the scarecrow of oz-第15节
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sorry to say that Jinxland is separated from the rest of
the Quadling Country by that row of high mountains you
see yonder； which have such steep sides that no one can
cross them。 So we live here all by ourselves； and are
ruled by our own King； instead of by Ozma of Oz。〃
〃I've been to the Land of Oz before；〃 said Button…
Bright； 〃but I've never been here。〃
〃Did you ever hear of Jinxland before？〃 asked Trot。
〃No；〃 said Button…Bright。
〃It is on the Map of Oz； though；〃 asserted the woman；
〃and it's a fine country； I assure you。 If only；〃 she
added； and then paused to look around her with a
frightened expression。 〃If only 〃 here she stopped
again； as if not daring to go on with her speech。
〃If only what； ma'am？〃 asked Cap'n Bill。
The woman sent the children into the house。 Then she
came closer to the strangers and whispered： 〃If only we
had a different King； we would be very happy and
contented。〃
〃What's the matter with your King？〃 asked Trot；
curiously。 But the woman seemed frightened to have said
so much。 She retreated to her porch； merely saying：
〃The King punishes severely any treason on the part of
his subjects。〃
〃What's treason？〃 asked Button…Bright。
〃In this case；〃 replied Cap'n Bill； 〃treason seems to
consist of knockin' the King； but I guess we know his
disposition now as well as if the lady had said more。〃
〃I wonder；〃 said Trot； going up to the woman； 〃if you
could spare us something to eat。 We haven't had anything
but popcorn and lemonade for a long time。〃
〃Bless your heart！ Of course I can spare you some
food；〃 the woman answered； and entering her cottage she
soon returned with a tray loaded with sandwiches； cakes
and cheese。 One of the children drew a bucket of clear；
cold water from a spring and the three wanderers ate
heartily and enjoyed the good things immensely。
When Button…Bright could eat no more he filled the
pockets of his jacket with cakes and cheese； and not even
the children objected to this。 Indeed they all seemed
pleased to see the strangers eat； so Cap'n Bill decided
that no matter what the King of Jinxland was like； the
people would prove friendly and hospitable。
〃Whose castle is that； yonder； ma'am？〃 he asked； waving
his hand toward the towers that rose above the trees。
〃It belongs to his Majesty； King Krewl。〃 she said。
〃Oh； indeed； and does he live there？〃
〃When he is not out hunting with his fierce courtiers
and war captains；〃 she replied。
〃Is he hunting now？〃 Trot inquired。
〃I do not know； my dear。 The less we know about the
King's actions the safer we are。〃
It was evident the woman did not like to talk about
King Krewl and so； having finished their meal； they said
good…bye and continued along the pathway。
〃Don't you think we'd better keep away from that
King's castle； Cap'n？〃 asked Trot。
〃Well；〃 said he； 〃King Krewl would find out； sooner or
later； that we are in his country； so we may as well face
the music now。 Perhaps he isn't quite so bad as that
woman thinks he is。 Kings aren't always popular with
their people； you know； even if they do the best they
know how。〃
〃Ozma is pop'lar；〃 said Button…Bright。
〃Ozma is diff'rent from any other Ruler； from all I've
heard；〃 remarked Trot musingly； as she walked beside the
boy。 〃And； after all； we are really in the Land of Oz；
where Ozma rules ev'ry King and ev'rybody else。 I never
heard of anybody getting hurt in her dominions； did you；
Button…Bright？〃
〃Not when she knows about it；〃 he replied。 〃But those
birds landed us in just the wrong place； seems to me。
They might have carried us right on； over that row of
mountains； to the Em'rald City。〃
〃True enough；〃 said Cap'n Bill； 〃but they didn't； an'
so we must make the best of Jinxland。 Let's try not to be
afraid。〃
〃Oh； I'm not very scared；〃 said Button…Bright； pausing
to look at a pink rabbit that popped its head out of a
hole in the field near by。
