glinda of oz-第16章
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had gained most of her power by treacherously
transforming the Adepts of Magic; who were visiting
her; into three fishes gold; silver and bronze
after which she had them cast into the lake。
Glinda reflected earnestly on this information and
decided that someone must go to Ozma's assistance。
While there was no great need of haste; because Ozma
and Dorothy could live in a submerged dome a long time;
it was evident they could not get out until someone was
able to raise the island。
The Sorceress looked through all her recipes and
books of sorcery; but could find no magic that would
raise a sunken island。 Such a thing had never before
been required in sorcery。 Then Glinda made a little
island; covered by a glass dome; and sunk it in a pond
near her castle; and experimented in magical ways to
bring it to the surface。 She made several such
experiments; but all were failures。 It seemed a simple
thing to do; yet she could not do it。
Nevertheless; the wise Sorceress did not despair of
finding a way to liberate her friends。 Finally she
concluded that the best thing to do was to go to the
Skeezer country and examine the lake。 While there she
was more likely to discover a solution to the problem
that bothered her; and to work out a plan for the
rescue of Ozma and Dorothy。
So Glinda summoned her storks and her aerial chariot;
and telling her maids she was going on a journey and
might not soon return; she entered the chariot and was
carried swiftly to the Emerald City。
In Princess Ozma's palace the Scarecrow was now
acting as Ruler of the Land of Oz。 There wasn't much
for him to do; because all the affairs of state moved
so smoothly; but he was there in case anything
unforeseen should happen。
Glinda found the Scarecrow playing croquet with Trot
and Betsy Bobbin; two little girls who lived at the
palace under Ozma's protection and were great friends
of Dorothy and much loved by all the Oz people。
〃Something's happened!〃 cried Trot; as the chariot of
the Sorceress descended near them。 〃Glinda never comes
here 'cept something's gone wrong。〃
〃I hope no harm has come to Ozma; or Dorothy;〃 said
Betsy anxiously; as the lovely Sorceress stepped down
from her chariot。
Glinda approached the Scarecrow and told him of the
dilemma of Ozma and Dorothy and she added: 〃We must
save them; somehow; Scarecrow。〃
〃Of course;〃 replied the Scarecrow; stumbling over a
wicket and falling flat on his painted face。
The girls picked him up and patted his straw stuffing
into shape; and he continued; as if nothing had
occurred: 〃But you'll have to tell me what to do; for I
never have raised a sunken island in all my life。〃
〃We must have a Council of State as soon as
possible;〃 proposed the Sorceress。 〃Please send
messengers to summon all of Ozma's counsellors to this
palace。 Then we can decide what is best to be done。〃
The Scarecrow lost no time in doing this。 Fortunately
most of the royal counsellors were in the Emerald City
or near to it; so they all met in the throne room of
the palace that same evening。
Chapter Fourteen
Ozma's Counsellors
No Ruler ever had such a queer assortment of advisers
as the Princess Ozma had gathered about her throne。
Indeed; in no other country could such amazing people
exist。 But Ozma loved them for their peculiarities and
could trust every one of them。
First there was the Tin Woodman。 Every bit of him was
tin; brightly polished。 All his joints were kept well
oiled and moved smoothly。 He carried a gleaming axe to
prove he was a woodman; but seldom had cause to use it
because he lived in a magnificent tin castle in the
Winkie Country of Oz and was the Emperor of all the
Winkies。 The Tin Woodman's name was Nick Chopper。 He
had a very good mind; but his heart was not of much
account; so he was very careful to do nothing unkind or
to hurt anyone's feelings。
Another counsellor was Scraps; the Patchwork Girl of
Oz; who was made of a gaudy patchwork quilt; cut into
shape and stuffed with cotton。 This Patchwork Girl was
very intelligent; but so full of fun and mad pranks
that a lot of more stupid folks thought she must be
crazy。 Scraps was jolly under all conditions; however
grave they might be; but her laughter and good spirits
were of value in cheering others and in her seemingly
careless remarks much wisdom could often be found。
Then there was the Shaggy Man shaggy from head to
foot; hair and whiskers; clothes and shoes but very
kind and gentle and one of Ozma's most loyal
supporters。
Tik…Tok was there; a copper man with machinery inside
him; so cleverly constructed that he moved; spoke and
thought by three separate clock…works。 Tik…Tok was very
reliable because he always did exactly what he was
wound up to do; but his machinery was liable to run
down at times and then he was quite helpless until
wound up again。
A different sort of person was Jack Pumpkinhead; one
of Ozma's oldest friends and her companion on many
adventures。 Jack's body was very crude and awkward;
being formed of limbs of trees of different sizes;
jointed with wooden pegs。 But it was a substantial body
and not likely to break or wear out; and when it was
dressed the clothes covered much of its roughness。 The
head of Jack Pumpkinhead was; as you have guessed; a
ripe pumpkin; with the eyes; nose and mouth carved upon
one side。 The pumpkin was stuck on Jack's wooden neck
and was liable to get turned sidewise or backward and
then he would have to straighten it with his wooden
hands。
The worst thing about this sort of a head was that it
did not keep well and was sure to spoil sooner or
later。 So Jack's main business was to grow a field of
fine pumpkins each year; and always before his old head
spoiled he would select a fresh pumpkin from the field
and carve the features on it very neatly; and have it
ready to replace the old head whenever it became
necessary。 He didn't always carve it the same way; so
his friends never knew exactly what sort of an
expression they would find on his face。 But there was
no mistaking him; because he was the only pumpkin…
headed man alive in the Land of Oz。
A one…legged sailor…man was a member of Ozma's
council。 His name was Cap'n Bill and he had come to the
Land of Oz with Trot; and had been made welcome on
account of his cleverness; honesty and good nature。 He
wore a wooden leg to replace the one he had lost and
was a great friend of all the children in Oz because he
could whittle all sorts of toys out of wood with his
big jack…knife。
Professor H。 M。 Wogglebug; T。 E。; was another member
of the council。 The 〃H。 M。〃 meant Highly Magnified; for
the Professor was once a little bug; who became
magnified to the size of a man and always remained so。
The 〃T。 E。〃 meant that he was Thoroughly Educated。 He
was at the head of Princess Ozma's Royal Athletic
College; and so that the students would not have to
study and so lose much time that could be devoted to
athletic sports; such as football; baseball and the
like; Professor Wogglebug had invented the famous
Educational Pills。 If one of the college students took
a Geography Pill after breakfast; he knew his geography
lesson in an instant; if he took a Spelling Pill he at
once knew his spelling lesson; and an Arithmetic Pill
enabled the student to do any kind of sum without
having to think about it。
These useful pills made the college very popular and
taught the boys and girls of Oz their lessons in the
easiest possible way。 In spite of this; Professor
Wogglebug was not a favorite outside his college; for
he was very conceited and admired himself so much and
displayed his cleverness and learning so constantly;
that no one cared to associate with him。 Ozma found him
of value in her councils; nevertheless。
Perhaps the most splendidly dre