登陆注册
15324200000035

第35章 Ozma's Prisoner (1)

The boy was so bewildered by this calamity that he made no resistance at all.He knew very well he was guilty, but it surprised him that Ozma also knew it.He wondered how she had found out so soon that he had picked the six-leaved clover.He handed his basket to Scraps and said:

"Keep that, until I get out of prison.If Inever get out, take it to the Crooked Magician, to whom it belongs."The Shaggy Man had been gazing earnestly in the boy's face, uncertain whether to defend him or not; but something he read in Ojo's expression made him draw back and refuse to interfere to save him.The Shaggy Man was greatly surprised and grieved, but he knew that Ozma never made mistakes and so Ojo must really have broken the Law of Oz.

The Soldier with the Green Whiskers now led them all through the gate and into a little room built in the wall.Here sat a jolly little man, richly dressed in green and having around his neck a heavy gold chain to which a number of great golden keys were attached.This was the Guardian of the Gate and at the moment they entered his room he was playing a tune upon a mouth-organ.

"Listen!" he said, holding up his hand for silence."I've just composed a tune called 'The Speckled Alligator.' It's in patch-time, which is much superior to rag-time, and I've composed it in honor of the Patchwork Girl, who has just arrived.""How did you know I had arrived?" asked Scraps, much interested.

"It's my business to know who's coming, for I'm the Guardian of the Gate.Keep quiet while I play you 'The Speckled Alligator.'"It wasn't a very bad tune, nor a very good one, but all listened respectfully while he shut his eyes and swayed his head from side to side and blew the notes from the little instrument.When it was all over the Soldier with the Green Whiskers said:

"Guardian, I have here a prisoner."

"Good gracious! A prisoner?" cried the little man, jumping up from his chair."Which one? Not the Shaggy Man?""No; this boy."

"Ah; I hope his fault is as small as himself,"said the Guardian of the Gate."But what can he have done, and what made him do it?""Can't say," replied the soldier."All I know is that he has broken the Law.""But no one ever does that!"

"Then he must be innocent, and soon will be released.I hope you are right, Guardian.Just now I am ordered to take him to prison.Get me a prisoner's robe from your Official Wardrobe."The Guardian unlocked a closet and took from it a white robe, which the soldier threw over Ojo.It covered him from head to foot, but had two holes just in front of his eyes, so he could see where to go.In this attire the boy presented a very quaint appearance.

As the Guardian unlocked a gate leading from his room into the streets of the Emerald City, the Shaggy Man said to Scraps:

"I think I shall take you directly to Dorothy, as the Scarecrow advised, and the Glass Cat and the Woozy may come with us.Ojo must go to prison with the Soldier with the Green Whiskers, but he will he well treated and you need not worry about him.""What will they do with him?" asked Scraps.

"That I cannot tell.Since I came to the Land of Oz no one has ever been arrested or imprisoned--until Ojo broke the Law."

"Seems to me that girl Ruler of yours is making a big fuss over nothing," remarked Scraps, tossing her yarn hair out of her eyes with a jerk of her patched head."I don't know what Ojo has done, but it couldn't be anything very, bad, for you and Iwere with him all the time."

The Shaggy Man made no reply to this speech and presently the Patchwork Girl forgot all about Ojo in her admiration of the wonderful city she had entered.

They soon separated from the Munchkin boy, who was led by the Soldier with the Green Whiskers down a side street toward the prison.Ojo felt very miserable and greatly ashamed of himself, but he was beginning to grow angry because he was treated in such a disgraceful manner.Instead of entering the splendid Emerald City as a respectable traveler who was entitled to a welcome and to hospitality, he was being brought in as a criminal, handcuffed and in a robe that told all he met of his deep disgrace.

Ojo was by nature gentle and affectionate and if he had disobeyed the Law of Oz it was to restore his dear Unc Nunkie to life.His fault was more thoughtless than wicked, but that did not alter the fact that he had committed a fault.At first he had felt sorrow and remorse, but the more he thought about the unjust treatment he had received--unjust merely because he considered it so--the more he resented his arrest, blaming Ozma for making foolish laws and then punishing folks who broke them.Only a six-leaved clover! A tiny green plant growing neglected and trampled under foot.What harm could there be in picking it? Ojo began to think Ozma must be a very bad and oppressive Ruler for such a lovely fairyland as Oz.The Shaggy Man said the people loved her; but how could they?

