English
Thestrangerstooktheirseatsatthetablewillinglyenough,fortheywereallhungryandtheplatterswerenowheapedwithgoodthingstoeat.
Infrontofeachplacewasaplatebearingoneofthedeliciousdama-fruit,andtheperfumethatrosefromthesewassoenticingandsweetthattheyweresorelytemptedtoeatofthemandbecomeinvisible.
ButDorothysatisfiedherhungerwithotherthings,andhercompanionsdidlikewise,resistingthetemptation.
“Whydoyounoteatthedamas?”askedthewoman’svoice.
“Wedon’twanttogetinvis’ble,”answeredthegirl.
“Butifyouremainvisiblethebearswillseeyouanddevouryou,”saidagirlishyoungvoice,thatbelongedtooneofthechildren.
“Wewholiveheremuchprefertobeinvisible;forwecanstillhugandkissoneanother,andarequitesafefromthebears.”
“Andwedonothavetobesoparticularaboutourdress,”remarkedtheman.
“Andmamacan’ttellwhethermyfaceisdirtyornot!”addedtheotherchildishvoice,gleefully.
“ButImakeyouwashit,everytimeIthinkofit,”saidthemother;“foritstandstoreasonyourfaceisdirty,Ianu,whetherIcanseeitornot.”
Dorothylaughedandstretchedoutherhands.
“Comehere,please—Ianuandyoursister—andletmefeelofyou,”sherequested.
Theycametoherwillingly,andDorothypassedherhandsovertheirfacesandformsanddecidedonewasagirlofaboutherownageandtheotheraboysomewhatsmaller.
Thegirl’shairwassoftandfluffyandherskinassmoothassatin.
WhenDorothygentlytouchedhernoseandearsandlipstheyseemedtobewellanddelicatelyformed.
“IfIcouldseeyouIamsureyouwouldbebeautiful,”shedeclared.
Thegirllaughed,andhermothersaid:
“WearenotvainintheValleyofVoe,becausewecannotdisplayourbeauty,andgoodactionsandpleasantwaysarewhatmakeuslovelytoourcompanions.
Yetwecanseeandappreciatethebeautiesofnature,thedaintyflowersandtrees,thegreenfieldsandtheclearblueofthesky.”
“Howaboutthebirdsandbeastsandfishes?”askedZeb.
“Thebirdswecannotsee,becausetheylovetoeatofthedamasasmuchaswedo;yetweheartheirsweetsongsandenjoythem.
Neithercanweseethecruelbears,fortheyalsoeatthefruit.
Butthefishesthatswiminourbrookswecansee,andoftenwecatchthemtoeat.”
“Itoccurstomeyouhaveagreatdealtomakeyouhappy,evenwhileinvisible,”remarkedtheWizard.“Nevertheless,weprefertoremainvisiblewhileweareinyourvalley.”
JustthenEurekacamein,forshehadbeenuntilnowwanderingoutsidewithJim;andwhenthekittensawthetablesetwithfoodshecriedout:
“Nowyoumustfeedme,Dorothy,forI’mhalfstarved.”
Thechildrenwereinclinedtobefrightenedbythesightofthesmallanimal,whichremindedthemofthebears;butDorothyreassuredthembyexplainingthatEurekawasapetandcoulddonoharmevenifshewishedto.
Then,astheothershadbythistimemovedawayfromthetable,thekittenspranguponthechairandputherpawsupontheclothtoseewhattherewastoeat.
Tohersurpriseanunseenhandclutchedherandheldhersuspendedintheair.
Eurekawasfranticwithterror,andtriedtoscratchandbite,sothenextmomentshewasdroppedtothefloor,
“Didyouseethat,Dorothy?”shegasped.
“Yes,dear,”hermistressreplied;“therearepeoplelivinginthishouse,althoughwecannotseethem.Andyoumusthavebettermanners,Eureka,orsomethingworsewillhappentoyou.”
Sheplacedaplateoffooduponthefloorandthekittenategreedily.
“Givemethatnice-smellingfruitIsawonthetable,”shebegged,whenshehadcleanedtheplate.
