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Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum, Chapter 1. The Earthquake

Chapter 1. The Earthquake

A Faithful Record of Their Amazing Adventures

in an Underground World; and How with the

Aid of Their Friends Zeb Hugson, Eureka

the Kitten, and Jim the Cab-Horse,

They Finally Reached the

Wonderful Land

of Oz

by

L. Frank Baum

"Royal Historian of Oz" To My Readers

It's no use; no use at all. The children won't let me stop telling tales of the Land of Oz. I know lots of other stories, and I hope to tell them, some time or another; but just now my loving tyrants won't allow me. They cry: "Oz—Oz! more about Oz, Mr. Baum!" and what can I do but obey their commands?

This is Our Book—mine and the children's. For they have flooded me with thousands of suggestions in regard to it, and I have honestly tried to adopt as many of these suggestions as could be fitted into one story.

After the wonderful success of "Ozma of Oz" it is evident that Dorothy has become a firm fixture in these Oz stories. The little ones all love Dorothy, and as one of my small friends aptly states: "It isn't a real Oz story without her." So here she is again, as sweet and gentle and innocent as ever, I hope, and the heroine of another strange adventure.

There were many requests from my little correspondents for "more about the Wizard." It seems the jolly old fellow made hosts of friends in the first Oz book, in spite of the fact that he frankly acknowledged himself "a humbug." The children had heard how he mounted into the sky in a balloon and they were all waiting for him to come down again. So what could I do but tell "what happened to the Wizard afterward"? You will find him in these pages, just the same humbug Wizard as before.

There was one thing the children demanded which I found it impossible to do in this present book: they bade me introduce Toto, Dorothy's little black dog, who has many friends among my readers. But you will see, when you begin to read the story, that Toto was in Kansas while Dorothy was in California, and so she had to start on her adventure without him. In this book Dorothy had to take her kitten with her instead of her dog; but in the next Oz book, if I am permitted to write one, I intend to tell a good deal about Toto's further history.

Princess Ozma, whom I love as much as my readers do, is again introduced in this story, and so are several of our old friends of Oz. You will also become acquainted with Jim the Cab-Horse, the Nine Tiny Piglets, and Eureka, the Kitten. I am sorry the kitten was not as well behaved as she ought to have been; but perhaps she wasn't brought up properly. Dorothy found her, you see, and who her parents were nobody knows.

I believe, my dears, that I am the proudest story-teller that ever lived. Many a time tears of pride and joy have stood in my eyes while I read the tender, loving, appealing letters that came to me in almost every mail from my little readers. To have pleased you, to have interested you, to have won your friendship, and perhaps your love, through my stories, is to my mind as great an achievement as to become President of the United States. Indeed, I would much rather be your story-teller, under these conditions, than to be the President. So you have helped me to fulfill my life's ambition, and I am more grateful to you, my dears, than I can express in words.

I try to answer every letter of my young correspondents; yet sometimes there are so many letters that a little time must pass before you get your answer. But be patient, friends, for the answer will surely come, and by writing to me you more than repay me for the pleasant task of preparing these books. Besides, I am proud to acknowledge that the books are partly yours, for your suggestions often guide me in telling the stories, and I am sure they would not be half so good without your clever and thoughtful assistance.

L. FRANK BAUM Coronado, 1908.

Chapter 1. The Earthquake

The train from 'Frisco was very late. It should have arrived at Hugson's Siding at midnight, but it was already five o'clock and the gray dawn was breaking in the east when the little train slowly rumbled up to the open shed that served for the station-house. As it came to a stop the conductor called out in a loud voice:

"Hugson's Siding!" At once a little girl rose from her seat and walked to the door of the car, carrying a wicker suit-case in one hand and a round bird-cage covered up with newspapers in the other, while a parasol was tucked under her arm. The conductor helped her off the car and then the engineer started his train again, so that it puffed and groaned and moved slowly away up the track. The reason he was so late was because all through the night there were times when the solid earth shook and trembled under him, and the engineer was afraid that at any moment the rails might spread apart and an accident happen to his passengers. So he moved the cars slowly and with caution.

The little girl stood still to watch until the train had disappeared around a curve; then she turned to see where she was.

The shed at Hugson's Siding was bare save for an old wooden bench, and did not look very inviting. As she peered through the soft gray light not a house of any sort was visible near the station, nor was any person in sight; but after a while the child discovered a horse and buggy standing near a group of trees a short distance away. She walked toward it and found the horse tied to a tree and standing motionless, with its head hanging down almost to the ground. It was a big horse, tall and bony, with long legs and large knees and feet. She could count his ribs easily where they showed through the skin of his body, and his head was long and seemed altogether too big for him, as if it did not fit. His tail was short and scraggly, and his harness had been broken in many places and fastened together again with cords and bits of wire. The buggy seemed almost new, for it had a shiny top and side curtains. Getting around in front, so that she could look inside, the girl saw a boy curled up on the seat, fast asleep.

She set down the bird-cage and poked the boy with her parasol. Presently he woke up, rose to a sitting position and rubbed his eyes briskly.

"Hello!" he said, seeing her, "are you Dorothy Gale?" "Yes," she answered, looking gravely at his tousled hair and blinking gray eyes. "Have you come to take me to Hugson's Ranch?" "Of course," he answered. "Train in?" "I couldn't be here if it wasn't," she said. He laughed at that, and his laugh was merry and frank. Jumping out of the buggy he put Dorothy's suit-case under the seat and her bird-cage on the floor in front.

