第 24 节
作者:老是不进球      更新:2022-11-28 19:15      字数:9321
  Generals down to Captains。  There were no privates in the army because
  all were so courageous and skillful that they had been promoted one by
  one until there were no privates left。  Jim and the buggy followed;
  the old cab…horse being driven by Zeb while the Wizard stood up on the
  seat and bowed his bald head right and left in answer to the cheers of
  the people; who crowded thick about him。
  Taken altogether the procession was a grand success; and when it had
  returned to the palace the citizens crowded into the great Throne Room
  to see the Wizard perform his tricks。
  The first thing the little humbug did was to produce a tiny white
  piglet from underneath his hat and pretend to pull it apart; making
  two。  This act he repeated until all of the nine tiny piglets were
  visible; and they were so glad to get out of his pocket that they ran
  around in a very lively manner。  The pretty little creatures would
  have been a novelty anywhere; so the people were as amazed and
  delighted at their appearance as even the Wizard could have desired。
  When he had made them all disappear again Ozma declared she was sorry
  they were gone; for she wanted one of them to pet and play with。  So
  the Wizard pretended to take one of the piglets out of the hair of the
  Princess (while really he slyly took it from his inside pocket) and
  Ozma smiled joyously as the creature nestled in her arms; and she
  promised to have an emerald collar made for its fat neck and to keep
  the little squealer always at hand to amuse her。
  Afterward it was noticed that the Wizard always performed his famous
  trick with eight piglets; but it seemed to please the people just as
  well as if there had been nine of them。
  In his little room back of the Throne Room the Wizard had found a lot
  of things he had left behind him when he went away in the balloon; for
  no one had occupied the apartment in his absence。  There was enough
  material there to enable him to prepare several new tricks which he
  had learned from some of the jugglers in the circus; and he had passed
  part of the night in getting them ready。  So he followed the trick of
  the nine tiny piglets with several other wonderful feats that greatly
  delighted his audience and the people did not seem to care a bit
  whether the little man was a humbug Wizard or not; so long as he
  succeeded in amusing them。  They applauded all his tricks and at the
  end of the performance begged him earnestly not to go away again and
  leave them。
  〃In that case;〃 said the little man; gravely; 〃I will cancel all of my
  engagements before the crowned heads of Europe and America and devote
  myself to the people of Oz; for I love you all so well that I can deny
  you nothing。〃
  After the people had been dismissed with this promise our friends
  joined Princess Ozma at an elaborate luncheon in the palace; where
  even the Tiger and the Lion were sumptuously fed and Jim the Cab…horse
  ate his oatmeal out of a golden bowl with seven rows of rubies;
  sapphires and diamonds set around the rim of it。
  In the afternoon they all went to a great field outside the city gates
  where the games were to be held。  There was a beautiful canopy for
  Ozma and her guests to sit under and watch the people run races and
  jump and wrestle。  You may be sure the folks of Oz did their best with
  such a distinguished company watching them; and finally Zeb offered to
  wrestle with a little Munchkin who seemed to be the champion。  In
  appearance he was twice as old as Zeb; for he had long pointed
  whiskers and wore a peaked hat with little bells all around the brim
  of it; which tinkled gaily as he moved。  But although the Munchkin was
  hardly tall enough to come to Zeb's shoulder he was so strong and
  clever that he laid the boy three times on his back with apparent ease。
  Zeb was greatly astonished at his defeat; and when the pretty Princess
  joined her people in laughing at him he proposed a boxing…match with
  the Munchkin; to which the little Ozite readily agreed。  But the first
  time that Zeb managed to give him a sharp box on the ears the Munchkin
  sat down upon the ground and cried until the tears ran down his
  whiskers; because he had been hurt。  This made Zeb laugh; in turn; and
  the boy felt comforted to find that Ozma laughed as merrily at her
  weeping subject as she had at him。
  Just then the Scarecrow proposed a race between the Sawhorse and the
