第 16 节
作者:
打死也不说 更新:2021-02-24 23:46 字数:9322
Tin Woodman; when Dorothy had finished telling him everything
that had happened; 〃I should be quite happy。〃
〃We must try to find him;〃 said the girl。
So she called the Winkies to help her; and they walked all that day
and part of the next until they came to the tall tree in the branches of
which the Winged Monkeys had tossed the carecrow's clothes。
It was a very tall tree; and the trunk was so smooth that no
one could climb it; but the Woodman said at once; 〃I'll chop it
down; and then we can get the Scarecrow's clothes。〃
Now while the tinsmiths had been at work mending the Woodman
himself; another of the Winkies; who was a goldsmith; had made an
axe…handle of solid gold and fitted it to the Woodman's axe;
instead of the old broken handle。 Others polished the blade until
all the rust was removed and it glistened like burnished silver。
As soon as he had spoken; the Tin Woodman began to chop; and in a
short time the tree fell over with a crash; whereupon the Scarecrow's
clothes fell out of the branches and rolled off on the ground。
Dorothy picked them up and had the Winkies carry them back to
the castle; where they were stuffed with nice; clean straw; and
behold! here was the Scarecrow; as good as ever; thanking them
over and over again for saving him。
Now that they were reunited; Dorothy and her friends spent a
few happy days at the Yellow Castle; where they found everything
they needed to make them comfortable。
But one day the girl thought of Aunt Em; and said; 〃We must go
back to Oz; and claim his promise。〃
〃Yes;〃 said the Woodman; 〃at last I shall get my heart。〃
〃And I shall get my brains;〃 added the Scarecrow joyfully。
〃And I shall get my courage;〃 said the Lion thoughtfully。
〃And I shall get back to Kansas;〃 cried Dorothy; clapping her hands。
〃Oh; let us start for the Emerald City tomorrow!〃
This they decided to do。 The next day they called the Winkies
together and bade them good…bye。 The Winkies were sorry to have
them go; and they had grown so fond of the Tin Woodman that they
begged him to stay and rule over them and the Yellow Land of the West。
Finding they were determined to go; the Winkies gave Toto and the Lion
each a golden collar; and to Dorothy they presented a beautiful bracelet
studded with diamonds; and to the Scarecrow they gave a gold…headed
walking stick; to keep him from stumbling; and to the Tin Woodman they
offered a silver oil…can; inlaid with gold and set with precious jewels。
Every one of the travelers made the Winkies a pretty speech in
return; and all shook hands with them until their arms ached。
Dorothy went to the Witch's cupboard to fill her basket with
food for the journey; and there she saw the Golden Cap。 She tried
it on her own head and found that it fitted her exactly。 She did
not know anything about the charm of the Golden Cap; but she saw
that it was pretty; so she made up her mind to wear it and carry
her sunbonnet in the basket。
Then; being prepared for the journey; they all started for the
Emerald City; and the Winkies gave them three cheers and many good
wishes to carry with them。
14。 The Winged Monkeys
You will remember there was no roadnot even a pathway
between the castle of the Wicked Witch and the Emerald City。
When the four travelers went in search of the Witch she had seen
them coming; and so sent the Winged Monkeys to bring them to her。
It was much harder to find their way back through the big fields
of buttercups and yellow daisies than it was being carried。
They knew; of course; they must go straight east; toward the rising
sun; and they started off in the right way。 But at noon; when the
sun was over their heads; they did not know which was east and
which was west; and that was the reason they were lost in the
great fields。 They kept on walking; however; and at night the
moon came out and shone brightly。 So they lay down among the
sweet smelling yellow flowers and slept soundly until morning
all but the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman。
The next morning the sun was behind a cloud; but they started
on; as if they were quite sure which way they were going。
〃If we walk far enough;〃 said Dorothy; 〃I am sure we shall
sometime come to some place。〃
But day by day passed away; and they still saw nothing before
them but the scarlet fields。 The Scarecrow began to grumble a bit。
〃We have surely lost our way;〃 he said; 〃and unless we find it
again in time to reach the Emerald City; I shall never get my brains。〃
