fb.themarvelouslandofoz-第18节

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　　Tip　managed　to　grasp　a　chimney；　else　he　would　have　been　blown　off　the　roof　by　the　terrible　breeze　raised　by　the　wings。　The　Scarecrow；　being　light　in　weight；　was　caught　up　bodily　and　borne　through　the　air　until　Tip　luckily　seized　him　by　one　leg　and　held　him　fast。　The　Woggle…Bug　lay　flat　upon　the　roof　and　so　escaped　harm；　and　the　Tin　Woodman；　whose　weight　of　tin　anchored　him　firmly；　threw　both　arms　around　Jack　Pumpkinhead　and　managed　to　save　him。　The　Saw…Horse　toppled　over　upon　his　back　and　lay　with　his　legs　waving　helplessly　above　him。
　　And　now；　while　all　were　struggling　to　recover　themselves；　the　Thing　rose　slowly　from　the　roof　and　mounted　into　the　air。
　　〃Here！　e　back！〃　cried　Tip；　in　a　frightened　voice；　as　he　clung　to　the　chimney　with　one　hand　and　the　Scarecrow　with　the　other。　〃e　back　at　once；　I　mand　you！〃　It　was　now　that　the　wisdom　of　the　Scarecrow；　in　bringing　the　head　of　the　Thing　to　life　instead　of　the　legs；　was　proved　beyond　a　doubt。　For　the　Gump；　already　high　in　the　air；　turned　its　head　at　Tip's　mand　and　gradually　circled　around　until　it　could　view　the　roof　of　the　palace。
　　〃e　back！〃　shouted　the　boy；　again。
　　And　the　Gump　obeyed；　slowly　and　gracefully　waving　its　four　wings　in　the　air　until　the　Thing　had　settled　once　more　upon　the　roof　and　bee　still。
　　
　　
　　　In　the　Jackdaw's　Nest
　　
　　〃This；〃　said　the　Gump；　in　a　squeaky　voice　not　at　all　proportioned　to　the　size　of　its　great　body；　〃is　the　most　novel　experience　I　ever　heard　of。　The　last　thing　I　remember　distinctly　is　walking　through　the　forest　and　hearing　a　loud　noise。　Something　probably　killed　me　then；　and　it　certainly　ought　to　have　been　the　end　of　me。
　　Yet　here　I　am；　alive　again；　with　four　monstrous　wings　and　a　body　which　I　venture　to　say　would　make　any　respectable　animal　or　fowl　weep　with　shame　to　own。　What　does　it　all　mean？　Am　I　a　Gump；　or　am　I　a　juggernaut？〃　The　creature；　as　it　spoke；　wiggled　its　chin　whiskers　in　a　very　ical　manner。
　　〃You're　just　a　Thing；〃　answered　Tip；　〃with　a　Gump's　head　on　it。　And　we　have　made　you　and　brought　you　to　life　so　that　you　may　carry　us　through　the　air　wherever　we　wish　to　go。〃
　　〃Very　good！〃　said　the　Thing。　〃As　I　am　not　a　Gump；　I　cannot　have　a　Gump's　pride　or　independent　spirit。　So　I　may　as　well　bee　your　servant　as　anything　else。　My　only　satisfaction　is　that　I　do　not　seem　to　have　a　very　strong　constitution；　and　am　not　likely　to　live　long　in　a　state　of　slavery。〃
　　〃Don't　say　that；　I　beg　of　you！〃　cried　the　Tin　Woodman；　whose　excellent　heart　was　strongly　affected　by　this　sad　speech。〃　Are　you　not　feeling　well　today？〃
　　〃Oh；　as　for　that；〃　returned　the　Gump；　〃it　is　my　first　day　of　existence；　so　I　cannot　Judge　whether　I　am　feeling　well　or　ill。〃　And　it　waved　its　broom　tail　to　and　fro　in　a　pensive　manner。
　　〃e；　e！〃　said　the　Scarecrow；　kindly。　〃do　try；　to　be　more　cheerful　and　take　life　as　you　find　it。　We　shall　be　kind　masters；　and　will　strive　to　render　your　existence　as　pleasant　as　possible。　Are　you　willing　to　carry　us　through　the　air　wherever　we　wish　to　go？〃
