the scarecrow of oz-第4节
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〃I am not usually careless in my actions； but that
whirlpool was so busy yesterday that I thought I'd see
what mischief it was up to。 So I flew a little too near
it and the suction of the air drew me down into the
depths of the ocean。 Water and I are natural enemies；
and it would have conquered me this time had not a bevy
of pretty mermaids come to my assistance and dragged me
away from the whirling water and far up into a cavern；
where they deserted me。〃
〃Why； that's about the same thing that happened to
us；〃 cried Trot。 〃Was your cavern like this one？〃
〃I haven't examined this one yet；〃 answered the Ork；
〃but if they happen to be alike I shudder at our fate；
for the other one was a prison； with no outlet except
by means of the water。 I stayed there all night；
however； and this morning I plunged into the pool； as
far down as I could go； and then swam as hard and as
far as I could。 The rocks scraped my back； now and
then； and I barely escaped the clutches of an ugly sea…
monster； but by and by I came to the surface to catch
my breath； and found myself here。 That's the whole
story； and as I see you have something to eat I entreat
you to give me a share of it。 The truth is； I'm half
starved。〃
With these words the Ork squatted down beside them。
Very reluctantly Cap'n Bill drew another biscuit from
his pocket and held it out。 The Ork promptly seized it
in one of its front claws and began to nibble the
biscuit in much the same manner a parrot might have
done。
〃We haven't much grub；〃 said the sailor…man； 〃but
we're willin' to share it with a comrade in distress。〃
〃That's right；〃 returned the Ork； cocking its head
sidewise in a cheerful manner； and then for a few
minutes there was silence while they all ate of the
biscuits。 After a while Trot said：
〃I've never seen or heard of an Ork before。 Are there
many of you？〃
〃We are rather few and exclusive； I believe；〃 was the
reply。 〃In the country where I was born we are the
absolute rulers of all living things； from ants to
elephants。〃
〃What country is that？〃 asked Cap'n Bill。
〃Orkland。〃
〃Where does it lie？〃
〃I don't know； exactly。 You see； I have a restless
nature； for some reason； while all the rest of my race
are quiet and contented Orks and seldom stray far from
home。 From childhood days I loved to fly long distances
away； although father often warned me that I would get
into trouble by so doing。
〃'It's a big world； Flipper； my son；' he would say；
'and I've heard that in parts of it live queer two…
legged creatures called Men； who war upon all other
living things and would have little respect for even an
Ork。'
〃This naturally aroused my curiosity and after I had
completed my education and left school I decided to fly
out into the world and try to get a glimpse of the
creatures called Men。 So I left home without saying
good…bye； an act I shall always regret。 Adventures were
many； I found。 I sighted men several times； but have
never before been so close to them as now。 Also I had
to fight my way through the air； for I met gigantic
birds； with fluffy feathers all over them； which
attacked me fiercely。 Besides； it kept me busy escaping
from floating airships。 In my rambling I had lost all
track of distance or direction； so that when I wanted
to go home I had no idea where my country was located。
I've now been trying to find it for several months and
it was during one of my flights over the ocean that I
met the whirlpool and became its victim。〃
Trot and Cap'n Bill listened to this recital with
much interest； and from the friendly tone and harmless
appearance of the Ork they judged he was not likely to
prove so disagreeable a companion as at first they had
feared he might be。
The Ork sat upon its haunches much as a cat does； but
used the finger…like claws of its front legs almost as
cleverly as if they were hands。 Perhaps the most
curious thing about the creature was its tail； or what
ought to have been its tail。 This queer arrangement of
skin； bones and muscle was shaped like the propellers
used on boats and airships； having fan…like surfaces
and being pivoted to its body。 Cap'n Bill knew
something of mechanics； and observing the propeller…
like tail of the Ork he said：
〃I s'pose you're a pretty swift flyer？〃
〃Yes； indeed； the Orks are admitted to be Kings of
the Air。〃
〃Your wings don't seem to amount to much；〃 remarked
Trot。
〃Well； they are not very big；〃 admitted the Ork；
waving the four hollow skins gently to and fro； 〃but
they serve to support my body in the air while I speed
along by means of my tail。 Still； taken altogether； I'm
very handsomely formed； don't you think？〃
Trot did not like to reply； but Cap'n Bill nodded
gravely。 〃For an Ork；〃 said he； 〃you're a wonder。
I've never seen one afore； but I can imagine you're
as good as any。〃
That seemed to please the creature and it began
walking around the cavern； making its way easily
up the slope。 while it was gone； Trot and Cap'n Bill
each took another sip from the water…flask； to wash
down their breakfast。
〃Why； here's a hole an exit an outlet！〃
exclaimed the Ork from above。
〃We know；〃 said Trot。 〃We found it last night。〃
〃Well； then； let's be off；〃 continued the Ork； after
sticking its head into the black hole and sniffing once
or twice。 〃The air seems fresh and sweet； and it can't
lead us to any worse place than this。〃
The girl and the sailor…man got up and climbed to the
side of the Ork。
〃We'd about decided to explore this hole before you
came；〃 explained Cap'n Bill； 〃but it's a dangerous
place to navigate in the dark； so wait till I light a
candle。〃
〃What is a candle？〃 inquired the Ork。
〃You'll see in a minute；〃 said Trot。
The old sailor drew one of the candles from his
right…side pocket and the tin matchbox from his left…
side pocket。 When he lighted the match the Ork gave a
startled jump and eyed the flame suspiciously； but
Cap'n Bill proceeded to light the candle and the action
interested the Ork very much。
〃Light；〃 it said； somewhat nervously； 〃is valuable in
a hole of this sort。 The candle is not dangerous； I
hope？〃
〃Sometimes it burns your fingers；〃 answered Trot；
〃but that's about the worst it can do 'cept to blow
out when you don't want it to。〃
Cap'n Bill shielded the flame with his hand and
crept into the hole。 It wasn't any too big for a grown
man； but after he had crawled a few feet it grew
larger。 Trot came close behind him and then the
Ork followed。
〃Seems like a reg'lar tunnel；〃 muttered the sailor…
man； who was creeping along awkwardly because of his
wooden leg。 The rocks； too； hurt his knees。
For nearly half an hour the three moved slowly along
the tunnel； which made many twists and turns and
sometimes slanted downward and sometimes upward。
Finally Cap'n Bill stopped short； with an exclamation
of disappointment； and held the flickering candle far
ahead to light the scene。
〃What's wrong？〃 demanded Trot； who could see nothing
because the sailor's form completely filled the hole。
〃Why； we've come to the end of our travels； I guess；〃
he replied。
〃Is the hole blocked？〃 inquired the Ork。
〃No； it's wuss nor that；〃 replied Cap'n Bill sadly。
〃I'm on the edge of a precipice。 Wait a minute an' I'll
move along and let you see for yourselves。 Be careful；
Trot； not to fall。〃
Then he crept forward a little and moved to one side；
holding the candle so that the girl could see to follow
him。 The Ork came next and now all three knelt on a
narrow ledge of rock which dropped straight away and
left a huge black space which the tiny flame of the
candle could not illuminate。
〃H…m！〃 said the Ork； peering over the edge； 〃this
doesn't look very promising； I'll admit。 But let me
take your candle； and I'll fly down and see what's
below us。〃
〃Aren't you afraid？〃 asked Trot。
〃Certainly I'm afraid；〃 responded the Ork。 〃But
if we intend to escape we can't stay on thi
