按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
but I managed to catch a point of rock that projected from this
cavern； and so saved myself from tumbling headlong into the black
waves beneath； where the tongues of flame that dart out would
certainly have consumed me。 Here； then； I made my home； and although
it is a lonely place I amuse myself making rustles and flutters； and
so get along very nicely。〃
When the braided man had completed this strange tale Dorothy nearly
laughed； because it was all so absurd； but the Wizard tapped his
forehead significantly； to indicate that he thought the poor man was
crazy。 So they politely bade him good day； and went back to the outer
cavern to resume their journey。
11。 They Meet the Wooden Gargoyles
Another breathless climb brought our adventurers to a third landing
where there was a rift in the mountain。 On peering out all they could
see was rolling banks of clouds； so thick that they obscured all else。
But the travellers were obliged to rest； and while they were sitting
on the rocky floor the Wizard felt in his pocket and brought out the
nine tiny piglets。 To his delight they were now plainly visible；
which proved that they had passed beyond the influence of the magical
Valley of Voe。
〃Why； we can see each other again！〃 cried one； joyfully。
〃Yes；〃 sighed Eureka； 〃and I also can see you again； and the sight
makes me dreadfully hungry。 Please； Mr。 Wizard； may I eat just one of
the fat little piglets？ You'd never miss ONE of them； I'm sure！〃
〃What a horrid； savage beast！〃 exclaimed a piglet； 〃and after we've
been such good friends； too； and played with one another！〃
〃When I'm not hungry； I love to play with you all；〃 said the kitten；
demurely； 〃but when my stomach is empty it seems that nothing would
fill it so nicely as a fat piglet。〃
〃And we trusted you so！〃 said another of the nine； reproachfully。
〃And thought you were respectable！〃 said another。
〃It seems we were mistaken；〃 declared a third； looking at the kitten
timorously； 〃no one with such murderous desires should belong to our
party； I'm sure。〃
〃You see； Eureka；〃 remarked Dorothy； reprovingly； 〃you are making
yourself disliked。 There are certain things proper for a kitten to
eat； but I never heard of a kitten eating a pig； under ANY cir'stances。〃
〃Did you ever see such little pigs before？〃 asked the kitten。 〃They
are no bigger than mice； and I'm sure mice are proper for me to eat。〃
〃It isn't the bigness； dear； its the variety；〃 replied the girl。
〃These are Mr。 Wizard's pets； just as you are my pet； and it wouldn't be
any more proper for you to eat them than it would be for Jim to eat you。〃
〃And that's just what I shall do if you don't let those little balls
of pork alone；〃 said Jim； glaring at the kitten with his round； big
eyes。 〃If you injure any one of them I'll chew you up instantly。〃
The kitten looked at the horse thoughtfully； as if trying to decide
whether he meant it or not。
〃In that case；〃 she said； 〃I'll leave them alone。 You haven't many
teeth left； Jim； but the few you have are sharp enough to make me
shudder。 So the piglets will be perfectly safe； hereafter； as far as
I am concerned。〃
〃That is right； Eureka；〃 remarked the Wizard； earnestly。 〃Let us all
be a happy family and love one another。〃
Eureka yawned and stretched herself。
〃I've always loved the piglets；〃 she said； 〃but they don't love me。〃
〃No one can love a person he's afraid of；〃 asserted Dorothy。 〃If you
behave； and don't scare the little pigs； I'm sure they'll grow very
fond of you。〃
The Wizard now put the nine tiny ones back into his pocket and the
journey was resumed。
〃We must be pretty near the top； now；〃 said the boy； as they climbed
wearily up the dark； winding stairway。
〃The Country of the Gurgles can't be far from the top of the earth；〃
remarked Dorothy。 〃It isn't very nice down here。 I'd like to get
home again； I'm sure。〃
No one replied to this； because they found they needed all their
breath for the climb。 The stairs had become narrower and Zeb and the
Wizard often had to help Jim pull the buggy from one step to another；
or keep it from jamming against the rocky walls。
At last； however； a dim light appeared ahead of them； which grew
clearer and stronger as they advanced。
〃Thank goodness we're nearly there！〃 panted the little Wizard。
Jim； who was in advance； saw the last stair before him and stuck his
head above the rocky sides of the stairway。 Then he halted； ducked
down and began to back up； so that he nearly fell with the buggy onto
the others。
〃Let's go down again！〃 he said； in his hoarse voice。
〃Nonsense！〃 snapped the tired Wizard。 〃What's the matter with you；
old man？〃
〃Everything；〃 grumbled the horse。 〃I've taken a look at this place；
and it's no fit country for real creatures to go to。 Everything's
dead； up thereno flesh or blood or growing thing anywhere。〃
〃Never mind；。 we can't turn back；〃 said Dorothy； 〃and we don't intend
to stay there； anyhow。〃
〃It's dangerous；〃 growled Jim； in a stubborn tone。
〃See here； my good steed；〃 broke in the Wizard； 〃little Dorothy and I
have been in many queer countries in our travels； and always escaped
without harm。 We've even been to the marvelous Land of Ozhaven't
we； Dorothy？so we don't much care what the Country of the Gargoyles
is like。 Go ahead； Jim； and whatever happens we'll make the best of it。〃
〃All right；〃 answered the horse； 〃this is your excursion； and not
mine； so if you get into trouble don't blame me。〃
With this speech he bent forward and dragged the buggy up the
remaining steps。 The others followed and soon they were all standing
upon a broad platform and gazing at the most curious and startling
sight their eyes had ever beheld。
〃The Country of the Gargoyles is all wooden！〃 exclaimed Zeb； and so it
was。 The ground was sawdust and the pebbles scattered around were
hard knots from trees； worn smooth in course of time。 There were odd
wooden houses； with carved wooden flowers in the front yards。 The
tree…trunks were of coarse wood； but the leaves of the trees were
shavings。 The patches of grass were splinters of wood； and where
neither grass nor sawdust showed was a solid wooden flooring。 Wooden
birds fluttered among the trees and wooden cows were browsing upon the
wooden grass； but the most amazing things of all were the wooden
peoplethe creatures known as Gargoyles。
These were very numerous； for the place was thickly inhabited； and a
large group of the queer people clustered near； gazing sharply upon
the strangers who had emerged from the long spiral stairway。
The Gargoyles were very small of stature； being less than three feet
in height。 Their bodies were round； their legs short and thick and
their arms extraordinarily long and stout。 Their heads were too big
for their bodies and their faces were decidedly ugly to look up