　　〃Certainly；〃　answered　the　Gump。　〃I　greatly　prefer　to　navigate　the　air。　For　should　I　travel　on　the　earth　and　meet　with　one　of　my　own　species；　my　embarrassment　would　be　something　awful！〃
　　〃I　can　appreciate　that；〃　said　the　Tin　Woodman；　sympathetically。
　　〃And　yet；〃　continued　the　Thing；　〃when　I　carefully　look　you　over；　my　masters；　none　of　you　seems　to　be　constructed　much　more　artistically　than　I　am。〃
　　〃Appearances　are　deceitful；〃　said　the　Woggle…Bug；　earnestly。　〃I　am　both　Highly　Magnified　and　Thoroughly　Educated。〃
　　〃Indeed！〃　murmured　the　Gump；　indifferently。
　　〃And　my　brains　are　considered　remarkably　rare　specimens；〃　added　the　Scarecrow；　proudly。
　　〃How　strange！〃　remarked　the　Gump。
　　〃Although　I　am　of　tin；〃　said　the　Woodman；　〃I　own　a　heart　altogether　the　warmest　and　most　admirable　in　the　whole　world。〃
　　〃I'm　delighted　to　hear　it；〃　replied　the　Gump；　with　a　slight　cough。
　　〃My　smile；〃　said　Jack　Pumpkinhead；　〃is　worthy　your　best　attention。　It　is　always　the　same。〃
　　〃Semper　idem；〃　explained　the　Woggle…Bug；　pompously；　and　the　Gump　turned　to　stare　at　him。
　　〃And　I；〃　declared　the　Saw…Horse；　filling　in　an　awkward　pause；　〃am　only　remarkable　because　I　can't　help　it。〃
　　〃I　am　proud；　indeed；　to　meet　with　such　exceptional　masters；〃　said　the　Gump；　in　a　careless　tone。　〃If　I　could　but　secure　so　plete　an　introduction　to　myself；　I　would　be　more　than　satisfied。〃
　　〃That　will　e　in　time；〃　remarked　the　Scarecrow。　〃To　'Know　Thyself'　is　considered　quite　an　acplishment；　which　it　has　taken　us；　who　are　your　elders；　months　to　perfect。　But　now；〃　he　added；　turning　to　the　others；　〃let　us　get　aboard　and　start　upon　our　journey。〃
　　〃Where　shall　we　go？〃　asked　Tip；　as　he　clambered　to　a　seat　on　the　sofas　and　assisted　the　Pumpkinhead　to　follow　him。
　　〃In　the　South　Country　rules　a　very　delightful　Queen　called　Glinda　the　Good；　who　I　am　sure　will　gladly　receive　us；〃　said　the　Scarecrow；　getting　into　the　Thing　clumsily。　〃Let　us　go　to　her　and　ask　her　advice。〃
　　〃That　is　cleverly　thought　of；〃　declared　Nick　Chopper；　giving　the　Woggle…Bug　a　boost　and　then　toppling　the　Saw…Horse　into　the　rear　end　of　the　cushioned　seats。〃　I　know　Glinda　the　Good；　and　believe　she　will　prove　a　friend　indeed。〃
　　〃Are　we　all　ready？〃　asked　the　boy。
　　〃Yes；〃　announced　the　Tin　Woodman；　seating　himself　beside　the　Scarecrow。
　　〃Then；〃　said　Tip；　addressing　the　Gump；　〃be　kind　enough　to　fly　with　us　to　the　Southward；　and　do　not　go　higher　than　to　escape　the　houses　and　trees；　for　it　makes　me　dizzy　to　be　up　so　far。〃
　　〃All　right；〃　answered　the　Gump；　briefly。
　　It　flopped　its　four　huge　wings　and　rose　slowly　into　the　air；　and　then；　while　our　little　band　of　adventurers　clung　to　the　backs　and　sides　of　the　sofas　for　support；　the　Gump　turned　toward　the　South　and　soared　swiftly　and　majestically　away。
　　〃The　scenic　effect；　from　this　altitude；　is　marvelous；〃　mented　the　educated　Woggle…Bug；　as　they　rode　along。
　　〃Never　mind　the　scenery；〃　said　the　Scarecrow。　〃Hold　on　tight；　or　you　may　get　a　tumble。　The　Thing　seems　to　rock　badly。'　〃It　will　be　dark　soon；〃　said　Tip；　observing　that　the　sun　was　low　on　the　horizon。　〃Perhaps　we　should　have　waited　until　morning。　I　wonder　if　the　Gump　can　fly　in　the　night。〃
