fb.themarvelouslandofoz-第12节

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cessfully　through　so　many　startling　adventures。
　　So　Jinjur　sent　post…haste　for　old　Mombi；　the　witch；　and　promised　her　large　rewards　if　she　would　e　to　the　assistance　of　the　rebel　army。
　　Mombi　was　furious　at　the　trick　Tip　had　played　upon　her　as　well　as　at　his　escape　and　the　theft　of　the　precious　Powder　of　Life；　so　she　needed　no　urging　to　induce　her　to　travel　to　the　Emerald　City　to　assist　Jinjur　in　defeating　the　Scarecrow　and　the　Tin　Woodman；　who　had　made　Tip　one　of　their　friends。
　　Mombi　had　no　sooner　arrived　at　the　royal　palace　than　she　discovered；　by　means　of　her　secret　magic；　that　the　adventurers　were　starting　upon　their　Journey　to　the　Emerald　City；　so　she　retired　to　a　small　room　high　up　in　a　tower　and　locked　herself　in　while　she　practised　such　arts　as　she　could　mand　to　prevent　the　return　of　the　Scarecrow　and　his　panions。
　　That　was　why　the　Tin　Woodman　presently　stopped　and　said：　〃Something　very　curious　has　happened。　I　ought　to　know　by　heart　and　every　step　of　this　Journey；　yet　I　fear　we　have　already　lost　our　way。〃
　　〃That　is　quite　impossible！〃　protested　the　Scarecrow。　〃Why　do　you　think；　my　dear　friend；　that　we　have　gone　astray？〃
　　〃Why；　here　before　us　is　a　great　field　of　sunflowers　…　and　I　never　saw　this　field　before　in　all　my　life。〃　At　these　words　they　all　looked　around；　only　to　find　that　they　were　indeed　surrounded　by　a　field　of　tall　stalks；　every　stalk　bearing　at　its　top　a　gigantic　sunflower。　And　not　only　were　these　flowers　almost　blinding　in　their　vivid　hues　of　red　and　gold；　but　each　one　whirled　around　upon　its　stalk　like　a　miniature　wind…mill；　pletely　dazzling　the　vision　of　the　beholders　and　so　mystifying　them　that　they　knew　not　which　way　to　turn。
　　〃It's　witchcraft！〃　exclaimed　Tip。
　　While　they　paused；　hesitating　and　wondering；　the　Tin　Woodman　uttered　a　cry　of　impatience　and　advanced　with　swinging　axe　to　cut　down　the　stalks　before　him。　But　now　the　sunflowers　suddenly　stopped　their　rapid　whirling；　and　the　travelers　plainly　saw　a　girl's　face　appear　in　the　center　of　each　flower。　These　lovely　faces　looked　upon　the　astonished　band　with　mocking　smiles；　and　then　burst　into　a　chorus　of　merry　laughter　at　the　dismay　their　appearance　caused。
　　〃Stop！　stop！〃　cried　Tip；　seizing　the　Woodman's　arm；　〃they're　alive！　they're　girls！〃　At　that　moment　the　flowers　began　whirling　again；　and　the　faces　faded　away　and　were　lost　in　the　rapid　revolutions。
　　The　Tin　Woodman　dropped　his　axe　and　sat　down　upon　the　ground。
　　〃It　would　be　heartless　to　chop　down　those　pretty　creatures；〃　said　he；　despondently。　〃and　yet　I　do　not　know　how　else　we　can　proceed　upon　our　way〃
　　〃They　looked　to　me　strangely　like　the　faces　of　the　Army　of　Revolt；〃　mused　the　Scarecrow。　〃But　I　cannot　conceive　how　the　girls　could　have　followed　us　here　so　quickly。〃
　　〃I　believe　it's　magic；〃　said　Tip；　positively；　〃and　that　someone　is　playing　a　trick　upon　us。　I've　known　old　Mombi　do　things　like　that　before。　Probably　it's　nothing　more　than　an　illusion；　and　there　are　no　sunflowers　here　at　all。〃
