Озма з країни Оз

           "

           "Do,"saidtheHungryTiger;"andifhemakeshashofyouI’llwillinglyeatyouforbreakfasttomorrowmorning."

           SoDorothysteppedforwardandsaid:

           "PLEASEMr.NomeKing,comehereandseeus."

           TheNomesstartedtolaughagain;butalowgrowlcamefromthemountain,andinaflashtheyhadallvanishedfromsightandweresilent.

           Thenadoorintherockopened,andavoicecried:

           "Enter!"

           "Isn’titatrick?"askedtheTinWoodman.

           "Nevermind,"repliedOzma."WecameheretorescuethepoorQueenofEvandhertenchildren,andwemustrunsomeriskstodoso."

           "TheNomeKingishon-estandgoodna-tured,"saidTiktok."Youcantrusthimtodowhatisright."

           SoOzmaledtheway,handinhandwithDorothy,andtheypassedthroughthearcheddoorwayofrockandenteredalongpassagewhichwaslightedbyjewelssetinthewallsandhavinglampsbehindthem.Therewasnoonetoescortthem,ortoshowthemtheway,butallthepartypressedthroughthepassageuntiltheycametoaround,domedcavernthatwasgrandlyfurnished.

           Inthecenterofthisroomwasathronecarvedoutofasolidboulderofrock,rudeandruggedinshapebutglitteringwithgreatrubiesanddiamondsandemeraldsoneverypartofitssurface.AnduponthethronesattheNomeKing.

           ThisimportantmonarchoftheUndergroundWorldwasalittlefatmanclothedingray-browngarmentsthatweretheexactcoloroftherockthroneinwhichhewasseated.Hisbushyhairandflowingbeardwerealsocoloredliketherocks,andsowashisface.