“Thosearedamas,”saidDorothy,“andyoumustnevereventastethem,Eureka,oryou’llgetinvis’ble,andthenwecan’tseeyouatall.”
Thekittengazedwistfullyattheforbiddenfruit.
“Doesithurttobeinvis’ble?”sheasked.
“Idon’tknow,”Dorothyanswered;“butitwouldhurtmedre’fullytoloseyou.”
“Verywell,Iwon’ttouchit,”decidedthekitten;“butyoumustkeepitawayfromme,forthesmellisverytempting.”
“Canyoutellus,sirorma’am,”saidtheWizard,addressingtheairbecausehedidnotquiteknowwheretheunseenpeoplestood,“ifthereisanywaywecangetoutofyourbeautifulValley,andontopoftheEarthagain.”
“Oh,onecanleavetheValleyeasilyenough,”answeredtheman’svoice;“buttodosoyoumustenterafarlesspleasantcountry.
Asforreachingthetopoftheearth,Ihaveneverheardthatitispossibletodothat,andifyousucceededingettingthereyouwouldprobablyfalloff.”
“Oh,no,”saidDorothy,“we’vebeenthere,andweknow.”
“TheValleyofVoeiscertainlyacharmingplace,”resumedtheWizard;“butwecannotbecontentedinanyotherlandthanourown,forlong.
Evenifweshouldcometounpleasantplacesonourwayitisnecessary,inordertoreachtheearth’ssurface,tokeepmovingontowardit.”
“Inthatcase,”saidtheman,“itwillbebestforyoutocrossourValleyandmountthespiralstaircaseinsidethePyramidMountain.
Thetopofthatmountainislostintheclouds,andwhenyoureachityouwillbeintheawfulLandofNaught,wheretheGargoyleslive.”
“WhatareGargoyles?”askedZeb.
“Idonotknow,youngsir.OurgreatestChampion,Overman-Anu,onceclimbedthespiralstairwayandfoughtninedayswiththeGargoylesbeforehecouldescapethemandcomeback;buthecouldneverbeinducedtodescribethedreadfulcreatures,andsoonafterwardabearcaughthimandatehimup.”
Thewandererswereratherdiscouragedbythisgloomyreport,butDorothysaidwithasigh:
“IftheonlywaytogethomeistomeettheGurgles,thenwe’vegottomeet‘em.Theycan’tbeworsethantheWickedWitchortheNomeKing.”
“ButyoumustrememberyouhadtheScarecrowandtheTinWoodmantohelpyouconquerthoseenemies,”suggestedtheWizard.“Justnow,mydear,thereisnotasinglewarriorinyourcompany.”
“Oh,IguessZebcouldfightifhehadto.Couldn’tyou,Zeb?”askedthelittlegirl.
“Perhaps;ifIhadto,”answeredZeb,doubtfully.
“Andyouhavethejointedswordthatyouchoppedtheveg’tableSorcererintwowith,”thegirlsaidtothelittleman.
“True,”hereplied;“andinmysatchelareotherusefulthingstofightwith.”
“WhattheGargoylesmostdreadisanoise,”saidtheman’svoice.
“OurChampiontoldmethatwhenheshoutedhisbattle-crythecreaturesshudderedanddrewback,hesitatingtocontinuethecombat.
Buttheywereingreatnumbers,andtheChampioncouldnotshoutmuchbecausehehadtosavehisbreathforfighting.”
“Verygood,”saidtheWizard;“wecanallyellbetterthanwecanfight,soweoughttodefeattheGargoyles.”
“Buttellme,”saidDorothy,“howdidsuchabraveChampionhappentoletthebearseathim?Andifhewasinvis’ble,andthebearsinvis’ble,whoknowsthattheyreallyatehimup?”
“TheChampionhadkilledelevenbearsinhistime,”returnedtheunseenman;“andweknowthisistruebecausewhenanycreatureisdeadtheinvisiblecharmofthedama-fruitceasestobeactive,andtheslainonecanbeplainlyseenbyalleyes.
