【英文读物】The Scarecrow of Oz.docx

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1、【英文读物】The Scarecrow of OzTWIXT YOU AND ME The Army of Children which besieged the Postoffice, conquered the Postmen and delivered to me its imperious Commands, insisted that Trot and Capn Bill be admitted to the Land of Oz, where Trot could enjoy the society of Dorothy, Betsy Bobbin and Ozma, while

2、the one-legged sailor-man might become a comrade of the Tin Woodman, the Shaggy Man, Tik-Tok and all the other quaint people who inhabit this wonderful fairyland. It was no easy task to obey this order and land Trot and Capn Bill safely in Oz, as you will discover by reading this book. Indeed, it re

3、quired the best efforts of our dear old friend, the Scarecrow, to save them from a dreadful fate on the journey; but the story leaves them happily located in Ozmas splendid palace and Dorothy has promised me that Button-Bright and the three girls are sure to encounter, in the near future, some marve

4、lous adventures in the Land of Oz, which I hope to be permitted to relate to you in the next Oz Book. Meantime, I am deeply grateful to my little readers for their continued enthusiasm over the Oz stories, as evinced in the many letters they send me, all of which are lovingly cherished. It takes mor

5、e and more Oz Books every year to satisfy the demands of old and new readers, and there have been formed many Oz Reading Societies, where the Oz Books owned by different members are read aloud. All this is very gratifying to me and encourages me to write more stories. When the children have had enou

6、gh of them, I hope they will let me know, and then Ill try to write something different. L. Frank Baum Royal Historian of Oz. OZCOT at HOLLYWOOD in CALIFORNIA, 1915.Chapter One The Great Whirlpool Seems to me, said Capn Bill, as he sat beside Trot under the big acacia tree, looking out over the blue

7、 ocean, seems to me, Trot, as how the more we know, the more we find we dont know. I cant quite make that out, Capn Bill, answered the little girl in a serious voice, after a moments thought, during which her eyes followed those of the old sailor-man across the glassy surface of the sea. Seems to me

8、 that all we learn is jus so much gained. I know; it looks that way at first sight, said the sailor, nodding his head; but those as knows the least have a habit of thinkin they know all there is to know, while them as knows the most admits what a turrble big world this is. Its the knowing ones that

9、realize one lifetime aint long enough to git moren a few dips o the oars of knowledge. Trot didnt answer. She was a very little girl, with big, solemn eyes and an earnest, simple manner. Capn Bill had been her faithful companion for years and had taught her almost everything she knew. He was a wonde

10、rful man, this Capn Bill. Not so very old, although his hair was grizzledwhat there was of it. Most of his head was bald as an egg and as shiny as oilcloth, and this made his big ears stick out in a funny way. His eyes had a gentle look and were pale blue in color, and his round face was rugged and

11、bronzed. Capn Bills left leg was missing, from the knee down, and that was why the sailor no longer sailed the seas. The wooden leg he wore was good enough to stump around with on land, or even to take Trot out for a row or a sail on the ocean, but when it came to runnin up aloft or performing activ

12、e duties on shipboard, the old sailor was not equal to the task. The loss of his leg had ruined his career and the old sailor found comfort in devoting himself to the education and companionship of the little girl. The accident to Capn Bills leg bad happened at about the time Trot was born, and ever

13、 since that he had lived with Trots mother as a star boarder, having enough money saved up to pay for his weekly keep. He loved the baby and often held her on his lap; her first ride was on Capn Bills shoulders, for she had no baby-carriage; and when she began to toddle around, the child and the sai

14、lor became close comrades and enjoyed many strange adventures together. It is said the fairies had been present at Trots birth and had marked her forehead with their invisible mystic signs, so that she was able to see and do many wonderful things. The acacia tree was on top of a high bluff, but a pa

15、th ran down the bank in a zigzag way to the waters edge, where Capn Bills boat was moored to a rock by means of a stout cable. It had been a hot, sultry afternoon, with scarcely a breath of air stirring, so Capn Bill and Trot had been quietly sitting beneath the shade of the tree, waiting for the su

16、n to get low enough for them to take a row. They had decided to visit one of the great caves which the waves had washed out of the rocky coast during many years of steady effort. The caves were a source of continual delight to both the girl and the sailor, who loved to explore their awesome depths.

