fb.ozmaofoz-第20节

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　　〃His　laugh　is　worse　than　another　man's　frown；〃　said　the　private；　with　a　shudder。
　　〃I　thought　he　was　hon…est；　but　I　was　mis…tak…en；〃　remarked　Tiktok。　〃My　thoughts　are　us…u…al…ly　cor…rect；　but　it　is　Smith　&　Tin…ker's　fault　if　they　some…times　go　wrong　or　do　not　work　prop…er…ly。〃
　　〃Smith　&　Tinker　made　a　very　good　job　of　you；〃　said　Ozma；　kindly。〃I　do　not　think　they　should　be　blamed　if　you　are　not　quite　perfect。〃
　　〃Thank　you；〃　replied　Tiktok。
　　〃Then；〃　said　Billina；　in　her　brisk　little　voice；　〃let　us　all　go　back　to　the　Nome　King；　and　see　what　he　has　to　say　for　himself。〃
　　So　they　started　for　the　entrance；　Ozma　going　first；　with　the　Queen　and　her　train　of　little　Princes　and　Princesses　following。Then　came　Tiktok；　and　the　Scarecrow　with　Billina　perched　upon　his　straw…stuffed　shoulder。
　　The　twenty…seven　officers　and　the　private　brought　up　the　rear。
　　As　they　reached　the　hall　the　doors　flew　open　before　them；　but　then　they　all　stopped　and　stared　into　the　domed　cavern　with　faces　of　astonishment　and　dismay。For　the　room　was　filled　with　the　mail…clad　warriors　of　the　Nome　King；　rank　after　rank　standing　in　orderly　array。　The　electric　lights　upon　their　brows　gleamed　brightly；　their　battle…axes　were　poised　as　if　to　strike　down　their　foes；　yet　they　remained　motionless　as　statues；　awaiting　the　word　of　mand。
　　And　in　the　center　of　this　terrible　army　sat　the　little　King　upon　his　throne　of　rock。But　he　neither　smiled　nor　laughed。Instead；　his　face　was　distorted　with　rage；　and　most　dreadful　to　behold。
　　
　　　17。The　Scarecrow　Wins　the　Fight
　　
　　After　Billina　had　entered　the　palace　Dorothy　and　Evring　sat　down　to　await　the　success　or　failure　of　her　mission；　and　the　Nome　King　occupied　his　throne　and　smoked　his　long　pipe　for　a　while　in　a　cheerful　and　contented　mood。
　　Then　the　bell　above　the　throne；　which　sounded　whenever　an　enchantment　was　broken；　began　to　ring；　and　the　King　gave　a　start　of　annoyance　and　exclaimed；　〃Rocketty…ricketts！〃
　　When　the　bell　rang　a　second　time　the　King　shouted　angrily；　〃Smudge　and　blazes！〃　and　at　a　third　ring　he　screamed　in　a　fury；　〃Hippikaloric！〃　which　must　be　a　dreadful　word　because　we　don't　know　what　it　means。
　　After　that　the　bell　went　on　ringing　time　after　time；　but　the　King　was　now　so　violently　enraged　that　he　could　not　utter　a　word；　but　hopped　out　of　his　throne　and　all　around　the　room　in　a　mad　frenzy；　so　that　he　reminded　Dorothy　of　a　jumping…jack。
　　The　girl　was；　for　her　part；　filled　with　joy　at　every　peal　of　the　bell；　for　it　announced　the　fact　that　Billina　had　transformed　one　more　ornament　into　a　living　person。Dorothy　was　also　amazed　at　Billina's　success；　for　she　could　not　imagine　how　the　yellow　hen　was　able　to　guess　correctly　from　all　the　bewildering　number　of　articles　clustered　in　the　rooms　of　the　palace。But　after　she　had　counted　ten；　and　the　bell　continued　to　ring；　she　knew　that　not　only　the　royal　family　of　Ev；　but　Ozma　and　her　followers　also；　were　being　restored　to　their　natural　forms；　and　she　was　so　delighted　that　the　antics　of　the　angry　King　only　made　her　laugh　merrily。
