Озма з країни Оз
10. The Giant with the Hammer
Themagiccarpetwoulddothemnogoodinthiscase,foritwasonlymeanttoprotectthemfromanydangersuponthegroundbeneaththeirfeet,andnotfromdangersthatappearedintheairabovethem.
"Wow!"saidtheCowardlyLion,withashudder."Itmakesmedreadfullynervoustoseethatbighammerpoundingsonearmyhead.Oneblowwouldcrushmeintoadoor-mat."
"Their-ongi-antisafinefel-low,"saidTiktok,"andworksasstead-i-lyasaclock.HewasmadefortheNomeKingbySmith&Tin-ker,whomademe,andhisdu-tyistokeepfolksfromfind-ingtheun-der-groundpal-ace.Ishenotagreatworkofart?"
"Canhethink,andspeak,asyoudo?"askedOzma,regardingthegiantwithwonderingeyes.
"No,"repliedthemachine;"heison-lymadetopoundtheroad,andhasnothink-ingorspeak-ingat-tach-ment.Buthepoundsve-rywell,Ithink."
"Toowell,"observedtheScarecrow."Heiskeepingusfromgoingfarther.Istherenowaytostophismachinery?"
"On-lytheNomeKing,whohasthekey,candothat,"answeredTiktok.
"Then,"saidDorothy,anxiously,"whatshallwedo?"
"Excusemeforafewminutes,"saidtheScarecrow,"andIwillthinkitover."
Heretired,then,toapositionintherear,whereheturnedhispaintedfacetotherocksandbegantothink.
Meantimethegiantcontinuedtoraisehisironmallethighintheairandtostrikethepathterrificblowsthatechoedthroughthemountainsliketheroarofacannon.
