English
Whentheyhadreachedtheendofthepath,wheretheyhadfirstseenthewarningsign,theysetoffacrossthecountryinaneasterlydirection.
BeforelongtheyreachedRollingLands,whichwereasuccessionofhillsandvalleyswhereconstantclimbsanddescentswererequired,andtheirjourneynowbecametedious,becauseonclimbingeachhill,theyfoundbeforethemnothinginthevalleybelowitexceptgrass,orweedsorstones.
Upanddowntheywentforhours,withnothingtorelievethemonotonyofthelandscape,untilfinally,whentheyhadtoppedahigherhillthanusual,theydiscoveredacup-shapedvalleybeforetheminthecenterofwhichstoodanenormouscastle,builtofpurplestone.
Thecastlewashighandbroadandlong,buthadnoturretsandtowers.
Sofarastheycouldsee,therewasbutonesmallwindowandonebigdooroneachsideofthegreatbuilding.
“Thisisstrange!”musedtheScarecrow.“I’dnoideasuchabigcastleexistedinthisGillikinCountry.Iwonderwholiveshere?”
“Itseemstome,fromthisdistance,”remarkedtheTinWoodman,“thatit’sthebiggestcastleIeversaw.
Itisreallytoobigforanyuse,andnoonecouldopenorshutthosebigdoorswithoutastepladder.”
“Perhaps,ifwegonearer,weshallfindoutwhetheranybodylivesthereornot,”suggestedWoot.“Lookstomeasifnobodylivedthere.”
Ontheywent,andwhentheyreachedthecenterofthevalley,wherethegreatstonecastlestood,itwasbeginningtogrowdark.Sotheyhesitatedastowhattodo.
“Iffriendlypeoplehappentolivehere,”saidWoot,&8220;Ishallbegladofabed;butshouldenemiesoccupytheplace,Iprefertosleepupontheground.”
“Andifnooneatallliveshere,”addedtheScarecrow,“wecanenter,andtakepossession,andmakeourselvesathome.”
Whilespeakinghewentnearertooneofthegreatdoors,whichwasthreetimesashighandbroadasanyhehadeverseeninahousebefore,andthenhediscovered,engravedinbiglettersuponastoneoverthedoorway,thewords:
“YOOPCASTLE”
“Oho!”heexclaimed;“Iknowtheplacenow.
ThiswasprobablythehomeofMr.Yoop,aterriblegiantwhomIhaveseenconfinedinacage,alongwayfromhere.
Thereforethiscastleislikelytobeemptyandwemayuseitinanywayweplease.”
“Yes,yes,”saidtheTinEmperor,nodding;“IalsorememberMr.Yoop.Buthowarewetogetintohisdesertedcastle?Thelatchofthedoorissofaraboveourheadsthatnoneofuscanreachit.”
Theyconsideredthisproblemforawhile,andthenWootsaidtotheTinMan:
“IfIstanduponyourshoulders,IthinkIcanunlatchthedoor.”
“Climbup,then,”wasthereply,andwhentheboywaspercheduponthetinshouldersofNickChopper,hewasjustabletoreachthelatchandraiseit.
Atoncethedoorswungopen,itsgreathingesmakingagroaningsoundasifinprotest,soWootleapeddownandfollowedhiscompanionsintoabig,barehallway.
Scarcelywerethethreeinside,however,whentheyheardthedoorslamshutbehindthem,andthisastonishedthembecausenoonehadtouchedit.
Ithadclosedofitsownaccord,asifbymagic.
Moreover,thelatchwasontheoutside,andthethoughtoccurredtoeachoneofthemthattheywerenowprisonersinthiscastle.
“However,”mumbledtheScarecrow,“wearenottoblameforwhatcannotbehelped;soletuspushbravelyaheadandseewhatmaybeseen.”
Itwasquitedarkinthehallway,nowthattheoutsidedoorwasshut,soastheystumbledalongastonepassagetheykeptclosetogether,notknowingwhatdangerwaslikelytobefallthem.
Suddenlyasoftglowenvelopedthem.Itgrewbrighter,untiltheycouldseetheirsurroundingsdistinctly.
Theyhadreachedtheendofthepassageandbeforethemwasanotherhugedoor.
Thisnoiselesslyswungopenbeforethem,withoutthehelpofanyone,andthroughthedoorwaytheyobservedabigchamber,thewallsofwhichwerelinedwithplatesofpuregold,highlypolished.
Thisroomwasalsolighted,althoughtheycoulddiscovernolamps,andinthecenterofitwasagreattableatwhichsatanimmensewoman.
Shewascladinsilverrobesembroideredwithgayfloraldesigns,andworeoverthissplendidraimentashortapronofelaboratelace-work.
Suchanapronwasnoprotection,andwasnotinkeepingwiththehandsomegown,butthehugewomanworeit,nevertheless.
Thetableatwhichshesatwasspreadwithawhiteclothandhadgoldendishesuponit,sothetravelerssawthattheyhadsurprisedtheGiantesswhileshewaseatinghersupper.
