty　to　be　acquainted

with　every　tribe　of　people　and　every　strange　and　hidden

country　in　all　Oz；　but　I　am　kept　so　busy　at　my　palace

making　laws　and　planning　for　the　comforts　of　those　who

live　near　the　Emerald　City；　that　I　do　not　often　find

time　to　make　long　journeys。〃



〃Well；〃　replied　Dorothy；　〃we'll　prob'bly　find　out　a

lot　on　this　trip；　and　we'll　learn　all　about　the

Skeezers　and　Flatheads；　anyhow。　Time　doesn't　make　much

diff'rence　in　the　Land　of　Oz；　'cause　we　don't　grow　up；

or　get　old；　or　become　sick　and　die；　as　they　do　other

places；　so；　if　we　explore　one　place　at　a　time；　we'll

by…an'…by　know　all　about　every　nook　and　corner　in　Oz。〃



Dorothy　wore　around　her　waist　the　Nome　King's　Magic

Belt；　which　protected　her　from　harm；　and　the　Magic　Ring

which　Glinda　had　given　her　was　on　her　finger。　Ozma　had

merely　slipped　a　small　silver　wand　into　the　bosom　of

her　gown；　for　fairies　do　not　use　chemicals　and　herbs

and　the　tools　of　wizards　and　sorcerers　to　perform　their

magic。　The　Silver　Wand　was　Ozma's　one　weapon　of　offense

and　defense　and　by　its　use　she　could　accomplish　many

things。



They　had　left　the　Emerald　City　just　at　sunrise　and

the　Sawhorse　traveled　very　swiftly　over　the　roads

towards　the　north；　but　in　a　few　hours　the　wooden　animal

had　to　slacken　his　pace　because　the　farm　houses　had

become　few　and　far　between　and　often　there　were　no

paths　at　all　in　the　direction　they　wished　to　follow。　At

such　times　they　crossed　the　fields；　avoiding　groups　of

trees　and　fording　the　streams　and　rivulets　whenever

they　came　to　them。　But　finally　they　reached　a　broad

hillside　closely　covered　with　scrubby　brush；　through

which　the　wagon　could　not　pass。



〃It　will　be　difficult　even　for　you　and　me　to　get

through　without　tearing　our　dresses；〃　said　Ozma；　〃so　we

must　leave　the　Sawhorse　and　the　Wagon　here　until　our

return。〃



〃That's　all　right；〃　Dorothy　replied；　〃I'm　tired

riding；　anyhow。　Do　you　s'pose；　Ozma；　we're　anywhere

near　the　Skeezer　Country？〃



〃I　cannot　tell；　Dorothy　dear；　but　I　know　we've　been

going　in　the　right　direction；　so　we　are　sure　to　find　it

in　time。〃



The　scrubby　brush　was　almost　like　a　grove　of　small

trees；　for　it　reached　as　high　as　the　heads　of　the　two

girls；　neither　of　whom　was　very　tall。　They　were　obliged

to　thread　their　way　in　and　out；　until　Dorothy　was

afraid　they　would　get　lost；　and　finally　they　were

halted　by　a　curious　thing　that　barred　their　further

progress。　It　was　a　huge　web　　as　if　woven　by　gigantic

spiders　　and　the　delicate；　lacy　film　was　fastened

stoutly　to　the　branches　of　the　bushes　and　continued　to

the　right　and　left　in　the　form　of　a　half　circle。　The

threads　of　this　web　were　of　a　brilliant　purple　color

and　woven　into　numerous　artistic　patterns；　but　it

reached　from　the　ground　to　branches　above　the　heads　of

the　girls　and　formed　a　sort　of　fence　that　hedged　them

in。



〃It　doesn't　look　very　strong；　though；〃　said　Dorothy。

〃I　wonder　if　we　couldn't　break　through。〃　She　tried　but

found　the　web　stronger　than　it　seemed。　All　her　efforts

could　not　break　a　single　thread。



〃We　must　go　back；　I　think；　and　try　to　get　around　this

peculiar　web；〃　Ozma　decided。



So　they　turned　to　the　right　and；　following　the　web

found　that　it　seemed　to　spread　in　a　regular　circle。　On

and　on　they　went　until　finally　Ozma　said　they　had

returned　to　the　exact　spot　from　which　they　had　started。

〃Here　is　a　handkerchief　you　dropped　when　we　were　here

before；〃　she　said　to　Dorothy。



〃In　that　case；　they　must　have　built　the　web　behind

us；　after　we　walked　into　the　trap；〃　exclaimed　the

little　girl。



〃True；〃　agreed　Ozma；　〃an　enemy　has　tried　to　imprison

us。〃



〃And　they　did　it；　too；〃　said　Dorothy。　〃I　wonder　who

it　was。〃



〃It's　a　spider…web；　I'm　quite　sure；〃　returned　Ozma；

〃but　it　must　be　the　work　of　enormous　spiders。〃



