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for their bodies and their faces were decidedly ugly to look upon。
Some had long； curved noses and chins； small eyes and wide； grinning
mouths。 Others had flat noses； protruding eyes； and ears that were
shaped like those of an elephant。 There were many types； indeed；
scarcely two being alike； but all were equally disagreeable in
appearance。 The tops of their heads had no hair； but were carved
into a variety of fantastic shapes； some having a row of points or
balls around the top； others designs resembling flowers or vegetables；
and still others having squares that looked like waffles cut
criss…cross on their heads。 They all wore short wooden wings which
were fastened to their wooden bodies by means of wooden hinges with
wooden screws； and with these wings they flew swiftly and noiselessly
here and there； their legs being of little use to them。
This noiseless motion was one of the most peculiar things about the
Gargoyles。 They made no sounds at all； either in flying or trying to
speak； and they conversed mainly by means of quick signals made with
their wooden fingers or lips。 Neither was there any sound to be heard
anywhere throughout the wooden country。 The birds did not sing； nor
did the cows moo； yet there was more than ordinary activity everywhere。
The group of these queer creatures which was discovered clustered
near the stairs at first remained staring and motionless； glaring with
evil eyes at the intruders who had so suddenly appeared in their land。
In turn the Wizard and the children； the horse and the kitten；
examined the Gargoyles with the same silent attention。
〃There's going to be trouble； I'm sure；〃 remarked the horse。
〃Unhitch those tugs； Zeb； and set me free from the buggy；
so I can fight comfortably。〃
〃Jim's right；〃 sighed the Wizard。 〃There's going to be trouble； and
my sword isn't stout enough to cut up those wooden bodiesso I shall
have to get out my revolvers。〃
He got his satchel from the buggy and； opening it； took out two deadly
looking revolvers that made the children shrink back in alarm just to
look at。
〃What harm can the Gurgles do？〃 asked Dorothy。 〃They have no weapons
to hurt us with。〃
〃Each of their arms is a wooden club；〃 answered the little man； 〃and
I'm sure the creatures mean mischief； by the looks of their eyes。
Even these revolvers can merely succeed in damaging a few of their
wooden bodies； and after that we will be at their mercy。〃
〃But why fight at all； in that case？〃 asked the girl。
〃So I may die with a clear conscience；〃 returned the Wizard； gravely。
〃It's every man's duty to do the best he knows how； and I'm going to
do it。〃
〃Wish I had an axe；〃 said Zeb； who by now had unhitched the horse。
〃If we had known we were coming we might have brought along several
other useful things；〃 responded the Wizard。 〃But we dropped into this
adventure rather unexpectedly。〃
The Gargoyles had backed away a distance when they heard the sound of
talking； for although our friends had spoken in low tones their words
seemed loud in the silence surrounding them。 But as soon as the
conversation ceased； the grinning； ugly creatures arose in a flock and
flew swiftly toward the strangers； their long arms stretched out
before them like the bowsprits of a fleet of sail…boats。 The horse
had especially attracted their notice； because it was the biggest and
strangest creature they had ever seen； so it became the center of
their first attack。
But Jim was ready for them； and when he saw them coming he turned his
heels toward them and began kicking out as hard as he could。 Crack！
crash！ bang！ went his iron…shod hoofs against the wooden bodies of the
Gargoyles； and they were battered right and left with such force that
they scattered like straws in the wind。 But the noise and clatter
seemed as dreadful to them as Jim's heels； for all who were able
swiftly turned and flew away to a great distance。 The others picked
themselves up from the ground one by one and quickly rejoined their
fellows； so for a moment the horse thought he had won the fight with ease。
But the Wizard was not so confident。
〃Those wooden things are impossible to hurt；〃 he said； 〃and all the
damage Jim has done to them is to knock a few splinters from their
noses and ears。 That cannot make them look any uglier； I'm sure； and
it is my opinion they will soon renew the attack。〃
〃What made them fly away？〃 asked Dorothy。
〃The noise； of course。 Don't you remember how the Champion escaped
them by shouting his battle…cry？〃
〃Suppose we escape down the stairs； too；〃 suggested the boy。 〃We have
time； just now； and I'd rather face the invis'ble bears than those
wooden imps。〃
〃No；〃 returned Dorothy； stoutly； 〃it won't do to go back； for then we
would never get home。 Let's fight it out。〃
〃That is what I advise；〃 said the Wizard。 〃They haven't defeated us
yet； and Jim is worth a whole army。〃
But the Gargoyles were clever enough not to attack the horse the next
time。 They advanced in a great swarm； having been joined by many more
of their kind； and they flew straight over Jim's head to where the
others were standing。
The Wizard raised one of his revolvers and fired into the throng of
his enemies； and the shot resounded like a clap of thunder in that
silent place。
Some of the wooden beings fell flat upon the ground； where they
quivered and trembled in every limb； but most of them managed to wheel
and escape again to a distance。
Zeb ran and picked up one of the Gargoyles that lay nearest to him。
The top of its head was carved into a crown and the Wizard's bullet
had struck it exactly in the left eye； which was a hard wooden knot。
Half of the bullet stuck in the wood and half stuck out； so it had
been the jar and the sudden noise that had knocked the creature down；
more than the fact that it was really hurt。 Before this crowned
Gargoyle had recovered himself Zeb had wound a strap several times
around its body； confining its wings and arms so that it could not
move。 Then； having tied the wooden creature securely； the boy buckled
the strap and tossed his prisoner into the buggy。 By that time the
others had all retired。
12。 A Wonderful Escape
For a while the enemy hesitated to renew the attack。 Then a few of them
advanced until another shot from the Wizard's revolver made them retreat。
〃That's fine；〃 said Zeb。 〃We've got 'em on the run now； sure enough。〃
〃But only for a time；〃 replied the Wizard； shaking his head gloomily。
〃These revolvers are good for six shots each； but when those are gone
we shall be helpless。〃
The Gargoyles seemed to realize this； for they sent a few of their
band time after time to attack the strangers and draw the fire from
the little man's revolvers。 In this way none of them was shocked by
the dreadful report more than once； for the main band kept far away
and each time a new