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！
so that they made excellent progress from the start。 The only thing
that anyone could complain of with justice was the fact that they
wobbled first up and then down； as if the road were rocky instead of
being as smooth as the air could make it。
The main point； however； was that they flew； and flew swiftly； if a
bit unevenly； toward the rock for which they had headed。
Some of the Gargoyles saw them； presently； and lost no time in
collecting a band to pursue the escaping prisoners； so that when
Dorothy happened to look back she saw them coming in a great cloud
that almost darkened the sky。
13。 The Den of the Dragonettes
Our friends had a good start and were able to maintain it； for with
their eight wings they could go just as fast as could the Gargoyles。
All the way to the great rock the wooden people followed them； and
when Jim finally alighted at the mouth of the cavern the pursuers were
still some distance away。
〃But； I'm afraid they'll catch us yet；〃 said Dorothy； greatly excited。
〃No； we must stop them；〃 declared the Wizard。 〃Quick Zeb； help me
pull off these wooden wings！〃
They tore off the wings； for which they had no further use； and the
Wizard piled them in a heap just outside the entrance to the cavern。
Then he poured over them all the kerosene oil that was left in his
oil…can； and lighting a match set fire to the pile。
The flames leaped up at once and the bonfire began to smoke and roar
and crackle just as the great army of wooden Gargoyles arrived。 The
creatures drew back at once； being filled with fear and horror； for
such as dreadful thing as a fire they had never before known in all
the history of their wooden land。
Inside the archway were several doors； leading to different rooms built
into the mountain； and Zeb and the Wizard lifted these wooden doors
from their hinges and tossed them all on the flames。
〃That will prove a barrier for some time to come；〃 said the little
man； smiling pleasantly all over his wrinkled face at the success of
their stratagem。 〃Perhaps the flames will set fire to all that
miserable wooden country； and if it does the loss will be very small
and the Gargoyles never will be missed。 But come； my children；
let us explore the mountain and discover which way we must go
in order to escape from this cavern； which is getting to be almost
as hot as a bake…oven。〃
To their disappointment there was within this mountain no regular
flight of steps by means of which they could mount to the earth's
surface。 A sort of inclined tunnel led upward for a way； and they
found the floor of it both rough and steep。 Then a sudden turn
brought them to a narrow gallery where the buggy could not pass。 This
delayed and bothered them for a while； because they did not wish to
leave the buggy behind them。 It carried their baggage and was useful
to ride in wherever there were good roads； and since it had
accompanied them so far in their travels they felt it their duty to
preserve it。 So Zeb and the Wizard set to work and took off the
wheels and the top； and then they put the buggy edgewise； so it would
take up the smallest space。 In this position they managed； with the
aid of the patient cab…horse； to drag the vehicle through the narrow
part of the passage。 It was not a great distance； fortunately； and
when the path grew broader they put the buggy together again and
proceeded more comfortably。 But the road was nothing more than a
series of rifts or cracks in the mountain； and it went zig…zag in
every direction； slanting first up and then down until they were
puzzled as to whether they were any nearer to the top of the earth
than when they had started； hours before。
〃Anyhow；〃 said Dorothy； 〃we've 'scaped those awful Gurgles； and that's
ONE comfort！〃
〃Probably the Gargoyles are still busy trying to put out the fire；〃
returned the Wizard。 〃But even if they succeeded in doing that it
would be very difficult for them to fly amongst these rocks； so I am
sure we need fear them no longer。〃
Once in a while they would come to a deep crack in the floor； which
made the way quite dangerous； but there was still enough oil in the
lanterns to give them light； and the cracks were not so wide but that
they were able to jump over them。 Sometimes they had to climb over
heaps of loose rock； where Jim could scarcely drag the buggy。 At such
times Dorothy； Zeb and the Wizard all pushed behind； and lifted the
wheels over the roughest places； so they managed； by dint of hard
work； to keep going。 But the little party was both weary and
discouraged when at last； on turning a sharp corner； the wanderers
found themselves in a vast cave arching high over their heads and
having a smooth； level floor。
The cave was circular in shape； and all around its edge； near to the
ground； appeared groups of dull yellow lights； two of them being
always side by side。 These were motionless at first； but soon began
to flicker more brightly and to sway slowly from side to side and then
up and down。
〃What sort of place is this？〃 asked the boy； trying to see more
clearly through the gloom。
〃I cannot imagine； I'm sure；〃 answered the Wizard； also peering about。
〃Woogh！〃 snarled Eureka； arching her back until her hair stood
straight on end； 〃it's den of alligators； or crocodiles； or some other
dreadful creatures！ Don't you see their terrible eyes？〃
〃Eureka sees better in the dark than we can；〃 whispered Dorothy。
〃Tell us； dear； what do the creatures look like？〃 she asked；
addressing her pet。
〃I simply can't describe 'em；〃 answered the kitten； shuddering。
〃Their eyes are like pie…plates and their mouths like coal…scuttles。
But their bodies don't seem very big。〃
〃Where are they？〃 enquired the girl。
〃They are in little pockets all around the edge of this cavern。 Oh；
Dorothyyou can't imagine what horrid things they are！ They're
uglier than the Gargoyles。〃
〃Tut…tut！ be careful how you criticise your neighbors；〃 spoke a
rasping voice near by。 〃As a matter of fact you are rather
ugly…looking creatures yourselves； and I'm sure mother has often told
us we were the loveliest and prettiest things in all the world。〃
Hearing these words our friends turned in the direction of the sound；
and the Wizard held his lanterns so that their light would flood one
of the little pockets in the rock。
〃Why； it's a dragon！〃 he exclaimed。
〃No；〃 answered the owner of the big yellow eyes which were blinking at
them so steadily； 〃you are wrong about that。 We hope to grow to be
dragons some day； but just now we're only dragonettes。〃
〃What's that？〃 asked Dorothy； gazing fearfully at the great scaley
head； the yawning mouth and the big eyes。
〃Young dragons； of course； but we are not allowed to call ourselves
real dragons until we get our full growth；〃 was the reply。 〃The big
dragons are very proud； and don't think children amount to mu