the patchwork girl of oz-第32章
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〃The Crooked Magician was wrong to make the
Glass Cat and the Patchwork Girl; for it was
against the Law。 And if he had not unlawfully kept
the bottle of Liquid of Petrifaction standing on
his shelf; the accident to his wife Margolotte and
to Unc Nunkie could not have occurred。 I can
understand; however; that Ojo; who loves his
uncle; will be unhappy unless he can save him。
Also I feel it is wrong to leave those two victims
standing as marble statues; when they ought to be
alive。 So I propose we allow Dr。 Pipt to make the
magic charm which will save them; and that we
assist Ojo to find the things he is seeking。 What
do you think; Wizard?〃
〃That is perhaps the best thing to do;〃 replied
the Wizard。 〃But after the Crooked Magician
has restored those poor people to life you must
take away his magic powers。〃
〃I will;〃 promised Ozma。
〃Now tell me; please; what magic things must you
find?〃 continued the Wizard; addressing Ojo。
〃The three hairs from the Woozy's tail I
have;〃 said the boy。 〃That is; I have the Woozy;
and the hairs are in his tail。 The six…leaved
clover II〃
〃You may take it and keep it;〃 said Ozma。 〃That
will not be breaking the Law; for it is already
picked; and the crime of picking it is forgiven。〃
〃Thank you!〃 cried Ojo gratefully。 Then he
continued: 〃The next thing; I must find is a gill
of water from a dark well。'
The Wizard shook his head。 〃That;〃 said he;
〃will be a hard task; but if you travel far enough
you may discover it。〃
〃I am willing to travel for years; if it will
save Unc Nunkie;〃 declared Ojo; earnestly。
〃Then you'd better begin your journey at
once;〃 advised the Wizard。
Dorothy bad been listening with interest to
this conversation。 Now she turned to Ozma and
asked: 〃May I go with Ojo; to help him?〃
〃Would you like to?〃 returned Ozma。
〃Yes。 I know Oz pretty well; but Ojo doesn't
know it at all。 I'm sorry for his uncle and poor
Margolotte and I'd like to help save them。 May
I go?〃
〃If you wish to;〃 replied Ozma。
〃If Dorothy goes; then I must go to take care of
her;〃 said the Scarecrow; decidedly。 〃A dark well
can only be discovered in some out…of…the…way
place; and there may be dangers there。〃
〃You have my permission to accompany Dorothy;〃
said Ozma。 〃And while you are gone I will take
care of the Patchwork Girl。〃
〃I'll take care of myself;〃 announced Scraps;
〃for I'm going with the Scarecrow and Dorothy。
I promised Ojo to help him find the things he
wants and I'll stick to my promise。〃
〃Very well;〃 replied Ozma。 〃But I see no need
for Ojo to take the Glass Cat and the Woozy。〃
〃I prefer to remain here;〃 said the cat。 〃I've
nearly been nicked half a dozen times; already;
and if they're going into dangers it's best for me
to keep away from them。〃
〃Let Jellia Jamb keep her till Ojo returns;〃
suggested Dorothy。 〃We won't need to take the
Woozy; either; but he ought to be saved because
of the three hairs in his tail。〃
〃Better take me along;〃 said the Woozy。 〃My eyes
can flash fire; you know; and I can growla
little。〃
〃I'm sure you'll be safer here;〃 Ozma decided;
and the Woozy made no further objection to the
plan。
After consulting together they decided that Ojo
and his party should leave the very next day to
search for the gill of water from a dark well; so
they now separated to make preparations for the
journey。
Ozma gave the Munchkin boy a room in the palace
for that night and the afternoon he passed with
Dorothygetting acquainted; as she saidand
receiving advice from the Shaggy Man as to where
they must go。 The Shaggy Man had wandered in many
parts of Oz; and so had Dorothy; for that matter;
yet neither of them knew where a dark well was to
be found。
〃If such a thing is anywhere in the settled
parts of Oz;〃 said Dorothy; 〃we'd prob'ly have
heard of it long ago。 If it's in the wild parts of
the country; no one there would need a dark
well。 P'raps there isn't such a thing。〃
〃Oh; there must he!〃 returned Ojo; positively;
〃or else the recipe of Dr。 Pipt wouldn't call
for it。〃
〃That's true;〃 agreed Dorothy; 〃and; if it's
anywhere in the Land of Oz; we're bound to find
it。〃
〃Well; we're bound to search for it; anyhow;〃
said the Scarecrow。 〃As for finding it; we must
trust to luck。〃
〃Don't do that;〃 begged Ojo; earnestly。 〃I'm
called Ojo the Unlucky; you know。〃
Chapter Nineteen
Trouble with the Tottenhots
A day's journey from the Emerald City brought the
little band of adventurers to the home of Jack
Pumpkinhead; which was a house formed from the
shell of an immense pumpkin。 Jack had made it
himself and was very proud of it。 There was a
door; and several windows; and through the top was
stuck a stovepipe that led from a small stove
inside。 The door was reached by a flight of three
steps and there was a good floor on which was
arranged some furniture that was quite
comfortable。
It is certain that Jack Pumpkinhead might
have had a much finer house to live in bad he
wanted it; for Ozma loved the stupid fellow;
who had been her earliest companion; but Jack
preferred his pumpkin house; as it matched
himself very well; and in this he was not so
stupid; after all。
The body of this remarkable person was made of
wood; branches of trees of various sizes having
been used for the purpose。 This wooden framework
was covered by a red shirtwith white spots in
itblue trousers; a yellow vest; a jacket of
green…and…gold and stout leather shoes。 The neck
was a sharpened stick on which the pumpkin head
was set; and the eyes; ears; nose and mouth were
carved on the skin of the pumpkin; very like a
child's jack…o'…lantern。
The house of this interesting creation stood
in the center of a vast pumpkin…field; where the
vines grew in profusion and bore pumpkins of
extraordinary size as well as those which were
smaller。 Some of the pumpkins now ripening
on the vines were almost as large as Jack's house;
and he told Dorothy he intended to add another
pumpkin to his mansion。
The travelers were cordially welcomed to this
quaint domicile and invited to pass the night
there; which they had planned to do。 The
Patchwork Girl was greatly interested in Jack
and examined him admiringly。
〃You are quite handsome;〃 she said; 〃but not
as really beautiful as the Scarecrow。〃
Jack turned; at this; to examine the Scarecrow
critically; and his old friend slyly winked one
painted eye at him。
〃There is no accounting for tastes;〃 remarked
the Pumpkinhead; with a sigh。 〃An old crow
once told me I was very fascinating; but of
course the bird might have been mistaken。 Yet
I have noticed that the crows usually avoid the
Scarecrow; who is a very honest fellow; in his
way; but stuffed。 I am not stuffed; you will
observe; my body is good solid hickory。〃
〃I adore stuffing;〃 said the Patchwork Girl。
〃Well; as for that; my head is stuffed with
pumpkin…seeds;〃 declared Jack。 〃I use them for
brains; and when