"Canary-birds?" he asked.

"Oh no; it's just Eureka, my kitten. I thought that was the best way to carry her." The boy nodded.

"Eureka's a funny name for a cat," he remarked. "I named my kitten that because I found it," she explained. "Uncle Henry says 'Eureka' means 'I have found it.'" "All right; hop in." She climbed into the buggy and he followed her. Then the boy picked up the reins, shook them, and said "Gid-dap!" The horse did not stir. Dorothy thought he just wiggled one of his drooping ears, but that was all.

"Gid-dap!" called the boy, again.

The horse stood still.

"Perhaps," said Dorothy, "if you untied him, he would go." The boy laughed cheerfully and jumped out.

"Guess I'm half asleep yet," he said, untying the horse. "But Jim knows his business all right--don't you, Jim?" patting the long nose of the animal.

Then he got into the buggy again and took the reins, and the horse at once backed away from the tree, turned slowly around, and began to trot down the sandy road which was just visible in the dim light.

"Thought that train would never come," observed the boy. "I've waited at that station for five hours." "We had a lot of earthquakes," said Dorothy. "Didn't you feel the ground shake?" "Yes; but we're used to such things in California," he replied. "They don't scare us much." "The conductor said it was the worst quake he ever knew." "Did he? Then it must have happened while I was asleep," he said thoughtfully. "How is Uncle Henry?" she enquired, after a pause during which the horse continued to trot with long, regular strides.

"He's pretty well. He and Uncle Hugson have been having a fine visit." "Is Mr. Hugson your uncle?" she asked.

"Yes. Uncle Bill Hugson married your Uncle Henry's wife's sister; so we must be second cousins," said the boy, in an amused tone. "I work for Uncle Bill on his ranch, and he pays me six dollars a month and my board." "Isn't that a great deal?" she asked, doubtfully.

"Why, it's a great deal for Uncle Hugson, but not for me. I'm a splendid worker. I work as well as I sleep," he added, with a laugh. "What is your name?" said Dorothy, thinking she liked the boy's manner and the cheery tone of his voice.

"Not a very pretty one," he answered, as if a little ashamed. "My whole name is Zebediah; but folks just call me 'Zeb.' You've been to Australia, haven't you?" "Yes; with Uncle Henry," she answered. "We got to San Francisco a week ago, and Uncle Henry went right on to Hugson's Ranch for a visit while I stayed a few days in the city with some friends we had met." "How long will you be with us?" he asked.

"Only a day. Tomorrow Uncle Henry and I must start back for Kansas. We've been away for a long time, you know, and so we're anxious to get home again." The boy flicked the big, boney horse with his whip and looked thoughtful. Then he started to say something to his little companion, but before he could speak the buggy began to sway dangerously from side to side and the earth seemed to rise up before them. Next minute there was a roar and a sharp crash, and at her side Dorothy saw the ground open in a wide crack and then come together again.

"Goodness!" she cried, grasping the iron rail of the seat. "What was that?" "That was an awful big quake," replied Zeb, with a white face. "It almost got us that time, Dorothy." The horse had stopped short, and stood firm as a rock. Zeb shook the reins and urged him to go, but Jim was stubborn. Then the boy cracked his whip and touched the animal's flanks with it, and after a low moan of protest Jim stepped slowly along the road.

Neither the boy nor the girl spoke again for some minutes. There was a breath of danger in the very air, and every few moments the earth would shake violently. Jim's ears were standing erect upon his head and every muscle of his big body was tense as he trotted toward home. He was not going very fast, but on his flanks specks of foam began to appear and at times he would tremble like a leaf.

The sky had grown darker again and the wind made queer sobbing sounds as it swept over the valley.

Suddenly there was a rending, tearing sound, and the earth split into another great crack just beneath the spot where the horse was standing. With a wild neigh of terror the animal fell bodily into the pit, drawing the buggy and its occupants after him.

Dorothy grabbed fast hold of the buggy top and the boy did the same. The sudden rush into space confused them so that they could not think.

Blackness engulfed them on every side, and in breathless silence they waited for the fall to end and crush them against jagged rocks or for the earth to close in on them again and bury them forever in its dreadful depths.

The horrible sensation of falling, the darkness and the terrifying noises, proved more than Dorothy could endure and for a few moments the little girl lost consciousness. Zeb, being a boy, did not faint, but he was badly frightened, and clung to the buggy seat with a tight grip, expecting every moment would be his last.

