the wonderful wizard of oz-第24节
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As he spoke several of the beasts caught sight of him； and at
once the great assemblage hushed as if by magic。 The biggest of
the tigers came up to the Lion and bowed； saying：
〃Welcome； O King of Beasts！ You have come in good time to
fight our enemy and bring peace to all the animals of the forest
once more。〃
〃What is your trouble？〃 asked the Lion quietly。
〃We are all threatened；〃 answered the tiger； 〃by a fierce
enemy which has lately come into this forest。 It is a most
tremendous monster； like a great spider； with a body as big as an
elephant and legs as long as a tree trunk。 It has eight of these
long legs； and as the monster crawls through the forest he seizes
an animal with a leg and drags it to his mouth； where he eats it
as a spider does a fly。 Not one of us is safe while this fierce
creature is alive； and we had called a meeting to decide how to
take care of ourselves when you came among us。〃
The Lion thought for a moment。
〃Are there any other lions in this forest？〃 he asked。
〃No； there were some； but the monster has eaten them all。 And；
besides； they were none of them nearly so large and brave as you。〃
〃If I put an end to your enemy； will you bow down to me and
obey me as King of the Forest？〃 inquired the Lion。
〃We will do that gladly；〃 returned the tiger； and all the
other beasts roared with a mighty roar： 〃We will！〃
〃Where is this great spider of yours now？〃 asked the Lion。
〃Yonder； among the oak trees；〃 said the tiger； pointing with
his forefoot。
〃Take good care of these friends of mine；〃 said the Lion； 〃and
I will go at once to fight the monster。〃
He bade his comrades good…bye and marched proudly away to do
battle with the enemy。
The great spider was lying asleep when the Lion found him；
and it looked so ugly that its foe turned up his nose in disgust。
Its legs were quite as long as the tiger had said； and its body
covered with coarse black hair。 It had a great mouth； with a row
of sharp teeth a foot long； but its head was joined to the pudgy
body by a neck as slender as a wasp's waist。 This gave the Lion a
hint of the best way to attack the creature； and as he knew it was
easier to fight it asleep than awake； he gave a great spring and
landed directly upon the monster's back。 Then； with one blow of
his heavy paw； all armed with sharp claws； he knocked the spider's
head from its body。 Jumping down； he watched it until the long
legs stopped wiggling； when he knew it was quite dead。
The Lion went back to the opening where the beasts of the
forest were waiting for him and said proudly：
〃You need fear your enemy no longer。〃
Then the beasts bowed down to the Lion as their King； and he
promised to come back and rule over them as soon as Dorothy was
safely on her way to Kansas。
22。 The Country of the Quadlings
The four travelers passed through the rest of the forest in
safety； and when they came out from its gloom saw before them a
steep hill； covered from top to bottom with great pieces of rock。
〃That will be a hard climb；〃 said the Scarecrow； 〃but we must
get over the hill； nevertheless。〃
So he led the way and the others followed。 They had nearly
reached the first rock when they heard a rough voice cry out；
〃Keep back！〃
〃Who are you？〃 asked the Scarecrow。
Then a head showed itself over the rock and the same voice said；
〃This hill belongs to us； and we don't allow anyone to cross it。〃
〃But we must cross it；〃 said the Scarecrow。 〃We're going to
the country of the Quadlings。〃
〃But you shall not！〃 replied the voice； and there stepped from
behind the rock the strangest man the travelers had ever seen。
He was quite short and stout and had a big head； which was
flat at the top and supported by a thick neck full of wrinkles。
But he had no arms at all； and； seeing this； the Scarecrow did not
fear that so helpless a creature could prevent them from climbing
the hill。 So he said； 〃I'm sorry not to do as you wish； but we
must pass over your hill whether you like it or not；〃 and he
walked boldly forward。
As quick as lightning the man's head shot forward and his neck
stretched out until the top of the head； where it was flat； struck
the Scarecrow in the middle and sent him tumbling； over and over；
