第 20 节
作者:冥王      更新:2021-02-24 22:16      字数:9322
  in all the Land of Oz。 His body was merely a suit of
  Munchkin clothes stuffed with straw; but his head was a
  round sack filled with bran; with which the Wizard of Oz
  had mixed some magic brains of a very superior sort。 The
  eyes; nose and mouth of the Scarecrow were painted upon
  the front of the sack; as were his ears; and since this
  quaint being had been endowed with life; the expression
  of his face was very interesting; if somewhat comical。
  The Scarecrow was good all through; even to his brains;
  and while he was naturally awkward in his movements and
  lacked the neat symmetry of other people; his disposition
  was so kind and considerate and he was so obliging and
  honest; that all who knew him loved him; and there were
  few people in Oz who had not met our Scarecrow and made
  his acquaintance。 He lived part of the time in Ozma's
  palace at the Emerald City; part of the time in his own
  corncob castle in the Winkie Country; and part of the
  time he traveled over all Oz; visiting with the people
  and playing with the children; whom he dearly loved。
  It was on one of his wandering journeys that the
  Scarecrow had arrived at Glinda's palace; and the
  Sorceress at once made him welcome。 As he sat beside her;
  talking of his adventures; he asked:
  〃What's new in the way of news?〃
  Glinda opened her Great Book of Records and read some
  of the last pages。
  〃Here is an item quite curious and interesting;〃 she
  announced; an accent of surprise in her voice。 〃Three
  people from the big Outside World have arrived in
  Jinxland。〃
  〃Where is Jinxland?〃 inquired the Scarecrow。
  〃Very near here; a little to the east of us;〃 she said。
  〃In fact; Jinxland is a little slice taken off the
  Quadling Country; but separated from it by a range of
  high mountains; at the foot of which lies a wide; deep
  gulf that is supposed to be impassable。〃
  〃Then Jinxland is really a part of the Land of Oz;〃
  said he。
  〃Yes;〃 returned Glinda; 〃but Oz people know nothing of
  it; except what is recorded here in my book。〃
  〃What does the Book say about it?〃 asked the Scarecrow。
  〃It is ruled by a wicked man called King Krewl;
  although he has no right to the title。 Most of the people
  are good; but they are very timid and live in constant
  fear of their fierce ruler。 There are also several Wicked
  Witches who keep the inhabitants of Jinxland in a state
  of terror。〃
  〃Do those witches have any magical powers?〃 inquired
  the Scarecrow。
  〃Yes; they seem to understand witchcraft in its most
  evil form; for one of them has just transformed a
  respectable and honest old sailor  one of the strangers
  who arrived there  into a grasshopper。 This same witch;
  Blinkie by name; is also planning to freeze the heart of
  a beautiful Jinxland girl named Princess Gloria。〃
  〃Why; that's a dreadful thing to do!〃 exclaimed the
  Scarecrow。
  Glinda's face was very grave。 She read in her book how
  Trot and Button…Bright were turned out of the King's
  castle; and how they found refuge in the hut of Pon; the
  gardener's boy
  〃I'm afraid those helpless earth people will endure
  much suffering in Jinxland; even if the wicked King and
  the witches permit them to live;〃 said the good
  Sorceress; thoughtfully。 〃I wish I might help them。〃
  〃Can I do anything?〃 asked the Scarecrow; anxiously。
  〃If so; tell me what to do; and I'll do it。〃
  For a few moments Glinda did not reply; but sat musing
  over the records。 Then she said: 〃I am going to send you
  to Jinxland; to protect Trot and Button…Bright and Cap'n
  Bill。〃
  〃All right;〃 answered the Scarecrow in a cheerful
  voice。 〃I know Button…Bright already; for he has been in
  the Land of Oz before。 You remember he went away from the
  Land of Oz in one of our Wizard's big bubbles。〃
  〃Yes;〃 said Glinda; 〃I remember that。〃 Then she
  carefully instructed the Scarecrow what to do and gave
  him certain magical things which he placed in the pockets
  of his ragged Munchkin coat。
  〃As you have no need to sleep;〃 said she; 〃you may as
