Озма з країни Оз
8. The Hungry Tiger
Foraninstanttheybothremainedmotionless,andthentheyellowhenshookherwingstosettlethefeathersandwalkedtowardthedoorwithastrutofprouddefianceandacluckofvictory,whilethespeckledroosterlimpedawaytothegroupofotherchickens,trailinghiscrumpledplumageinthedustashewent.
"Why,Billina!"criedDorothy,inashockedvoice;"haveyoubeenfighting?"
"IreallythinkIhave,"retortedBillina."DoyouthinkI’dletthatspeckledvillainofaroosterlorditoverME,andclaimtorunthischickenhouse,aslongasI’mabletopeckandscratch?NotifmynameisBill!"
"Itisn’tBill,it’sBillina;andyou’retalkingslang,whichisveryundig’n’fied,"saidDorothy,reprovingly."Comehere,Billina,andI’llletyouout;forOzmaofOzishere,andhassetusfree."
Sotheyellowhencametothedoor,whichDorothyunlatchedforhertopassthrough,andtheotherchickenssilentlywatchedthemfromtheircornerwithoutofferingtoapproachnearer.
Thegirlliftedherfriendinherarmsandexclaimed:
"Oh,Billina!howdreadfulyoulook.You’velostalotoffeathers,andoneofyoureyesisnearlypeckedout,andyourcombisbleeding!"
"That’snothing,"saidBillina."Justlookatthespeckledrooster!Didn’tIdohimupbrown?"
Dorothyshookherhead.
"Idon’t’proveofthis,atall,"shesaid,carryingBillinaawaytowardthepalace."Itisn’tagoodthingforyouto’sociatewiththosecommonchickens.Theywouldsoonspoilyourgoodmanners,andyouwouldn’tberespec’ableanymore."
"Ididn’tasktoassociatewiththem,"repliedBillina.