Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
17. The Nine Tiny Piglets
YoumaybesurethefolksofOzdidtheirbestwithsuchadistinguishedcompanywatchingthem,andfinallyZebofferedtowrestlewithalittleMunchkinwhoseemedtobethechampion.InappearancehewastwiceasoldasZeb,forhehadlongpointedwhiskersandworeapeakedhatwithlittlebellsallaroundthebrimofit,whichtinkledgailyashemoved.ButalthoughtheMunchkinwashardlytallenoughtocometoZeb’sshoulderhewassostrongandcleverthathelaidtheboythreetimesonhisbackwithapparentease.
Zebwasgreatlyastonishedathisdefeat,andwhentheprettyPrincessjoinedherpeopleinlaughingathimheproposedaboxing-matchwiththeMunchkin,towhichthelittleOzitereadilyagreed.ButthefirsttimethatZebmanagedtogivehimasharpboxontheearstheMunchkinsatdownuponthegroundandcrieduntilthetearsrandownhiswhiskers,becausehehadbeenhurt.ThismadeZeblaugh,inturn,andtheboyfeltcomfortedtofindthatOzmalaughedasmerrilyatherweepingsubjectasshehadathim.
JustthentheScarecrowproposedaracebetweentheSawhorseandtheCab-horse;andalthoughalltheothersweredelightedatthesuggestiontheSawhorsedrewback,saying:
"Sucharacewouldnotbefair."
"Ofcoursenot,"addedJim,withatouchofscorn;"thoselittlewoodenlegsofyoursarenothalfaslongasmyown."
"Itisn’tthat,"saidtheSawhorse,modestly;"butInevertire,andyoudo.