17、I blieve, Capn, remarked Trot, at last, that its time for us to start. The old man cast a shrewd glance at the sky, the sea and the motionless boat. Then he shook his head. Mebbe its time, Trot, he answered, but I dont jes like the looks o things this afternoon. Whats wrong? she asked wonderingly. C

18、ant say as to that. Things is too quiet to suit me, thats all. No breeze, not a ripple a-top the water, nary a gull a-flyin anywhere, an the end o the hottest day o the year. I aint no weather-prophet, Trot, but any sailor would know the signs is ominous. Theres nothing wrong that I can see, said Tr

19、ot. If there was a cloud in the sky even as big as my thumb, we might worry about it; butlook, Capn!the sky is as clear as can be. He looked again and nodded. Praps we can make the cave, all right, he agreed, not wishing to disappoint her. Its only a little way out, an well be on the watch; so come

20、along, Trot. Together they descended the winding path to the beach. It was no trouble for the girl to keep her footing on the steep way, but Capn Bill, because of his wooden leg, had to hold on to rocks and roots now and then to save himself from tumbling. On a level path he was as spry as anyone, b

21、ut to climb up hill or down required some care. They reached the boat safely and while Trot was untying the rope Capn Bill reached into a crevice of the rock and drew out several tallow candles and a box of wax matches, which he thrust into the capacious pockets of his souwester. This souwester was

22、a short coat of oilskin which the old sailor wore on all occasionswhen he wore a coat at alland the pockets always contained a variety of objects, useful and ornamental, which made even Trot wonder where they all came from and why Capn Bill should treasure them. The jackknivesa big one and a little

23、onethe bits of cord, the fishhooks, the nails: these were handy to have on certain occasions. But bits of shell, and tin boxes with unknown contents, buttons, pincers, bottles of curious stones and the like, seemed quite unnecessary to carry around. That was Capn Bills business, however, and now tha

24、t he added the candles and the matches to his collection Trot made no comment, for she knew these last were to light their way through the caves. The sailor always rowed the boat, for he handled the oars with strength and skill. Trot sat in the stern and steered. The place where they embarked was a

25、little bight or circular bay, and the boat cut across a much larger bay toward a distant headland where the caves were located, right at the waters edge. They were nearly a mile from shore and about halfway across the bay when Trot suddenly sat up straight and exclaimed: Whats that, Capn? He stopped

26、 rowing and turned half around to look. That, Trot, he slowly replied, looks to me mighty like a whirlpool. What makes it, Capn? A whirl in the air makes the whirl in the water. I was afraid as wed meet with trouble, Trot. Things didnt look right. The air was too still. Its coming closer, said the g

27、irl. The old man grabbed the oars and began rowing with all his strength. Taint comin closer to us, Trot, he gasped; its we that are comin closer to the whirlpool. The thing is drawin us to it like a magnet! Trots sun-bronzed face was a little paler as she grasped the tiller firmly and tried to stee

28、r the boat away; but she said not a word to indicate fear. The swirl of the water as they came nearer made a roaring sound that was fearful to listen to. So fierce and powerful was the whirlpool that it drew the surface of the sea into the form of a great basin, slanting downward toward the center,

29、where a big hole had been made in the oceana hole with walls of water that were kept in place by the rapid whirling of the air. The boat in which Trot and Capn Bill were riding was just on the outer edge of this saucer-like slant, and the old sailor knew very well that unless he could quickly force

30、the little craft away from the rushing current they would soon be drawn into the great black hole that yawned in the middle. So he exerted all his might and pulled as he had never pulled before. He pulled so hard that the left oar snapped in two and sent Capn Bill sprawling upon the bottom of the bo

31、at. He scrambled up quickly enough and glanced over the side. Then he looked at Trot, who sat quite still, with a serious, far-away look in her sweet eyes. The boat was now speeding swiftly of its own accord, following the line of the circular basin round and round and gradually drawing nearer to th

32、e great hole in the center. Any further effort to escape the whirlpool was useless, and realizing this fact Capn Bill turned toward Trot and put an arm around her, as if to shield her from the awful fate before them. He did not try to speak, because the roar of the waters would have drowned the soun

