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第17节

dorothy and the wizard in oz-第17节

小说: dorothy and the wizard in oz 字数: 每页4000字

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carefully downward; hand over hand; until he stood upon the ground

below。  Eureka clung with her claws to the wooden side of the house

and let herself down easily。  Then together they crept away to enter

the low doorway of a neighboring dwelling。



The watchers waited in breathless suspense until the boy again

appeared; his arms now full of the wooden wings。



When he came to where the strap was hanging he tied the wings all in a

bunch to the end of the line; and the Wizard drew them up。  Then the

line was let down again for Zeb to climb up by。  Eureka quickly

followed him; and soon they were all standing together upon the

platform; with eight of the much prized wooden wings beside them。



The boy was no longer sleepy; but full of energy and excitement。  He

put the harness together again and hitched Jim to the buggy。  Then;

with the Wizard's help; he tried to fasten some of the wings to the

old cab…horse。



This was no easy task; because half of each one of the hinges of the

wings was missing; it being still fastened to the body of the Gargoyle

who had used it。  However; the Wizard went once more to his satchel

which seemed to contain a surprising variety of odds and endsand

brought out a spool of strong wire; by means of which they managed to

fasten four of the wings to Jim's harness; two near his head and two

near his tail。  They were a bit wiggley; but secure enough if only the

harness held together。



The other four wings were then fastened to the buggy; two on each

side; for the buggy must bear the weight of the children and the

Wizard as it flew through the air。



These preparations had not consumed a great deal of time; but the

sleeping Gargoyles were beginning to wake up and move around; and soon

some of them would be hunting for their missing wings。  So the

prisoners resolved to leave their prison at once。



They mounted into the buggy; Dorothy holding Eureka safe in her lap。

The girl sat in the middle of the seat; with Zeb and the Wizard on each

side of her。  When all was ready the boy shook the reins and said:



〃Fly away; Jim!〃



〃Which wings must I flop first?〃 asked the cab…horse; undecidedly。



〃Flop them all together;〃 suggested the Wizard。



〃Some of them are crooked;〃 objected the horse。



〃Never mind; we will steer with the wings on the buggy;〃 said Zeb。

〃Just you light out and make for that rock; Jim; and don't waste any

time about it; either。〃



So the horse gave a groan; flopped its four wings all together; and

flew away from the platform。  Dorothy was a little anxious about the

success of their trip; for the way Jim arched his long neck and spread

out his bony legs as he fluttered and floundered through the air was

enough to make anybody nervous。  He groaned; too; as if frightened;

and the wings creaked dreadfully because the Wizard had forgotten to

oil them; but they kept fairly good time with the wings of the buggy;

