Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз

18. The Trial of Eureka, the Kitten

           HehadnodoubtEurekahadeatenhispiglet,butherealizedthatakittencannotbedependeduponatalltimestoactproperly,sinceitsnatureistodestroysmallanimalsandevenbirdsforfood,andthetamecatthatwekeepinourhousestodayisdescendedfromthewildcatofthejungle—averyferociouscreature,indeed.TheWizardknewthatifDorothy’spetwasfoundguiltyandcondemnedtodeaththelittlegirlwouldbemadeveryunhappy;so,althoughhegrievedoverthepiglet’ssadfateasmuchasanyofthem,heresolvedtosaveEureka’slife.

           SendingfortheTinWoodmantheWizardtookhimintoacornerandwhispered:

           "Myfriend,itisyourdutytodefendthewhitekittenandtrytosaveher,butIfearyouwillfailbecauseEurekahaslongwishedtoeatapiglet,tomycertainknowledge,andmyopinionisthatshehasbeenunabletoresistthetemptation.Yetherdisgraceanddeathwouldnotbringbackthepiglet,butonlyservetomakeDorothyunhappy.SoIintendtoprovethekitten’sinnocencebyatrick."

           Hedrewfromhisinsidepocketoneoftheeighttinypigletsthatwereremainingandcontinued:

           "Thiscreatureyoumusthideinsomesafeplace,andifthejurydecidesthatEurekaisguiltyyoumaythenproducethispigletandclaimitistheonethatwaslost.Allthepigletsareexactlyalike,sonoonecandisputeyourword.ThisdeceptionwillsaveEureka’slife,andthenwemayallbehappyagain."

           "Idonotliketodeceivemyfriends,"repliedtheTinWoodman;"still,mykindhearturgesmetosaveEureka’slife,andIcanusuallytrustmyhearttodotherightthing

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