Волшебник страны Оз
The Dainty China Country
Totowhimperedalittle,butnoneoftheotherswasfrightened, andtheykeptalongthewell-troddenpathuntiltheycametoanopeninginthewood,inwhichweregatheredhundredsofbeastsofeveryvariety. Thereweretigersandelephantsandbearsandwolvesandfoxesandalltheothersinthenaturalhistory,andforamomentDorothywasafraid. ButtheLionexplainedthattheanimalswereholdingameeting,andhejudgedbytheirsnarlingandgrowlingthattheywereingreattrouble.
Ashespokeseveralofthebeastscaughtsightofhim,andatoncethegreatassemblagehushedasifbymagic. ThebiggestofthetigerscameuptotheLionandbowed,saying:
"Welcome,OKingofBeasts! Youhavecomeingoodtimetofightourenemyandbringpeacetoalltheanimalsoftheforestoncemore."
"Whatisyourtrouble?"askedtheLionquietly.
"Weareallthreatened,"answeredthetiger,"byafierceenemywhichhaslatelycomeintothisforest. Itisamosttremendousmonster,likeagreatspider,withabodyasbigasanelephantandlegsaslongasatreetrunk. Ithaseightoftheselonglegs,andasthemonstercrawlsthroughtheforestheseizesananimalwithaleganddragsittohismouth,whereheeatsitasaspiderdoesafly. Notoneofusissafewhilethisfiercecreatureisalive,andwehadcalledameetingtodecidehowtotakecareofourselveswhenyoucameamongus."
TheLionthoughtforamoment.
"Arethereanyotherlionsinthisforest?"heasked.
