Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
1. The Earthquake
Therewasabreathofdangerintheveryair,andeveryfewmomentstheearthwouldshakeviolently.Jim’searswerestandingerectuponhisheadandeverymuscleofhisbigbodywastenseashetrottedtowardhome.Hewasnotgoingveryfast,butonhisflanksspecksoffoambegantoappearandattimeshewouldtremblelikealeaf.
Theskyhadgrowndarkeragainandthewindmadequeersobbingsoundsasitsweptoverthevalley.
Suddenlytherewasarending,tearingsound,andtheearthsplitintoanothergreatcrackjustbeneaththespotwherethehorsewasstanding.Withawildneighofterrortheanimalfellbodilyintothepit,drawingthebuggyanditsoccupantsafterhim.
Dorothygrabbedfastholdofthebuggytopandtheboydidthesame.Thesuddenrushintospaceconfusedthemsothattheycouldnotthink.
Blacknessengulfedthemoneveryside,andinbreathlesssilencetheywaitedforthefalltoendandcrushthemagainstjaggedrocksorfortheearthtocloseinonthemagainandburythemforeverinitsdreadfuldepths.
Thehorriblesensationoffalling,thedarknessandtheterrifyingnoises,provedmorethanDorothycouldendureandforafewmomentsthelittlegirllostconsciousness.Zeb,beingaboy,didnotfaint,buthewasbadlyfrightened,andclungtothebuggyseatwithatightgrip,expectingeverymomentwouldbehislast.