fb.themarvelouslandofoz-第16节

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　　The　Scarecrow　will　do　nicely　to　start　a　bonfire；　and　the　tin　man　can　be　cut　into　small　pieces　and　fed　to　the　goats。　As　for　this　immense　Woggle…Bug　…　〃
　　〃Highly　Magnified；　if　you　please！〃　interrupted　the　insect。
　　〃I　think　I　will　ask　the　cook　to　make　green…turtle　soup　of　you；〃　continued　the　Queen；　reflectively。
　　The　Woggle…Bug　shuddered。
　　〃Or；　if　that　won't　do；　we　might　use　you　for　a　Hungarian　goulash；　stewed　and　highly　spiced；〃　she　added；　cruelly。
　　This　programme　of　extermination　was　so　terrible　that　the　prisoners　looked　upon　one　another　in　a　panic　of　fear。　The　Scarecrow　alone　did　not　give　way　to　despair。　He　stood　quietly　before　the　Queen　and　his　brow　was　wrinkled　in　deep　thought　as　he　strove　to　find　some　means　to　escape。
　　While　thus　engaged　he　felt　the　straw　within　his　breast　move　gently。　At　once　his　expression　changed　from　sadness　to　joy；　and　raising　his　hand　he　quickly　unbuttoned　the　front　of　his　jacket。
　　This　action　did　not　pass　unnoticed　by　the　crowd　of　girls　clustering　about　him；　but　none　of　them　suspected　what　he　was　doing　until　a　tiny　grey　mouse　leaped　from　his　bosom　to　the　floor　and　scampered　away　between　the　feet　of　the　Army　of　Revolt。　Another　mouse　quickly　followed；　then　another　and　another；　in　rapid　succession。　And　suddenly　such　a　scream　of　terror　went　up　from　the　Army　that　it　might　easily　have　filled　the　stoutest　heart　with　consternation。
　　The　flight　that　ensued　turned　to　a　stampede；　and　the　stampede　to　a　panic。
　　For　while　the　startled　mice　rushed　wildly　about　the　room　the　Scarecrow　had　only　time　to　note　a　whirl　of　skirts　and　a　twinkling　of　feet　as　the　girls　disappeared　from　the　palace　…　pushing　and　crowding　one　another　in　their　mad　efforts　to　escape。
　　The　Queen；　at　the　first　alarm；　stood　up　on　the　cushions　of　the　throne　and　began　to　dance　frantically　upon　her　tiptoes。　Then　a　mouse　ran　up　the　cushions；　and　with　a　terrified　leap　poor　Jinjur　shot　clear　over　the　head　of　the　Scarecrow　and　escaped　through　an　archway　…　never　pausing　in　her　wild　career　until　she　had　reached　the　city　gates。
　　So；　in　less　time　than　I　can　explain；　the　throne　room　was　deserted　by　all　save　the　Scarecrow　and　his　friends；　and　the　Woggle…Bug　heaved　a　deep　sigh　of　relief　as　he　exclaimed：　〃Thank　goodness；　we　are　saved！〃
　　〃For　a　time；　yes；〃　answered　the　Tin　Woodman。　〃But　the　enemy　will　soon　return；　I　fear。〃
　　〃Let　us　bar　all　the　entrances　to　the　palace！〃　said　the　Scarecrow。　〃Then　we　shall　have　time　to　think　what　is　best　to　be　done。〃　So　all　except　Jack　Pumpkinhead；　who　was　still　tied　fast　to　the　Saw…Horse；　ran　to　the　various　entrances　of　the　royal　palace　and　closed　the　heavy　doors；　bolting　and　locking　them　securely。　Then；　knowing　that　the　Army　of　Revolt　could　not　batter　down　the　barriers　in　several　days；　the　adventurers　gathered　once　more　in　the　throne　room　for　a　council　of　war。
　　
　　
　　　The　Scarecrow　Takes　Time　to　Think
　　
　　〃It　seems　to　me；〃　began　the　Scarecrow；　when　all　were　again　assembled　in　the　throne　room；　〃that　the　girl　Jinjur　is　quite　right　in　claiming　to　be　Queen。　And　if　she　is　right；　then　I　am　wrong；　and　we　have　no　business　to　be　occupying　her　palace。〃
