fb.themarvelouslandofoz-第24章

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



　　The　Thing　flew　due　North；　going　in　the　same　direction　from　whence　it　had　e。　At　least；　that　was　the　Scarecrow's　opinion；　and　the　others　agreed　that　the　Scarecrow　was　the　best　judge　of　direction。　After　passing　over　several　cities　and　villages　the　Gump　carried　them　high　above　a　broad　plain　where　houses　became　more　and　more　scattered　until　they　disappeared　altogether。　Next　came　the　wide；　sandy　desert　separating　the　rest　of　the　world　from　the　Land　of　Oz；　and　before　noon　they　saw　the　dome…shaped　houses　that　proved　they　were　once　more　within　the　borders　of　their　native　land。
　　〃But　the　houses　and　fences　are　blue；〃　said　the　Tin　Woodman；　〃and　that　indicates　we　are　in　the　land　of　the　Munchkins；　and　therefore　a　long　distance　from　Glinda　the　Good。〃
　　〃What　shall　we　do？〃　asked　the　boy；　turning　to　their　guide。
　　〃I　don't　know〃　replied　the　Scarecrow；　frankly。　〃If　we　were　at　the　Emerald　City　we　could　then　move　directly　southward；　and　so　reach　our　destination。　But　we　dare　not　go　to　the　Emerald　City；　and　the　Gump　is　probably　carrying　us　further　in　the　wrong　direction　with　every　flop　of　its　wings。〃
　　〃Then　the　Woggle…Bug　must　swallow　another　pill；〃　said　Tip；　decidedly；　〃and　wish　us　headed　in　the　right　direction。〃
　　〃Very　well；〃　returned　the　Highly　Magnified　one；　〃I'm　willing。〃　But　when　the　Scarecrow　searched　in　his　pocket　for　the　pepper…box　containing　the　two　silver　Wishing　Pills；　it　was　not　to　be　found。　Filled　with　anxiety；　the　voyagers　hunted　throughout　every　inch　of　the　Thing　for　the　precious　box；　but　it　had　disappeared　entirely。
　　And　still　the　Gump　flew　onward；　carrying　them　they　knew　not　where。
　　〃I　must　have　left　the　pepper…box　in　the　Jackdaws'　nest；〃　said　the　Scarecrow；　at　length。
　　〃It　is　a　great　misfortune；〃　the　Tin　Woodman　declared。　〃But　we　are　no　worse　off　than　before　we　discovered　the　Wishing　Pills。〃
　　〃We　are　better　off；〃　replied　Tip。　〃for　the　one　pill　we　used　has　enabled　us　to　escape　from　that　horrible　nest。〃
　　〃Yet　the　loss　of　the　other　two　is　serious；　and　I　deserve　a　good　scolding　for　my　carelessness；〃　the　Scarecrow　rejoined；　penitently。　〃For　in　such　an　unusual　party　as　this　accidents　are　liable　to　happen　any　moment；　and　even　now　we　may　be　approaching　a　new　danger。〃　No　one　dared　contradict　this；　and　a　dismal　silence　ensued。
　　The　Gump　flew　steadily　on。
　　Suddenly　Tip　uttered　an　exclamation　of　surprise。　〃We　must　have　reached　the　South　Country；〃　he　cried；　〃for　below　us　everything　is　red！〃　Immediately　they　all　leaned　over　the　backs　of　the　sofas　to　look　…　all　except　Jack；　who　was　too　careful　of　his　pumpkin　head　to　risk　its　slipping　off　his　neck。　Sure　enough；　the　red　houses　and　fences　and　trees　indicated　they　were　within　the　domain　of　Glinda　the　Good；　and　presently；　as　they　glided　rapidly　on；　the　Tin　Woodman　recognized　the　roads　and　buildings　they　passed；　and　altered　slightly　the　flight　of　the　Gump　so　that　they　might　reach　the　palace　of　the　celebrated　Sorceress。
　　〃Good！〃　cried　the　Scarecrow；　delightedly。　〃We　do　not　need　the　lost　Wishing　Pills　now；　for　we　have　arrived　at　our　destination。〃　Gradually　the　Thing　sank　lower　and　nearer　to　the　ground　until　at　length　it　came　to　rest　within　the　beautiful　gardens　of　Glinda；　settling　upon　a　velvety　green　lawn　close　by　a　fountain　which　sent　sprays　of　flashing　gems；　instead　of　water；　high　into　the　air；　whence　they　fell　with　a　soft；　tinkling　sound　into　the　carved　marble　basin　placed　to　receive　them。
　　Everything　was　very　gorgeous　in　Glinda's　gardens；　and　while　our　voyagers　gazed　about　with　admiring　eyes　a　pany　of　soldiers　silently　appeared　and　surrounded　them。　But　these　soldiers　of　the　great　Sorceress　were　entirely　different　from　those　of　Jinjur's　Army　of　Revolt；　although　they　were　likewise　girls。　For　Glinda's　soldiers　wore　neat　uniforms　and　bore　swords　and　spears；　and　they　marched　with　a　skill　and　precision　that　proved　them　well　trained　in　the　arts　of　war。
　　The　Captain　manding　this　troop　…　which　was　Glinda's　private　Body　Guard　recognized　the　Scarecrow　and　the　Tin　Woodman　at　once；　and　greeted　them　with　respectful　salutations。