Shehadherbacktowardthemanddidnoteventurnaround,buttakingabiscuitfromadishshebegantobutteritandsaidinavoicethatwasbiganddeepbutnotespeciallyunpleasant:
“Whydon’tyoucomeinandallowthedoortoshut?
You’recausingadraught,andIshallcatchcoldandsneeze.
WhenIsneeze,Igetcross,andwhenIgetcrossI’mliabletodosomethingwicked.
Comein,youfoolishstrangers;comein!”
Beingthusurged,theyenteredtheroomandapproachedthetable,untiltheystoodwheretheyfacedthegreatGiantess.
Shecontinuedeating,butsmiledinacuriouswayasshelookedatthem.
Wootnoticedthatthedoorhadclosedsilentlyaftertheyhadentered,andthatdidn’tpleasehimatall.
“Well,”saidtheGiantess,“whatexcusehaveyoutooffer?”
“Wedidn’tknowanyonelivedhere,Madam,”explainedtheScarecrow;“so,beingtravelersandstrangersintheseparts,andwishingtofindaplaceforourboyfriendtosleep,weventuredtoenteryourcastle.”
“Youknewitwasprivateproperty,Isuppose?”saidshe,butteringanotherbiscuit.
“Wesawthewords,‘YoopCastle,’overthedoor,butweknewthatMr.Yoopisaprisonerinacageinafar-offpartofthelandofOz,sowedecidedtherewasnoonenowathomeandthatwemightusethecastleforthenight.”
“Isee,”remarkedtheGiantess,noddingherheadandsmilingagaininthatcuriousway—awaythatmadeWootshudder.
“Youdidn’tknowthatMr.Yoopwasmarried,orthatafterhewascruellycapturedhiswifestilllivedinhiscastleandranittosuitherself.”
“WhocapturedMr.Yoop?”askedWoot,lookinggravelyatthebigwoman.
“Wickedenemies.PeoplewhoselfishlyobjectedtoYoop’stakingtheircowsandsheepforhisfood.
Imustadmit,however,thatYoophadabadtemper,andhadthehabitofknockingoverafewhouses,nowandthen,whenhewasangry.
SoonedaythelittlefolkscameinagreatcrowdandcapturedMr.Yoop,andcarriedhimawaytoacagesomewhereinthemountains.
Idon’tknowwhereitis,andIdon’tcare,formyhusbandtreatedmebadlyattimes,forgettingtherespectagiantowestoagiantess.
Oftenhekickedmeonmyshins,whenIwouldn’twaitonhim.SoI’mgladheisgone.”
“It’sawonderthepeopledidn’tcaptureyou,too,”remarkedWoot.
“Well,Iwastoocleverforthem,”saidshe,givingasuddenlaughthatcausedsuchabreezethatthewobblyScarecrowwasalmostblownoffhisfeetandhadtograbhisfriendNickChoppertosteadyhimself.
“Isawthepeoplecoming,”continuedMrs.Yoop,“andknowingtheymeantmischiefItransformedmyselfintoamouseandhidinacupboard.
Aftertheyhadgoneaway,carryingmyshin-kickinghusbandwiththem,Itransformedmyselfbacktomyformershapeagain,andhereI’velivedinpeaceandcomforteversince.”
“AreyouaWitch,then?”inquiredWoot.
“Well,notexactlyaWitch,”shereplied,“butI’manArtistinTransformations.
Inotherwords,I’mmoreofaYookoohoothanaWitch,andofcourseyouknowthattheYookoohoosarethecleverestmagic-workersintheworld.”
Thetravelersweresilentforatime,uneasilyconsideringthisstatementandtheeffectitmighthaveontheirfuture.
NodoubttheGiantesshadwilfullymadethemherprisoners;yetshespokesocheerfully,inherbigvoice,thatuntilnowtheyhadnotbeenalarmedintheleast.
ByandbytheScarecrow,whosemixedbrainshadbeenworkingsteadily,askedthewoman:
“Arewetoconsideryouourfriend,Mrs.Yoop,ordoyouintendtobeourenemy?”
“Ineverhavefriends,”shesaidinamatter-of-facttone,“becausefriendsgettoofamiliarandalwaysforgettomindtheirownbusiness.
ButIamnotyourenemy;notyet,anyhow.
Indeed,I’mgladyou’vecome,formylifehereisratherlonely.
I’vehadnoonetotalktosinceItransformedPolychrome,theDaughteroftheRainbow,intoacanary-bird.”
“Howdidyoumanagetodothat?”askedtheTinWoodman,inamazement.“Polychromeisapowerfulfairy!”
“Shewas,”saidtheGiantess;“butnowshe’sacanary-bird.
Onedayafterarain,PolychromedancedofftheRainbowandfellasleeponalittlemoundinthisvalley,notfarfrommycastle.