〃Nor I my heart;〃 declared the Tin Woodman。 〃It seems to me I
can scarcely wait till I get to Oz; and you must admit this is a
very long journey。〃
〃You see;〃 said the Cowardly Lion; with a whimper; 〃I haven't the
courage to keep tramping forever; without getting anywhere at all。〃
Then Dorothy lost heart。 She sat down on the grass and looked
at her companions; and they sat down and looked at her; and Toto
found that for the first time in his life he was too tired to
chase a butterfly that flew past his head。 So he put out his
tongue and panted and looked at Dorothy as if to ask what they
should do next。
〃Suppose we call the field mice;〃 she suggested。 〃They could
probably tell us the way to the Emerald City。〃
〃To be sure they could;〃 cried the Scarecrow。 〃Why didn't we
think of that before?〃
Dorothy blew the little whistle she had always carried about
her neck since the Queen of the Mice had given it to her。 In a
few minutes they heard the pattering of tiny feet; and many of the
small gray mice came running up to her。 Among them was the Queen
herself; who asked; in her squeaky little voice:
〃What can I do for my friends?〃
〃We have lost our way;〃 said Dorothy。 〃Can you tell us where
the Emerald City is?〃
〃Certainly;〃 answered the Queen; 〃but it is a great way off;
for you have had it at your backs all this time。〃 Then she
noticed Dorothy's Golden Cap; and said; 〃Why don't you use the
charm of the Cap; and call the Winged Monkeys to you? They will
carry you to the City of Oz in less than an hour。〃
〃I didn't know there was a charm;〃 answered Dorothy; in
surprise。 〃What is it?〃
〃It is written inside the Golden Cap;〃 replied the Queen of
the Mice。 〃But if you are going to call the Winged Monkeys we
must run away; for they are full of mischief and think it great
fun to plague us。〃
〃Won't they hurt me?〃 asked the girl anxiously。
〃Oh; no。 They must obey the wearer of the Cap。 Good…bye!〃
And she scampered out of sight; with all the mice hurrying after her。
Dorothy looked inside the Golden Cap and saw some words written
upon the lining。 These; she thought; must be the charm; so she read
the directions carefully and put the Cap upon her head。
〃Ep…pe; pep…pe; kak…ke!〃 she said; standing on her left foot。
〃What did you say?〃 asked the Scarecrow; who did not know what
she was doing。
〃Hil…lo; hol…lo; hel…lo!〃 Dorothy went on; standing this time
on her right foot。
〃Hello!〃 replied the Tin Woodman calmly。
〃Ziz…zy; zuz…zy; zik!〃 said Dorothy; who was now standing on
both feet。 This ended the saying of the charm; and they heard a
great chattering and flapping of wings; as the band of Winged
Monkeys flew up to them。
The King bowed low before Dorothy; and asked; 〃What is your command?〃
〃We wish to go to the Emerald City;〃 said the child; 〃and we have
lost our way。〃
〃We will carry you;〃 replied the King; and no sooner had he
spoken than two of the Monkeys caught Dorothy in their arms and
flew away with her。 Others took the Scarecrow and the Woodman and
the Lion; and one little Monkey seized Toto and flew after them;
although the dog tried hard to bite him。
The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman were rather frightened at
first; for they remembered how badly the Winged Monkeys had
treated them before; but they saw that no harm was intended; so
they rode through the air quite cheerfully; and had a fine time
looking at the pretty gardens and woods far below them。
Dorothy found herself riding easily between two of the biggest
Monkeys; one of them the King himself。 They had made a chair of
their hands and were careful not to hurt her。
〃Why do you have to obey the charm of the Golden Cap?〃 she asked。
〃That is a long story;〃 answered the King; with a Winged laugh;
〃but as we have a long journey before us; I will pass the time by
telling you about it; if you wish。〃
〃I shall be glad to hear it;〃 she replied。
〃Once;〃 began the leader; 〃we were a free people; living happily
in the great forest; flying from tree to tree; eating nuts and fruit;
and doing just as we pleased without calling anybody master。 Perhaps
some of us were rather too full of mischief at times; flying down to
pull the tails of the animals that had no wings; chasing birds; and
throwing nuts at the people who walked in the forest。 But we were
careless and happy and full of fun; and enjoyed every minute of the day。
This was many years ago; long before Oz came out of the clouds to rule
over this land。
〃There lived here then; away at the North; a beautiful princes