the lost princess of oz-第25节
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while he was watching them。
In proof of this； Ugu sprang from his seat and turned
a scowling face in their direction； but now he could
not see the travelers who were seeking him； although
they could still see him。 His actions were so distinct；
indeed； that it seemed he was actually before them。
〃It is only a ghost；〃 said the Bear King。 〃It isn't
real at all； except that it shows us Ugu just as he
looks and tells us truly just what he is doing。〃
〃I don't see anything of my lost growl； though；〃 said
Toto； as if to himself。
Then the vision faded away and they could see nothing
but the grass and trees and bushes around them。
Chapter Eighteen
The Conference
〃Now； then；〃 said the Wizard； 〃let us talk this matter
over and decide what to do when we get to Ugu's wicker
castle。 There can be no doubt that the Shoemaker is a
powerful Magician； and his powers have been increased a
hundredfold since he secured the Great Book of Records；
the Magic Picture； all of Glinda's recipes for sorcery
and my own black bag which was full of tools of
wizardry。 The man who could rob us of those things； and
the man with all their powers at his command； is one
who may prove somewhat difficult to conquer； there fore
we should plan our actions well before we venture too
near to his castle。〃
〃I didn't see Ozma in the Magic Picture；〃 said Trot。
〃What do you suppose Ugu has done with her？〃
〃Couldn't the Little Pink Bear tell us what he did
with Ozma？〃 asked Button…Bright。
〃To be sure；〃 replied the Lavender King； 〃I'll ask
him。〃
So he turned the crank in the Little Pink Bear's side
and inquired：
〃Did Ugu the Shoemaker steal Ozma of Oz？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered the Little Pink Bear。
〃Then what did he do with her？〃 asked the King。
〃Shut her up in a dark place；〃 answered the Little
Pink Bear。
〃Oh； that must be a dungeon cell！〃 cried Dorothy；
horrified。 〃How dreadful！〃
〃Well； we must get her out of it；〃 said the Wizard。
〃That is what we came for and of course we must rescue
Ozma。 But how？〃
Each one looked at some other one for an answer and
all shook their heads in a grave and dismal manner。 All
but Scraps； who danced around them gleefully。
〃You're afraid；〃 said the Patchwork Girl； 〃because so
many things can hurt your meat bodies。 Why don't you
give it up and go home？ How can you fight a great
magician when you have nothing to fight with？〃
Dorothy looked at her reflectively。
〃Scraps；〃 said she； 〃you know that Ugu couldn't hurt
you； a bit； whatever he did； nor could he hurt me；
'cause I wear the Nome King's Magic Belt。 Spose just we
two go on together； and leave the others here to wait
for us？〃
〃No； no！〃 said the Wizard positively。 〃That won't do
at all。 Ozma is more powerful than either of you； yet
she could not defeat the wicked Ugu； who has shut her
up in a dungeon。 We must go to the Shoemaker in one
mighty band； for only in union is there strength。〃
〃That is excellent advice；〃 said the Lavender Bear；
approvingly。
〃But what can we do； when we get to Ugu？〃 inquired
the Cookie Cook anxiously。
〃Do not expect a prompt answer to that important
question；〃 replied the Wizard； 〃for we must first plan
our line of conduct。 Ugu knows； of course； that we are
after him； for he has seen our approach in the Magic
Picture； and he has read of all we have done up to the
present moment in the Great Book of Records。 Therefore
we cannot expect to take him by surprise。〃
〃Don't you suppose Ugu would listen to reason？〃 asked
Betsy。 〃If we explained to him how wicked he has been；
don't you think he'd let poor Ozma go？〃
〃And give me back my dishpan？〃 added the Cookie Cook
eagerly。
〃Yes； yes； won't he say he's sorry and get on his
knees and beg our pardon？〃 cried Scraps； turning a
flip…flop to show her scorn of the Suggestion。 〃When
Ugu the Shoemaker does that； please knock at the front
