fb.ozmaofoz-第13节

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g　which　Ozma　and　her　party　were　forced　to　pass　in　single　file。
　　They　now　heard　a　low　and　deep　〃thump！…　thump！…thump！〃　which　echoed　throughout　the　valley　and　seemed　to　grow　louder　as　they　advanced。　Then；　turning　a　corner　of　rock；　they　saw　before　them　a　huge　form；　which　towered　above　the　path　for　more　than　a　hundred　feet。The　form　was　that　of　a　gigantic　man　built　out　of　plates　of　cast　iron；　and　it　stood　with　one　foot　on　either　side　of　the　narrow　road　and　swung　over　its　right　shoulder　an　immense　iron　mallet；　with　which　it　constantly　pounded　the　earth。These　resounding　blows　explained　the　thumping　sounds　they　had　heard；　for　the　mallet　was　much　bigger　than　a　barrel；　and　where　it　struck　the　path　between　the　rocky　sides　of　the　mountain　it　filled　all　the　space　through　which　our　travelers　would　be　obliged　to　pass。
　　Of　course　they　at　once　halted；　a　safe　distance　away　from　the　terrible　iron　mallet。The　magic　carpet　would　do　them　no　good　in　this　case；　for　it　was　only　meant　to　protect　them　from　any　dangers　upon　the　ground　beneath　their　feet；　and　not　from　dangers　that　appeared　in　the　air　above　them。
　　〃Wow！〃　said　the　Cowardly　Lion；　with　a　shudder。〃It　makes　me　dreadfully　nervous　to　see　that　big　hammer　pounding　so　near　my　head。　One　blow　would　crush　me　into　a　door…mat。〃
　　〃The　ir…on　gi…ant　is　a　fine　fel…low；〃　said　Tiktok；　〃and　works　as　stead…i…ly　as　a　clock。He　was　made　for　the　Nome　King　by　Smith　&　Tin…ker；　who　made　me；　and　his　du…ty　is　to　keep　folks　from　find…ing　the　un…der…ground　pal…ace。Is　he　not　a　great　work　of　art？〃
　　〃Can　he　think；　and　speak；　as　you　do？〃　asked　Ozma；　regarding　the　giant　with　wondering　eyes。
　　〃No；〃　replied　the　machine；　〃he　is　on…ly　made　to　pound　the　road；　and　has　no　think…ing　or　speak…ing　at…tach…ment。But　he　pounds　ve…ry　well；　I　think。〃
　　〃Too　well；〃　observed　the　Scarecrow。〃He　is　keeping　us　from　going　farther。Is　there　no　way　to　stop　his　machinery？〃
　　〃On…ly　the　Nome　King；　who　has　the　key；　can　do　that；〃　answered　Tiktok。
　　〃Then；〃　said　Dorothy；　anxiously；　〃what　shall　we　do？〃
　　〃Excuse　me　for　a　few　minutes；〃　said　the　Scarecrow；　〃and　I　will　think　it　over。〃
　　He　retired；　then；　to　a　position　in　the　rear；　where　he　turned　his　painted　face　to　the　rocks　and　began　to　think。
　　Meantime　the　giant　continued　to　raise　his　iron　mallet　high　in　the　air　and　to　strike　the　path　terrific　blows　that　echoed　through　the　mountains　like　the　roar　of　a　cannon。Each　time　the　mallet　lifted；　however；　there　was　a　moment　when　the　path　beneath　the　monster　was　free；　and　perhaps　the　Scarecrow　had　noticed　this；　for　when　he　came　back　to　the　others　he　said：
　　〃The　matter　is　a　very　simple　one；　after　all。We　have　but　to　run　under　the　hammer；　one　at　a　time；　when　it　is　lifted；　and　pass　to　the　other　side　before　it　falls　again。〃
　　〃It　will　require　quick　work；　if　we　escape　the　blow；〃　said　the　Tin　Woodman；　with　a　shake　of　his　head。〃But　it　really　seems　the　only　thing　to　be　done。Who　will　make　the　first　attempt？〃
　　They　looked　at　one　another　hesitatingly　for　a　moment。Then　the　Cowardly　Lion；　who　was　trembling　like　a　leaf　in　the　wind；　said　to　them：
