Смарагдове місто країни Оз
21. How the King Changed His Mind
"
Dorothyhadseenmanyjugglersinherlifetime,butneveranysointerestingasthese.Thereweresixofthem,dressedinblacksatinembroideredwithqueersymbolsinsilver--acostumewhichcontrastedstronglywiththeirsnow-whitefur.
First,theypushedinabigredballandthreeoftherabbitjugglersstooduponitstopandmadeitroll.Thentwoofthemcaughtupathirdandtossedhimintotheair,allvanishing,untilonlythetwowereleft.Thenoneofthesetossedtheotherupwardandremainedaloneofallhisfellows.Thislastjugglernowtouchedtheredball,whichfellapart,beinghollow,andthefiverabbitswhohaddisappearedintheairscrambledoutofthehollowball.
Nexttheyallclungtogetherandrolledswiftlyuponthefloor.Whentheycametoastoponlyonefatrabbitjugglerwasseen,theothersseemingtobeinsidehim.Thisoneleapedlightlyintotheairandwhenhecamedownheexplodedandseparatedintotheoriginalsix.Thenfourofthemrolledthemselvesintoroundballsandtheothertwotossedthemaroundandplayedballwiththem.
Thesewerebutafewofthetrickstherabbitjugglersperformed,andtheyweresoskillfulthatallthenobilityandeventheKingapplaudedasloudlyasdidDorothy.
"Isupposetherearenorabbitjugglersinalltheworldtocomparewiththese,"remarkedtheKing."AndsinceImaynothavetheWhiskersFriskersormyBodyguard,youmightaskGlindatoletmetakeawayjusttwoorthreeofthesejugglers.Willyou?"
"I’llaskher,"repliedDorothy,doubtfully.
"Thankyou,"saidtheKing;"thankyouverymuch.
