登陆注册
15454300000043

第43章 The Country of the Quadlings

The four travelers passed through the rest of the forest in safety, and when they came out from its gloom saw before them a steep hill, covered from top to bottom with great pieces of rock.

"That will be a hard climb," said the Scarecrow, "but we must get over the hill, nevertheless."

So he led the way and the others followed. They had nearly reached the first rock when they heard a rough voice cry out, "Keep back!"

"Who are you?" asked the Scarecrow.

Then a head showed itself over the rock and the same voice said, "This hill belongs to us, and we don't allow anyone to cross it."

"But we must cross it," said the Scarecrow. "We're going to the country of the Quadlings."

"But you shall not!" replied the voice, and there stepped from behind the rock the strangest man the travelers had ever seen.

He was quite short and stout and had a big head, which was flat at the top and supported by a thick neck full of wrinkles.

But he had no arms at all, and, seeing this, the Scarecrow did not fear that so helpless a creature could prevent them from climbing the hill. So he said, "I'm sorry not to do as you wish, but we must pass over your hill whether you like it or not," and he walked boldly forward.

As quick as lightning the man's head shot forward and his neck stretched out until the top of the head, where it was flat, struck the Scarecrow in the middle and sent him tumbling, over and over, down the hill. Almost as quickly as it came the head went back to the body, and the man laughed harshly as he said, "It isn't as easy as you think!"

A chorus of boisterous laughter came from the other rocks, and Dorothy saw hundreds of the armless Hammer-Heads upon the hillside, one behind every rock.

The Lion became quite angry at the laughter caused by the Scarecrow's mishap, and giving a loud roar that echoed like thunder, he dashed up the hill.

Again a head shot swiftly out, and the great Lion went rolling down the hill as if he had been struck by a cannon ball.

Dorothy ran down and helped the Scarecrow to his feet, and the Lion came up to her, feeling rather bruised and sore, and said, "It is useless to fight people with shooting heads; no one can withstand them."

"What can we do, then?" she asked.

"Call the Winged Monkeys," suggested the Tin Woodman. "You have still the right to command them once more."

"Very well," she answered, and putting on the Golden Cap she uttered the magic words. The Monkeys were as prompt as ever, and in a few moments the entire band stood before her.

"What are your commands?" inquired the King of the Monkeys, bowing low.

"Carry us over the hill to the country of the Quadlings," answered the girl.

"It shall be done," said the King, and at once the Winged Monkeys caught the four travelers and Toto up in their arms and flew away with them.

As they passed over the hill the Hammer-Heads yelled with vexation, and shot their heads high in the air, but they could not reach the Winged Monkeys, which carried Dorothy and her comrades safely over the hill and set them down in the beautiful country of the Quadlings.

"This is the last time you can summon us," said the leader to Dorothy; "so good-bye and good luck to you."

"Good-bye, and thank you very much," returned the girl; and the Monkeys rose into the air and were out of sight in a twinkling.

The country of the Quadlings seemed rich and happy. There was field upon field of ripening grain, with well-paved roads running between, and pretty rippling brooks with strong bridges across them.

The fences and houses and bridges were all painted bright red, just as they had been painted yellow in the country of the Winkies and blue in the country of the Munchkins. The Quadlings themselves, who were short and fat and looked chubby and good-natured, were dressed all in red, which showed bright against the green grass and the yellowing grain.

The Monkeys had set them down near a farmhouse, and the four travelers walked up to it and knocked at the door. It was opened by the farmer's wife, and when Dorothy asked for something to eat the woman gave them all a good dinner, with three kinds of cake and four kinds of cookies, and a bowl of milk for Toto.

"How far is it to the Castle of Glinda?" asked the child.

"It is not a great way," answered the farmer's wife.

"Take the road to the South and you will soon reach it.

Thanking the good woman, they started afresh and walked by the fields and across the pretty bridges until they saw before them a very beautiful Castle. Before the gates were three young girls, dressed in handsome red uniforms trimmed with gold braid; and as Dorothy approached, one of them said to her:

"Why have you come to the South Country?"

"To see the Good Witch who rules here," she answered.

"Will you take me to her?"

