Волшебство страны Оз

           Then,suddenly,theforestwasopenagain,andthelittleaxe,havingobeyeditsorders,laystillupontheground.

           TheWizardpickedupthemagicaxeandaftercarefullywipingitwithhissilkhandkerchiefputitawayinhisblackbag.Thentheywentonandinashorttimereachedtheriver.

           "Letmesee,"saidtheGlassCat,lookingupanddownthestream,"IthinkwearebelowtheMagicIsle;sowemustgoupthestreamuntilwecometoit."

           Soupthestreamtheytraveled,walkingcomfortablyontheriverbank,andafterawhilethewaterbroadenedandasharpbendappearedintheriver,hidingallbelowfromtheirview.Theywalkedbrisklyalong,however,andhadnearlyreachedthebendwhenavoicecriedwarningly:"Lookout!"

           ThetravelershaltedabruptlyandtheWizardsaid:"Lookoutforwhat?"

           "YoualmoststeppedonmyDiamondPalace,"repliedthevoice,andaduckwithgorgeouslycoloredfeathersappearedbeforethem."Beastsandmenareterriblyclumsy,"continuedtheDuckinanirritatedtone,"andyou’venobusinessonthissideoftheRiver,anyway.Whatareyoudoinghere?"

           "We’vecometorescuesomefriendsofourswhoarestuckfastontheMagicIsleinthisriver,"explainedDorothy.

           "Iknow’em,"saidtheDuck."I’vebeentosee’em,andthey’restuckfast,allright.Youmayaswellgobackhome,fornopowercansavethem."

           "ThisistheWonderfulWizardofOz,"saidDorothy,pointingtothelittleman.

           "Well,I’mtheLonesomeDuck,"wasthereply,asthefowlstruttedupanddowntoshowitsfeatherstobestadvantage.