Путешествие в Страну Оз
8. The Musicker
"Butcome,mydears;IthinkthebestthingwecandoistocontinueonourjourneybeforeButton-Brightswallowsanything.WemusttrytofindthatLandofOz,youknow."
Hearingthisspeechthemusickersang,quickly:
IfyougototheLandofOz
Pleasetakemealong,because
OnOzma’sbirthday
I’manxioustoplay
Theloveliestsongeverwas.
"Nothankyou,"saidDorothy;"weprefertotravelalone.ButifIseeOzmaI’lltellheryouwanttocometoherbirthdayparty."
"Let’sbegoing,"urgedtheshaggyman,anxiously.
Pollywasalreadydancingalongtheroad,farinadvance,andtheothersturnedtofollowher.Totodidnotlikethefatmusickerandmadeagrabforhischubbyleg.Dorothyquicklycaughtupthegrowlinglittledogandhurriedafterhercompanions,whowerewalkingfasterthanusualinordertogetoutofhearing.Theyhadtoclimbahill,anduntiltheygottothetoptheycouldnotescapethemusicker’smonotonouspiping:
Oom,pom-pom;oom,pom-pom;
Tiddle-iddle-widdle,oom,pom-pom;
Oom,pom-pom—pah!
Astheypassedthebrowofthehill,however,anddescendedontheotherside,thesoundsgraduallydiedaway,whereattheyallfeltmuchrelieved.
"I’mgladIdon’thavetolivewiththeorgan-man;aren’tyou,Polly?"saidDorothy.
"Yesindeed,"answeredtheRainbow’sDaughter.
"He’snice,"declaredButton-Bright,soberly.
"IhopeyourPrincessOzmawon’tinvitehimtoherbirthdaycelebration,"remarkedtheshaggyman;"forthefellow’smusicwoulddriveherguestsallcrazy
