Смарагдове місто країни Оз
15. How Dorothy Happened to Get Lost
"YoupromisednottopinchifIwouldcarryyouhere!"
"Andyoupromisedtotreatmerespectfully,"saidthecrab,lettinggotheear.
"Well,haven’tI?"demandedthezebra.
"No;youcalledmealobster,"saidthecrab.
"Ladiesandgentlemen,"continuedthezebra,"pleasepardonmypoorfriend,becauseheisignorantandstupid,anddoesnotunderstand.Alsothepinchofhisclawisveryannoying.Sopraytellhimthattheworldcontainsmorelandthanwater,andwhenhehasheardyourjudgmentIwillcarryhimbackanddumphimintohispool,whereIhopehewillbemoremodestinthefuture."
"Butwecannottellhimthat,"saidDorothy,gravely,"becauseitwouldnotbetrue."
"What!"exclaimedthezebra,inastonishment;"doIhearyouaright?"
"Thesoft-shellcrabiscorrect,"declaredtheWizard."Thereisconsiderablymorewaterthanthereislandintheworld."
"Impossible!"protestedthezebra."Why,Icanrunfordaysupontheland,andfindbutlittlewater."
"Didyoueverseeanocean?"askedDorothy.
"Never,"admittedthezebra."ThereisnosuchthingasanoceanintheLandofOz."
"Well,thereareseveraloceansintheworld,"saidDorothy,"andpeoplesailinshipsupontheseoceansforweeksandweeks,andneverseeabitoflandatall.Andthejoggerfyswilltellyouthatalltheoceansputtogetherarebiggerthanallthelandputtogether."
AtthisthecrabbeganlaughinginqueerchucklesthatremindedDorothyofthewayBillinasometimescackled.
"NOWwillyougiveup,Mr.Zebra?"itcried,jeeringly;"nowwillyougiveup?"
Thezebraseemedmuchhumbled.