fb.themarvelouslandofoz-第4节

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　　〃Oh；　this　is　a　horse；〃　replied　the　boy；　carelessly。
　　〃What　is　a　horse？〃　demanded　Jack。
　　〃A　horse？　Why；　there　are　two　kinds　of　horses；〃　returned　Tip；　slightly　puzzled　how　to　explain。　〃One　kind　of　horse　is　alive；　and　has　four　legs　and　a　head　and　a　tail。　And　people　ride　upon　its　back。〃
　　〃I　understand；〃　said　Jack；　cheerfully　〃That's　the　kind　of　horse　you　are　now　sitting　on。〃
　　〃No；　it　isn't；〃　answered　Tip；　promptly。
　　〃Why　not？　That　one　has　four　legs；　and　a　head；　and　a　tail。〃　Tip　looked　at　the　saw…horse　more　carefully；　and　found　that　the　Pumpkinhead　was　right。　The　body　had　been　formed　from　a　tree…trunk；　and　a　branch　had　been　left　sticking　up　at　one　end　that　looked　very　much　like　a　tail。　In　the　other　end　were　two　big　knots　that　resembled　eyes；　and　a　place　had　been　chopped　away　that　might　easily　be　mistaken　for　the　horse's　mouth。　As　for　the　legs；　they　were　four　straight　limbs　cut　from　trees　and　stuck　fast　into　the　body；　being　spread　wide　apart　so　that　the　saw…horse　would　stand　firmly　when　a　log　was　laid　across　it　to　be　sawed。
　　〃This　thing　resembles　a　real　horse　more　than　I　imagined；〃　said　Tip；　trying　to　explain。　〃But　a　real　horse　is　alive；　and　trots　and　prances　and　eats　oats；　while　this　is　nothing　more　than　a　dead　horse；　made　of　wood；　and　used　to　saw　logs　upon。〃
　　〃If　it　were　alive；　wouldn't　it　trot；　and　prance；　and　eat　oats？〃　inquired　the　Pumpkinhead。
　　〃It　would　trot　and　prance；　perhaps；　but　it　wouldn't　eat　oats；〃　replied　the　boy；　laughing　at　the　idea。〃　And　of　course　it　can't　ever　be　alive；　because　it　is　made　of　wood。〃
　　〃So　am　I；〃　answered　the　man。
　　Tip　looked　at　him　in　surprise。
　　〃Why；　so　you　are！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃And　the　magic　powder　that　brought　you　to　life　is　here　in　my　pocket。〃　He　brought　out　the　pepper　box；　and　eyed　it　curiously。
　　〃I　wonder；〃　said　he；　musingly；　〃if　it　would　bring　the　saw…horse　to　life。〃
　　〃If　it　would；〃　returned　Jack；　calmly　for　nothing　seemed　to　surprise　him〃　I　could　ride　on　its　back；　and　that　would　save　my　joints　from　wearing　out。〃
　　〃I'll　try　it！〃　cried　the　boy；　jumping　up。　〃But　I　wonder　if　I　can　remember　the　words　old　Mombi　said；　and　the　way　she　held　her　hands　up。〃　He　thought　it　over　for　a　minute；　and　as　he　had　watched　carefully　from　the　hedge　every　motion　of　the　old　witch；　and　listened　to　her　words；　he　believed　he　could　repeat　exactly　what　she　had　said　and　done。
　　So　he　began　by　sprinkling　some　of　the　magic　Powder　of　Life　from　the　pepper…　box　upon　the　body　of　the　saw…horse。　Then　he　lifted　his　left　hand；　with　the　little　finger　pointing　upward；　and　said：　〃Weaugh！〃
　　〃What　does　that　mean；　dear　father？〃　asked　Jack；　curiously。
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　answered　Tip。　Then　he　lifted　his　right　hand；　with　the　thumb　pointing　upward　and　said：　〃Teaugh！〃
　　〃What's　that；　dear　father？〃　inquired　Jack。
　　〃It　means　you　must　keep　quiet！〃　replied　the　boy；　provoked　at　being　interrupted　at　so　important　a　moment。
　　〃How　fast　I　am　learning！〃　remarked　the　Pumpkinhead；　with　his　eternal　smile。
