fb.themarvelouslandofoz-第21部分

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　　〃Then　do　as　you　please；〃　replied　Jinjur；　〃for　it　is　so　aristocratic　to　be　a　Queen　that　I　do　not　wish　to　be　obliged　to　return　home　again；　to　make　beds　and　wash　dishes　for　my　mother。〃　So　Mombi　called　Jellia　Jamb　to　her；　and　performed　a　certain　magical　rite　with　which　she　was　familiar。　As　a　result　of　the　enchantment　Jellia　took　on　the　form　and　features　of　Mombi；　while　the　old　witch　grew　to　resemble　the　girl　so　closely　that　it　seemed　impossible　anyone　could　guess　the　deception。
　　〃Now；〃　said　old　Mombi　to　the　Queen；　〃let　your　soldiers　deliver　up　this　girl　to　Glinda。　She　will　think　she　has　the　real　Mombi　in　her　power；　and　so　will　return　immediately　to　her　own　country　in　the　South。〃　Therefore　Jellia；　hobbling　along　like　an　aged　woman；　was　led　from　the　city　gates　and　taken　before　Glinda。
　　〃Here　is　the　person　you　demanded；〃　said　one　of　the　guards；　〃and　our　Queen　now　begs　you　will　go　away；　as　you　promised；　and　leave　us　in　peace。〃
　　〃That　I　will　surely　do；〃　replied　Glinda；　much　pleased；　〃if　this　is　really　the　person　she　seems　to　be。〃
　　〃It　is　certainly　old　Mombi；〃　said　the　guard；　who　believed　she　was　speaking　the　truth；　and　then　Jinjur's　soldiers　returned　within　the　city's　gates。
　　The　Sorceress　quickly　summoned　the　Scarecrow　and　his　friends　to　her　tent；　and　began　to　question　the　supposed　Mombi　about　the　lost　girl　Ozma。　But　Jellia　knew　nothing　at　all　of　this　affair；　and　presently　she　grew　so　nervous　under　the　questioning　that　she　gave　way　and　began　to　weep；　to　Glinda's　great　astonishment。
　　〃Here　is　some　foolish　trickery！〃　said　the　Sorceress；　her　eyes　flashing　with　anger。　〃This　is　not　Mombi　at　all；　but　some　other　person　who　has　been　made　to　resemble　her！　Tell　me；〃　she　demanded；　turning　to　the　trembling　girl；　〃what　is　your　name？〃　This　Jellia　dared　not　tell；　having　been　threatened　with　death　by　the　witch　if　she　confessed　the　fraud。　But　Glinda；　sweet　and　fair　though　she　was；　understood　magic　better　than　any　other　person　in　the　Land　of　Oz。　So；　by　uttering　a　few　potent　words　and　making　a　peculiar　gesture；　she　quickly　transformed　the　girl　into　her　proper　shape；　while　at　the　same　time　old　Mombi；　far　away　in　Jinjur's　palace；　suddenly　resumed　her　own　crooked　form　and　evil　features。
　　〃Why；　it's　Jellia　Jamb！〃　cried　the　Scarecrow；　recognizing　in　the　girl　one　of　his　old　friends。
　　〃It's　our　interpreter！〃　said　the　Pumpkinhead；　smiling　pleasantly。
　　Then　Jellia　was　forced　to　tell　of　the　trick　Mombi　had　played　and　she　also　begged　Glinda's　protection；　which　the　Sorceress　readily　granted。　But　Glinda　was　now　really　angry；　and　sent　word　to　Jinjur　that　the　fraud　was　discovered　and　she　must　deliver　up　the　real　Mombi　or　suffer　terrible　consequences。　Jinjur　was　prepared　for　this　message；　for　the　witch　well　understood；　when　her　natural　form　was　thrust　upon　her；　that　Glinda　had　discovered　her　trickery。　But　the　wicked　old　creature　had　already　thought　up　a　new　deception；　and　had　made　Jinjur　promise　to　carry　it　out。　So　the　Queen　said　to　Glinda's　messenger：　〃Tell　your　mistress　that　I　cannot　find　Mombi　anywhere；　but　that　Glinda　is　wele　to　enter　the　city　and　search　herself　for　the　old　woman。　She　may　also　bring　her　friends　with　her；　if　she　likes；　but　if　she　does　not　find　Mombi　by　sundown；　the　Sorceress　must　promise　to　go　away　peaceably　and　bother　us　no　more。〃　Glinda　agreed　to　these　terms；　well　knowing　that　Mombi　was　somewhere　within　the　city　walls。　So　Jinjur　caused　the　gates　to　be　thrown　open；　and　Glinda　marched　in　at　the　head　of　a　pany　of　soldiers；　followed　by　the　Scarecrow　and　the　Tin　Woodman；　while　Jack　Pumpkinhead　rode　astride　the　Saw…Horse；　and　the　Educated；　Highly　Magnified　Woggle…Bug　sauntered　behind　in　a　dignified　manner。　Tip　walked　by　the　side　of　the　Sorceress；　for　Glinda　had　conceived　a　great　liking　for　the　boy。