  well start at once。〃
  〃The night is the same as day to me;〃 he replied;
  〃except that I cannot see my way so well in the dark。〃
  〃I will furnish a light to guide you;〃 promised the
  Sorceress。
  So the Scarecrow bade her good…bye and at once started
  on his journey。 By morning he had reached the mountains
  that separated the Quadling Country from Jinxland。 The
  sides of these mountains were too steep to climb; but the
  Scarecrow took a small rope from his pocket and tossed
  one end upward; into the air。 The rope unwound itself for
  hundreds of feet; until it caught upon a peak of rock at
  the very top of a mountain; for it was a magic rope
  furnished him by Glinda。 The Scarecrow climbed the rope
  and; after pulling it up; let it down on the other side
  of the mountain range。 When he descended the rope on this
  side he found himself in Jinxland; but at his feet yawned
  the Great Gulf; which must be crossed before he could
  proceed any farther。
  The Scarecrow knelt down and examined the ground
  carefully; and in a moment he discovered a fuzzy brown
  spider that had rolled itself into a ball。 So he took two
  tiny pills from his pocket and laid them beside the
  spider; which unrolled itself and quickly ate up the
  pills。 Then the Scarecrow said in a voice of command:
  〃Spin!〃 and the spider obeyed instantly。
  In a few moments the little creature had spun two
  slender but strong strands that reached way across the
  gulf; one being five or six feet above the other。 When
  these were completed the Scarecrow started across the
  tiny bridge; walking upon one strand as a person walks
  upon a rope; and holding to the upper strand with his
  hands to prevent him from losing his balance and toppling
  over into the gulf。 The tiny threads held him safely;
  thanks to the strength given them by the magic pills。
  Presently he was safe across and standing on the plains
  of Jinxland。 Far away he could see the towers of the
  King's castle and toward this he at once began to walk。
  Chapter Fourteen
  The Frozen Heart
  In the hut of Pon; the gardener's boy; Button…Bright
  was the first to waken in the morning。 Leaving his
  companions still asleep; he went out into the fresh
  morning air and saw some blackberries growing on bushes
  in a field not far away。 Going to the bushes he found the
  berries ripe and sweet; so he began eating them。 More
  bushes were scattered over the fields; so the boy
  wandered on; from bush to bush; without paying any heed
  to where he was wandering。 Then a butterfly fluttered by。
  He gave chase to it and followed it a long way。 When
  finally he paused to look around him; Button…Bright could
  see no sign of Pon's house; nor had he the slightest idea
  in which direction it lay。
  〃Well; I'm lost again;〃 he remarked to himself。 〃But
  never mind; I've been lost lots of times。 Someone is sure
  to find me。〃
  Trot was a little worried about Button…Bright when she
  awoke and found him gone。 Knowing how careless he was;
  she believed that he had strayed away; but felt that he
  would come back in time; because he had a habit of not
  staying lost。 Pon got the little girl some food for her
  breakfast and then together they went out of the hut and
  stood in the sunshine。
  Pon's house was some distance off the road; but they
  could see it from where they stood and both gave a start
  of surprise when they discovered two soldiers walking
  along the roadway and escorting Princess Gloria between
  them。 The poor girl had her hands bound together; to
  prevent her from struggling; and the soldiers rudely
  dragged her forward when her steps seemed to lag。
  Behind this group came King Krewl; wearing his jeweled
  crown and swinging in his hand a slender golden staff
  with a ball of clustered gems at one end。
  〃Where are they going?〃 asked Trot。 〃To the house of
  the Wicked Witch; I fear;〃 Pon replied。 〃Come; let us
  follow them; for I am sure they intend to harm my dear
  Gloria。〃
  〃Won't they see us?〃 she asked timidly。
  〃We won't let them。 I know a short cut through the
  trees to Blinkie