Chapter 1. The Earthquake Kapitel 1. Das Erdbeben Capítulo 1. El terremoto El terremoto Chapitre 1. Le tremblement de terre Capitolo 1. Il terremoto 1장. 지진 Capítulo 1. O terremoto Bölüm 1. Deprem Глава 1. Землетрус 第一章 地震 第 1 章 地震地震

A Faithful Record of Their Amazing Adventures Ein getreuer Bericht über ihre erstaunlichen Abenteuer Um registro fiel de suas incríveis aventuras İnanılmaz Maceralarının Sadık Bir Kaydı Достовірний запис їхніх дивовижних пригод

in an Underground World; and How with the in einer unterirdischen Welt; und wie mit dem in an Underground World; and How with the em um mundo subterrâneo; e como com Yeraltı Dünyasında; ve Nasıl в підземному світі; і Як з

Aid of Their Friends Zeb Hugson, Eureka Hilfe für ihre Freunde Zeb Hugson, Eureka Ajuda de seus amigos Zeb Hugson, Eureka Arkadaşlarının Yardımı Zeb Hugson, Eureka Допомога їхніх друзів Зеб Хагсон, Юрика

the Kitten, and Jim the Cab-Horse, das Kätzchen und Jim, das Cab-Horse, o Gatinho, e Jim o Cavalo de Táxi, Kedicik ve Taksi Atı Jim, кошеня та конячка Джим,

They Finally Reached the Sie erreichten schließlich die Eles finalmente alcançaram o Вони нарешті досягли

Wonderful Land Wunderbares Land Terra Maravilhosa Чудова Земля

of Oz de Oz країни Оз

by por за

L. Frank Baum L. Frank Baum Л. Френк Баум

"Royal Historian of Oz" "Königlicher Historiker von Oz" "Real Historiador de Oz" «Королівський історик країни Оз» To My Readers An meine Leserinnen und Leser Aos meus leitores

It’s no use; no use at all. Es hat keinen Sinn, überhaupt keinen Sinn. Sem uso; não serve para nada. Faydası yok; hiç faydası yok. Це не використовується; ніякої користі. The children won’t let me stop telling tales of the Land of Oz. Die Kinder lassen mich nicht aufhören, Geschichten aus dem Land von Oz zu erzählen. As crianças não me deixam parar de contar histórias da Terra de Oz. Çocuklar Oz Ülkesi masallarını anlatmayı bırakmama izin vermiyorlar. Діти не дають мені перестати розповідати казки про країну Оз. I know lots of other stories, and I hope to tell them, some time or another; but just now my loving tyrants won’t allow me. Ich kenne noch viele andere Geschichten, und ich hoffe, sie irgendwann einmal erzählen zu können; aber im Moment erlauben es mir meine lieben Tyrannen nicht. Conheço muitas outras histórias e espero contá-las uma hora ou outra; mas agora meus tiranos amorosos não me permitem. Başka pek çok hikâye biliyorum ve onları da bir ara anlatmayı umuyorum; ama şu anda sevgili zorbalarım bana izin vermiyor. Я знаю багато інших історій, і я сподіваюся розповісти їх колись; але зараз мої люблячі тирани не дозволяють мені. They cry: "Oz—Oz! Sie schreien: "Oz-Oz! Eles gritam: "Oz-Oz! more about Oz, Mr. mais sobre Oz, Sr. Baum!" Baum!" Baum!" Баум!" and what can I do but obey their commands? und was kann ich tun, außer ihren Befehlen zu gehorchen? e o que posso fazer senão obedecer aos seus comandos? ve onların emirlerine itaat etmekten başka ne yapabilirim? і що мені робити, як не виконувати їхні накази?

This is Our Book—mine and the children’s. Dies ist unser Buch - meins und das der Kinder. Este é o Nosso Livro — meu e das crianças. Bu bizim kitabımız, benim ve çocukların. Це Наша Книга — моя і дитяча. For they have flooded me with thousands of suggestions in regard to it, and I have honestly tried to adopt as many of these suggestions as could be fitted into one story. Denn sie haben mich mit Tausenden von Vorschlägen dazu überschwemmt, und ich habe ehrlich versucht, so viele dieser Vorschläge zu übernehmen, wie sich in eine Geschichte einfügen ließen. Pois eles me inundaram com milhares de sugestões em relação a isso, e honestamente tentei adotar tantas dessas sugestões quanto pudessem ser encaixadas em uma história. Ведь они завалили меня тысячами предложений по этому поводу, и я честно попытался принять столько из них, сколько можно было вместить в одну историю. Çünkü bu konuda beni binlerce öneriyle doldurdular ve ben de dürüstçe bu önerilerden bir öyküye sığabilecek kadarını benimsemeye çalıştım. Бо вони завалили мене тисячами пропозицій щодо цього, і я чесно намагався прийняти стільки з цих пропозицій, скільки можна було вмістити в одну історію.

After the wonderful success of "Ozma of Oz" it is evident that Dorothy has become a firm fixture in these Oz stories. Nach dem großartigen Erfolg von "Ozma von Oz" ist es offensichtlich, dass Dorothy ein fester Bestandteil der Geschichten von Oz geworden ist. Após o maravilhoso sucesso de "Ozma of Oz", é evidente que Dorothy se tornou uma figura firme nessas histórias de Oz. После замечательного успеха "Озмы из страны Оз" очевидно, что Дороти прочно вошла в эти истории страны Оз. "Ozma of Oz "un muhteşem başarısından sonra Dorothy'nin Oz hikayelerinde sağlam bir yer edindiği aşikar. The little ones all love Dorothy, and as one of my small friends aptly states: "It isn’t a real Oz story without her." Die Kleinen lieben alle Dorothy, und wie einer meiner kleinen Freunde treffend feststellte: "Es ist keine richtige Oz-Geschichte ohne sie." Todos os pequeninos adoram Dorothy, e como um dos meus pequenos amigos diz com propriedade: "Não é uma verdadeira história de Oz sem ela." Все малыши обожают Дороти, и, как метко сказал один из моих маленьких друзей: "Без нее это не настоящая история страны Оз". Küçüklerin hepsi Dorothy'ye bayılıyor ve küçük arkadaşlarımdan birinin uygun bir şekilde belirttiği gibi: "Onsuz gerçek bir Oz hikayesi olmaz." So here she is again, as sweet and gentle and innocent as ever, I hope, and the heroine of another strange adventure. Hier ist sie also wieder, so süß und sanft und unschuldig wie immer, hoffe ich, und die Heldin eines weiteren seltsamen Abenteuers. Então aqui está ela de novo, tão doce, gentil e inocente como sempre, espero, e a heroína de outra estranha aventura. И вот она снова здесь, такая же милая, нежная и невинная, как всегда, я надеюсь, и героиня очередного странного приключения. İşte yine burada, her zamanki gibi tatlı, nazik ve masum, umarım ve başka bir garip maceranın kahramanı. І ось вона знову тут, така ж мила, ніжна і невинна, як завжди, я сподіваюся, і героїня ще однієї дивної пригоди.

