Подорож до Країни Оз
1. The Way to Butterfield
Shetriedtocountthem,knowingthereoughttobefive,butwhenshehadcountedseventeenshegrewbewilderedandstopped,fortheroadswereasmanyasthespokesofawheelandranineverydirectionfromtheplacewheretheystood;soifshekeptoncountingshewaslikelytocountsomeoftheroadstwice.
"Dearme!"sheexclaimed."Thereusedtobeonlyfiveroads,highwayandall.Andnow—why,where’sthehighway,ShaggyMan?"
"Can’tsay,miss,"heresponded,sittingdownuponthegroundasiftiredwithstanding."Wasn’tithereaminuteago?"
"Ithoughtso,"sheanswered,greatlyperplexed."AndIsawthegopherholes,too,andthedeadstump;butthey’renotherenow.Theseroadsareallstrange—andwhatalotofthemthereare!Wheredoyousupposetheyallgoto?"
"Roads,"observedtheshaggyman,"don’tgoanywhere.Theystayinoneplace,sofolkscanwalkonthem."
Heputhishandinhisside-pocketanddrewoutanapple—quick,beforeTotocouldbitehimagain.Thelittledoggothisheadoutthistimeandsaid"Bow-wow!"soloudlythatitmadeDorothyjump.
"O,Toto!"shecried;"wheredidyoucomefrom?"
"Ibroughthimalong,"saidtheshaggyman.
"Whatfor?"sheasked.
"Toguardtheseapplesinmypocket,miss,sonoonewouldstealthem."
Withonehandtheshaggymanheldtheapple,whichhebeganeating,whilewiththeotherhandhepulledTotooutofhispocketanddroppedhimtotheground.OfcourseTotomadeforDorothyatonce,barkingjoyfullyathisreleasefromthedarkpocket.
