第 30 节
作者:空白协议书      更新:2024-04-07 21:07      字数:9321
  part of the Land of Oz; while it belonged to Ozma
  and owed her allegiance; was so wild and secluded
  that many queer peoples hid in its jungles and
  lived in their own way; without even a knowledge
  that they had a Ruler in the Emerald City。 If they
  were left alone; these creatures never troubled
  the inhabitants of the rest of Oz; but those who
  invaded their domains encountered many dangers
  from them。
  It was a two days journey from Jack Pumkinhead's
  house to the edge of the Quadling Country; for
  neither Dorothy nor Ojo could walk very fast and
  they often stopped by the wayside to rest。 The
  first night they slept on the broad fields; among
  the buttercups and daisies; and the Scarecrow
  covered the children with a gauze blanket taken
  from his knapsack; so they would not be chilled by
  the night air。 Toward evening of the second day
  they reached a sandy plain where walking was
  difficult; but some distance before them they saw
  a group of palm trees; with many curious black
  dots under them; so they trudged bravely on to
  reach that place by dark and spend the night under
  the shelter of the trees。
  The black dots grew larger as they advanced and
  although the light was dim Dorothy thought they
  looked like big kettles turned upside down。 Just
  beyond this place a jumble of huge; jagged rocks
  lay scattered; rising to the mountains behind
  them。
  Our travelers preferred to attempt to climb
  these rocks by daylight; and they realized that
  for a time this would be their last night on the
  plains。
  Twilight had fallen by the time they came to the
  trees; beneath which were the black; circular
  objects they had marked from a distance。 Dozens of
  them were scattered around and Dorothy bent near
  to one; which was about as tall as she was; to
  examine it more closely。 As she did so the top
  flew open and out popped a dusky creature; rising
  its length into the air and then plumping down
  upon the ground just beside the little girl。
  Another and another popped out of the circular;
  pot…like dwelling; while from all the other black
  objects came popping more creaturesvery like
  jumping…jacks when their boxes are unhookeduntil
  fully a hundred stood gathered around our little
  group of travelers。
  By this time Dorothy had discovered they
  were people; tiny and curiously formed; but still
  people。 Their skins were dusky and their hair
  stood straight up; like wires; and was brilliant
  scarlet in color。 Their bodies were bare except
  for skins fastened around their waists and they
  wore bracelets on their ankles and wrists; and
  necklaces; and great pendant earrings。
  Toto crouched beside his mistress and wailed
  as if he did not like these strange creatures a bit。
  Scraps began to mutter something about 〃hopity;
  poppity; jumpity; dump!〃 but no one paid any
  attention to her。 Ojo kept close to the Scarecrow
  and the Scarecrow kept close to Dorothy; but the
  little girl turned to the queer creatures and
  asked:
  〃Who are you?〃
  They answered this question all together; in
  a sort of chanting chorus; the words being as follows:
  〃We're the jolly Tottenhots;
  We do not like the day;
  But in the night 'tis our delight
  To gambol; skip and play。
  〃We hate the sun and from it run;
  The moon is cool and clear;
  So on this spot each Tottenhot
  Waits for it to appear。
  〃We're ev'ry one chock full of fun;
  And full of mischief; too;
  But if you're gay and with us play
  We'll do no harm to you。
  〃Glad to meet you; Tottenhots;〃 said the
  Scarecrow solemnly。 〃But you mustn't expect us
  to play with you all night; for we've traveled
  all day and some of us are tired。〃
  〃And we never gamble;〃 added the Patchwork Girl。
  〃It's against the Law。〃
  These remarks were greeted with shouts of
  laughter by the impish creatures and one seized
  the Scarecrow's arm and was astonished to find the
  straw man whirl around so easily。 So the Tottenhot
  raised the Scarecrow high in the air and tossed
