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pressure of the air； so that the terrified animal was actually more
frightened than he was injured。
How long this state of things continued Dorothy could not even guess；
she was so greatly bewildered。 But bye and bye； as she stared ahead
into the black chasm with a beating heart； she began to dimly see the
form of the horse Jimhis head up in the air； his ears erect and his
long legs sprawling in every direction as he tumbled through space。
Also； turning her head； she found that she could see the boy beside
her； who had until now remained as still and silent as she herself。
Dorothy sighed and commenced to breathe easier。 She began to realize
that death was not in store for her； after all； but that she had merely
started upon another adventure； which promised to be just as queer and
unusual as were those she had before encountered。
With this thought in mind the girl took heart and leaned her head over
the side of the buggy to see where the strange light was coming from。
Far below her she found six great glowing balls suspended in the air。
The central and largest one was white； and reminded her of the sun。
Around it were arranged； like the five points of a star； the other
five brilliant balls； one being rose colored； one violet； one yellow；
one blue and one orange。 This splendid group of colored suns sent
rays darting in every direction； and as the horse and buggywith
Dorothy and Zebsank steadily downward and came nearer to the lights；
the rays began to take on all the delicate tintings of a rainbow；
growing more and more distinct every moment until all the space was
brilliantly illuminated。
Dorothy was too dazed to say much； but she watched one of Jim's big
ears turn to violet and the other to rose； and wondered that his tail
should be yellow and his body striped with blue and orange like the
stripes of a zebra。 Then she looked at Zeb； whose face was blue and
whose hair was pink； and gave a little laugh that sounded a bit nervous。
〃Isn't it funny？〃 she said。
The boy was startled and his eyes were big。 Dorothy had a green
streak through the center of her face where the blue and yellow lights
came together； and her appearance seemed to add to his fright。
〃II don't s…s…see any…thing funny'bout it！〃 he stammered。
Just then the buggy tipped slowly over upon its side； the body of the
horse tipping also。 But they continued to fall； all together； and the
boy and girl had no difficulty in remaining upon the seat； just as
they were before。 Then they turned bottom side up； and continued to
roll slowly over until they were right side up again。 During this
time Jim struggled frantically； all his legs kicking the air； but on
finding himself in his former position the horse said； in a relieved
tone of voice：
〃Well； that's better！〃
Dorothy and Zeb looked at one another in wonder。
〃Can your horse talk？〃 she asked。
〃Never knew him to； before；〃 replied the boy。
〃Those were the first words I ever said；〃 called out the horse； who
had overheard them； 〃and I can't explain why I happened to speak then。
This is a nice scrape you've got me into； isn't it？〃
〃As for that； we are in the same scrape ourselves；〃 answered Dorothy；
cheerfully。 〃But never mind； something will happen pretty soon。〃
〃Of course；〃 growled the horse； 〃and then we shall be sorry it happened。〃
Zeb gave a shiver。 All this was so terrible and unreal that he could
not understand it at all； and so had good reason to be afraid。
Swiftly they drew near to the flaming colored suns； and passed close
beside them。 The light was then so bright that it dazzled their eyes；
and they covered their faces with their hands to escape being blinded。
There was no heat in the colored suns； however； and after they had
passed below them the top of the buggy shut out many of the piercing
rays so that the boy and girl could open their eyes again。
〃We've got to come to the bottom some time；〃 remarked Zeb； with a deep
sigh。 〃We can't keep falling forever； you know。〃
〃Of course not；〃 said Dorothy。 〃We are somewhere in the middle of the
earth； and the chances are we'll reach the other side of it before
long。 But it's a big hollow； isn't it？〃
〃Awful big！〃 answered the boy。
〃We're coming to something now；〃 announced the horse。
At this they both put their heads over the side of the buggy and
looked down。 Yes； there was land below them； and not so very far
away； either。 But they were floating very； very slowlyso slowly
that it could no longer be called a falland the children had ample
time to take heart and look about them。
They saw a landscape with mountains and plains； lakes and rivers； very
like those upon the earth's surface； but all the scene was splendidly
colored by the variegated lights from the six suns。 Here and there
were groups of houses that seemed made of clear glass； because they
sparkled so brightly。
〃I'm sure we are in no danger；〃 said Dorothy； in a sober voice。 〃We
are falling so slowly that we can't be dashed to pieces when we land；
and this country that we are coming to seems quite pretty。〃
〃We'll never get home again； though！〃 declared Zeb； with a groan。
〃Oh； I'm not so sure of that；〃 replied the girl。 〃But don't let us
worry over such things； Zeb； we can't help ourselves just now； you
know； and I've always been told it's foolish to borrow trouble。〃
The boy became silent； having no reply to so sensible a speech； and
soon both were fully occupied in staring at the strange scenes spread
out below them。 They seemed to be falling right into the middle of a
big city which had many tall buildings with glass domes and
sharp…pointed spires。 These spires were like great spear…points；
and if they tumbled upon one of them they were likely to suffer
serious injury。
Jim the horse had seen these spires； also； and his ears stood straight
up with fear； while Dorothy and Zeb held their breaths in suspense。
But no； they floated gently down upon a broad； flat roof； and came to
a stop at last。
When Jim felt something firm under his feet the poor beast's legs
trembled so much that he could hardly stand； but Zeb at once leaped
out of the buggy to the roof； and he was so awkward and hasty that he
kicked over Dorothy's bird…cage； which rolled out upon the roof so
that the bottom came off。 At once a pink kitten crept out of the
upset cage； sat down upon the glass roof； and yawned and blinked its
round eyes。
〃Oh；〃 said Dorothy。 〃There's Eureka。〃
〃First time I ever saw a pink cat；〃 said Zeb。
〃Eureka isn't pink； she's white。 It's this queer light that gives her
that color。〃
〃Where's my milk？〃 asked the kitten； looking up into Dorothy's face。
〃I'm 'most starved to death。〃
〃Oh； Eureka！ Can you talk？〃
〃Talk！ Am I talking？ Good gracious； I believe I am。 Isn't it
funny？〃 asked the kitten。
〃It's all wrong。〃 said Zeb； gravely。 〃Animals o