Oz 04: Dorthy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum
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. the Mangaboos saw her escape, and several of_them caught up their thorns and gave chase, mounting through_the air after her . eureka, however, was lighter than_the Mangaboos, and while they_could mount only about a hundred feet above the earth the kitten found she_could go nearly two hundred feet . so she ran along over their heads until she had left them far behind and below and had come to_the city and_the house of_the sorcerer . there she entered in at Dorothy's window in_the dome and aroused her from her sleep .

as_soon_as_the little girl knew what had happened she awakened the wizard and Zeb, and at once preparations were made to_go to_the rescue of Jim and_the piglets . the wizard carried his satchel, which_was quite heavy, and Zeb carried the two lanterns and_the oil can . Dorothy's wicker suit- case was still under the seat of_the buggy, and by good fortune the boy had also placed the harness in_the buggy when he had taken it off from Jim to let the horse lie down and rest . so there_was nothing for_the girl to carry but the kitten, which she held close to her bosom and tried to comfort, for its little heart was still beating rapidly .

some_of_the Mangaboos discovered them as_soon_as they left the house of_the sorcerer; but when_they started toward the mountain the vegetable people allowed them to_proceed without interference, yet followed in a crowd behind them so_that they_could_not go back again .

before long they neared the black pit, where a busy swarm of Mangaboos, headed by their princess, was engaged in piling up glass rocks before_the entrance .

" stop, I command you ! " cried the wizard, in an angry tone, and at once began pulling down the rocks to liberate Jim and_the piglets . instead of opposing him in_this they stood back in silence until he had made a good- sized hole in_the barrier, when by order of_the princess they all sprang forward and thrust out their sharp thorns .

Dorothy hopped inside the opening to escape being pricked, and Zeb and_the wizard, after enduring a few stabs from_the thorns, were glad to_follow her . at once the Mangaboos began piling up the rocks of glass again, and as_the little man realized that_they were all about to_be entombed in_the mountain he_said to_the children:

" my dears, what shall we_do ? jump out and fight ? "

" what's the use ? " replied Dorothy ."I'd as soon die here as live much longer among_these cruel and heartless people ."

" that's the way I_feel about_it," remarked Zeb, rubbing his wounds ."I've had enough of_the Mangaboos ."

" all right," said the wizard; "I'm with_you, whatever you decide . but we_can't live long in_this cavern, that's certain ."

Noticing that_the light was growing dim he picked up his nine piglets, patted each_one lovingly on its fat little head, and placed them carefully in_his inside pocket .

Zeb struck a match and lighted one_of_the lanterns . the rays of_the colored suns were now shut out from_them forever, for_the_last chinks had_been filled up in_the wall that separated their prison from_the land of_the Mangaboos .

" how big is_this hole ? " asked Dorothy .

"I'll explore it and_see," replied the boy .

so he carried the lantern back for quite a distance, while Dorothy and_the wizard followed at his side . the cavern did_not come to an end, as_they had expected it would, but slanted upward through_the great glass mountain, running in a direction that promised to lead them to_the side opposite the Mangaboo country .

" it isn't a bad road," observed the wizard, " and if_we followed it it might lead us to some place that_is more comfortable than this black pocket we_are now in .I suppose the vegetable folk were always afraid to enter this cavern because it_is dark; but we_have our lanterns to light the way, so I propose that we start out and discover where this tunnel in_the mountain leads to ."

the others agreed readily to_this sensible suggestion, and at once the boy began to harness Jim to_the buggy . when all was in readiness the three took their seats in_the buggy and Jim started cautiously along the way, Zeb driving while the wizard and Dorothy each held a lighted lantern so the horse could_see where to_go .

Sometimes the tunnel was so narrow that_the wheels of_the buggy grazed the sides; then it would broaden out as wide as a street; but the floor was usually smooth, and for_a_long_time they travelled on without any accident .Jim stopped sometimes to rest, for_the climb was rather steep and tiresome .

" we_must_be nearly as high as_the six colored suns, by_this_time," said Dorothy ."I didn't know this mountain was so tall ."

" we_are certainly a good distance away from_the land of_the Mangaboos," added Zeb; " for we_have slanted away from_it ever_since we started ."

but they kept steadily moving, and just as Jim was about tired out with_his long journey the way suddenly grew lighter, and Zeb put out the lanterns to save the oil .

to_their joy they found it_was a white light that now greeted them, for all were weary of_the colored rainbow lights which, after a time, had made their eyes ache with their constantly shifting rays . the sides of_the tunnel showed before them like the inside of a long spy- glass, and_the floor became more level .Jim hastened his lagging steps at_this assurance of a quick relief from_the dark passage, and in a few_moments more they had emerged from_the mountain and found themselves face_to_face with a new and charming country .

8 . the valley of Voices

by journeying through_the glass mountain they had reached a delightful valley that was shaped like the hollow of a great cup, with another rugged mountain showing on_the other side of it, and soft and pretty green hills at_the ends . it_was all laid out into lovely lawns and gardens, with pebble paths leading through them and groves of beautiful and stately trees dotting the landscape here and there . there were orchards, too, bearing luscious fruits that_are all unknown in_our world .Alluring brooks of crystal water flowed sparkling between their flower- strewn banks, while scattered over the valley were dozens of_the quaintest and most picturesque cottages our travelers had ever beheld . none_of_them were in clusters, such as villages or towns, but each had ample grounds of_its own, with orchards and gardens surrounding it .

as_the new arrivals gazed upon_this exquisite scene they were enraptured by its beauties and_the fragrance that permeated the soft air, which they breathed so gratefully after_the confined atmosphere of_the tunnel . several minutes were consumed in silent admiration before_they noticed two very singular and unusual facts about_this valley . one was that_it_was lighted from some unseen source; for no sun or moon was in_the arched blue sky, although every object was flooded with a clear and perfect light . the second and even more singular fact was_the absence of any inhabitant of_this splendid place . from their elevated position they_could overlook the entire valley, but not a single moving object could they see . all appeared mysteriously deserted .

the mountain on_this side was not glass, but made of a stone similar to granite . with some difficulty and danger Jim drew the buggy over the loose rocks until he reached the green lawns below, where the paths and orchards and gardens began . the nearest cottage was still some distance away .