There were many requests from my little correspondents for "more about the Wizard." Meine kleinen Korrespondenten fragten mich oft nach "mehr über den Zauberer". Houve muitos pedidos de meus pequenos correspondentes para "mais sobre o Mágico". От моих маленьких корреспондентов было много просьб "побольше о Волшебнике". Küçük muhabirlerimden "Büyücü hakkında daha fazla bilgi" için pek çok talep geldi. It seems the jolly old fellow made hosts of friends in the first Oz book, in spite of the fact that he frankly acknowledged himself "a humbug." Es scheint, dass der fröhliche alte Mann im ersten Oz-Buch viele Freunde gefunden hat, obwohl er sich selbst offen als Humbug" bezeichnete. Parece que o velho alegre fez muitos amigos no primeiro livro de Oz, apesar do fato de que ele francamente se reconheceu "um farsa". Похоже, что веселый старик обрел множество друзей в первой книге "Оз", несмотря на то, что откровенно признавал себя "хамом". Görünüşe bakılırsa, neşeli ihtiyar Oz'un ilk kitabında, kendisini açıkça "bir humbug" olarak kabul etmesine rağmen, pek çok arkadaş edinmiş. Здається, веселий старий знайшов безліч друзів у першій книзі про країну Оз, незважаючи на те, що він відверто визнавав себе "дурнем". The children had heard how he mounted into the sky in a balloon and they were all waiting for him to come down again. As crianças ouviram como ele subiu ao céu em um balão e todos estavam esperando que ele descesse novamente. Дети слышали, как он поднялся в небо на воздушном шаре, и все ждали, когда он снова спустится. Çocuklar onun bir balonla gökyüzüne nasıl yükseldiğini duymuşlardı ve hepsi onun tekrar aşağı inmesini bekliyorlardı. So what could I do but tell "what happened to the Wizard afterward"? Então, o que eu poderia fazer além de contar "o que aconteceu com o Mago depois"? Так что же мне оставалось делать, кроме как рассказать, "что случилось с волшебником потом"? O halde "Büyücüye daha sonra ne olduğunu" anlatmaktan başka ne yapabilirdim ki? You will find him in these pages, just the same humbug Wizard as before. Você o encontrará nestas páginas, exatamente o mesmo feiticeiro de antes. Вы найдете его на этих страницах, такого же волшебника-обманщика, как и раньше. Onu bu sayfalarda bulacaksınız, daha önce olduğu gibi aynı humbug Sihirbazı. Ви знайдете його на цих сторінках, такого ж дурнуватого Чарівника, як і раніше.

There was one thing the children demanded which I found it impossible to do in this present book: they bade me introduce Toto, Dorothy’s little black dog, who has many friends among my readers. Havia uma coisa que as crianças exigiam que eu achava impossível fazer neste livro: eles me pediram para apresentar Totó, o cachorrinho preto de Dorothy, que tem muitos amigos entre meus leitores. Дети потребовали от меня одну вещь, которую я не смог сделать в этой книге: они попросили меня представить Тото, маленькую черную собачку Дороти, у которой много друзей среди моих читателей. Çocukların benden talep ettiği ve bu kitapta yapmamın imkânsız olduğu bir şey vardı: Okuyucularım arasında pek çok arkadaşı olan Dorothy'nin küçük siyah köpeği Toto'yu tanıtmamı istediler. But you will see, when you begin to read the story, that Toto was in Kansas while Dorothy was in California, and so she had to start on her adventure without him. Mas você verá, quando começar a ler a história, que Toto estava no Kansas enquanto Dorothy estava na Califórnia, e então ela teve que começar sua aventura sem ele. Но когда вы начнете читать эту историю, вы увидите, что Тото был в Канзасе, а Дороти - в Калифорнии, и поэтому ей пришлось начать свое приключение без него. Ama hikayeyi okumaya başladığınızda göreceksiniz ki, Dorothy Kaliforniya'dayken Toto Kansas'taydı ve bu yüzden macerasına onsuz başlamak zorunda kaldı. In this book Dorothy had to take her kitten with her instead of her dog; but in the next Oz book, if I am permitted to write one, I intend to tell a good deal about Toto’s further history. Neste livro, Dorothy teve que levar seu gatinho com ela em vez de seu cachorro; mas no próximo livro de Oz, se me for permitido escrever um, pretendo contar muito sobre a história posterior de Toto. В этой книге Дороти пришлось взять с собой котенка вместо собаки; но в следующей книге об Оз, если мне разрешат ее написать, я намерен рассказать много интересного о дальнейшей истории Тото. Bu kitapta Dorothy köpeği yerine yavru kedisini yanına almak zorunda kaldı; ama bir sonraki Oz kitabında, eğer yazmama izin verilirse, Toto'nun daha sonraki geçmişi hakkında epeyce şey anlatmayı planlıyorum.

