I must now tell you something about the Awgwas, that terrible race of creatures which caused our good Claus so much trouble and nearly succeeded in robbing the children of the world of their earliest and best friend.
I do not like to mention the Awgwas, but they are a part of this history, and can not be ignored. They were neither mortals nor immortals1, but stood midway between those classes of beings. The Awgwas were invisible to ordinary people, but not to immortals. They could pass swiftly through the air from one part of the world to another, and had the power of influencing the minds of human beings to do their wicked will.
They were of gigantic stature2 and had coarse, scowling3 countenances4 which showed plainly their hatred5 of all mankind. They possessed6 no consciences whatever and delighted only in evil deeds.
Their homes were in rocky, mountainous places, from whence they sallied forth7 to accomplish their wicked purposes.
The one of their number that could think of the most horrible deed for them to do was always elected the King Awgwa, and all the race obeyed his orders. Sometimes these creatures lived to become a hundred years old, but usually they fought so fiercely among themselves that many were destroyed in combat, and when they died that was the end of them. Mortals were powerless to harm them and the immortals shuddered8 when the Awgwas were mentioned, and always avoided them. So they flourished for many years unopposed and accomplished9 much evil.
I am glad to assure you that these vile10 creatures have long since perished and passed from earth; but in the days when Claus was making his first toys they were a numerous and powerful tribe.
One of the principal sports of the Awgwas was to inspire angry passions in the hearts of little children, so that they quarreled and fought with one another. They would tempt11 boys to eat of unripe12 fruit, and then delight in the pain they suffered; they urged little girls to disobey their parents, and then would laugh when the children were punished. I do not know what causes a child to be naughty in these days, but when the Awgwas were on earth naughty children were usually under their influence.
Now, when Claus began to make children happy he kept them out of the power of the Awgwas; for children possessing such lovely playthings as he gave them had no wish to obey the evil thoughts the Awgwas tried to thrust into their minds.
Therefore, one year when the wicked tribe was to elect a new King, they chose an Awgwa who proposed to destroy Claus and take him away from the children.
"There are, as you know, fewer naughty children in the world since Claus came to the Laughing Valley and began to make his toys," said the new King, as he squatted13 upon a rock and looked around at the scowling faces of his people. "Why, Bessie Blithesome14 has not stamped her foot once this month, nor has Mayrie's brother slapped his sister's face or thrown the puppy into the rain-barrel. Little Weekum took his bath last night without screaming or struggling, because his mother had promised he should take his toy cat to bed with him! Such a condition of affairs is awful for any Awgwa to think of, and the only way we can direct the naughty actions of children is to take this person Claus away from them."
"Good! good!" cried the big Awgwas, in a chorus, and they clapped their hands to applaud the speech of the King.
"But what shall we do with him?" asked one of the creatures.
"I have a plan," replied the wicked King; and what his plan was you will soon discover.
That night Claus went to bed feeling very happy, for he had completed no less than four pretty toys during the day, and they were sure, he thought, to make four little children happy. But while he slept the band of invisible Awgwas surrounded his bed, bound him with stout15 cords, and then flew away with him to the middle of a dark forest in far off Ethop, where they laid him down and left him.
When morning came Claus found himself thousands of miles from any human being, a prisoner in the wild jungle of an unknown land.
From the limb of a tree above his head swayed a huge python, one of those reptiles16 that are able to crush a man's bones in their coils. A few yards away crouched17 a savage18 panther, its glaring red eyes fixed19 full on the helpless Claus. One of those monstrous20 spotted21 spiders whose sting is death crept stealthily toward him over the matted leaves, which shriveled and turned black at its very touch.
But Claus had been reared in Burzee, and was not afraid.
"Come to me, ye Knooks of the Forest!" he cried, and gave the low, peculiar22 whistle that the Knooks know.
The panther, which was about to spring upon its victim, turned and slunk away. The python swung itself into the tree and disappeared among the leaves. The spider stopped short in its advance and hid beneath a rotting log.
Claus had no time to notice them, for he was surrounded by a band of harsh-featured Knooks, more crooked23 and deformed24 in appearance than any he had ever seen.
"Who are you that call on us?" demanded one, in a gruff voice.
"The friend of your brothers in Burzee," answered Claus. "I have been brought here by my enemies, the Awgwas, and left to perish miserably25. Yet now I implore26 your help to release me and to send me home again."
"Have you the sign?" asked another.
"Yes," said Claus.
They cut his bonds, and with his free arms he made the secret sign of the Knooks.
Instantly they assisted him to stand upon his feet, and they brought him food and drink to strengthen him.
"Our brothers of Burzee make queer friends," grumbled27 an ancient Knook whose flowing beard was pure white. "But he who knows our secret sign and signal is entitled to our help, whoever he may be. Close your eyes, stranger, and we will conduct you to your home. Where shall we seek it?"
