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！
with thousands of mice standing around and looking at her timidly。
But the Scarecrow told her about everything； and turning to the
dignified little Mouse； he said：
〃Permit me to introduce to you her Majesty； the Queen。〃
Dorothy nodded gravely and the Queen made a curtsy； after
which she became quite friendly with the little girl。
The Scarecrow and the Woodman now began to fasten the mice to
the truck； using the strings they had brought。 One end of a
string was tied around the neck of each mouse and the other end to
the truck。 Of course the truck was a thousand times bigger than
any of the mice who were to draw it； but when all the mice had
been harnessed； they were able to pull it quite easily。 Even the
Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman could sit on it； and were drawn swiftly
by their queer little horses to the place where the Lion lay asleep。
After a great deal of hard work； for the Lion was heavy； they
managed to get him up on the truck。 Then the Queen hurriedly gave
her people the order to start； for she feared if the mice stayed
among the poppies too long they also would fall asleep。
At first the little creatures； many though they were； could
hardly stir the heavily loaded truck； but the Woodman and the
Scarecrow both pushed from behind； and they got along better。
Soon they rolled the Lion out of the poppy bed to the green fields；
where he could breathe the sweet； fresh air again； instead of the
poisonous scent of the flowers。
Dorothy came to meet them and thanked the little mice warmly
for saving her companion from death。 She had grown so fond of
the big Lion she was glad he had been rescued。
Then the mice were unharnessed from the truck and scampered
away through the grass to their homes。 The Queen of the Mice was
the last to leave。
〃If ever you need us again；〃 she said； 〃come out into the
field and call； and we shall hear you and come to your assistance。
Good…bye！〃
〃Good…bye！〃 they all answered； and away the Queen ran； while
Dorothy held Toto tightly lest he should run after her and
frighten her。
After this they sat down beside the Lion until he should
awaken； and the Scarecrow brought Dorothy some fruit from a tree
near by； which she ate for her dinner。
10。 The Guardian of the Gate
It was some time before the Cowardly Lion awakened； for he had
lain among the poppies a long while； breathing in their deadly
fragrance； but when he did open his eyes and roll off the truck
he was very glad to find himself still alive。
〃I ran as fast as I could；〃 he said； sitting down and yawning；
〃but the flowers were too strong for me。 How did you get me out？〃
Then they told him of the field mice； and how they had generously
saved him from death； and the Cowardly Lion laughed； and said：
〃I have always thought myself very big and terrible； yet such
little things as flowers came near to killing me； and such small
animals as mice have saved my life。 How strange it all is！
But； comrades； what shall we do now？〃
〃We must journey on until we find the road of yellow brick again；〃
said Dorothy； 〃and then we can keep on to the Emerald City。〃
So； the Lion being fully refreshed； and feeling quite himself again；
they all started upon the journey； greatly enjoying the walk through the soft；
fresh grass； and it was not long before they reached the road of yellow brick
and turned again toward the Emerald City where the Great Oz dwelt。
The road was smooth and well paved； now； and the country about
was beautiful； so that the travelers rejoiced in leaving the
forest far behind； and with it the many dangers they had met in
its gloomy shades。 Once more they could see fences built beside
the road； but these were painted green； and when they came to a
small house； in which a farmer evidently lived； that also was
painted green。 They passed by several of these houses during the
afternoon； and sometimes people came to the doors and looked at
them as if they would like to ask questions； but no one came near
them nor spoke to them because of the great Lion； of which they
were very much afraid。 The people were all dressed in clothing of
a lovely emerald…green color and wore peaked hats like those of
the Munchkins。
〃This must be the Land of Oz；〃 said Dorothy； 〃and we are
surely getting near the Emerald City。〃
〃Yes；〃 answered the Scarecrow。 〃Everything is green here；
while in the country of the Munchkins blue was the favorite color。
But the people do not seem to be as friendly as the Munchkins； and
