glinda of oz- 第4部分

crab。　〃Green　crabs　are　very　common；　and　white　ones　are

rare；　besides　the　purple　spiders；　which　infest　this

hillside；　are　afraid　of　white　crabs。　Could　you　make　me

white　if　I　should　agree　to　cut　the　web　for　you？〃



〃Yes；〃　said　Ozma；　〃I　can　do　that　easily。　And；　so　you

may　know　I　am　speaking　the　truth；　I　will　change　your

color　now。〃



She　waved　her　silver　wand　over　the　pool　and　the　crab

instantly　became　snow…white　　all　except　his　eyes；

which　remained　black。　The　creature　saw　his　reflection

in　the　water　and　was　so　delighted　that　he　at　once

climbed　out　of　the　pool　and　began　moving　slowly　toward

the　web；　by　backing　away　from　the　pool。　He　moved　so

very　slowly　that　Dorothy　cried　out　impatiently：　〃Dear

me；　this　will　never　do！〃　Caching　the　crab　in　her　hands

she　ran　with　him　to　the　web。



She　had　to　hold　him　up　even　then；　so　he　could　reach

with　his　claws　strand　after　strand　of　the　filmy　purple

web；　which　he　was　able　to　sever　with　one　nip。



When　enough　of　the　web　had　been　cut　to　allow　them　to

pass；　Dorothy　ran　back　to　the　pool　and　placed　the　white

crab　in　the　water；　after　which　she　rejoined　Ozma。　They

were　just　in　time　to　escape　through　the　web；　for

several　of　the　purple　spiders　now　appeared；　having

discovered　that　their　web　had　been　cut；　and　had　the

girls　not　rushed　through　the　opening　the　spiders　would

have　quickly　repaired　the　cuts　and　again　imprisoned

them。



Ozma　and　Dorothy　ran　as　fast　as　they　could　and

although　the　angry　spiders　threw　a　number　of　strands　of

web　after　them；　hoping　to　lasso　them　or　entangle　them

in　the　coils；　they　managed　to　escape　and　clamber　to　the

top　of　the　hill。









Chapter　Three



The　Mist　Maidens







From　the　top　of　the　hill　Ozma　and　Dorothy　looked　down

into　the　valley　beyond　and　were　surprised　to　find　it

filled　with　a　floating　mist　that　was　as　dense　as　smoke。

Nothing　in　the　valley　was　visible　except　these　rolling

waves　of　mist；　but　beyond；　on　the　other　side；　rose　a

grassy　hill　that　appeared　quite　beautiful。



〃Well；〃　said　Dorothy；　〃what　are　we　to　do；　Ozma？　Walk

down　into　that　thick　fog；　an'　prob'bly　get　lost　in　it；

or　wait　till　it　clears　away？〃



〃I'm　not　sure　it　will　clear　away；　however　long　we

wait；〃　replied　Ozma；　doubtfully。　〃If　we　wish　to　get　on；

I　think　we　must　venture　into　the　mist。〃



〃But　we　can't　see　where　we're　going；　or　what　we're

stepping　on；〃　protested　Dorothy。　　〃There　may　be

dreadful　things　mixed　up　in　that　fog；　an'　I'm　scared

just　to　think　of　wading　into　it。〃



Even　Ozma　seemed　to　hesitate。　She　was　silent　and

thoughtful　for　a　little　while；　looking　at　the　rolling

drifts　that　were　so　gray　and　forbidding。　Finally　she

said：



〃I　believe　this　is　a　Mist　Valley；　where　these　moist

clouds　always　remain；　for　even　the　sunshine　above　does

not　drive　them　away。　Therefore　the　Mist　Maids　must　live

here；　and　they　are　fairies　and　should　answer　my　call。〃



She　placed　her　two　hands　before　her　mouth；　forming　a

hollow　with　them；　and　uttered　a　clear；　thrilling；　bird…

like　cry。　It　floated　far　out　over　the　mist　waves　and

presently　was　answered　by　a　similar　sound；　as　of　a　far…

off　echo。



Dorothy　was　much　impressed。　She　had　seen　many　strange

things　since　coming　to　this　fairy　country；　but　here　was

a　new　experience。　At　ordinary　times　Ozma　was　just　like