33、d of his voice. These two faithful comrades had faced dangers before, but nothing to equal that which now faced them. Yet Capn Bill, noting the look in Trots eyes and remembering how often she had been protected by unseen powers, did not quite give way to despair. The great hole in the dark waternow

34、 growing nearer and nearerlooked very terrifying; but they were both brave enough to face it and await the result of the adventure.Chapter Two The Cavern Under the Sea The circles were so much smaller at the bottom of the basin, and the boat moved so much more swiftly, that Trot was beginning to get

35、 dizzy with the motion, when suddenly the boat made a leap and dived headlong into the murky depths of the hole. Whirling like tops, but still clinging together, the sailor and the girl were separated from their boat and plunged downdowndowninto the farthermost recesses of the great ocean. At first

36、their fall was swift as an arrow, but presently they seemed to be going more moderately and Trot was almost sure that unseen arms were about her, supporting her and protecting her. She could see nothing, because the water filled her eyes and blurred her vision, but she clung fast to Capn Bills souwe

37、ster, while other arms clung fast to her, and so they gradually sank down and down until a full stop was made, when they began to ascend again. But it seemed to Trot that they were not rising straight to the surface from where they had come. The water was no longer whirling them and they seemed to b

38、e drawn in a slanting direction through still, cool ocean depths. And thenin much quicker time than I have told itup they popped to the surface and were cast at full length upon a sandy beach, where they lay choking and gasping for breath and wondering what had happened to them. Trot was the first t

39、o recover. Disengaging herself from Capn Bills wet embrace and sitting up, she rubbed the water from her eyes and then looked around her. A soft, bluish-green glow lighted the place, which seemed to be a sort of cavern, for above and on either side of her were rugged rocks. They had been cast upon a

40、 beach of clear sand, which slanted upward from the pool of water at their feeta pool which doubtless led into the big ocean that fed it. Above the reach of the waves of the pool were more rocks, and still more and more, into the dim windings and recesses of which the glowing light from the water di

41、d not penetrate. The place looked grim and lonely, but Trot was thankful that she was still alive and had suffered no severe injury during her trying adventure under water. At her side Capn Bill was sputtering and coughing, trying to get rid of the water he had swallowed. Both of them were soaked th

42、rough, yet the cavern was warm and comfortable and a wetting did not dismay the little girl in the least. She crawled up the slant of sand and gathered in her hand a bunch of dried seaweed, with which she mopped the face of Capn Bill and cleared the water from his eyes and ears. Presently the old ma

43、n sat up and stared at her intently. Then he nodded his bald head three times and said in a gurgling voice: Mighty good, Trot; mighty good! We didnt reach Davy Joness locker that time, did we? Though why we didnt, an why were here, is moren I kin make out. Take it easy, Capn, she replied. Were safe

44、enough, I guess, at least for the time being. He squeezed the water out of the bottoms of his loose trousers and felt of his wooden leg and arms and head, and finding he had brought all of his person with him he gathered courage to examine closely their surroundings. Where dye think we are, Trot? he

45、 presently asked. Cant say, Capn. Praps in one of our caves. He shook his head. No, said he, I dont think that, at all. The distance we came up didnt seem half as far as the distance we went down; an youll notice there aint any outside entrance to this cavern whatever. Its a reglar dome over this po

46、ol o water, and unless theres some passage at the back, up yonder, were fast prisners. Trot looked thoughtfully over her shoulder. When were rested, she said, we will crawl up there and see if theres a way to get out. Capn Bill reached in the pocket of his oilskin coat and took out his pipe. It was

47、still dry, for he kept it in an oilskin pouch with his tobacco. His matches were in a tight tin box, so in a few moments the old sailor was smoking contentedly. Trot knew it helped him to think when he was in any difficulty. Also, the pipe did much to restore the old sailors composure, after his lon

48、g ducking and his terrible frighta fright that was more on Trots account than his own. The sand was dry where they sat, and soaked up the water that dripped from their clothing. When Trot had squeezed the wet out of her hair she began to feel much like her old self again. By and by they got upon their feet and crept up the incline to the scattered boulders above. Some of these were of huge size, but by passing between so