Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
16. Jim, the Cab-Horse
Haveyoubreakfasted,SirHorse?"
"Notyet,"repliedJim."Buthereisplentyofexcellentclover,soifyouwillexcusemeIwilleatnow."
"He’savegetarian,"remarkedtheTiger,asthehorsebegantomunchtheclover."IfIcouldeatgrassIwouldnotneedaconscience,fornothingcouldthentemptmetodevourbabiesandlambs."
JustthenDorothy,whohadrisenearlyandheardthevoicesoftheanimals,ranouttogreetheroldfriends.ShehuggedboththeLionandtheTigerwitheagerdelight,butseemedtolovetheKingofBeastsalittlebetterthanshedidhishungryfriend,havingknownhimlonger.
BythistimetheyhadindulgedinagoodtalkandDorothyhadtoldthemallabouttheawfulearthquakeandherrecentadventures,thebreakfastbellrangfromthepalaceandthelittlegirlwentinsidetojoinherhumancomrades.Assheenteredthegreathallavoicecalledout,inaratherharshtone:
"What!areYOUhereagain?"
"Yes,Iam,"sheanswered,lookingallaroundtoseewherethevoicecamefrom.
"Whatbroughtyouback?"wasthenextquestion,andDorothy’seyerestedonanantleredheadhangingonthewalljustoverthefireplace,andcaughtitslipsintheactofmoving.
"Goodgracious!"sheexclaimed."Ithoughtyouwerestuffed."
"SoIam,"repliedthehead."ButonceonatimeIwaspartoftheGump,whichOzmasprinkledwiththePowderofLife.IwasthenforatimetheHeadofthefinestFlyingMachinethatwaseverknowntoexist,andwedidmanywonderfulthings