Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз

           "

           "Bah!"criedJim,lookingwithgreatdisdainattheother;"doyouimagineforaninstantthatsuchashabbyimitationofahorseasyouarecanrunasfastasI?"

           "Idon’tknow,I’msure,"repliedtheSawhorse.

           "Thatiswhatwearetryingtofindout,"remarkedtheScarecrow."Theobjectofaraceistoseewhocanwinit—oratleastthatiswhatmyexcellentbrainsthink."

           "Once,whenIwasyoung,"saidJim,"Iwasaracehorse,anddefeatedallwhodaredrunagainstme.IwasborninKentucky,youknow,whereallthebestandmostaristocratichorsescomefrom."

           "Butyou’reold,now,Jim,"suggestedZeb.

           "Old!Why,Ifeellikeacolttoday,"repliedJim."Ionlywishtherewasarealhorsehereformetoracewith.I’dshowthepeopleafinesight,Icantellyou."

           "ThenwhynotracewiththeSawhorse?"enquiredtheScarecrow.

           "He’safraid,"saidJim.

           "Oh,no,"answeredtheSawhorse."Imerelysaiditwasn’tfair.ButifmyfriendtheRealHorseiswillingtoundertaketheraceIamquiteready."

           SotheyunharnessedJimandtookthesaddleofftheSawhorse,andthetwoqueerlymatchedanimalswerestoodsidebysideforthestart.

           "WhenIsay’Go!’"Zebcalledtothem,"youmustdigoutandraceuntilyoureachthosethreetreesyouseeoveryonder.Thencircle’roundthemandcomebackagain.ThefirstonethatpassestheplacewherethePrincesssitsshallbenamedthewinner.Areyouready?"

           "IsupposeIoughttogivethewoodendummyagoodstartofme,"growledJim.

           "Nevermindthat,"saidtheSawhorse."I’lldothebestIcan.