ThesuncameoutanddrovetheRainbowaway,andbeforePolywakened,Istoleoutandtransformedherintoacanary-birdinagoldcagestuddedwithdiamonds.Thecagewassoshecouldn’tflyaway.
Iexpectedshe’dsingandtalkandwe’dhavegoodtimestogether;butshehasprovednocompanyformeatall.
Eversincethemomentofhertransformation,shehasrefusedtospeakasingleword.”
“Whereisshenow?”inquiredWoot,whohadheardtalesoflovelyPolychromeandwasmuchinterestedinher.
“Thecageishangingupinmybedroom,”saidtheGiantess,eatinganotherbiscuit.
ThetravelerswerenowmoreuneasyandsuspiciousoftheGiantessthanbefore.
IfPolychrome,theRainbow’sDaughter,whowasarealfairy,hadbeentransformedandenslavedbythishugewoman,whoclaimedtobeaYookoohoo,whatwasliabletohappentothem?
SaidtheScarecrow,twistinghisstuffedheadaroundinMrs.Yoop’sdirection:
“Doyouknow,Ma’am,whoweare?”
“Ofcourse,”saidshe;“astrawman,atinmanandaboy.”
“Weareveryimportantpeople,”declaredtheTinWoodman.
“Allthebetter,”shereplied.“Ishallenjoyyoursocietythemoreonthataccount.
ForImeantokeepyouhereaslongasIlive,toamusemewhenIgetlonely.
And,”sheaddedslowly,“inthisValleynooneeverdies.”
Theydidn’tlikethisspeechatall,sotheScarecrowfrownedinawaythatmadeMrs.Yoopsmile,whiletheTinWoodmanlookedsofiercethatMrs.Yooplaughed.
TheScarecrowsuspectedshewasgoingtolaugh,soheslippedbehindhisfriendstoescapethewindfromherbreath.
Fromthissafepositionhesaidwarningly:
“Wehavepowerfulfriendswhowillsooncometorescueus.”
“Letthemcome,”shereturned,withanaccentofscorn.
“Whentheygetheretheywillfindneitheraboy,noratinman,norascarecrow,fortomorrowmorningIintendtotransformyouallintoothershapes,sothatyoucannotberecognized.”
Thisthreatfilledthemwithdismay.Thegood-naturedGiantesswasmoreterriblethantheyhadimagined.
Shecouldsmileandwearprettyclothesandatthesametimebeevenmorecruelthanherwickedhusbandhadbeen.
BoththeScarecrowandtheTinWoodmantriedtothinkofsomewaytoescapefromthecastlebeforemorning,butsheseemedtoreadtheirthoughtsandshookherhead.
“Don’tworryyourpoorbrains,”saidshe.
“Youcan’tescapeme,howeverhardyoutry.Butwhyshouldyouwishtoescape?
Ishallgiveyounewformsthataremuchbetterthantheonesyounowhave.
Becontentedwithyourfate,fordiscontentleadstounhappiness,andunhappiness,inanyform,isthegreatestevilthatcanbefallyou.”
“Whatformsdoyouintendtogiveus?”askedWootearnestly.
“Ihaven’tdecided,asyet.I’lldreamoverittonight,sointhemorningIshallhavemadeupmymindhowtotransformyou.Perhapsyou’dprefertochooseyourowntransformations?”
“No,”saidWoot,“IprefertoremainasIam.”
“That’sfunny,”sheretorted.“Youarelittle,andyou’reweak;asyouare,you’renotmuchaccount,anyhow.
Thebestthingaboutyouisthatyou’realive,forIshallbeabletomakeofyousomesortoflivecreaturewhichwillbeagreatimprovementonyourpresentform.”
Shetookanotherbiscuitfromaplateanddippeditinapotofhoneyandcalmlybeganeatingit.
TheScarecrowwatchedherthoughtfully.
“TherearenofieldsofgraininyourValley,”saidhe;“where,then,didyougettheflourtomakeyourbiscuits?”
“Mercyme!DoyouthinkI’dbothertomakebiscuitsoutofflour?”shereplied.
“ThatisaltogethertootediousaprocessforaYookoohoo.
Isetsometrapsthisafternoonandcaughtalotoffield-mice,butasIdonotliketoeatmice,Itransformedthemintohotbiscuitsformysupper.
Thehoneyinthispotwasonceawasp’snest,butsincebeingtransformedithasbecomesweetanddelicious.
AllIneeddo,whenIwishtoeat,istotakesomethingIdon’tcaretokeep,andtransformitintoanysortoffoodIlike,andeatit.Areyouhungry?”
“Idon’teat,thankyou,”saidtheScarecrow.
“NordoI,”saidtheTinWoodman.
“Ihavestillalittlenaturalfoodinmyknapsack,”saidWoottheWanderer,“andI’drathereatthatthananywasp’snest.”
“Everyonetohistaste,”saidtheGiantesscarelessly,andhavingnowfinishedhersuppersherosetoherfeet,clappedherhandstogether,andthesuppertableatoncedisappeared.
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