WhentheChampionkilledabeareveryonecouldseeit;andwhenthebearskilledtheChampionweallsawseveralpiecesofhimscatteredabout,whichofcoursedisappearedagainwhenthebearsdevouredthem.”
Theynowbadefarewelltothekindbutunseenpeopleofthecottage,andafterthemanhadcalledtheirattentiontoahigh,pyramid-shapedmountainontheoppositesideoftheValley,andtoldthemhowtotravelinordertoreachit,theyagainstartedupontheirjourney.
Theyfollowedthecourseofabroadstreamandpassedseveralmoreprettycottages;butofcoursetheysawnoone,nordidanyonespeaktothem.
Fruitsandflowersgrewplentifullyallabout,andthereweremanyofthedeliciousdamasthatthepeopleofVoeweresofondof.
AboutnoontheystoppedtoallowJimtorestintheshadeofaprettyorchard,andwhiletheypluckedandatesomeofthecherriesandplumsthatgrewthereasoftvoicesuddenlysaidtothem:
“Therearebearsnearby.Becareful.”
TheWizardgotouthisswordatonce,andZebgrabbedthehorse-whip.Dorothyclimbedintothebuggy,althoughJimhadbeenunharnessedfromitandwasgrazingsomedistanceaway.
Theowneroftheunseenvoicelaughedlightlyandsaid:
“Youcannotescapethebearsthatway.”
“HowCANwe‘scape?”askedDorothy,nervously,foranunseendangerisalwaysthehardesttoface.
“Youmusttaketotheriver,”wasthereply.“Thebearswillnotventureuponthewater.”
“Butwewouldbedrowned!”exclaimedthegirl.
“Oh,thereisnoneedofthat,”saidthevoice,whichfromitsgentletonesseemedtobelongtoayounggirl.
“YouarestrangersintheValleyofVoe,anddonotseemtoknowourways;soIwilltrytosaveyou.”
Thenextmomentabroad-leavedplantwasjerkedfromthegroundwhereitgrewandheldsuspendedintheairbeforetheWizard.
“Sir,”saidthevoice,“youmustrubtheseleavesuponthesolesofallyourfeet,andthenyouwillbeabletowalkuponthewaterwithoutsinkingbelowthesurface.
Itisasecretthebearsdonotknow,andwepeopleofVoeusuallywalkuponthewaterwhenwetravel,andsoescapeourenemies.”
“Thankyou!”criedtheWizard,joyfully,andatoncerubbedaleafuponthesolesofDorothy’sshoesandthenuponhisown.
Thegirltookaleafandrubbedituponthekitten’spaws,andtherestoftheplantwashandedtoZeb,who,afterapplyingittohisownfeet,carefullyrubbedituponallfourofJim’shoofsandthenuponthetiresofthebuggy-wheels.
Hehadnearlyfinishedthislasttaskwhenalowgrowlingwassuddenlyheardandthehorsebegantojumparoundandkickviciouslywithhisheels.
“Quick!Tothewateroryouarelost!”
criedtheirunseenfriend,andwithouthesitationtheWizarddrewthebuggydownthebankandoutuponthebroadriver,forDorothywasstillseatedinitwithEurekainherarms.
Theydidnotsinkatall,owingtothevirtuesofthestrangeplanttheyhadused,andwhenthebuggywasinthemiddleofthestreamtheWizardreturnedtothebanktoassistZebandJim.
Thehorsewasplungingmadlyabout,andtwoorthreedeepgashesappeareduponitsflanks,fromwhichthebloodflowedfreely.
“Runfortheriver!”shoutedtheWizard,andJimquicklyfreedhimselffromhisunseentormentersbyafewviciouskicksandthenobeyed.
Assoonashetrottedoutuponthesurfaceoftheriverhefoundhimselfsafefrompursuit,andZebwasalreadyrunningacrossthewatertowardDorothy.
AsthelittleWizardturnedtofollowthemhefeltahotbreathagainsthischeekandheardalow,fiercegrowl.