　　Tip　now　lifted　both　hands　above　his　head；　with　all　the　fingers　and　thumbs　spread　out；　and　cried　in　a　loud　voice：　〃Peaugh！〃　Immediately　the　saw…horse　moved；　stretched　its　legs；　yawned　with　its　chopped…out　mouth；　and　shook　a　few　grains　of　the　powder　off　its　back。　The　rest　of　the　powder　seemed　to　have　vanished　into　the　body　of　the　horse。
　　〃Good！〃　called　Jack；　while　the　boy　looked　on　in　astonishment。　〃You　are　a　very　clever　sorcerer；　dear　father！〃
　　
　　
　　　The　Awakening　of　the　Saw…horse
　　
　　The　Saw…Horse；　finding　himself　alive；　seemed　even　more　astonished　than　Tip。　He　rolled　his　knotty　eyes　from　side　to　side；　taking　a　first　wondering　view　of　the　world　in　which　he　had　now　so　important　an　existence。
　　Then　he　tried　to　look　at　himself；　but　he　had；　indeed；　no　neck　to　turn；　so　that　in　the　endeavor　to　see　his　body　he　kept　circling　around　and　around；　without　catching　even　a　glimpse　of　it。　His　legs　were　stiff　and　awkward；　for　there　were　no　knee…joints　in　them；　so　that　presently　he　bumped　against　Jack　Pumpkinhead　and　sent　that　personage　tumbling　upon　the　moss　that　lined　the　roadside。
　　Tip　became　alarmed　at　this　accident；　as　well　as　at　the　persistence　of　the　Saw…Horse　in　prancing　around　in　a　circle；　so　he　called　out：　〃Whoa！　Whoa；　there！〃　The　Saw…Horse　paid　no　attention　whatever　to　this　mand；　and　the　next　instant　brought　one　of　his　wooden　legs　down　upon　Tip's　foot　so　forcibly　that　the　boy　danced　away　in　pain　to　a　safer　distance；　from　where　he　again　yelled：　〃Whoa！　Whoa；　I　say！〃　Jack　had　now　managed　to　raise　himself　to　a　sitting　position；　and　he　looked　at　the　Saw…Horse　with　much　interest。
　　〃I　don't　believe　the　animal　can　hear　you；〃　he　remarked。
　　〃I　shout　loud　enough；　don't　I？〃　answered　Tip；　angrily。
　　〃Yes；　but　the　horse　has　no　ears；〃　said　the　smiling　Pumpkinhead。
　　〃Sure　enough！〃　exclaimed　Tip；　noting　the　fact　for　the　first　time。　〃How；　then；　am　I　going　to　stop　him？〃　But　at　that　instant　the　Saw…Horse　stopped　himself；　having　concluded　it　was　impossible　to　see　his　own　body。
　　He　saw　Tip；　however；　and　came　close　to　the　boy　to　observe　him　more　fully。
　　It　was　really　ical　to　see　the　creature　walk；　for　it　moved　the　legs　on　its　right　side　together；　and　those　on　its　left　side　together；　as　a　pacing　horse　does；　and　that　made　its　body　rock　sidewise；　like　a　cradle。
　　Tip　patted　it　upon　the　head；　and　said　〃Good　boy！　Good　Boy！〃　in　a　coaxing　tone；　and　the　Saw…Horse　pranced　away　to　examine　with　its　bulging　eyes　the　form　of　Jack　Pumpkinhead。
　　〃I　must　find　a　halter　for　him；〃　said　Tip；　and　having　made　a　search　in　his　pocket　he　produced　a　roll　of　strong　cord。　Unwinding　this；　he　approached　the　Saw…Horse　and　tied　the　cord　around　its　neck；　afterward　fastening　the　other　end　to　a　large　tree。　The　Saw…Horse；　not　understanding　the　action；　stepped　backward　and　snapped　the　string　easily；　but　it　made　no　attempt　to　run　away。
　　〃He's　stronger　than　I　thought；〃　said　the　boy；　〃and　rather　obstinate；　too。〃
　　〃Why　don't　you　make　him　some　ears？〃　asked　Jack。　〃Then　you　can　tell　him　what　to　do。〃
　　〃That's　a　splendid　idea！〃　said　Tip。　〃How　did　you　happen　to　think　of　it？〃
