the lost princess of oz-第5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！
at once they turned and began to climb up the steep
mountain； feeling they had had quite enough of this
unsatisfactory adventure。 Cayke the Cookie Cook did not
go with them； however。 She sat on a rock and wept and
wailed and was very miserable。
〃Well；〃 said the Frogman to her； 〃I will now bid you
good…bye。 If I find your diamond decorated gold dishpan
I will promise to see that it is safely returned to
you。〃
〃But I prefer to find it myself！〃 she said。 〃See
here； Frogman； why can't you carry me across the gulf
when you leap it？ You are big and strong； while I am
small and thin。〃
The Frogman gravely thought over this suggestion。 It
was a fact that Cayke the Cookie Cook was not a heavy
person。 Perhaps he could leap the gulf with her on his
back。
〃If you are willing to risk a fall；〃 said he； 〃I will
make the attempt。〃
At once she sprang up and grabbed him around his neck
with both her arms。 That is； she grabbed him where his
neck ought to be； for the Frogman had no neck at all。
Then he squatted down； as frogs do when they leap； and
with his powerful rear legs he made a tremendous jump。
Over the gulf he sailed； with the Cookie Cook on his
back； and he had leaped so bard to make sure of not
falling in that he sailed over a lot of bramble…bushes
that grew on the other side and landed in a clear space
which was so far beyond the gulf that when they looked
back they could not see it at all。
Cayke now got off the Frogman's back and he stood
erect again and carefully brushed the dust from his
velvet coat and rearranged his white satin necktie。
〃I had no idea I could leap so far；〃 he said
wonderingly。 〃leaping is one more accomplishment I can
now add to the long list of deeds I am able to
perform。〃
〃You are certainly fine at leap…frog；〃 said the
Cookie Cook； admiringly； 〃but； as you say； you are
wonderful in many ways。 If we meet with any people down
here I am sure they will consider you the greatest and
grandest of all living creatures。〃
〃Yes；〃 he replied； 〃I shall probably astonish
strangers； because they have never before had the
pleasure of seeing me。 Also they will marvel at my
great learning。 Every time I open my mouth； Cayke； I am
liable to say something important。
〃That is true；〃 she agreed； 〃and it is fortunate your
mouth is so very wide and opens so far； for otherwise
all the wisdom might not be able to get out of it。〃
〃Perhaps nature made it wide for that very reason；
said the Frogman。 〃But come； let us now go on； for it
is getting late and we must find some sort of shelter
before night overtakes us。〃
Chapter Four
Among the Winkies
The settled parts of the Winkie Country are full of
happy and contented people who are ruled by a tin
Emperor named Nick Chopper； who in turn is a subject of
the beautiful girl Ruler； Ozma of Oz。 But not all of
the Winkie Country is fully settled。 At the east； which
part lies nearest the Emerald City； there are beautiful
farmhouses and roads； but as you travel west you first
come to a branch of the Winkie River； beyond which
there is a rough country where few people live； and
some of these are quite unknown to the rest of the
world。 After passing through this rude section of
territory； which no one ever visits； you would come to
still another branch of the Winkie River； after
crossing which you would find another well settled part
of the Winkie Country； extending westward quite to the
Deadly Desert that surrounds all the Land of Oz and
separates that favored fairyland from the more common
outside world。 The Winkies who live in this west
section have many tin mines； from which metal they make
a great deal of rich jewelry and other articles； all of
which are highly esteemed in the Land of Oz because tin
is so bright and pretty； and there is not so much of it
as there is of gold and silver。
Not all the Winkies are miners； however； for some
till the fields and grow grains for food； and it was at
one of these far west Winkie farms that the Frogman and
Cayke the Cookie Cook first arrived after they had
descended from the mountain of the Yips。
〃Goodness me！〃 cried Nellary； the Winkie wife； when
she saw the strange couple approaching her house。 〃I
have seen many queer creatures in the Land of Oz； but
none more queer than this giant frog； who dresses like
a man and walks on his hind legs。 Come here； Wiljon；〃
she called to her husband； who was eating his
breakfast； 〃and take a look at this astonishing freak。〃
Wiljon the Winkie came to the door and looked out。 He
was still standing in the doorway when the Frogman
approached and said with a haughty croak：
〃Tell me； my good man； have you seen a diamond…
studded gold dishpan？〃
〃No； nor have I seen a copper…plated lobster；〃
replied Wiljon； in an equally haughty tone。
The Frogman stared at him and said：
〃Do not be insolent； fellow！〃
〃No；〃 added Cayke the Cookie Cook； hastily； 〃you must
be very polite to the great Frogman； for he is the
wisest creature in all the world。〃
〃Who says that？〃 inquired Wiljon。
〃He says so himself；〃 replied Cayke； and the Frogman
nodded and strutted up and down； twirling his gold…
headed cane very gracefully。
〃Does the Scarecrow admit that this overgrown frog is
the wisest creature in the world？〃 asked Wiljon。
〃I do not know who the Scarecrow is；〃 answered Cayke
the Cookie Cook。
〃Well； he lives at the Emerald City； and he is
supposed to have the finest brains in all Oz。 The
Wizard gave them to him； you know。〃
〃Mine grew in my head；〃 said the Frogman pompously；
〃so I think they must be better than any wizard brains。
I am so wise that sometimes my wisdom makes my head
ache。 I know so much that often I have to forget part
of it； since no one creature； however great； is able to
contain so much knowledge。〃
〃It must be dreadful to be stuffed full of wisdom；〃
remarked Wiljon reflectively； and eyeing the Frogman
with a doubtful look。 〃It is my good fortune to know
very little。〃
〃I hope； however； you know where my jeweled dishpan
is；〃 said the Cookie Cook anxiously。
〃I do not know even that；〃 returned the Winkie。 〃We
have trouble enough in keeping track of our own
dishpans； without meddling with the dishpans of
strangers。〃
Finding him so ignorant； the Frogman proposed that
they walk on and seek Cayke's dishpan elsewhere。
Wiljon the Winkie did not seem greatly impressed by the
great Frogman； which seemed to that personage as
strange as it was disappointing； but others in this
unknown land might prove more respectful。
〃I'd like to meet that Wizard of Oz；〃 remarked Cayke；
as they walked along a path。 〃If he could give a
Scarecrow brains he might be able to find my dishpan。〃
〃Poof！〃 grunted the Frogman scornfully； 〃I am greater
than any wizard。 Depend on me。 If your dishpan is
anywhere in the world I am sure to find it。〃
〃If you do not； my heart will be broken；〃 declared
the Cookie Cook in a sorrowful voice。
For a while the Frogman walked on in silence。 Then he
asked： 〃Why do you attach so much importance to a
dishpan？〃
〃It is the greatest treasure I posess；〃 replied the
woman。 〃It belonged to my mother and to all my
grandmothers； since the beginning of time。 It is； I
believe； the very oldest thing in all the Yip Country
or was while it was there and；〃 she added；
dropping her voice to an awed whisper； 〃it has magic
powers！〃
〃In what way？〃 inquired the Frogman； seeming to be
surprised at this statement。
〃Whoever has owned that dishpan has been a good cook；
for one thing。 No one else is able to make such good
cookies as I have cooked； as you and all the Yips know。
Yet； the very morning after my dishpan was stolen。 I
tried to make a batch of cookies and they burned up in
the oven！ I made another batch that proved too tough to
eat； and I was so ashamed of them that I buried them in
the ground。 Even the third batch of cookies； which I
brought with me in my basket； were pretty poor stuff
