Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
11. They Meet the Wooden Gargoyles
"
Noonerepliedtothis,becausetheyfoundtheyneededalltheirbreathfortheclimb.ThestairshadbecomenarrowerandZebandtheWizardoftenhadtohelpJimpullthebuggyfromonesteptoanother,orkeepitfromjammingagainsttherockywalls.
Atlast,however,adimlightappearedaheadofthem,whichgrewclearerandstrongerastheyadvanced.
"Thankgoodnesswe’renearlythere!"pantedthelittleWizard.
Jim,whowasinadvance,sawthelaststairbeforehimandstuckhisheadabovetherockysidesofthestairway.Thenhehalted,duckeddownandbegantobackup,sothathenearlyfellwiththebuggyontotheothers.
"Let’sgodownagain!"hesaid,inhishoarsevoice.
"Nonsense!"snappedthetiredWizard."What’sthematterwithyou,oldman?"
"Everything,"grumbledthehorse."I’vetakenalookatthisplace,andit’snofitcountryforrealcreaturestogoto.Everything’sdead,upthere—nofleshorbloodorgrowingthinganywhere."
"Nevermind;wecan’tturnback,"saidDorothy;"andwedon’tintendtostaythere,anyhow."
"It’sdangerous,"growledJim,inastubborntone.
"Seehere,mygoodsteed,"brokeintheWizard,"littleDorothyandIhavebeeninmanyqueercountriesinourtravels,andalwaysescapedwithoutharm.We’veevenbeentothemarvelousLandofOz—haven’twe,Dorothy?—sowedon’tmuchcarewhattheCountryoftheGargoylesislike.Goahead,Jim,andwhateverhappenswe’llmakethebestofit."
"Allright,"answeredthehorse;"thisisyourexcursion,andnotmine;soifyougetintotroubledon’tblameme.
