YOU WILL REMEMBER there was no road—not even a pathway—between the castle of the Wicked¹ Witch and the Emerald City. When the four travelers went in search of the Witch she had seen them coming, and so sent the Winged Monkeys to bring them to her. It was much harder to find their way back through the big fields of buttercups and yellow daisies than it was being carried. They knew, of course, they must go straight east, toward² the rising sun; and they started off in the right way. But at noon, when the sun was over their heads, they did not know which was east and which was west, and that was the reason they were lost in the great fields. They kept on walking, however, and at night the moon came out and shone brightly. So they lay down among the sweet smelling yellow flowers and slept soundly until morning—all but the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman.

　The next morning the sun was behind a cloud, but they started on, as if they were quite sure which way they were going.

　"If we walk far enough," said Dorothy, "I am sure we shall sometime come to some place."

　But day by day passed away, and they still saw nothing before them but the scarlet³ fields. The Scarecrow began to grumble⁴ a bit.

　"We have surely lost our way," he said, "and unless we find it again in time to reach the Emerald City, I shall never get my brains."

　"Nor I my heart," declared the Tin Woodman. "It seems to me I can scarcely⁵ wait till I get to Oz, and you must admit this is a very long journey."

　"You see," said the Cowardly Lion, with a whimper, "I haven't the courage to keep tramping forever, without getting anywhere at all."

　Then Dorothy lost heart. She sat down on the grass and looked at her companions, and they sat down and looked at her, and Toto found that for the first time in his life he was too tired to chase⁶ a butterfly that flew past his head. So he put out his tongue and panted⁷ and looked at Dorothy as if to ask what they should do next.

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1 wicked
adj.邪恶的，恶劣的，缺德的；淘气的
参考例句：
Let everyone know all the wicked things she has done.把她干的坏事给大家抖搂抖搂。 The wicked must be wiped out.恶人必须除掉。

2 toward
prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝
参考例句：
Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。 Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。

3 scarlet
n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的
参考例句：
The scarlet leaves of the maples contrast well with the dark green of the pines.深红的枫叶和暗绿的松树形成了明显的对比。 The glowing clouds are growing slowly pale,scarlet,bright red,and then light red.天空的霞光渐渐地淡下去了，深红的颜色变成了绯红，绯红又变为浅红。

4 grumble
vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声
参考例句：
I don't want to hear another grumble from you.我不愿再听到你的抱怨。 He could do nothing but grumble over the situation.他除了埋怨局势之外别无他法。

5 scarcely
adv.几乎不，简直没有，勉强
参考例句：
He found the dullness of his work scarcely bearable.他觉得他的工作枯燥乏味，简直无法忍受。 She scarcely earns enough money to make ends meet.她几乎挣不到足够的钱以维持开支。

6 chase
vt.追逐，追赶，追求；n.追赶
参考例句：
The police grabbed the robbers after a long chase.警察经过长距离追赶后逮住了抢劫犯。 Would you chase me if I did?如果我逃开了，你会来追吗？

7 panted
喘气，喘息( pant的过去式和过去分词 )； 喘着气说
参考例句：
He panted out his message. 他气喘吁吁地讲出口信。 Aunt Pitty panted out after them. 皮蒂姑妈喘着气跟在她们后面。

8 charm
vt.使着迷，使陶醉；n.招人喜欢之处，魅力
参考例句：
With all imperfections the short play has a real charm.尽管有不少缺欠，这出小戏仍颇具魅力。 He could resist her charm no longer.他再也抗拒不住她的魅力。

9 mischief
n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹
参考例句：
Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。 He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。

10 plague
n.瘟疫，鼠疫，祸患，灾难；v.烦扰，使痛苦
参考例句：
Plague was then prevailing in that city.当时瘟疫正在该城流行。 The plague once could wipe out a village.鼠疫曾一度可以夺走整个村庄村民的生命。

11 scampered
v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The cat scampered away. 猫刺棱一下跑了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 The rabbIt'scampered off. 兔子迅速跑掉了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

12 lining
n.衬里，衬料
参考例句：
The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。 Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。

13 standing
n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
参考例句：
After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。 They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

14 chattering
n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式
参考例句：
The teacher told the children to stop chattering in class. 老师叫孩子们在课堂上不要叽叽喳喳讲话。 I was so cold that my teeth were chattering. 我冷得牙齿直打战。

15 flapping
（使）上下左右移动( flap的现在分词 )； 轻拍； 焦急，焦虑； 振（翅）
参考例句：
The flag was flapping around in the light wind. 那面旗子在微风中飘动。 Do stop flapping around, we'll get the job done in time. 大可不必担心，我们会按时完成这项工作的。

16 cheerfully
adv.高兴地，愉快地
参考例句：
The train rolled cheerfully into the station.火车欢呼着驶进车站。 He takes our advice quite cheerfully.他欣然接受我们的劝告。

17 chasing
n.雕镂术，雕刻工作；车螺丝；抛光；螺旋板
参考例句：
My dog likes chasing rabbits. 我的狗喜欢追捕兔子。 The children were having fun, chasing each other's shadows. 孩子们追逐着彼此的影子，玩得很开心。

18 ruby
n.红宝石，红宝石色
参考例句：
She is wearing a small ruby earring.她戴着一枚红宝石小耳环。 On the handle of his sword sat the biggest ruby in the world.他的剑柄上镶有一颗世上最大的红宝石。

19 mate
n.伙伴，同事；配偶；大副；v.(使)交配
参考例句：
Where is the mate to this glove?这副手套的另一只在哪儿？ She has been a faithful mate to him.她一直是他忠实的配偶。

20 manly
adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地
参考例句：
The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。 He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务，并希望别人效之。

21 hastened
v.加速，催促，赶快( hasten的过去式和过去分词 )；快速赶往某地
参考例句：
She saw his frown and hastened to explain. 看到他皱起眉头，她赶紧解释。 He hastened to assure us that the press would not be informed. 他急忙向我们保证新闻界是不会知道的。 来自《简明英汉词典》

22 velvet
n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的
参考例句：
This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。 The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。

23 spotted
adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的
参考例句：
The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。 Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

24 pleaded
恳求，请求( plead的过去式和过去分词 )； 提出…为借口[理由]； （向法庭）陈述案情； （在法庭）申辩，认罪，辩护
参考例句：
She pleaded with him not to go. 她恳求他不要离开。 She wept and pleaded until he agreed to do as she wished. 她哭着恳求他，一直到他答应按她的愿望去做。

25 afterward
adv.后来；以后
参考例句：
Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。 Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

26 swiftly
adv.快地，迅速地
参考例句：
He came in swiftly and placed the child in my arms.他匆忙走进来把孩子放到我怀里。 The police must be able to react swiftly in an emergency.警方在面对紧急情况时必须能迅速作出反应。