Волшебник страны Оз
The Dainty China Country
"No;thereweresome,butthemonsterhaseatenthemall. And,besides,theywerenoneofthemnearlysolargeandbraveasyou."
"IfIputanendtoyourenemy,willyoubowdowntomeandobeymeasKingoftheForest?"inquiredtheLion.
"Wewilldothatgladly,"returnedthetiger;andalltheotherbeastsroaredwithamightyroar: "Wewill!"
"Whereisthisgreatspiderofyoursnow?"askedtheLion.
"Yonder,amongtheoaktrees,"saidthetiger,pointingwithhisforefoot.
"Takegoodcareofthesefriendsofmine,"saidtheLion,"andIwillgoatoncetofightthemonster."
Hebadehiscomradesgood-byeandmarchedproudlyawaytodobattlewiththeenemy.
ThegreatspiderwaslyingasleepwhentheLionfoundhim,anditlookedsouglythatitsfoeturneduphisnoseindisgust. Itslegswerequiteaslongasthetigerhadsaid,anditsbodycoveredwithcoarseblackhair. Ithadagreatmouth,witharowofsharpteethafootlong; butitsheadwasjoinedtothepudgybodybyaneckasslenderasawasp’swaist. ThisgavetheLionahintofthebestwaytoattackthecreature,andasheknewitwaseasiertofightitasleepthanawake,hegaveagreatspringandlandeddirectlyuponthemonster’sback. Then,withoneblowofhisheavypaw,allarmedwithsharpclaws,heknockedthespider’sheadfromitsbody. Jumpingdown,hewatchedituntilthelonglegsstoppedwiggling,whenheknewitwasquitedead.