　　〃Good　day！〃　said　the　Scarecrow；　gallantly　removing　his　hat；　while　the　Woodman　gave　a　soldierly　salute；　〃we　have　e　to　request　an　audience　with　your　fair　Ruler。〃
　　〃Glinda　is　now　within　her　palace；　awaiting　you；〃　returned　the　Captain；　〃for　she　saw　you　ing　long　before　you　arrived。〃
　　〃That　is　strange！〃　said　Tip；　wondering。
　　〃Not　at　all；〃　answered　the　Scarecrow；　〃for　Glinda　the　Good　is　a　mighty　Sorceress；　and　nothing　that　goes　on　in　the　Land　of　Oz　escapes　her　notice。　I　suppose　she　knows　why　we　came　as　well　as　we　do　ourselves。〃
　　〃Then　what　was　the　use　of　our　ing？〃　asked　Jack；　stupidly。
　　〃To　prove　you　are　a　Pumpkinhead！〃　retorted　the　Scarecrow。　〃But；　if　the　Sorceress　expects　us；　we　must　not　keep　her　waiting。〃　So　they　all　clambered　out　of　the　sofas　and　followed　the　Captain　toward　the　palace　…　even　the　Saw…Horse　taking　his　place　in　the　queer　procession。
　　Upon　her　throne　of　finely　wrought　gold　sat　Glinda；　and　she　could　scarcely　repress　a　smile　as　her　peculiar　visitors　entered　and　bowed　before　her。　Both　the　Scarecrow　and　the　Tin　Woodman　she　knew　and　liked；　but　the　awkward　Pumpkinhead　and　Highly　Magnified　Woggle…Bug　were　creatures　she　had　never　seen　before；　and　they　seemed　even　more　curious　than　the　others。　As　for　the　Saw…Horse；　he　looked　to　be　nothing　more　than　an　animated　chunk　of　wood；　and　he　bowed　so　stiffly　that　his　head　bumped　against　the　floor；　causing　a　ripple　of　laughter　among　the　soldiers；　in　which　Glinda　frankly　joined。
　　〃I　beg　to　announce　to　your　glorious　highness；〃　began　the　Scarecrow；　in　a　solemn　voice；　〃that　my　Emerald　City　has　been　overrun　by　a　crowd　of　impudent　girls　with　knitting…needles；　who　have　enslaved　all　the　men；　robbed　the　streets　and　public　buildings　of　all　their　emerald　jewels；　and　usurped　my　throne。〃
　　〃I　know　it；〃　said　Glinda。
　　〃They　also　threatened　to　destroy　me；　as　well　as　all　the　good　friends　and　allies　you　see　before　you；〃　continued　the　Scarecrow。　〃and　had　we　not　managed　to　escape　their　clutches　our　days　would　long　since　have　ended。〃
　　〃I　know　it；〃　repeated　Glinda。
　　〃Therefore　I　have　e　to　beg　your　assistance；〃　resumed　the　Scarecrow；　〃for　I　believe　you　are　always　glad　to　succor　the　unfortunate　and　oppressed。〃
　　〃That　is　true；〃　replied　the　Sorceress；　slowly。　〃But　the　Emerald　City　is　now　ruled　by　General　Jinjur；　who　has　caused　herself　to　be　proclaimed　Queen。　What　right　have　I　to　oppose　her？〃
　　〃Why；　she　stole　the　throne　from　me；〃　said　the　Scarecrow。
　　〃And　how　came　you　to　possess　the　throne？〃　asked　Glinda。
　　〃I　got　it　from　the　Wizard　of　Oz；　and　by　the　choice　of　the　people；〃　returned　the　Scarecrow；　uneasy　at　such　questioning。
　　〃And　where　did　the　Wizard　get　it？〃　she　continued　gravely。
　　〃I　am　told　he　took　it　from　Pastoria；　the　former　King；〃　said　the　Scarecrow；　being　confused　under　the　intent　look　of　the　Sorceress。
　　〃Then；〃　declared　Glinda；　〃the　throne　of　the　Emerald　City　belongs　neither　to　you　nor　to　Jinjur；　but　to　this　Pastoria　from　whom　the　Wizard　usurped　it。〃
　　〃That　is　true；〃　acknowledged　the　Scarecrow；　humbly；　〃but　Pastoria　is　now　dead　and　gone；　and　some　one　must　rule　in　his　place。〃
　　〃Pastoria　had　a　daughter；　who　is　the　rightful　heir　to　the　throne　of　the　Emerald　City。　Did　you　know　that？〃　questioned　the　Sorceress。
　　〃No；〃　replied　the　Scarecrow。　〃But　if　the　girl　still　lives　I　will　not　stand　in　her　way。　It　will　satisfy　me　as　well　to　have　Jinjur　turned　out；　as　an　impostor；　as　to　regain　the　throne　myself。　In　fact；　it　isn't　much　fun　to　be　King；　especially　if　one　has　good　brains。　I　have　known　for　some　time　that　I　am　fitted　to　occupy　a　far　more　exalted　position。　But　where　is　the　girl　who　owns　the　throne；　and　what　is　her　name？〃
　　〃Her　name　is　Ozma；〃　answered　Glinda。　〃But　where　she　is　I　have　tried　in　vain　to　discover。　For　the　Wizard　of　Oz；　when　he　stole　the　throne　from　Ozma's　father；　hid　the　girl　in　some　secret　place；　and　by　means　of　a　magical　trick　with　which　I　am　not　familiar　he　also　managed　to　prevent　her　being　discovered　…　even　by　so　experienced　a　Sorceress　as　myself。〃
　　〃That　is　strange；〃　interrupted　the　Woggle…Bug；　pompously。　〃I　have　been　informed　that　the　Wonderful　Wizard　of　Oz　was　nothing　more　than　a　humbug！〃
　　〃Nonsense！〃　excla