dorothy and the wizard in oz-第16部分
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clustered so thickly about him that he no longer had room in which to
swing his arms。 The horse performed some wonderful kicking and even
Eureka assisted when she leaped bodily upon the Gargoyles and
scratched and bit at them like a wild…cat。
But all this bravery amounted to nothing at all。 The wooden things
wound their long arms around Zeb and the Wizard and held them fast。
Dorothy was captured in the same way； and numbers of the Gargoyles
clung to Jim's legs； so weighting him down that the poor beast was
helpless。 Eureka made a desperate dash to escape and scampered along
the ground like a streak； but a grinning Gargoyle flew after her and
grabbed her before she had gone very far。
All of them expected nothing less than instant death； but to their
surprise the wooden creatures flew into the air with them and bore
them far away； over miles and miles of wooden country； until they came
to a wooden city。 The houses of this city had many corners； being
square and six…sided and eight…sided。 They were tower…like in shape
and the best of them seemed old and weather…worn； yet all were strong
and substantial。
To one of these houses which had neither doors nor windows； but only
one broad opening far up underneath the roof； the prisoners were
brought by their captors。 The Gargoyles roughly pushed them into the
opening； where there was a platform； and then flew away and left them。
As they had no wings the strangers could not fly away； and if they
jumped down from such a height they would surely be killed。 The
creatures had sense enough to reason that way； and the only mistake
they made was in supposing the earth people were unable to overcome
such ordinary difficulties。
Jim was brought with the others； although it took a good many
Gargoyles to carry the big beast through the air and land him on the
high platform； and the buggy was thrust in after him because it
belonged to the party and the wooden folks had no idea what it was
used for or whether it was alive or not。 When Eureka's captor had
thrown the kitten after the others the last Gargoyle silently
disappeared； leaving our friends to breathe freely once more。
〃What an awful fight！〃 said Dorothy； catching her breath in little gasps。
〃Oh； I don't know；〃 purred Eureka； smoothing her ruffled fur with her
paw； 〃we didn't manage to hurt anybody； and nobody managed to hurt us。〃
〃Thank goodness we are together again； even if we are prisoners；〃
sighed the little girl。
〃I wonder why they didn't kill us on the spot；〃 remarked Zeb； who had
lost his king in the struggle。
〃They are probably keeping us for some ceremony；〃 the Wizard answered；
reflectively； 〃but there is no doubt they intend to kill us as dead as
possible in a short time。〃
〃As dead as poss'ble would be pretty dead； wouldn't it？〃 asked Dorothy。
〃Yes； my dear。 But we have no need to worry about that just now。 Let
us examine our prison and see what it is like。〃
The space underneath the roof； where they stood； permitted them to see
on all sides of the tall building； and they looked with much curiosity
at the city spread out beneath them。 Everything visible was made of
wood； and the scene seemed stiff and extremely unnatural。
From their platform a stair descended into the house； and the children
and the Wizard explored it after lighting a lantern to show them the
way。 Several stories of empty rooms rewarded their search； but
nothing more； so after a time they came back to the platform again。
Had there been any doors or windows in the lower rooms； or had not the
boards of the house been so thick and stout； escape could have been
easy； but to remain down below was like being in a cellar or the hold
of a ship； and they did not like the darkness or the damp smell。
In this country； as in all others they had visited underneath the
earth's surface； there was no night； a constant and strong light
coming from some unknown source。 Looking out； they could see into
some of the houses near them； where there were open windows in
abundance； and were able to mark the forms of the wooden Gargoyles
moving about in their dwellings。
〃This seems to be their time of rest；〃 observed the Wizard。
〃All people need rest； even if they are made of wood； and as
there is no night here they select a certain time of the day