I'm afraid we shall be unable to find a place to pass the night。〃
〃I should like something to eat besides fruit；〃 said the girl；
〃and I'm sure Toto is nearly starved。 Let us stop at the next
house and talk to the people。〃
So； when they came to a good…sized farmhouse； Dorothy walked
boldly up to the door and knocked。
A woman opened it just far enough to look out； and said；
〃What do you want； child； and why is that great Lion with you？〃
〃We wish to pass the night with you； if you will allow us；〃
answered Dorothy； 〃and the Lion is my friend and comrade； and
would not hurt you for the world。〃
〃Is he tame？〃 asked the woman； opening the door a little wider。
〃Oh； yes；〃 said the girl； 〃and he is a great coward； too。
He will be more afraid of you than you are of him。〃
〃Well；〃 said the woman； after thinking it over and taking
another peep at the Lion； 〃if that is the case you may come in；
and I will give you some supper and a place to sleep。〃
So they all entered the house； where there were； besides the
woman； two children and a man。 The man had hurt his leg； and was
lying on the couch in a corner。 They seemed greatly surprised to
see so strange a company； and while the woman was busy laying the
table the man asked：
〃Where are you all going？〃
〃To the Emerald City；〃 said Dorothy； 〃to see the Great Oz。〃
〃Oh； indeed！〃 exclaimed the man。 〃Are you sure that Oz will see you？〃
〃Why not？〃 she replied。
〃Why； it is said that he never lets anyone come into his presence。
I have been to the Emerald City many times； and it is a beautiful and
wonderful place； but I have never been permitted to see the Great Oz；
nor do I know of any living person who has seen him。〃
〃Does he never go out？〃 asked the Scarecrow。
〃Never。 He sits day after day in the great Throne Room of his
Palace； and even those who wait upon him do not see him face to face。〃
〃What is he like？〃 asked the girl。
〃That is hard to tell；〃 said the man thoughtfully。 〃You see；
Oz is a Great Wizard； and can take on any form he wishes。 So that
some say he looks like a bird； and some say he looks like an
elephant； and some say he looks like a cat。 To others he appears
as a beautiful fairy； or a brownie； or in any other form that
pleases him。 But who the real Oz is； when he is in his own form；
no living person can tell。〃
〃That is very strange；〃 said Dorothy； 〃but we must try； in
some way； to see him； or we shall have made our journey for nothing。〃
〃Why do you wish to see the terrible Oz？〃 asked the man。
〃I want him to give me some brains；〃 said the Scarecrow eagerly。
〃Oh； Oz could do that easily enough；〃 declared the man。
〃He has more brains than he needs。〃
〃And I want him to give me a heart；〃 said the Tin Woodman。
〃That will not trouble him；〃 continued the man； 〃for Oz has a
large collection of hearts； of all sizes and shapes。〃
〃And I want him to give me courage；〃 said the Cowardly Lion。
〃Oz keeps a great pot of courage in his Throne Room；〃 said
the man； 〃which he has covered with a golden plate； to keep it
from running over。 He will be glad to give you some。〃
〃And I want him to send me back to Kansas；〃 said Dorothy。
〃Where is Kansas？〃 asked the man； with surprise。
〃I don't know；〃 replied Dorothy sorrowfully； 〃but it is my home；
and I'm sure it's somewhere。〃
〃Very likely。 Well； Oz can do anything； so I suppose he will
find Kansas for you。 But first you must get to see him； and that
will be a hard task； for the Great Wizard does not like to see anyone；
and he usually has his own way。 But what do YOU want？〃 he continued；
speaking to Toto。 Toto only wagged his tail； for； strange to say；
he could not speak。
The woman now called to them that supper was ready； so they
gathered around the table and Dorothy ate some delicious porridge
and a dish of scrambled eggs and a plate of nice white bread； and
enjoyed her meal。 The Lion ate some of the porridge； but did not
care for it； saying it was made from oats and oats were food for
horses； not for lions。 The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman ate
nothing at all。 Toto ate a little of everything； and was glad to
get a good supper again。
The woman now gave Dorothy a bed to sleep in； and Toto lay
down beside her； while the Lion guarded the door of her room so
she might not be disturbed。 The Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman
stood up in a corner and kept quiet all night； although of course
they could not sleep。
The next morning； as soon as the sun was up； they started on
their way； and soon saw a beautiful green glow in the sky just