fb.themarvelouslandofoz-第23部分

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　　The　first　act　of　the　Witch　was　to　make　the　boy　drink　a　potion　which　quickly　sent　him　into　a　deep　and　dreamless　sleep。　Then　the　Tin　Woodman　and　the　Woggle…Bug　bore　him　gently　to　the　couch；　placed　him　upon　the　soft　cushions；　and　drew　the　gossamer　hangings　to　shut　him　from　all　earthly　view。
　　The　Witch　squatted　upon　the　ground　and　kindled　a　tiny　fire　of　dried　herbs；　which　she　drew　from　her　bosom。
　　When　the　blaze　shot　up　and　burned　clearly　old　Mombi　scattered　a　handful　of　magical　powder　over　the　fire；　which　straightway　gave　off　a　rich　violet　vapor；　filling　all　the　tent　with　its　fragrance　and　forcing　the　Saw…Horse　to　sneeze　…　although　he　had　been　warned　to　keep　quiet。
　　Then；　while　the　others　watched　her　curiously；　the　hag　chanted　a　rhythmical　verse　in　words　which　no　one　understood；　and　bent　her　lean　body　seven　times　back　and　forth　over　the　fire。　And　now　the　incantation　seemed　plete；　for　the　Witch　stood　upright　and　cried　the　one　word　〃Yeowa！〃　in　a　loud　voice。
　　The　vapor　floated　away；　the　atmosphere　became；　clear　again；　a　whiff　of　fresh　air　filled　the　tent；　and　the　pink　curtains　of　the　couch　trembled　slightly；　as　if　stirred　from　within。
　　Glinda　walked　to　the　canopy　and　parted　the　silken　hangings。　Then　she　bent　over　the　cushions；　reached　out　her　hand；　and　from　the　couch　arose　the　form　of　a　young　girl；　fresh　and　beautiful　as　a　May　morning。　Her　eyes　sparkled　as　two　diamonds；　and　her　lips　were　tinted　like　a　tourmaline。　All　adown　her　back　floated　tresses　of　ruddy　gold；　with　a　slender　jeweled　circlet　confining　them　at　the　brow。　Her　robes　of　silken　gauze　floated　around　her　like　a　cloud；　and　dainty　satin　slippers　shod　her　feet。
　　At　this　exquisite　vision　Tip's　old　rades　stared　in　wonder　for　the　space　of　a　full　minute；　and　then　every　head　bent　low　in　honest　admiration　of　the　lovely　Princess　Ozma。　The　girl　herself　cast　one　look　into　Glinda's　bright　face；　which　glowed　with　pleasure　and　satisfaction；　and　then　turned　upon　the　others。　Speaking　the　words　with　sweet　diffidence；　she　said：　〃I　hope　none　of　you　will　care　less　for　me　than　you　did　before。　I'm　just　the　same　Tip；　you　know；　only　…　only　…　〃
　　〃Only　you're　different！〃　said　the　Pumpkinhead；　and　everyone　thought　it　was　the　wisest　speech　he　had　ever　made。
　　
　　
　　　The　Riches　of　Content
　　
　　When　the　wonderful　tidings　reached　the　ears　of　Queen　Jinjur　…　how　Mombi　the　Witch　had　been　captured；　how　she　had　confessed　her　crime　to　Glinda；　and　how　the　long…lost　Princess　Ozma　had　been　discovered　in　no　less　a　personage　than　the　boy　Tip　…　she　wept　real　tears　of　grief　and　despair。
　　〃To　think；〃　she　moaned；　〃that　after　having　ruled　as　Queen；　and　lived　in　a　palace；　I　must　go　back　to　scrubbing　floors　and　churning　butter　again！　It　is　too　horrible　to　think　of！　I　will　never　consent！〃　So　when　her　soldiers；　who　spent　most　of　their　time　making　fudge　in　the　palace　kitchens；　counseled　Jinjur　to　resist；　she　listened　to　their　foolish　prattle　and　sent　a　sharp　defiance　to　Glinda　the　Good　and　the　Princess　Ozma。　The　result　was　a　declaration　of　war；　and　the　very　next　day　Glinda　marched　upon　the　Emerald　City　with　pennants　flying　and　bands　playing；　and　a　forest　of　shining　spears；　sparkling　brightly　beneath　the　sun's　rays。
　　But　when　it　came　to　the　walls　this　brave　assembly　made　a　sudden　halt；　for　Jinjur　had　closed　and　barred　every　gateway；　and　the　walls　of　the　Emerald　City　were　builded　high　and　thick　with　many　blocks　of　green　marble。