　　〃Why；　I　didn't　think　of　it；〃　answered　the　Pumpkinhead；　〃I　didn't　need　to；　for　it's　the　simplest　and　easiest　thing　to　do。〃　So　Tip　got　out　his　knife　and　fashioned　some　ears　out　of　the　bark　of　a　small　tree。
　　〃I　mustn't　make　them　too　big；〃　he　said；　as　he　whittled；　〃or　our　horse　would　bee　a　donkey。〃
　　〃How　is　that？〃　inquired　Jack；　from　the　roadside。
　　〃Why；　a　horse　has　bigger　ears　than　a　man；　and　a　donkey　has　bigger　ears　than　a　horse；〃　explained　Tip。
　　〃Then；　if　my　ears　were　longer；　would　I　be　a　horse？〃　asked　Jack。
　　〃My　friend；〃　said　Tip；　gravely；　〃you'll　never　be　anything　but　a　Pumpkinhead；　no　matter　how　big　your　ears　are。〃
　　〃Oh；〃　returned　Jack；　nodding；　〃I　think　I　understand。〃
　　〃If　you　do；　you're　a　wonder；〃　remarked　the　boy　〃but　there's　no　harm　in　thinking　you　understand。　I　guess　these　ears　are　ready　now。　Will　you　hold　the　horse　while　I　stick　them　on？〃
　　〃Certainly；　if　you'll　help　me　up；〃　said　Jack。
　　So　Tip　raised　him　to　his　feet；　and　the　Pumpkinhead　went　to　the　horse　and　held　its　head　while　the　boy　bored　two　holes　in　it　with　his　knife…blade　and　inserted　the　ears。
　　〃They　make　him　look　very　handsome；〃　said　Jack；　admiringly。
　　But　those　words；　spoken　close　to　the　Saw…Horse；　and　being　the　first　sounds　he　had　ever　heard；　so　startled　the　animal　that　he　made　a　bound　forward　and　tumbled　Tip　on　one　side　and　Jack　on　the　other。　Then　he　continued　to　rush　forward　as　if　frightened　by　the　clatter　of　his　own　foot…steps。
　　〃Whoa！〃　shouted　Tip；　picking　himself　up；　〃whoa！　you　idiot　whoa！〃　The　Saw…　Horse　would　probably　have　paid　no　attention　to　this；　but　just　then　it　stepped　a　leg　into　a　gopher…hole　and　stumbled　head…over…heels　to　the　ground；　where　it　lay　upon　its　back；　frantically　waving　its　four　legs　in　the　air。
　　Tip　ran　up　to　it。
　　〃You're　a　nice　sort　of　a　horse；　I　must　say！〃　he　exclaimed。　〃Why　didn't　you　stop　when　I　yelled　'whoa？'〃
　　〃Does　'whoa'　mean　to　stop？〃　asked　the　Saw…Horse；　in　a　surprised　voice；　as　it　rolled　its　eyes　upward　to　look　at　the　boy。
　　〃Of　course　it　does；〃　answered　Tip。
　　〃And　a　hole　in　the　ground　means　to　stop；　also；　doesn't　it？〃　continued　the　horse。
　　〃To　be　sure；　unless　you　step　over　it；〃　said　Tip。
　　〃What　a　strange　place　this　is；〃　the　creature　exclaimed；　as　if　amazed。　〃What　am　I　doing　here；　anyway？〃
　　〃Why；　I've　brought　you　to　life；〃　answered　the　boy　〃but　it　won't　hurt　you　any；　if　you　mind　me　and　do　as　I　tell　you。〃
　　〃Then　I　will　do　as　you　tell　me；〃　replied　the　Saw…Horse；　humbly。　〃But　what　happened　to　me；　a　moment　ago？　I　don't　seem　to　be　just　right；　someway。〃
　　〃You're　upside　down；〃　explained　Tip。　〃But　just　keep　those　legs　still　a　minute　and　I'll　set　you　right　side　up　again。〃
　　〃How　many　sides　have　I？〃　asked　the　creature；　wonderingly。
　　〃Several；〃　said　Tip；　briefly。　〃But　do　keep　those　legs　still。〃　The　Saw…Horse　now　became　quiet；　and　held　its　legs　rigid；　so　that　Tip；　after　several　efforts；　was　able　to　roll　him　over　and　set　him　upright。
　　〃Ah；　I　seem　all　right　now；〃　said　the　queer　animal；　with　a　sigh。
　　〃One　of　your　ears　is　broken；〃　Tip　announced；　after　a　careful　examination。　〃I'll　have　to　make　a　new　one。〃　Then　he　led　the　Saw…Hors