so that they made excellent progress from the start。  The only thing

that anyone could complain of with justice was the fact that they

wobbled first up and then down; as if the road were rocky instead of

being as smooth as the air could make it。



The main point; however; was that they flew; and flew swiftly; if a

bit unevenly; toward the rock for which they had headed。



Some of the Gargoyles saw them; presently; and lost no time in

collecting a band to pursue the escaping prisoners; so that when

Dorothy happened to look back she saw them coming in a great cloud

that almost darkened the sky。







13。  The Den of the Dragonettes





Our friends had a good start and were able to maintain it; for with

their eight wings they could go just as fast as could the Gargoyles。

All the way to the great rock the wooden people followed them; and

when Jim finally alighted at the mouth of the cavern the pursuers were

still some distance away。



〃But; I'm afraid they'll catch us yet;〃 said Dorothy; greatly excited。



〃No; we must stop them;〃 declared the Wizard。  〃Quick Zeb; help me

pull off these wooden wings!〃



They tore off the wings; for which they had no further use; and the

Wizard piled them in a heap just outside the entrance to the cavern。

Then he poured over them all the kerosene oil that was left in his

oil…can; and lighting a match set fire to the pile。



The flames leaped up at once and the bonfire began to smoke and roar

and crackle just as the great army of wooden Gargoyles arrived。  The

creatures drew back at once; being filled with fear and horror; for

such as dreadful thing as a fire they had never before known in all

the history of their wooden land。



Inside the archway were several doors; leading to different rooms built

into the mountain; and Zeb and the Wizard lifted these wooden doors

from their hinges and tossed them all on the flames。



〃That will prove a barrier for some time to come;〃 said the little

man; smiling pleasantly all over his wrinkled face at the success of

their stratagem。  〃Perhaps the flames will set fire to all that

miserable wooden country; and if it does the loss will be very small

and the Gargoyles never will be missed。  But come; my children;

let us explore the mountain and discover which way we must go

in order to escape from this cavern; which is getting to be almost

as hot as a bake…oven。〃



To their disappointment there was within this mountain no regular

flight of steps by means of which they could mount to the earth's

surface。  A sort of inclined tunnel led upward for a way; and they

found the floor of it both rough and steep。  Then a sudden turn

brought them to a narrow gallery where the buggy could not pass。  This

delayed and bothered them for a while; because they did not wish to

leave the buggy behind them。  It carried their baggage and was useful

to ride in wherever there were good roads; and since it had

accompanied them so far in their travels they felt it their duty to

preserve it。  So Zeb and the Wizard set to work and took off the

wheels and the top; and then they put the buggy edgewise; so it would

take up the smallest space。  In this position they managed; with the

aid of the patient cab…horse; to drag the vehicle through the narrow

part of the passage。  It was not a great distance; fortunately; and

when the path grew broader they put the buggy together again and

proceeded more comfortably。  But the road was nothing more than a

series of rifts or cracks in the mountain; and it went zig…zag in

every direction; slanting first up and then down until they were

puzzled as to whether they were any nearer to the top of the earth

than when they had started; hours before。



〃Anyhow;〃 said Dorothy; 〃we've 'scaped those awful Gurgles; and that's

ONE comfort!〃



〃Probably the Gargoyles are still busy trying to put out the fire;〃

returned the Wizard。  〃But even if they succeeded in doing that it

would be very difficult for them to fly amongst these rocks; so I am

sure we need fear them no longer。〃



Once in a while they would come to a deep crack in the floor; which

made the way quite dangerous; but there was still enough oil in the

lanterns to give them light; and the cracks were not so wide but that

they were able to jump over them。  Sometimes they had to climb over

heaps of loose rock; where Jim could scarcely drag the buggy。  At such

times Dorothy; Zeb and the Wizard all pushed behind; and lifted the

wheels over the roughest places; so they managed; by dint of hard

work; to keep going。  But the little party was both weary and

discouraged when at last; on turning a sharp corner; the wanderers

found themselves in a vast cave arching high over their heads and

having a smooth; level floor。



The cave was circular in shape; and all around its edge; near to the

ground; appeared groups of dull yellow lights; two of them being

always side by side。  These were motionless at first; but soon began

to flicker more brightly and to sway slowly from side to side and then

up and down。



〃What sort of place is this?〃 asked the boy; trying to see more

clearly through the gloom。



〃I cannot imagine; I'm sure;〃 answered the Wizard; also peering about。



〃Woogh!〃 snarled Eureka; arching her back until her hair stood

straight on end; 〃it's den of alligators; or crocodiles; or some other

dreadful creatures!  Don't you see their terrible eyes?〃



〃Eureka sees better in the dark than we can;〃 whispered Dorothy。

〃Tell us; dear; what do the creatures look like?〃 she asked;

addressing her pet。



〃I simply can't describe 'em;〃 answered the kitten; shuddering。

〃Their eyes are like pie…plates and their mouths like coal…scuttles。

But their bodies don't seem very big。〃



〃Where are they?〃 enquired the girl。



〃They are in little pockets all around the edge of this cavern。  Oh;

Dorothyyou can't imagine what horrid things they are!  They're

uglier than the Gargoyles。〃



〃Tut…tut! be careful how

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