any　little　girl　one　might　chance　to　meet　　simple；

merry；　lovable　as　could　be　　yet　with　a　certain

reserve　that　lent　her　dignity　in　her　most　joyous　moods。

There　were　times；　however；　when　seated　on　her　throne

and　commanding　her　subjects；　or　when　her　fairy　powers

were　called　into　use；　when　Dorothy　and　all　others　about

her　stood　in　awe　of　their　lovely　girl　Ruler　and

realized　her　superiority。



Ozma　waited。　Presently　out　from　the　billows　rose

beautiful　forms；　clothed　in　fleecy；　trailing　garments

of　gray　that　could　scarcely　be　distinguished　from　the

mist。　Their　hair　was　mist…color；　too；　only　their

gleaming　arms　and　sweet；　pallid　faces　proved　they　were

living；　intelligent　creatures　answering　the　call　of　a

sister　fairy。



Like　sea　nymphs　they　rested　on　the　bosom　of　the

clouds；　their　eyes　turned　questioningly　upon　the　two

girls　who　stood　upon　the　bank。　One　came　quite　near　and

to　her　Ozma　said：



〃Will　you　please　take　us　to　the　opposite　hillside？　We

are　afraid　to　venture　into　the　mist。　I　am　Princess　Ozma

of　Oz；　and　this　is　my　friend　Dorothy；　a　Princess　of

Oz。〃



The　Mist　Maids　came　nearer；　holding　out　their　arms。

Without　hesitation　Ozma　advanced　and　allowed　them　to

embrace　her　and　Dorothy　plucked　up　courage　to　follow。

Very　gently　the　Mist　Maids　held　them。　Dorothy　thought

the　arms　were　cold　and　misty　　they　didn't　seem　real

at　all　　yet　they　supported　the　two　girls　above　the

surface　of　the　billows　and　floated　with　them　so　swiftly

to　the　green　hillside　opposite　that　the　girls　were

astonished　to　find　themselves　set　upon　the　grass　before

they　realized　they　had　fairly　started。



〃Thank　you！〃　said　Ozma　gratefully；　and　Dorothy　also

added　her　thanks　for　the　service。



The　Mist　Maids　made　no　answer；　but　they　smiled　and

waved　their　hands　in　good…bye　as　again　they　floated　out

into　the　mist　and　disappeared　from　view。









Chapter　Four



The　Magic　Tent





〃Well；〃　said　Dorothy　with　a　laugh；　〃that　was　easier

than　I　expected。　It's　worth　while；　sometimes；　to　be　a

real　fairy。　But　I　wouldn't　like　to　be　that　kind；　and

live　in　a　dreadful　fog　all　the　time。〃



They　now　climbed　the　bank　and　found　before　them　a

delightful　plain　that　spread　for　miles　in　all

directions。　Fragrant　wild　flowers　were　scattered

throughout　the　grass；　there　were　bushes　bearing　lovely

blossoms　and　luscious　fruits；　now　and　then　a　group　of

stately　trees　added　to　the　beauty　of　the　landscape。　But

there　were　no　dwellings　or　signs　of　life。



The　farther　side　of　the　plain　was　bordered　by　a　row

of　palms；　and　just　in　front　of　the　palms　rose　a　queerly

shaped　hill　that　towered　above　the　plain　like　a

mountain。　The　sides　of　this　hill　were　straight　up　and

down；　it　was　oblong　in　shape　and　the　top　seemed　flat

and　level。



〃Oh；　ho！〃　cried　Dorothy；　〃I'll　bet　that's　the

mountain　Glinda　told　us　of；　where　the　Flatheads　live。〃



〃If　it　is；〃　replied　Ozma；　〃the　Lake　of　the　Skeezers

must　be　just　beyond　the　line　of　palm　trees。　Can　you

walk　that　far；　Dorothy？〃



〃Of　course；　in　time；〃　was　the　prompt　answer。　〃I'm

sorry　we　had　to　leave　the　Sawhorse　and　the　Red　Wagon

behind　us；　for　they'd　come　in　handy　just　now；　but　with

the　end　of　our　journey　in　sight　a　tramp　across　these

pretty　green　fields　won't　tire　us　a　bit。〃



