glinda of oz-第4节

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and　polishing　and　washing　of　dishes；　and　that　is　work

my　people　dislike　to　do。　So　we　decided　that　if　any

strangers　came　our　way　we　would　capture　them　and　make

them　our　servants。〃



〃I　am　Princess　Ozma；　Ruler　of　all　Oz；〃　said　the　girl

with　dignity。



〃Well；　I　am　King　of　all　Spiders；〃　was　the　reply；　〃and

that　makes　me　your　master。　Come　with　me　to　my　palace

and　I　will　instruct　you　in　your　work。〃



〃I　won't；〃　said　Dorothy　indignantly。　〃We　won't　have

anything　to　do　with　you。〃



〃We'll　see　about　that；〃　returned　the　Spider　in　a

severe　tone；　and　the　next　instant　he　made　a　dive

straight　at　Dorothy；　opening　the　claws　in　his　legs　as

if　to　grab　and　pinch　her　with　the　sharp　points。　But　the

girl　was　wearing　her　Magic　Belt　and　was　not　harmed。　The

Spider　King　could　not　even　touch　her。　He　turned　swiftly

and　made　a　dash　at　Ozma；　but　she　held　her　Magic　Wand

over　his　head　and　the　monster　recoiled　as　if　it　had

been　struck。



〃You'd　better　let　us　go；〃　Dorothy　advised　him；　〃for

you　see　you　can't　hurt　us。〃



〃So　I　see；〃　returned　the　Spider　King　angrily。　〃Your

magic　is　greater　than　mine。　But　I'll　not　help　you　to

escape。　If　you　can　break　the　magic　web　my　people　have

woven　you　may　go；　if　not　you　must　stay　here　and

starve。〃　With　that　the　Spider　King　uttered　a　peculiar

whistle　and　all　the　spiders　disappeared。



〃There　is　more　magic　in　my　fairyland　than　I　dreamed

of；〃　remarked　the　beautiful　Ozma；　with　a　sigh　of　regret。

〃It　seems　that　my　laws　have　not　been　obeyed；　for　even

these　monstrous　spiders　defy　me　by　means　of　Magic。〃



〃Never　mind　that　now；〃　said　Dorothy；　〃let's　see　what

we　can　do　to　get　out　of　this　trap。〃



They　now　examined　the　web　with　great　care　and　were

amazed　at　its　strength。　Although　finer　than　the　finest

silken　hairs；　it　resisted　all　their　efforts　to　work

through；　even　though　both　girls　threw　all　their　weight

against　it。



〃We　must　find　some　instrument　which　will　cut　the

threads　of　the　web；〃　said　Ozma；　finally。　〃Let　us　look

about　for　such　a　tool。〃



So　they　wandered　among　the　bushes　and　finally　came　to

a　shallow　pool　of　water；　formed　by　a　small　bubbling

spring。　Dorothy　stooped　to　get　a　drink　and　discovered

in　the　water　a　green　crab；　about　as　big　as　her　hand。

The　crab　had　two　big；　sharp　claws；　and　as　soon　as

Dorothy　saw　them　she　had　an　idea　that　those　claws　could

save　them。



〃Come　out　of　the　water；〃　she　called　to　the　crab；　〃I

want　to　talk　to　you。〃



Rather　lazily　the　crab　rose　to　the　surface　and　caught

hold　of　a　bit　of　rock。　With　his　head　above　the　water　he

said　in　a　cross　voice：



〃What　do　you　want？〃



〃We　want　you　to　cut　the　web　of　the　purple　spiders

with　your　claws；　so　we　can　get　through　it；〃　answered

Dorothy。　〃You　can　do　that；　can't　you？〃



〃I　suppose　so；〃　replied　the　crab。　〃But　if　I　do　what

will　you　give　me？〃



〃What　do　you　wish？〃　Ozma　inquired。



〃I　wish　to　be　white；　instead　of　green；〃　said　the

crab。　〃Green　crabs　are　very　common；　and　white　ones　are

rare；　besides　the　purple　spiders；　which　infest　this

hillside；　are　afraid　of　white　crabs。　Could　you　make　me

white　if　I　should　agree　to　cut　the　web　for　you？〃



〃Yes；〃　said　Ozma；　〃I　can　do　that　easily。　And；　so　you

may　know　I　am　speaking　the　truth；　I　will　change　your

color　now。〃



She　waved　her　silver　wand　over　the　pool　and　the　crab

instantly　became　snow…white　　all　except　his　eyes；

which　remained　black。　The　creature　saw　his　reflection

in　the　water　and　was　so　delighted　that　he　at　once

climbed　out　of　the　pool　and　began　moving　slowly　toward

the　web；　by　backing　away　from　the　pool。　He　moved　so

very　slowly　that　Dorothy　cried　out　impatiently：　〃Dear

me；　this　will　never　do！〃　Caching　the　crab　in　her　hands

she　ran　with　him　to　the　web。



She　had　to　hold　him　up　even　then；　so　he　could　reach

with　his　claws　strand　after　strand　of　the　filmy　purple

web；　which　he　was　able　to　sever　with　one　nip。



When　enough　of　the　web　had　been　cut　to　allow　them　to

pass；　Dorothy　ran　back　to　the　pool　and　placed　the　white

crab　in　the　water；　after　which　she　rejoined　Ozma。　They

were　just　in　time　to　escape　through　the　web；　for

several　of　the　purple　spiders　now　appeared；　having

discovered　that　their　web　had　been　cut；　and　had　the

girls　not　rushed　through　the　opening　the　spiders　would

have　quickly　repaired　the　cuts　and　again　imprisoned

them。



Ozma　and　Dorothy　ran　as　fast　as　they　could　and

although　the　angry　spiders　threw　a　number　of　strands　of