　　〃Then　let　us　shut　our　eyes　and　walk　forward；〃　suggested　the　Woodman。
　　〃Excuse　me；〃　replied　the　Scarecrow。　〃My　eyes　are　not　painted　to　shut。　Because　you　happen　to　have　tin　eyelids；　you　must　not　imagine　we　are　all　built　in　the　same　way。〃
　　〃And　the　eyes　of　the　Saw…Horse　are　knot　eyes；〃　said　Jack；　leaning　forward　to　examine　them。
　　〃Nevertheless；　you　must　ride　quickly　forward；〃　manded　Tip；　〃and　we　will　follow　after　you　and　so　try　to　escape。　My　eyes　are　already　so　dazzled　that　I　can　scarcely　see。〃　So　the　Pumpkinhead　rode　boldly　forward；　and　Tip　grasped　the　stub　tail　of　the　Saw…Horse　and　followed　with　closed　eyes。　The　Scarecrow　and　the　Tin　Woodman　brought　up　the　rear；　and　before　they　had　gone　many　yards　a　Joyful　shout　from　Jack　announced　that　the　way　was　clear　before　them。
　　Then　all　paused　to　look　backward；　but　not　a　trace　of　the　field　of　sunflowers　remained。
　　More　cheerfully；　now　they　proceeded　upon　their　Journey；　but　old　Mombi　had　so　changed　the　appearance　of　the　landscape　that　they　would　surely　have　been　lost　had　not　the　Scarecrow　wisely　concluded　to　take　their　direction　from　the　sun。　For　no　witch…craft　could　change　the　course　of　the　sun；　and　it　was　therefore　a　safe　guide。
　　However；　other　difficulties　lay　before　them。　The　Saw…Horse　stepped　into　a　rabbit　hole　and　fell　to　the　ground。
　　The　Pumpkinhead　was　pitched　high　into　the　air；　and　his　history　would　probably　have　ended　at　that　exact　moment　had　not　the　Tin　Woodman　skillfully　caught　the　pumpkin　as　it　descended　and　saved　it　from　injury。
　　Tip　soon　had　it　fitted　to　the　neck　again　and　replaced　Jack　upon　his　feet。　But　the　Saw…Horse　did　not　escape　so　easily。　For　when　his　leg　was　pulled　from　the　rabbit　hole　it　was　found　to　be　broken　short　off；　and　must　be　replaced　or　repaired　before　he　could　go　a　step　farther。
　　〃This　is　quite　serious；〃　said　the　Tin　Woodman。〃　If　there　were　trees　near　by　I　might　soon　manufacture　another　leg　for　this　animal；　but　I　cannot　see　even　a　shrub　for　miles　around。〃
　　〃And　there　are　neither　fences　nor　houses　in　this　part　of　the　land　of　Oz；〃　added　the　Scarecrow；　disconsolately。
　　〃Then　what　shall　we　do？〃　enquired　the　boy。
　　〃I　suppose　I　must　start　my　brains　working；〃　replied　his　Majesty　the　Scarecrow；　〃for　experience　has；　taught　me　that　I　can　do　anything　if　I　but　take　time　to　think　it　out。〃
　　〃Let　us　all　think；〃　said　Tip；　〃and　perhaps　we　shall　find　a　way　to　repair　the　Saw…Horse。〃　So　they　sat　in　a　row　upon　the　grass　and　began　to　think；　while　the　Saw…Horse　occupied　itself　by　gazing　curiously　upon　its　broken　limb。
　　〃Does　it　hurt？〃　asked　the　Tin　Woodman；　in　a　soft；　sympathetic　voice。
　　〃Not　in　the　least；〃　returned　the　Saw…Horse；　〃but　my　pride　is　injured　to　find　that　my　anatomy　is　so　brittle。〃　For　a　time　the　little　group　remained　in　silent　thought。　Presently　the　Tin　Woodman　raised　his　head　and　looked　over　the　fields。
　　〃What　sort　of　creature　is　that　which　approaches　us？〃　he　asked；　wonderingly。
　　The　others　followed　his　gaze；　and　discovered　ing　toward　them　the　most　extraordinary　object　they　had　ever　beheld。　It　advanced　quickly　and　noiselessly　over　the　soft　grass　and　in　a　few　minutes　stood　before　the　adventurers　and　regarded　them　with　an　astonishment　equal　to　their　own。
