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Forawhiletheenemyhesitatedtorenewtheattack.ThenafewofthemadvanceduntilanothershotfromtheWizard’srevolvermadethemretreat.
“That’sfine,”saidZeb.“We’vegot‘emontherunnow,sureenough.”
“Butonlyforatime,”repliedtheWizard,shakinghisheadgloomily.“Theserevolversaregoodforsixshotseach,butwhenthosearegoneweshallbehelpless.”
TheGargoylesseemedtorealizethis,fortheysentafewoftheirbandtimeaftertimetoattackthestrangersanddrawthefirefromthelittleman’srevolvers.
Inthiswaynoneofthemwasshockedbythedreadfulreportmorethanonce,forthemainbandkeptfarawayandeachtimeanewcompanywassentintothebattle.
WhentheWizardhadfiredallofhistwelvebulletshehadcausednodamagetotheenemyexcepttostunafewbythenoise,andsohewasnonearertovictorythaninthebeginningofthefray.
“Whatshallwedonow?”askedDorothy,anxiously.
“Let’syell—alltogether,”saidZeb.
“Andfightatthesametime,”addedtheWizard.
“WewillgetnearJim,sothathecanhelpus,andeachonemusttakesomeweaponanddothebesthecan.
I’llusemysword,althoughitisn’tmuchaccountinthisaffair.
Dorothymusttakeherparasolandopenitsuddenlywhenthewoodenfolksattackher.Ihaven’tanythingforyou,Zeb.”
“I’llusetheking,”saidtheboy,andpulledhisprisoneroutofthebuggy.
TheboundGargoyle’sarmsextendedfaroutbeyonditshead,sobygraspingitswristsZebfoundthekingmadeaverygoodclub.
Theboywasstrongforoneofhisyears,havingalwaysworkeduponafarm;sohewaslikelytoprovemoredangeroustotheenemythantheWizard.
WhenthenextcompanyofGargoylesadvanced,ouradventurersbeganyellingasiftheyhadgonemad.
EventhekittengaveadreadfullyshrillscreamandatthesametimeJimthecab-horseneighedloudly.
Thisdauntedtheenemyforatime,butthedefendersweresoonoutofbreath.
Perceivingthis,aswellasthefactthattherewerenomoreoftheawful“bangs”tocomefromtherevolvers,theGargoylesadvancedinaswarmasthickasbees,sothattheairwasfilledwiththem.
Dorothysquatteduponthegroundandputupherparasol,whichnearlycoveredherandprovedagreatprotection.
TheWizard’ssword-bladesnappedintoadozenpiecesatthefirstblowhestruckagainstthewoodenpeople.
ZebpoundedawaywiththeGargoylehewasusingasaclubuntilhehadknockeddowndozensoffoes;butatthelasttheyclusteredsothicklyabouthimthathenolongerhadroominwhichtoswinghisarms.
ThehorseperformedsomewonderfulkickingandevenEurekaassistedwhensheleapedbodilyupontheGargoylesandscratchedandbitatthemlikeawildcat.
Butallthisbraveryamountedtonothingatall.
ThewoodenthingswoundtheirlongarmsaroundZebandtheWizardandheldthemfast.
Dorothywascapturedinthesameway,andnumbersoftheGargoylesclungtoJim’slegs,soweightinghimdownthatthepoorbeastwashelpless.
Eurekamadeadesperatedashtoescapeandscamperedalongthegroundlikeastreak;butagrinningGargoyleflewafterherandgrabbedherbeforeshehadgoneveryfar.
Allofthemexpectednothinglessthaninstantdeath;buttotheirsurprisethewoodencreaturesflewintotheairwiththemandborethemfaraway,overmilesandmilesofwoodencountry,untiltheycametoawoodencity.
Thehousesofthiscityhadmanycorners,beingsquareandsix-sidedandeight-sided.
Theyweretower-likeinshapeandthebestofthemseemedoldandweather-worn;yetallwerestrongandsubstantial.