　　Perhaps　the　little　monarch　could　not　be　more　furious　than　he　was　before；　but　the　girl's　laughter　nearly　drove　him　frantic；　and　he　roared　at　her　like　a　savage　beast。Then；　as　he　found　that　all　his　enchantments　were　likely　to　be　dispelled　and　his　victims　every　one　set　free；　he　suddenly　ran　to　the　little　door　that　opened　upon　the　balcony　and　gave　the　shrill　whistle　that　summoned　his　warriors。
　　At　once　the　army　filed　out　of　the　gold　and　silver　doors　in　great　numbers；　and　marched　up　a　winding　stairs　and　into　the　throne　room；　led　by　a　stern　featured　Nome　who　was　their　captain。When　they　had　nearly　filled　the　throne　room　they　formed　ranks　in　the　big　underground　cavern　below；　and　then　stood　still　until　they　were　told　what　to　do　next。
　　Dorothy　had　pressed　back　to　one　side　of　the　cavern　when　the　warriors　entered；　and　now　she　stood　holding　little　Prince　Evring's　hand　while　the　great　Lion　crouched　upon　one　side　and　the　enormous　Tiger　crouched　on　the　other　side。
　　〃Seize　that　girl！〃　shouted　the　King　to　his　captain；　and　a　group　of　warriors　sprang　forward　to　obey。But　both　the　Lion　and　Tiger　snarled　so　fiercely　and　bared　their　strong；　sharp　teeth　so　threateningly；　that　the　men　drew　back　in　alarm。
　　〃Don't　mind　them！〃　cried　the　Nome　King；　〃they　cannot　leap　beyond　the　places　where　they　now　stand。〃
　　〃But　they　can　bite　those　who　attempt　to　touch　the　girl；〃　said　the　captain。
　　〃I'll　fix　that；〃　answered　the　King。〃I'll　enchant　them　again；　so　that　they　can't　open　their　jaws。〃
　　He　stepped　out　of　the　throne　to　do　this；　but　just　then　the　Sawhorse　ran　up　behind　him　and　gave　the　fat　monarch　a　powerful　kick　with　both　his　wooden　hind　legs。
　　〃Ow！Murder！Treason！〃　yelled　the　King；　who　had　been　hurled　against　several　of　his　warriors　and　was　considerably　bruised。〃Who　did　that？〃
　　〃I　did；〃　growled　the　Sawhorse；　viciously。〃You　let　Dorothy　alone；　or　I'll　kick　you　again。〃
　　〃We'll　see　about　that；〃　replied　the　King；　and　at　once　he　waved　his　hand　toward　the　Sawhorse　and　muttered　a　magical　word。〃Aha！〃　he　continued；　〃NOW　let　us　see　you　move；　you　wooden　mule！〃
　　But　in　spite　of　the　magic　the　Sawhorse　moved；　and　he　moved　so　quickly　toward　the　King；　that　the　fat　little　man　could　not　get　out　of　his　way。
　　Thump…BANG！　came　the　wooden　heels；　right　against　his　round　body；　and　the　King　flew　into　the　air　and　fell　upon　the　head　of　his　captain；　who　let　him　drop　flat　upon　the　ground。
　　〃Well；　well！〃　said　the　King；　sitting　up　and　looking　surprised。〃Why　didn't　my　magic　belt　work；　I　wonder？〃
　　〃The　creature　is　made　of　wood；〃　replied　the　captain。〃Your　magic　will　not　work　on　wood；　you　know。〃
　　〃Ah；　I'd　forgotten　that；〃　said　the　King；　getting　up　and　limping　to　his　throne。〃Very　well；　let　the　girl　alone。She　can't　escape　us；　anyway。〃
　　The　warriors；　who　had　been　rather　confused　by　these　incidents；　now　formed　their　ranks　again；　and　the　Sawhorse　pranced　across　the　room　to　Dorothy　and　took　a　position　beside　the　Hungry　Tiger。
　　At　that　moment　the　doors　that　led　to　the　palace　flew　open　and　the　people　of　Ev　and　the　people　of　Oz　were　disclosed　to　view。They　paused；　astonished；　at　sight　of　the　warriors　and　the　angry　Nome　King；　seated　in　their　midst。
