Волшебство страны Оз

           "

           Sothetwostartedawayandcrossedtheforestuntiltheycametoaplacewherethetreeswerenotsotallnorsoclosetogether,andamongthesescatteredtreeswasanotherclearing,notsolargeasthefirstone,wherethemeetingofthebeastshadbeenheld.Standingontheedgeofthisclearingandlookingacrossit,theysawthetreesonthefarthersidefullofmonkeys,whowerechatteringtogetheratagreatrateofthesightstheyhadwitnessedatthemeeting.

           TheoldNomewhisperedtoKikinottoentertheclearingorallowthemonkeystoseethem.

           "Whynot?"askedtheboy,drawingback.

           "Becausethosemonkeysaretobeourarmy—thearmywhichwillconquerOz,"saidtheNome."Sitdownherewithme,Kiki,andkeepquiet,andIwillexplaintoyoumyplan."

           Now,neitherKikiArunorRuggedohadnoticedthataslyFoxhadfollowedthemallthewayfromthetreewheretheGoosehadbeentransformedtotheLi-Mon-Eag.Indeed,thisFox,whowasnoneotherthantheWizardofOz,hadwitnessedthetransformationoftheGooseandnowdecidedhewouldkeepwatchontheconspiratorsandseewhattheywoulddonext.

           AFoxcanmovethroughaforestverysoftly,withoutmakinganynoise,andsotheWizard’senemiesdidnotsuspecthispresence.Butwhentheysatdownbytheedgeoftheclearing,totalk,withtheirbackstowardhim,theWizarddidnotknowwhethertoriskbeingseen,bycreepingclosertohearwhattheysaid,orwhetheritwouldbebetterforhimtohidehimselfuntiltheymovedonagain.