web　after　them；　hoping　to　lasso　them　or　entangle　them

in　the　coils；　they　managed　to　escape　and　clamber　to　the

top　of　the　hill。









Chapter　Three



The　Mist　Maidens







From　the　top　of　the　hill　Ozma　and　Dorothy　looked　down

into　the　valley　beyond　and　were　surprised　to　find　it

filled　with　a　floating　mist　that　was　as　dense　as　smoke。

Nothing　in　the　valley　was　visible　except　these　rolling

waves　of　mist；　but　beyond；　on　the　other　side；　rose　a

grassy　hill　that　appeared　quite　beautiful。



〃Well；〃　said　Dorothy；　〃what　are　we　to　do；　Ozma？　Walk

down　into　that　thick　fog；　an'　prob'bly　get　lost　in　it；

or　wait　till　it　clears　away？〃



〃I'm　not　sure　it　will　clear　away；　however　long　we

wait；〃　replied　Ozma；　doubtfully。　〃If　we　wish　to　get　on；

I　think　we　must　venture　into　the　mist。〃



〃But　we　can't　see　where　we're　going；　or　what　we're

stepping　on；〃　protested　Dorothy。　　〃There　may　be

dreadful　things　mixed　up　in　that　fog；　an'　I'm　scared

just　to　think　of　wading　into　it。〃



Even　Ozma　seemed　to　hesitate。　She　was　silent　and

thoughtful　for　a　little　while；　looking　at　the　rolling

drifts　that　were　so　gray　and　forbidding。　Finally　she

said：



〃I　believe　this　is　a　Mist　Valley；　where　these　moist

clouds　always　remain；　for　even　the　sunshine　above　does

not　drive　them　away。　Therefore　the　Mist　Maids　must　live

here；　and　they　are　fairies　and　should　answer　my　call。〃



She　placed　her　two　hands　before　her　mouth；　forming　a

hollow　with　them；　and　uttered　a　clear；　thrilling；　bird…

like　cry。　It　floated　far　out　over　the　mist　waves　and

presently　was　answered　by　a　similar　sound；　as　of　a　far…

off　echo。



Dorothy　was　much　impressed。　She　had　seen　many　strange

things　since　coming　to　this　fairy　country；　but　here　was

a　new　experience。　At　ordinary　times　Ozma　was　just　like

any　little　girl　one　might　chance　to　meet　　simple；

merry；　lovable　as　could　be　　yet　with　a　certain

reserve　that　lent　her　dignity　in　her　most　joyous　moods。

There　were　times；　however；　when　seated　on　her　throne

and　commanding　her　subjects；　or　when　her　fairy　powers

were　called　into　use；　when　Dorothy　and　all　others　about

her　stood　in　awe　of　their　lovely　girl　Ruler　and

realized　her　superiority。



Ozma　waited。　Presently　out　from　the　billows　rose

beautiful　forms；　clothed　in　fleecy；　trailing　garments

of　gray　that　could　scarcely　be　distinguished　from　the

mist。　Their　hair　was　mist…color；　too；　only　their

gleaming　arms　and　sweet；　pallid　faces　proved　they　were

living；　intelligent　creatures　answering　the　call　of　a

sister　fairy。



Like　sea　nymphs　they　rested　on　the　bosom　of　the

clouds；　their　eyes　turned　questioningly　upon　the　two

girls　who　stood　upon　the　bank。　One　came　quite　near　and

to　her　Ozma　said：



〃Will　you　please　take　us　to　the　opposite　hillside？　We

are　afraid　to　venture　into　the　mist。　I　am　Princess　Ozma

of　Oz；　and　this　is　my　friend　Dorothy；　a　Princess　of

Oz。〃



The　Mist　Maids　came　nearer；　holding　out　their　arms。

Without　hesitation　Ozma　advanced　and　allowed　them　to

embrace　her　and　Dorothy　plucked　up　courage　to　follow。

Very　gently　the　Mist　Maids　held　them。　Dorothy　thought

the　arms　were　cold　and　misty　　they　didn't　seem　real

at　all　　yet　they　supported　the　two　girls　above　the

surface　of　the　billows　and　floated　with　them　so　swiftly

to　the　green　hillside　opposite　that　the　girls　were

astonished　to　find　themselves　set　upon　the　grass　before

they　realized　they　had　fairly　started。



〃Thank　you！〃　said　Ozma　gratefully；　and　Dorothy　also

added　her　thanks　for　the　service。



The　Mist　Maids　made　no　answer；　but　they　smiled　and

waved　their　hands　in　good…bye　as　again　they　floated　out

into　the　mist　and　disappeared　from　view。









Chapter　Four



The　Magic　Tent





〃Well；〃　said　Dorothy　with　a　laugh；　〃that　was　easier

than　I　expected。　It's　worth　while；　sometimes；　to　be　a

real　fairy。　But　I　wouldn't　like　to　be　that　kind；　and

live　in　a　dreadful　fog　all　the　time。〃



They　now　climbed　the　bank　and　found　before　them　a

delightful　plain　that　spread　for　miles　in　all

directions。　Fragrant　wild　flowers　were　scattered

throughout　the　grass；　there　were　bushes　bearing　lovely

blossoms　and　luscious　fruits；　now　and　then　a　group　of

stately　trees　added　to　the　beauty　of　the　landscape。　But

there　were　no　dwellings　or　signs　of　life。



The　farther　side　of　the　plain　was　bordered　by　a　row

of　palms；　and　just　in　front　of　the　palms　rose　a　queerly

shaped　hill　that　towered　above　the　plain　like　a

mountain。　The　sides　of　this