the lost princess of oz-第20节
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in the enchanted water of the Truth Pond； I can no
longer deceive her or tell a lie。〃
More humbled than he had been for many years； the
Frogman went back to the grove where he had left Cayke
and found the woman now awake and washing her face in a
tiny brook。
〃Where has Your Honor been？〃 she asked。
〃To a farmhouse to ask for something to eat；〃 said
he； 〃but the woman refused me。〃
〃How dreadful！〃 she exclaimed。 〃But never mind； there
are other houses； where the people will be glad to feed
the Wisest Creature in all the World。〃
〃Do you mean yourself？〃 he asked。
〃No； I mean you。〃
The Frogman felt strongly impelled to tell the truth；
but struggled hard against it。 His reason told him
there was no use in letting Cayke know he was not wise；
for then she would lose much respect for him； but each
time he opened his mouth to speak he realized he was
about to tell the truth and shut it again as quickly as
possible。 He tried to talk about something else； but
the words necessary to undeceive the woman would force
themselves to his lips in spite of all his struggles。
Finally； knowing that he must either remain dumb or let
the truth prevail； he gave a low groan of despair and
said：
〃Cayke； I am not the Wisest Creature in all the
World； I am not wise at all。〃
〃Oh； you must be！〃 she protested。 〃You told me so
yourself； only last evening。〃
〃Then last evening I failed to tell you the truth；〃
he admitted； looking very shamefaced； for a frog。 〃I am
sorry I told you that lie； my good Cayke； but； if you
must know the truth； the whole truth and nothing but
the truth； I am not really as wise as you are。〃
The Cookie Cook was greatly shocked to hear this； for
it shattered one of her most pleasing illusions。 She
looked at the gorgeously dressed Frogman in amazement。
〃What has caused you to change your mind so
suddenly？〃 she inquired。
〃I have bathed in the Truth Pond；〃 he said； 〃and
whoever bathes in that water is ever afterward obliged
to tell the truth。〃
〃You were foolish to do that；〃 declared the woman。
〃It is often very embarrassing to tell the truth。 I'm
glad I didn't bathe in that dreadful water！〃
The Frogman looked at his companion thoughtfully。
〃Cayke；〃 said he； 〃I want you to go to the Truth Pond
and take a bath in its water。 For； if we are to travel
together and encounter unknown adventures； it would not
be fair that I alone must always tell you the truth；
while you could tell me whatever you pleased。 If we
both dip in the enchanted water there will be no chance
in the future of our deceiving one another。〃
〃No；〃 she asserted； shaking her head positively； 〃I
won't do it； Your Honor。 For； if I told you the truth；
I'm sure you wouldn't like me。 No Truth Pond for me。
I'll be just as I am； an honest woman who can say what
she wants to without hurting anyone's feelings。〃
With this decision the Frogman was forced to
be content； although he was sorry the Cookie
Cook would not listen to his advice。
Chapter Fourteen
The Unhappy Ferryman
Leaving the grove where they had slept； the Frogman and
the Cookie Cook turned to the east to seek another
house and after a short walk came to one where the
people received them very politely。 The children stared
rather hard at the big； pompous Frogman； but the woman
of the house； when Cayke asked for something to eat； at
once brought them food and said they were welcome to
it。
〃Few people in need of help pass this way；〃 she
remarked； 〃for the Winkies are all prosperous and love
to stay in their own homes。 But perhaps you are not a
Winkie；〃 she added。
〃No；〃 said Cayke； 〃I am a Yip； and my home is on a
high mountain at the southeast of your country。
〃And the Frogman is he； also； a Yip？〃
〃I do not know what he is； other than a very
remarkable and highly educated creature；〃 replied the
Cookie Cook。 〃But he has lived many years among the
Yips； who have found him so wise and intelligent that
they always go to him for advice。〃
〃May I ask why you have left your home； and where you
are going？〃 said the Winkie woman。
Then Cayke told her of the diamond…studded gold
dishpan and how it had been mysteriously stolen from
her house； after which she had discovered that she
could no longer cook good cookies。 So she had resolved
to search until she found her dishpan again； because a
Cookie Cook who cannot cook good cookies is not of much
use。 The Frogman； who wanted to see more of the world；
had accompanied her to assist in the search。 When the
woman had listened to this story she asked。
〃Then you have no idea； as yet； who has stolen your
dishpan？〃
〃I only know it must have been some mischievous
fairy； or a magician； or some such powerful person；
because none other could have climbed the steep
mountain to the Yip Country。 And who else could have
carried away my beautiful； magic dishpan without being
seen？〃
The woman thought about this during the time that
Cayke and the Frogman ate their breakfast。 When they
had finished she said：
〃Where are you going next？〃
〃We have not decided；〃 answered the Cookie Cook。
〃Our plan；〃 explained the Frogman； in his important
way； 〃is to travel from place to place until we learn
where the thief is located； and then to force him to
return the dishpan to its proper owner。〃
〃The plan is all right；〃 agreed the woman； 〃but it
may take you a long time before you succeed； your
method being sort of haphazard and indefinite。 However；
I advise you to travel toward the east。〃
〃Why？〃 asked the Frogman。
〃Because if you went west you would soon come to the
desert； and also because in this part of the Winkie
Country no one steals； so your time here would be
wasted。 But toward the east； beyond the river； live
many strange people whose honesty I would not vouch
for。 Moreover； if you journey far enough east and cross
the river for a second time； you will come to the
Emerald City； where there is much magic and sorcery。
The Emerald City is ruled by a dear little girl called
Ozma； who also rules the Emperor of the Winkies and all
the Land of Oz。 So； as Ozma is a fairy； she may be able
to tell you just who has taken your precious dishpan。
Provided； of course； you do not find it before you
reach her。〃
〃This seems to me to be excellent advice；〃 said the
Frogman； and Cayke agreed with him。
〃The most sensible thing for you to do；〃 continued
the woman； 〃would be to return to your home and use
another dishpan； learning to cook cookies as other
people cook cookies； without the aid of magic。 But； if
you cannot be happy without the magic dishpan you have
lost； you are likely to learn more about it in the
Emerald City than at any other place in Oz。〃
They thanked the good woman and on leaving her house
faced the east and continued in that direction all the
way。 Toward evening they came to the west branch of the
Winkie River and there； on the river bank； found a
ferryman who lived all alone in a little yellow house。
This ferryman was a Winkie with a very small head and
a very large body。 He was sitting in his doorway as the
travelers approached him and did not even turn his head
to look at them。
〃Good evening；〃 said the Frogman。
The ferryman made no reply。
〃We would like some supper and the privilege of
sleeping in your house until morning；〃 continued the
Frogman。 〃At daybreak we would like some breakfast and
then we would like to have you row us across the
river。〃
The ferryman neither moved nor spoke。 He sat in his
doorway and looked straight ahead。
〃I think he must be deaf and dumb；〃 Cayke whispered
to her companion。 Then she stood directly in front of
the ferryman and putting her mouth close to his ear she
yelled as loudly as she could：
〃Good evening！〃
The ferryman scowled。
〃Why do you yell at me； woman？〃 he asked。
〃Can you hear what I say？〃 she asked in her ordinary
tone of voice。
