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！
〃There were two reasons；〃 he explained。 〃One reason
was that I like peaches； and the other reason was that
I didn't know it was enchanted。〃
〃That won't save you from Ugu the Shoemaker；〃
declared the White Rabbit and it scurried away before
the boy could ask any more questions。
〃Rabbits and birds；〃 he thought； 〃are timid creatures
and seem afraid of this shoemaker whoever he may be。
If there was another peach half as good as that other；
I'd eat it in spite of a dozen enchantments or a
hundred shoemakers！〃
Just then Scraps came dancing along and saw him
sitting at the foot of the tree。
〃Oh； here you are！〃 she said。 〃Up to your old tricks；
eh？ Don't you know it's impolite to get lost and keep
everybody waiting for you？ Come along； and I'll lead
you back to Dorothy and the others。〃
Button…Bright rose slowly to accompany her。
〃That wasn't much of a loss；〃 he said cheerfully。 〃I
haven't been gone half a day； so there's no harm done。〃
Dorothy； however； when the boy rejoined the party；
gave him a good scolding。
〃When we're doing such an important thing as
searching for Ozma；〃 said she； 〃it's naughty for you to
wander away； and keep us from getting on。 S'pose she's
a pris'ner in a dungeon cell！ do you want to keep
our dear Ozma there any longer than we can help？〃
〃If she's in a dungeon cell； how are you going to get
her out？〃 inquired the boy。
〃Never you mind； we'll leave that to the Wizard； he's
sure to find a way。〃
The Wizard said nothing； for he realized that without
his magic tools he could do no more than any other
person。 But there was no use reminding his companions
of that fact； it might discourage them。
〃The important thing just now；〃 he remarked； 〃is to
find Ozma； and； as our party is again happily reunited；
I propose we move on。〃
As they came to the edge of the Great Orchard the sun
was setting and they knew it would soon be dark。 So it
was decided to camp under the trees； as another broad
plain was before them。 The Wizard spread the blankets
on a bed of soft leaves and presently all of them
except Scraps and the Sawhorse were fast asleep。 Toto
snuggled close to his friend the Lion； and the Woozy
snored so loudly that the Patchwork Girl covered his
square head with her apron to deaden the sound。
Chapter Twelve
The Czarover of Herku
Trot wakened just as the sun rose and； slipping out of
the blankets； went to the edge of the Great Orchard and
looked across the plain。 Something glittered in the far
distance。
〃That looks like another city；〃 she said half aloud。
〃And another city it is；〃 declared Scraps； who had
crept to Trot's side unheard； for her stuffed feet made
no sound。 〃The Sawhorse and I made a journey in the
dark； while you were all asleep； and we found over
there a bigger city than Thi。 There's a wall around it；
too； but it has gates and plenty of pathways。〃
〃Did you go in？〃 asked Trot。
〃No； for the gates were locked and the wall was a
real wall。 So we came back here again。 It isn't far to
the city。 We can reach it in two hours after you've had
your breakfasts。〃
Trot went back and； finding the other girls now
awake； told them what Scraps had said。 So they
hurriedly ate some fruit there were plenty of plums
and fijoas in this part of the orchard and then they
mounted the animals and set out upon the journey to the
strange city。 Hank the Mule had breakfasted on grass
and the Lion had stolen away and found a breakfast to
his liking； he never told what it was； but Dorothy
hoped the little rabbits and the field mice had kept
out of his way。 She warned Toto not to chase birds and
gave the dog some apple； with which he was quite
content。 The Woozy was as fond of fruit as of any other
food； except honey； and the Sawhorse never ate at all。
Except for their worry over Ozma they were all in
good spirits as they proceeded swiftly over the plain。
Toto still worried over his lost growl； but like a wise
little dog kept his worry to himself。 Before long the
city grew nearer and they could examine it with
interest。
In outward appearance the place was more imposing
than Thi； and it was a square city； with a square；
four…sided wall around it and on each side was a square
gate of burnished copper。 Everything about the city
looked solid and substantial； there were no banners
flying and the towers that rose above the city wall
seemed bare of any ornament whatever。
A path led from the fruit orchard directly to one of
the city gates； showing that the inhabitants preferred
fruit to thistles。 Our friends followed this path to
the gate； which they found fast shut。 But the Wizard
advanced and pounded upon it with his fist； saying in a
loud voice： 〃Open！〃
At once there rose above the great wall a row
of immense heads； all of which looked down
at them as if to see who was intruding。 The size
of these heads was astonishing and our friends at once
realized that they belonged to giants； who were
standing within the city。 All had thick； bushy hair and
whiskers； on some the hair being white and on others
black or red or yellow； while the hair of a few was
just turning gray； showing that the giants were of all
ages。 However fierce the heads might seem the eyes were
mild in expression； as if the creatures had been long
subdued； and their faces expressed patience rather than
ferocity。
〃What's wanted？〃 asked one old giant； in a low；
grumbling voice。
〃We are strangers and we wish to enter the city；〃
replied the Wizard。
〃Do you come in war or peace？〃 asked another。
〃In peace； of course；〃 retorted the Wizard； and he
added impatiently： 〃Do we look like an army of
conquest？〃
〃No；〃 said the first giant who had spoken； 〃you look
like innocent tramps； but one never can tell by
appearances。 Wait here until we report to our masters。
No one can enter here without the permission of Vig；
the Czarover。〃
〃Who's that？〃 inquired Dorothy。 But the heads had all
bobbed down and disappeared behind the wall； so there
was no answer。
They waited a long time before the gate rolled back
with a rumbling sound and a loud voice cried： 〃Enter！〃
But they lost no time in taking advantage of the
invitation。
On either side of the broad street that led into the
city from the gate stood a row of huge giants twenty
of them on a side and all standing so close together
that their elbows touched。 They wore uniforms of blue
and yellow and were armed with clubs as big around as
tree…trunks。 Each giant had around his neck a broad
band of gold； riveted on； to show he was a slave。
As our friends entered； riding upon the Lion； the
Woozy； the Sawhorse and the Mule； the giants half
turned and walked in two files on either side of them；
as if escorting them on their way。 It looked to Dorothy
as if all her party had been made prisoners； for even
mounted on their animals their heads scarcely reached
to the knees of the marching giants。 The girls and
Button…Bright were anxious to know what sort of a city
they had entered； and what the people were like who had
made these powerful creatures their slaves。 Through the
legs of the giants； as they walked； Dorothy could see
rows of houses on each side the street and throngs of
people standing on the sidewalks； but the people were
of ordinary size and the only remarkable thing about
them was the fact that they were dreadfully lean and
thin。 Between their skin and their bones there seemed
to be little or no flesh； and they were mostly stoop…
shouldered and weary looking； even to the little
children。
More and more Dorothy wondered how and why the great
giants had ever submitted to be come slaves of such
skinny； languid masters； but there was no chance to
question anyone until they arrived at a big palace
located in the heart of the city。 Here the giants
formed lines to the entrance and stood still while our
friends rode into the courtyard of the palace。 Then the
gates closed behind them and before them was a skinny
little man w