"Isn't it fine ? " cried Dorothy, in a joyous voice, as she sprang out_of_the buggy and let eureka run frolicking over the velvety grass .

" yes, indeed ! " answered Zeb ." we were lucky to_get away from those dreadful vegetable people ."

" it wouldn't be so bad," remarked the wizard, gazing around him, " if_we were obliged to live here always . we couldn't find a prettier place, I'm sure ."

he_took the piglets from_his pocket and let them run on_the grass, and Jim tasted a mouthful of_the green blades and declared he_was very contented in_his new surroundings .

" we_can't walk in_the air here, though," called eureka, who had tried it and failed; but the others were satisfied to walk on_the ground, and_the wizard said they_must_be nearer the surface of_the earth then they had_been in_the Mangaboo country, for everything was more homelike and natural .

" but where are the people ? " asked Dorothy .

the little man shook his bald head .

" can't imagine, my dear," he replied .

they heard the sudden twittering of a bird, but could_not find the creature anywhere . slowly they walked along the path toward the nearest cottage, the piglets racing and gambolling beside them and Jim pausing at every step for another mouthful of grass .

presently they came to a low plant which had broad, spreading leaves, in_the center of_which grew a single fruit about as large as a peach . the fruit was so daintily colored and so fragrant, and looked so appetizing and delicious that Dorothy stopped and exclaimed:

" what_is it, do_you s' pose ? "

the piglets had smelled the fruit quickly, and before_the girl could reach out her hand to pluck it every_one_of_the nine tiny ones had rushed in and commenced to devour it with great eagerness .

" it's good, anyway," said Zeb, " or those little rascals wouldn't have gobbled it up so greedily ."

" where are they ? " asked Dorothy, in astonishment .

they all looked around, but the piglets had disappeared .

" dear me ! " cried the wizard; " they_must_have run away . but I didn't see them go; did you ? "

" no ! " replied the boy and_the girl, together .

" here,--piggy, piggy, piggy ! " called their master, anxiously .

several squeals and grunts were instantly heard at his feet, but the wizard could_not discover a single piglet .

" where are_you ? " he asked .

" why, right beside you," spoke a tiny voice ." can't you_see us ? "

" no," answered the little man, in a puzzled tone .

" we_can_see you," said another of_the piglets .

the wizard stooped down and put out his hand, and at once felt the small fat body of one of_his pets . he picked it up, but could_not_see what he held .

" it_is very strange," said he, soberly ." the piglets have become invisible, in some curious way ."

"I'll bet it's because they ate that peach ! " cried the kitten .

" it wasn't a peach, eureka," said Dorothy ."I only hope it wasn't poison ."

" it_was fine, Dorothy," called one_of_the piglets .

" we'll eat all we_can find of_them," said another .

" but we mus'n't eat them," the wizard warned the children, " or we too may become invisible, and lose each_other . if_we come across another of_the strange fruit we_must avoid it ."

Calling the piglets to him he picked them all up, one by one, and put them away in_his pocket; for although he could_not_see them he_could feel them, and when he had buttoned his coat he_knew they were safe for_the_present .

the travellers now resumed their walk toward the cottage, which they presently reached . it_was a pretty place, with vines growing thickly over the broad front porch . the door stood open and a table was set in_the front room, with four chairs drawn up to_it . on_the table were plates, knives and forks, and dishes of bread, meat and fruits . the meat was smoking hot and_the knives and forks were performing strange antics and jumping here and there in quite apuzzling way . but not a single person appeared to_be in_the room .

" how funny ! " exclaimed Dorothy, who with Zeb and_the wizard now stood in_the doorway .

a peal of merry laughter answered her, and_the knives and forks fell to_the plates with a clatter . one_of_the chairs pushed back from_the table, and this_was so astonishing and mysterious that Dorothy was almost tempted to run away in fright .

" here are strangers, mama ! " cried the shrill and childish voice of some unseen person .

" so I_see, my dear," answered another voice, soft and womanly .

" what do_you_want ? " demanded a third voice, in a stern, gruff accent .

" well, well ! " said the wizard; " are there really people in_this room ? "

" of_course," replied the man's voice .

" and-- pardon me for_the foolish question-- but, are_you all invisible ? "

" surely," the woman answered, repeating her low, rippling laughter ." are_you surprised that you_are unable to_see the people of Voe ? "

" why, yes," stammered the wizard ." all the people I_have ever met before were very plain to_see ."

" where do_you come from, then ? " asked the woman, in a curious tone .

" we belong upon_the face of_the earth," explained the wizard, " but recently, during an earthquake, we fell down a crack and landed in_the country of_the Mangaboos ."

" dreadful creatures ! " exclaimed the woman's voice ."I've heard of_them ."

" they walled us up in a mountain," continued the wizard; " but we_found there_was a tunnel through to_this side, so we came here . it_is a beautiful place . what do_you call it ? "

" it_is_the valley of Voe ."

" thank_you . we_have seen no people since we arrived, so we came to_this house to enquire our way ."

" are_you hungry ? " asked the woman's voice .

" I_could eat something," said Dorothy .

" so could I," added Zeb .

" but we_do_not wish to intrude, I assure you," the wizard hastened to_say .

" that's all right," returned the man's voice, more pleasantly than before ." you_are welcome to what

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