Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз
16. Jim, the Cab-Horse
Jim’seyesstuckoutasmuchasthoseoftheSawhorse,andhestaredatthecreaturewithhisearserectandhislongheaddrawnbackuntilitrestedagainsthisarchedneck.
Inthiscomicalpositionthetwohorsescircledslowlyaroundeachotherforawhile,eachbeingunabletorealizewhatthesingularthingmightbewhichitnowbeheldforthefirsttime.ThenJimexclaimed:
"Forgoodnesssake,whatsortofabeingareyou?"
"I’maSawhorse,"repliedtheother.
"Oh;IbelieveI’veheardofyou,"saidthecab-horse;"butyouareunlikeanythingthatIexpectedtosee."
"Idonotdoubtit,"theSawhorseobserved,withatoneofpride."Iamconsideredquiteunusual."
"Youare,indeed.Butaricketywoodenthinglikeyouhasnorighttobealive."
"Icouldn’thelpit,"returnedtheother,rathercrestfallen."Ozmasprinkledmewithamagicpowder,andIjusthadtolive.IknowI’mnotmuchaccount;butI’mtheonlyhorseinalltheLandofOz,sotheytreatmewithgreatrespect."
"You,ahorse!"
"Oh,notarealone,ofcourse.Therearenorealhorseshereatall.ButI’masplendidimitationofone."
Jimgaveanindignantneigh.
"Lookatme!"hecried."Beholdarealhorse!"
Thewoodenanimalgaveastart,andthenexaminedtheotherintently.
"IsitpossiblethatyouareaRealHorse?"hemurmured.
"Notonlypossible,buttrue,"repliedJim,whowasgratifiedbytheimpressionhehadcreated."Itisprovedbymyfinepoints.Forexample,lookatthelonghairsonmytail,withwhichIcanwhiskawaytheflies."
"Thefliesnevertroubleme,"saidtheSaw-Horse.