Озма з країни Оз

           Eachtimethemalletlifted,however,therewasamomentwhenthepathbeneaththemonsterwasfree,andperhapstheScarecrowhadnoticedthis,forwhenhecamebacktotheothershesaid:

           "Thematterisaverysimpleone,afterall.Wehavebuttorununderthehammer,oneatatime,whenitislifted,andpasstotheothersidebeforeitfallsagain."

           "Itwillrequirequickwork,ifweescapetheblow,"saidtheTinWoodman,withashakeofhishead."Butitreallyseemstheonlythingtobedone.Whowillmakethefirstattempt?"

           Theylookedatoneanotherhesitatinglyforamoment.ThentheCowardlyLion,whowastremblinglikealeafinthewind,saidtothem:

           "Isupposetheheadoftheprocessionmustgofirst--andthat’sme.ButI’mterriblyafraidofthebighammer!"

           "Whatwillbecomeofme?"askedOzma."Youmightrushunderthehammeryourself,butthechariotwouldsurelybecrushed."

           "Wemustleavethechariot,"saidtheScarecrow."ButyoutwogirlscanrideuponthebacksoftheLionandtheTiger."

           Sothiswasdecidedupon,andOzma,assoonastheLionwasunfastenedfromthechariot,atoncemountedthebeast’sbackandsaidshewasready.

           "Clingfasttohismane,"advisedDorothy."Iusedtoridehimmyself,andthat’sthewayIheldon."

           SoOzmaclungfasttothemane,andthelioncrouchedinthepathandeyedtheswingingmalletcarefullyuntilheknewjusttheinstantitwouldbegintoriseintheair.