fb.themarvelouslandofoz-第7节

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to　him　at　once。
　　When　the　Soldier　had　departed　the　Scarecrow　said：　〃Won't　you　take　a　chair　while　we　are　waiting？〃
　　〃Your　Majesty　forgets　that　I　cannot　understand　you；〃　replied　the　Pumpkinhead。　〃If　you　wish　me　to　sit　down　you　must　make　a　sign　for　me　to　do　so。〃　The　Scarecrow　came　down　from　his　throne　and　rolled　an　armchair　to　a　position　behind　the　Pumpkinhead。　Then　he　gave　Jack　a　sudden　push　that　sent　him　sprawling　upon　the　cushions　in　so　awkward　a　fashion　that　he　doubled　up　like　a　jackknife；　and　had　hard　work　to　untangle　himself。
　　〃Did　you　understand　that　sign？〃　asked　His　Majesty；　politely。
　　〃Perfectly；〃　declared　Jack；　reaching　up　his　arms　to　turn　his　head　to　the　front；　the　pumpkin　having　twisted　around　upon　the　stick　that　supported　it。
　　〃You　seem　hastily　made；〃　remarked　the　Scarecrow；　watching　Jack's　efforts　to　straighten　himself。
　　〃Not　more　so　than　your　Majesty；〃　was　the　frank　reply。
　　〃There　is　this　difference　between　us；〃　said　the　Scarecrow；　〃that　whereas　I　will　bend；　but　not　break；　you　will　break；　but　not　bend。〃　At　this　moment　the　soldier　returned　leading　a　young　girl　by　the　hand。　She　seemed　very　sweet　and　modest；　having　a　pretty　face　and　beautiful　green　eyes　and　hair。　A　dainty　green　silk　skirt　reached　to　her　knees；　showing　silk　stockings　embroidered　with　pea…pods；　and　green　satin　slippers　with　bunches　of　lettuce　for　decorations　instead　of　bows　or　buckles。　Upon　her　silken　waist　clover　leaves　were　embroidered；　and　she　wore　a　jaunty　little　jacket　trimmed　with　sparkling　emeralds　of　a　uniform　size。
　　〃Why；　it's　little　Jellia　Jamb！〃　exclaimed　the　Scarecrow；　as　the　green　maiden　bowed　her　pretty　head　before　him。　〃Do　you　understand　the　language　of　the　Gillikins；　my　dear？〃
　　〃Yes；　your　Majesty；　she　answered；　〃for　I　was　born　in　the　North　Country。〃
　　〃Then　you　shall　be　our　interpreter；〃　said　the　Scarecrow；　〃and　explain　to　this　Pumpkinhead　all　that　I　say；　and　also　explain　to　me　all　that　he　says。　Is　this　arrangement　satisfactory？〃　he　asked；　turning　toward　his　guest。
　　〃Very　satisfactory　indeed；〃　was　the　reply。
　　〃Then　ask　him；　to　begin　with；〃　resumed　the　Scarecrow；　turning　to　Jellia；　〃what　brought　him　to　the　Emerald　City〃　But　instead　of　this　the　girl；　who　had　been　staring　at　Jack；　said　to　him：　〃You　are　certainly　a　wonderful　creature。　Who　made　you？〃
　　〃A　boy　named　Tip；〃　answered　Jack。
　　〃What　does　he　say？〃　inquired　the　Scarecrow。　〃My　ears　must　have　deceived　me。　What　did　he　say？〃
　　〃He　says　that　your　Majesty's　brains　seem　to　have　e　loose；〃　replied　the　girl；　demurely。
　　The　Scarecrow　moved　uneasily　upon　his　throne；　and　felt　of　his　head　with　his　left　hand。
　　〃What　a　fine　thing　it　is　to　understand　two　different　languages；〃　he　said；　with　a　perplexed　sigh。　〃Ask　him；　my　dear；　if　he　has　any　objection　to　being　put　in　jail　for　insulting　the　ruler　of　the　Emerald　City。〃
　　〃I　didn't　insult　you！〃　protested　Jack；　indignantly。
　　〃Tut　…　tut！〃　cautioned　the　Scarecrow　〃wait；　until　Jellia　translates　my　speech。　What　have　we　got　an　interpreter　for；　if　you　break　out　in　this　rash　way？〃