Tooneofthesehouseswhichhadneitherdoorsnorwindows,butonlyonebroadopeningfarupunderneaththeroof,theprisonerswerebroughtbytheircaptors.
TheGargoylesroughlypushedthemintotheopening,wheretherewasaplatform,andthenflewawayandleftthem.
Astheyhadnowingsthestrangerscouldnotflyaway,andiftheyjumpeddownfromsuchaheighttheywouldsurelybekilled.
Thecreatureshadsenseenoughtoreasonthatway,andtheonlymistaketheymadewasinsupposingtheearthpeoplewereunabletoovercomesuchordinarydifficulties.
Jimwasbroughtwiththeothers,althoughittookagoodmanyGargoylestocarrythebigbeastthroughtheairandlandhimonthehighplatform,andthebuggywasthrustinafterhimbecauseitbelongedtothepartyandthewoodenfolkshadnoideawhatitwasusedfororwhetheritwasaliveornot.
WhenEureka’scaptorhadthrownthekittenaftertheothersthelastGargoylesilentlydisappeared,leavingourfriendstobreathefreelyoncemore.
“Whatanawfulfight!”saidDorothy,catchingherbreathinlittlegasps.
“Oh,Idon’tknow,”purredEureka,smoothingherruffledfurwithherpaw;“wedidn’tmanagetohurtanybody,andnobodymanagedtohurtus.”
“Thankgoodnesswearetogetheragain,evenifweareprisoners,”sighedthelittlegirl.
“Iwonderwhytheydidn’tkillusonthespot,”remarkedZeb,whohadlosthiskinginthestruggle.
“Theyareprobablykeepingusforsomeceremony,”theWizardanswered,reflectively;“butthereisnodoubttheyintendtokillusasdeadaspossibleinashorttime.”
“Asdeadasposs’blewouldbeprettydead,wouldn’tit?”askedDorothy.
“Yes,mydear.Butwehavenoneedtoworryaboutthatjustnow.Letusexamineourprisonandseewhatitislike.”
Thespaceunderneaththeroof,wheretheystood,permittedthemtoseeonallsidesofthetallbuilding,andtheylookedwithmuchcuriosityatthecityspreadoutbeneaththem.
Everythingvisiblewasmadeofwood,andthesceneseemedstiffandextremelyunnatural.
Fromtheirplatformastairdescendedintothehouse,andthechildrenandtheWizardexploreditafterlightingalanterntoshowthemtheway.
Severalstoriesofemptyroomsrewardedtheirsearch,butnothingmore;soafteratimetheycamebacktotheplatformagain.
Hadtherebeenanydoorsorwindowsinthelowerrooms,orhadnottheboardsofthehousebeensothickandstout,escapecouldhavebeeneasy;buttoremaindownbelowwaslikebeinginacellarortheholdofaship,andtheydidnotlikethedarknessorthedampsmell.
Inthiscountry,asinallotherstheyhadvisitedunderneaththeearth’ssurface,therewasnonight,aconstantandstronglightcomingfromsomesource.
Lookingout,theycouldseeintosomeofthehousesnearthem,wheretherewereopenwindowsinabundance,andwereabletomarktheformsofthewoodenGargoylesmovingaboutintheirdwellings.
“Thisseemstobetheirtimeofrest,”observedtheWizard.
“Allpeopleneedrest,eveniftheyaremadeofwood,andasthereisnonightheretheyselectacertaintimeofthedayinwhichtosleepordoze.”
“Ifeelsleepymyself,”remarkedZeb,yawning.
“Why,where’sEureka?”criedDorothy,suddenly.
Theyalllookedaround,butthekittenwasnoplacetobeseen.
“She’sgoneoutforawalk,”saidJim,gruffly.
“Where?Ontheroof?”askedthegirl.
“No;shejustdugherclawsintothewoodandclimbeddownthesidesofthishousetotheground.”
“Shecouldn’tclimbDOWN,Jim,”saidDorothy.“Toclimbmeanstogoup.”
“Whosaidso?”demandedthehorse.
“Myschool-teachersaidso;andsheknowsalot,Jim.”
