Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
9. They Fight the Invisible Bears
Fruitsandflowersgrewplentifullyallabout,andthereweremanyofthedeliciousdamasthatthepeopleofVoeweresofondof.
AboutnoontheystoppedtoallowJimtorestintheshadeofaprettyorchard,andwhiletheypluckedandatesomeofthecherriesandplumsthatgrewthereasoftvoicesuddenlysaidtothem:
"Therearebearsnearby.Becareful."
TheWizardgotouthisswordatonce,andZebgrabbedthehorse-whip.Dorothyclimbedintothebuggy,althoughJimhadbeenunharnessedfromitandwasgrazingsomedistanceaway.
Theowneroftheunseenvoicelaughedlightlyandsaid:
"Youcannotescapethebearsthatway."
"HowCANwe’scape?"askedDorothy,nervously,foranunseendangerisalwaysthehardesttoface.
"Youmusttaketotheriver,"wasthereply."Thebearswillnotventureuponthewater."
"Butwewouldbedrowned!"exclaimedthegirl.
"Oh,thereisnoneedofthat,"saidthevoice,whichfromitsgentletonesseemedtobelongtoayounggirl."YouarestrangersintheValleyofVoe,anddonotseemtoknowourways;soIwilltrytosaveyou."
Thenextmomentabroad-leavedplantwasjerkedfromthegroundwhereitgrewandheldsuspendedintheairbeforetheWizard.
"Sir,"saidthevoice,"youmustrubtheseleavesuponthesolesofallyourfeet,andthenyouwillbeabletowalkuponthewaterwithoutsinkingbelowthesurface.Itisasecretthebearsdonotknow,andwepeopleofVoeusuallywalkuponthewaterwhenwetravel,andsoescapeourenemies."
"Thankyou!"criedtheWizard,joyfully,andatoncerubbedaleafuponthesolesofDorothy’sshoesandthenuponhisown.