The little Munchkin boy was so busy thinking these things--which many guilty prisoners have thought before him--that he scarcely noticed all the splendor of the city streets through which they passed.Whenever they met any of the happy, smiling people, the boy turned his head away in shame, although none knew who was beneath the robe.

By and by they reached a house built just beside the great city wall, but in a quiet, retired place.It was a pretty house, neatly painted and with many windows.Before it was a garden filled with blooming flowers.The Soldier with the Green Whiskers led Ojo up the gravel path to the front door, on which he knocked.

A woman opened the door and, seeing Ojo in his white robe, exclaimed:

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 月夜殇紫黛年华

    月夜殇紫黛年华

    你是我最难过的过往,轻轻挥手,便叫我无处可藏。我那么努力地,想要好好地保护自己。可是阿林,你怎么就舍得,舍得叫我那样难过?我在乎的,从来都是你,都只有你啊。我怎么可以,学者去忘,怎么敢去忘记呢?不爱,那便纠缠好了。终究,我早已一无所有。终究,还是输给了你。
  • 废妃很抢手

    废妃很抢手

    莫名其妙穿了,还被腹黑王爷当成间谍!拜托!姐不会武功,也不知道你和谁有仇啊!被囚,你宠妃的离开难道真是我的错。逃离,却因为一个意想不到的身份变成了他的王妃。一场阴谋把她从第一美人变成第一丑女,再成废妃。而她,真的废了吗?接二连三的美男出现,费心讨她一下笑…到底谁才是她最终的归属?(本文纯属虚构,请勿模仿。)
  • 绝色天下:逆天枭女小狂妻

    绝色天下:逆天枭女小狂妻

    【双强,一对一】结婚前夕,渣男夺了她自幼戴在身上的神秘灵镯,跟着牛逼哄哄的异世女武者去了异世追求他的人生巅峰去了。被渣男虐死的封雪怨气难平,含恨九泉。睁开眼却发现老天有眼,居然也让她重生异世。貌似还生到了在渣男来之前?前脚一家子被皇帝“废了”灵根,后脚又亲封的公主?刚出生就成废物?这可不成,没听说过修炼要从娃娃抓起?于是她灵符当被褥,战灵当宠物,世人大跌眼镜。渣男来啦?好,这一次姑奶奶就站在你要的巅峰低头看着你,如何爬上来!颠皇权,虐渣男,横行霸道,嚣张逆天。可惜,俗话说得好,一物降一物。封雪终究还是遇到了一个见到他掉头就跑的人。男子绝色面容,淡淡一笑,玉指一点,温文尔雅。“小猴子,去哪?”
  • 七域神踪

    七域神踪

    挥一剑长鸣,破万丈苍茫。系一线情缘,动万里河山。
  • 异能狩猎

    异能狩猎

    从迷雾中找寻真实答案,揭晓黑暗深处无人所知的事实。但上演一幕幕恐怖之后到达尽头之时等待的却将是……
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • The Querist

    The Querist

    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。
  • 灾厄天书

    灾厄天书

    当恐怖的灾厄降世,禁忌的力量觉醒,为了盖娅,为了种族,为了希望,卑微的碳基生命将抗争到底
  • 游戏王之疾风逆境

    游戏王之疾风逆境

    表达对游戏王系列的敬意,原创文。与游戏王各部作品(DM/GX/5D‘s/十周年/ZEXAL)均有互动联结。主角是原创设定。一切遵照规则及文中序言说明。不定期修改。同时会发布剧场版。一个多事错乱的迷惘少年,一个剧变幸存的残酷女孩,一群身世迷离的决斗者。为自己,为他人,为羁绊,为感情,在背叛中坚强,在事变中成长。
  • 误入豪门:吖灵空降少爷心

    误入豪门:吖灵空降少爷心

    她惹上豪门少爷“你为什么不是他”“因为我是倬吖灵,我只是倬吖灵”“该死,她竟然嫁给别人!”***********************************“爸比爸比,妈妈在外面给你戴绿帽子啦”