Озма з країни Оз

           "YoupromisedmethatifIguessedcorrectlymyfriendsandImightdepartinsafety.Andyoualwayskeepyourpromises."

           "Isaidyoumightleavethepalaceinsafety,"retortedtheKing;"andsoyoumay,butyoucannotleavemydominions.Youaremyprisoners,andIwillhurlyouallintomyundergrounddungeons,wherethevolcanicfiresglowandthemoltenlavaflowsineverydirection,andtheairishotterthanblueblazes."

           "Thatwillbetheendofme,allright,"saidtheScarecrow,sorrowfully."Onesmallblaze,blueorgreen,isenoughtoreducemetoanash-heap."

           "Doyousurrender?"demandedtheKing.

           BillinawhisperedsomethingintheScarecrow’searthatmadehimsmileandputhishandsinhisjacketpockets.

           "No!"returnedOzma,boldlyansweringtheKing.Thenshesaidtoherarmy:

           "Forward,mybravesoldiers,andfightforyourRulerandyourselves,untodeath!"

           "Pardonme,MostRoyalOzma,"repliedoneofhergenerals;"butIfindthatIandmybrotherofficersallsufferfromheartdisease,andtheslightestexcitementmightkillus.Ifwefightwemaygetexcited.Woulditnotbewellforustoavoidthisgravedanger?"

           "Soldiersshouldnothaveheartdisease,"saidOzma.

           "Privatesoldiersarenot,Ibelieve,afflictedthatway,"declaredanothergeneral,twirlinghismoustachethoughtfully."IfyourRoyalHighnessdesires,wewillorderourprivatetoattackyonderwarriors."

           "Doso,"repliedOzma.

           "For-ward--march!"criedallthegenerals,withonevoice."For-ward--march!"yelledthecolonels."For-ward--march!"shoutedthemajors."For-ward--march!"commandedthecaptains.