　　Of　course　old　Mombi　had　no　intention　of　being　found　by　Glinda；　so；　while　her　enemies　were　marching　up　the　street；　the　witch　transformed　herself　into　a　red　rose　growing　upon　a　bush　in　the　garden　of　the　palace。　It　was　a　clever　idea；　and　a　trick　Glinda　did　not　suspect；　so　several　precious　hours　were　spent　in　a　vain　search　for　Mombi。
　　As　sundown　approached　the　Sorceress　realized　she　had　been　defeated　by　the　superior　cunning　of　the　aged　witch；　so　she　gave　the　mand　to　her　people　to　march　out　of　the　city　and　back　to　their　tents。
　　The　Scarecrow　and　his　rades　happened　to　be　searching　in　the　garden　of　the　palace　just　then；　and　they　turned　with　disappointment　to　obey　Glinda's　mand。　But　before　they　left　the　garden　the　Tin　Woodman；　who　was　fond　of　flowers；　chanced　to　espy　a　big　red　rose　growing　upon　a　bush；　so　he　plucked　the　flower　and　fastened　it　securely　in　the　tin　buttonhole　of　his　tin　bosom。
　　As　he　did　this　he　fancied　he　heard　a　low　moan　proceed　from　the　rose；　but　he　paid　no　attention　to　the　sound；　and　Mombi　was　thus　carried　out　of　the　city　and　into　Glinda's　camp　without　anyone　having　a　suspicion　that　they　had　succeeded　in　their　quest。
　　
　　
　　　The　Transformation　of　Old　Mombi
　　
　　The　Witch　was　at　first　frightened　at　finding　herself　captured　by　the　enemy；　but　soon　she　decided　that　she　was　exactly　as　safe　in　the　Tin　Woodman's　button…hole　as　growing　upon　the　bush。　For　no　one　knew　the　rose　and　Mombi　to　be　one；　and　now　that　she　was　without　the　gates　of　the　City　her　chances　of　escaping　altogether　from　Glinda　were　much　improved。
　　〃But　there　is　no　hurry；〃　thought　Mombi。　〃I　will　wait　awhile　and　enjoy　the　humiliation　of　this　Sorceress　when　she　finds　I　have　outwitted　her。〃　So　throughout　the　night　the　rose　lay　quietly　on　the　Woodman's　bosom；　and　in　the　morning；　when　Glinda　summoned　our　friends　to　a　consultation；　Nick　Chopper　carried　his　pretty　flower　with　him　to　the　white　silk　tent。
　　〃For　some　reason；〃　said　Glinda；　〃we　have　failed　to　find　this　cunning　old　Mombi；　so　I　fear　our　expedition　will　prove　a　failure。　And　for　that　I　am　sorry；　because　without　our　assistance　little　Ozma　will　never　be　rescued　and　restored　to　her　rightful　position　as　Queen　of　the　Emerald　City〃
　　〃Do　not　let　us　give　up　so　easily；〃　said　the　Pumpkinhead。　〃Let　us　do　something　else。〃
　　〃Something　else　must　really　be　done；〃　replied　Glinda；　with　a　smile。　〃yet　I　cannot　understand　how　I　have　been　defeated　so　easily　by　an　old　Witch　who　knows　far　less　of　magic　than　I　do　myself。〃
　　〃While　we　are　on　the　ground　I　believe　it　would　be　wise　for　us　to　conquer　the　Emerald　City　for　Princess　Ozma；　and　find　the　girl　afterward；〃　said　the　Scarecrow。〃　And　while　the　girl　remains　hidden　I　will　gladly　rule　in　her　place；　for　I　understand　the　business　of　ruling　much　better　than　Jinjur　does。〃
　　〃But　I　have　promised　not　to　molest　Jinjur；〃　objected　Glinda。