“To‘climbdown’issometimesusedasafigureofspeech,”remarkedtheWizard.
“Well,thiswasafigureofacat,”saidJim,“andsheWENTdown,anyhow,whethersheclimbedorcrept.”
“Dearme!howcarelessEurekais,”exclaimedthegirl,muchdistressed.“TheGurgleswillgether,sure!”
“Ha,ha!”chuckledtheoldcab-horse;“they’renot‘Gurgles,’littlemaid;they’reGargoyles.”
“Nevermind;they’llgetEureka,whateverthey’recalled.”
“Notheywon’t,”saidthevoiceofthekitten,andEurekaherselfcrawledovertheedgeoftheplatformandsatdownquietlyuponthefloor.
“Whereverhaveyoubeen,Eureka?”askedDorothy,sternly.
“Watchingthewoodenfolks.They’retoofunnyforanything,Dorothy.
Justnowtheyareallgoingtobed,and—whatdoyouthink?
—theyunhookthehingesoftheirwingsandputtheminacorneruntiltheywakeupagain.”
“What,thehinges?”
“No;thewings.”
“That,”saidZeb,“explainswhythishouseisusedbythemforaprison.
IfanyoftheGargoylesactbadly,andhavetobeputinjail,theyarebroughthereandtheirwingsunhookedandtakenawayfromthemuntiltheypromisetobegood.”
TheWizardhadlistenedintentlytowhatEurekahadsaid.
“Iwishwehadsomeofthoseloosewings,”hesaid.
“Couldweflywiththem?”askedDorothy.
“Ithinkso.IftheGargoylescanunhookthewingsthenthepowertoflyliesinthewingsthemselves,andnotinthewoodenbodiesofthepeoplewhowearthem.
So,ifwehadthewings,wecouldprobablyflyaswellastheydo—asleastwhileweareintheircountryandunderthespellofitsmagic.”
“Buthowwouldithelpustobeabletofly?”questionedthegirl.
“Comehere,”saidthelittleman,andtookhertooneofthecornersofthebuilding.“Doyouseethatbigrockstandingonthehillsideyonder?”hecontinued,pointingwithhisfinger.
“Yes;it’sagoodwayoff,butIcanseeit,”shereplied.
“Well,insidethatrock,whichreachesupintotheclouds,isanarchwayverymuchliketheoneweenteredwhenweclimbedthespiralstairwayfromtheValleyofVoe.
I’llgetmyspy-glass,andthenyoucanseeitmoreplainly.”
Hefetchedasmallbutpowerfultelescope,whichhadbeeninhissatchel,andbyitsaidthelittlegirlclearlysawtheopening.
“Wheredoesitleadto?”sheasked.
“ThatIcannottell,”saidtheWizard;“butwecannotnowbefarbelowtheearth’ssurface,andthatentrancemayleadtoanotherstairwaythatwillbringusontopofourworldagain,wherewebelong.
So,ifwehadthewings,andcouldescapetheGargoyles,wemightflytothatrockandbesaved.”
“I’llgetyouthewings,”saidZeb,whohadthoughtfullylistenedtoallthis.“Thatis,ifthekittenwillshowmewheretheyare.”
“Buthowcanyougetdown?”enquiredthegirl,wonderingly.
ForanswerZebbegantounfastenJim’sharness,strapbystrap,andtobuckleonepiecetoanotheruntilhehadmadealongleatherstripthatwouldreachtotheground.
“Icanclimbdownthat,allright,”hesaid.
“Noyoucan’t,”remarkedJim,withatwinkleinhisroundeyes.“YoumayGOdown,butyoucanonlyCLIMBup.”
“Well,I’llclimbupwhenIgetback,then,”saidtheboy,withalaugh.“Now,Eureka,you’llhavetoshowmethewaytothosewings.”
“Youmustbeveryquiet,”warnedthekitten;“forifyoumaketheleastnoisetheGargoyleswillwakeup.Theycanhearapindrop.”
“I’mnotgoingtodropapin,”saidZeb.