　　〃But　you　were　the　King　until　she　came；〃　said　the　Woggle…Bug；　strutting　up　and　down　with　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　〃so　it　appears　to　me　that　she　is　the　interloper　instead　of　you。〃
　　〃Especially　as　we　have　just　conquered　her　and　put　her　to　flight；〃　added　the　Pumpkinhead；　as　he　raised　his　hands　to　turn　his　face　toward　the　Scarecrow。
　　〃Have　we　really　conquered　her？〃　asked　the　Scarecrow；　quietly。　〃Look　out　of　the　window；　and　tell　me　what　you　see。〃　Tip　ran　to　the　window　and　looked　out。
　　〃The　palace　is　surrounded　by　a　double　row　of　girl　soldiers；〃　he　announced。
　　〃I　thought　so；〃　returned　the　Scarecrow。　〃We　are　as　truly　their　prisoners　as　we　were　before　the　mice　frightened　them　from　the　palace。〃
　　〃My　friend　is　right；〃　said　Nick　Chopper；　who　had　been　polishing　his　breast　with　a　bit　of　chamois…leather。
　　〃Jinjur　is　still　the　Queen；　and　we　are　her　prisoners。〃
　　〃But　I　hope　she　cannot　get　at　us；〃　exclaimed　the　Pumpkinhead；　with　a　shiver　of　fear。　〃She　threatened　to　make　tarts　of　me；　you　know。〃
　　〃Don't　worry；〃　said　the　Tin　Woodman。　〃It　cannot　matter　greatly。　If　you　stay　shut　up　here　you　will　spoil　in　time；　anyway。　A　good　tart　is　far　more　admirable　than　a　decayed　intellect。〃
　　〃Very　true；〃　agreed　the　Scarecrow。
　　〃Oh；　dear！〃　moaned　Jack；　〃what　an　unhappy　lot　is　mine！　Why；　dear　father；　did　you　not　make　me　out　of　tin　…or　even　out　of　straw　…　so　that　I　would　keep　indefinitely。〃
　　〃Shucks！〃　returned　Tip；　indignantly。　〃You　ought　to　be　glad　that　I　made　you　at　all。〃　Then　he　added；　reflectively；　〃everything　has　to　e　to　an　end；　some　time。〃
　　〃But　I　beg　to　remind　you；〃　broke　in　the　Woggle…Bug；　who　had　a　distressed　look　in　his　bulging；　round　eyes；　〃that　this　terrible　Queen　Jinjur　suggested　making　a　goulash　of　me　…　Me！　the　only　Highly　Magnified　and　Thoroughly　Educated　Woggle…Bug　in　the　wide；　wide　world！〃
　　〃I　think　it　was　a　brilliant　idea；〃　remarked　the　Scarecrow；　approvingly。
　　〃Don't　you　imagine　he　would　make　a　better　soup？〃　asked　the　Tin　Woodman；　turning　toward　his　friend。
　　〃Well；　perhaps；〃　acknowledged　the　Scarecrow。
　　The　Woggle…Bug　groaned。
　　〃I　can　see；　in　my　mind's　eye；〃　said　he；　mournfully；　〃the　goats　eating　small　pieces　of　my　dear　rade；　the　Tin　Woodman；　while　my　soup　is　being　cooked　on　a　bonfire　built　of　the　Saw…Horse　and　Jack　Pumpkinhead's　body；　and　Queen　Jinjur　watches　me　boil　while　she　feeds　the　flames　with　my　friend　the　Scarecrow！〃　This　morbid　picture　cast　a　gloom　over　the　entire　party；　making　them　restless　and　anxious。
　　〃It　can't　happen　for　some　time；〃　said　the　Tin　Woodman；　trying　to　speak　cheerfully；　〃for　we　shall　be　able　to　keep　Jinjur　out　of　the　palace　until　she　manages　to　break　down　the　doors。〃
　　〃And　in　the　meantime　I　am　liable　to　starve　to　death；　and　so　is　the　Woggle…　Bug；〃　announced　Tip。
　　〃As　for　me；〃　said　the　Woggle…Bug；　〃I　think　that　I　could　live　for　some　time　on　Jack　Pumpkinhead。　Not　that　I　prefer　pumpkins　for　food；　but　I　believe　they　are　somewhat　nutritious；　and　Jack's　head　is　large　and　plump。〃