It　was　a　longer　tramp　than　they　suspected；　however；

and　night　overtook　them　before　they　could　reach　the

flat　mountain。　So　Ozma　proposed　they　camp　for　the　night

and　Dorothy　was　quite　ready　to　approve。　She　didn't　like

to　admit　to　her　friend　she　was　tired；　but　she　told

herself　that　her　legs　〃had　prickers　in　'em；〃　meaning

they　had　begun　to　ache。



Usually　when　Dorothy　started　on　a　journey　of

exploration　or　adventure；　she　carried　with　her　a　basket

of　food；　and　other　things　that　a　traveler　in　a　strange

country　might　require；　but　to　go　away　with　Ozma　was

quite　a　different　thing；　as　experience　had　taught　her。

The　fairy　Ruler　of　Oz　only　needed　her　silver　wand　

tipped　at　one　end　with　a　great　sparkling　emerald　　to

provide　through　its　magic　all　that　they　might　need。

Therefore　Ozma；　having　halted　with　her　companion　and

selected　a　smooth；　grassy　spot　on　the　plain；　waved　her

wand　in　graceful　curves　and　chanted　some　mystic　words

in　her　sweet　voice；　and　in　an　instant　a　handsome　tent

appeared　before　them。　The　canvas　was　striped　purple　and

white；　and　from　the　center　pole　fluttered　the　royal

banner　of　Oz。



〃Come；　dear；〃　said　Ozma；　taking　Dorothy's　hand；　〃I　am

hungry　and　I'm　sure　you　must　be　also；　so　let　us　go　in

and　have　our　feast。〃



On　entering　the　tent　they　found　a　table　set　for　two；

with　snowy　linen；　bright　silver　and　sparkling

glassware；　a　vase　of　roses　in　the　center　and　many

dishes　of　delicious　food；　some　smoking　hot；　waiting　to

satisfy　their　hunger。　Also；　on　either　side　of　the　tent

were　beds；　with　satin　sheets；　warm　blankets　and　pillows

filled　with　swansdown。　There　were　chairs；　too；　and

tall　lamps　that　lighted　the　interior　of　the　tent　with　a

soft；　rosy　glow。



Dorothy；　resting　herself　at　her　fairy　friend's

command；　and　eating　her　dinner　with　unusual　enjoyment；

thought　of　the　wonders　of　magic。　If　one　were　a　fairy

and　knew　the　secret　laws　of　nature　and　the　mystic　words

and　ceremonies　that　commanded　those　laws；　then　a　simple

wave　of　a　silver　wand　would　produce　instantly　all　that

men　work　hard　and　anxiously　for　through　weary　years。

And　Dorothy　wished　in　her　kindly；　innocent　heart；　that

all　men　and　women　could　be　fairies　with　silver　wands；

and　satisfy　all　their　needs　without　so　much　work　and

worry；　for　then；　she　imagined；　they　would　have　all

their　working　hours　to　be　happy　in。　But　Ozma；　looking

into　her　friend's　face　and　reading　those　thoughts；　gave

a　laugh　and　said：



〃No；　no；　Dorothy；　that　wouldn't　do　at　all。　Instead　of

happiness　your　plan　would　bring　weariness　to　the　world。

If　every　one　could　wave　a　wand　and　have　his　wants

fulfilled　there　would　be　little　to　wish　for。　There

would　be　no　eager　striving　to　obtain　the　difficult；　for

nothing　would　then　be　difficult；　and　the　pleasure　of

earning　something　longed　for；　and　only　to　be　secured　by

hard　work　and　careful　thought；　would　be　utterly　lost。

There　would　be　nothing　to　do　you　see；　and　no　interest

in　life　and　in　our　fellow　creatures。　That　is　all　that

makes　life　worth　our　while　　to　do　good　deeds　and　to

help　those　less　fortunate　than　ourselves。〃



〃Well；　you're　a　fairy；　Ozma。　Aren't　you　happy？〃　asked

Dorothy



〃Yes；　dear；　because　I　can　use　my　fairy　powers　to　make

others　happy。　Had　I　no　kingdom　to　rule；　and　no　subjects

to　look　after；　I　would　be　miserable。　Also；