Волшебство страны Оз

           That’swhyyoucan’tmove.Therootsholdyoufast."

           Cap’nBillwasratherfatandcouldn’tseehisownfeetverywell,buthesquatteddownandexaminedTrot’sfeetanddecidedthattheGlassCatwasright.

           "Thisishardluck,"hedeclared,inavoicethatshowedhewasuneasyatthediscovery."We’repris’ners,Trot,onthisfunnyisland,an’I’dliketoknowhowwe’reevergoin’togetloose,so’swecangethomeagain."

           "NowIknowwhytheKalidahlaughedatus,"saidthegirl,"andwhyhesaidnoneofthebeastsevercametothisisland.Thehorridcreatureknewwe’dbecaught,andwouldn’twarnus."

           Inthemeantime,theKalidah,althoughpinnedfasttotheearthbyCap’nBill’sstake,wasfacingtheisland,andnowtheuglyexpressionwhichpassedoveritsfacewhenitdefiedandsneeredatCap’nBillandTrot,hadchangedtooneofamusementandcuriosity.WhenitsawtheadventurershadactuallyreachedtheislandandwerestandingbesidetheMagicFlower,itheavedabreathofsatisfaction—along,deepbreaththatswelleditsdeepchestuntilthebeastcouldfeelthestakethatheldhimmovealittle,asifwithdrawingitselffromtheground.

           "Ahha!"murmuredtheKalidah,"alittlemoreofthiswillsetmefreeandallowmetoescape!"

           Sohebeganbreathingashardashecould,puffingouthischestasmuchaspossiblewitheachindrawingbreath,andbydoingthishemanagedtoraisethestakewitheachpowerfulbreath,untilatlasttheKalidah—usingthemusclesofhisfourlegsaswellashisdeepbreaths—founditselffreeofthesandysoil.