door and let me know。〃
The Wizard sighed and rubbed his bald head with a
puzzled air。
〃I'm quite sure Ugu will not be polite to us； said
he； 〃so we must conquer this cruel magician by force；
much as we dislike to be rude to anyone。 But none of
you has yet suggested a way to do that。 Couldn't the
Little Pink Bear tell us how？〃 he asked； turning to the
Bear King。
〃No； for that is something that is going to happen；〃
replied the Lavender Bear。 〃He can only tell us what
already has happened。〃
Again they were grave and thoughtful。 But after a
time Betsy said in a hesitating voice：
〃Hank is a great fighter； perhaps he could
conquer the magician。〃
The Mule turned his head to look reproachfully at his
old friend； the young girl。
〃Who can fight against magic？〃 he asked。
〃The Cowardly Lion could；〃 said Dorothy。
The Lion； who was lying with his front legs spread
out； his chin on his paws； raised his shaggy head。
〃I can fight when I'm not afraid；〃 said he calmly；
〃but the mere mention of a fight sets me to trembling。〃
〃Ugu's magic couldn't hurt the Sawhorse；〃 suggested
tiny Trot。
〃And the Sawhorse couldn't hurt the Magician；〃
declared that wooden animal。
〃For my part；〃 said Toto； 〃I am helpless； having lost
my growl。〃
〃Then；〃 said Cayke the Cookie Cook； 〃we must depend
upon the Frogman。 His marvelous wisdom will surely
inform him how to conquer the wicked Magician and
restore to me my dishpan。〃
All eyes were now turned questioningly upon the
Frogman。 Finding himself the center of observation； he
swung his gold…headed cane； adjusted his big spectacles
and after swelling out his chest； sighed and said in a
modest tone of voice：
〃Respect for truth obliges me to confess that Cayke
is mistaken in regard to my superior wisdom。 I am not
very wise。 Neither have I had any practical experience
in conquering magicians。 But let us consider this case。
What is Ugu； and what is a magician？ Ugu is a renegade
shoemaker and a magician is an ordinary man who； having
learned how to do magical tricks； considers himself
above his fellows。 In this case； the Shoemaker has been
naughty enough to steal a lot of magical tools and
things that did not belong to him； and it is more
wicked to steal than to be a magician。 Yet； with all
the arts at his command； Ugu is still a man； and surely
there are ways in which a man may be conquered。 How；
do you say； how？ Allow me to state that I don't know。
In my judgment we cannot decide how best to act until
we get to Ugu's castle。 So let us go to it and take a
look at it。 After that we may discover an idea that
will guide us to victory。〃
〃That may not be a wise speech； but it sounds good；〃
said Dorothy approvingly。 〃Ugu the Shoemaker is not
only a common man； but he's a wicked man and a cruel
man and deserves to be conquered。 We mustn't have any
mercy on him till Ozma is set free。 So let's go to his
castle； as the Frogman says； and see what the place
looks like。〃
No one offered an objection to this plan and so it
was adopted。 They broke camp and were about to start on
the journey to Ugu's castle when they discovered that
Button…Bright was lost again。 The girls and the Wizard
shouted his name and the Lion roared and the Donkey
brayed and the Frogman croaked and the Big Lavender
Bear growled （to the envy of Toto； who couldn't growl
but barked his loudest） yet none of them could make
Button…Bright hear。 So； after vainly searching for the
boy a full hour； they formed a procession and proceeded
in the direction of the wicker castle of Ugu the
Shoemaker。
〃Button…Bright's always getting lost；〃 said Dorothy。
〃And； if he wasn't always getting found again； I'd
prob'ly worry。 He may have gone ahead of us； and he may
have gone back； but； wherever he is； we'll find him
sometime and somewhere； I'm almost sure。
Chapter Nineteen
Ugu the Shoemaker
A curious thing about Ugu the Shoemaker was that he
didn't suspect； in the least； that he was w
