the scarecrow of oz-第25节
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boy；〃 promised the Ork； 〃for when I fly high in the air I
can look down and easily spy the King's castle。 That was
how I happened to spy you； just entering the grove； so I
flew down and waited until you came out。〃
〃How can you carry me？〃 asked the boy。
〃You'll have to sit straddle my shoulders and put your
arms around my neck。 Do you think you can keep from
falling off？〃
〃I'll try；〃 said Button…Bright。 So the Ork squatted
down and the boy took his seat and held on tight。 Then
the skinny creature's tail began whirling and up they
went； far above all the tree…tops。
After the Ork had circled around once or twice； its
sharp eyes located the towers of the castle and away it
flew； straight toward the place。 As it hovered in the
air； near by the castle； Button…Bright pointed out Pon's
hut； so they landed just before it and Trot came running
out to greet them。
Gloria was introduced to the Ork； who was surprised
to find Cap'n Bill transformed into a grasshopper。
〃How do you like it？〃 asked the creature。
〃Why； it worries me good deal；〃 answered Cap'n Bill；
perched upon Trot's shoulder。 〃I'm always afraid o' bein'
stepped on； and I don't like the flavor of grass an'
can't seem to get used to it。 It's my nature to eat
grass； you know； but I begin to suspect it's an acquired
taste。〃
〃Can you give molasses？〃 asked the Ork。
〃I guess I'm not that kind of a grasshopper；〃 replied
Cap'n Bill。 〃But I can't say what I might do if I was
squeezed which I hope I won't be。〃
〃Well；〃 said the Ork； 〃it's a great pity； and I'd like
to meet that cruel King and his Wicked Witch and punish
them both severely。 You're awfully small； Cap'n Bill； but
I think I would recognize you anywhere by your wooden
leg。〃
Then the Ork and Button…Bright were told all about
Gloria's frozen heart and how the Scarecrow had come from
the Land of Oz to help them。 The Ork seemed rather
disturbed when it learned that the Scarecrow had gone
alone to conquer King Krewl。
〃I'm afraid he'll make a fizzle of it；〃 said the skinny
creature； 〃and there's no telling what that terrible King
might do to the poor Scarecrow； who seems like a very
interesting person。 So I believe I'll take a hand in this
conquest myself。〃
〃How？〃 asked Trot。
〃Wait and see；〃 was the reply。 〃But； first of all； I
must fly home again back to my own country so if
you'll forgive my leaving you so soon； I'll be off at
once。 Stand away from my tail； please； so that the wind
from it； when it revolves； won't knock you over。〃
They gave the creature plenty of room and away it went
like a flash and soon disappeared in the sky。
〃I wonder；〃 said Button…Bright； looking solemnly after
the Ork； 〃whether he'll ever come back again。〃
〃Of course he will！〃 returned Trot。 〃The Ork's a pretty
good fellow； and we can depend on him。 An' mark my words；
Button…Bright； whenever our Ork does come back； there's
one cruel King in Jinxland that'll wish he hadn't。〃
Chapter Eighteen
The Scarecrow Meets an Enemy
The Scarecrow was not a bit afraid of King Krewl。
Indeed； he rather enjoyed the prospect of conquering the
evil King and putting Gloria on the throne of Jinxland in
his place。 So he advanced boldly to the royal castle and
demanded admittance。
Seeing that he was a stranger； the soldiers allowed him
to enter。 He made his way straight to the throne room；
where at that time his Majesty was settling the disputes
among his subjects。
〃Who are you？〃 demanded the King。
〃I'm the Scarecrow of Oz； and I command you to
surrender yourself my prisoner。〃
〃Why should I do that？ 〃 inquired the King； much
astonished at the straw man's audacity。
〃Because I've decided you are too cruel a King to rule
so beautiful a country。 You must remember that Jinxland
is a part of Oz； and therefore you owe allegiance to Ozma
of Oz； whose friend and servant I am。〃
Now； when he heard this； King Krewl was much disturbed
in mind； for he knew the Scarecrow spoke the truth。 But
no one had ever before come to Jinxland from the Land of
Oz and the King did not intend to be put out of his
throne if he could help it。 Therefore he gave a harsh；
wicked laugh of derision and said：
〃I'm busy； now。 Stand out of my way； Scarecrow； and
I'll talk with you by and by。〃
But the Scarecrow turned to the assembled courtiers and
people and called in a loud voice：
〃I hereby declare； in the name of Ozma of Oz； that this
man is no longer ruler of Jinxland。 From this moment
Princess Gloria is your rightful Queen； and I ask all of
you to be loyal to her and to obey her commands。〃
The people looked fearfully at the King； whom they all
hated in their hearts； but likewise feared。 Krewl was now
in a terrible rage and he raised his golden sceptre and
struck the Scarecrow so heavy a blow that he fell to the
floor。
But he was up again； in an instant； and with Pon's
riding…whip he switched the King so hard that the wicked
monarch roared with pain as much as with rage； calling on
his soldiers to capture the Scarecrow。
They tried to do that； and thrust their lances and
swords into the straw body； but without doing any damage
except to make holes in the Scarecrow's clothes。 However；
they were many against one and finally old Googly…Goo
brought a rope which he wound around the Scarecrow；
binding his legs together and his arms to his sides； and
after that the fight was over。
The King stormed and danced around in a dreadful fury；
for he had never been so switched since he was a boy
and perhaps not then。 He ordered the Scarecrow thrust
into the castle prison； which was no task at all because
one man could carry him easily； bound。 as he was。
Even after the prisoner was removed the King could not
control his anger。 He tried to figure out some way to be
revenged upon the straw man； but could think of nothing
that could hurt him。 At last； when the terrified people
and the frightened courtiers had all slunk away； old
Googly…Goo approached the king with a malicious grin upon
his face。
〃I'll tell you what to do；〃 said he。 〃Build a big
bonfire and burn the Scarecrow up； and that will be the
end of him。〃
The King was so delighted with this suggestion that he
hugged old Googly…Goo in his joy
〃Of course！〃 he cried。 〃The very thing。 Why did I not
think of it myself？〃
So he summoned his soldiers and retainers and bade them
prepare a great bonfire in an open space in the castle
park。 Also he sent word to all his people to assemble and
witness the destruction of the Scarecrow who had dared to
defy his power。 Before long a vast throng gathered in the
park and the servants had heaped up enough fuel to make a
fire that might be seen for miles away even in the
daytime。
When all was prepared； the King had his throne brought
out for him to sit upon and enjoy the spectacle； and then
he sent his soldiers to fetch the Scarecrow。
Now the one thing in all the world that the straw man
really feared was fire。 He knew he would burn very easily
and that his ashes wouldn't amount to much afterward。 It
wouldn't hurt him to be destroyed in such a manner； but
he realized that many people in the Land of Oz； and
especially Dorothy and the Royal Ozma； would feel sad if
they learned that their old friend the Scarecrow was no
longer in existence。
In spite of this； the straw man was brave and faced his
fiery fate like a hero。 When they marched him out before
the concourse of people he turned to the King with great
calmness and said：
〃This wicked deed will cost you your throne； as well as
much suffering； for my friends will avenge my
destruction。〃
〃Your friends are not here； nor will they know what I
have done to you； when you are gone and can…not tell
them；〃 answered the King in a scornful voice。
Then he ordered the Scarecrow bound to a stout stake
that he had had driven into the ground； and the materials
for the fire were heaped all around him。 When this had
been done； the K
