Озма из страны Оз

           WhatBillinasaidwastrueenough,anditalmosttookawayherappetiteforbreakfast.Asfortheyellowhen,shecontinuedtopeckawayatthesandbusily,andseemedquitecontentedwithherbill-of-fare.

           Finally,downnearthewater’sedge,Billinastuckherbilldeepintothesand,andthendrewbackandshivered.

           "Ow!"shecried."Istruckmetal,thattime,anditnearlybrokemybeak."

           "Itprob’blywasarock,"saidDorothy,carelessly.

           "Nonsense.Iknowarockfrommetal,Iguess,"saidthehen."There’sadifferentfeeltoit."

           "Buttherecouldn’tbeanymetalonthiswild,desertedseashore,"persistedthegirl."Where’stheplace?I’lldigitup,andprovetoyouI’mright."

           Billinashowedhertheplacewhereshehad"stubbedherbill,"assheexpressedit,andDorothydugawaythesanduntilshefeltsomethinghard.Then,thrustinginherhand,shepulledthethingout,anddiscoveredittobealargesizedgoldenkey--ratherold,butstillbrightandofperfectshape.

           "WhatdidItellyou?"criedthehen,withacackleoftriumph."CanItellmetalwhenIbumpintoit,oristhethingarock?"

           "It’smetal,sureenough,"answeredthechild,gazingthoughtfullyatthecuriousthingshehadfound."Ithinkitispuregold,anditmusthavelainhiddeninthesandforalongtime.Howdoyousupposeitcamethere,Billina?Andwhatdoyousupposethismysteriouskeyunlocks?"

           "Ican’tsay,"repliedthehen."YououghttoknowmoreaboutlocksandkeysthanIdo."

           Dorothyglancedaround