the scarecrow of oz-第17部分
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her hands over it； mumbled a few words； and then backed
away as quickly as she could。
Cap'n Bill was slumbering peacefully； all unconscious
of what was going on。 Puff！ A great cloud of smoke rolled
over the bed and completely hid him from view。 When the
smoke rolled away； both Blinkie and the King saw that the
body of the stranger had quite disappeared； while in his
place； crouching in the middle of the bed； was a little
gray grasshopper。
One curious thing about this grasshopper was that the
last joint of its left leg was made of wood。 Another
curious thing considering it was a grasshopper was
that it began talking； crying out in a tiny but sharp
voice：
〃Here you people！ What do you mean by treating me
so？ Put me back where I belong； at once； or you'll be
sorry！〃
The cruel King turned pale at hearing the grasshopper's
threats； but the Wicked Witch merely laughed in derision。
Then she raised her stick and aimed a vicious blow at the
grasshopper； but before the stick struck the bed the tiny
hopper made a marvelous jump marvelous； indeed； when
we consider that it had a wooden leg。 It rose in the air
and sailed across the room and passed right through the
open window； where it disappeared from their view。
〃Good！〃 shouted the King。 〃We are well rid of this
desperate wizard。〃 And then they both laughed heartily at
the success of the incantation； and went away to complete
their horrid plans。
After Trot had visited a time with Princess Gloria； the
little girl went to Button…Bright's room but did not find
him there。 Then she went to Cap'n Bill's room； but he was
not there because the witch and the King had been there
before her。 So she made her way downstairs and questioned
the servants。 They said they had seen the little boy go
out into the garden； some time ago； but the old man with
the wooden leg they had not seen at all。
Therefore Trot； not knowing what else to do； rambled
through the great gardens； seeking for Button…Bright or
Cap'n Bill and not finding either of them。 This part of
the garden； which lay before the castle； was not walled
in； but extended to the roadway； and the paths were open
to the edge of the forest； so； after two hours of vain
search for her friends； the little girl returned to the
castle。
But at the doorway a soldier stopped her。
〃I live here；〃 said Trot； 〃so it's all right to let
me in。 The King has given me a room。〃
〃Well； he has taken it back again；〃 was the soldier's
reply。 〃His Majesty's orders are to turn you away if you
attempt to enter。 I am also ordered to forbid the boy；
your companion； to again enter the King's castle。〃
〃How 'bout Cap'n Bill？〃 she inquired。
〃Why； it seems he has mysteriously disappeared；〃
replied the soldier； shaking his head ominously。 〃Where
he has gone to； I can't make out； but I can assure you he
is no longer in this castle。 I'm sorry； little girl； to
disappoint you。 Don't blame me； I must obey my master's
orders。〃
Now； all her life Trot had been accustomed to depend on
Cap'n Bill； so when this good friend was suddenly taken
from her she felt very miserable and forlorn indeed。 She
was brave enough not to cry before the soldier； or even
to let him see her grief and anxiety； but after she was
turned away from the castle she sought a quiet bench in
the garden and for a time sobbed as if her heart would
break。
It was Button…Bright who found her； at last； just as
the sun had set and the shades of evening were falling。
He also had been turned away from the King's castle； when
he tried to enter it； and in the park he came across
Trot。
〃Never mind；〃 said the boy。 〃We can find a place to
sleep。〃
〃I want Cap'n Bill；〃 wailed the girl。
〃Well； so do I；〃 was the reply。 〃But we haven't got
him。 Where do you s'pose he is； Trot？
〃I don't s'pose anything。 He's gone； an' that's all I
know 'bout it。〃
Button…Bright sat on the bench beside her and thrust
his hands in the pockets of his knickerbockers。 Then he
reflected somewhat gravely for him。
〃Cap'n Bill isn't around here；〃 he said； letting his
eyes wander over the dim garden； 〃so we must go somewhere
else if we want to find him。 Besides； it's fast getting
dark； and if we want to find a place to sleep we must get
busy while we can see where to go。〃
He rose from the bench as he said this and Trot also
jumped up； drying her eyes on her apron。 Then she walked
