Чарівництво країни Оз

           "

           "Yourwoodenlegain’tsobad,Cap’n,"sheremarked,lookingatitcritically."Anyhow,itdon’ttakerootonaMagicIsland,likeourmeatlegsdo."

           "Iain’tcomplainin’,"saidCap’nBill."What’sthatswimmin’towardsus,Trot?"headded,lookingovertheMagicFlowerandacrossthewater.

           Thegirllooked,too,andthenshereplied.

           "It’sabirdofsomesort.It’slikeaduck,onlyIneversawaduckhavesomanycolors."

           ThebirdswamswiftlyandgracefullytowardtheMagicIsle,andasitdrewneareritsgorgeouslycoloredplumageastonishedthem.Thefeatherswereofmanyhuesofglisteninggreensandbluesandpurples,andithadayellowheadwitharedplume,andpink,whiteandvioletinitstail.WhenitreachedtheIsle,itcameashoreandapproachedthem,waddlingslowlyandturningitsheadfirsttoonesideandthentotheother,soastoseethegirlandthesailorbetter.

           "You’restrangers,"saidthebird,comingtoahaltnearthem,"andyou’vebeencaughtbytheMagicIsleandmadeprisoners."

           "Yes,"returnedTrot,withasigh;"we’rerooted.ButIhopewewon’tgrow."

           "You’llgrowsmall,"saidtheBird."You’llkeepgrowingsmallereveryday,untilbyeandbyethere’llbenothingleftofyou.That’stheusualway,onthisMagicIsle."

           "Howdoyouknowaboutit,andwhoareyou,anyhow?"askedCap’nBill.

           "I’mtheLonesomeDuck,"repliedthebird."Isupposeyou’veheardofme?"

           "No,"saidTrot,"Ican’tsayIhave.Whatmakesyoulonesome?"

           "Why,Ihaven’tanyfamilyoranyrelations,"returnedtheDuck.

           "Haven’tyouanyfriends?"

           "Notafriend.