in which to sleep or doze。〃
〃I feel sleepy myself；〃 remarked Zeb； yawning。
〃Why； where's Eureka？〃 cried Dorothy； suddenly。
They all looked around； but the kitten was no place to be seen。
〃She's gone out for a walk；〃 said Jim； gruffly。
〃Where？ On the roof？〃 asked the girl。
〃No； she just dug her claws into the wood and climbed down the sides
of this house to the ground。〃
〃She couldn't climb DOWN； Jim；〃 said Dorothy。 〃To climb means to go up。〃
〃Who said so？〃 demanded the horse。
〃My school…teacher said so； and she knows a lot； Jim。〃
〃To 'climb down' is sometimes used as a figure of speech；〃 remarked
the Wizard。
〃Well； this was a figure of a cat；〃 said Jim； 〃and she WENT down；
anyhow； whether she climbed or crept。〃
〃Dear me！ how careless Eureka is；〃 exclaimed the girl； much
distressed。 〃The Gurgles will get her； sure！〃
〃Ha； ha！〃 chuckled the old cab…horse； 〃they're not 'Gurgles；' little
maid； they're Gargoyles。〃
〃Never mind； they'll get Eureka； whatever they're called。〃
〃No they won't；〃 said the voice of the kitten； and Eureka herself crawled
over the edge of the platform and sat down quietly upon the floor。
〃Wherever have you been； Eureka？〃 asked Dorothy； sternly。
〃Watching the wooden folks。 They're too funny for anything； Dorothy。
Just now they are all going to bed； andwhat do you think？they
unhook the hinges of their wings and put them in a corner until they
wake up again。〃
〃What； the hinges？〃
〃No； the wings。〃
〃That；〃 said Zeb； 〃explains why this house is used by them for a
prison。 If any of the Gargoyles act badly； and have to be put in
jail； they are brought here and their wings unhooked and taken away
from them until they promise to be good。〃
The Wizard had listened intently to what Eureka had said。
〃I wish we had some of those loose wings；〃 he said。
〃Could we fly with them？〃 asked Dorothy。
〃I think so。 If the Gargoyles can unhook the wings then the power to
fly lies in the wings themselves； and not in the wooden bodies of the
people who wear them。 So； if we had the wings； we could probably fly
as well as they doas least while we are in their country and under
the spell of its magic。〃
〃But how would it help us to be able to fly？〃 questioned the girl。
〃Come here；〃 said the little man； and took her to one of the corners
of the building。 〃Do you see that big rock standing on the hillside
yonder？〃 he continued； pointing with his finger。
〃Yes； it's a good way off； but I can see it；〃 she replied。
〃Well； inside that rock； which reaches up into the clouds； is an
archway very much like the one we entered when we climbed the spiral
stairway from the Valley of Voe。 I'll get my spy…glass； and then you
can see it more plainly。〃
He fetched a small but powerful telescope； which had been in his
satchel； and by its aid the little girl clearly saw the opening。
〃Where does it lead to？〃 she asked。
〃That I cannot tell；〃 said the Wizard； 〃but we cannot now be far below
the earth's surface； and that entrance may lead to another stairway
that will bring us on top of our world again； where we belong。 So； if
we had the wings； and could escape the Gargoyles； we might fly to that
rock and be saved。〃
〃I'll get you the wings；〃 said Zeb； who had thoughtfully listened to
all this。 〃That is； if the kitten will show me where they are。〃
〃But how can you get down？〃 enquired the girl； wonderingly。
For answer Zeb began to unfasten Jim's harness； strap by strap； and to
buckle one piece to another until he had made a long leather strip
that would reach to the ground。
〃I can climb down that； all right；〃 he said。
〃No you can't；〃 remarked Jim； with a twinkle in his round eyes。 〃You
may GO down； but you can only CLIMB up。〃
〃Well； I'll climb up when I get back； then；〃 said the boy； with a
laugh。 〃Now； Eureka； you'll have to show me the way to those wings。〃
〃You must be very quiet；〃 warned the kitten； 〃for if you make the
least noise the Gargoyles will wake up。 They can hear a pin drop。〃
〃I'm not going to drop a pin；〃 said Zeb。
He had fastened one end of the strap to a wheel of the buggy； and now
he let the line dangle over the side of the house。
〃Be careful；〃 cautioned Dorothy； earnestly。
〃I will；〃 said the boy； and let himself slide over the edge。
The girl and the Wizard leaned over and watched Zeb work his way
carefully downward； hand over hand； until he stood upon the ground
below。 Eureka clung with her claws to t
