Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
9. They Fight the Invisible Bears
Thethirdtimethathethrustouttheweapontherewasaloudroarandafall,andsuddenlyathisfeetappearedtheformofagreatredbear,whichwasnearlyasbigasthehorseandmuchstrongerandfiercer.Thebeastwasquitedeadfromtheswordthrusts,andafteraglanceatitsterribleclawsandsharpteeththelittlemanturnedinapanicandrushedoutuponthewater,forothermenacinggrowlstoldhimmorebearswerenear.
Ontheriver,however,theadventurersseemedtobeperfectlysafe.Dorothyandthebuggyhadfloatedslowlydownstreamwiththecurrentofthewater,andtheothersmadehastetojoinher.TheWizardopenedhissatchelandgotoutsomesticking-plasterwithwhichhemendedthecutsJimhadreceivedfromtheclawsofthebears.
"Ithinkwe’dbettersticktotheriver,afterthis,"saidDorothy."Ifourunknownfriendhadn’twarnedus,andtolduswhattodo,wewouldallbedeadbythistime."
"Thatistrue,"agreedtheWizard,"andastheriverseemstobeflowinginthedirectionofthePyramidMountainitwillbetheeasiestwayforustotravel."
ZebhitchedJimtothebuggyagain,andthehorsetrottedalonganddrewthemrapidlyoverthesmoothwater.Thekittenwasatfirstdreadfullyafraidofgettingwet,butDorothyletherdownandsoonEurekawasfriskingalongbesidethebuggywithoutbeingscaredabit.Oncealittlefishswamtoonearthesurface,andthekittengrabbeditinhermouthandateitupasquickasawink;butDorothycautionedhertobecarefulwhatsheateinthisvalleyofenchantments,andnomorefisheswerecarelessenoughtoswimwithinreach.