beside him out of the grounds of the King's castle。 They
did not go by the main path； but passed through an
opening in a hedge and found themselves in a small but
well…worn roadway。 Following this for some distance；
along a winding way； they came upon no house or building
that would afford them refuge for the night。 It became so
dark that they could scarcely see their way； and finally
Trot stopped and suggested that they camp under a tree。
〃All right；〃 said Button…Bright； 〃I've often found that
leaves make a good warm blanket。 But look there； Trot！
isn't that a light flashing over yonder？〃
〃It certainly is； Button…Bright。 Let's go over and see
if it's a house。 Whoever lives there couldn't treat us
worse than the King did。〃
To reach the light they had to leave the road； so they
stumbled over hillocks and brushwood； hand in hand；
keeping the tiny speck of light always in sight。
They were rather forlorn little waifs； outcasts in a
strange country and forsaken by their only friend and
guardian； Cap'n Bill。 So they were very glad when finally
they reached a small cottage and； looking in through its
one window； saw Pon； the gardener's boy； sitting by a
fire of twigs。
As Trot opened the door and walked boldly in； Pon
sprang up to greet them。 They told him of Cap'n Bill's
disappearance and how they had been turned out of the
King's castle。 As they finished the story Pon shook his
head sadly。
〃King Krewl is plotting mischief； I fear；〃 said he；
〃for to…day he sent for old Blinkie； the Wicked Witch；
and with my own eyes I saw her come from the castle and
hobble away toward her hut。 She had been with the King
and Googly…Goo； and I was afraid they were going to work
some enchantment on Gloria so she would no longer love
me。 But perhaps the witch was only called to the castle
to enchant your friend； Cap'n Bill。〃
〃Could she do that？〃 asked Trot； horrified by the
suggestion。
〃I suppose so； for old Blinkie can do a lot of wicked
magical things。〃
〃What sort of an enchantment could she put on Cap'n
Bill？〃
〃I don't know。 But he has disappeared； so I'm pretty
certain she has done something dreadful to him。 But don't
worry。 If it has happened； it can't be helped； and if it
hasn't happened we may be able to find him in the
morning。〃
With this Pon went to the cupboard and brought food for
them。 Trot was far too worried to eat； but Button…Bright
made a good supper from the simple food and then lay down
before the fire and went to sleep。 The little girl and
the gardener's boy； however； sat for a long time staring
into the fire； busy with their thoughts。 But at last
Trot； too； became sleepy and Pon gently covered her with
the one blanket he possessed。 Then he threw more wood on
the fire and laid himself down before it； next to Button…
Bright。 Soon all three were fast asleep。 They were in a
good deal of trouble； but they were young； and sleep was
good to them because for a time it made them forget。
Chapter Thirteen
Glinda the Good and the Scarecrow of Oz
That country south of the Emerald City； in the Land of
Oz； is known as the Quadling Country； and in the very
southernmost part of it stands a splendid palace in which
lives Glinda the Good。
Glinda is the Royal Sorceress of Oz。 She has wonderful
magical powers and uses them only to benefit the subjects
of Ozma's kingdom。 Even the famous Wizard of Oz pays
tribute to her； for Glinda taught him all the real magic
he knows； and she is his superior in all sorts of sorcery
Everyone loves Glinda； from the dainty and exquisite
Ruler； Ozma； down to the humblest inhabitant of Oz； for
she is always kindly and helpful and willing to listen to
their troubles； however busy she may be。 No one knows her
age； but all can see how beautiful and stately she is。
Her hair is like red gold and finer than the finest
silken strands。 Her eyes are blue as the sky and always
frank and smiling。 Her cheeks are the envy of peach…blows
and her mouth is enticing as a rosebud。 Glinda is tall
and wears splendid gowns that trail behind her as she
walks。 She wears no jewels； for her beauty would shame
them。
For attendants Glinda has half a hundred of the
loveliest girls in Oz。 They are gathered from all over
Oz； from among the Winkies； the Munchkins； the Gillikins
and the Quadlings； as well as from Ozma's magnificent
Emerald City； and it is considered a great favor to be
allowed to serve the Royal Sorceress。
Among the many wonderful things in Glinda's palace is
t
