第 7 节
作者:打死也不说      更新:2021-02-24 23:46      字数:9322
  and as long as I know myself to be a coward I shall be unhappy。〃
  So once more the little company set off upon the journey; the
  Lion walking with stately strides at Dorothy's side。  Toto did not
  approve this new comrade at first; for he could not forget how
  nearly he had been crushed between the Lion's great jaws。  But
  after a time he became more at ease; and presently Toto and the
  Cowardly Lion had grown to be good friends。
  During the rest of that day there was no other adventure to
  mar the peace of their journey。  Once; indeed; the Tin Woodman
  stepped upon a beetle that was crawling along the road; and killed
  the poor little thing。  This made the Tin Woodman very unhappy;
  for he was always careful not to hurt any living creature; and as
  he walked along he wept several tears of sorrow and regret。  These
  tears ran slowly down his face and over the hinges of his jaw; and
  there they rusted。  When Dorothy presently asked him a question
  the Tin Woodman could not open his mouth; for his jaws were
  tightly rusted together。  He became greatly frightened at this and
  made many motions to Dorothy to relieve him; but she could not
  understand。  The Lion was also puzzled to know what was wrong。
  But the Scarecrow seized the oil…can from Dorothy's basket and
  oiled the Woodman's jaws; so that after a few moments he could
  talk as well as before。
  〃This will serve me a lesson;〃 said he; 〃to look where I step。
  For if I should kill another bug or beetle I should surely cry again;
  and crying rusts my jaws so that I cannot speak。〃
  Thereafter he walked very carefully; with his eyes on the road;
  and when he saw a tiny ant toiling by he would step over it; so as
  not to harm it。  The Tin Woodman knew very well he had no heart; and
  therefore he took great care never to be cruel or unkind to anything。
  〃You people with hearts;〃 he said; 〃have something to guide you; and
  need never do wrong; but I have no heart; and so I must be very careful。
  When Oz gives me a heart of course I needn't mind so much。〃
  7。  The Journey to the Great Oz
  They were obliged to camp out that night under a large tree in
  the forest; for there were no houses near。  The tree made a good;
  thick covering to protect them from the dew; and the Tin Woodman
  chopped a great pile of wood with his axe and Dorothy built a
  splendid fire that warmed her and made her feel less lonely。  She
  and Toto ate the last of their bread; and now she did not know
  what they would do for breakfast。
  〃If you wish;〃 said the Lion; 〃I will go into the forest and
  kill a deer for you。  You can roast it by the fire; since your
  tastes are so peculiar that you prefer cooked food; and then you
  will have a very good breakfast。〃
  〃Don't!  Please don't;〃 begged the Tin Woodman。  〃I should
  certainly weep if you killed a poor deer; and then my jaws would
  rust again。〃
  But the Lion went away into the forest and found his own supper;
  and no one ever knew what it was; for he didn't mention it。  And the
  Scarecrow found a tree full of nuts and filled Dorothy's basket with them;
  so that she would not be hungry for a long time。  She thought this was
  very kind and thoughtful of the Scarecrow; but she laughed heartily at the
  awkward way in which the poor creature picked up the nuts。  His padded
  hands were so clumsy and the nuts were so small that he dropped almost
  as many as he put in the basket。  But the Scarecrow did not mind how long
  it took him to fill the basket; for it enabled him to keep away from the fire;
  as he feared a spark might get into his straw and burn him up。  So he kept a
  good distance away from the flames; and only came near to cover Dorothy with
  dry leaves when she lay down to sleep。  These kept her very snug and warm;
  and she slept soundly until morning。
  When it was daylight; the girl bathed her face in a little rippling brook;
  and soon after they all started toward the Emerald City。
  This was to be an eventful day for the travelers。  They had
  hardly been walking an hour when they saw before them a great
  ditch that crossed the road and divided the forest as far as they
  could see on either side。  It was a very wide ditch; and when they
  crept up to the edge and looked into it they could see it was also
  very deep; and there were many big; jagged rocks at the bottom。
  The sides were so steep that none of them could climb down; and
  for a moment it seemed that their journey must end。
  〃What shall we do?〃 asked Dorothy despairingly。
  〃I haven't the faintest idea;〃 said the Tin Woodman; and the
