the lost princess of oz-第26节
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didn't suspect； in the least； that he was wicked。 He
wanted to be powerful and great and he hoped to make
himself master of all the Land of Oz； that he might
compel everyone in that fairy country to obey him。 His
ambition blinded him to the rights of others and he
imagined anyone else would act just as he did if anyone
else happened to be as clever as himself。
When he inhabited his little shoemaking shop in the
City of Herku he had been discontented； for a shoemaker
is not looked upon with high respect and Ugu knew that
his ancestors had been famous magicians for many
centuries past and therefore his family was above the
ordinary。 Even his father practiced magic； when Ugu was
a boy； but his father had wandered away from Herku and
had never come back again。 So； when Ugu grew up； he was
forced to make shoes for a living； knowing nothing of
the magic of his forefathers。 But one day； in searching
through the attic of his house； he discovered all the
books of magical recipes and many magical instruments
which had formerly been in use in his family。 From that
day he stopped making shoes and began to study magic。
Finally he aspired to become the greatest magician in
Oz； and for days and weeks and months he thought on a
plan to render all the other sorcerers and wizards； as
well as those with fairy powers； helpless to oppose
him。
From the books of his ancestors he learned the
following facts：
（1） That Ozma of Oz was the fairy ruler of the
Emerald City and the Land of Oz； and that she could not
be destroyed by any magic ever devised。 Also； by means
of her Magic Picture she would be able to discover
anyone who approached her royal palace with the idea of
conquering it。
（2） That Glinda the Good was the most powerful
Sorceress in Oz； among her other magical possessions
being the Great Book of Records； which told her all
that happened anywhere in the world。 This Book of
Records was very dangerous to Ugu's plans and Glinda
was in the service of Ozma and would use her arts of
sorcery to protect the girl Ruler。
（3） That the Wizard of Oz； who lived in Ozma's
palace； had been taught much powerful magic by Glinda
and had a bag of magic tools with which he might be
able to conquer the Shoemaker。
（4） That there existed in Oz…in the Yip Country a
jeweled dishpan made of gold； which dishpan possessed
marvelous powers of magic。 At a magic word； which Ugu
learned from the book； the dishpan would grow large
enough for a man to sit inside it。 Then； when he
grasped both the golden handles； the dishpan would
transport him in an instant to any place he wished to
go within the borders of the Land of Oz。
No one now living； except Ugu； knew of the powers of
this Magic Dishpan； so； after long study； the shoemaker
decided that if he could manage to secure the dishpan
he could； by its means； rob Ozma and Glinda and the
Wizard of Oz of all their magic； thus becoming himself
the most powerful person in all the land。
His first act was to go away from the City of Herku
and built for himself the Wicker Castle in the hills。
Here he carried his books and instruments of magic and
here for a full year he diligently practiced all the
magical arts learned from his ancestors。 At the end of
that time he could do a good many wonderful things。
Then； when all his preparations were made； he set out
for the Yip Country and climbing the steep mountain at
night he entered the house of Cayke the Cookie Cook and
stole her diamond…studded gold dishpan while all the
Yips were asleep。 Taking his prize outside； he set the
pan upon the ground and uttered the required magic
word。 Instantly the dishpan grew as large as a big
washtub and Ugu seated himself in it and grasped the
two handles。 Then he wished himself in the great
drawing…room of Glinda the Good。
He was there in a flash。 First he took the Great Book
of Records and put it in the dishpan。 Then he went to
Glinda's laboratory and took all her rare chemical
compounds and her instruments of sorcery； placing these
also in the dishpan； which he caused to grow large
enough to hold them。 Next he seated himself amongst the
treasures he had stolen and wished himself in the room
in Ozma's palace which the Wizard occupied and where he
kept his bag of magic tools。 This bag Ugu added to his
plunder and then wished himself in the apartments of
Ozma。
Here he first took the Magic Picture from the wall
and then seized all the other magical things which Ozma
possessed。 Having placed these in the dishpan he was
about to climb in himself when he looked up and saw
Ozma standing beside him。 Her fairy instinct had warned
her that danger was threatening her； so the beautiful
girl Ruler rose from her couch and leaving her
bedchamber at once confronted the thief。
Ugu had to think quickly； for he realized that if he
permitted Ozma to rouse the inmates of her palace all
his plans and his present successes were likely to come
to naught。 So he threw a scarf over the girl's head； so
she could not scream； and pushed her into the dishpan
and tied her fast； so she could not move。 Then he
climbed in beside her and wished himself in his own
wicker castle。 The Magic Dishpan was there in an
instant； with all its contents； and Ugu rubbed his
hands together in triumphant joy as he realized that he
now possessed all the important magic in the Land of Oz
and could force all the inhabitants of that fairyland
to do as he willed。
So quickly had his journey been accomplished that
before daylight the robber magician had locked Ozma in
a room； making her a prisoner； and had unpacked and
arranged all his stolen goods。 The next day he placed
the Book of Records on his table and hung the Magic
Picture on his wall and put away in his cupboards and
drawers all the elixirs and magic compounds he had
stolen。 The magical instruments he polished and
arranged； and this was fascinating work and made him
very happy。 The only thing that bothered him was Ozma。
By turns the imprisoned Ruler wept and scolded the
Shoemaker； haughtily threatening him with dire
punishment for the wicked deeds he had done。 Ugu became
somewhat afraid of his fairy prisoner； in spite of the
fact that he believed he had robbed her of all her
powers； so he performed an enchantment that quickly
disposed of her and placed her out of his sight and
hearing。 After that； being occupied with other things；
he soon forgot her。
But now； when he looked into the Magic Picture and
read the Great Book of Records； the Shoemaker learned
that his wickedness was not to go unchallenged。 Two
important expeditions had set out to find him and force
him to give up his stolen property。 One was the party
headed by the Wizard and Dorothy； while the other
consisted of Cayke and the Frogman。 Others were also
searching； but not in the right places。 These two
groups； however； were headed straight for the wicker
castle and so Ugu began to plan how best to meet them
and to defeat their efforts to conquer him。
Chapter Twenty
More Surprises
All that first day after the union of the two parties
our friends marched steadily toward the wicker castle
of Ugu the Shoemaker。 When night came they camped in a
little grove and passed a pleasant evening together；
although some of them were worried because Button…
Bright was still lost。
〃Perhaps；〃 said Toto； as the animals lay grouped
together for the night； 〃this Shoemaker who stole my
growl； and who stole Ozma； has also stolen Button
Bright。〃
〃How do you know that the Shoemaker stole your
growl？〃 demanded the Woozy。
〃He has stolen about everything else of value in Oz；
hasn't he？〃 replied the dog。
〃He has stolen everything he wants； perhaps；〃 agreed
the Lion； 〃but what could anyone want with your growl？〃
〃Well；〃 said the dog； wagging his tail slowly； 〃my
recollection is that it was a wonderful growl； soft and
low and and 〃
〃And ragged at the edges；〃 said the Sawhorse。
〃So；〃 continued Toto； 〃if that magician hadn't any
growl of his own； he might have wanted mine and stolen
it。〃
