Волшебник страны Оз
The Cowardly Lion
ButifIamonyourbackitwillnotmattersomuch,forthefallwouldnothurtmeatall."
"Iamterriblyafraidoffalling,myself,"saidtheCowardlyLion,"butIsupposethereisnothingtodobuttryit. Sogetonmybackandwewillmaketheattempt."
TheScarecrowsatupontheLion’sback,andthebigbeastwalkedtotheedgeofthegulfandcroucheddown.
"Whydon’tyourunandjump?"askedtheScarecrow.
"Becausethatisn’tthewayweLionsdothesethings,"hereplied. Thengivingagreatspring,heshotthroughtheairandlandedsafelyontheotherside. Theywereallgreatlypleasedtoseehoweasilyhedidit,andaftertheScarecrowhadgotdownfromhisbacktheLionsprangacrosstheditchagain.
Dorothythoughtshewouldgonext; soshetookTotoinherarmsandclimbedontheLion’sback,holdingtightlytohismanewithonehand. Thenextmomentitseemedasifshewereflyingthroughtheair;andthen,beforeshehadtimetothinkaboutit,shewassafeontheotherside. TheLionwentbackathirdtimeandgottheTinWoodman, andthentheyallsatdownforafewmomentstogivethebeastachancetorest,forhisgreatleapshadmadehisbreathshort,andhepantedlikeabigdogthathasbeenrunningtoolong.
Theyfoundtheforestverythickonthisside,anditlookeddarkandgloomy. AftertheLionhadrestedtheystartedalongtheroadofyellowbrick,silentlywondering,eachinhisownmind,ifevertheywouldcometotheendofthewoodsandreachthebrightsunshineagain.
