glinda of oz-第17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！
of value in her councils； nevertheless。
Perhaps the most splendidly dressed of all those
present was a great frog as large as a man； called the
Frogman； who was noted for his wise sayings。 He had
come to the Emerald City from the Yip Country of Oz and
was a guest of honor。 His long…tailed coat was of
velvet； his vest of satin and his trousers of finest
silk。 There were diamond buckles on his shoes and he
carried a gold…headed cane and a high silk hat。 All of
the bright colors were represented in his rich attire；
so it tired one's eyes to look at him for long； until
one became used to his splendor。
The best farmer in all Oz was Uncle Henry； who was
Dorothy's own uncle； and who now lived near the Emerald
City with his wife Aunt Em。 Uncle Henry taught the Oz
people how to grow the finest vegetables and fruits and
grains and was of much use to Ozma in keeping the Royal
Storehouses well filled。 He； too； was a counsellor。
The reason I mention the little Wizard of Oz last is
because he was the most important man in the Land of
Oz。 He wasn't a big man in size but he was a man in
power and intelligence and second only to Glinda the
Good in all the mystic arts of magic。 Glinda had taught
him； and the Wizard and the Sorceress were the only
ones in Oz permitted by law to practice wizardry and
sorcery； which they applied only to good uses and for
the benefit of the people。
The Wizard wasn't exactly handsome but he was
pleasant to look at。 His bald head was as shiny as if
it had been varnished； there was always a merry twinkle
in his eyes and he was as spry as a schoolboy。 Dorothy
says the reason the Wizard is not as powerful as Glinda
is because Glinda didn't teach him all she knows； but
what the Wizard knows he knows very well and so he
performs some very remarkable magic。 The ten I have
mentioned assembled； with the Scarecrow and Glinda； in
Ozma's throne room； right after dinner that evening；
and the Sorceress told them all she knew of the plight
of Ozma and Dorothy
〃Of course we must rescue them；〃 she continued； 〃and
the sooner they are rescued the better pleased they
will be； but what we must now determine is how they can
be saved。 That is why I have called you together in
council。〃
〃The easiest way；〃 remarked the Shaggy Man； 〃is to
raise the sunken island of the Skeezers to the top of
the water again。〃
〃Tell me how？〃 said Glinda。
〃I don't know how； your Highness； for I have never
raised a sunken island。〃
〃We might all get under it and lift；〃 suggested
Professor Wogglebug。
〃How can we get under it when it rests on the bottom
of the lake？〃 asked the Sorceress。
〃Couldn't we throw a rope around it and pull it
ashore？〃 inquired Jack Pumpkinhead。
〃Why not pump the water out of the lake？〃 suggested
the Patchwork Girl with a laugh。
〃Do be sensible！〃 pleaded Glinda。 〃This is a serious
matter； and we must give it serious thought。〃
〃How big is the lake and how big is the island？〃 was
the Frogman's question。
〃None of us can tell； for we have not been there。〃
〃In that case；〃 said the Scarecrow； 〃it appears to me
we ought to go to the Skeezer country and examine it
carefully。〃
〃Quite right；〃 agreed the Tin Woodman。
〃We…will…have…to…go…there…any…how；〃 remarked Tik…Tok
in his jerky machine voice。
〃The question is which of us shall go； and how many
of us？〃 said the Wizard。
〃I shall go of course；〃 declared the Scarecrow。
〃And I；〃 said Scraps。
〃It is my duty to Ozma to go；〃 asserted the Tin
Woodman。
〃I could not stay away； knowing our loved Princess is
in danger；〃 said the Wizard。
〃We all feel like that；〃 Uncle Henry said。
Finally one and all present decided to go to the
Skeezer country； with Glinda and the little Wizard to
lead them。 Magic must meet magic in order to conquer
it； so these two skillful magic…workers were necessary
to insure the success of the expedition。
They were all ready to start at a moment's notice；
for none had any affairs of importance to attend to。
Jack was wearing a newly made Pumpkin…head and the
Scarecrow had recently been stuffed with fresh straw。
Tik…Tok's machinery was in good running order and the
Tin Woodman always was well oiled。
〃It is quite a long journey；〃 said Glinda； 〃and while
I might travel quickly to the Skeezer country by means
of my stork chariot the rest of you will be obliged to
walk。 So； as we must keep together； I will send my
chariot back to my castle and we will plan to leave the
Emerald City at sunrise to…morrow。〃
Chapter Fifteen
The Great Sorceress
Betsy and Trot； when they heard of the rescue
expedition； begged the Wizard to permit them to join it
and he consented。 The Glass Cat； overhearing the
conversation； wanted to go also and to this the Wizard
made no objection。
This Glass Cat was one of the real curiosities of Oz。
It had been made and brought to life by a clever
magician named Dr。 Pipt； who was not now permitted to
work magic and was an ordinary citizen of the Emerald
City。 The cat was of transparent glass； through which
one could plainly see its ruby heart beating and its
pink brains whirling around in the top of the head。
The Glass Cat's eyes were emeralds； its fluffy tail
was of spun glass and very beautiful。 The ruby heart；
while pretty to look at； was hard and cold and the
Glass Cat's disposition was not pleasant at all times。
It scorned to catch mice； did not eat； and was
extremely lazy。 If you complimented the remarkable cat
on her beauty； she would be very friendly； for she
loved admiration above everything。 The pink brains were
always working and their owner was indeed more
intelligent than most common cats。
Three other additions to the rescue party were made
the next morning； just as they were setting out upon
their journey。 The first was a little boy called Button
Bright； because he had no other name that anyone could
remember。 He was a fine； manly little fellow； well
mannered and good humored； who had only one bad fault。
He was continually getting lost。 To be sure； Button
Bright got found as often as he got lost； but when he
was missing his friends could not help being anxious
about him。
〃Some day；〃 predicted the Patchwork Girl； 〃he won't
be found； and that will be the last of him。〃 But that
didn't worry Button Bright； who was so careless that he
did not seem to be able to break the habit of getting
lost。
The second addition to the party was a Munchkin boy
of about Button Bright's age； named Ojo。 He was often
called 〃Ojo the Lucky；〃 because good fortune followed
him wherever he went。 He and Button Bright were close
friends； although of such different natures； and Trot
and Betsy were fond of both。
The third and last to join the expedition was an
enormous lion； one of Ozma's regular guardians and the
most important and intelligent beast in all Oz。 He
called himself the Cowardly Lion； saying that every
little danger scared him so badly that his heart
thumped against his ribs； but all who knew him knew
that the Cowardly Lion's fears were coupled with
bravery and that however much he might be frightened he
summoned courage to meet every danger he encountered。
Often he had saved Dorothy and Ozma in times of peril；
but afterward he moaned and trembled and wept because
he had been so scared。
〃If Ozma needs help； I'm going to help her；〃 said the
great beast。 〃Also； I suspect the rest of you may need
me on the journey especially Trot and Betsy for
you may pass through a dangerous part of the country。 I
know that wild Gillikin country pretty well。 Its
forests harbor many ferocious beasts。〃
They were glad the Cowardly Lion was to join them；
and in good spirits the entire party formed a
procession and marched out of the Emerald City amid the
shouts of the p
