登陆注册
15468500000010

第10章 Chapter Five Mrs. Yoop, the Giantess(1)

When they had reached the end of the path, where they had first seen the warning sign, they set off across the country in an easterly direction. Before long they reached Rolling Lands, which were a succession of hills and valleys where constant climbs and descents were required, and their journey now became tedious, because on climbing each hill, they found before them nothing in the valley below it except grass, or weeds or stones.

Up and down they went for hours, with nothing to relieve the monotony of the landscape, until finally, when they had topped a higher hill than usual, they discovered a cup-shaped valley before them in the center of which stood an enormous castle, built of purple stone. The castle was high and broad and long, but had no turrets and towers. So far as they could see, there was but one small window and one big door on each side of the great building.

"This is strange!" mused the Scarecrow. "I'd no idea such a big castle existed in this Gillikin Country. I wonder who lives here?"

"It seems to me, from this distance," remarked the Tin Woodman, "that it's the biggest castle I ever saw.

It is really too big for any use, and no one could open or shut those big doors without a stepladder."

"Perhaps, if we go nearer, we shall find out whether anybody lives there or not," suggested Woot. "Looks to me as if nobody lived there."

On they went, and when they reached the center of the valley, where the great stone castle stood, it was beginning to grow dark. So they hesitated as to what to do.

"If friendly people happen to live here," said Woot.

I shall be glad of a bed; but should enemies occupy the place, I prefer to sleep upon the ground."

"And if no one at all lives here," added the Scarecrow, "we can enter, and take possession, and make ourselves at home."

While speaking he went nearer to one of the great doors, which was three times as high and broad as any he had ever seen in a house before, and then he discovered, engraved in big letters upon a stone over the doorway, the words:

"YOOP CASTLE"

"Oho!" he exclaimed; "I know the place now. This was probably the home of Mr. Yoop, a terrible giant whom I have seen confined in a cage, a long way from here.

Therefore this castle is likely to be empty and we may use it in any way we please."

"Yes, yes," said the Tin Emperor, nodding; "I also remember Mr. Yoop. But how are we to get into his deserted castle? The latch of the door is so far above our heads that none of us can reach it."

They considered this problem for a while, and then Woot said to the Tin Man:

"If I stand upon your shoulders, I think I can unlatch the door."

"Climb up, then," was the reply, and when the boy was perched upon the tin shoulders of Nick Chopper, he was just able to reach the latch and raise it.

At once the door swung open, its great hinges making a groaning sound as if in protest, so Woot leaped down and followed his companions into a big, bare hallway.

Scarcely were the three inside, however, when they heard the door slam shut behind them, and this astonished them because no one had touched it. It had closed of its own accord, as if by magic. Moreover, the latch was on the outside, and the thought occurred to each one of them that they were now prisoners in this unknown castle.

"However," mumbled the Scarecrow, "we are not to blame for what cannot be helped; so let us push bravely ahead and see what may be seen."

It was quite dark in the hallway, now that the outside door was shut, so as they stumbled along a stone passage they kept close together, not knowing what danger was likely to befall them.

Suddenly a soft glow enveloped them. It grew brighter, until they could see their surroundings distinctly. They had reached the end of the passage and before them was another huge door. This noiselessly swung open before them, without the help of anyone, and through the doorway they observed a big chamber, the walls of which were lined with plates of pure gold, highly polished.

This room was also lighted, although they could discover no lamps, and in the center of it was a great table at which sat an immense woman. She was clad in silver robes embroidered with gay floral designs, and wore over this splendid raiment a short apron of elaborate lace-work. Such an apron was no protection, and was not in keeping with the handsome gown, but the huge woman wore it, nevertheless. The table at which she sat was spread with a white cloth and had golden dishes upon it, so the travelers saw that they had surprised the Giantess while she was eating her supper.

She had her back toward them and did not even turn around, but taking a biscuit from a dish she began to butter it and said in a voice that was big and deep but not especially unpleasant:

"Why don't you come in and allow the door to shut?

You're causing a draught, and I shall catch cold and sneeze. When I sneeze, I get cross, and when I get cross I'm liable to do something wicked. Come in, you foolish strangers; come in!"

Being thus urged, they entered the room and approached the table, until they stood where they faced the great Giantess. She continued eating, but smiled in a curious way as she looked at them. Woot noticed that the door had closed silently after they had entered, and that didn't please him at all.

"Well," said the Giantess, "what excuse have you to offer?"

"We didn't know anyone lived here, Madam," explained the Scarecrow; "so, being travelers and strangers in these parts, and wishing to find a place for our boy friend to sleep, we ventured to enter your castle."

