Волшебство страны Оз

           Instantlythemonkeysleapedthroughthebars,oneafteranother,andalthoughtheyweresosmalltheentiredozenofthemsurroundedtheGlassCatandclungtoherclawsandtailandearsandmadeheraprisoner.Thentheyforcedheroutofthetentanddowntothebanksofthestream.Themonkeyshadnoticedthatthesebankswerecoveredwiththick,slimymudofadarkbluecolor,andwhentheyhadtakentheCattothestream,theysmearedthismudallovertheglassbodyofthecat,fillingthecreature’searsandeyeswithit,sothatshecouldneitherseenorhear.Shewasnolongertransparentandsothickwasthemuduponherthatnoonecouldseeherpinkbrainsorherrubyheart.

           Inthisconditiontheyledthepussybacktothetentandthengotinsidetheircageagain.

           BymorningthemudhaddriedhardontheGlassCatanditwasadullbluecolorthroughout.DorothyandTrotwerehorrified,buttheWizardshookhisheadandsaiditservedtheGlassCatrightforteasingthemonkeys.

           Cap’nBill,withhisstronghands,soonbentthegoldenwiresofthemonkeys’cageintotheproperpositionandthenheaskedtheWizardifheshouldwashtheGlassCatinthewaterofthebrook.

           "Notjustyet,"answeredtheWizard."TheCatdeservestobepunished,soIthinkI’llleavethatbluemud—whichisasbadaspaint—uponherbodyuntilshegetstotheEmeraldCity.ThesillycreatureissovainthatshewillbegreatlyshamedwhentheOzpeopleseeherinthiscondition,andperhapsshe’lltakethelessontoheartandleavethemonkeysalonehereafter.