  Lion shook his shaggy mane and looked thoughtful。
  But the Scarecrow said; 〃We cannot fly; that is certain。
  Neither can we climb down into this great ditch。  Therefore;
  if we cannot jump over it; we must stop where we are。〃
  〃I think I could jump over it;〃 said the Cowardly Lion; after
  measuring the distance carefully in his mind。
  〃Then we are all right;〃 answered the Scarecrow; 〃for you can
  carry us all over on your back; one at a time。〃
  〃Well; I'll try it;〃 said the Lion。  〃Who will go first?〃
  〃I will;〃 declared the Scarecrow; 〃for; if you found that you
  could not jump over the gulf; Dorothy would be killed; or the Tin
  Woodman badly dented on the rocks below。  But if I am on your back
  it will not matter so much; for the fall would not hurt me at all。〃
  〃I am terribly afraid of falling; myself;〃 said the Cowardly
  Lion; 〃but I suppose there is nothing to do but try it。  So get on
  my back and we will make the attempt。〃
  The Scarecrow sat upon the Lion's back; and the big beast
  walked to the edge of the gulf and crouched down。
  〃Why don't you run and jump?〃 asked the Scarecrow。
  〃Because that isn't the way we Lions do these things;〃 he replied。
  Then giving a great spring; he shot through the air and landed safely
  on the other side。  They were all greatly pleased to see how easily
  he did it; and after the Scarecrow had got down from his back the Lion
  sprang across the ditch again。
  Dorothy thought she would go next; so she took Toto in her
  arms and climbed on the Lion's back; holding tightly to his mane
  with one hand。  The next moment it seemed as if she were flying
  through the air; and then; before she had time to think about it;
  she was safe on the other side。  The Lion went back a third time
  and got the Tin Woodman; and then they all sat down for a few
  moments to give the beast a chance to rest; for his great leaps
  had made his breath short; and he panted like a big dog that has
  been running too long。
  They found the forest very thick on this side; and it looked
  dark and gloomy。  After the Lion had rested they started along the
  road of yellow brick; silently wondering; each in his own mind; if
  ever they would come to the end of the woods and reach the bright
  sunshine again。  To add to their discomfort; they soon heard strange
  noises in the depths of the forest; and the Lion whispered to them
  that it was in this part of the country that the Kalidahs lived。
  〃What are the Kalidahs?〃 asked the girl。
  〃They are monstrous beasts with bodies like bears and heads
  like tigers;〃 replied the Lion; 〃and with claws so long and sharp
  that they could tear me in two as easily as I could kill Toto。
  I'm terribly afraid of the Kalidahs。〃
  〃I'm not surprised that you are;〃 returned Dorothy。
  〃They must be dreadful beasts。〃
  The Lion was about to reply when suddenly they came to another
  gulf across the road。  But this one was so broad and deep that the
  Lion knew at once he could not leap across it。
  So they sat down to consider what they should do; and after
  serious thought the Scarecrow said:
  〃Here is a great tree; standing close to the ditch。  If the
  Tin Woodman can chop it down; so that it will fall to the other
  side; we can walk across it easily。〃
  〃That is a first…rate idea;〃 said the Lion。  〃One would almost
  suspect you had brains in your head; instead of straw。〃
  The Woodman set to work at once; and so sharp was his axe that
  the tree was soon chopped nearly through。  Then the Lion put his
  strong front legs against the tree and pushed with all his might;
  and slowly the big tree tipped and fell with a crash across the
  ditch; with its top branches on the other side。
  They had just started to cross this queer bridge when a sharp growl
  made them all look up; and to their horror they saw running toward them
  two great beasts with bodies like bears and heads like tigers。
  〃They are the Kalidahs!〃 said the Cowardly Lion; beginning to tremble。
  〃Quick!〃 cried the Scarecrow。  〃Let us cross over。〃
  So Dorothy went first; holding Toto in her arms; the Tin
  Woodman followed; and the Scarecrow came next。  The Lion; although
  he was certainly afraid; turned to face the Kalidahs; and then he
  gave so loud and terrible a roar that Dorothy screamed and the
  Scarecrow fell over backward; while even the fierce beasts stopped
  short and looked at him in surprise。
  But; seeing they were bigger than the Lion; and remembering
  that there were two of them and only one of him; the Kalidahs
  again rushed forward; and the Lion crossed over the tree and
  turned to see what they would do next。  Without stoppi