Волшебство страны Оз

           Placingonepawontheraft,heturnedandstruckoutwithhisotherthreelegsandsostrongwasthegreatbeastthathemanagedtodragtheraftfromoffthebeachandpropelitslowlytowheretheWizardstoodontheriverbank.

           "Good!"exclaimedthelittleman,wellpleased.

           "MayIgoacrosswithyou?"askedDorothy.

           TheWizardhesitated.

           "Ifyou’lltakecarenottoleavetheraftorstepfootontheisland,you’llbequitesafe,"hedecided.SotheWizardtoldtheHungryTigerandtheCowardlyLiontoguardthecageofmonkeysuntilhereturned,andthenheandDorothygotupontheraft.ThepaddlewhichCap’nBillhadmadewasstillthere,sothelittleWizardpaddledtheclumsyraftacrossthewaterandranituponthebeachoftheMagicIsleasclosetotheplacewhereCap’nBillandTrotwererootedashecould.

           Dorothywasshockedtoseehowsmalltheprisonershadbecome,andTrotsaidtoherfriends:"Ifyoucan’tsaveussoon,there’llbenothingleftofus."

           "Bepatient,mydear,"counseledtheWizard,andtookthelittleaxefromhisblackbag.

           "Whatareyougoingtodowiththat?"askedCap’nBill.

           "It’samagicaxe,"repliedtheWizard,"andwhenItellittochop,itwillchopthoserootsfromyourfeetandyoucanruntotheraftbeforetheygrowagain."

           "Don’t!"shoutedthesailorinalarm."Don’tdoit!Thoserootsareallfleshroots,andourbodiesarefeeding’emwhilethey’regrowingintotheground."

           "Tocutofftheroots,"saidTrot,"wouldbelikecuttingoffourfingersandtoes."

           TheWizardputthelittleaxebackintheblackbagandtookoutapairofsilverpincers