the scarecrow of oz-第13节
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happened to them； and when about twenty had been captured
in this manner Cap'n Bill tied the ends of all the
strings together and fastened them to a huge stone； so
they could not escape。
The Bumpy Man watched the old sailor's actions
with much curiosity
〃The birds will be quiet until they've eaten up all the
snow；〃 he said； 〃but then they will want to fly away to
their homes。 Tell me； sir； what will the poor things do
when they find they can't fly？〃
〃It may worry 'em a little；〃 replied Cap'n Bill； 〃but
they're not going to be hurt if they take it easy and
behave themselves。〃
Our friends had all made a good breakfast of the
delicious popcorn and now they walked toward the house
again。 Button…Bright walked beside Trot and held her hand
in his； because they were old friends and he liked the
little girl very much。 The boy was not so old as Trot；
and small as she was he was half a head shorter in
height。 The most remarkable thing about Button…Bright was
that he was always quiet and composed； whatever happened；
and nothing was ever able to astonish him。 Trot liked him
because he was not rude and never tried to plague her。
Cap'n Bill liked him because he had found the boy
cheerful and brave at all times； and willing to do
anything he was asked to do。
When they came to the house Trot sniffed the air and
asked 〃Don't I smell perfume？〃
〃I think you do；〃 said the Bumpy Man。 〃You smell
violets； and that proves there is a breeze springing up
from the south。 All our winds and breezes are perfumed
and for that reason we are glad to have them blow in our
direction。 The south breeze always has a violet odor； the
north breeze has the fragrance of wild roses； the east
breeze is perfumed with lilies…of…the…valley and the west
wind with lilac blossoms。 So we need no weathervane to
tell us which way the wind is blowing。 We have only to
smell the perfume and it informs us at once。〃
Inside the house they found the Ork； and Button…Bright
regarded the strange； birdlike creature with curious
interest。 After examining it closely for a time he asked：
〃Which way does your tail whirl？〃
〃Either way；〃 said the Ork。
Button…Bright put out his hand and tried to spin it。
〃Don't do that！〃 exclaimed the Ork。
〃Why not？ 〃 inquired the boy。
〃Because it happens to be my tail； and I reserve the
right to whirl it myself；〃 explained the Ork。
〃Let's go out and fly somewhere；〃 proposed Button…
Bright。 〃I want to see how the tail works。〃
〃Not now；〃 said the Ork。 〃I appreciate your interest in
me； which I fully deserve； but I only fly when I am going
somewhere； and if I got started I might not stop。〃
〃That reminds me；〃 remarked Cap'n Bill； 〃to ask you；
friend Ork； how we are going to get away from here？〃
〃Get away！〃 exclaimed the Bumpy Man。 〃Why don't you
stay here？ You won't find any nicer place than Mo。〃
〃Have you been anywhere else； sir？〃
〃No； I can't say that I have；〃 admitted the Mountain
Ear。
〃Then permit me to say you're no judge；〃 declared Cap'n
Bill。 〃But you haven't answered my question； friend Ork。
How are we to get away from this mountain？〃
The Ork reflected a while before he answered。
〃I might carry one of you the boy or the girl upon
my back；〃 said he； 〃but three big people are more than I
can manage； although I have carried two of you for a
short distance。 You ought not to have eaten those purple
berries so soon。〃
〃P'r'aps we did make a mistake；〃 Cap'n Bill
acknowledged。
〃Or we might have brought some of those lavender
berries with us； instead of so many purple ones；〃
suggested Trot regretfully。
Cap'n Bill made no reply to this statement； which
showed he did not fully agree with the little girl； but
he fell into deep thought； with wrinkled brows； and
finally he said：
〃If those purple berries would make anything grow
bigger； whether it'd eaten the lavender ones or not；
I could find a way out of our troubles。〃
They did not understand this speech and looked at
the old sailor as if expecting him to explain what he
meant。 But just then a chorus of shrill cries rose from
outside。
〃Here！ Let me go let me go！〃 the voices seemed to
say。 〃Why are we insulted in this way？ Mountain Ear； come
and help us！〃
Trot ran to the window and looked out。
〃It's the birds you caught； Cap'n；〃 she said。 〃I didn't
know they could talk。〃
〃Oh； yes； all the birds in Mo are educated to talk；〃
said the Bumpy Man。 Then he looked at Cap'n Bill uneasily
and added： 〃Won't you let the poor things go？〃
〃I'll see；〃 replied the sailor； and walked out to where
the birds were fluttering and complaining because the
strings would not allow them to fly away。
〃Listen to me！〃 he cried； and at once they became
still。 〃We three people who are strangers in your land
want to go to some other country； and we want three of
you birds to carry us there。 We know we are asking a
great favor； but it's the only way we can think of
excep' walkin'； an' I'm not much good at that because
I've a wooden leg。 Besides； Trot an' Button…Bright are
too small to undertake a long and tiresome journey。 Now；
tell me： Which three of you birds will consent to carry
us？〃
The birds looked at one another as if greatly
astonished。 Then one of them replied： 〃You must be crazy；
old man。 Not one of us is big enough to fly with even the
smallest of your party。〃
〃I'll fix the matter of size；〃 promised Cap'n Bill。 〃If
three of you will agree to carry us； I'll make you big
an' strong enough to do it； so it won't worry you a bit。〃
The birds considered this gravely。 Living in a magic
country； they had no doubt but that the strange one…
legged man could do what he said。 After a little； one of
them asked：
〃If you make us big； would we stay big always？〃
〃I think so；〃 replied Cap'n Bill。
They chattered a while among themselves and then the
bird that had first spoken said： 〃I'll go； for one。〃
〃So will I；〃 said another； and after a pause a third
said： 〃I'll go； too。〃
Perhaps more would have volunteered； for it seemed that
for some reason they all longed to be bigger than they
were； but three were enough for Cap'n Bill's purpose and
so he promptly released all the others； who immediately
flew away。
The three that remained were cousins； and all were of
the same brilliant plumage and in size about as large as
eagles。 When Trot questioned them she found they were
quite young； having only abandoned their nests a few
weeks before。 They were strong young birds； with clear；
brave eyes； and the little girl decided they were the
most beautiful of all the feathered creatures she had
ever seen。
Cap'n Bill now took from his pocket the wooden box with
the sliding cover and removed the three purple berries；
which were still in good condition。
〃Eat these；〃 he said； and gave one to each of the
birds。 They obeyed； finding the fruit very pleasant to
taste。 In a few seconds they began to grow in size and
grew so fast that Trot feared they would never stop。 But
they finally did stop growing； and then they were much
larger than the Ork； and nearly the size of full…grown
ostriches。
Cap'n Bill was much pleased by this result。
〃You can carry us now； all right；〃 said he。
The birds strutted around with pride； highly pleased
with their immense size。
〃I don't see； though；〃 said Trot doubtfully； 〃how
we're going to ride on their backs without falling off。〃
〃We're not going to ride on their backs；〃 answered
Cap'n Bill。 〃I'm going to make swings for us to ride in。〃
He then asked the Bumpy Man for some rope； but the man
had no rope。 He had； however； an old suit of gray clothes
which he gladly presented to Cap'n Bill； who cut the
cloth into strips and twisted it so that it was almost as
strong as rope。 With this material he attached to each
bird a swing that dangled below its feet； and Button…
Bright made a trial flight in one of them to prove that
it was safe and comfortable。 When all this h