　　〃I　suppose　the　head　of　the　procession　must　go　first…and　that's　me。　But　I'm　terribly　afraid　of　the　big　hammer！〃
　　〃What　will　bee　of　me？〃　asked　Ozma。〃You　might　rush　under　the　hammer　yourself；　but　the　chariot　would　surely　be　crushed。〃
　　〃We　must　leave　the　chariot；〃　said　the　Scarecrow。〃But　you　two　girls　can　ride　upon　the　backs　of　the　Lion　and　the　Tiger。〃
　　So　this　was　decided　upon；　and　Ozma；　as　soon　as　the　Lion　was　unfastened　from　the　chariot；　at　once　mounted　the　beast's　back　and　said　she　was　ready。
　　〃Cling　fast　to　his　mane；〃　advised　Dorothy。〃I　used　to　ride　him　myself；　and　that's　the　way　I　held　on。〃
　　So　Ozma　clung　fast　to　the　mane；　and　the　lion　crouched　in　the　path　and　eyed　the　swinging　mallet　carefully　until　he　knew　just　the　instant　it　would　begin　to　rise　in　the　air。
　　Then；　before　anyone　thought　he　was　ready；　he　made　a　sudden　leap　straight　between　the　iron　giant's　legs；　and　before　the　mallet　struck　the　ground　again　the　Lion　and　Ozma　were　safe　on　the　other　side。
　　The　Tiger　went　next。Dorothy　sat　upon　his　back　and　locked　her　arms　around　his　striped　neck；　for　he　had　no　mane　to　cling　to。He　made　the　leap　straight　and　true　as　an　arrow　from　a　bow；　and　ere　Dorothy　realized　it　she　was　out　of　danger　and　standing　by　Ozma's　side。
　　Now　came　the　Scarecrow　on　the　Sawhorse；　and　while　they　made　the　dash　in　safety　they　were　within　a　hair's　breadth　of　being　caught　by　the　descending　hammer。
　　Tiktok　walked　up　to　the　very　edge　of　the　spot　the　hammer　struck；　and　as　it　was　raised　for　the　next　blow　he　calmly　stepped　forward　and　escaped　its　descent。That　was　an　idea　for　the　Tin　Woodman　to　follow；　and　he　also　crossed　in　safety　while　the　great　hammer　was　in　the　air。　But　when　it　came　to　the　twenty…six　officers　and　the　private；　their　knees　were　so　weak　that　they　could　not　walk　a　step。
　　〃In　battle　we　are　wonderfully　courageous；〃　said　one　of　the　generals；　〃and　our　foes　find　us　very　terrible　to　face。But　war　is　one　thing　and　this　is　another。When　it　es　to　being　pounded　upon　the　head　by　an　iron　hammer；　and　smashed　into　pancakes；　we　naturally　object。〃
　　〃Make　a　run　for　it；〃　urged　the　Scarecrow。
　　〃Our　knees　shake　so　that　we　cannot　run；〃　answered　a　captain。〃If　we　should　try　it　we　would　all　certainly　be　pounded　to　a　jelly。〃
　　〃Well；　well；〃　sighed　the　Cowardly　Lion；　〃I　see；　friend　Tiger；　that　we　must　place　ourselves　in　great　danger　to　rescue　this　bold　armye　with　me；　and　we　will　do　the　best　we　can。〃
　　So；　Ozma　and　Dorothy　having　already　dismounted　from　their　backs；　the　Lion　and　the　Tiger　leaped　back　again　under　the　awful　hammer　and　returned　with　two　generals　clinging　to　their　necks。They　repeated　this　daring　passage　twelve　times；　when　all　the　officers　had　been　carried　beneath　the　giant's　legs　and　landed　safely　on　the　further　side。By　that　time　the　beasts　were　very　tired；　and　panted　so　hard　that　their　tongues　hung　out　of　their　great　mouths。
　　〃But　what　is　to　bee　of　the　private？〃　asked　Ozma。
　　〃Oh；　leave　him　there　to　guard　the　chariot；〃　said　the　Lion。〃I'm　tired　out；　and　won't　pass　under　that　mallet　again。〃