　　〃How　heartless！〃　exclaimed　the　Tin　Woodman；　greatly　shocked。　〃Are　we　cannibals；　let　me　ask？　Or　are　we　faithful　friends？〃
　　〃I　see　very　clearly　that　we　cannot　stay　shut　up　in　this　palace；〃　said　the　Scarecrow；　with　decision。　〃So　let　us　end　this　mournful　talk　and　try　to　discover　a　means　to　escape。〃　At　this　suggestion　they　all　gathered　eagerly　around　the　throne；　wherein　was　seated　the　Scarecrow；　and　as　Tip　sat　down　upon　a　stool　there　fell　from　his　pocket　a　pepper…box；　which　rolled　upon　the　floor。
　　〃What　is　this？〃　asked　Nick　Chopper；　picking　up　the　box。
　　〃Be　careful！〃　cried　the　boy。　〃That's　my　Powder　of　Life。　Don't　spill　it；　for　it　is　nearly　gone。〃
　　〃And　what　is　the　Powder　of　Life？〃　enquired　the　Scarecrow；　as　Tip　replaced　the　box　carefully　in　his　pocket。
　　〃It's　some　magical　stuff　old　Mombi　got　from　a　crooked　sorcerer；〃　explained　the　boy。　〃She　brought　Jack　to　life　with　it；　and　afterward　I　used　it　to　bring　the　Saw…Horse　to　life。　I　guess　it　will　make　anything　live　that　is　sprinkled　with　it；　but　there's　only　about　one　dose　left。〃
　　〃Then　it　is　very　precious；〃　said　the　Tin　Woodman。
　　〃Indeed　it　is；〃　agreed　the　Scarecrow。　〃It　may　prove　our　best　means　of　escape　from　our　difficulties。　I　believe　I　will　think　for　a　few　minutes；　so　I　will　thank　you；　friend　Tip；　to　get　out　your　knife　and　rip　this　heavy　crown　from　my　forehead。〃　Tip　soon　cut　the　stitches　that　had　fastened　the　crown　to　the　Scarecrow's　head；　and　the　former　monarch　of　the　Emerald　City　removed　it　with　a　sigh　of　relief　and　hung　it　on　a　peg　beside　the　throne。
　　〃That　is　my　last　memento　of　royalty〃　said　he；　〃and　I'm　glad　to　get　rid　of　it。　The　former　King　of　this　City；　who　was　named　Pastoria；　lost　the　crown　to　the　Wonderful　Wizard；　who　passed　it　on　to　me。　Now　the　girl　Jinjur　claims　it；　and　I　sincerely　hope　it　will　not　give　her　a　headache。〃
　　〃A　kindly　thought；　which　I　greatly　admire；〃　said　the　Tin　Woodman；　nodding　approvingly。
　　〃And　now　I　will　indulge　in　a　quiet　think；〃　continued　the　Scarecrow；　lying　back　in　the　throne。
　　The　others　remained　as　silent　and　still　as　possible；　so　as　not　to　disturb　him；　for　all　had　great　confidence　in　the　extraordinary　brains　of　the　Scarecrow。
　　And；　after　what　seemed　a　very　long　time　indeed　to　the　anxious　watchers；　the　thinker　sat　up；　looked　upon　his　friends　with　his　most　whimsical　expression；　and　said：　〃My　brains　work　beautifully　today。　I'm　quite　proud　of　them。　Now；　listen！　If　we　attempt　to　escape　through　the　doors　of　the　palace　we　shall　surely　be　captured。　And；　as　we　can't　escape　through　the　ground；　there　is　only　one　other　thing　to　be　done。　We　must　escape　through　the　air！〃　He　paused　to　note　the　effect　of　these　words；　but　all　his　hearers　seemed　puzzled　and　unconvinced。
　　〃The　Wonderful　Wizard　escaped　in　a　balloon；〃　he　continued。　〃We　don't　know　how　to　make　a　balloon；　of　course；　but　any　sort　of　thing　that　can　fly　through　the　air　can　carry　us　easily。　So　I　suggest　that　my　friend　the　Tin　Woodman；　who　is　a　skillful　mechanic；　shall　build　some　sort　of　a　machine；　with　good　strong　wings；　to　carry　us；　and　our　friend　Tip　can　then　bring　the　Thing　to　life　with　his　magical