Смарагдове місто країни Оз

           Theystoppedshort,UncleHenrytremblingwithhorrorandAuntEmtooterrifiedtoscream.Nextmomentthepoorwomanclaspedherhusbandaroundtheneckandcried:

           "Saveme,Henry,saveme!"

           "Can’tevensavemyself,Em,"hereturned,inahuskyvoice,"fortheanimilelooksasifitcouldeatbothofusan’lickitschopsformore!IfIonlyhadagun--"

           "Haven’tyou,Henry?Haven’tyou?"sheaskedanxiously.

           "Narygun,Em.Solet’sdieasbravean’gracefulaswecan.Iknewourluckcouldn’tlast!"

           "Iwon’tdie.Iwon’tbeeatenbyalion!"wailedAuntEm,glaringuponthehugebeast.Thenathoughtstruckher,andshewhispered,"Henry,I’veheardassavagebeastsescanbeconqueredbythehumaneye.I’lleyethatlionouto’countenancean’saveourlives."

           "Tryit,Em,"hereturned,alsoinawhisper."LookathimasyoudoatmewhenI’mlatetodinner."

           AuntEmturnedupontheLionadeterminedcountenanceandawilddilatedeye.Sheglaredattheimmensebeaststeadily,andtheLion,whohadbeenquietlyblinkingatthem,begantoappearuneasyanddisturbed.

           "Isanythingthematter,ma’am?"heasked,inamildvoice.

           AtthisspeechfromtheterriblebeastAuntEmandUncleHenrybothwerestartled,andthenUncleHenryrememberedthatthismustbetheLiontheyhadseeninOzma’sThroneRoom.

           "Holdon,Em!"heexclaimed."Quittheeagleeyeconquestan’takecourage.IguessthisisthesameCowardlyLionDorothyhastoldusabout."

           "Oh,isit?"shecried,muchrelieved.