Волшебник страны Оз
The Cowardly Lion
ThentheLionputhisstrongfrontlegsagainstthetreeandpushedwithallhismight,andslowlythebigtreetippedandfellwithacrashacrosstheditch,withitstopbranchesontheotherside.
Theyhadjuststartedtocrossthisqueerbridgewhenasharpgrowlmadethemalllookup,andtotheirhorrortheysawrunningtowardthemtwogreatbeastswithbodieslikebearsandheadsliketigers.
"TheyaretheKalidahs!"saidtheCowardlyLion,beginningtotremble.
"Quick!"criedtheScarecrow. "Letuscrossover."
SoDorothywentfirst,holdingTotoinherarms,theTinWoodmanfollowed,andtheScarecrowcamenext. TheLion,althoughhewascertainlyafraid,turnedtofacetheKalidahs,andthenhegavesoloudandterriblearoarthatDorothyscreamedandtheScarecrowfelloverbackward,whileeventhefiercebeastsstoppedshortandlookedathiminsurprise.
But,seeingtheywerebiggerthantheLion,andrememberingthatthereweretwoofthemandonlyoneofhim,theKalidahsagainrushedforward,andtheLioncrossedoverthetreeandturnedtoseewhattheywoulddonext. Withoutstoppinganinstantthefiercebeastsalsobegantocrossthetree. AndtheLionsaidtoDorothy:
"Wearelost,fortheywillsurelytearustopieceswiththeirsharpclaws. Butstandclosebehindme,andIwillfightthemaslongasIamalive."
"Waitaminute!"calledtheScarecrow. Hehadbeenthinkingwhatwasbesttobedone,andnowheaskedtheWoodmantochopawaytheendofthetreethatrestedontheirsideoftheditch.