"Let me have your name, and I will ask Glinda if she will receive you." They told who they were, and the girl soldier went into the Castle. After a few moments she came back to say that Dorothy and the others were to be admitted at once.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 梦回封神

    梦回封神

    一个普通的少女因一场意外穿越到了商朝,认识了周武王姬发,并展开了一场爱恨纠葛。在这场封神之战中他们究竟会经历什么故事呢?一个被封印在姜灵身体里的魔将会给她带来什么呢?几大上古神兽又再寻找什么人?姜灵又和这个世界有着怎样的联系?
  • 厚颜如此

    厚颜如此

    周璇对吴颜的评价:从未见过如此厚颜无耻之人!周璇经常吐槽吴颜:都30岁了还装可爱!好意思么?!其实她内心的OS是:好吧,虽然你的确有点可爱。吴颜对周璇的态度是:没脸没皮,天下无敌!再说周璇小姐,你自己的脸皮好像也并不薄吧?我们就是传说中的夫妻脸!
  • 简之青春,繁之忧伤

    简之青春,繁之忧伤

    简单:我叫简单,简简单单的简,简简单单的单,一个名字,却是我一生的梦想。马繁:现在的我,想要的只是你能够幸福快乐。东森:要是我一直陪在你的身边,有一天,你是不是就会喜欢上我?西淼:我爱你,你爱她,你不知道我爱你,她不知道你爱她,这真是世上最大的笑话。安星怡:我以为我足够聪明,但你却早已看穿,不点明,也只是因为从不曾在乎。冯晔:我视而不见你的坏,你视而不见我的好。
  • 帝国边缘

    帝国边缘

    神朝崩塌,两大帝国的征战使得空间洞穿,宇宙残破。在知识和修炼体系残缺的边缘地带,一个普通的宅男如何在机缘巧合之下走上修炼之路。由于的第一次写,希望大家轻拍!
  • 时光只把倾城负

    时光只把倾城负

    在这个世界上最了解女人的永远是女人本身,尽管女人大多数的归宿是嫁人,但成婚后的命运却从此再也不握不到自己的手里。江南鱼米水乡的万家小姐,生而富贵,可惜时运未济,赶上了那个最好也是最坏的年代,所有人的命运别说掌握在自己或是夫家的手里,没有人知道明天是什么样子的,除非你永远的闭上眼睛,那么便不需要再去回想这个疑难的问题。万家小姐,容貌出众,在小村庄里算是数一数二的美人,曾经有多少人欣羡她投了好胎,可最后,别人嘴里眼里的他,竟然也不过尔尔。
  • 宋词之美·情愫深深在词间

    宋词之美·情愫深深在词间

    本书介绍了宋代22位著名词人的代表词作,主要以爱情为主题。作者通过介绍每个词人各个时期的代表作品,将爱情、生活、理想抱负等人生主题融汇在一起,向读者多方面地展现每一个词人;同时,作者也加入了自身的评论和感悟。《宋词之美(情愫深深在词间)》上半部分主要讲述男词人,下半部分讲述女词人。全书文字细腻柔美,同时字里行间也透露出作者积极乐观的人生态度,让人读起来意犹未尽。
  • 梦霖岛

    梦霖岛

    “欢迎您进入梦霖岛,现在,请点击‘开始游戏’”系统声音传来,霖风点了点‘开始游戏’,瞬间进入了一个黑暗的空间……如果进入到了游戏,我的潜能应该可以发挥出来吧。游戏开始!……
  • 梦缘千年:倾城嫡女三小姐

    梦缘千年:倾城嫡女三小姐

    当奇特的曼陀罗华化为人形,在冥界,会有怎样的生活?不明不白的成了神界的敌人?啊?你们要我死也要有个理由吧。穿越重生,看她如何绽放光芒!一次意外,救下了一只妖孽,从此。。。。某女:“大爷,你喜欢我哪儿,我改还不行吗?”某男挑挑眉:“哪里都喜欢。”你改呀~~“。。。。。。”
  • 无限之演化

    无限之演化

    演化又称进化,指生物在不同世代之间具有差异的现象,以及解释这些现象的各种理论。人类进化的时间需要几百万年,当人类停止进化时,或者说,退化时……恐怖即将再次开启……生化危机、异形、咒怨、猛鬼街、死神来了……一切的一切,在这深沉如地狱的恐怖中,要么进化……要么死亡……
  • 染指天下

    染指天下

    自古江山,帝王振臂而万军破云,回头顾曲天下英雄复更名,遗恨随风走,乱世乾坤染指天下,别颤抖,听岁月折断了不朽。