Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
14. Ozma Uses the Magic Belt
"Themotherdragonmaycomedownandcatchushere."
"Itispossible,"agreedtheWizard,"ifthisprovestobethepathsheusuallytakes.ButIhavebeenexaminingthistunnel,andIdonotseeanysignsofsolargeabeasthavingpassedthroughit."
"Thenwe’reallright,"saidthegirl,"forifthedragonwenttheotherwayshecan’tposs’blygettousnow."
"Ofcoursenot,mydear.Butthereisanotherthingtoconsider.Themotherdragonprobablyknowstheroadtotheearth’ssurface,andifshewenttheotherwaythenwehavecomethewrongway,"saidtheWizard,thoughtfully.
"Dearme!"criedDorothy."Thatwouldbeunlucky,wouldn’tit?"
"Very.Unlessthispassagealsoleadstothetopoftheearth,"saidZeb."Formypart,ifwemanagetogetoutofhereI’llbegladitisn’tthewaythedragongoes."
"SowillI,"returnedDorothy."It’senoughtohaveyourpedigreeflunginyourfacebythosesaucydragonettes.Nooneknowswhatthemothermightdo."
Theynowmovedonagain,creepingslowlyupanothersteepincline.Thelanternswerebeginningtogrowdim,andtheWizardpouredtheremainingoilfromoneintotheother,sothattheonelightwouldlastlonger.Buttheirjourneywasalmostover,forinashorttimetheyreachedasmallcavefromwhichtherewasnofurtheroutlet.
Theydidnotrealizetheirillfortuneatfirst,fortheirheartsweregladdenedbythesightofarayofsunshinecomingthroughasmallcrackintheroofofthecave,faroverhead.