　　The　Scarecrow　was　calm　under　all　circumstances。
　　〃Good　morning！〃　he　said；　politely。
　　The　stranger　removed　his　hat　with　a　flourish；　bowed　very　low；　and　then　responded：　〃Good　morning；　one　and　all。　I　hope　you　are；　as　an　aggregation；　enjoying　excellent　health。　Permit　me　to　present　my　card。〃　With　this　courteous　speech　it　extended　a　card　toward　the　Scarecrow；　who　accepted　it；　turned　it　over　and　over；　and　handed　it　with　a　shake　of　his　head　to　Tip。
　　The　boy　read　aloud：　〃MR。　H。　M。　WOGGLE…BUG；　T。　E。〃
　　〃Dear　me！〃　ejaculated　the　Pumpkinhead；　staring　somewhat　intently。
　　〃How　very　peculiar！〃　said　the　Tin　Woodman。
　　Tip's　eyes　were　round　and　wondering；　and　the　Saw…Horse　uttered　a　sigh　and　turned　away　its　head。
　　〃Are　you　really　a　Woggle…Bug？〃　enquired　the　Scarecrow。
　　〃Most　certainly；　my　dear　sir！〃　answered　the　stranger；　briskly。　〃Is　not　my　name　upon　the　card？〃
　　〃It　is；〃　said　the　Scarecrow。　〃But　may　I　ask　what　'H。　M。'　stands　for？〃
　　〃'H。　M。'　means　Highly　Magnified；〃　returned　the　Woggle…Bug；　proudly。
　　〃Oh；　I　see。〃　The　Scarecrow　viewed　the　stranger　critically。　〃And　are　you；　in　truth；　highly　magnified？〃
　　〃Sir；〃　said　the　Woggle…Bug；　〃I　take　you　for　a　gentleman　of　judgment　and　discernment。　Does　it　not　occur　to　you　that　I　am　several　thousand　times　greater　than　any　Woggle…Bug　you　ever　saw　before？　Therefore　it　is　plainly　evident　that　I　am　Highly　Magnified；　and　there　is　no　good　reason　why　you　should　doubt　the　fact。〃
　　〃Pardon　me；〃　returned　the　Scarecrow。　〃My　brains　are　slightly　mixed　since　I　was　last　laundered。　Would　it　be　improper　for　me　to　ask；　also；　what　the　'T。E。'　at　the　end　of　your　name　stands　for？〃
　　〃Those　letters　express　my　degree；〃　answered　the　Woggle…Bug；　with　a　condescending　smile。　〃To　be　more　explicit；　the　initials　mean　that　I　am　Thoroughly　Educated。〃
　　〃Oh！〃　said　the　Scarecrow；　much　relieved。
　　Tip　had　not　yet　taken　his　eyes　off　this　wonderful　personage。　What　he　saw　was　a　great；　round；　buglike　body　supported　upon　two　slender　legs　which　ended　in　delicate　feet　…　the　toes　curling　upward。　The　body　of　the　Woggle…Bug　was　rather　flat；　and　judging　from　what　could　be　seen　of　it　was　of　a　glistening　dark　brown　color　upon　the　back；　while　the　front　was　striped　with　alternate　bands　of　light　brown　and　white；　blending　together　at　the　edges。　Its　arms　were　fully　as　slender　as　its　legs；　and　upon　a　rather　long　neck　was　perched　its　head　…　not　unlike　the　head　of　a　man；　except　that　its　nose　ended　in　a　curling　antenna；　or　〃feeler；〃　and　its　ears　from　the　upper　points　bore　antennae　that　decorated　the　sides　of　its　head　like　two　miniature；　curling　pig　tails。　It　must　be　admitted　that　the　round；　black　eyes　were　rather　bulging　in　appearance；　but　the　expression　upon　the　Woggle…Bug's　face　was　by　no　means　unpleasant。
　　For　dress　the　insect　wore　a　dark…blue　swallowtail　coat　with　a　yellow　silk　lining　and　a　flower　in　the　button…hole；　a　vest　of　white　duck　that　stretched　tightly　across　the　wide　body；　knickerbockers　of　fawn…colored　plush；　fastened　at　the　knees　with　gilt　buckle