　　The　officers　at　once　protested　that　they　must　have　the　private　with　them；　else　there　would　be　no　one　for　them　to　mand。But　neither　the　Lion　or　the　Tiger　would　go　after　him；　and　so　the　Scarecrow　sent　the　Sawhorse。
　　Either　the　wooden　horse　was　careless；　or　it　failed　to　properly　time　the　descent　of　the　hammer；　for　the　mighty　weapon　caught　it　squarely　upon　its　head；　and　thumped　it　against　the　ground　so　powerfully　that　the　private　flew　off　its　back　high　into　the　air；　and　landed　upon　one　of　the　giant's　cast…iron　arms。Here　he　clung　desperately　while　the　arm　rose　and　fell　with　each　one　of　the　rapid　strokes。
　　The　Scarecrow　dashed　in　to　rescue　his　Sawhorse；　and　had　his　left　foot　smashed　by　the　hammer　before　he　could　pull　the　creature　out　of　danger。
　　They　then　found　that　the　Sawhorse　had　been　badly　dazed　by　the　blow；　for　while　the　hard　wooden　knot　of　which　his　head　was　formed　could　not　be　crushed　by　the　hammer；　both　his　ears　were　broken　off　and　he　would　be　unable　to　hear　a　sound　until　some　new　ones　were　made　for　him。Also　his　left　knee　was　cracked；　and　had　to　be　bound　up　with　a　string。
　　Billina　having　fluttered　under　the　hammer；　it　now　remained　only　to　rescue　the　private　who　was　riding　upon　the　iron　giant's　arm；　high　in　the　air。
　　The　Scarecrow　lay　flat　upon　the　ground　and　called　to　the　man　to　jump　down　upon　his　body；　which　was　soft　because　it　was　stuffed　with　straw。
　　This　the　private　managed　to　do；　waiting　until　a　time　when　he　was　nearest　the　ground　and　then　letting　himself　drop　upon　the　Scarecrow。　He　acplished　the　feat　without　breaking　any　bones；　and　the　Scarecrow　declared　he　was　not　injured　in　the　least。
　　Therefore；　the　Tin　Woodman　having　by　this　time　fitted　new　ears　to　the　Sawhorse；　the　entire　party　proceeded　upon　its　way；　leaving　the　giant　to　pound　the　path　behind　them。
　　
　　　11。The　Nome　King
　　
　　By　and　by；　when　they　drew　near　to　the　mountain　that　blocked　their　path　and　which　was　the　furthermost　edge　of　the　Kingdom　of　Ev；　the　way　grew　dark　and　gloomy　for　the　reason　that　the　high　peaks　on　either　side　shut　out　the　sunshine。And　it　was　very　silent；　too；　as　there　were　no　birds　to　sing　or　squirrels　to　chatter；　the　trees　being　left　far　behind　them　and　only　the　bare　rocks　remaining。
　　Ozma　and　Dorothy　were　a　little　awed　by　the　silence；　and　all　the　others　were　quiet　and　grave　except　the　Sawhorse；　which；　as　it　trotted　along　with　the　Scarecrow　upon　his　back；　hummed　a　queer　song；　of　which　this　was　the　chorus：
　　
　　〃Would　a　wooden　horse　in　a　woodland　go？Aye；　aye！I　sigh；　he　would；　although　Had　he　not　had　a　wooden　headHe'd　mount　the　mountain　top　instead。〃
　　
　　But　no　one　paid　any　attention　to　this　because　they　were　now　close　to　the　Nome　King's　dominions；　and　his　splendid　underground　palace　could　not　be　very　far　away。
　　Suddenly　they　heard　a　shout　of　jeering　laughter；　and　stopped　short。　They　would　have　to　stop　in　a　minute；　anyway；　for　the　huge　mountain　barred　their　further　progress　and　the　path　ran　close　up　to　a　wall　of　rock　and　ended。
　　〃Who　was　that　laughing？〃　asked　Ozma。
　　There　was　no　reply；　but　in　the　gloom　they　could　see　strange　forms　flit　ac