Princess Ozma, whom I love as much as my readers do, is again introduced in this story, and so are several of our old friends of Oz. A princesa Ozma, que eu amo tanto quanto meus leitores, é novamente apresentada nesta história, assim como vários de nossos velhos amigos de Oz. Принцесса Озма, которую я люблю так же сильно, как и мои читатели, снова появляется в этой истории, как и несколько наших старых друзей из страны Оз. Okurlarım kadar benim de çok sevdiğim Prenses Ozma bu hikâyede yeniden karşımıza çıkıyor ve Oz'un eski dostlarından bazıları da bu hikâyede yer alıyor. You will also become acquainted with Jim the Cab-Horse, the Nine Tiny Piglets, and Eureka, the Kitten. Você também se familiarizará com Jim, o Cab-Horse, os Nine Tiny Piglets e Eureka, the Kitten. Вы также познакомитесь с извозчиком Джимом, девятью крошечными поросятами и котенком Эврикой. Ayrıca Taksi Atı Jim, Dokuz Minik Domuzcuk ve Yavru Kedi Eureka ile de tanışacaksınız. I am sorry the kitten was not as well behaved as she ought to have been; but perhaps she wasn’t brought up properly. Lamento que a gatinha não tenha se comportado tão bem quanto deveria; mas talvez ela não tenha sido criada adequadamente. Мне жаль, что котенок вел себя не так хорошо, как следовало бы; но, возможно, его неправильно воспитали. Yavru kedi olması gerektiği kadar iyi davranmadığı için üzgünüm; ama belki de düzgün yetiştirilmemiştir. Dorothy found her, you see, and who her parents were nobody knows. Dorothy a encontrou, sabe, e quem eram seus pais ninguém sabe. Дороти нашла ее, видите ли, а кто были ее родители, никто не знает. Onu Dorothy buldu, ailesinin kim olduğunu kimse bilmiyor.

I believe, my dears, that I am the proudest story-teller that ever lived. Acredito, meus queridos, que sou o contador de histórias mais orgulhoso que já existiu. Я считаю, дорогие мои, что я самый гордый рассказчик, который когда-либо жил. İnanıyorum ki canlarım, gelmiş geçmiş en gururlu hikâye anlatıcısı benim. Many a time tears of pride and joy have stood in my eyes while I read the tender, loving, appealing letters that came to me in almost every mail from my little readers. Muitas vezes lágrimas de orgulho e alegria brotaram em meus olhos enquanto eu lia as cartas ternas, amorosas e atraentes que chegavam a mim em quase todas as correspondências de meus pequenos leitores. Много раз слезы гордости и радости стояли в моих глазах, когда я читала нежные, любящие, привлекательные письма, которые приходили ко мне почти в каждом письме от моих маленьких читателей. Küçük okuyucularımdan neredeyse her postada bana gelen şefkatli, sevgi dolu, çekici mektupları okurken birçok kez gurur ve sevinç gözyaşları dökmüşümdür. Неодноразово сльози гордості і радості виступали на моїх очах, коли я читав ніжні, люблячі, закличні листи, які приходили до мене майже в кожній пошті від моїх маленьких читачів. To have pleased you, to have interested you, to have won your friendship, and perhaps your love, through my stories, is to my mind as great an achievement as to become President of the United States. Agradá-lo, interessá-lo, ter conquistado sua amizade e talvez seu amor, através de minhas histórias, seja para mim uma conquista tão grande quanto tornar-se presidente dos Estados Unidos. Порадовать вас, заинтересовать вас, завоевать вашу дружбу, а возможно, и любовь, своими рассказами - это, на мой взгляд, такое же великое достижение, как стать президентом Соединенных Штатов. Hikayelerim aracılığıyla sizi memnun etmek, ilginizi çekmek, dostluğunuzu ve belki de sevginizi kazanmak benim için ABD Başkanı olmak kadar büyük bir başarıdır. Indeed, I would much rather be your story-teller, under these conditions, than to be the President. Na verdade, eu preferiria ser seu contador de histórias, nessas condições, do que ser o presidente. Действительно, в таких условиях я бы предпочел быть вашим рассказчиком, чем президентом. Doğrusu, bu koşullar altında, Başkan olmaktansa sizin hikâye anlatıcınız olmayı tercih ederim. Насправді, за таких умов я б волів бути вашим оповідачем, а не президентом. So you have helped me to fulfill my life’s ambition, and I am more grateful to you, my dears, than I can express in words.

I try to answer every letter of my young correspondents; yet sometimes there are so many letters that a little time must pass before you get your answer. But be patient, friends, for the answer will surely come, and by writing to me you more than repay me for the pleasant task of preparing these books. Besides, I am proud to acknowledge that the books are partly yours, for your suggestions often guide me in telling the stories, and I am sure they would not be half so good without your clever and thoughtful assistance. Кроме того, я с гордостью признаю, что эти книги отчасти принадлежат Вам, ведь Ваши предложения часто подсказывают мне сюжеты, и я уверен, что без Вашей умной и вдумчивой помощи они не были бы и вполовину так хороши.

