Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз

           "Themotherdragonmaycomedownandcatchushere."

           "Itispossible,"agreedtheWizard,"ifthisprovestobethepathsheusuallytakes.ButIhavebeenexaminingthistunnel,andIdonotseeanysignsofsolargeabeasthavingpassedthroughit."

           "Thenwe’reallright,"saidthegirl,"forifthedragonwenttheotherwayshecan’tposs’blygettousnow."

           "Ofcoursenot,mydear.Butthereisanotherthingtoconsider.Themotherdragonprobablyknowstheroadtotheearth’ssurface,andifshewenttheotherwaythenwehavecomethewrongway,"saidtheWizard,thoughtfully.

           "Dearme!"criedDorothy."Thatwouldbeunlucky,wouldn’tit?"

           "Very.Unlessthispassagealsoleadstothetopoftheearth,"saidZeb."Formypart,ifwemanagetogetoutofhereI’llbegladitisn’tthewaythedragongoes."

           "SowillI,"returnedDorothy."It’senoughtohaveyourpedigreeflunginyourfacebythosesaucydragonettes.Nooneknowswhatthemothermightdo."

           Theynowmovedonagain,creepingslowlyupanothersteepincline.Thelanternswerebeginningtogrowdim,andtheWizardpouredtheremainingoilfromoneintotheother,sothattheonelightwouldlastlonger.Buttheirjourneywasalmostover,forinashorttimetheyreachedasmallcavefromwhichtherewasnofurtheroutlet.

           Theydidnotrealizetheirillfortuneatfirst,fortheirheartsweregladdenedbythesightofarayofsunshinecomingthroughasmallcrackintheroofofthecave,faroverhead.