the patchwork girl of oz-第14节
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some branches from a tree and with them
whipped the fire until it was extinguished。
〃We don't want to burn the whole fence
down；〃 said he； 〃for the flames would attract
the attention of the Munchkin farmers； who
would then come and capture the Woozy again。
I guess they'll be rather surprised when they
find he's escaped。〃
〃So they will；〃 declared the Woozy； chuckling
gleefully。 〃When they find I'm gone the farmers
will be badly scared； for they'll expect me to eat
up their honey…bees； as I did before。〃
〃That reminds me；〃 said the boy； 〃that you must
promise not to eat honey…bees while you are in our
company。〃
〃None at all？〃
〃Not a bee。 You would get us all into trouble；
and we can't afford to have any more trouble than
is necessary。 I'll feed you all the bread and
cheese you want； and that must satisfy you。〃
〃All right； I'll promise；〃 said the Woozy；
cheerfully。 〃And when I promise anything you
can depend on it； 'cause I'm square。〃
〃I don't see what difference that makes；〃
observed the Patchwork Girl； as they found the
path and continued their journey。 〃The shape
doesn't make a thing honest； does it？〃
〃Of course it does；〃 returned the Woozy； very
decidedly。 〃No one could trust that Crooked
Magician； for instance； just because he is
crooked； but a square Woozy couldn't do anything
crooked if he wanted to。〃
〃I am neither square nor crooked；〃 said
Scraps； looking down at her plump body。
〃No； you're round； so you're liable to do
anything；〃 asserted the Woozy。 〃Do not blame me；
Miss Gorgeous； if I regard you with suspicion。
Many a satin ribbon has a cotton back。〃
Scraps didn't understand this； but she had an
uneasy misgiving that she had a cotton back
herself。 It would settle down； at times； and make
her squat and dumpy； and then she had to roll
herself in the road until her body stretched out again。
Chapter Ten
Shaggy Man to the Rescue
They had not gone very far before Bungle； who had
run on ahead； came bounding back to say that the
road of yellow bricks was just before them。 At
once they hurried forward to see what this famous
road looked like。
It was a broad road； but not straight； for it
wandered over hill and dale and picked out the
easiest places to go。 All its length and breadth
was paved with smooth bricks of a bright yellow
color； so it was smooth and level except in a few
places where the bricks had crumbled or been
removed； leaving holes that might cause the unwary
to stumble。
〃I wonder；〃 said Ojo； looking up and down the
road； 〃which way to go。〃
〃Where are you bound for？〃 asked the Woozy。
〃The Emerald City；〃 he replied。
〃Then go west；〃 said the Woozy。 〃I know this
road pretty well； for I've chased many a honey…bee
over it。〃
〃Have you ever been to the Emerald City？〃
asked Scraps。
〃No。 I am very shy by nature； as you may have
noticed； so I haven't mingled much in society。〃
〃Are you afraid of men？〃 inquired the Patchwork
Girl。
〃Me？ With my heart…rending growl…my horrible；
shudderful growl？ I should say not。 I am not
afraid of anything；〃 declared the Woozy。
〃I wish I could say the same；〃 sighed Ojo。 〃I
don't think we need be afraid when we get to the
Emerald City； for Unc Nunkie has told me that
Ozma； our girl Ruler； is very lovely and kind； and
tries to help everyone who is in trouble。 But they
say there are many dangers lurking on the road to
the great Fairy City； and so we must be very
careful。〃
〃I hope nothing will break me；〃 said the
Glass Cat； in a nervous voice。 〃I'm a little brittle；
you know； and can't stand many hard knocks。〃
〃If anything should fade the colors of my lovely
patches it would break my heart；〃 said the
Patchwork Girl。
〃I'm not sure you have a heart；〃 Ojo reminded
her。
〃Then it would break my cotton；〃 persisted
Scraps。 〃Do you think they are all fast colors；
Ojo？〃 she asked anxiously。
〃They seem fast enough when you run；〃 he
replied； and then； looking ahead of them； he
exclaimed： 〃Oh； what lovely trees！〃
They were certainly pretty to look upon and
the travelers hurried forward to observe them
more closely。
〃Why； they are not trees at all；〃 said Scraps；
〃they are just monstrous plants。〃
That is what they really were： masses of great
broad leaves which rose from the ground far into
the air； until they towered twice as high as the
top of the Patchwork Girl's head； who was a little
taller than Ojo。 The plants formed rows on both
sides of the road and from each plant rose a dozen
or more of the big broad leaves； which swayed
continually from side to side； although no wind
was blowing。 But the most curious thing about the
swaying leaves was their color。 They seemed to
have a general groundwork of blue； but here and
there other colors glinted at times through the
bluegorgeous yellows； turning to pink； purple；
orange and scarlet； mingled with more sober browns
and grayseach appearing as a blotch or stripe
anywhere on a leaf and then disappearing； to be
replaced by some other color of a different shape。
The changeful coloring of the great leaves was
very beautiful； but it was bewildering； as well；
and the novelty of the scene drew our travelers
close to the line of plants； where they stood
watching them with rapt interest。
Suddenly a leaf bent lower than usual and
touched the Patchwork Girl。 Swiftly it enveloped
her in its embrace； covering her completely in
its thick folds； and then it swayed back upon its
stem。
〃Why； she's gone！〃 gasped Ojo； in amazement； and
listening carefully he thought he could hear the
muffled screams of Scraps coming from the center
of the folded leaf。 But； before he could think
what he ought to do to save her； another leaf bent
down and captured the Glass Cat； rolling around
the little creature until she was completely
hidden； and then straightening up again upon its
stem。
〃Look out；〃 cried the Woozy。 〃Run！ Run
fast； or you are lost。〃
Ojo turned and saw the Woozy running
swiftly up the road。 But the last leaf of the row
of plants seized the beast even as he ran and
instantly he disappeared from sight。
The boy had no chance to escape。 Half a dozen of
the great leaves were bending toward him from
different directions and as he stood hesitating
one of them clutched him in its embrace。 In a
flash he was in the dark。 Then he felt himself
gently lifted until he was swaying in the air；
with the folds of the leaf hugging him on all
sides。
At first he struggled hard to escape； crying
out in anger： 〃Let me go！ Let me go！〃 But
neither struggles nor protests had any effect
whatever。 The leaf held him firmly and he was
a prisoner。〃
Then Ojo quieted himself and tried to think。
Despair fell upon him when he remembered that all
his little party had been captured； even as he
was； and there was none to save them。
〃I might have expected it；〃 he sobbed；
miserably。 〃I'm Ojo the Unlucky； and something
dreadful was sure to happen to me。〃
He pushed against the leaf that held him and
found it to be soft； but thick and firm。 It was
like a great bandage all around him and he
found it difficult to move his body or limbs in
order to change their position。
The minutes passed and became hours。 Ojo
wondered how long one could live in such a
condition and if the leaf would gradually sap
his strength and even his life； in order to feed
itself。 The little Munchkin boy had never heard
of any person dying in the Land of Oz； but he
knew one could suffer a great deal of pain。 His
greatest fear at this time was that he would
always remain imprisoned in the beautiful leaf
and never see the light of day again。
No sound came to him through the leaf； all
around was intense silence。 Ojo wondered if Scraps
had stopped screaming； or if the folds of the leaf
prevented his hearing her。 By and by he thought he
heard a whis
