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The Scarecrow and the Woodman now began to fasten the mice to the truck , using the strings they had brought . One end of a string was tied around the neck of each mouse and the other end to the truck . Of course the truck was a thousand times bigger than any of the mice who were to draw it ; but when all the mice had been harnessed , they were able to pull it quite easily . Even the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman could sit on it , and were drawn swiftly by their queer little horses to the place where the Lion lay asleep . After a great deal of hard work , for the Lion was heavy , they managed to get him up on the truck . Then the Queen hurriedly gave her people the order to start , for she feared if the mice stayed among the poppies too long they also would fall asleep . At first the little creatures , many though they were , could hardly stir the heavily loaded truck ; but the Woodman and the Scarecrow both pushed from behind , and they got along better . Soon they rolled the Lion out of the poppy bed to the green fields , where he could breathe the sweet , fresh air again , instead of the poisonous scent of the flowers . Dorothy came to meet them and thanked the little mice warmly for saving her companion from death . She had grown so fond of the big Lion she was glad he had been rescued . Then the mice were unharnessed from the truck and scampered away through the grass to their homes . The Queen of the Mice was the last to leave . “ If ever you need us again , ” she said , “ come out into the field and call , and we shall hear you and come to your assistance . Good - bye ! ” “ Good - bye ! ” they all answered , and away the Queen ran , while Dorothy held Toto tightly lest he should run after her and frighten her . After this they sat down beside the Lion until he should awaken ; and the Scarecrow brought Dorothy some fruit from a tree near by , which she ate for her dinner . Chapter X The Guardian of the Gate It was some time before the Cowardly Lion awakened , for he had lain among the poppies a long while , breathing in their deadly fragrance ; but when he did open his eyes and roll off the truck he was very glad to find himself still alive . “ I ran as fast as I could , ” he said , sitting down and yawning , “ but the flowers were too strong for me . How did you get me out ? ” Then they told him of the field mice , and how they had generously saved him from death ; and the Cowardly Lion laughed , and said : “ I have always thought myself very big and terrible ; yet such little things as flowers came near to killing me , and such small animals as mice have saved my life . How strange it all is ! But , comrades , what shall we do now ? ” “ We must journey on until we find the road of yellow brick again , ” said Dorothy , “ and then we can keep on to the Emerald City . ”
Назад Сторінка 31 з 79 Сторінка 31 з 79 Вперед Читайте далі з перекладом Створіть безкоштовний акаунт: 7 днів Pro, далі 20 перекладів слів на день або платний тариф.
