Волшебство страны Оз

           Thenshestoodbesideitmotionlessandfilledwithwonder.Cap’nBilljoinedher,comingmoreleisurely,andhe,too,stoodinsilentadmirationforatime.

           "Ozmawilllikethis,"remarkedtheGlassCat,sittingdowntowatchtheshiftinghuesoftheflowers."I’msureshewon’thaveasfineabirthdaypresentfromanyoneelse."

           "Doyou’sposeit’sveryheavy,Cap’n?Andcanwegetithomewithoutbreakingit?"askedTrotanxiously.

           "Well,I’veliftedmanybiggerthingsthanthat,"hereplied;"butlet’sseewhatitweighs."

           Hetriedtotakeastepforward,butcouldnotlifthismeatfootfromtheground.Hiswoodenlegseemedfreeenough,buttheotherwouldnotbudge.

           "Iseemstuck,Trot,"hesaid,withaperplexedlookathisfoot."Itain’tmud,an’itain’tglue,butsomethin’sholdin’medown."

           Thegirlattemptedtoliftherownfeet,togonearertoherfriend,butthegroundheldthemasfastasitheldCap’nBill’sfoot.Shetriedtoslidethem,ortotwistthemaround,butitwasnouse;shecouldnotmoveeitherfootahair’sbreadth.

           "Thisisfunny!"sheexclaimed."Whatdoyou’sposehashappenedtous,Cap’nBill?"

           "I’mtryin’tomakeout,"heanswered."Takeoffyourshoes,Trot.P’rapsit’stheleathersolesthat’sstucktotheground."

           Sheleaneddownandunlacedhershoes,butfoundshecouldnotpullherfeetoutofthem.TheGlassCat,whichwaswalkingaroundasnaturallyasever,nowsaid:

           "Yourfoothasgotrootstoit,Cap’n,andIcanseetherootsgoingintotheground,wheretheyspreadoutinalldirections.It’sthesamewaywithTrot.