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the patchwork girl of oz-第19章

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done myself。 But your ferocious growl isn't as



loud as the tick of a beetleor one of Ojo's



snores when he's fast asleep。〃







〃Perhaps;〃 said the Woozy; humbly; 〃I have



been mistaken about my growl。 It has always



sounded very fearful to me; but that may; have



been because it was so close to my ears。〃







〃Never mind;〃 Ojo said soothingly; 〃it is a



great talent to be able to flash fire from your



eyes。 No one else can do that。〃







As they stood hesitating what to do Chiss



stirred and suddenly a shower of quills came



flying toward them; almost filling the air; they



were so many。 Scraps realized in an instant that



they had gone too near to Chiss for safety; so



she sprang in front of Ojo and shielded him



from the darts; which stuck their points into her



own body until she resembled one of those



targets they shoot arrows at in archery games。



The Shaggy Man dropped flat on his face to



avoid the shower; but one quill struck him in



the leg and went far in。 As for the Glass Cat;



the quills rattled off her body without making



even a scratch; and the skin of the Woozy was



so thick and tough that he was not hurt at all。







When the attack was over they all ran to the



Shaggy Man; who was moaning and groaning; and



Scraps promptly pulled the quill out of his leg。



Then up he jumped and ran over to Chiss; putting



his foot on the monster's neck and holding it a



prisoner。 The body of the great porcupine was now



as smooth as leather; except for the holes where



the quills had been; for it had shot every single



quill in that one wicked shower。







〃Let me go!〃 it shouted angrily。 〃How dare



you put your foot on Chiss?〃







〃I'm going to do worse than that; old boy;〃



replied the Shaggy Man。 〃You have annoyed



travelers on this road long enough; and now



I shall put an end to you。〃







〃You can't!〃 returned Chiss。 〃Nothing can



kill me; as you know perfectly well。〃







〃Perhaps that is true;〃 said the Shaggy Man



in a tone of disappointment。 〃Seems to me I've



been told before that you can't be killed。 But if



I let you go; what will you do?〃







〃Pick up my quills again;〃 said Chiss in a



sulky voice。







〃And then shoot them at more travelers? No;



that won't do。 You must promise me to stop



throwing quills at people。〃







〃I won't promise anything of the sort;〃 declared



Chiss。







〃Why not?〃







〃Because it is my nature to throw quills; and



every animal must do what Nature intends it



to do。 It isn't fair for you to blame me。 If it were



wrong for me to throw quills; then I wouldn't



be made with quills to throw。 The proper thing



for you to do is to keep out of my way。







〃Why; there's some sense in that argument;



admitted the Shaggy Man; thoughtfully; 〃but



people who are strangers; and don't know you



are here; won't be able to keep out of your way。〃







〃Tell you what;〃 said Scraps; who was trying



to pull the quills out of her own body; 〃let's



gather up all the quills and take them away with



us; then old Chiss won't have any left to throw



at people。〃







〃Ah; that's a clever idea。 You and Ojo must



gather up the quills while I hold Chiss a



prisoner; for; if I let him go he will get some of



his quills and be able to throw them again。〃







So Scraps and Ojo picked up all the quills



and tied them in a bundle so they might easily



be carried。 After this the Shaggy Man released



Chiss and let him go; knowing that he was



harmless to injure anyone。







〃It's the meanest trick I ever heard of;〃



muttered the porcupine gloomily。 〃How would you



like it; Shaggy Man; if I took all your shags away



from you?〃







〃If I threw my shags and hurt people; you would



be welcome to capture them;〃 was the reply。







Then they walked on and left Chiss standing in



the road sullen and disconsolate。 The Shaggy Man



limped as he walked; for his wound still hurt him;



and Scraps was much annoyed be cause the quills



had left a number of small holes in her patches。







When they came to a flat stone by the roadside



the Shaggy Man sat down to rest; and then Ojo



opened his basket and took out the bundle of



charms the Crooked Magician had given him。







〃I am Ojo the Unlucky;〃 he said; 〃or we would



never have met that dreadful porcupine。 But I will



see if I can find anything among these charms



which will cure your leg。〃







Soon he discovered that one of the charms



was labelled: 〃For flesh wounds;〃 and this the



boy separated from the others。 It was only a bit



of dried root; taken from some unknown shrub;



but the boy rubbed it upon the wound made by



the quill and in a few moments the place was



healed entirely and the Shaggy Man's leg was



as good as ever。







〃Rub it on the holes in my patches;〃 suggested



Scraps; and Ojo tried it; but without any effect。







〃The charm you need is a needle and thread;〃



said the Shaggy Man。 〃But do not worry; my



dear; those holes do not look badly; at all。〃







〃They'll let in the air; and I don't want people



to think I'm airy; or that I've been stuck



up;〃 said the Patchwork Girl。







〃You were certainly stuck up until we pulled



Out those quills;〃 observed Ojo; with a laugh。







So now they went on again and coming presently



to a pond of muddy water they tied a heavy stone



to the bundle of quills and sunk it to the bottom



of the pond; to avoid carrying it farther。



















Chapter Thirteen







Scraps and the Scarecrow











From here on the country improved and the desert



places began to give way to fertile spots; still



no houses were yet to be seen near the road。 There



were some hills; with valleys between them; and on



reaching the top of one of these hills the



travelers found before them a high wall; running



to the right and the left as far as their eyes



could reach。 Immediately in front of them; where



the wall crossed the roadway; stood a gate having



stout iron bars that extended from top to bottom。



They found; on coming nearer; that this gate was



locked with a great padlock; rusty through lack of



use。







〃Well;〃 said Scraps; 〃I guess we'll stop here。〃







〃It's a good guess;〃 replied Ojo。 〃Our way is



barred by this great wall and gate。 It looks as if



no one had passed through in many years。







〃Looks are deceiving;〃 declared the Shaggy Man;



laughing at their disappointed faces; 〃and this



barrier is the most deceiving thing in all Oz。〃







〃It prevents our going any farther; anyhow;〃



said Scraps。 〃There is no one to mind the gate



and let people through; and we've no key to



the padlock。〃







〃True;〃 replied Ojo; going a little nearer to



peep through the bars of the gate。 〃What shall we



do; Shaggy Man? If we had wings we might fly over



the wall; but we cannot climb it and unless we get



to the Emerald City I won't be able to find the



things to restore Unc Nunkie to life。〃







〃All very true;〃 answered the Shaggy Man;



quietly; 〃but I know this gate; having passed



through it many times。〃







〃How?〃 they all eagerly inquired。







〃I'll show you how;〃 said he。 He stood Ojo



in the middle of the road and placed Scraps



just behind him; with her padded hands on his



shoulders。 After the Patchwork Girl came the



Woozy; who held a part of her skirt in his



mouth。 Then; last of all; was the Glass Cat;



holding fast to the Woozy's tail with her glass



jaws。







〃Now;〃 said the Shaggy Man; 〃you must all



shut your eyes tight; and keep them shut until



I tell you to open them。〃







〃I can't;〃 objected Scraps。 〃My eyes are but…



tons; and they won't shut。〃









So the Shaggy Man tied his red handkerchief over



the Patchwork Girl's eyes and examined all the



others to make sure they had their eyes fast shut



and could see nothing。







〃What's the game;  anyhowblind…man's…buff?〃



asked Scraps。







〃Keep quiet!〃 commanded the Shaggy Man;



sternly。 〃All ready? Then follow me。〃







He took Ojo's hand and led him forward over the



road of yellow bricks; toward the gate。 Holding



fast to one another they all followed in a row;



expecting every minute to bump against the iron
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