　　〃Surrender！〃　cried　the　King；　in　a　loud　voice。〃You　are　my　prisoners。〃
　　〃Go　'long！〃　answered　Billina；　from　the　Scarecrow's　shoulder。〃You　promised　me　that　if　I　guessed　correctly　my　friends　and　I　might　depart　in　safety。And　you　always　keep　your　promises。〃
　　〃I　said　you　might　leave　the　palace　in　safety；〃　retorted　the　King；　〃and　so　you　may；　but　you　cannot　leave　my　dominions。You　are　my　prisoners；　and　I　will　hurl　you　all　into　my　underground　dungeons；　where　the　volcanic　fires　glow　and　the　molten　lava　flows　in　every　direction；　and　the　air　is　hotter　than　blue　blazes。〃
　　〃That　will　be　the　end　of　me；　all　right；〃　said　the　Scarecrow；　sorrowfully。〃One　small　blaze；　blue　or　green；　is　enough　to　reduce　me　to　an　ash…heap。〃
　　〃Do　you　surrender？〃　demanded　the　King。
　　Billina　whispered　something　in　the　Scarecrow's　ear　that　made　him　smile　and　put　his　hands　in　his　jacket　pockets。
　　〃No！〃　returned　Ozma；　boldly　answering　the　King。Then　she　said　to　her　army：
　　〃Forward；　my　brave　soldiers；　and　fight　for　your　Ruler　and　yourselves；　unto　death！〃
　　〃Pardon　me；　Most　Royal　Ozma；〃　replied　one　of　her　generals；　〃but　I　find　that　I　and　my　brother　officers　all　suffer　from　heart　disease；　and　the　slightest　excitement　might　kill　us。If　we　fight　we　may　get　excited。
　　Would　it　not　be　well　for　us　to　avoid　this　grave　danger？〃
　　〃Soldiers　should　not　have　heart　disease；〃　said　Ozma。
　　〃Private　soldiers　are　not；　I　believe；　afflicted　that　way；〃　declared　another　general；　twirling　his　moustache　thoughtfully。〃If　your　Royal　Highness　desires；　we　will　order　our　private　to　attack　yonder　warriors。〃
　　〃Do　so；〃　replied　Ozma。
　　〃For…ward…march！〃　cried　all　the　generals；　with　one　voice。
　　〃For…ward…march！〃　yelled　the　colonels。〃For…ward…march！〃　shouted　the　majors。〃For…ward…march！〃　manded　the　captains。
　　And　at　that　the　private　leveled　his　spear　and　dashed　furiously　upon　the　foe。
　　The　captain　of　the　Nomes　was　so　surprised　by　this　sudden　onslaught　that　he　forgot　to　mand　his　warriors　to　fight；　so　that　the　ten　men　in　the　first　row；　who　stood　in　front　of　the　private's　spear；　fell　over　like　so　many　toy　soldiers。The　spear　could　not　go　through　their　steel　armor；　however；　so　the　warriors　scrambled　to　their　feet　again；　and　by　that　time　the　private　had　knocked　over　another　row　of　them。
　　Then　the　captain　brought　down　his　battle…axe　with　such　a　strong　blow　that　the　private's　spear　was　shattered　and　knocked　from　his　grasp；　and　he　was　helpless　to　fight　any　longer。
　　The　Nome　King　had　left　his　throne　and　pressed　through　his　warriors　to　the　front　ranks；　so　he　could　see　what　was　going　on；　but　as　he　faced　Ozma　and　her　friends　the　Scarecrow；　as　if　aroused　to　action　by　the　valor　of　the　private；　drew　one　of　Billina's　eggs　from　his　right　jacket　pocket　and　hurled　it　straight　at　the　little　monarch's　head。
　　It　struck　him　squarely　in　his　left　eye；　where　the　egg　smashed　and　scattered；　as　eggs　will；　and　covered　his　face　and　hair　and　beard　with　its　sticky　contents。
　　〃Help；　help！〃　screamed　the　King；　clawing　with