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."They bothered me," Snuffer told Ojo, after ashort silence."When a fellow's fur grows on hisback he doesn't need braces to hang it to.""No, I suppose not," agreed Ojo."I wish I couldgrow a new coat.This one is a perfect wreck.""If I ever get my claws on those gypsies again I'llPage 154ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlclump them good for the way they treated you,"promised Snuffer, bristling with anger at the merethought of the way the rascals had pommelled Ojo."Well, I hope we don't meet them now," said theboy, swinging along energetically."But I do wonderwhat became of the bandits.""Oh, they've probably found their way back to thecave and will be there all ready to welcome Realbadwhen he returns with the unicorns' jewels," pre-dicted Snuffer, lumbering contentedly after Ojo."Isthat mountain getting nearer, or do my eyes deceiveme?""No, it really is nearer," said Ojo."We ought to bethere in ten minutes anyway and if we hurry we canclimb it before dusk and spend the night on the top."At the prospect of a night on the mountain top,Snuffer put back his ears and began to gnaw his lipin nervous agitation."I wish there were no mountains between us andthe Emerald City," he sighed gustily."I'd give mybest tooth if we were safely on the other side.""Oh, stop worrying," advised Ojo easily."Everymountain in Oz can't be Moojer Mountain.We'reway off the path of it, as I remember from the mapback in the bandits' cave.""I hope you're right," gulped Snuffer earnestly,"for here we are." Glancing up at the mass of bluerocks and trees rising steeply above, the bear gavehis leather belt a determined hitch and prepared toascend.Page 155ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"Anyway, I still have Realbad's ring," observedOjo, squinting thoughtfully aloft, "so nothing verybad can happen to me.And I'm glad Realbad stillhas his ring, for then if anything happens to him, Ishall know it." Snuffer's paw flew involuntarily tothe pouch attached to his leather belt and he lookeduneasily down at Ojo."What would be the use of that?" he asked irri-tably."Why, then I could go back and help him," saidQjo brightly, "or ask Ozma to help him.""A fine help you'd be." The bear wiggled his noserapidly."What do you suppose Realbad did beforehe knew you? Forget about that big bandit, can'tyou, and let's get on with the climbing.""How about a lift?" The low husky question,bursting upon them so unexpectedly, made both Ojoand Snuffer jump.A door in the smooth rock surfaceto the right had noiselessly opened and standing inthe doorway was a tall, serious-looking fellow in abright blue rubber suit and box hat."Pando's the name," he murmured politely, as Ojoand Snuffer continued to stare at him in surprisedsilence."X.Pando, to be perfectly correct.Thisway, please.""And suppose we don't please?" said Snuffer in asurly voice."Oh, but I think you will," answered Pando, takingoff his little boxed cap and smiling at them pleasantly.It will save you so much time and trouble.I'm anPage 156ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmlElevator Man, you see and will take you quickly tothe top of the mountain, for a small fee---a meretrifle," he finished, glancing modestly into his capand then clapping it on at a rakish angle.Snufferstill continued to look suspiciously at Pando, for inhis travels, mostly over rural Oz, he had never comeacross any elevators and did not know what theywere.But there were many elevators in the EmeraldCity and Ojo was quite familiar with these moder~conveniences, so standing on his tip-toes he triedto look past Pando into the narrow rock aperture."Where is it?" he demanded eagerly."What?" inquired Pando, stepping quickly out ofthe doorway."The elevator!" explained Ojo, thrusting his handsjn his pockets and bending over to have another lookin the doorway."Why, Pm ashamed of you!" X.Pando gave Ojoa reproachful glance."An Elevator Man does notuse an elevator.He is an elevator." Touching thetop button on his coat Pando shot up like an accor-dion, up, up and out of sight, till all Ojo and Snuffercould see were his twinkling blue legs."I don't like this," confessed the bear, shuffling un-easily."Let's get away before he comes down.""But he seems so polite," objected Ojo, thrilled tothink how many wonderful stories he would have totell Betsy Bobbin and Dorothy when he got back tothe Emerald City."And maybe he can tell us thename of this mountain." As Ojo finished speaking,Page 157ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]