Волшебник страны Оз
The Winged Monkeys
"Iam—Icertainlyam,"answeredthelittlemansorrowfully; "butitwastheonlythingIcoulddo. Sitdown,please,thereareplentyofchairs;andIwilltellyoumystory."
Sotheysatdownandlistenedwhilehetoldthefollowingtale.
"IwasborninOmaha—"
"Why,thatisn’tveryfarfromKansas!"criedDorothy.
"No,butit’sfartherfromhere,"hesaid,shakinghisheadathersadly. "WhenIgrewupIbecameaventriloquist,andatthatIwasverywelltrainedbyagreatmaster. Icanimitateanykindofabirdorbeast." HerehemewedsolikeakittenthatTotoprickeduphisearsandlookedeverywheretoseewhereshewas. "Afteratime,"continuedOz,"Itiredofthat,andbecameaballoonist."
"Whatisthat?"askedDorothy.
"Amanwhogoesupinaballoononcircusday,soastodrawacrowdofpeopletogetherandgetthemtopaytoseethecircus,"heexplained.
"Oh,"shesaid,"Iknow."
"Well,onedayIwentupinaballoonandtheropesgottwisted,sothatIcouldn’tcomedownagain. Itwentwayupabovetheclouds,sofarthatacurrentofairstruckitandcarrieditmany,manymilesaway. ForadayandanightItraveledthroughtheair,andonthemorningoftheseconddayIawokeandfoundtheballoonfloatingoverastrangeandbeautifulcountry.