L. FRANK BAUM  Coronado, 1908.

Chapter 1. The Earthquake Землетрус.

The train from 'Frisco was very late. Поезд из Фриско сильно опоздал. Потяг із Фріско дуже запізнився. It should have arrived at Hugson’s Siding at midnight, but it was already five o’clock and the gray dawn was breaking in the east when the little train slowly rumbled up to the open shed that served for the station-house. Он должен был прибыть на станцию Hugson's Siding в полночь, но было уже пять часов, и на востоке разгорался серый рассвет, когда маленький поезд медленно подкатил к открытому навесу, служившему зданием станции. Він мав прибути на Гуґсонс-сайдинг опівночі, але була вже п’ята година, і на сході починався сірий світанок, коли маленький потяг повільно під’їхав до відкритого сараю, який слугував за станцію. As it came to a stop the conductor called out in a loud voice: При остановке кондуктор громко позвал: Коли він зупинився, кондуктор голосно вигукнув:

"Hugson’s Siding!" "Сайдинг Хагсон!" "Сайдинг Г'юсона!" At once a little girl rose from her seat and walked to the door of the car, carrying a wicker suit-case in one hand and a round bird-cage covered up with newspapers in the other, while a parasol was tucked under her arm. Тут же со своего места поднялась девочка и подошла к дверце машины, в одной руке она держала плетеный чемоданчик, в другой - круглую клетку для птиц, накрытую газетами, а под мышкой у нее был зонтик. The conductor helped her off the car and then the engineer started his train again, so that it puffed and groaned and moved slowly away up the track. Кондуктор помог ей выйти из вагона, а затем инженер снова завел поезд, и тот, пыхтя и стоная, медленно поехал по рельсам. The reason he was so late was because all through the night there were times when the solid earth shook and trembled under him, and the engineer was afraid that at any moment the rails might spread apart and an accident happen to his passengers. Причина такого опоздания заключалась в том, что на протяжении всей ночи под вагоном то и дело содрогалась твердая земля, и инженер боялся, что в любой момент рельсы могут разойтись и с пассажирами произойдет несчастный случай. So he moved the cars slowly and with caution.

The little girl stood still to watch until the train had disappeared around a curve; then she turned to see where she was. Девочка стояла и смотрела, пока поезд не скрылся за поворотом; тогда она повернулась, чтобы посмотреть, где она находится.

The shed at Hugson’s Siding was bare save for an old wooden bench, and did not look very inviting. В сарае компании Hugson's Siding не было ничего, кроме старой деревянной скамейки, и выглядел он не очень привлекательно. Сарай у Hugson's Siding був голий, за винятком старої дерев'яної лавки, і виглядав не дуже привабливо. As she peered through the soft gray light not a house of any sort was visible near the station, nor was any person in sight; but after a while the child discovered a horse and buggy standing near a group of trees a short distance away. Когда она вглядывалась в мягкий серый свет, рядом со станцией не было видно ни одного дома, ни одного человека, но через некоторое время ребенок обнаружил лошадь и коляску, стоящие у группы деревьев на небольшом расстоянии. She walked toward it and found the horse tied to a tree and standing motionless, with its head hanging down almost to the ground. Она подошла к нему и увидела, что лошадь привязана к дереву и стоит неподвижно, свесив голову почти до земли. It was a big horse, tall and bony, with long legs and large knees and feet. Это была большая лошадь, высокая и костлявая, с длинными ногами, большими коленями и ступнями. She could count his ribs easily where they showed through the skin of his body, and his head was long and seemed altogether too big for him, as if it did not fit. Она могла легко сосчитать его ребра, которые проступали сквозь кожу тела, а голова была длинной и казалась слишком большой для него, как будто не подходила по размеру. His tail was short and scraggly, and his harness had been broken in many places and fastened together again with cords and bits of wire. Хвост у него был короткий и облезлый, а упряжь во многих местах порвана и вновь скреплена шнурами и кусками проволоки. Хвіст у нього був короткий і кострубатий, а збруя в багатьох місцях розірвана і знову скріплена шнурами та шматками дроту. The buggy seemed almost new, for it had a shiny top and side curtains. Коляска казалась почти новой, потому что у нее был блестящий верх и боковые шторки. Коляска виглядала майже новою, бо мала блискучий верх і бічні шторки. Getting around in front, so that she could look inside, the girl saw a boy curled up on the seat, fast asleep. Оказавшись впереди, чтобы заглянуть внутрь, девушка увидела мальчика, свернувшегося калачиком на сиденье и крепко спящего. Обійшовши машину спереду, щоб зазирнути всередину, дівчинка побачила хлопчика, який, згорнувшись калачиком на сидінні, міцно спав.

She set down the bird-cage and poked the boy with her parasol. Она поставила клетку с птицами и ткнула мальчика зонтиком. Вона поставила пташину клітку і тицьнула в хлопчика парасолькою. Presently he woke up, rose to a sitting position and rubbed his eyes briskly. Очнувшись, он поднялся в сидячее положение и энергично протер глаза.