　　Finding　her　advance　thus　baffled；　Glinda　bent　her　brows　in　deep　thought；　while　the　Woggle…Bug　said；　in　his　most　positive　tone：　〃We　must　lay　siege　to　the　city；　and　starve　it　into　submission。　It　is　the　only　thing　we　can　do。〃
　　〃Not　so；〃　answered　the　Scarecrow。　〃We　still　have　the　Gump；　and　the　Gump　can　still　fly〃　The　Sorceress　turned　quickly　at　this　speech；　and　her　face　now　wore　a　bright　smile。
　　〃You　are　right；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃and　certainly　have　reason　to　be　proud　of　your　brains。　Let　us　go　to　the　Gump　at　once！〃　So　they　passed　through　the　ranks　of　the　army　until　they　came　to　the　place；　near　the　Scarecrow's　tent；　where　the　Gump　lay。　Glinda　and　Princess　Ozma　mounted　first；　and　sat　upon　the　sofas。　Then　the　Scarecrow　and　his　friends　climbed　aboard；　and　still　there　was　room　for　a　Captain　and　three　soldiers；　which　Glinda　considered　sufficient　for　a　guard。
　　Now；　at　a　word　from　the　Princess；　the　queer　Thing　they　had　called　the　Gump　flopped　its　palm…leaf　wings　and　rose　into　the　air；　carrying　the　party　of　adventurers　high　above　the　walls。　They　hovered　over　the　palace；　and　soon　perceived　Jinjur　reclining　in　a　hammock　in　the　courtyard；　where　she　was　fortably　reading　a　novel　with　a　green　cover　and　eating　green　chocolates；　confident　that　the　walls　would　protect　her　from　her　enemies。　Obeying　a　quick　mand；　the　Gump　alighted　safely　in　this　very　courtyard；　and　before　Jinjur　had　time　to　do　more　than　scream；　the　Captain　and　three　soldiers　leaped　out　and　made　the　former　Queen　a　prisoner；　locking　strong　chains　upon　both　her　wrists。
　　That　act　really　ended　the　war；　for　the　Army　of　Revolt　submitted　as　soon　as　they　knew　Jinjur　to　be　a　captive；　and　the　Captain　marched　in　safety　through　the　streets　and　up　to　the　gates　of　the　city；　which　she　threw　wide　open。　Then　the　bands　played　their　most　stirring　music　while　Glinda's　army　marched　into　the　city；　and　heralds　proclaimed　the　conquest　of　the　audacious　Jinjur　and　the　accession　of　the　beautiful　Princess　Ozma　to　the　throne　of　her　royal　ancestors。
　　At　once　the　men　of　the　Emerald　City　cast　off　their　aprons。　And　it　is　said　that　the　women　were　so　tired　eating　of　their　husbands'　cooking　that　they　all　hailed　the　conquest　of　Jinjur　with　Joy。　Certain　it　is　that；　rushing　one　and　all　to　the　kitchens　of　their　houses；　the　good　wives　prepared　so　delicious　a　feast　for　the　weary　men　that　harmony　was　immediately　restored　in　every　family。
　　Ozma's　first　act　was　to　oblige　the　Army　of　Revolt　to　return　to　her　every　emerald　or　other　gem　stolen　from　the　public　streets　and　buildings；　and　so　great　was　the　number　of　precious　stones　picked　from　their　settings　by　these　vain　girls；　that　every　one　of　the　royal　jewelers　worked　steadily　for　more　than　a　month　to　replace　them　in　their　settings。
　　Meanwhile　the　Army　of　Revolt　was　disbanded　and　the　girls　sent　home　to　their　mothers。　On　promise　of　good　behavior　Jinjur　was　likewise　released。
　　Ozma　made　the　loveliest　Queen　the　Emerald　City　had　ever　known；　and；　although　she　was　so　young　and　inexperienced；　she　ruled　her　people　with　wisdom　and　Justice。　For　Glinda　gave　her　good　advice　on　all　occasions；　and　the　Woggle…　Bug；　who　was　appointed　to　the　important　post　of　Public　Educator；　was　quite　helpful　to　Ozma　when　her　royal　duties　grew　perplexing。
　　The　girl；　in　her　gratitude　to　the　Gump　for　its　services；　offered　the　creature　any　reward　it　might　name。
