Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз
9. They Fight the Invisible Bears
Afterajourneyofseveralhourstheycametoapointwheretherivercurved,andtheyfoundtheymustcrossamileorsooftheValleybeforetheycametothePyramidMountain.Therewerefewhousesinthispart,andfeworchardsorflowers;soourfriendsfearedtheymightencountermoreofthesavagebears,whichtheyhadlearnedtodreadwithalltheirhearts.
"You’llhavetomakeadash,Jim,"saidtheWizard,"andrunasfastasyoucango."
"Allright,"answeredthehorse;"I’lldomybest.ButyoumustrememberI’mold,andmydashingdaysarepastandgone."
AllthreegotintothebuggyandZebpickedupthereins,thoughJimneedednoguidanceofanysort.Thehorsewasstillsmartingfromthesharpclawsoftheinvisiblebears,andassoonashewasonlandandheadedtowardthemountainthethoughtthatmoreofthosefearsomecreaturesmightbenearactedasaspurandsenthimgallopingalonginawaythatmadeDorothycatchherbreath.
ThenZeb,inaspiritofmischief,utteredagrowllikethatofthebears,andJimprickeduphisearsandfairlyflew.Hisboneylegsmovedsofasttheycouldscarcelybeseen,andtheWizardclungfasttotheseatandyelled"Whoa!"atthetopofhisvoice.
"I—I’m’fraidhe’s—he’srunningaway!"gaspedDorothy.
"IKNOWheis,"saidZeb;"butnobearcancatchhimifhekeepsupthatgait—andtheharnessorthebuggydon’tbreak
