Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
9. They Fight the Invisible Bears
Thegirltookaleafandrubbedituponthekitten’spaws,andtherestoftheplantwashandedtoZeb,who,afterapplyingittohisownfeet,carefullyrubbedituponallfourofJim’shoofsandthenuponthetiresofthebuggy-wheels.Hehadnearlyfinishedthislasttaskwhenalowgrowlingwassuddenlyheardandthehorsebegantojumparoundandkickviciouslywithhisheels.
"Quick!Tothewateroryouarelost!"criedtheirunseenfriend,andwithouthesitationtheWizarddrewthebuggydownthebankandoutuponthebroadriver,forDorothywasstillseatedinitwithEurekainherarms.Theydidnotsinkatall,owingtothevirtuesofthestrangeplanttheyhadused,andwhenthebuggywasinthemiddleofthestreamtheWizardreturnedtothebanktoassistZebandJim.
Thehorsewasplungingmadlyabout,andtwoorthreedeepgashesappeareduponitsflanks,fromwhichthebloodflowedfreely.
"Runfortheriver!"shoutedtheWizard,andJimquicklyfreedhimselffromhisunseentormentersbyafewviciouskicksandthenobeyed.Assoonashetrottedoutuponthesurfaceoftheriverhefoundhimselfsafefrompursuit,andZebwasalreadyrunningacrossthewatertowardDorothy.
AsthelittleWizardturnedtofollowthemhefeltahotbreathagainsthischeekandheardalow,fiercegrowl.Atoncehebeganstabbingattheairwithhissword,andheknewthathehadstrucksomesubstancebecausewhenhedrewbackthebladeitwasdrippingwithblood.
