the scarecrow of oz-第14节
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it was safe and comfortable。 When all this had been
arranged one of the birds asked：
〃Where do you wish us to take you？〃
〃Why； just follow the Ork；〃 said Cap'n Bill。 〃He will
be our leader； and wherever the Ork flies you are to fly；
and wherever the Ork lands you are to land。 Is that
satisfactory？〃
The birds declared it was quite satisfactory； so Cap'n
Bill took counsel with the Ork。
〃On our way here；〃 said that peculiar creature； 〃I
noticed a broad； sandy desert at the left of me； on which
was no living thing。〃
〃Then we'd better keep away from it；〃 replied the
sailor。
〃Not so；〃 insisted the Ork。 〃I have found； on my
travels； that the most pleasant countries often lie in
the midst of deserts； so I think it would be wise for us
to fly over this desert and discover what lies beyond it。
For in the direction we came from lies the ocean； as we
well know； and beyond here is this strange Land of Mo；
which we do not care to explore。 On one side； as we can
see from this mountain； is a broad expanse of plain； and
on the other the desert。 For my part； I vote for the
desert。〃
〃What do you say； Trot？〃 inquired Cap'n Bill。
〃It's all the same to me；〃 she replied。
No one thought of asking Button…Bright's opinion； so it
was decided to fly over the desert。 They bade good…bye to
the Bumpy Man and thanked him for his kindness and
hospitality。 Then they seated themselves in the swings
one for each bird and told the Ork to start away and
they would follow。
The whirl of the Ork's tail astonished the birds at
first； but after he had gone a short distance they rose
in the air； carrying their passengers easily； and flew
with strong； regular strokes of their great wings in the
wake of their leader。
Chapter Nine
The Kingdom of Jinxland
Trot rode with more comfort than she had expected；
although the swing swayed so much that she had to hold on
tight with both hands。 Cap'n Bill's bird followed the
Ork； and Trot came next； with Button…Bright trailing
behind her。 It was quite an imposing procession； but
unfortunately there was no one to see it； for the Ork had
headed straight for the great sandy desert and in a few
minutes after starting they were flying high over the
broad waste； where no living thing could exist。
The little girl thought this would be a bad place for
the birds to lose strength； or for the cloth ropes to
give way； but although she could not help feeling a
trifle nervous and fidgety she had confidence in the huge
and brilliantly plumaged bird that bore her； as well as
in Cap'n Bill's knowledge of how to twist and fasten a
rope so it would hold。
That was a remarkably big desert。 There was nothing to
relieve the monotony of view and every minute seemed an
hour and every hour a day。 Disagreeable fumes and gases
rose from the sands； which would have been deadly to the
travelers had they not been so high in the air。 As it
was； Trot was beginning to feel sick； when a breath of
fresher air filled her nostrils and on looking ahead she
saw a great cloud of pink…tinted mist。 Even while she
wondered what it could be； the Ork plunged boldly into
the mist and the other birds followed。 She could see
nothing for a time； nor could the bird which carried her
see where the Ork had gone； but it kept flying as
sturdily as ever and in a few moments the mist was passed
and the girl saw a most beautiful landscape spread out
below her； extending as far as her eye could reach。
She saw bits of forest； verdure clothed hills； fields
of waving grain； fountains； rivers and lakes； and
throughout the scene were scattered groups of pretty
houses and a few grand castles and palaces。
Over all this delightful landscape which from Trot's
high perch seemed like a magnificent painted picture
was a rosy glow such as we sometimes see in the west at
sunset。 In this case； however； it was not in the west
only； but everywhere。
No wonder the Ork paused to circle slowly over this
lovely country。 The other birds followed his action； all
eyeing the place with equal delight。 Then； as with one
accord； the four formed a group and slowly sailed
downward。 This brought them to that part of the newly…
discovered land which bordered on the desert's edge； but
it was just as pretty here as anywhere； so the Ork and
the birds alighted and the three passengers at once got
out of their swings。
〃Oh； Cap'n Bill； isn't this fine an' dandy？〃 exclaimed
Trot rapturously。 〃How lucky we were to discover this
beautiful country！〃
〃The country seems rather high class； I'll admit；
Trot；〃 replied the old sailor…man； looking around him；
〃but we don't know； as yet； what its people are like。〃
〃No one could live in such a country without being
happy and good I'm sure of that；〃 she said earnestly。
〃Don't you think so； Button…Bright？〃
〃I'm not thinking； just now；〃 answered the little boy。
〃It tires me to think； and I never seem to gain anything
by it。 When we see the people who live here we will know
what they are like； and no 'mount of thinking will make
them any different。〃
〃That's true enough；〃 said the Ork。 〃But now I want to
make a proposal。 While you are getting acquainted with
this new country； which looks as if it contains
everything to make one happy； I would like to fly along …
… all by myself and see if I can find my home on the
other side of the great desert。 If I do； I will stay
there； of course。 But if I fail to find Orkland I will
return to you in a week； to see if I can do anything more
to assist you。〃
They were sorry to lose their queer companion； but
could offer no objection to the plan； so the Ork bade
them good…bye and rising swiftly in the air； he flew over
the country and was soon lost to view in the distance。
The three birds which had carried our friends now
begged permission to return by the way they had come； to
their own homes； saying they were anxious to show their
families how big they had become。 So Cap'n Bill and Trot
and Button…Bright all thanked them gratefully for their
assistance and soon the birds began their long flight
toward the Land of Mo。 Being now left to themselves in
this strange land； the three comrades selected a pretty
pathway and began walking along it。 They believed this
path would lead them to a splendid castle which they
espied in the distance； the turrets of which towered far
above the tops of the trees which surrounded it。 It did
not seem very far away； so they sauntered on slowly；
admiring the beautiful ferns and flowers that lined the
pathway and listening to the singing of the birds and the
soft chirping of the grasshoppers。
Presently the path wound over a little hill。 In a
valley that lay beyond the hill was a tiny cottage
surrounded by flower beds and fruit trees。 On the shady
porch of the cottage they saw； as they approached； a
pleasant faced woman sitting amidst a group of children；
to whom she was telling stories。 The children quickly
discovered the strangers and ran toward them with
exclamations of astonishment； so that Trot and her
friends became the center of a curious group； all
chattering excitedly。 Cap'n Bill's wooden leg seemed to
arouse the wonder of the children； as they could not
understand why he had not two meat legs。 This attention
seemed to please the old sailor； who patted the heads of
the children kindly and then； raising his hat to the
woman； he inquired：
〃Can you tell us； madam； just what country this is？〃
She stared hard at all three of the strangers as she
replied briefly： 〃Jinxland。〃
〃Oh！〃 exclaimed Cap'n Bill； with a puzzled look。 〃And
where is Jinxland； please？〃
〃In the Quadling Country；〃 said she。
〃What！〃 cried Trot； in sudden excitement。 〃Do you mean
to say this is the Quadling Country of the Land of Oz？〃
〃To be sure I do；〃 the woman answered。 〃Every bit of
land that is surrounded by the great desert is the Land
of Oz； as you ought to know as well as I do； but I'm
sorry to say that Jinxland is separated from the rest of
the Quadling Country by that row of high mountains y
