Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз
1. The Earthquake
IworkaswellasIsleep,"headded,withalaugh.
"Whatisyourname?"saidDorothy,thinkingshelikedtheboy’smannerandthecheerytoneofhisvoice.
"Notaveryprettyone,"heanswered,asifalittleashamed."MywholenameisZebediah;butfolksjustcallme’Zeb.’You’vebeentoAustralia,haven’tyou?"
"Yes;withUncleHenry,"sheanswered."WegottoSanFranciscoaweekago,andUncleHenrywentrightontoHugson’sRanchforavisitwhileIstayedafewdaysinthecitywithsomefriendswehadmet."
"Howlongwillyoubewithus?"heasked.
"Onlyaday.TomorrowUncleHenryandImuststartbackforKansas.We’vebeenawayforalongtime,youknow,andsowe’reanxioustogethomeagain."
Theboyflickedthebig,boneyhorsewithhiswhipandlookedthoughtful.Thenhestartedtosaysomethingtohislittlecompanion,butbeforehecouldspeakthebuggybegantoswaydangerouslyfromsidetosideandtheearthseemedtoriseupbeforethem.Nextminutetherewasaroarandasharpcrash,andathersideDorothysawthegroundopeninawidecrackandthencometogetheragain.
"Goodness!"shecried,graspingtheironrailoftheseat."Whatwasthat?"
"Thatwasanawfulbigquake,"repliedZeb,withawhiteface."Italmostgotusthattime,Dorothy."
Thehorsehadstoppedshort,andstoodfirmasarock.Zebshookthereinsandurgedhimtogo,butJimwasstubborn.Thentheboycrackedhiswhipandtouchedtheanimal’sflankswithit,andafteralowmoanofprotestJimsteppedslowlyalongtheroad.
Neithertheboynorthegirlspokeagainforsomeminutes
