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第16章

glinda of oz-第16章

小说: glinda of oz 字数: 每页4000字

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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

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