the lost princess of oz-第4节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
room with his hands under his coat…tails； in a very
pompous and imposing manner。 This was the first time so
difficult a matter had been brought to him and he
wanted time to think。 It would never do to let them
suspect his ignorance and so he thought very； very hard
how best to answer the woman without betraying himself。
〃I beg to inform you；〃 said he； 〃that nothing in the
Yip Country has ever been stolen before。〃
〃We know that； already；〃 answered Cayke the Cookie
Cook； impatiently。
〃Therefore；〃 continued the Frogman； 〃this theft
becomes a very important matter。〃
〃Well； where is my dishpan？〃 demanded the woman。
〃It is lost； but it must be found。 Unfortunately； we
have no policemen or detectives to unravel the mystery；
so we must employ other means to regain the lost
article。 Cayke must first write a Proclamation and tack
it to the door of her house； and the Proclamation must
read that whoever stole the jeweled dishpan must return
it at once。〃
〃But suppose no one returns it；〃 suggested Cayke。
〃Then；〃 said the Frogman； 〃that very fact will be
proof that no one has stolen it。〃
Cayke was not satisfied； but the other Yips seemed to
approve the plan highly。 They all advised her to do as
the Frogman had told her to； so she posted the sign on
her door and waited patiently for someone to return the
dishpan which no one ever did。
Again she went； accompanied by a group of her
neighbors； to the Frogman； who by this time had given
the matter considerable thought。 Said he to Cayke：
〃I am now convinced that no Yip has taken your
dishpan； and； since it is gone from the Yip Country； I
suspect that some stranger came from the world down
below us； in the darkness of night when all of us were
asleep； and took away your treasure。 There can be no
other explanation of its disappearance。 So； if you wish
to recover that golden； diamond…studded dish…pan； you
must go into the lower world after it。〃
This was indeed a startling proposition。 Cayke and
her friends went to the edge of the fiat tableland and
looked down the steep hillside to the plains below。 It
was so far to the bottom of the hill that nothing there
could be seen very distinctly and it seemed to the Yips
very venturesome； if not dangerous； to go so far from
home into an unknown land。
However； Cayke wanted her dishpan very badly； so she
turned to her friends and asked：
〃Who will go with me？〃
No one answered this question； but after a period of
silence one of the Yips said：
〃We know what is here； on the top of this flat hill；
and it seems to us a very pleasant place； but what is
down below we do not know。 The chances are it is not so
pleasant； so we had best stay where we are。
〃It may be a far better country than this is；〃
suggested the Cookie Cook。
〃Maybe； maybe；〃 responded another Yip； 〃but why take
chances？ Contentment with one's lot is true wisdom。
Perhaps； in some other country； there are better
cookies than you cook； but as we have always eaten your
cookies； and liked them except when they are burned
on the bottom we do not long for any better ones。〃
Cayke might have agreed to this argument had she not
been so anxious to find her precious dishpan； but now
she exclaimed impatiently：
〃You are cowards all of you！ If none of you are
willing to explore with me the great world beyond this
small hill； I will surely go alone。〃
〃That is a wise resolve；〃 declared the Yips； much
relieved。 〃It is your dishpan that is lost； not ours；
and； if you are willing to risk your life and liberty
to regain it； no one can deny you the privilege。〃
While they were thus conversing the Frogman joined
them and looked down at the Plain with his big eyes and
seemed unusually thoughtful。 In fact； the Frogman was
thinking that he'd like to see more of the world。 Here
in the Yip Country he had become the most important
creature of them all and his importance was getting to
be a little tame。 It would be nice to have other people
defer to him and ask his advice and there seemed no
reason； so far as he could see； why his fame should not
spread throughout all Oz。
He knew nothing of the rest of the world； but it was
reasonable to believe that there were more people
beyond the mountain where he now lived than there were
Yips； and if he went among them he could surprise them
with his display of wisdom and make them bow down to
him as the Yips did。 In other words； the Frogman was
ambitious to become still greater than he was； which
was impossible if he always remained upon this
mountain。 He wanted others to see his gorgeous clothes
and listen to his solemn sayings； and here was an
excuse for him to get away from the Yip Country。 So he
said to Cayke the Cookie Cook：
〃I will go with you； my good woman；〃 which greatly
Pleased Cayke because she felt the Frogman could be of
much assistance to her in her search。
But now； since the mighty Frogman had decided to
undertake the journey； several of the Yips who were
young and daring at once made up their minds to go
along； so the next morning after breakfast the Frogman
and Cayke the Cookie Cook and nine of the Yips started
to slide down the side of the mountain。 The bramble
bushes and cactus plants were very prickly and
uncomfortable to the touch； so the Frogman commanded
the Yips to go first and break a path； so that when he
followed them he would not tear his splendid clothes。
Cayke； too； was wearing her best dress； and was
likewise afraid of the thorns and prickers； so she kept
behind the Frogman。
They made rather slow progress and night overtook
them before they were halfway down the mountain side；
so they found a cave in which they sought shelter until
morning。 Cayke had brought along a basket full of her
famous cookies； so they all had plenty to eat。
On the second day the Yips began to wish they had not
embarked on this adventure。 They grumbled a good deal
at having to cut away the thorns to make the path for
the Frogman and the Cookie Cook； for their own clothing
suffered many tears； while Cayke and the Frogman
traveled safely and in comfort。
〃If it is true that anyone came to our country to
steal your diamond dishpan；〃 said one of the Yips to
Cayke； 〃it must have been a bird； for no person in the
form of a man； woman or child could have climbed
through these bushes and back again。〃
〃And； allowing he could have done so；〃 said another
Yip； 〃the diamond…studded gold dishpan would not have
repair him for his troubles and his tribulations。〃
〃For my part；〃 remarked a third Yip； 〃I would rather
go back home and dig and polish some more diamonds； and
mine some more gold； and make you another dishpan； than
be scratched from bead to heel by these dreadful
bushes。 Even now； if my mother saw me； she would not
know I am her son。〃
Gayke paid no heed to these mutterings； nor did the
Frogman。 Although their journey was slow it was being
made easy for them by the Yips； so they had nothing to
complain of and no desire to turn back。
Quite near to the bottom of the great hill they came
upon a deep gulf； the sides of which were as smooth as
glass。 The gulf extended a long distance as far as
they could see； in either direction and although it
was not very wide it was far too wide for the Yips to
leap across it。 And； should they fall into it； it was
likely they might never get out again。
〃Here our journey ends；〃 said the Yips。 〃We must go
back again。〃
Cayke the Cookie Cook began to weep。
〃I shall never find my pretty dishpan again and my
heart will be broken！〃 she sobbed。
The Frogman went to the edge of the gulf and with his
eye carefully measured the distance to the other side。
〃Being a frog；〃 said he； 〃I can leap； as all frogs
do； and； being so big and strong； I am sure I can leap
across this gulf with ease。 But the rest of you； not
being frogs； must return the way you came。
〃We will do that with pleasure；〃 cried the Yips and
at once they turned and began to climb up the steep
mountain； feeling they had had quite