  him over the heads of the crowd。 Some one caught
  him and tossed him back; and so with shouts of
  glee they continued throwing the Scarecrow here
  and there; as if he had been a basket…ball。
  Presently another imp seized Scraps and began to
  throw her about; in the same way。 They found her a
  little heavier than the Scarecrow but still light
  enough to be tossed like a sofa…cushion; and they
  were enjoying the sport immensely when Dorothy;
  angry and indignant at the treatment her friends
  were receiving; rushed among the Tottenhots and
  began slapping and pushing them until she had
  rescued the Scarecrow and the Patchwork Girl and
  held them close on either side of her。 Perhaps she
  would not have accomplished this victory so easily
  had not Toto helped her; barking and snapping at
  the bare legs of the imps until they were glad to
  flee from his attack。 As for Ojo; some of the
  creatures had attempted to toss him; also; but
  finding his body too heavy they threw him to the
  ground and a row of the imps sat on him and held
  him from assisting Dorothy in her battle。
  The little brown folks were much surprised
  at being attacked by the girl and the dog; and
  one or two who had been slapped hardest began
  to cry。 Then suddenly they gave a shout; all
  together; and disappeared in a flash into their
  various houses; the tops of which closed with a
  series of pops that sounded like a bunch of
  firecrackers being exploded。
  The adventurers now found themselves alone;
  and Dorothy asked anxiously:
  〃Is anybody hurt?〃
  〃Not me;〃 answered the Scarecrow。 〃They have
  given my straw a good shaking up and taken all the
  lumps out of it。 I am now in splendid condition
  and am really obliged to the Tottenhots for their
  kind treatment。〃
  〃I feel much the same way;〃 said Scraps。
  〃My cotton stuffing had sagged a good deal with
  the day's walking and they've loosened it up
  until I feel as plump as a sausage。 But the play
  was a little rough and I'd had quite enough of
  it when you interfered。〃
  〃Six of them sat on me;〃 said Ojo; 〃but as
  they are so little they didn't hurt me much。〃
  Just then the roof of the house in front of
  them opened and a Tottenhot stuck his head
  out; very cautiously; and looked at the strangers。
  〃Can't you; take a joke?〃 he asked;
  reproachfully; 〃haven t you any fun in you at
  all?〃
  〃If I had such a quality;〃 replied the
  Scarecrow; 〃your people would have knocked it out
  of me。 But I don't bear grudges。 I forgive you。〃
  〃So do I;〃 added Scraps。 〃That is; if you behave
  yourselves after this。〃
  〃It was just a little rough…house; that's all;〃
  said the Tottenhot。 〃But the question is not if
  we will behave; but if you will behave? We
  can't be shut up here all night; because this
  is our time to play; nor do we care to come out
  and be chewed up by a savage beast or slapped
  by an angry girl。 That slapping hurts like sixty;
  some of my folks are crying about it。 So here's
  the proposition: you let us alone and we'll let
  you alone。〃
  〃You began it;〃 declared Dorothy。
  〃Well; you ended it; so we won't argue the
  matter。 May we come out again? Or are you still
  cruel and slappy?〃
  〃Tell you what we'll do;〃 said Dorothy。 〃We're
  all tired and want to sleep until morning。 If
  you'll let us get into your house; and stay there
  until daylight; you can play outside all you want
  to。〃
  〃That's a bargain!〃 cried the Tottenhot
  eagerly; and he gave a queer whistle that
  brought his people popping out of their houses
  on all sides。 When the house before them was
  vacant; Dorothy and Ojo leaned over the hole
  and looked in; but could see nothing because
  it was so dark。 But if the Tottenhots slept there
  all day the children thought they could sleep
  there at night; so Ojo lowered himself down
  and found it was not very deep。〃
  〃There's a soft cushion all over;〃 said he。
  〃Come on in。〃
  Dorothy handed Toto to the boy and then climbed
  in herself。 After her came Scraps and the
  Scarecrow; who did not wish to sleep but preferred