登陆注册
5255700000011

第11章 Chapter Six The Search Party(2)

Toto turned and trotted out into the palace garden and down the long driveway until he came to the streets of the Emerald City. Here he paused to listen and, hearing sounds of cheering, he ran swiftly along until he came in sight of the Red Wagon and the Woozy and the Lion and the Mule and all the others. Being a wise little dog, he decided not to show himself to Dorothy just then, lest he be sent back home; but he never lost sight of the party of travelers, all of whom were so eager to get ahead that they never thought to look behind them.

When they came to the gates in the city wall the Guardian of the Gates came out to throw wide the golden portals and let them pass through.

"Did any strange person come in or out of the city on the night before last, when Ozma was stolen?" asked Dorothy.

"No, indeed, Princess," answered the Guardian of the Gates.

"Of course not," said the Wizard. "Anyone clever enough to steal all the things we have lost would not mind the barrier of a wall like this, in the least. Ithink the thief must have flown through the air, for otherwise he could not have stolen from Ozma's royal palace and Glinda's far-away castle in the same night.

Moreover, as there are no airships in Oz and no way for airships from the outside world to get into this country, I believe the thief must have flown from place to place by means of magic arts which neither Glinda nor I understand."On they went, and before the gates closed behind them Toto managed to dodge through them. The country surrounding the Emerald City was thickly settled and for a while our friends rode over nicely paved roads which wound through a fertile country dotted with beautiful houses, all built in the quaint Oz fashion.

In the course of a few hours, however, they had left the tilled fields and entered the Country of the Winkies, which occupies a quarter of all the territory in the Land of Oz but is not so well known as many other parts of Ozma's fairyland. Long before night the travelers had crossed the Winkie River near to the Scarecrow's Tower (which was now vacant) and had entered the Rolling Prairie where few people live. They asked everyone they met for news of Ozma, but none in this district had seen her or even knew that she had been stolen. And by nightfall they had passed all the farmhouses and were obliged to stop and ask for shelter at the hut of a lonely shepherd. When they halted, Toto was not far behind. The little dog halted, too, and stealing softly around the party he hid himself behind the hut.

The shepherd was a kindly old man and treated the travelers with much courtesy. He slept out of doors, that night, giving up his hut to the three girls, who made their beds on the floor with the blankets they had brought in the Red Wagon. The Wizard and Button-Bright also slept out of doors, and so did the Cowardly Lion and Hank the Mule. But Scraps and the Sawhorse did not sleep at all and the Woozy could stay awake for a month at a time, if he wished to, so these three sat in a little group by themselves and talked together all through the night.

In the darkness the Cowardly Lion felt a shaggy little form nestling beside his own, and he said sleepily:

"Where did you come from, Toto?"

"From home," said the dog. "If you roll over, roll the other way, so you won't smash me.""Does Dorothy know you are here?" asked the Lion.

"I believe not," admitted Toto, and he added, a little anxiously: "Do you think, friend Lion, we are now far enough from the Emerald City for me to risk showing myself? Or will Dorothy send me back because Iwasn't invited?"

"Only Dorothy can answer that question," said the Lion. "For my part, Toto, I consider this affair none of my business, so you must act as you think best."Then the huge beast went to sleep again and Toto snuggled closer to his warm, hairy body and also slept.

He was a wise little dog, in his way, and didn't intend to worry when there was something much better to do.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 万道唯心

    万道唯心

    在世界的尽头,有无上巨龙在战斗,有绝世强者在厮杀......青山少年,凭借魔王的封印走出大青山,步入强者的世界。在顺境中化身成神,在逆境中化身成魔。
  • 落日零度

    落日零度

    在那些青葱岁月的日子里,总有一幕夕阳来相随。那个不一样的青春,14岁的学渣中二少女夏北,在家人和朋友面前总是那样的阳光快乐活的没心没肺,但,没有人知道她真实的一面……(她的时间或许所剩无几了……)
  • 奇妙的日食与月食现象

    奇妙的日食与月食现象

    “天狗食日”这是中国古代人们对于日食的最初的认识。由于对日食和月食认识的局限,保留下来了很多这样的传说和故事。现代人已经不会再对日食和月食产生恐惧,偶尔出现的日食和月食成为了天文爱好者们的观测目标。天文学家对于日食和月食的研究,对人类的生产和生活产生了重要的作用。人类根据日月食形成的规律制定了计时的历法。根据日食的科学研究观测潮水的涨落等。
  • 法华三昧忏仪勘定元本

    法华三昧忏仪勘定元本

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 8090:灰姑娘和她的王子们

    8090:灰姑娘和她的王子们

    新建Q群:108177334加入时请注明身份,谢谢合作!林梦影从小在孤儿院长大,孤儿院里有她最好的朋友,也有她最喜欢的老师,可是一次意外,却让她们有了各自的生活轨迹。梦影被农场里一个纯朴的夫妇收养,而她最好的朋友却成了堂堂大唐财团的千金,两个截然不同的生命,在彼此的生命中,擦出了关于友情、爱情、亲情的火花。8090:灰姑娘的白马王子,送给每一个8090的亲们!O(∩_∩)O~
  • 倾城蛇蝎:废材要逆袭

    倾城蛇蝎:废材要逆袭

    21世纪特工穿越异世,成为传说中的废材少女,来自异世的幽魂在这古武大陆可主沉浮。曾经蠢笨懦弱空有一张倾城之颜的舞家废材,风华绽放,倾城之貌,蛇蝎之心,傲视天下。幽禁之战,她窝在魔兽军团里,倨傲的扫视着八大世家,“我舞弄影一向以德服人,不服的,是死人。你们——服不服?”
  • 社交宝典(现代生活百科)

    社交宝典(现代生活百科)

    自古以来,孩子们在游戏场要进行一项竞赛时,都会呼喊这个口令。我可以和你打赌,无论你在何时何地遇上一位难得的竞争好手,他听到这个口令都会不期而然地肃然起敬。所谓“有备无患”就是多一分准备,就多一分成功的机会。准备得当,有备战心理,就掌握了宝贵的成功之钥。
  • 钻石良婚

    钻石良婚

    他将婚姻看成是救赎,治好自己的天生孤独,也治好她的遍体鳞伤。有的时候,我们错过,只是为了与更合适的他相遇。所以,当向晚爱上苏豫之后,她甚至会感谢陈嘉当初头也不回的离开。
  • 王爷,有种别娶我

    王爷,有种别娶我

    【天才小宠妃】空有花瓶长相没半点才艺的废物,上吊自尽,醒来相爷千金挺起脊梁,用现代的包装与小聪明,该赚钱就赚钱、该出手就出手,美男天生就是用来调戏滴嘛!
  • 吾家有仙要逆天

    吾家有仙要逆天

    三千世界皆为梦,一眼繁华入其中。她是仙主,一次次为所守护的东西死去,一次次在岁月荒海里重生,一次次揭穿背叛她的人的嘴脸,又一次次逼着自己忘记。等到后路退无可退,她终于直面现实。法宝在手美男在怀,我重临三界之日,诸逆臣皆当死去!