Волшебство страны Оз

           Itwentaroundthecircletotherightthreetimes,andthenitwentaroundtotheleftthreetimes.Thenithoppedbackwardthreetimesandforwardthreetimes.

           "Whatareyoudoing?"askedTrot.

           "Don’tinterrupt.Thisisanincantation,"repliedtheLonesomeDuck,butnowitbeganmakingasuccessionofsoftnoisesthatsoundedlikequacksandseemedtomeannothingatall.AnditkeptupthesesoundssolongthatTrotfinallyexclaimed:

           "Can’tyouhurryupandfinishthat’cantation?Ifittakesallsummertomakeacoupleoftoadstools,you’renotmuchofamagician."

           "Itoldyounottointerrupt,"saidtheLonesomeDuck,sternly."IfyougetTOOdisagreeable,you’lldrivemeawaybeforeIfinishthisincantation."

           Trotkeptquiet,aftertherebuke,andtheDuckresumedthequackymuttering.Cap’nBillchuckledalittletohimselfandremarkedtoTrotinawhisper:"Forabirdthatain’tgotanythingtodo,thisLonesomeDuckismakin’consider’blefuss.An’Iain’tsure,afterall,astoadstoolswouldbeworthsittin’on."

           Evenashespoke,thesailor-manfeltsomethingtouchhimfrombehindand,turninghishead,hefoundabigtoadstoolinjusttherightplaceandofjusttherightsizetositupon.TherewasonebehindTrot,too,andwithacryofpleasurethelittlegirlsankbackuponitandfounditaverycomfortableseat—solid,yetalmostlikeacushion.EvenCap’nBill’sweightdidnotbreakhistoadstooldown,andwhenbothwereseated,theyfoundthattheLonesomeDuckhadwaddledawayandwasnowatthewater’sedge