  Cab…horse; and although all the others were delighted at the
  suggestion the Sawhorse drew back; saying:
  〃Such a race would not be fair。〃
  〃Of course not;〃 added Jim; with a touch of scorn; 〃those little
  wooden legs of yours are not half as long as my own。〃
  〃It isn't that;〃 said the Sawhorse; modestly; 〃but I never tire; and
  you do。〃
  〃Bah!〃 cried Jim; looking with great disdain at the other; 〃do you
  imagine for an instant that such a shabby imitation of a horse as you
  are can run as fast as I?〃
  〃I don't know; I'm sure;〃 replied the Sawhorse。
  〃That is what we are trying to find out;〃 remarked the Scarecrow。
  〃The object of a race is to see who can win itor at least that is
  what my excellent brains think。〃
  〃Once; when I was young;〃 said Jim; 〃I was a race horse; and defeated
  all who dared run against me。  I was born in Kentucky; you know; where
  all the best and most aristocratic horses come from。〃
  〃But you're old; now; Jim;〃 suggested Zeb。
  〃Old!  Why; I feel like a colt today;〃 replied Jim。  〃I only wish
  there was a real horse here for me to race with。  I'd show the people
  a fine sight; I can tell you。〃
  〃Then why not race with the Sawhorse?〃 enquired the Scarecrow。
  〃He's afraid;〃 said Jim。
  〃Oh; no;〃 answered the Sawhorse。  〃I merely said it wasn't fair。  But
  if my friend the Real Horse is willing to undertake the race I am
  quite ready。〃
  So they unharnessed Jim and took the saddle off the Sawhorse; and the
  two queerly matched animals were stood side by side for the start。
  〃When I say 'Go!'〃 Zeb called to them; 〃you must dig out and race
  until you reach those three trees you see over yonder。  Then circle
  'round them and come back again。  The first one that passes the place
  where the Princess sits shall be named the winner。  Are you ready?〃
  〃I suppose I ought to give the wooden dummy a good start of me;〃
  growled Jim。
  〃Never mind that;〃 said the Sawhorse。  〃I'll do the best I can。〃
  〃Go!〃 cried Zeb; and at the word the two horses leaped forward and the
  race was begun。
  Jim's big hoofs pounded away at a great rate; and although he did not
  look very graceful he ran in a way to do credit to his Kentucky
  breeding。  But the Sawhorse was swifter than the wind。  Its wooden
  legs moved so fast that their twinkling could scarcely be seen; and
  although so much smaller than the cab…horse it covered the ground much
  faster。  Before they had reached the trees the Sawhorse was far ahead;
  and the wooden animal returned to the starting place as was being
  lustily cheered by the Ozites before Jim came panting up to the canopy
  where the Princess and her friends were seated。
  I am sorry to record the fact that Jim was not only ashamed of his
  defeat but for a moment lost control of his temper。  As he looked at
  the comical face of the Sawhorse he imagined that the creature was
  laughing at him; so in a fit of unreasonable anger he turned around
  and made a vicious kick that sent his rival tumbling head over heels
  upon the ground; and broke off one of its legs and its left ear。
  An instant later the Tiger crouched and launched its huge body through
  the air swift and resistless as a ball from a cannon。  The beast
  struck Jim full on his shoulder and sent the astonished cab…horse
  rolling over and over; amid shouts of delight from the spectators; who
  had been horrified by the ungracious act he had been guilty of。
  When Jim came to himself and sat upon his haunches he found the
  Cowardly Lion crouched on one side of him and the Hungry Tiger on the
  other; and their eyes were glowing like balls of fire。
  〃I beg your pardon; I'm sure;〃 said Jim; meekly。  〃I was wrong to kick
  the Sawhorse; and I am sorry I became angry at him。  He has won the
  race; and won it fairly; but what can a horse of flesh do against a
  tireless beast of wood?〃
  Hearing this apology the Tiger and the Lion stopped lashing their
  tails and retreated with dignified steps to the side of the Princess。
  〃No one must injure one of our friends in our presence;〃 growled the
  Lion; and Zeb ran to Jim and whispered that unless he controlled his
  temper in the future he would probably be torn to pieces。
  Then the Tin Woodman cut a straight and strong limb from a tree with
  his gleaming axe and made a new leg and a new ear for the Sawhorse;
  and when they had been securely fastened in place Princess Ozma took
  the coronet from her own head and placed it upon that of the winner
  of the race。  Said she:
  〃My friend; I reward you for your