　　〃I've　been　wondering　that　myself；〃　returned　the　Gump　quietly。　〃You　see；　this　is　a　new　experience　to　me。　I　used　to　have　legs　that　carried　me　swiftly　over　the　ground。　But　now　my　legs　feel　as　if　they　were　asleep。〃
　　〃They　are；〃　said　Tip。　〃We　didn't　bring　'em　to　life。〃
　　〃You're　expected　to　fly；〃　explained　the　Scarecrow。　〃not　to　walk。〃
　　〃We　can　walk　ourselves；〃　said　the　Woggle…Bug。〃　I　begin　to　understand　what　is　required　of　me；〃　remarked　the　Gump；　〃so　I　will　do　my　best　to　please　you；〃　and　he　flew　on　for　a　time　in　silence。
　　Presently　Jack　Pumpkinhead　became　uneasy。
　　〃I　wonder　if　riding　through　the　air　is　liable　to　spoil　pumpkins；〃　he　said。
　　〃Not　unless　you　carelessly　drop　your　head　over　the　side；〃　answered　the　Woggle…Bug。　〃In　that　event　your　head　would　no　longer　be　a　pumpkin；　for　it　would　bee　a　squash。〃
　　〃Have　I　not　asked　you　to　restrain　these　unfeeling　jokes？〃　demanded　Tip；　looking　at　the　Woggle…Bug　with　a　severe　expression。
　　〃You　have；　and　I've　restrained　a　good　many　of　them；〃　replied　the　insect。　〃But　there　are　opportunities　for　so　many　excellent　puns　in　our　language　that；　to　an　educated　person　like　myself；　the　temptation　to　express　them　is　almost　irresistible。〃
　　〃People　with　more　or　less　education　discovered　those　puns　centuries　ago；〃　said　Tip。
　　〃Are　you　sure？〃　asked　the　Woggle…Bug；　with　a　startled　look。
　　〃Of　course　I　am；〃　answered　the　boy。　〃An　educated　Woggle…Bug　may　be　a　new　thing；　but　a　Woggle…Bug　education　is　as　old　as　the　hills；　judging　from　the　display　you　make　of　it。〃　The　insect　seemed　much　impressed　by　this　remark；　and　for　a　time　maintained　a　meek　silence。
　　The　Scarecrow；　in　shifting　his　seat；　saw　upon　the　cushions　the　pepper…box　which　Tip　had　cast　aside；　and　began　to　examine　it。
　　〃Throw　it　overboard；〃　said　the　boy；　〃it's　quite　empty　now；　and　there's　no　use　keeping　it。〃
　　〃Is　it　really　empty？〃　asked　the　Scarecrow；　looking　curiously　into　the　box。
　　〃Of　course　it　is；〃　answered　Tip。　〃I　shook　out　every　grain　of　the　powder。
　　〃Then　the　box　has　two　bottoms；〃　announced　the　Scarecrow；　〃for　the　bottom　on　the　inside　is　fully　an　inch　away　from　the　bottom　on　the　outside。〃
　　〃Let　me　see；〃　said　the　Tin　Woodman；　taking　the　box　from　his　friend。　〃Yes；〃　he　declared；　after　looking　it　over；　〃the　thing　certainly　has　a　false　bottom。　Now；　I　wonder　what　that　is　for？〃
　　〃Can't　you　get　it　apart；　and　find　out？〃　enquired　Tip；　now　quite　interested　in　the　mystery。
　　〃Why；　yes；　the　lower　bottom　unscrews；〃　said　the　Tin　Woodman。　〃My　fingers　are　rather　stiff；　please　see　if　you　can　open　it。〃　He　handed　the　pepper…box　to　Tip；　who　had　no　difficulty　in　unscrewing　the　bottom。　And　in　the　cavity　below　were　three　silver　pills；　with　a　carefully　folded　paper　lying　underneath　them。
　　This　paper　the　boy　proceeded　to　unfold；　taking　care　not　to　spill　the　pills；　and　found　several　lines　clearly　written　in　red　ink。
　　〃Read　it　aloud；〃　said　the　Scarecrow。　so　Tip　read；　as　follows：　〃Directions　for　Use：　Swallow　one　pill；　count　seventeen　by　twos；　then　make