Читать книгу Удивительный волшебник из Страны Оз / The Wonderful Wizard of Oz - Лаймен Фрэнк Баум, Lyman Frank Baum, Edith Van Dyne - Страница 7

All this time Dorothy and her companions had been walking through the thick woods. The road was still paved with yellow brick, but it was covered by dried branches and dead leaves from the trees.

“How long will it be,” the child asked of the Tin Woodman, “before we are out of the forest?”

“I cannot tell,” was the answer, “for I have never been to the Emerald City. But my father went there once, when I was a boy, and he said it was a long journey through a dangerous country. But I am not afraid so long as I have my oil-can. Nothing can hurt the Scarecrow, and you bear the mark of the Good Witch’s kiss, and that will protect you from harm.”

“But Toto!” said the girl anxiously. “What will protect him?”

“We must protect him ourselves,” replied the Tin Woodman.

Just as he spoke there came a terrible roar from the forest, and the next moment a great Lion jumped into the road. With one blow of his paw he sent the Scarecrow spinning over and over to the edge of the road, and then he struck at the Tin Woodman with his sharp claws. He didn’t break the tin, although the Woodman fell over in the road and lay still.

Little Toto, now that he had an enemy to face, ran barking toward the Lion. The beast had opened his mouth to bite the dog, when Dorothy rushed forward, slapped the Lion upon his nose as hard as she could, and cried out:

“Don’t you dare to bite Toto! You ought to be ashamed of yourself, a big beast like you, to bite a poor little dog!”

“I didn’t bite him,” said the Lion, as he rubbed his nose with his paw where Dorothy had hit it.

“No, but you tried to,” she said. “You are a big coward.”

“I know it,” said the Lion, hanging his head in shame. “I’ve always known it. But how can I help it?”

“What makes you a coward?” asked Dorothy, who by now helped the Scarecrow and the Woodman to get up. She looked at the beast in wonder, for he was very big.

“It’s a mystery,” replied the Lion. “I suppose I was born that way. All the other animals in the forest naturally expect me to be brave. I learned that if I roared very loudly every living thing was frightened and got out of my way.”

“But that isn’t right. The King of Beasts shouldn’t be a coward,” said the Scarecrow.

“I know it,” returned the Lion, wiping a tear from his eye with the tip of his tail. “It makes me very unhappy.”

“We’re going to the Emerald City, to ask the Great Oz for help,” said Dorothy.

“Do you think Oz could give me courage?” asked the Cowardly Lion.

“Yes,” said the Scarecrow.

“Then, if you don’t mind, I’ll go with you,” said the Lion, “for I need a bit of courage.”

“You will be very welcome,” answered Dorothy, “for you will help to keep away the other wild beasts.”

So once more the little company set off upon the journey, the Lion walking at Dorothy’s side. Toto did not approve of this new comrade at first. But after a time he became more at ease, and they grew to be good friends.

During the rest of that day there was no other adventure.