Озма з країни Оз
2. The Yellow Hen
WhatBillinasaidwastrueenough,anditalmosttookawayherappetiteforbreakfast.Asfortheyellowhen,shecontinuedtopeckawayatthesandbusily,andseemedquitecontentedwithherbill-of-fare.
Finally,downnearthewater’sedge,Billinastuckherbilldeepintothesand,andthendrewbackandshivered.
"Ow!"shecried."Istruckmetal,thattime,anditnearlybrokemybeak."
"Itprob’blywasarock,"saidDorothy,carelessly.
"Nonsense.Iknowarockfrommetal,Iguess,"saidthehen."There’sadifferentfeeltoit."
"Buttherecouldn’tbeanymetalonthiswild,desertedseashore,"persistedthegirl."Where’stheplace?I’lldigitup,andprovetoyouI’mright."
Billinashowedhertheplacewhereshehad"stubbedherbill,"assheexpressedit,andDorothydugawaythesanduntilshefeltsomethinghard.Then,thrustinginherhand,shepulledthethingout,anddiscoveredittobealargesizedgoldenkey--ratherold,butstillbrightandofperfectshape.
"WhatdidItellyou?"criedthehen,withacackleoftriumph."CanItellmetalwhenIbumpintoit,oristhethingarock?"
"It’smetal,sureenough,"answeredthechild,gazingthoughtfullyatthecuriousthingshehadfound."Ithinkitispuregold,anditmusthavelainhiddeninthesandforalongtime.Howdoyousupposeitcamethere,Billina?Andwhatdoyousupposethismysteriouskeyunlocks?"
"Ican’tsay,"repliedthehen."YououghttoknowmoreaboutlocksandkeysthanIdo."
Dorothyglancedaround