The Collected Works of L. Frank Baum (Illustrated). L. Frank Baum

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ they drew up beside the palace steps.

      An aged Winkie, dressed in a uniform of silver cloth, came forward to assist them to alight. Said the Scarecrow to his personage:

      “Show us at once to your master, the Emperor.”

      The man looked from one to another of the party in an embarrassed way, and finally answered:

      “I fear I must ask you to wait for a time. The Emperor is not receiving this morning.”

      “How is that?” enquired the Scarecrow, anxiously. “I hope nothing has happened to him.”

      “Oh, no; nothing serious,” returned the man. “But this is his Majesty’s day for being polished; and just now his august presence is thickly smeared with putz-pomade.”

      “Oh, I see!” cried the Scarecrow, greatly reassured. “My friend was ever inclined to be a dandy, and I suppose he is now more proud than ever of his personal appearance.”

      “He is, indeed,” said the man, with a polite bow. “Our mighty Emperor has lately caused himself to be nickel-plated.”

      “Good Gracious!” the Scarecrow exclaimed at hearing this. “If his wit bears the same polish, how sparkling it must be! But show us in—I’m sure the Emperor will receive us, even in his present state”

      “The Emperor’s state is always magnificent,” said the man. “But I will venture to tell him of your arrival, and will receive his commands concerning you.”

      So the party followed the servant into a splendid anteroom, and the SawHorse ambled awkwardly after them, having no knowledge that a horse might be expected to remain outside.

      The travelers were at first somewhat awed by their surroundings, and even the Scarecrow seemed impressed as he examined the rich hangings of silver cloth caught up into knots and fastened with tiny silver axes. Upon a handsome center-table stood a large silver oil-can, richly engraved with scenes from the past adventures of the Tin Woodman, Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow: the lines of the engraving being traced upon the silver in yellow gold. On the walls hung several portraits, that of the Scarecrow seeming to be the most prominent and carefully executed, while a the large painting of the famous Wizard of Oz, in act of presenting the Tin Woodman with a heart, covered almost one entire end of the room.

      While the visitors gazed at these things in silent admiration they suddenly heard a loud voice in the next room exclaim:

      “Well! well! well! What a great surprise!”

      And then the door burst open and Nick Chopper rushed into their midst and caught the Scarecrow in a close and loving embrace that creased him into many folds and wrinkles.

      “My dear old friend! My noble comrade!” cried the Tin Woodman, joyfully. “how delighted! I am to meet you once again.”

      And then he released the Scarecrow and held him at arms’ length while he surveyed the beloved, painted features.

      But, alas! the face of the Scarecrow and many portions of his body bore great blotches of putz-pomade; for the Tin Woodman, in his eagerness to welcome his friend, had quite forgotten the condition of his toilet and had rubbed the thick coating of paste from his own body to that of his comrade.

      “Dear me!” said the Scarecrow dolefully. “What a mess I’m in!”

      “Never mind, my friend,” returned the Tin Woodman, “I’ll send you to my Imperial Laundry, and you’ll come out as good as new.”

      “Won’t I be mangled?” asked the Scarecrow.

      “No, indeed!” was the reply. “But tell me, how came your Majesty here? and who are your companions?”

      The Scarecrow, with great politeness, introduced Tip and Jack Pumpkinhead, and the latter personage seemed to interest the Tin Woodman greatly.

      “You are not very substantial, I must admit,” said the Emperor. “but you are certainly unusual, and therefore worthy to become a member of our select society.”

      “I thank your Majesty,” said Jack, humbly.

      “I hope you are enjoying good health?” continued the Woodman.

      “At present, yes;” replied the Pumpkinhead, with a sigh; “but I am in constant terror of the day when I shall spoil.”

      “Nonsense!” said the Emperor—but in a kindly, sympathetic tone. “Do not, I beg of you, dampen today’s sun with the showers of tomorrow. For before your head has time to spoil you can have it canned, and in that way it may be preserved indefinitely.”

      Tip, during this conversation, was looking at the Woodman with undisguised amazement, and noticed that the celebrated Emperor of the Winkies was composed entirely of pieces of tin, neatly soldered and riveted together into the form of a man. He rattled and clanked a little, as he moved, but in the main he seemed to be most cleverly constructed, and his appearance was only marred by the thick coating of polishing-paste that covered him from head to foot.

      The boy’s intent gaze caused the Tin Woodman to remember that he was not in the most presentable condition, so he begged his friends to excuse him while he retired to his private apartment and allowed his servants to polish him. This was accomplished in a short time, and when the emperor returned his nickel-plated body shone so magnificently that the Scarecrow heartily congratulated him on his improved appearance.

      “That nickel-plate was, I confess, a happy thought,” said Nick; “and it was the more necessary because I had become somewhat scratched during my adventurous experiences. You will observe this engraved star upon my left breast. It not only indicates where my excellent heart lies, but covers very neatly the patch made by the Wonderful Wizard when he placed that valued organ in my breast with his own skillful hands.”

      “Is your heart, then, a hand-organ?” asked the Pumpkinhead, curiously.

      “By no means,” responded the emperor, with dignity. “It is, I am convinced, a strictly orthodox heart, although somewhat larger and warmer than most people possess.”

      Then he turned to the Scarecrow and asked:

      “Are your subjects happy and contented, my dear friend?”

      “I cannot, say” was the reply. “for the girls of Oz have risen in revolt and driven me out of the emerald City.”

      “Great Goodness!” cried the Tin Woodman, “What a calamity! They surely do not complain of your wise and gracious rule?”

      “No; but they say it is a poor rule that don’t work both ways,” answered the Scarecrow; “and these females are also of the opinion that men have ruled the land long enough. So they have captured my city, robbed the treasury of all its jewels, and are running things to suit themselves.”

      “Dear me! What an extraordinary idea!” cried the Emperor, who was both shocked and surprised.

      “And I heard some of them say,” said Tip, “that they intend to march here and capture the castle and city of the Tin Woodman.”

      “Ah! we must not give them time to do that,” said the Emperor, quickly; “we will go at once and recapture СКАЧАТЬ