Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
19. The Wizard Performs Another Trick
"Tellthemitwouldbefoolishformetoeatthepiglet,becauseIhadsenseenoughtoknowitwouldraisearowifIdid.Butdon’ttrytomakeoutI’mtooinnocenttoeatafatpigletifIcoulddoitandnotbefoundout.Iimagineitwouldtastemightygood."
"Perhapsitwould,tothosewhoeat,"remarkedtheTinWoodman."Imyself,notbeingbuilttoeat,havenopersonalexperienceinsuchmatters.ButIrememberthatourgreatpoetoncesaid:
’Toeatissweet
Whenhunger’sseat
Demandsatreat
Ofsavorymeat.’"
"Takethisintoconsideration,friendsoftheJury,andyouwillreadilydecidethatthekitteniswrongfullyaccusedandshouldbesetatliberty."
WhentheTinWoodmansatdownnooneapplaudedhim,forhisargumentshadnotbeenveryconvincingandfewbelievedthathehadprovedEureka’sinnocence.AsfortheJury,thememberswhisperedtoeachotherforafewminutesandthentheyappointedtheHungryTigertheirspokesman.Thehugebeastslowlyaroseandsaid:
"Kittenshavenoconsciences,sotheyeatwhateverpleasesthem.ThejurybelievesthewhitekittenknownasEurekaisguiltyofhavingeatenthepigletownedbyPrincessOzma,andrecommendsthatshebeputtodeathinpunishmentofthecrime."
Thejudgmentofthejurywasreceivedwithgreatapplause,althoughDorothywassobbingmiserablyatthefateofherpet.ThePrincesswasjustabouttoorderEureka’sheadchoppedoffwiththeTinWoodman’saxewhenthatbrilliantpersonageoncemorearoseandaddressedher.
"YourHighness,"saidhe,"seehoweasyitisforajurytobemistaken.