"Hello!" he said, seeing her, "are you Dorothy Gale?" "Yes," she answered, looking gravely at his tousled hair and blinking gray eyes. "Have you come to take me to Hugson’s Ranch?" "Ти приїхав, щоб відвезти мене на ранчо Г'юсона?" "Of course," he answered. "Train in?" "Поезд?" "Потренуватися?" "I couldn’t be here if it wasn’t," she said. "Я не змогла б бути тут, якби це було не так", - сказала вона. He laughed at that, and his laugh was merry and frank. На это он рассмеялся, и смех его был веселым и откровенным. Він розсміявся, і його сміх був веселим і щирим. Jumping out of the buggy he put Dorothy’s suit-case under the seat and her bird-cage on the floor in front.

"Canary-birds?" he asked.

"Oh no; it’s just Eureka, my kitten. I thought that was the best way to carry her." The boy nodded.

"Eureka’s a funny name for a cat," he remarked. "I named my kitten that because I found it," she explained. "Я так назвала своего котенка, потому что нашла его", - пояснила она. "Uncle Henry says 'Eureka' means 'I have found it.'" "Дядя Генри говорит, что "Эврика" означает "Я нашел это"". "Дядько Генрі каже, що "Еврика" означає "я знайшов її". "All right; hop in." "Хорошо, запрыгивайте". "Гаразд, застрибуй." She climbed into the buggy and he followed her. Она забралась в коляску, и он последовал за ней. Then the boy picked up the reins, shook them, and said "Gid-dap!" Тогда мальчик поднял вожжи, потряс ими и сказал: "Гид-дап!". The horse did not stir. Лошадь не шелохнулась. Dorothy thought he just wiggled one of his drooping ears, but that was all. Дороти показалось, что он просто шевельнул одним из своих поникших ушей, но это было не более того. Дороті подумала, що він просто ворухнув одним зі своїх висячих вух, але це було все.

"Gid-dap!" called the boy, again.

The horse stood still.

"Perhaps," said Dorothy, "if you untied him, he would go." "Можливо, - сказала Дороті, - якщо ти його розв'яжеш, він піде". The boy laughed cheerfully and jumped out. Хлопчик весело засміявся і вистрибнув.

"Guess I’m half asleep yet," he said, untying the horse. "Мабуть, я ще напівсонний", - сказав він, відв'язуючи коня. "But Jim knows his business all right--don’t you, Jim?" "Но Джим хорошо знает свое дело - не так ли, Джим?" "Але Джим добре знає свою справу, чи не так, Джиме?" patting the long nose of the animal.

Then he got into the buggy again and took the reins, and the horse at once backed away from the tree, turned slowly around, and began to trot down the sandy road which was just visible in the dim light. Затем он снова сел в коляску, взял поводья, и лошадь сразу же отступила от дерева, медленно развернулась и рысью пошла по песчаной дороге, которая была хорошо видна в тусклом свете.

"Thought that train would never come," observed the boy. "Думал, что поезд никогда не придет", - заметил мальчик. "I’ve waited at that station for five hours." "Я прочекав на цій станції п'ять годин". "We had a lot of earthquakes," said Dorothy. "Didn’t you feel the ground shake?" "Yes; but we’re used to such things in California," he replied. "Да, но мы привыкли к таким вещам в Калифорнии", - ответил он. «Так, але ми звикли до таких речей у Каліфорнії», — відповів він. "They don’t scare us much." «Вони нас не дуже лякають». "The conductor said it was the worst quake he ever knew." «Провідник сказав, що це був найгірший землетрус, який він коли-небудь знав». "Did he? "Він зробив? Then it must have happened while I was asleep," he said thoughtfully. Значит, это произошло, пока я спал, - задумчиво произнес он. Тоді це, мабуть, сталося, коли я спав, — задумливо сказав він. "How is Uncle Henry?" "Як дядько Генрі?" she enquired, after a pause during which the horse continued to trot with long, regular strides. спросила она после паузы, во время которой лошадь продолжала рысить длинными, равномерными шагами.

"He’s pretty well. He and Uncle Hugson have been having a fine visit." Они с дядей Хагсоном прекрасно провели время". "Is Mr. Hugson your uncle?" she asked.

"Yes. Uncle Bill Hugson married your Uncle Henry’s wife’s sister; so we must be second cousins," said the boy, in an amused tone. Дядя Билл Хагсон женился на сестре жены твоего дяди Генри, так что мы, должно быть, троюродные братья, - весело сказал мальчик. "I work for Uncle Bill on his ranch, and he pays me six dollars a month and my board." "Isn’t that a great deal?" she asked, doubtfully. запитала вона з сумнівом.

"Why, it’s a great deal for Uncle Hugson, but not for me. "Bu Hugson Amca için büyük bir anlaşma ama benim için değil. "Для дядька Г'юсона це чудова пропозиція, але не для мене. I’m a splendid worker. Ben harika bir işçiyim. I work as well as I sleep," he added, with a laugh. Uyuduğum kadar çalışıyorum da" diye ekledi gülerek. "What is your name?" said Dorothy, thinking she liked the boy’s manner and the cheery tone of his voice. сказала Дороті, думаючи, що їй подобаються манери хлопчика і веселий тон його голосу.