"You knew it was private property, I suppose?" said she, buttering another biscuit.

"We saw the words, 'Yoop Castle,' over the door, but we knew that Mr. Yoop is a prisoner in a cage in a far- off part of the land of Oz, so we decided there was no one now at home and that we might use the castle for the night."

"I see," remarked the Giantess, nodding her head and smiling again in that curious way -- a way that made Woot shudder. "You didn't know that Mr. Yoop was married, or that after he was cruelly captured his wife still lived in his castle and ran it to suit herself."

同类推荐
  • 伊江集载

    伊江集载

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 十不二门枢要

    十不二门枢要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 分别善恶报应经

    分别善恶报应经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 修炼须知

    修炼须知

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 长安书事

    长安书事

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 全地形大冒险

    全地形大冒险

    单人,组队,跨区域,全地形,大冒险。山川河流,湖泊海洋,丛林沼泽,沙漠雪地应有尽有。野兽,异兽,凶兽,妖兽满世界跑。
  • 霹雳仙魔之弥天之局

    霹雳仙魔之弥天之局

    为争素心,尹真尹彦天之涯决斗……;为救素心,三圣各施其能,天帝、魔帝、冥帝……;一人顺应天道,一人赌压邱雄,一人六道轮回寻找契机……;天道茫茫未知,六道圣境不归,唯有邱雄方能一搏;救一人,伤害万千众灵,邱雄将面临何等局面,且看我细细道来……。
  • 你好,我爱你

    你好,我爱你

    她是他从小就想娶的女孩子,她只是一个平凡的少女,不想招惹他的她,又会擦初怎样的火花,他是否可以拉住她的心,一场变故,她变成了杀手,她找到毁了她家庭的人,却发现是他,那天她说:“凌墨,我永远不会爱你!”他们会有好的结局吗?
  • 嗨,女孩,请带我回家

    嗨,女孩,请带我回家

    我以为年少的爱情都是游戏,可以夭折。现实结结实实的甩了我一耳光。而我,死命的给自己又一巴掌,这下,对称了。
  • 刀动九州

    刀动九州

    这是一个崇尚实力的世界,强者为尊,弱者则为蝼蚁,没有一个人天生就是强者,每一位站在武道巅峰的强者都是经历了血与火的洗礼,有着一颗坚韧不拔的心,他没有显赫的家世,背负着灭族的仇恨,一个人在众多的蝼蚁中挣扎,他有着坚韧不拔的性格,无所畏惧的勇气,看少年战云鹏怎样在这个残酷的世界演绎出精彩的人生,一切谜底尽在刀动九州……
  • 炮灰升职记

    炮灰升职记

    一个商会会长的宝座,让富了世世代代的孟家变了天。孟家长女孟落,一夜之间沦为在逃犯。远房的袖手旁观,仇家的落井下石,就连有着婚约的公婆家也来个大转变,不再笑称她是好儿媳,而视她如瘟疫,避之不及。几经辗转,她被远卖西域的奴隶市场……他说,通常女奴于我而言,只有一个用处,就是取悦客人,而你,只要取悦我一人。他说,我不喜欢伤身体的事,但不代表会对喜欢的女人一再克制……
  • 玄阳大亨

    玄阳大亨

    身负神秘功法,强势回归的异能少年;迅速崛起的房地产大亨创造无数个经典传奇;恪尽职守,关爱家人,回报社会的成功典范;炙手可热的军政商界宠儿,优游潇洒红尘间。
  • 电子商务案例分析

    电子商务案例分析

    电子商务是一门新兴学科,它是近年来随着互联网技术、管理科学、信息科学、计算机科学与通信技术的迅速发展和相互交融,逐渐形成的一门综合性边缘学科。就电子商务的系统结构而言,它是一个由人、计算机、互联网等组成的能进行信息的快速收集、传递、存储、加工、维护和使用的信息系统。电子商务学科的诞生与发展,标志着互联网在经济管理中的应用达到了一个新的高度,它已成为经济管理领域一门极其重要的实用性学科。
  • 述学

    述学

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 护花妙手在都市

    护花妙手在都市

    他本是铁血兵王,却身负高超医术,更是被师父赐下神秘戒指……他本是为救治美女大小姐庄雅而来,却没想到麻烦不断,他只好见招拆招……他本以为都市生活和平宁静,却没想到依旧有作恶多端的混混,欺男霸女的恶少,于是他拳打混混,脚踢恶少……他本以为可以事成拂衣去,没想到却各色美女缠住,那一个个刁蛮校花、娇媚女老板、温柔教师,风情小记者,让他乱花迷眼……