down the hill。 Almost as quickly as it came the head went back to
the body； and the man laughed harshly as he said； 〃It isn't as
easy as you think！〃
A chorus of boisterous laughter came from the other rocks； and
Dorothy saw hundreds of the armless Hammer…Heads upon the
hillside； one behind every rock。
The Lion became quite angry at the laughter caused by the
Scarecrow's mishap； and giving a loud roar that echoed like thunder；
he dashed up the hill。
Again a head shot swiftly out； and the great Lion went rolling
down the hill as if he had been struck by a cannon ball。
Dorothy ran down and helped the Scarecrow to his feet； and the
Lion came up to her； feeling rather bruised and sore； and said；
〃It is useless to fight people with shooting heads； no one can
withstand them。〃
〃What can we do； then？〃 she asked。
〃Call the Winged Monkeys；〃 suggested the Tin Woodman。 〃You
have still the right to command them once more。〃
〃Very well；〃 she answered； and putting on the Golden Cap she
uttered the magic words。 The Monkeys were as prompt as ever； and
in a few moments the entire band stood before her。
〃What are your commands？〃 inquired the King of the Monkeys；
bowing low。
〃Carry us over the hill to the country of the Quadlings；〃
answered the girl。
〃It shall be done；〃 said the King； and at once the Winged Monkeys
caught the four travelers and Toto up in their arms and flew away with them。
As they passed over the hill the Hammer…Heads yelled with vexation； and shot
their heads high in the air； but they could not reach the Winged Monkeys；
which carried Dorothy and her comrades safely over the hill and set them
down in the beautiful country of the Quadlings。
〃This is the last time you can summon us；〃 said the leader to
Dorothy； 〃so good…bye and good luck to you。〃
〃Good…bye； and thank you very much；〃 returned the girl； and
the Monkeys rose into the air and were out of sight in a twinkling。
The country of the Quadlings seemed rich and happy。 There was
field upon field of ripening grain； with well…paved roads running
between； and pretty rippling brooks with strong bridges across them。
The fences and houses and bridges were all painted bright red；
just as they had been painted yellow in the country of the Winkies
and blue in the country of the Munchkins。 The Quadlings themselves；
who were short and fat and looked chubby and good…natured； were
dressed all in red； which showed bright against the green grass
and the yellowing grain。
The Monkeys had set them down near a farmhouse； and the four
travelers walked up to it and knocked at the door。 It was opened
by the farmer's wife； and when Dorothy asked for something to eat
the woman gave them all a good dinner； with three kinds of cake
and four kinds of cookies； and a bowl of milk for Toto。
〃How far is it to the Castle of Glinda？〃 asked the child。
〃It is not a great way；〃 answered the farmer's wife。
〃Take the road to the South and you will soon reach it。
Thanking the good woman； they started afresh and walked by the
fields and across the pretty bridges until they saw before them a
very beautiful Castle。 Before the gates were three young girls；
dressed in handsome red uniforms trimmed with gold braid； and as
Dorothy approached； one of them said to her：
〃Why have you come to the South Country？〃
〃To see the Good Witch who rules here；〃 she answered。
〃Will you take me to her？〃
〃Let me have your name； and I will ask Glinda if she will
receive you。〃 They told who they were； and the girl soldier went
into the Castle。 After a few moments she came back to say that
Dorothy and the others were to be admitted at once。
23。 Glinda The Good Witch Grants Dorothy's Wish
Before they went to see Glinda； however； they were taken to a
room of the Castle； where Dorothy washed her face and combed her
hair； and the Lion shook the dust out of his mane； and the
Scarecrow patted himself into his best shape； and the Woodman
polished his tin and oiled his joints。
When they were all quite presentable they followed the soldier
girl into a big room where the Witch Glinda sat upon a throne of rubies。
She was both beautiful and young to their eyes。 Her hair was
a rich red in color and fell in flowing ringlets over her shoulders。
Her dress was pure white
