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！
〃Very well；〃 said the Queen； 〃we trust you。 But what shall we do？〃
〃Are there many of these mice which call you Queen and are willing
to obey you？〃
〃Oh； yes； there are thousands；〃 she replied。
〃Then send for them all to come here as soon as possible；
and let each one bring a long piece of string。〃
The Queen turned to the mice that attended her and told them
to go at once and get all her people。 As soon as they heard her
orders they ran away in every direction as fast as possible。
〃Now；〃 said the Scarecrow to the Tin Woodman； 〃you must go to
those trees by the riverside and make a truck that will carry the Lion。〃
So the Woodman went at once to the trees and began to work；
and he soon made a truck out of the limbs of trees； from which he
chopped away all the leaves and branches。 He fastened it together
with wooden pegs and made the four wheels out of short pieces of a
big tree trunk。 So fast and so well did he work that by the time
the mice began to arrive the truck was all ready for them。
They came from all directions； and there were thousands of
them： big mice and little mice and middle…sized mice； and each
one brought a piece of string in his mouth。 It was about this
time that Dorothy woke from her long sleep and opened her eyes。
She was greatly astonished to find herself lying upon the grass；
with thousands of mice standing around and looking at her timidly。
But the Scarecrow told her about everything； and turning to the
dignified little Mouse； he said：
〃Permit me to introduce to you her Majesty； the Queen。〃
Dorothy nodded gravely and the Queen made a curtsy； after
which she became quite friendly with the little girl。
The Scarecrow and the Woodman now began to fasten the mice to
the truck； using the strings they had brought。 One end of a
string was tied around the neck of each mouse and the other end to
the truck。 Of course the truck was a thousand times bigger than
any of the mice who were to draw it； but when all the mice had
been harnessed； they were able to pull it quite easily。 Even the
Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman could sit on it； and were drawn swiftly
by their queer little horses to the place where the Lion lay asleep。
After a great deal of hard work； for the Lion was heavy； they
managed to get him up on the truck。 Then the Queen hurriedly gave
her people the order to start； for she feared if the mice stayed
among the poppies too long they also would fall asleep。
At first the little creatures； many though they were； could
hardly stir the heavily loaded truck； but the Woodman and the
Scarecrow both pushed from behind； and they got along better。
Soon they rolled the Lion out of the poppy bed to the green fields；
where he could breathe the sweet； fresh air again； instead of the
poisonous scent of the flowers。
Dorothy came to meet them and thanked the little mice warmly
for saving her companion from death。 She had grown so fond of
the big Lion she was glad he had been rescued。
Then the mice were unharnessed from the truck and scampered
away through the grass to their homes。 The Queen of the Mice was
the last to leave。
〃If ever you need us again；〃 she said； 〃come out into the
field and call； and we shall hear you and come to your assistance。
Good…bye！〃
〃Good…bye！〃 they all answered； and away the Queen ran； while
Dorothy held Toto tightly lest he should run after her and
frighten her。
After this they sat down beside the Lion until he should
awaken； and the Scarecrow brought Dorothy some fruit from a tree
near by； which she ate for her dinner。
10。 The Guardian of the Gate
It was some time before the Cowardly Lion awakened； for he had
lain among the poppies a long while； breathing in their deadly
fragrance； but when he did open his eyes and roll off the truck
he was very glad to find himself still alive。
〃I ran as fast as I could；〃 he said； sitting down and yawning；
〃but the flowers were too strong for me。 How did you get me out？〃
Then they told him of the field mice； and how they had generously
saved him from death； and the Cowardly Lion laughed； and said：
〃I have always thought myself very big and terrible； yet such
little things as flowers came near to killing me； and such small
animals as mice have saved my life。 How strange it all is！
But； comrades； what shall we do now？〃
〃We must journey on until we find the road of yellow brick again；〃
said Dorothy； 〃and then we can keep on to the Emerald City。〃
So； the Lion being fully refreshed； and feeling quite himself again；
they all started upon the journey； greatly enjoying the walk through the soft；
fresh grass； and it was not long before they reached the road of yellow brick
and turned again toward the Emerald City where the Great Oz dwelt。
The road was smooth and well paved； now； and the country about
was beautiful； so that the travelers rejoiced in leaving the
forest far behind； and with it the many dangers they had met in
its gloomy shades。 Once more they could see fences built beside
the road； but these were painted green； and when they came to a
small house； in which a farmer evidently lived； that also was
painted green。 They passed by several of these houses during the
afternoon； and sometimes people came to the doors and looked at
them as if they would like to ask questions； but no one came near
them nor spoke to them because of the great Lion； of which they
were very much afraid。 The people were all dressed in clothing of
a lovely emerald…green color and wore peaked hats like those of
the Munchkins。
〃This must be the Land of Oz；〃 said Dorothy； 〃and we are
surely getting near the Emerald City。〃
〃Yes；〃 answered the Scarecrow。 〃Everything is green here；
while in the country of the Munchkins blue was the favorite color。
But the people do not seem to be as friendly as the Munchkins； and
I'm afraid we shall be unable to find a place to pass the night。〃
〃I should like something to eat besides fruit；〃 said the girl；
〃and I'm sure Toto is nearly starved。 Let us stop at the next
house and talk to the people。〃
So； when they came to a good…sized farmhouse； Dorothy walked
boldly up to the door and knocked。
A woman opened it just far enough to look out； and said；
〃What do you want； child； and why is that great Lion with you？〃
〃We wish to pass the night with you； if you will allow us；〃
answered Dorothy； 〃and the Lion is my friend and comrade； and
would not hurt you for the world。〃
〃Is he tame？〃 asked the woman； opening the door a little wider。
〃Oh； yes；〃 said the girl； 〃and he is a great coward； too。
He will be more afraid of you than you are of him。〃
〃Well；〃 said the woman； after thinking it over and taking
another peep at the