Волшебство страны Оз

           TheGlassCatstartedaway,andatfirstitwaseasytopassbetweenthetrees;butbeforelongtheunderbrushandvinesbecamethickandtangled,andafterpushingtheirwaythroughtheseobstaclesforatime,ourtravelerscametoaplacewhereeventheGlassCatcouldnotpushthrough.

           "We’dbettergobackandfindapath,"suggestedtheHungryTiger.

           "I’ms’prisedatyou,"saidDorothy,eyeingtheGlassCatseverely.

           "I’msurprised,myself,"repliedtheCat."Butit’salongwayaroundtheforesttowheretheriverentersit,andIthoughtwecouldsavetimebygoingstraightthrough."

           "Noonecanblameyou,"saidtheWizard,"andIthink,insteadofturningback,Icanmakeapaththatwillallowustoproceed."

           Heopenedhisblackbagandaftersearchingamonghismagictoolsdrewoutasmallaxe,madeofsomemetalsohighlypolishedthatitglitteredbrightlyeveninthedarkforest.TheWizardlaidthelittleaxeonthegroundandsaidinacommandingvoice:

           "Chop,LittleAxe,chopcleanandtrue;

           Apathforourfeetyoumustquicklyhew.

           Choptillthistangleofjungleispassed;

           Choptotheeast,LittleAxe—chopfast!"

           Thenthelittleaxebegantomoveandflasheditsbrightbladerightandleft,clearingawaythroughvineandbrushandscatteringthetangledbarriersoquicklythattheLionandtheTiger,carryingDorothyandtheWizardandthecageofmonkeysontheirbacks,wereabletostridethroughtheforestatafastwalk.Thebrushseemedtomeltawaybeforethemandthelittleaxechoppedsofastthattheireyesonlysawatwinklingoftheblade.