　　〃All　right；　I'll　wait；〃　replied　the　Pumpkinhead；　in　a　surly　tone　…　although　his　face　smiled　as　genially　as　ever。
　　〃Translate　the　speech；　young　woman。〃
　　〃His　Majesty　inquires　if　you　are　hungry；　said　Jellia。
　　〃Oh；　not　at　all！〃　answered　Jack；　more　pleasantly；　〃for　it　is　impossible　for　me　to　eat。〃
　　〃It's　the　same　way　with　me；〃　remarked　the　Scarecrow。　〃What　did　he　say；　Jellia；　my　dear？〃
　　〃He　asked　if　you　were　aware　that　one　of　your　eyes　is　painted　larger　than　the　other；〃　said　the　girl；　mischievously。
　　〃Don't　you　believe　her；　your　Majesty；　cried　Jack。
　　〃Oh；　I　don't；〃　answered　the　Scarecrow；　calmly。　Then；　casting　a　sharp　look　at　the　girl；　he　asked：　〃Are　you　quite　certain　you　understand　the　languages　of　both　the　Gillikins　and　the　Munchkins？〃
　　〃Quite　certain；　your　Majesty；〃　said　Jellia　Jamb；　trying　hard　not　to　laugh　in　the　face　of　royalty。
　　〃Then　how　is　it　that　I　seem　to　understand　them　myself？〃　inquired　the　Scarecrow。
　　〃Because　they　are　one　and　the　same！〃　declared　the　girl；　now　laughing　merrily。　〃Does　not　your　Majesty　know　that　in　all　the　land　of　Oz　but　one　language　is　spoken？〃
　　〃Is　it　indeed　so？〃　cried　the　Scarecrow；　much　relieved　to　hear　this；　〃then　I　might　easily　have　been　my　own　interpreter！〃
　　〃It　was　all　my　fault；　your　Majesty；〃　said　Jack；　looking　rather　foolish；〃　I　thought　we　must　surely　speak　different　languages；　since　we　came　from　different　countries。〃
　　〃This　should　be　a　warning　to　you　never　to　think；〃　returned　the　Scarecrow；　severely。　〃For　unless　one　can　think　wisely　it　is　better　to　remain　a　dummy　…　which　you　most　certainly　are。〃
　　〃I　am！　…　I　surely　am！〃　agreed　the　Pumpkinhead。
　　〃It　seems　to　me；〃　continued　the　Scarecrow；　more　mildly；　〃that　your　manufacturer　spoiled　some　good　pies　to　create　an　indifferent　man。〃
　　〃I　assure　your　Majesty　that　I　did　not　ask　to　be　created；〃　answered　Jack。
　　〃Ah！　It　was　the　same　in　my　case；〃　said　the　King；　pleasantly。　And　so；　as　we　differ　from　all　ordinary　people；　let　us　bee　friends。〃
　　〃With　all　my　heart！〃　exclaimed　Jack。
　　〃What！　Have　you　a　heart？〃　asked　the　Scarecrow；　surprised。
　　〃No；　that　was　only　imaginative　…　I　might　say；　a　figure　of　speech；〃　said　the　other。
　　〃Well；　your　most　prominent　figure　seems　to　be　a　figure　of　wood；　so　I　must　beg　you　to　restrain　an　imagination　which；　having　no　brains；　you　have　no　right　to　exercise；〃　suggested　the　Scarecrow；　warningly。
　　〃To　be　sure！〃　said　Jack；　without　in　the　least　prehending。
　　His　Majesty　then　dismissed　Jellia　Jamb　and　the　Soldier　with　the　Green　Whiskers；　and　when　they　were　gone　he　took　his　new　friend　by　the　arm　and　led　him　into　the　courtyard　to　play　a　game　of　quoits。
　　
　　
　　　Gen。　Jinjur's　Army　of　Revolt
　　
　　Tip　was　so　anxious　to　rejoin　his　man　Jack　and　the　Saw…Horse　that　he　walked　a　full　half　the　distance　to　the　Emerald　City　without　stopping　to　rest。　Then　he　discovered　that　he　was　hungry　and　the　crackers　and　cheese　he　had　provided　for　the　Journey　had　all　been　eaten。