"'Tis in the Laughing Valley," answered Claus, shutting his eyes.
"There is but one Laughing Valley in the known world, so we can not go astray," remarked the Knook.
As he spoke28 the sound of his voice seemed to die away, so Claus opened his eyes to see what caused the change. To his astonishment29 he found himself seated on the bench by his own door, with the Laughing Valley spread out before him. That day he visited the Wood-Nymphs and related his adventure to Queen Zurline and Necile.
"The Awgwas have become your enemies," said the lovely Queen, thoughtfully; "so we must do all we can to protect you from their power."
"The evil ones are ever cowardly," answered Zurline, "but our friend's slumber31 shall not be disturbed again."
The Queen herself came to the dwelling32 of Claus that evening and placed her Seal on every door and window, to keep out the Awgwas. And under the Seal of Queen Zurline was placed the Seal of the Fairies and the Seal of the Ryls and the Seals of the Knooks, that the charm might become more powerful.
And Claus carried his toys to the children again, and made many more of the little ones happy.
You may guess how angry the King Awgwa and his fierce band were when it was known to them that Claus had escaped from the Forest of Ethop.
They raged madly for a whole week, and then held another meeting among the rocks.
"It is useless to carry him where the Knooks reign," said the King, "for he has their protection. So let us cast him into a cave of our own mountains, where he will surely perish."
This was promptly33 agreed to, and the wicked band set out that night to seize Claus. But they found his dwelling guarded by the Seals of the Immortals and were obliged to go away baffled and disappointed.
"Never mind," said the King; "he does not sleep always!"
Next day, as Claus traveled to the village across the plain, where he intended to present a toy squirrel to a lame34 boy, he was suddenly set upon by the Awgwas, who seized him and carried him away to the mountains.
There they thrust him within a deep cavern35 and rolled many huge rocks against the entrance to prevent his escape.
Deprived thus of light and food, and with little air to breathe, our Claus was, indeed, in a pitiful plight36. But he spoke the mystic words of the Fairies, which always command their friendly aid, and they came to his rescue and transported him to the Laughing Valley in the twinkling of an eye.
Thus the Awgwas discovered they might not destroy one who had earned the friendship of the immortals; so the evil band sought other means of keeping Claus from bringing happiness to children and so making them obedient.
Whenever Claus set out to carry his toys to the little ones an Awgwa, who had been set to watch his movements, sprang upon him and snatched the toys from his grasp. And the children were no more disappointed than was Claus when he was obliged to return home disconsolate37. Still he persevered38, and made many toys for his little friends and started with them for the villages. And always the Awgwas robbed him as soon as he had left the Valley.
They threw the stolen playthings into one of their lonely caverns39, and quite a heap of toys accumulated before Claus became discouraged and gave up all attempts to leave the Valley. Then children began coming to him, since they found he did not go to them; but the wicked Awgwas flew around them and caused their steps to stray and the paths to become crooked, so never a little one could find a way into the Laughing Valley.
Lonely days now fell upon Claus, for he was denied the pleasure of bringing happiness to the children whom he had learned to love. Yet he bore up bravely, for he thought surely the time would come when the Awgwas would abandon their evil designs to injure him.
He devoted40 all his hours to toy-making, and when one plaything had been completed he stood it on a shelf he had built for that purpose. When the shelf became filled with rows of toys he made another one, and filled that also. So that in time he had many shelves filled with gay and beautiful toys representing horses, dogs, cats, elephants, lambs, rabbits and deer, as well as pretty dolls of all sizes and balls and marbles of baked clay painted in gay colors.
Often, as he glanced at this array of childish treasures, the heart of good old Claus became sad, so greatly did he long to carry the toys to his children. And at last, because he could bear it no longer, he ventured to go to the great Ak, to whom he told the story of his persecution41 by the Awgwas, and begged the Master Woodsman to assist him.
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1
immortals
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| 不朽的人物( immortal的名词复数 )； 永生不朽者 | |
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stature
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| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
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scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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4
countenances
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| n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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6
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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7
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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9
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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10
vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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11
tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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12
unripe
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| adj.未成熟的；n.未成熟 | |
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13
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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14
blithesome
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| adj.欢乐的，愉快的 | |
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16
reptiles
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| n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 ) | |
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17
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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20
monstrous
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| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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21
spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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22
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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24
deformed
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| adj.畸形的；变形的；丑的，破相了的 | |
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25
miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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implore
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| vt.乞求，恳求，哀求 | |
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27
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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28
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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29
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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30
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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31
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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32
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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33
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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35
cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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36
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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37
disconsolate
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| adj.忧郁的，不快的 | |
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38
persevered
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| v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39
caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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40
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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41
persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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