Волшебство страны Оз

           "

           "Well,wewillsoonknowwhotheotheris,"suggestedOzma."HemayprovetobeanotherMunchkinboy."

           TheWizardplacedthewalnutnearthefountainandsaid,asslowlyandsolemnlyasbefore:

           "Iwantyoutoresumeyournaturalform,andtobeverythirsty—Pyrzqxgl!"

           ThenthewalnutdisappearedandRuggedotheNomestoodinitsplace.Healsowasfacingthefountain,andhereachedforthecup,filledit,andwasabouttodrinkwhenDorothyexclaimed:

           "Why,it’stheoldNomeKing!"

           Ruggedoswungaroundandfacedthem,thecupstillinhishand.

           "Yes,"hesaidinanangryvoice,"it’stheoldNomeKing,andI’mgoingtoconquerallOzandberevengedonyouforkickingmeoutofmythrone."Helookedaroundamoment,andthencontinued:"Thereisn’tanegginsight,andI’mstrongerthanallofyoupeopleputtogether!Idon’tknowhowIcamehere,butI’mgoingtofightthefightofmylife—andI’llwin!"

           Hislongwhitehairandbeardwavedinthebreeze;hiseyesflashedhateandvengeance,andsoastonishedandshockedweretheybythesuddenappearanceofthisoldenemyoftheOzpeoplethattheycouldonlystareathiminsilenceandshrinkawayfromhiswildglare.

           Ruggedolaughed.Hedrankthewater,threwthecuponthegroundandsaidfiercely:

           "Andnow—andnow—and—"

           Hisvoicegrewgentle.Herubbedhisforeheadwithapuzzledairandstrokedhislongbeard.

           "WhatwasIgoingtosay?"heasked,pleadingly.

           "Don’tyouremember?"saidtheWizard.

           "No;I’veforgotten."

           "WhoAREyou?"askedDorothy.

           Hetriedtothink."I—I’msureIdon’tknow,"hestammered