〃Quite　right！〃　cried　a　voice　behind　them。　Turning

quickly　around　they　beheld　a　huge　purple　spider　sitting

not　two　yards　away　and　regarding　them　with　its　small

bright　eyes。



Then　there　crawled　from　the　bushes　a　dozen　more　great

purple　spiders；　which　saluted　the　first　one　and　said：



〃The　web　is　finished；　O　King；　and　the　strangers　are

our　prisoners。〃



Dorothy　did　not　like　the　looks　of　these　spiders　at

all。　They　had　big　heads；　sharp　claws；　small　eyes　and

fuzzy　hair　all　over　their　purple　bodies。



〃They　look　wicked；〃　she　whispered　to　Ozma。　〃What

shall　we　do？〃



Ozma　gazed　upon　the　spiders　with　a　serious　face。



〃What　is　your　object　in　making　us　prisoners？〃　she

inquired。



〃We　need　someone　to　keep　house　for　us；〃　answered　the

Spider　King。　〃There　is　sweeping　and　dusting　to　be　done；

and　polishing　and　washing　of　dishes；　and　that　is　work

my　people　dislike　to　do。　So　we　decided　that　if　any

strangers　came　our　way　we　would　capture　them　and　make

them　our　servants。〃



〃I　am　Princess　Ozma；　Ruler　of　all　Oz；〃　said　the　girl

with　dignity。



〃Well；　I　am　King　of　all　Spiders；〃　was　the　reply；　〃and

that　makes　me　your　master。　Come　with　me　to　my　palace

and　I　will　instruct　you　in　your　work。〃



〃I　won't；〃　said　Dorothy　indignantly。　〃We　won't　have

anything　to　do　with　you。〃



〃We'll　see　about　that；〃　returned　the　Spider　in　a

severe　tone；　and　the　next　instant　he　made　a　dive

straight　at　Dorothy；　opening　the　claws　in　his　legs　as

if　to　grab　and　pinch　her　with　the　sharp　points。　But　the

girl　was　wearing　her　Magic　Belt　and　was　not　harmed。　The

Spider　King　could　not　even　touch　her。　He　turned　swiftly

and　made　a　dash　at　Ozma；　but　she　held　her　Magic　Wand

over　his　head　and　the　monster　recoiled　as　if　it　had

been　struck。



〃You'd　better　let　us　go；〃　Dorothy　advised　him；　〃for

you　see　you　can't　hurt　us。〃



〃So　I　see；〃　returned　the　Spider　King　angrily。　〃Your

magic　is　greater　than　mine。　But　I'll　not　help　you　to

escape。　If　you　can　break　the　magic　web　my　people　have

woven　you　may　go；　if　not　you　must　stay　here　and

starve。〃　With　that　the　Spider　King　uttered　a　peculiar

whistle　and　all　the　spiders　disappeared。



〃There　is　more　magic　in　my　fairyland　than　I　dreamed

of；〃　remarked　the　beautiful　Ozma；　with　a　sigh　of　regret。

〃It　seems　that　my　laws　have　not　been　obeyed；　for　even

these　monstrous　spiders　defy　me　by　means　of　Magic。〃



〃Never　mind　that　now；〃　said　Dorothy；　〃let's　see　what

we　can　do　to　get　out　of　this　trap。〃



They　now　examined　the　web　with　great　care　and　were

amazed　at　its　strength。　Although　finer　than　the　finest

silken　hairs；　it　resisted　all　their　efforts　to　work

through；　even　though　both　girls　threw　all　their　weight

against　it。



〃We　must　find　some　instrument　which　will　cut　the

threads　of　the　web；〃　said　Ozma；　finally。　〃Let　us　look

about　for　such　a　tool。〃



So　they　wandered　among　the　bushes　and　finally　came　to

a　shallow　pool　of　water；　formed　by　a　small　bubbling

spring。　Dorothy　stooped　to　get　a　drink　and　discovered

in　the　water　a　green　crab；　about　as　big　as　her　hand。

The　crab　had　two　big；　sharp　claws；　and　as　soon　as

Dorothy　saw　them　she　had　an　idea　that　those　claws　could

save　them。



〃Come　out　of　the　water；〃　she　called　to　the　crab；　〃I

want　to　talk　to　you。〃



Rather　lazily　the　crab　rose　to　the　surface　and　caught

hold　of　a　bit　of　rock。　With　his　head　above　the　water　he

said　in　a　cross　voice：



〃What　do　you　want？〃



〃We　want　you　to　cut　the　web　of　the　purple　spiders

with　your　claws；　so　we　can　get　through　it；〃　answered

Dorothy。　〃You　can　do　that；　can't　you？〃



〃I　suppose　so；〃　replied　the　crab。　〃But　if　I　do　what

will　you　give　me？〃



〃What　do　you　wish？〃　Ozma　inquired。



〃I　wish　to　be　white；　instead　of　green；〃　said　the

crab。　〃Green　crabs　are　very　common；　and　white　ones　are

rare；　besides　the　purple　spiders；　which　infest　this

hillside；　are