"Not a very pretty one," he answered, as if a little ashamed. "Не очень красивая", - ответил он, как бы немного стыдясь. "Не дуже гарна", - відповів він, ніби трохи соромлячись. "My whole name is Zebediah; but folks just call me 'Zeb.' You’ve been to Australia, haven’t you?" Ви були в Австралії, чи не так?" "Yes; with Uncle Henry," she answered. "We got to San Francisco a week ago, and Uncle Henry went right on to Hugson’s Ranch for a visit while I stayed a few days in the city with some friends we had met." "Мы приехали в Сан-Франциско неделю назад, и дядя Генри сразу же отправился на ранчо Хагсона, а я остался на несколько дней в городе с друзьями, которых мы встретили". "How long will you be with us?" he asked.

"Only a day. Tomorrow Uncle Henry and I must start back for Kansas. We’ve been away for a long time, you know, and so we’re anxious to get home again." Мы долго отсутствовали, знаете ли, и поэтому нам не терпится вернуться домой". The boy flicked the big, boney horse with his whip and looked thoughtful. Мальчик щелкнул кнутом по крупной костистой лошади и задумчиво посмотрел на нее. Then he started to say something to his little companion, but before he could speak the buggy began to sway dangerously from side to side and the earth seemed to rise up before them. Затем он начал что-то говорить своему маленькому спутнику, но не успел он договорить, как коляска начала опасно раскачиваться из стороны в сторону, и земля, казалось, поднялась перед ними. Next minute there was a roar and a sharp crash, and at her side Dorothy saw the ground open in a wide crack and then come together again. В следующее мгновение раздался грохот и резкий треск, и Дороти увидела, как земля разверзлась в широкую трещину, а затем снова сошлась. Наступної миті пролунав гуркіт і різкий удар, і Дороті побачила, як земля розверзлася широкою тріщиною, а потім знову зійшлася.

"Goodness!" "Добро!" she cried, grasping the iron rail of the seat. воскликнула она, хватаясь за железный поручень сиденья. плакала вона, вхопившись за залізний поручень сидіння. "What was that?" "That was an awful big quake," replied Zeb, with a white face. "Это было ужасно сильное землетрясение", - ответил Зеб с белым лицом. "Це був страшенно сильний землетрус", - відповів Зеб з побілілим обличчям. "It almost got us that time, Dorothy." "Того разу ми мало не загинули, Дороті". The horse had stopped short, and stood firm as a rock. Лошадь остановилась и стояла непоколебимо, как скала. Zeb shook the reins and urged him to go, but Jim was stubborn. Зеб тряс поводья и уговаривал его ехать, но Джим упрямился. Then the boy cracked his whip and touched the animal’s flanks with it, and after a low moan of protest Jim stepped slowly along the road. Затем мальчик взмахнул хлыстом, коснулся им боков животного, и после негромкого протестующего стона Джим медленно пошел по дороге.

Neither the boy nor the girl spoke again for some minutes. There was a breath of danger in the very air, and every few moments the earth would shake violently. В самом воздухе витало дыхание опасности, и каждые несколько мгновений земля неистово сотрясалась. Jim’s ears were standing erect upon his head and every muscle of his big body was tense as he trotted toward home. Уши Джима стояли прямо на голове, и каждый мускул его большого тела был напряжен, когда он рысью приближался к дому. He was not going very fast, but on his flanks specks of foam began to appear and at times he would tremble like a leaf. Он шел не очень быстро, но на его боках стали появляться пятна пены, и временами он трепетал, как лист.

The sky had grown darker again and the wind made queer sobbing sounds as it swept over the valley. Небо снова потемнело, и ветер, проносясь над долиной, издавал странные всхлипывающие звуки.

Suddenly there was a rending, tearing sound, and the earth split into another great crack just beneath the spot where the horse was standing. Вдруг раздался раздирающий звук, и земля раскололась еще одной огромной трещиной прямо под тем местом, где стояла лошадь. With a wild neigh of terror the animal fell bodily into the pit, drawing the buggy and its occupants after him. С диким воплем ужаса животное упало в яму, увлекая за собой коляску и ее обитателей. З диким зойком жаху тварина впала в яму, потягнувши за собою баггі та його пасажирів.

Dorothy grabbed fast hold of the buggy top and the boy did the same. Дороти крепко ухватилась за крышу коляски, и мальчик сделал то же самое. Дороті міцно схопила верх коляски, і хлопчик зробив те саме. The sudden rush into space confused them so that they could not think. Внезапный бросок в пространство сбил их с толку, и они не могли думать. Раптовий порив у космос збив їх з пантелику так, що вони не могли думати.

Blackness engulfed them on every side, and in breathless silence they waited for the fall to end and crush them against jagged rocks or for the earth to close in on them again and bury them forever in its dreadful depths. Чернота поглотила их со всех сторон, и в затаенном молчании они ждали, когда падение закончится и их раздавит о зазубренные камни или когда земля снова сомкнется над ними и навсегда похоронит их в своих страшных глубинах.

The horrible sensation of falling, the darkness and the terrifying noises, proved more than Dorothy could endure and for a few moments the little girl lost consciousness. Ужасное ощущение падения, темнота и страшные звуки оказались сильнее, чем Дороти могла выдержать, и на несколько мгновений девочка потеряла сознание. Zeb, being a boy, did not faint, but he was badly frightened, and clung to the buggy seat with a tight grip, expecting every moment would be his last. Зеб, будучи мальчиком, не потерял сознание, но сильно испугался и крепко вцепился в сиденье коляски, ожидая, что каждый миг станет для него последним.