Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз
11. They Meet the Wooden Gargoyles
"Theyarenobiggerthanmice,andI’msuremiceareproperformetoeat."
"Itisn’tthebigness,dear;itsthevariety,"repliedthegirl."TheseareMr.Wizard’spets,justasyouaremypet,anditwouldn’tbeanymoreproperforyoutoeatthemthanitwouldbeforJimtoeatyou."
"Andthat’sjustwhatIshalldoifyoudon’tletthoselittleballsofporkalone,"saidJim,glaringatthekittenwithhisround,bigeyes."IfyouinjureanyoneofthemI’llchewyouupinstantly."
Thekittenlookedatthehorsethoughtfully,asiftryingtodecidewhetherhemeantitornot.
"Inthatcase,"shesaid,"I’llleavethemalone.Youhaven’tmanyteethleft,Jim,butthefewyouhavearesharpenoughtomakemeshudder.Sothepigletswillbeperfectlysafe,hereafter,asfarasIamconcerned."
"Thatisright,Eureka,"remarkedtheWizard,earnestly."Letusallbeahappyfamilyandloveoneanother."
Eurekayawnedandstretchedherself.
"I’vealwayslovedthepiglets,"shesaid;"buttheydon’tloveme."
"Noonecanloveapersonhe’safraidof,"assertedDorothy."Ifyoubehave,anddon’tscarethelittlepigs,I’msurethey’llgrowveryfondofyou."
TheWizardnowputtheninetinyonesbackintohispocketandthejourneywasresumed.
"Wemustbeprettynearthetop,now,"saidtheboy,astheyclimbedwearilyupthedark,windingstairway.
"TheCountryoftheGurglescan’tbefarfromthetopoftheearth,"remarkedDorothy."Itisn’tverynicedownhere.I’dliketogethomeagain,I’msure.
