the lost princess of oz-第10节
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So he began unharnessing the Sawhorse； and Button…
Bright and Dorothy helped him。 When they had removed
the harness the Patchwork Girl told them to take it all
apart and buckle the straps together； end to end。 And；
after they had done this； they found they had one very
long strap that was stronger than any rope。
〃It would reach across the gulf； easily；〃 said the
Lion； who with the other animals had sat on his
haunches and watched this proceeding。 〃But I don't see
how it could be fastened to one of those dizzy
mountains。〃
Scraps had no such notion as that in her baggy head。
She told them to fasten one end of the strap to a stout
limb of the tree； pointing to one which extended quite
to the edge of the gulf。 Button…Bright did that；
climbing the tree and then crawling out upon the limb
until he was nearly over the gulf。 There he managed to
fasten the strap； which reached to the ground below；
and then he slid down it and was caught by the Wizard；
who feared he might fall into the chasm。
Scraps was delighted She seized the lower end of the
strap and telling them all to get out of her way she
went back as far as the strap would reach and then made
a sudden run toward the gulf。 Over the edge she swung；
clinging to the strap until it had gone as far as its
length permitted； when she let go and sailed gracefully
through the air until she alighted upon the mountain
just in front of them。
Almost instantly； as the great cone continued to
whirl； she was sent flying against the next mountain in
the rear； and that one had only turned halfway around
when Scraps was sent flying to the next mountain behind
it。 Then her patchwork form disappeared from view
entirely and the amazed watchers under the tree
wondered what had become of her。
〃She's gone； and she can't get back；〃 said the Woozy。
〃My； how she bounded from one mountain to another！〃
exclaimed the Lion。
〃That was because they whirl so fast；〃 the Wizard
explained。 〃Scraps had nothing to hold on to and so of
course she was tossed from one hill to another。 I'm
afraid we shall never see the poor Patchwork Girl
again。〃
〃I shall see her；〃 declared the Woozy。 〃Scraps is an
old friend of mine and； if there are really Thistle…
Eaters and Giants on the other side of those tops； she
will need someone to protect her。 So； here I go！〃
He seized the dangling strap firmly in his square
mouth and in the same way that Scraps had done swung
himself over the gulf。 He let go the strap at the right
moment and fell upon the first whirling mountain。 Then
he bounded to the next one back of it not on his
feet but 〃all mixed up；〃 as Trot said and then he
shot across to another mountain； disappearing from view
just as the Patchwork Girl had done。
〃It seems to work； all right；〃 remarked Button…
Bright。 〃I guess I'll try it。〃
〃Wait a minute；〃 urged the Wizard。 〃Before any more
of us make this desperate leap into the beyond； we must
decide whether all will go； or if some of us will
remain behind。〃
〃Do you s'pose it hurt them much； to bump against
those mountains？〃 asked Trot。
〃I don't s'pose anything could hurt Scraps or the
Woozy；〃 said Dorothy； 〃and nothing can hurt me； because
I wear the Magic Belt。 So； as I'm anxious to find Ozma；
I mean to swing myself across； too。〃
〃I'll take my chances；〃 decided Button…Bright。
〃I'm sure it will hurt dreadfully； and I'm afraid to
do it；〃 said the Lion； who was already trembling； 〃but
I shall do it if Dorothy does。〃
〃Well； that will leave Betsy and the Mule and Trot；〃
said the Wizard； 〃for of course； I shall go； that I may
look after Dorothy。 Do you two girls think you can find
your way back home again？〃 he asked； addressing Trot
and Betsy。
〃I'm not afraid； not much； that is；〃 said Trot。 〃It
looks risky； I know； but I'm sure I can stand it if the
others can。〃
〃If it wasn't for leaving Hank；〃 began Betsy； in a
hesitating voice； but the Mule interrupted her by
saying：
〃Co ahead； if you want to； and I'll come after you。 A
mule is as brave as a lion； any day。〃
〃Braver；〃 said the Lion； 〃for I'm a coward； friend
Hank； and you are not。 But of course the Sawhorse 〃
〃Oh； nothing ever hurts me；〃 asserted the Sawhorse
calmly。 〃There's never been any question about my
going。 I can't take the Red Wagon； though。〃
〃No； we must leave the wagon；〃 said the Wizard； 〃and
also we must leave our food and blankets； I fear。 But
if we can defy these Merry…Go…Round Mountains to stop
us we won't mind the sacrifice of some of our
comforts。〃
〃No one knows where we're going to land！〃 remarked
the Lion； in a voice that sounded as if he were going
to cry。
〃We may not land at all；〃 replied Hank； 〃but the best
way to find out what will happen to us is to swing
across； as Scraps and the Woozy have done。〃
〃I think I shall go last；〃 said the Wizard； 〃so who
wants to go first？〃
〃I'll go；〃 decided Dorothy。
〃No； it's my turn first；〃 said Button…Bright。 〃Watch me！〃
Even as he spoke the boy seized the strap and after
making a run swung himself across the gulf。 Away he
went； bumping from hill to hill until he disappeared。
They listened intently； but the boy uttered no cry
until he had been gone some moments； when they heard a
faint 〃Hullo…a！〃 as if called from a great distance。
The sound gave them courage； however； and Dorothy
picked up Toto and held him fast under one arm while
with the other hand she seized the strap and bravely
followed after Button…Bright。
When she struck the first whirling mountain she fell
upon it quite softly； but before she had time to think
she flew through the air and lit with a jar on the side
of the next mountain。 Again she flew； and alighted； and
again； and still again； until after five successive
bumps she fell sprawling upon a green meadow and was so
dazed and bewildered by her bumpy journey across the
Merry…Go…Round Mountains that she lay quite still for a
time； to collect her thoughts。 Toto had escaped from
her arms just as she fell； and he now sat beside her
panting with excitement。
Then Dorothy realized that someone was hopping her to
her feet； and here was Button…Bright on one side of her
and Scraps on the other； both seeming to be unhurt。 The
next object her eyes fell upon was the Woozy； squatting
upon his square back end and looking at her
reflectively； while Toto barked joyously to find his
mistress unhurt after her whirlwind trip。
〃Good！〃 said the Woozy； 〃here's another and a dog；
both safe and sound。 But； my word； Dorothy； you flew
some！ If you could have seen yourself； you'd have been
absolutely astonished。〃
〃They say 'Time flies；'〃 laughed Button…Bright； 〃but
Time never made a quicker journey than that。〃
Just then； as Dorothy turned around to look at the
whirling mountains； she was in time to see tiny Trot
come flying from the nearest hill to fall upon the soft
grass not a yard away from where she stood。 Trot was so
dizzy she couldn't stand； at first； but she wasn't at
all hurt and presently Betsy came flying to them and
would have bumped into the others had they not treated
in time to avoid her。
Then； in quick succession； came the Lion； Hank and
the Sawhorse； bounding from mountain to mountain to
fall safely upon the greensward。 Only the Wizard was
now left behind and they waited so long for him that
Dorothy began to be worried。 But suddenly he came
flying from the nearest mountain and tumbled heels over
head beside them。 Then they saw that he had wound two
of their blankets around his body； to keep the bumps
from hurting him； and had fastened the blankets with
some of the spare straps from the harness of the
Sawhorse。
Chapter Eight
The Mysterious City
There they sat upon the grass； their heads still
swimming from their dizzy flights； and looked at one
another in silent bewilderment。 But presently； when
assured that no one was injured； they grew。 more calm
and collected and the Lion said with a sigh of relief：
〃W