〃Nor am I；〃 added Trot。 〃Really； Cap'n； I'm so glad to
be anywhere at all in the wonderful fairyland of Oz that
I think I'm the luckiest girl in all the world。 Dorothy
lives in the Em'rald City； you know； and so does the
Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman and Tik…Tok and the Shaggy
Man and all the rest of 'em that we've heard so much
about not to mention Ozma； who must be the sweetest
and loveliest girl in all the world！〃
〃Take your time； Trot；〃 advised Button…Bright。 〃You
don't have to say it all in one breath； you know。 And you
haven't mentioned half of the curious people in the
Em'rald City。〃
〃That 'ere Em'rald City；〃 said Cap'n Bill impressively；
〃happens to be on the other side o' those mountains； that
we're told no one is able to cross。 I don't want to
discourage of you； Trot； but we're a'most as much
separated from your Ozma an' Dorothy as we were when we
lived in Californy。〃
There was so much truth in this statement that they all
walked on in silence for some time。 Finally they reached
the grove of stately trees that bordered the grounds of
the King's castle。 They had gone halfway through it when
the sound of sobbing； as of someone in bitter distress；
reached their ears and caused them to halt abruptly。
Chapter Ten
Pon； the Gardener's Boy
It was Button…Bright who first discovered； lying on his
face beneath a broad spreading tree near the pathway； a
young man whose body shook with the force of his sobs。 He
was dressed in a long brown smock and had sandals on his
feet； betokening one in humble life。 His head was bare
and showed a shock of brown； curly hair。 Button…Bright
looked down on the young man and said：
〃Who cares； anyhow？〃
〃I do！〃 cried the young man； interrupting his sobs to
roll over； face upward； that he might see who had spoken。
〃I care； for my heart is broken！〃
〃Can't you get another one？〃 asked the little boy。
〃I don't want another！〃 wailed the young man。
By this time Trot and Cap'n Bill arrived at the spot
and the girl leaned over and said in a sympathetic voice：
〃Tell us your troubles and perhaps we may help you。〃
The youth sat up； then； and bowed politely。 Afterward
he got upon his feet； but still kept wringing his hands
as he tried to choke down his sobs。 Trot thought he was
very brave to control such awful agony so well。
〃My name is Pon；〃 he began。 〃I'm the gardener's boy。〃
〃Then the gardener of the King is your father； I
suppose；〃 said Trot。
〃Not my father； but my master；〃 was the reply
〃I do the work and the gardener gives the orders。 And
it was not my fault； in the least； that the Princess
Gloria fell in love with me。〃
〃Did she； really？〃 asked the little girl。
〃I don't see why；〃 remarked Button…Bright； staring at
the youth。
〃And who may the Princess Gloria be？〃 inquired Cap'n
Bill。
〃She is the niece of King Krewl； who is her guardian。
The Princess lives in the castle and is the loveliest and
sweetest maiden in all Jinxland。 She is fond of flowers
and used to walk in the gardens with her attendants。 At
such times； if I was working at my tasks； I used to cast
down my eyes as Gloria passed me； but one day I glanced
up and found her gazing at me with a very tender look in
her eyes。 The next day she dismissed her attendants and；
coming to my side； began to talk with me。 She said I had
touched her heart as no other young man had ever done。 I
kissed her hand。 Just then the King came around a bend in
the walk。 He struck me with his fist and kicked me with
his foot。 Then he seized the arm of the Princess and
rudely dragged her into the castle。〃
〃Wasn't he awful！〃 gasped Trot indignantly。
〃He is a very abrupt King；〃 said Pon； 〃so it was the
least I could expect。 Up to that time I had not thought
of loving Princess Gloria； but realizing it would be
impolite not to return her love； I did so。 We met at
evening； now and then； and she told me the King wanted
her to marry a rich courtier named Googly…Goo； who is old
enough to be Gloria's