　　〃Suppose　you　all　return　with　me　to　my　kingdom　…　or　Empire；　rather；〃　said　the　Tin　Woodman；　politely　including　the　entire　party　in　a　royal　wave　of　his　arm。　〃It　will　give　me　great　pleasure　to　entertain　you　in　my　castle；　where　there　is　room　enough　and　to　spare。　And　if　any　of　you　wish　to　be　nickel…　plated；　my　valet　will　do　it　free　of　all　expense。〃　While　the　Woodman　was　speaking　Glinda's　eyes　had　been　noting　the　rose　in　his　button…hole；　and　now　she　imagined　she　saw　the　big　red　leaves　of　the　flower　tremble　slightly。　This　quickly　aroused　her　suspicions；　and　in　a　moment　more　the　Sorceress　had　decided　that　the　seeming　rose　was　nothing　else　than　a　transformation　of　old　Mombi。　At　the　same　instant　Mombi　knew　she　was　discovered　and　must　quickly　plan　an　escape；　and　as　transformations　were　easy　to　her　she　immediately　took　the　form　of　a　Shadow　and　glided　along　the　wall　of　the　tent　toward　the　entrance；　thinking　thus　to　disappear。
　　But　Glinda　had　not　only　equal　cunning；　but　far　more　experience　than　the　Witch。　So　the　Sorceress　reached　the　opening　of　the　tent　before　the　Shadow；　and　with　a　wave　of　her　hand　closed　the　entrance　so　securely　that　Mombi　could　not　find　a　crack　big　enough　to　creep　through。　The　Scarecrow　and　his　friends　were　greatly　surprised　at　Glinda's　actions；　for　none　of　them　had　noted　the　Shadow。　But　the　Sorceress　said　to　them：　〃Remain　perfectly　quiet；　all　of　you！　For　the　old　Witch　is　even　now　with　us　in　this　tent；　and　I　hope　to　capture　her。〃　These　words　so　alarmed　Mombi　that　she　quickly　transformed　herself　from　a　shadow　to　a　Black　Ant；　in　which　shape　she　crawled　along　the　ground；　seeking　a　crack　or　crevice　in　which　to　hide　her　tiny　body。
　　Fortunately；　the　ground　where　the　tent　had　been　pitched；　being　Just　before　the　city　gates；　was　hard　and　smooth；　and　while　the　Ant　still　crawled　about；　Glinda　discovered　it　and　ran　quickly　forward　to　effect　its　capture　But；　Just　as　her　hand　was　descending；　the　Witch；　now　fairly　frantic　with　fear；　made　her　last　transformation；　and　in　the　form　of　a　huge　Griffin　sprang　through　the　wall　of　the　tent　…　tearing　the　silk　asunder　in　her　rush　…　and　in　a　moment　had　darted　away　with　the　speed　of　a　whirlwind。
　　Glinda　did　not　hesitate　to　follow。　She　sprang　upon　the　back　of　the　Saw…Horse　and　cried：　〃Now　you　shall　prove　that　you　have　a　right　to　be　alive！　Run　…　run　…　run！〃　The　Saw…Horse　ran。　Like　a　flash　he　followed　the　Griffin；　his　wooden　legs　moving　so　fast　that　they　twinkled　like　the　rays　of　a　star。　Before　our　friends　could　recover　from　their　surprise　both　the　Griffin　and　the　Saw…Horse　had　dashed　out　of　sight。
　　〃e！　Let　us　follow！〃　cried　the　Scarecrow。
　　They　ran　to　the　place　where　the　Gump　was　lying　and　quickly　tumbled　aboard。
　　〃Fly！〃　manded　Tip；　eagerly。
　　〃Where　to？〃　asked　the　Gump；　in　its　calm　voice。
　　〃I　don't　know；〃　returned　Tip；　who　was　very　nervous　at　the　delay；　〃but　if　you　will　mount　into　the　air　I　think　we　can　discover　which　way　Glinda　has　gone。〃
　　〃Very　well；〃　returned　the　Gump；　quietly；　and　it　spread　its　great　wings　and　mounted　high　into　the　air。
　　Far　away；　across　the　meadows；　they　could　now　see　two　tiny　specks；　speeding　one　after　the　other；　and　they　knew　these　specks　must　be　the　Griffin　and　the　Saw…Horse。　So　Tip　called　the　Gump's　attention　to　them　and　bade　the　creature　try　to　overtake　the　Witch　and　the　Sorceress。　But；　swift　as　was　the　Gump's　flight；　the　pursued　and　pursuer　moved　more　swiftly　yet；　and　within　a　few　moments　were　blotted　out　against　the　dim　horizon。
　　〃Let　us　continue　to　follow　them；　nevertheless；〃　said　the　Scarecrow。　〃for　the　Land　of　Oz　is　of　small　extent；　and　sooner　or　later　they　must　both　e　to　a　halt。〃　Old　Mombi　had　thought　herself　v