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dorothy and the wizard in oz-第18部分
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there you'll besafe in the royal palace!〃
〃Good!〃 cried Zeb。
〃I built that palace; and the Emerald City; too;〃 remarked the Wizard;
in a thoughtful tone; 〃and I'd like to see them again; for I was very
happy among the Munchkins and Winkies and Quadlings and Gillikins。〃
〃Who are they?〃 asked the boy。
〃The four nations that inhabit the Land of Oz;〃 was the reply。 〃I
wonder if they would treat me nicely if I went there again。〃
〃Of course they would!〃 declared Dorothy。 〃They are still proud of
their former Wizard; and often speak of you kindly。〃
〃Do you happen to know whatever became of the Tin Woodman and the
Scarecrow?〃 he enquired。
〃They live in Oz yet;〃 said the girl; 〃and are very important people。〃
〃And the Cowardly Lion?〃
〃Oh; he lives there too; with his friend the Hungry Tiger; and Billina
is there; because she liked the place better than Kansas; and wouldn't
go with me to Australia。〃
〃I'm afraid I don't know the Hungry Tiger and Billina;〃 said the
Wizard; shaking his head。 〃Is Billina a girl?〃
〃No; she's a yellow hen; and a great friend of mine。 You're sure to
like Billina; when you know her;〃 asserted Dorothy。
〃Your friends sound like a menagerie;〃 remarked Zeb; uneasily。
〃Couldn't you wish me in some safer place than Oz。〃
〃Don't worry;〃 replied the girl。 〃You'll just love the folks in Oz;
when you get acquainted。 What time is it; Mr。 Wizard?〃
The little man looked at his watcha big silver one that he carried
in his vest pocket。
〃Half…past three;〃 he said。
〃Then we must wait for half an hour;〃 she continued; 〃but it won't
take long; after that; to carry us all to the Emerald City。〃
They sat silently thinking for a time。 Then Jim suddenly asked:
〃Are there any horses in Oz?〃
〃Only one;〃 replied Dorothy; 〃and he's a sawhorse。〃
〃A what?〃
〃A sawhorse。 Princess Ozma once brought him to life with a
witch…powder; when she was a boy。〃
〃Was Ozma once a boy?〃 asked Zeb; wonderingly。
〃Yes; a wicked witch enchanted her; so she could not rule her kingdom。
But she's a girl now; and the sweetest; loveliest girl in all the world。〃
〃A sawhorse is a thing they saw boards on;〃 remarked Jim; with a sniff。
〃It is when it's not alive;〃 acknowledged the girl。 〃But this
sawhorse can trot as fast as you can; Jim; and he's very wise; too。〃
〃Pah! I'll race the miserable wooden donkey any day in the week!〃
cried the cab…horse。
Dorothy did not reply to that。 She felt that Jim would know more
about the Saw…Horse later on。
The time dragged wearily enough to the eager watchers; but finally the
Wizard announced that four o'clock had arrived; and Dorothy caught up
the kitten and began to make the signal that had been agreed upon to
the far…away invisible Ozma。
〃Nothing seems to happen;〃 said Zeb; doubtfully。
〃Oh; we must give Ozma time to put on the Magic Belt;〃 replied the girl。
She had scarcely spoken the words then she suddenly disappeared from
the cave; and with her went the kitten。 There had been no sound of
any kind and no warning。 One moment Dorothy sat beside them with the
kitten in her lap; and a moment later the horse; the piglets; the
Wizard and the boy were all that remained in the underground prison。
〃I believe we will soon follow her;〃 announced the Wizard; in a tone
of great relief; 〃for I know something about the magic of the
fairyland that is called the Land of Oz。 Let us be ready; for we may
be sent for any minute。〃
He put the piglets safely away in his pocket again and then he and Zeb
got into the buggy and sat expectantly upon the seat。
〃Will it hurt?〃 asked the boy; in a voice that trembled a little。
〃Not at all;〃 replied the Wizard。 〃It will all happen as quick as a wink。〃
And that was the way it did happen。
The cab…horse gave a nervous start and Zeb began to rub his eyes to
make sure he was not asleep。 For they were in the streets of a
beautiful emerald…green city; bathed in a grateful green light that
was especially pleasing to their eyes; and surrounded by merry faced
people in gorgeous green…and…gold costumes of many extraordinary designs。
Before them were the jewel…studded gates of a magnificent palace; and
now the gates opened slowly as if inviting them to enter the
courtyard; where splendid flowers were blooming and pretty fountains
shot their silvery sprays into the air。
Zeb shook the reins to rouse the cab…horse from his stupor of
amazement; for the people were beginning to gather around and stare at
the strangers。
〃Gid…dap!〃 cried the boy; and at the word Jim slowly trotted into the
courtyard and drew the buggy along the jewelled driveway to the great
entrance of the royal palace。
15。 Old Friends are Reunited
Many servants dressed in handsome uniforms stood ready to welcome the
new arrivals; and when the Wizard got out of the buggy a pretty girl
