the lost princess of oz-第22节
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trunks； set a little way above the ground； but
otherwise there was nothing unusual about the place and
nothing in the opinion of the prisoners； to indicate a
settlement。 But the little Brown Bear said in a proud
and impressive voice （although it still squeaked）：
〃This is the wonderful city known to fame as Bear
Center！〃
〃But there are no houses； there are no bears living
here at all！〃 exclaimed Cayke。
〃Oh； indeed！〃 retorted their captor and raising his
gun he pulled the trigger。 The cork flew out of the tin
barrel with a loud 〃pop！〃 and at once from every hole
in ever tree within view of the clearing appeared the
head of a bear。 They were of many colors and of many
sizes； but all were made in the same manner as the bear
who had met and captured them。
At first a chorus of growls arose and then a sharp
voice cried：
〃What has happened； Corporal Waddle？〃
〃Captives； Your Majesty！〃 answered the Brown Bear。
〃Intruders upon our domain and slanderers of our good
name。〃
〃Ah； that's important；〃 answered the voice。
Then from out the hollow trees tumbled a whole
regiment of stuffed bears； some carrying tin swords；
some popguns and other long spears with gay ribbons
tied to the handles。 There were hundreds of them；
altogether； and they quickly formed a circle around the
Frogman and the Cookie Cook but kept at a distance and
left a large space for the prisoners to stand in。
Presently this circle parted and into the center of
it stalked a huge toy bear of a lovely lavender color。
He walked upon his hind legs； as did all the others；
and on his head he wore a tin crown set with diamonds
and amethysts； while in one paw he carried a short wand
of some； glimmering metal that resembled silver but
wasn't。
〃His Majesty the King！〃 shouted Corporal Waddle； and
all the bears bowed low。 Some bowed so low that they
lost their balance and toppled over； but they soon
scrambled up again and the Lavender King squatted on
his haunches before the prisoners and gazed at them
steadily with his bright pink eyes。
Chapter Sixteen
The Little Pink Bear
〃One Person and one Freak；〃 said the big Lavender Bear；
when he had carefully examined the strangers。
〃I am sorry to hear you call poor Cayke the Cookie
Cook a Freak；〃 remonstrated the Frogman。
〃She is the Person；〃 asserted the King。 〃Unless I am
mistaken； it is you who are the Freak。〃
The Frogman was silent； for he could not truthfully
deny it。
〃Why have you dared intrude in my forest？〃 demanded
the Bear King。
〃We didn't know it was your forest；〃 said Cayke； 〃and
we are on our way to the far east； where the Emerald
City is。〃
〃Ah； it's a long way from here to the Emerald City；〃
remarked the King。 〃It is so far away； indeed； that no
bear among us has ever been there。 But what errand
requires you to travel such a distance？〃
〃Someone has stolen my diamond…studded gold dishpan；〃
explained Cayke； 〃and； as I cannot be happy without it；
I have decided to search the world over until I find it
again。 The Frogman； who is very learned and wonderfully
wise； has come with me to give me his assistance。 Isn't
it kind of him？〃
The King looked at the Frogman。
〃What makes you so wonderfully wise？〃 he asked。
〃I'm not；〃 was the candid reply。 〃The Cookie Cook；
and some others in the Yip Country； think because I am
a big frog and talk and act like a man； that I must be
very wise。 I have learned more than a frog usually
knows； it is true； but I am not yet so wise as I hope
to become at some future time。〃
The King nodded； and when he did so something
squeaked in his chest。
〃Did Your Majesty speak？〃 asked Cayke。
〃Not just then；〃 answered the Lavender Bear； seeming
to be somewhat embarrassed。 〃I am so built； you must
know； that when anything pushes against my chest； as my
chin accidentally did just then； I make that silly
noise。 In this city it isn't considered good manners to
notice it。 But I like your Frogman。 He is honest and
truthful； which is more than can be said of many
others。 As for your late lamented dishpan； I'll show it
to you。
With this he waved three times the metal wand which
he held in his paw and instantly there appeared upon
the ground； midway between the King and Cayke； a big
round pan made of beaten gold。 Around the top edge was
a row of small diamonds； around the center of the pan
was another row of larger diamonds； and at the bottom
was a row of exceedingly large and brilliant diamonds。
In fact； they all sparkled magnificently and the pan
was so big and broad that it took a lot of diamonds to
go around it three times。
Cayke stared so hard that her eyes seemed about to
pop out of her head。
〃O…o…oh！〃 she exclaimed； drawing a deep breath of
delight。
〃Is this your dishpan？〃 inquired the King。
〃It is it is！〃 cried the Cookie Cook； and rushing
forward she fell on her knees and threw her arms around
the precious pan。 But her arms came together without
meeting any resistance at all。 Cayke tried to seize the
edge； but found nothing to grasp。 The pan was surely
there； she thought； for she could see it plainly； but
it was not solid； she could not feel it at all。 With a
moan of astonishment and despair she raised her head to
look at the Bear King； who was watching her actions
curiously。 Then she turned to the pan again； only to
find it had completely disappeared。
〃Poor creature！〃 murmured the King pityingly。 〃You
must have thought； for the moment； that you had
actually recovered your dishpan。 But what you saw was
merely the image of it； conjured up by means of my
magic。 It is a pretty dishpan； indeed； though rather
big and awkward to handle。 I hope you will some day
find it。〃
Cayke was grievously disappointed。 She began to cry；
wiping her eyes on her apron。 The King turned to the
throng of toy bears surrounding him and asked：
〃Has any of you ever seen this golden dishpan
before？〃
〃No；〃 they answered in a chorus。
The King seemed to reflect。 Presently he inquired：
〃Where is the Little Pink Bear？〃
〃At home； Your Majesty；〃 was the reply。
〃Fetch him here；〃 commanded the King。
Several of the bears waddled over to one of the trees
and pulled from its hollow a tiny pink bear； smaller
than any of the others。 A big white bear carried the
pink one in his arms and set it down beside the King；
arranging the joints of its legs so that it would stand
upright。
This Pink Bear seemed lifeless until the King turned
a crank which protruded from its side； when the little
creature turned its head stiffly from side to side and
said in a small shrill voice：
〃Hurrah for the King of Bear Center！〃
〃Very good；〃 said the big Lavender Bear； 〃he seems to
be working very well today。 Tell me； my Pink Pinkerton；
what has become of this lady's jeweled dishpan？〃
〃U…u…u；〃 said the Pink Bear； and then stopped short。
The King turned the crank again。
〃U…g…u the Shoemaker has it；〃 said the Pink Bear。
〃Who is Ugu the Shoemaker？〃 demanded the King； again
turning the crank。
〃A magician who lives on a mountain in a wickerwork
castle；〃 was the reply。
〃Where is this mountain？〃 was the next question。
〃Nineteen miles and three furlongs from Bear Center
to the northeast。〃
〃And is the dishpan still at the castle of Ugu the
Shoemaker？〃 asked the King。
〃It is。〃
The King turned to Cayke。
〃You may rely on this information；〃 said he。 〃The
Pink Bear can tell us anything we wish to know； and his
words are always words of truth。〃
〃Is he alive？〃 asked the Frogman； much interested in
the Pink Bear。
〃Something animates him when you turn his crank；〃
replied the King。 〃I do not know if it is life； or what
it is； or how it happens that the Little Pink Bear can
answer correctly every question put to him。 We
discovered his talent a long time ago and whenever we
wish to know