　　While　wondering　what　he　should　do　in　this　emergency　he　came　upon　a　girl　sitting　by　the　roadside。　She　wore　a　costume　that　struck　the　boy　as　being　remarkably　brilliant：　her　silken　waist　being　of　emerald　green　and　her　skirt　of　four　distinct　colors　…　blue　in　front；　yellow　at　the　left　side；　red　at　the　back　and　purple　at　the　right　side。
　　Fastening　the　waist　in　front　were　four　buttons　…　the　top　one　blue；　the　next　yellow；　a　third　red　and　the　last　purple。
　　The　splendor　of　this　dress　was　almost　barbaric；　so　Tip　was　fully　justified　in　staring　at　the　gown　for　some　moments　before　his　eyes　were　attracted　by　the　pretty　face　above　it。　Yes；　the　face　was　pretty　enough；　he　decided；　but　it　wore　an　expression　of　discontent　coupled　to　a　shade　of　defiance　or　audacity。
　　While　the　boy　stared　the　girl　looked　upon　him　calmly。　A　lunch　basket　stood　beside　her；　and　she　held　a　dainty　sandwich　in　one　hand　and　a　hard…boiled　egg　in　the　other；　eating　with　an　evident　appetite　that　aroused　Tip's　sympathy。
　　He　was　just　about　to　ask　a　share　of　the　luncheon　when　the　girl　stood　up　and　brushed　the　crumbs　from　her　lap。
　　〃There！〃　said　she；　〃it　is　time　for　me　to　go。　Carry　that　basket　for　me　and　help　yourself　to　its　contents　if　you　are　hungry。〃　Tip　seized　the　basket　eagerly　and　began　to　eat；　following　for　a　time　the　strange　girl　without　bothering　to　ask　questions。　She　walked　along　before　him　with　swift　strides；　and　there　was　about　her　an　air　of　decision　and　importance　that　led　him　to　suspect　she　was　some　great　personage。
　　Finally；　when　he　had　satisfied　his　hunger；　he　ran　up　beside　her　and　tried　to　keep　pace　with　her　swift　footsteps　…　a　very　difficult　feat；　for　she　was　much　taller　than　he；　and　evidently　in　a　hurry。
　　〃Thank　you　very　much　for　the　sandwiches；〃　said　Tip；　as　he　trotted　along。　〃May　I　ask　your　name？〃
　　〃I　am　General　Jinjur；〃　was　the　brief　reply。
　　〃Oh！〃　said　the　boy　surprised。　〃What　sort　of　a　General？〃
　　〃I　mand　the　Army　of　Revolt　in　this　war；〃　answered　the　General；　with　unnecessary　sharpness。
　　〃Oh！〃　he　again　exclaimed。　〃I　didn't　know　there　was　a　war。〃
　　〃You　were　not　supposed　to　know　it；〃　she　returned；　〃for　we　have　kept　it　a　secret；　and　considering　that　our　army　is　posed　entirely　of　girls；〃　she　added；　with　some　pride；　〃it　is　surely　a　remarkable　thing　that　our　Revolt　is　not　yet　discovered。〃
　　〃It　is；　indeed；〃　acknowledged　Tip。　〃But　where　is　your　army？〃
　　〃About　a　mile　from　here；〃　said　General　Jinjur。　〃The　forces　have　assembled　from　all　parts　of　the　Land　of　Oz；　at　my　express　mand。　For　this　is　the　day　we　are　to　conquer　His　Majesty　the　Scarecrow；　and　wrest　from　him　the　throne。　The　Army　of　Revolt　only　awaits　my　ing　to　march　upon　the　Emerald　City。〃
　　〃Well！〃　declared　Tip；　drawing　a　long　breath；　〃this　is　certainly　a　surprising　thing！　May　I　ask　why　you　wish　to　conquer　His　Majesty　the　Scarecrow？〃
　　〃Because　the　Emerald　City　has　been　ruled　by　men　long　enough；　for　one　reason；〃　said　the　girl。
　　〃Moreover；　the　City　glitters　with　beautiful　gems；　which　might　far　better　be　used　for　rings；　bracelets　and　necklaces；　and　there　is　enough　money　in　the　King's　treasury　to　buy　every　girl　in　our　Army　a　dozen　new　gowns。　So　we　intend　to　conquer　the　City　and　run　the　government　to　suit　our