Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз
6. The Mangaboos Prove Dangerous
TheMangaboossurroundedtheminsolidranks,butleftanopeningtothedoorwayofthehall;sotheanimalsslowlyretreateduntiltheyweredrivenfromtheroomandoutuponthestreet.Hereweremoreofthevegetablepeoplewiththorns,andsilentlytheyurgedthenowfrightenedcreaturesdownthestreet.Jimhadtobecarefulnottostepuponthetinypiglets,whoscamperedunderhisfeetgruntingandsquealing,whileEureka,snarlingandbitingatthethornspushedtowardher,alsotriedtoprotecttheprettylittlethingsfrominjury.SlowlybutsteadilytheheartlessMangaboosdrovethemon,untiltheyhadpassedthroughthecityandthegardensandcometothebroadplainsleadingtothemountain.
"Whatdoesallthismean,anyhow?"askedthehorse,jumpingtoescapeathorn.
"Why,theyaredrivingustowardtheBlackPit,intowhichtheythreatenedtocastus,"repliedthekitten."IfIwereasbigasyouare,Jim,I’dfightthesemiserableturnip-roots!"
"Whatwouldyoudo?"enquiredJim.
"I’dkickoutwiththoselonglegsandiron-shodhoofs."
"Allright,"saidthehorse;"I’lldoit."
AninstantlaterhesuddenlybackedtowardthecrowdofMangaboosandkickedouthishindlegsashardashecould.Adozenofthemsmashedtogetherandtumbledtotheground,andseeinghissuccessJimkickedagainandagain,chargingintothevegetablecrowd,knockingtheminalldirectionsandsendingtheothersscatteringtoescapehisironheels
