the lost princess of oz-第14节
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〃They are worse than that；〃 was the reply。 〃They have
giants for their slaves and they are so much stronger
than giants that the poor slaves dare not rebel； for
fear of being torn to pieces。〃
〃How do you know；？〃 asked Scraps。
〃Everyone says so；〃 answered the High Coco…Lorum。
〃Have you seen the Herkus yourself？〃 inquired
Dorothy。
〃No； but what everyone says must be true； otherwise；
what would be the use of their saying it？〃
〃We were told； before we got here； that you people
hitch dragons to your chariots；〃 said the little girl。
〃So we do；〃 declared the High Coco…Lorum。 〃And that
reminds me that I ought to entertain you； as strangers
and my guests； by taking you for a ride around our
splendid City of Thi。〃
Coco…Lorum。 〃Every time I give an order it is in music；
which is a much more pleasant way to address servants
than in cold； stern word〃
〃Does this dragon of yours bite？〃 asked Button…
Bright。
〃Mercy； no！ Do you think I'd risk the safety of my
innocent people by using a biting dragon to draw my
chariot？ I'm proud to say that my dragon is harmless…
unless his steering gear breaks and he was
manufactured at the famous dragon…factory in this City
of Thi。 Here he comes and you may examine him for
yourselves。〃
They heard a low rumble and a shrill squeaking sound
and； going out to the front of the house； they saw
coming around the corner a car drawn by a gorgeous
jeweled dragon； which moved its head to right and left
and flashed its eyes like the headlights of an
automobile and uttered a growling noise as it slowly
moved toward them。
When it stopped before the High Coco…Lorum's house
Toto barked sharply at the sprawling beast； but even
tiny Trot could see that the dragon was not alive。 Its
scales were of gold and each one was set with sparkling
jewels； while it walked in such a stiff； regular manner
that it could be nothing else than a machine。 The
chariot that trailed behind it was likewise of gold and
jewels； and when they entered it they found there were
no seats。 Everyone was supposed to stand up while
riding。
The charioteer was a little diamond…headed fellow who
straddled the neck of the dragon and moved the levers
that made it go。
〃This；〃 said the High Coco…Lorum； pompously； 〃is a
wonderful invention。 We are all very proud of our
autodragons； many of which are in use by our wealthy
inhabitants。 Start the thing going； charioteer！〃
The charioteer did not move。
〃You forgot to order him in music；〃 suggested
Dorothy。
〃Ah； so I did。〃 He touched a button and a music…box
in the dragon's head began to play a tune。 At once the
little charioteer pulled over a lever and the dragon
began to move very slowly and groaning dismally as
it drew the clumsy chariot after it。 Toto trotted
between the wheels。 The Sawhorse； the Mule； the Lion
and the Woozy followed after and had no trouble in
keeping up with the machine； indeed； they had to go
slow to keep from running into it。 When the wheels
turned another music…box concealed somewhere under the
chariot played a lively march tune which was in
striking contrast with the dragging movement of the
strange vehicle and Button…Bright decided that the
music he had heard when they first sighted this city
was nothing else than a chariot plodding its weary way
through the streets。
All the travelers from the Emerald City thought this
ride the most uninteresting and dreary they had ever
experienced； but the High Coco…Lorum seemed to think it
was grand。 He pointed out the different buildings and
parks and fountains； in much the same way that the
conductor of an American 〃sight…seeing wagon〃 does； and
being guests they were obliged to submit to the ordeal。
But they became a little worried when their host told
them he had ordered a banquet prepared for them in the
City Hall。
〃What are we going to eat？〃 asked Button…Bright
suspiciously。
〃Thistles；〃 was the reply； 〃fine； fresh thistles；
gathered this very day。〃
Scraps laughed； for she never ate anything； but
Dorothy said in a protesting voice：
〃Our insides are not lined with gold； you know。〃
〃How sad！〃 exclaimed the High Coco…Lorum； and then he
added； as an afterthought： 〃But we can have the
thistles boiled； if you prefer。〃
〃I'm 'fraid they wouldn't taste good； even then；〃
said little Trot。 〃Haven't you anything else to eat？〃
The High Coco…Lorum shook his diamond…shaped head。
〃Nothing that I know of；〃 said he。 〃But why should we
have anything else； when we have so many thistles？
However； if you can't eat what we eat； don't eat
anything。 We shall not be offended and the banquet will
be just as merry and delightful。〃
Knowing his companions were all hungry the Wizard
said：
〃I trust you will excuse us from the banquet； sir；
which will be merry enough without us； although it is
given in our honor。 For； as Ozma is not in your city；
we must leave here at once and seek her elsewhere。〃
〃Sure we must！〃 agreed Dorothy； and she whispered to
Betsy and Trot： 〃I'd rather Starve somewhere else than
in this city； and who knows？ we may run across
somebedy who eats reg'lar food and will give us some。〃
So； when the ride was finished； in spite of the
protests of the High Coco…Lorum they insisted on
continuing their journey。
〃It will soon be dark；〃 he objected。
〃We don't mind the darkness；〃 replied the Wizard。
〃Some wandering Herku may get you。〃
〃Do you think the Herkus would hurt us？〃 asked
Dorothy。
〃I cannot say； not having the honor of their
acquaintance。 But they are said to be so strong that；
if they had any other place to stand upon； they could
lift the world。〃
〃All of them together？〃 asked Button…Bright
wonderingly。
〃Any one of them could do it；〃 said the High Coco…
Lorum。
〃Have you heard of any magicians being among them？〃
asked the Wizard； knowing that only a magician could
have stolen Ozma in the way she had been stolen。
〃I am told it is quite a magical country；〃 declared
the High Coco…Lorum； 〃and magic is usually performed by
magicians。 But I have never heard that they have any
invention or sorcery to equal our wonderful
autodragons。〃
They thanked him for his courtesy and； mounting their
own animals； rode to the farther side of the city and
right through the Wall of Illusion out into the open
country。
〃I'm glad we got away so easily；〃 said' Betsy。 〃I
didn't like those queer…shaped people。'
〃Nor did I；〃 agreed Dorothy。 〃It seems dreadful to be
lined with sheets of pure gold and have nothing to eat
but thistles。〃
〃They seemed happy and contented； though；〃 remarked
the little Wizard； 〃and those who are contented have
nothing to regret and nothing more to wish for。〃
Chapter Six
Toto Loses Something
For a while the travelers were constantly losing their
direction； for beyond the thistle fields they again
found themselves upon the turning…lands； which swung
them around in such a freakish manner that first they
were headed one way and then another。 But by keeping
the City of Thi constantly behind them the adventurers
finally passed the treacherous turning…lands and came
upon a stony country where no grass grew at all。 There
were plenty of bushes； however； and although it was now
almost dark the girls discovered some delicious yellow
berries growing upon the bushes； one taste of which set
them all to picking as many as they could find。 The
berries relieved their pangs of hunger； for a time； and
as it now became too dark to see anything they camped
where they were。
The three girls lay down upon one of the blankets
all in a row and then the Wizard covered them with
the other blanket and tucked them in。 Button…Bright
crawled under the shelter of some bushes and was asleep
in half a minute。 The Wizard sat down with his back to
a big stone and looked at the stars in the sky and
thought gravely upon the dangerous adventure they had
undertaken； w
