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the patchwork girl of oz-第39章

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tugged and kept them going。







〃I hope he won't give up;〃 said Ojo anxiously。



〃If the fish can hold out until the current



changes again; we'll be all right。〃







The fish did not give up; but held the raft



bravely on its course; till at last the water in



the river shifted again and floated them the way



they wanted to go。 But now the captive fish



found its strength failing。 Seeking a refuge; it



began to drag the raft toward the shore。 As they



did not wish to land in this place the boy cut



the rope with his pocket…knife and set the fish



free; just in time to prevent the raft from



grounding。







The next time the river backed up the Scarecrow



managed to seize the branch of a tree that



overhung the water and they all assisted him to



hold fast and prevent the raft from being carried



backward。 While they waited here; Ojo spied a long



broken branch lying upon the bank; so he leaped



ashore and got it。 When he had stripped off the



side shoots he believed he could use the branch as



a pole; to guide the raft in case of emergency。







They clung to the tree until they found the



water flowing the right way; when they let go



and permitted the raft to resume its voyage。 In



spite of these pauses they were really making



good progress toward the Winkie Country and



having found a way to conquer the adverse



current their spirits rose considerably。 They



could see little of the country through which



they were passing; because of the high banks;



and they met with no boats or other craft upon



the surface of the river。







Once more the trick river reversed its current;



but this time the Scarecrow was on guard and



used the pole to push the raft toward a big



rock which lay in the water。 He believed the



rock would prevent their floating backward with



the current; and so it did。 They clung to this



anchorage until the water resumed its proper



direction; when they allowed the raft to drift on。







Floating around a bend they saw ahead a high



bank of water; extending across the entire river;



and toward this they were being irresistibly



carried。 There being no way to arrest the progress



of the raft they clung fast to the logs and let



the river sweep them on。 Swiftly the raft climbed



the bank of water and slid down on the other side;



plunging its edge deep into the water and



drenching them all with spray。







As again the raft righted and drifted on;



Dorothy and Ojo laughed at the ducking they had



received; but Scraps was much dismayed and the



Scarecrow took out his handkerchief and wiped the



water off the Patchwork Girl's patches as well as



he was able to。 The sun soon dried her and the



colors of her patches proved good; for they did



not run together nor did they fade。







After passing the wall of water the current did



not change or flow backward any more but continued



to sweep them steadily forward。 The banks of the



river grew lower; too; permitting them to see more



of the country; and presently they discovered



yellow buttercups and dandelions growing amongst



the grass; from which evidence they knew they had



reached the Winkie Country。







〃Don't you think we ought to land?〃 Dorothy



asked the Scarecrow。







〃Pretty soon;〃 he replied。 〃The Tin Woodman's



castle is in the southern part of the Winkie



Country; and so it can't be a great way from



here。〃







Fearing they might drift too far; Dorothy and



Ojo now stood up and raised the Scarecrow in



their arms; as high as they could; thus allowing



him a good view of the country。 For a time he



saw nothing he recognized; but finally he cried:







〃There it is! There it is!〃







〃What?〃 asked Dorothy。







〃The Tin Woodman's tin castle。 I can see



its turrets glittering in the sun。 It's quite a way



off; but we'd better land as quickly as we can。〃







They let him down and began to urge the raft



toward the shore by means of the pole。 It obeyed



very well; for the current was more sluggish



now; and soon they had reached the bank and



landed safely。







The Winkie Country was really beautiful;



and across the fields they could see afar the



silvery sheen of the tin castle。 With light hearts



they hurried toward it; being fully rested by



their long ride on the river。







By and by they began to cross an immense



field of splendid yellow lilies; the delicate



fragrance of which was very delightful。







〃How beautiful they are!〃 cried Dorothy;



stopping to admire the perfection of these



exquisite flowers。







〃Yes;〃 said the Scarecrow; reflectively; 〃but



we must be careful not to crush or injure any



of these lilies。〃







〃Why not?〃 asked Ojo。







〃The Tin Woodman is very kind…hearted;〃



was the reply; 〃and he hates to see any living



thing hurt in any way。







〃Are flowers alive?〃 asked Scraps。







〃Yes; of course。 And these flowers belong to



the Tin Woodman。 So; in order not to offend



him; we must not tread on a single blossom。〃







〃Once;〃 said Dorothy; 〃the Tin Woodman



stepped on a beetle and killed the little creature。



That made him very unhappy and he cried until



his tears rusted his joints; so he couldn't move



'em。〃







〃What did he do then?〃 asked Ojo。







〃Put oil on them; until the joints worked



smooth again。







〃Oh!〃 exclaimed the boy; as if a great discovery



had flashed across his mind。 But he did not tell



anybody what the discovery was and kept the idea



to himself。







It was a long walk; but a pleasant one; and



they did not mind it a bit。 Late in the afternoon



they drew near to the wonderful tin castle of



the Emperor of the Winkies; and Ojo and



Scraps; who had never seen it before; were



filled with amazement。







Tin abounded in the Winkie Country and



the Winkies were said to be the most skillful



tinsmiths in all the world。 So the Tin Woodman



had employed them in building his magnificent



castle; which was all of tin; from the ground to



the tallest turret; and so brightly polished that



it glittered in the sun's rays more gorgeously



than silver。 Around the grounds of the castle



ran a tin wall; with tin gates; but the gates stood



wide open because the Emperor had no enemies



to disturb him。







When they entered the spacious grounds our



travelers found more to admire。 Tin fountains sent



sprays of clear water far into the air and there



were many beds of tin flowers; all as perfectly



formed as any natural flowers might be。 There



were tin trees; too; and here and there shady



bowers of tin; with tin benches and chairs to sit



upon。 Also; on the sides of the pathway leading up



to the front door of the castle; were rows of tin



statuary; very cleverly executed。 Among these Ojo



recognized statues of Dorothy; Toto; the



Scarecrow; the Wizard; the Shaggy Man; Jack



Pumpkinhead and Ozma; all standing upon neat



pedestals of tin。







Toto was well acquainted with the residence of



the Tin Woodman and; being assured a joyful



welcome; he ran ahead and barked so loudly at the



front door that the Tin Woodman heard him and came



out in person to see if it were really his old



friend Toto。 Next moment the tin man had clasped



the Scarecrow in a warm embrace and then turned



to hug Dorothy。 But now his eye was arrested by



the strange sight of the Patchwork Girl; and he



gazed upon her in mingled wonder and admiration。



















Chapter Twenty…Seven







The Tin Woodman Objects











The Tin Woodman was one of the most important



personages in all Oz。 Though Emperor of the



Winkies; he owed allegiance to Ozma; who ruled all



the land; and the girl and the tin man were warm



personal friends。 He was something of a dandy and



kept his tin body brilliantly polished and his tin



joints well oiled。 Also he was very courteous in



manner and so kind and gentle that everyone loved



him。 The Emperor greeted Ojo and Scraps with



cordial hospitality and ushered the entire party



into his handsome tin parlor; where all the



furniture and pictures were made of tin。 The walls



were paneled with tin and from the tin ceiling



hung tin chandeliers。







The Tin Woodman wanted to know; first of



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