Волшебство страны Оз

           SoIdon’tcareaquackwhetherYOUlikeitornot."

           "Oh,butIdo!"exclaimedDorothy."It’slovelyontheoutside,but—"Thenshestoppedspeaking,fortheLonesomeDuckhadenteredhispalacethroughthelittledoorwithoutevensayinggood-bye.SoDorothyreturnedtoherfriendsandtheyresumedtheirjourney.

           "Doyouthink,Wizard,theDuckwasrightinsayingnomagiccanrescueTrotandCap’nBill?"askedthegirlinaworriedtoneofvoice.

           "No,Idon’tthinktheLonesomeDuckwasrightinsayingthat,"answeredtheWizard,gravely,"butitispossiblethattheirenchantmentwillbehardertoovercomethanIexpected.I’lldomybest,ofcourse,andnoonecandomorethanhisbest."

           Thatdidn’tentirelyrelieveDorothy’sanxiety,butshesaidnothingmore,andsoon,onturningthebendintheriver,theycameinsightoftheMagicIsle.

           "Theretheyare!"exclaimedDorothyeagerly.

           "Yes,Iseethem,"repliedtheWizard,nodding."Theyaresittingontwobigtoadstools."

           "That’squeer,"remarkedtheGlassCat."TherewerenotoadstoolstherewhenIleftthem."

           "Whatalovelyflower!"criedDorothyinrapture,ashergazefellontheMagicPlant.

           "NevermindtheFlower,justnow,"advisedtheWizard."Themostimportantthingistorescueourfriends."

           BythistimetheyhadarrivedataplacejustoppositetheMagicIsle,andnowbothTrotandCap’nBillsawthearrivaloftheirfriendsandcalledtothemforhelp.

           "Howareyou?"shoutedtheWizard,puttinghishandstohismouthsotheycouldhearhimbetteracrossthewater.

           "We’reinhardluck,"shoutedCap’nBill,inreply