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第7章

the wonderful wizard of oz-第7章

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happened to come along; and he made me a new head out of tin。



    〃I thought I had beaten the Wicked Witch then; and I worked

harder than ever; but I little knew how cruel my enemy could be。

She thought of a new way to kill my love for the beautiful

Munchkin maiden; and made my axe slip again; so that it cut right

through my body; splitting me into two halves。  Once more the

tinsmith came to my help and made me a body of tin; fastening my

tin arms and legs and head to it; by means of joints; so that I

could move around as well as ever。  But; alas!  I had now no

heart; so that I lost all my love for the Munchkin girl; and did

not care whether I married her or not。  I suppose she is still

living with the old woman; waiting for me to come after her。



    〃My body shone so brightly in the sun that I felt very proud

of it and it did not matter now if my axe slipped; for it could

not cut me。  There was only one dangerthat my joints would

rust; but I kept an oil…can in my cottage and took care to oil

myself whenever I needed it。  However; there came a day when I

forgot to do this; and; being caught in a rainstorm; before I

thought of the danger my joints had rusted; and I was left to

stand in the woods until you came to help me。  It was a terrible

thing to undergo; but during the year I stood there I had time to

think that the greatest loss I had known was the loss of my heart。

While I was in love I was the happiest man on earth; but no one

can love who has not a heart; and so I am resolved to ask Oz to

give me one。  If he does; I will go back to the Munchkin maiden

and marry her。〃



    Both Dorothy and the Scarecrow had been greatly interested

in the story of the Tin Woodman; and now they knew why he was so

anxious to get a new heart。



    〃All the same;〃 said the Scarecrow; 〃I shall ask for brains

instead of a heart; for a fool would not know what to do with a

heart if he had one。〃



    〃I shall take the heart;〃 returned the Tin Woodman; 〃for

brains do not make one happy; and happiness is the best thing

in the world。〃



    Dorothy did not say anything; for she was puzzled to know

which of her two friends was right; and she decided if she could

only get back to Kansas and Aunt Em; it did not matter so much

whether the Woodman had no brains and the Scarecrow no heart;

or each got what he wanted。



    What worried her most was that the bread was nearly gone; and

another meal for herself and Toto would empty the basket。  To be sure

neither the Woodman nor the Scarecrow ever ate anything; but she was

not made of tin nor straw; and could not live unless she was fed。









                      6。  The Cowardly Lion





    All this time Dorothy and her companions had been walking

through the thick woods。  The road was still paved with yellow

brick; but these were much covered by dried branches and dead

leaves from the trees; and the walking was not at all good。



    There were few birds in this part of the forest; for birds

love the open country where there is plenty of sunshine。  But now

and then there came a deep growl from some wild animal hidden

among the trees。  These sounds made the little girl's heart beat

fast; for she did not know what made them; but Toto knew; and he

walked close to Dorothy's side; and did not even bark in return。



    〃How long will it be;〃 the child asked of the Tin Woodman;

〃before we are out of the forest?〃



    〃I cannot tell;〃 was the answer; 〃for I have never been to the

Emerald City。  But my father went there once; when I was a boy;

and he said it was a long journey through a dangerous country;

although nearer to the city where Oz dwells the country is beautiful。

But I am not afraid so long as I have my oil…can; and nothing can hurt

the Scarecrow; while you bear upon your forehead the mark of the

Good Witch's kiss; and that will protect you from harm。〃



    〃But Toto!〃 said the girl anxiously。  〃What will protect him?〃



    〃We must protect him ourselves if he is in danger;〃 replied

the Tin Woodman。



    Just as he spoke there came from the forest a terrible roar;

and the next moment a great Lion bounded into the road。  With one

blow of his paw he sent the Scarecrow spinning over and over to

the edge of the road; and then he struck at the Tin Woodman with

his sharp claws。  But; to the Lion's surprise; he could make no

impression on the tin; although the Woodman fell over in the road

and lay still。



    Little Toto; now that he had an enemy to face; ran barking

toward the Lion; and the great beast had opened his mouth to bite

the dog; when Dorothy; fearing Toto would be killed; and heedless

of danger; rushed forward and slapped the Lion upon his nose as

hard as she could; while she cried out:



    〃Don't you dare to bite Toto!  You ought to be ashamed of

yourself; a big beast like you; to bite a poor little dog!〃



    〃I didn't bite him;〃 said the Lion; as he rubbed his nose with

his paw where Dorothy had hit it。



    〃No; but you tried to;〃 she retorted。  〃You are nothing but a

big coward。〃



    〃I know it;〃 said the Lion; hanging his head in shame。  〃I've

always known it。  But how can I help it?〃



    〃I don't know; I'm sure。  To think of your striking a stuffed

man; like the poor Scarecrow!〃



    〃Is he stuffed?〃 asked the Lion in surprise; as he watched her

pick up the Scarecrow and set him upon his feet; while she patted

him into shape again。



    〃Of course he's stuffed;〃 replied Dorothy; who was still angry。



    〃That's why he went over so easily;〃 remarked the Lion。

〃It astonished me to see him whirl around so。  Is the other one

stuffed also?〃



    〃No;〃 said Dorothy; 〃he's made of tin。〃  And she helped the

Woodman up again。



    〃That's why he nearly blunted my claws;〃 said the Lion。

〃When they scratched against the tin it made a cold shiver run

down my back。  What is that little animal you are so tender of?〃



    〃He is my dog; Toto;〃 answered Dorothy。



    〃Is he made of tin; or stuffed?〃 asked the Lion。



    〃Neither。  He's aaa meat dog;〃 said the girl。



    〃Oh!  He's a curious animal and seems remarkably small;

now that I look at him。  No one would think of biting such a

little thing; except a coward like me;〃 continued the Lion sadly。



    〃What makes you a coward?〃 asked Dorothy; looking at the great

beast in wonder; for he was as big as a small horse。



    〃It's a mystery;〃 replied the Lion。  〃I suppose I was born

that way。  All the other animals in the forest naturally expect me

to be brave; for the Lion is everywhere thought to be the King of

Beasts。  I learned that if I roared very loudly every living thing

was frightened and got out of my way。  Whenever I've met a man

I've been awfully scared; but I just roared at him; and he has

always run away as fast as he could go。  If the elephants and the

tigers and the bears had ever tried to fight me; I should have run

myselfI'm such a coward; but just as soon as they hear me roar

they all try to get away from me; and of course I let them go。〃



    〃But that isn't right。  The King of Beasts shouldn't be a coward;〃

said the Scarecrow。



    〃I know it;〃 returned the Lion; wiping a tear from his eye

with the tip of his tail。  〃It is my great sorrow; and makes my

life very unhappy。  But whenever there is danger; my heart begins

to beat fast。〃



    〃Perhaps you have heart disease;〃 said the Tin Woodman。



    〃It may be;〃 said the Lion。



    〃If you have;〃 continued the Tin Woodman; 〃you ought to be glad;

for it proves you have a heart。  For my part; I have no heart; so I

cannot have heart disease。〃



    〃Perhaps;〃 said the Lion thoughtfully; 〃if I had no heart I should

not be a coward。〃



    〃Have you brains?〃 asked the Scarecrow。



    〃I suppose so。  I've never looked to see;〃 replied the Lion。



    〃I am going to the Great Oz 

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