Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
17. The Nine Tiny Piglets
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"Bah!"criedJim,lookingwithgreatdisdainattheother;"doyouimagineforaninstantthatsuchashabbyimitationofahorseasyouarecanrunasfastasI?"
"Idon’tknow,I’msure,"repliedtheSawhorse.
"Thatiswhatwearetryingtofindout,"remarkedtheScarecrow."Theobjectofaraceistoseewhocanwinit—oratleastthatiswhatmyexcellentbrainsthink."
"Once,whenIwasyoung,"saidJim,"Iwasaracehorse,anddefeatedallwhodaredrunagainstme.IwasborninKentucky,youknow,whereallthebestandmostaristocratichorsescomefrom."
"Butyou’reold,now,Jim,"suggestedZeb.
"Old!Why,Ifeellikeacolttoday,"repliedJim."Ionlywishtherewasarealhorsehereformetoracewith.I’dshowthepeopleafinesight,Icantellyou."
"ThenwhynotracewiththeSawhorse?"enquiredtheScarecrow.
"He’safraid,"saidJim.
"Oh,no,"answeredtheSawhorse."Imerelysaiditwasn’tfair.ButifmyfriendtheRealHorseiswillingtoundertaketheraceIamquiteready."
SotheyunharnessedJimandtookthesaddleofftheSawhorse,andthetwoqueerlymatchedanimalswerestoodsidebysideforthestart.
"WhenIsay’Go!’"Zebcalledtothem,"youmustdigoutandraceuntilyoureachthosethreetreesyouseeoveryonder.Thencircle’roundthemandcomebackagain.ThefirstonethatpassestheplacewherethePrincesssitsshallbenamedthewinner.Areyouready?"
"IsupposeIoughttogivethewoodendummyagoodstartofme,"growledJim.
"Nevermindthat,"saidtheSawhorse."I’lldothebestIcan.