Озма з країни Оз
3. Letters in the Sand
"Theycan’tfollowusamongtheserocks,sowe’resafeenoughnow."
Dorothystoppedatonceandsatdownuponabroadboulder,forshewasalloutofbreath.
TherestoftheWheelershadnowreachedthefootofthehill,butitwasevidentthattheirwheelswouldnotrollupontheroughandjaggedrocks,andthereforetheywerehelplesstofollowDorothyandthehentowheretheyhadtakenrefuge.Buttheycircledallaroundthelittlehill,sothechildandBillinawerefastprisonersandcouldnotcomedownwithoutbeingcaptured.
ThenthecreaturesshooktheirfrontwheelsatDorothyinathreateningmanner,anditseemedtheywereabletospeakaswellastomaketheirdreadfuloutcries,forseveralofthemshouted:
"We’llgetyouintime,neverfear!Andwhenwedogetyou,we’lltearyouintolittlebits!"
"Whyareyousocrueltome?"askedDorothy."I’mastrangerinyourcountry,andhavedoneyounoharm."
"Noharm!"criedonewhoseemedtobetheirleader."Didyounotpickourlunch-boxesanddinner-pails?Haveyounotastolendinner-pailstillinyourhand?"
"Ionlypickedoneofeach,"sheanswered."Iwashungry,andIdidn’tknowthetreeswereyours."
"Thatisnoexcuse,"retortedtheleader,whowasclothedinamostgorgeoussuit."Itisthelawherethatwhoeverpicksadinner-pailwithoutourpermissionmustdieimmediately."
"Don’tyoubelievehim,"saidBillina."I’msurethetreesdonotbelongtotheseawfulcreatures.Theyarefitforanymischief,andit’smyopiniontheywouldtrytokillusjustthesameifyouhadn’tpickedadinner-pail