Изумрудный город страны Оз

           WhenGuphstumbledovertherocksinapproachingthebridgethecreatureopeneditseyes,fromwhichtinyflamesshotinalldirections,andafterlookingattheintruderverywickedlythescarletalligatorcloseditseyelidsagainandlaystill.

           Guphsawtherewasnoroomforhimtopassthealligatoronthenarrowbridge,sohecalledouttoit:

           "Goodmorning,friend.Idon’twishtohurryyou,butpleasetellmeifyouarecomingdown,orgoingup?"

           "Neither,"snappedthealligator,clickingitscrueljawstogether.

           TheGeneralhesitated.

           "Areyoulikelytostaytherelong?"heasked.

           "Afewhundredyearsorso,"saidthealligator.

           Guphsoftlyrubbedtheendofhisnoseandtriedtothinkwhattodo.

           "DoyouknowwhethertheFirstandForemostPhanfasmofPhantasticoisathomeornot?"hepresentlyinquired.

           "Iexpectheis,seeingheisalwaysathome,"repliedthealligator.

           "Ah;whoisthatcomingdownthemountain?"askedtheNome,gazingupward.

           Thealligatorturnedtolookoveritsshoulder,andatonceGuphrantothebridgeandleapedoverthesentinel’sbackbeforeitcouldturnbackagain.ThescarletmonstermadeasnapattheNome’sleftfoot,butmisseditbyfullyaninch.

           "Ahha!"laughedtheGeneral,whowasnowonthemountainpath."Ifooledyouthattime."

           "Soyoudid;andperhapsyoufooledyourself,"retortedthealligator."Goupthemountain,ifyoudare,andfindoutwhattheFirstandForemostwilldotoyou!"

           "Iwill,"declaredGuph,boldly;andonhewentupthepath.

           Atfirstthescenewaswildenough,butgraduallyitgrewmoreandmoreawfulinappearance.