Hehadfastenedoneendofthestraptoawheelofthebuggy,andnowheletthelinedangleoverthesideofthehouse.
“Becareful,”cautionedDorothy,earnestly.
“Iwill,”saidtheboy,andlethimselfslideovertheedge.
ThegirlandtheWizardleanedoverandwatchedZebworkhiswaycarefullydownward,handoverhand,untilhestooduponthegroundbelow.
Eurekaclungwithherclawstothewoodensideofthehouseandletherselfdowneasily.
Thentogethertheycreptawaytoenterthelowdoorwayofaneighboringdwelling.
Thewatcherswaitedinbreathlesssuspenseuntiltheboyagainappeared,hisarmsnowfullofthewoodenwings.
Whenhecametowherethestrapwashanginghetiedthewingsallinabunchtotheendoftheline,andtheWizarddrewthemup.
ThenthelinewasletdownagainforZebtoclimbupby.
Eurekaquicklyfollowedhim,andsoontheywereallstandingtogetherupontheplatform,witheightofthemuch-prizedwoodenwingsbesidethem.
Theboywasnolongersleepy,butfullofenergyandexcitement.
HeputtheharnesstogetheragainandhitchedJimtothebuggy.
Then,withtheWizard’shelp,hetriedtofastensomeofthewingstotheoldcab-horse.
Thiswasnoeasytask,becausehalfofeachoneofthehingesofthewingswasmissing,itbeingstillfastenedtothebodyoftheGargoylewhohadusedit.
However,theWizardwentoncemoretohissatchel—whichseemedtocontainasurprisingvarietyofoddsandends—andbroughtoutaspoolofstrongwire,bymeansofwhichtheymanagedtofastenfourofthewingstoJim’sharness,twonearhisheadandtwonearhistail.
Theywereabitwiggly,butsecureenoughifonlytheharnessheldtogether.
Theotherfourwingswerethenfastenedtothebuggy,twooneachside,forthebuggymustbeartheweightofthechildrenandtheWizardasitflewthroughtheair.
Thesepreparationshadnotconsumedagreatdealoftime,butthesleepingGargoyleswerebeginningtowakeupandmovearound,andsoonsomeofthemwouldbehuntingfortheirmissingwings.
Sotheprisonersresolvedtoleavetheirprisonatonce.
Theymountedintothebuggy,DorothyholdingEurekasafeinherlap.
Thegirlsatinthemiddleoftheseat,withZebandtheWizardoneachsideofher.
Whenallwasreadytheboyshookthereinsandsaid:
“Flyaway,Jim!”
“WhichwingsmustIflopfirst?”askedthecab-horse,undecidedly.
“Flopthemalltogether,”suggestedtheWizard.
“Someofthemarecrooked,”objectedthehorse.
“Nevermind;wewillsteerwiththewingsonthebuggy,”saidZeb.“Justyoulightoutandmakeforthatrock,Jim;anddon’twasteanytimeaboutit,either.”
Sothehorsegaveagroan,floppeditsfourwingsalltogether,andflewawayfromtheplatform.
Dorothywasalittleanxiousaboutthesuccessoftheirtrip,forthewayJimarchedhislongneckandspreadouthisbonylegsasheflutteredandflounderedthroughtheairwasenoughtomakeanybodynervous.
Hegroaned,too,asiffrightened,andthewingscreakeddreadfullybecausetheWizardhadforgottentooilthem;buttheykeptfairlygoodtimewiththewingsofthebuggy,sothattheymadeexcellentprogressfromthestart.
Theonlythingthatanyonecouldcomplainofwithjusticewasthefactthattheywobbledfirstupandthendown,asiftheroadwererockyinsteadofbeingassmoothastheaircouldmakeit.
Themainpoint,however,wasthattheyflew,andflewswiftly,ifabitunevenly,towardtherockforwhichtheyhadheaded.
SomeoftheGargoylessawthem,presently,andlostnotimeincollectingabandtopursuetheescapingprisoners;sothatwhenDorothyhappenedtolookbackshesawthemcominginagreatcloudthatalmostdarkenedthesky.
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