in a green gown cried out in surprise:
〃Why; it's Oz; the Wonderful Wizard; come back again!〃
The little man looked at her closely and then took both the maiden's
hands in his and shook them cordially。
〃On my word;〃 he exclaimed; 〃it's little Jellia Jambas pert and
pretty as ever!〃
〃Why not; Mr。 Wizard?〃 asked Jellia; bowing low。 〃But I'm afraid you
cannot rule the Emerald City; as you used to; because we now have a
beautiful Princess whom everyone loves dearly。〃
〃And the people will not willingly part with her;〃 added a tall
soldier in a Captain…General's uniform。
The Wizard turned to look at him。
〃Did you not wear green whiskers at one time?〃 he asked。
〃Yes;〃 said the soldier; 〃but I shaved them off long ago;
and since then I have risen from a private to be the Chief General
of the Royal Armies。〃
〃That's nice;〃 said the little man。 〃But I assure you; my good people;
that I do not wish to rule the Emerald City;〃 he added; earnestly。
〃In that case you are very welcome!〃 cried all the servants; and it
pleased the Wizard to note the respect with which the royal retainers
bowed before him。 His fame had not been forgotten in the Land of Oz;
by any means。
〃Where is Dorothy?〃 enquired Zeb; anxiously; as he left the buggy and
stood beside his friend the little Wizard。
〃She is with the Princess Ozma; in the private rooms of the palace;〃
replied Jellia Jamb。 〃But she has ordered me to make you welcome and
to show you to your apartments。〃
The boy looked around him with wondering eyes。 Such magnificence and
wealth as was displayed in this palace was more than he had ever
dreamed of; and he could scarcely believe that all the gorgeous
glitter was real and not tinsel。
〃What's to become of me?〃 asked the horse; uneasily。 He had seen
considerable of life in the cities in his younger days; and knew that
this regal palace was no place for him。
It perplexed even Jellia Jamb; for a time; to know what to do with the
animal。 The green maiden was much astonished at the sight of so
unusual a creature; for horses were unknown in this Land; but those
who lived in the Emerald City were apt to be astonished by queer
sights; so after inspecting the cab…horse and noting the mild look in
his big eyes the girl decided not to be afraid of him。
〃There are no stables here;〃 said the Wizard; 〃unless some have been
built since I went away。〃
〃We have never needed them before;〃 answered Jellia; 〃for the Sawhorse
lives in a room of the palace; being much smaller and more natural in
appearance than this great beast you have brought with you。〃
〃Do you mean that I'm a freak?〃 asked Jim; angrily。
〃Oh; no;〃 she hastened to say; 〃there may be many more like you in the
place you came from; but in Oz any horse but a Sawhorse is unusual。〃
This mollified Jim a little; and after some thought the green maiden
decided to give the cab…horse a room in the palace; such a big
building having many rooms that were seldom in use。
So Zeb unharnessed Jim; and several of the servants then led the horse
around to the rear; where they selected a nice large apartment that he
could have all to himself。
Then Jellia said to the Wizard:
〃Your own roomwhich was back of the great Throne Roomhas been
vacant ever since you left us。 Would you like it again?〃
〃Yes; indeed!〃 returned the little man。 〃It will seem like being at
home again; for I lived in that room for many; many years。〃
He knew the way to it; and a servant followed him; carrying his
satchel。 Zeb was also escorted to a roomso grand and beautiful that
he almost feared to sit in the chairs or lie upon the bed; lest he
might dim their splendor。 In the closets he discovered many fancy
costumes of rich velvets and brocades; and one of the attendants told
him to dress himself in any of the clothes that pleased him and to be
prepared to dine with the Princess and Dorothy in an hour's time。
Opening from the chamber was a fine bathroom having a marble tub with
perfumed water; so the boy; still dazed by the novelty of his
surroundings; indulged in a good bath and then selected a maroon
velvet costume with silver buttons to replace his own soiled and much
worn clothing。 There were silk stockings and soft leather slippers
with diamond buckles to accompany his new costume; and when he was
fully dressed Zeb looked much more dignified and imposing than ever
before in his life。
He was all ready when an attendant came to escort him to the presence
of the Princess; he followed bashfully and was ushered into a room
more dainty and attractive than it was splendid。 Here he found
Dorothy seated beside a young girl so marvelously beautiful that the
boy stopped suddenly with a gasp of admiration。
But Dorothy sprang up and ran to seize her friend's hand drawing him
impulsively toward the lovely Princess; who smiled most graciously
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