the patchwork girl of oz-第19节
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done myself。 But your ferocious growl isn't as
loud as the tick of a beetleor one of Ojo's
snores when he's fast asleep。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said the Woozy； humbly； 〃I have
been mistaken about my growl。 It has always
sounded very fearful to me； but that may； have
been because it was so close to my ears。〃
〃Never mind；〃 Ojo said soothingly； 〃it is a
great talent to be able to flash fire from your
eyes。 No one else can do that。〃
As they stood hesitating what to do Chiss
stirred and suddenly a shower of quills came
flying toward them； almost filling the air； they
were so many。 Scraps realized in an instant that
they had gone too near to Chiss for safety； so
she sprang in front of Ojo and shielded him
from the darts； which stuck their points into her
own body until she resembled one of those
targets they shoot arrows at in archery games。
The Shaggy Man dropped flat on his face to
avoid the shower； but one quill struck him in
the leg and went far in。 As for the Glass Cat；
the quills rattled off her body without making
even a scratch； and the skin of the Woozy was
so thick and tough that he was not hurt at all。
When the attack was over they all ran to the
Shaggy Man； who was moaning and groaning； and
Scraps promptly pulled the quill out of his leg。
Then up he jumped and ran over to Chiss； putting
his foot on the monster's neck and holding it a
prisoner。 The body of the great porcupine was now
as smooth as leather； except for the holes where
the quills had been； for it had shot every single
quill in that one wicked shower。
〃Let me go！〃 it shouted angrily。 〃How dare
you put your foot on Chiss？〃
〃I'm going to do worse than that； old boy；〃
replied the Shaggy Man。 〃You have annoyed
travelers on this road long enough； and now
I shall put an end to you。〃
〃You can't！〃 returned Chiss。 〃Nothing can
kill me； as you know perfectly well。〃
〃Perhaps that is true；〃 said the Shaggy Man
in a tone of disappointment。 〃Seems to me I've
been told before that you can't be killed。 But if
I let you go； what will you do？〃
〃Pick up my quills again；〃 said Chiss in a
sulky voice。
〃And then shoot them at more travelers？ No；
that won't do。 You must promise me to stop
throwing quills at people。〃
〃I won't promise anything of the sort；〃 declared
Chiss。
〃Why not？〃
〃Because it is my nature to throw quills； and
every animal must do what Nature intends it
to do。 It isn't fair for you to blame me。 If it were
wrong for me to throw quills； then I wouldn't
be made with quills to throw。 The proper thing
for you to do is to keep out of my way。
〃Why； there's some sense in that argument；
admitted the Shaggy Man； thoughtfully； 〃but
people who are strangers； and don't know you
are here； won't be able to keep out of your way。〃
〃Tell you what；〃 said Scraps； who was trying
to pull the quills out of her own body； 〃let's
gather up all the quills and take them away with
us； then old Chiss won't have any left to throw
at people。〃
〃Ah； that's a clever idea。 You and Ojo must
gather up the quills while I hold Chiss a
prisoner； for； if I let him go he will get some of
his quills and be able to throw them again。〃
So Scraps and Ojo picked up all the quills
and tied them in a bundle so they might easily
be carried。 After this the Shaggy Man released
Chiss and let him go； knowing that he was
harmless to injure anyone。
〃It's the meanest trick I ever heard of；〃
muttered the porcupine gloomily。 〃How would you
like it； Shaggy Man； if I took all your shags away
from you？〃
〃If I threw my shags and hurt people； you would
be welcome to capture them；〃 was the reply。
Then they walked on and left Chiss standing in
the road sullen and disconsolate。 The Shaggy Man
limped as he walked； for his wound still hurt him；
and Scraps was much annoyed be cause the quills
had left a number of small holes in her patches。
When they came to a flat stone by the roadside
the Shaggy Man sat down to rest； and then Ojo
opened his basket and took out the bundle of
charms the Crooked Magician had given him。
〃I am Ojo the Unlucky；〃 he said； 〃or we would
never have met that dreadful porcupine。 But I will
see if I can find anything among these charms
which will cure your leg。〃
Soon he discovered that one of the charms
was labelled： 〃For flesh wounds；〃 and this the
boy separated from the others。 It was only a bit
of dried root； taken from some unknown shrub；
but the boy rubbed it upon the wound made by
the quill and in a few moments the place was
healed entirely and the Shaggy Man's leg was
as good as ever。
〃Rub it on the holes in my patches；〃 suggested
Scraps； and Ojo tried it； but without any effect。
〃The charm you need is a needle and thread；〃
said the Shaggy Man。 〃But do not worry； my
dear； those holes do not look badly； at all。〃
〃They'll let in the air； and I don't want people
to think I'm airy； or that I've been stuck
up；〃 said the Patchwork Girl。
〃You were certainly stuck up until we pulled
Out those quills；〃 observed Ojo； with a laugh。
So now they went on again and coming presently
to a pond of muddy water they tied a heavy stone
to the bundle of quills and sunk it to the bottom
of the pond； to avoid carrying it farther。
Chapter Thirteen
Scraps and the Scarecrow
From here on the country improved and the desert
places began to give way to fertile spots； still
no houses were yet to be seen near the road。 There
were some hills； with valleys between them； and on
reaching the top of one of these hills the
travelers found before them a high wall； running
to the right and the left as far as their eyes
could reach。 Immediately in front of them； where
the wall crossed the roadway； stood a gate having
stout iron bars that extended from top to bottom。
They found； on coming nearer； that this gate was
locked with a great padlock； rusty through lack of
use。
〃Well；〃 said Scraps； 〃I guess we'll stop here。〃
〃It's a good guess；〃 replied Ojo。 〃Our way is
barred by this great wall and gate。 It looks as if
no one had passed through in many years。
〃Looks are deceiving；〃 declared the Shaggy Man；
laughing at their disappointed faces； 〃and this
barrier is the most deceiving thing in all Oz。〃
〃It prevents our going any farther； anyhow；〃
said Scraps。 〃There is no one to mind the gate
and let people through； and we've no key to
the padlock。〃
〃True；〃 replied Ojo； going a little nearer to
peep through the bars of the gate。 〃What shall we
do； Shaggy Man？ If we had wings we might fly over
the wall； but we cannot climb it and unless we get
to the Emerald City I won't be able to find the
things to restore Unc Nunkie to life。〃
〃All very true；〃 answered the Shaggy Man；
quietly； 〃but I know this gate； having passed
through it many times。〃
〃How？〃 they all eagerly inquired。
〃I'll show you how；〃 said he。 He stood Ojo
in the middle of the road and placed Scraps
just behind him； with her padded hands on his
shoulders。 After the Patchwork Girl came the
Woozy； who held a part of her skirt in his
mouth。 Then； last of all； was the Glass Cat；
holding fast to the Woozy's tail with her glass
jaws。
〃Now；〃 said the Shaggy Man； 〃you must all
shut your eyes tight； and keep them shut until
I tell you to open them。〃
〃I can't；〃 objected Scraps。 〃My eyes are but…
tons； and they won't shut。〃
So the Shaggy Man tied his red handkerchief over
the Patchwork Girl's eyes and examined all the
others to make sure they had their eyes fast shut
and could see nothing。
〃What's the game； anyhowblind…man's…buff？〃
asked Scraps。
〃Keep quiet！〃 commanded the Shaggy Man；
sternly。 〃All ready？ Then follow me。〃
He took Ojo's hand and led him forward over the
road of yellow bricks； toward the gate。 Holding
fast to one another they all followed in a row；
expecting every minute to bump against the iron