　　〃Then；〃　replied　the　Gump；　〃please　take　me　to　pieces。　I　did　not　wish　to　be　brought　to　life；　and　I　am　greatly　ashamed　of　my　conglomerate　personality。　Once　I　was　a　monarch　of　the　forest；　as　my　antlers　fully　prove；　but　now；　in　my　present　upholstered　condition　of　servitude；　I　am　pelled　to　fly　through　the　air　…　my　legs　being　of　no　use　to　me　whatever。　Therefore　I　beg　to　be　dispersed。〃　So　Ozma　ordered　the　Gump　taken　apart。　The　antlered　head　was　again　hung　over　the　mantle…piece　in　the　hall；　and　the　sofas　were　untied　and　placed　in　the　reception　parlors。　The　broom　tail　resumed　its　accustomed　duties　in　the　kitchen；　and　finally；　the　Scarecrow　replaced　all　the　clotheslines　and　ropes　on　the　pegs　from　which　he　had　taken　them　on　the　eventful　day　when　the　Thing　was　constructed。
　　You　might　think　that　was　the　end　of　the　Gump；　and　so　it　was；　as　a　flying…　machine。　But　the　head　over　the　mantle…piece　continued　to　talk　whenever　it　took　a　notion　to　do　so；　and　it　frequently　startled；　with　its　abrupt　questions；　the　people　who　waited　in　the　hall　for　an　audience　with　the　Queen。
　　The　Saw…Horse；　being　Ozma's　personal　property；　was　tenderly　cared　for；　and　often　she　rode　the　queer　creature　along　the　streets　of　the　Emerald　City。　She　had　its　wooden　legs　shod　with　gold；　to　keep　them　from　wearing　out；　and　the　tinkle　of　these　golden　shoes　upon　the　pavement　always　filled　the　Queen's　subjects　with　awe　as　they　thought　upon　this　evidence　of　her　magical　powers。
　　〃The　Wonderful　Wizard　was　never　so　wonderful　as　Queen　Ozma；〃　the　people　said　to　one　another；　in　whispers；　〃for　he　claimed　to　do　many　things　he　could　not　do；　whereas　our　new　Queen　does　many　things　no　one　would　ever　expect　her　to　acplish。〃　Jack　Pumpkinhead　remained　with　Ozma　to　the　end　of　his　days；　and　he　did　not　spoil　as　soon　as　he　had　feared；　although　he　always　remained　as　stupid　as　ever。　The　Woggle…Bug　tried　to　teach　him　several　arts　and　sciences；　but　Jack　was　so　poor　a　student　that　any　attempt　to　educate　him　was　soon　abandoned。
　　After　Glinda's　army　had　marched　back　home；　and　peace　was　restored　to　the　Emerald　City；　the　Tin　Woodman　announced　his　intention　to　return　to　his　own　Kingdom　of　the　Winkies。
　　〃It　isn't　a　very　big　Kingdom；〃　said　he　to　Ozma；　〃but　for　that　very　reason　it　is　easier　to　rule；　and　I　have　called　myself　an　Emperor　because　I　am　an　Absolute　Monarch；　and　no　one　interferes　in　any　way　with　my　conduct　of　public　or　personal　affairs。　When　I　get　home　I　shall　have　a　new　coat　of　nickel　plate；　for　I　have　bee　somewhat　marred　and　scratched　lately；　and　then　I　shall　be　glad　to　have　you　pay　me　a　visit。〃
　　〃Thank　you；〃　replied　Ozma。　〃Some　day　I　may　accept　the　invitation。　But　what　is　to　bee　of　the　Scarecrow？〃
　　〃I　shall　return　with　my　friend　the　Tin　Woodman；〃　said　the　stuffed　one；　seriously。　〃We　have　decided　never　to　be　parted　in　the　future。〃
　　〃And　I　have　made　the　Scarecrow　my　Royal　Treasurer；〃　explained　the　Tin　Woodman。〃　For　it　has　occurred　to　me　that　it　is　a　good　thing　to　have　a　Royal　Treasurer　who　is　made　of　money。　What　do　you　think？〃
　　〃I　think；〃　said　the　little　Queen；　smiling；　〃that　your　friend　must　be　the　richest　man　in　all　the　world。〃
　　〃I　am；〃　returned　the　Scarecrow。　〃but　not　on　account　of　my　money。　For　I　consider　brains　far　superior　to　money；　in　every　way。　You　may　have　noticed　that　if　one　has　money　without　brains；　he　cannot　use　it　to　advantage；　but　if　one　has　brains　without　money；　they　will　enable　him　to　live　fortably　to　the　end　of　his　days。〃
　　〃At　the　same　time；〃　declared　the　Tin　Woodman；　〃you　must