Atoncehebeganstabbingattheairwithhissword,andheknewthathehadstrucksomesubstancebecausewhenhedrewbackthebladeitwasdrippingwithblood.
Thethirdtimethathethrustouttheweapontherewasaloudroarandafall,andsuddenlyathisfeetappearedtheformofagreatredbear,whichwasnearlyasbigasthehorseandmuchstrongerandfiercer.
Thebeastwasquitedeadfromtheswordthrusts,andafteraglanceatitsterribleclawsandsharpteeththelittlemanturnedinapanicandrushedoutuponthewater,forothermenacinggrowlstoldhimmorebearswerenear.
Ontheriver,however,theadventurersseemedtobeperfectlysafe.
Dorothyandthebuggyhadfloatedslowlydownstreamwiththecurrentofthewater,andtheothersmadehastetojoinher.
TheWizardopenedhissatchelandgotoutsomesticking-plasterwithwhichhemendedthecutsJimhadreceivedfromtheclawsofthebears.
“Ithinkwe’dbettersticktotheriver,afterthis,”saidDorothy.“Ifourfriendhadn’twarnedus,andtolduswhattodo,wewouldallbedeadbythistime.”
“Thatistrue,”agreedtheWizard,“andastheriverseemstobeflowinginthedirectionofthePyramidMountainitwillbetheeasiestwayforustotravel.”
ZebhitchedJimtothebuggyagain,andthehorsetrottedalonganddrewthemrapidlyoverthesmoothwater.
Thekittenwasatfirstdreadfullyafraidofgettingwet,butDorothyletherdownandsoonEurekawasfriskingalongbesidethebuggywithoutbeingscaredabit.
Oncealittlefishswamtoonearthesurface,andthekittengrabbeditinhermouthandateitupasquickasawink;butDorothycautionedhertobecarefulwhatsheateinthisvalleyofenchantments,andnomorefisheswerecarelessenoughtoswimwithinreach.
Afterajourneyofseveralhourstheycametoapointwheretherivercurved,andtheyfoundtheymustcrossamileorsooftheValleybeforetheycametothePyramidMountain.
Therewerefewhousesinthispart,andfeworchardsorflowers;soourfriendsfearedtheymightencountermoreofthesavagebears,whichtheyhadlearnedtodreadwithalltheirhearts.
“You’llhavetomakeadash,Jim,”saidtheWizard,“andrunasfastasyoucango.”
“Allright,”answeredthehorse;“I’lldomybest.ButyoumustrememberI’mold,andmydashingdaysarepastandgone.”
AllthreegotintothebuggyandZebpickedupthereins,thoughJimneedednoguidanceofanysort.
Thehorsewasstillsmartingfromthesharpclawsoftheinvisiblebears,andassoonashewasonlandandheadedtowardthemountainthethoughtthatmoreofthosefearsomecreaturesmightbenearactedasaspurandsenthimgallopingalonginawaythatmadeDorothycatchherbreath.
ThenZeb,inaspiritofmischief,utteredagrowllikethatofthebears,andJimprickeduphisearsandfairlyflew.
Hisboneylegsmovedsofasttheycouldscarcelybeseen,andtheWizardclungfasttotheseatandyelled“Whoa!”atthetopofhisvoice.
“I—I’m‘fraidhe’s—he’srunningaway!”gaspedDorothy.
“IKNOWheis,”saidZeb;“butnobearcancatchhimifhekeepsupthatgait—andtheharnessorthebuggydon’tbreak.”
Jimdidnotmakeamileaminute;butalmostbeforetheywereawareofithedrewupatthefootofthemountain,sosuddenlythattheWizardandZebbothsailedoverthedashboardandlandedinthesoftgrass—wheretheyrolledoverseveraltimesbeforetheystopped.
Dorothynearlywentwiththem,butshewasholdingfasttotheironrailoftheseat,andthatsavedher.
Shesqueezedthekitten,though,untilitscreeched;andthentheoldcab-horsemadeseveralcurioussoundsthatledthelittlegirltosuspecthewaslaughingatthemall.
Share this article to
FINISH