Oz 04: Dorthy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum
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what we_have ."

as he spoke the voice came so near to Zeb that he jumped back in alarm . two childish voices laughed merrily at_this action, and Dorothy was sure they were in no danger among such light-hearted folks, even if those folks couldn't be seen .

" what curious animal is_that which_is eating the grass on my lawn ? " enquired the man's voice .

" that's Jim," said the girl ." he's a horse ."

" what_is he good for ? " was_the next question .

" he draws the buggy you_see fastened to him, and we ride in_the buggy instead of walking," she explained .

" can he fight ? " asked the man's voice .

" no ! he_can kick pretty hard with_his heels, and bite a little; but Jim can't 'zactly fight," she replied .

" then the bears will get him," said one_of_the children's voices .

"Bears ! " exclaimed Dorothy ." are these bears here ? "

" that_is_the one evil of_our country," answered the invisible man ." many large and fierce bears roam in_the valley of Voe, and when_they can catch any of us they eat us up; but as_they_cannot see us, we seldom get caught ."

" are the bears invis'ble, too ? " asked the girl .

" yes; for they eat of_the dama- fruit, as_we all do, and_that keeps them from being seen by any eye, whether human or animal ."

"Does the dama- fruit grow on a low bush, and look something like a peach ? " asked the wizard .

" yes," was_the reply .

" if_it makes you invis'ble, why do_you eat it ? " Dorothy enquired .

" for two reasons, my dear," the woman's voice answered ." the dama- fruit is_the most delicious thing that grows, and when it makes us invisible the bears cannot find us to eat us up . but now, good wanderers, your luncheon is on_the table, so please sit down and eat as_much as_you like ."

9 . they fight the invisible Bears

the strangers took their seats at_the table willingly enough, for they were all hungry and_the platters were now heaped with good things to eat . in front of each place was a plate bearing one_of_the delicious dama- fruit, and_the perfume that rose from_these was so enticing and sweet that_they were sorely tempted to eat of_them and become invisible .

but Dorothy satisfied her hunger with other things, and her companions did likewise, resisting the temptation .

" why do_you not eat the damas ? " asked the woman's voice .

" we don't want to_get invis'ble," answered the girl .

" but if_you remain visible the bears will see you and devour you," said a girlish young voice, that belonged to one_of_the children ." we who live here much prefer to_be invisible; for we_can still hug and kiss one another, and_are quite safe from_the bears ."

" and we do_not_have to_be so particular about our dress," remarked the man .

" and mama can't tell whether my face is dirty or not ! " added the other childish voice, gleefully .

" but I make you wash it, every time i_think of it," said the mother; " for_it stands to reason your face is dirty, Ianu, whether I_can_see it or not ."

Dorothy laughed and stretched out her hands .

" come here, please--Ianu and your sister-- and let me feel of you," she requested .

they came to her willingly, and Dorothy passed her hands over their faces and forms and decided one was a girl of about her own age and_the other a boy somewhat smaller . the girl's hair was soft and fluffy and her skin as smooth as satin . when Dorothy gently touched her nose and ears and lips they seemed to_be well and delicately formed .

" if I could_see you I_am_sure you_would_be beautiful," she declared .

the girl laughed, and her mother said:

" we_are_not vain in_the valley of Voe, because we_can not display our beauty, and good actions and pleasant ways are what make us lovely to our companions . yet we_can_see and appreciate the beauties of nature, the dainty flowers and trees, the green fields and_the clear blue of_the sky ."

" how about_the birds and beasts and fishes ? " asked Zeb .

" the birds we cannot_see, because they love to eat of_the damas as_much as we_do; yet we hear their sweet songs and enjoy them . neither can we see the cruel bears, for they also eat the fruit . but the fishes that swim in_our brooks we_can_see, and often we catch them to eat ."

" it occurs to_me you_have a great deal to_make you happy, even while invisible," remarked the wizard ." nevertheless, we prefer to remain visible while we_are in your valley ."

just then eureka came in, for she had_been until now wandering outside with Jim; and when_the kitten saw the table set with food she cried out:

" now you_must feed me, Dorothy, for I'm half starved ."

the children were inclined to_be frightened by_the sight of_the small animal, which reminded them of_the bears; but Dorothy reassured them by explaining that eureka was a pet and could do no harm even if she wished to . then, as_the others had by_this_time moved away from_the table, the kitten sprang upon_the chair and put her paws upon_the cloth to_see what there_was to eat . to her surprise an unseen hand clutched her and held her suspended in_the air . eureka was frantic with terror, and tried to scratch and bite, so the next moment she was dropped to_the floor,

" did you_see that, Dorothy ? " she gasped .

" yes, dear," her mistress replied; " there_are people living in_this house, although we cannot_see them . and you_must_have better manners, eureka, or something worse will happen to_you ."

she placed a plate of food upon_the floor and_the kitten ate greedily .

" give_me that nice-smelling fruit I_saw on_the table," she begged, when she had cleaned the plate .

" those are damas," said Dorothy, " and you_must never even taste them, eureka, or you'll get invis'ble, and then we_can't see you at all ."

the kitten gazed wistfully at_the forbidden fruit .

"Does it hurt to_be invis'ble ? " she asked .

"I don't know," Dorothy answered; " but it would hurt me dre' fully to lose you ."

" very_well, I won't touch it," decided the kitten; " but you_must keep it away from me, for_the smell is very tempting ."

" can_you tell us, sir or MA'am," said the wizard, addressing the air because he_did_not quite know where the unseen people stood, " if_there_is any_way we_can get out of your beautiful valley, and on top of_the earth again ."

"Oh, one can leave the valley easily enough," answered the man's voice; " but to_do_so you_must enter a far less pleasant country . as for reaching the top of_the earth, I_have never heard that_it_is possible to do_that, and if_you succeeded in getting there you_would probably fall off ."

"Oh, no," said Dorothy, " we've been there, and we_know ."

" the valley of Voe is certainly acharming place," resumed the wizard; " but we_cannot_be contented in any_other land than our own, for long . even if we_should come to unpleasant places on_our way it_is necessary, in_order to reach the earth's surface, to_keep moving on toward it ."

" in_that case," said the man, " it_will_be best for_you to cross our valley and mount the spiral staircase inside the pyramid mountain . the top of_that mountain is lost in_the clouds, and when_you reach it you_will_be in_the awful land of naught, where the Gargoyles live ."

" what_are Gargoyles ? " asked Zeb .

" I_do_not know, young sir . our greatest champion, Overman-Anu, once climbed the spiral stairway and fought nine days with_the Gargoyles before he_could escape them and come back; but he_could never be induced to describe the dreadful creatures, and soon afterward a bear caught him and ate him up ."

the wanders were rather discouraged by_this gloomy report, but Dorothy said with a sigh:

" if_the only way to_get home is to meet the Gurgles, then we've got to meet 'em . they_can't be worse than_the wicked witch or the Nome king ."

" but you_must remember you had the Scarecrow and_the tin woodman to help_you conquer those enemies," suggested the wizard ." just now, my dear, there_is not a single warrior in your company ."

"Oh, I guess Zeb could fight if he had to .Couldn't you, Zeb ? " asked the little girl .

" perhaps; if I had to," answered Zeb, doubtfully .

" and you_have the jointed sword that you chopped the veg' table sorcerer in two with," the girl said to_the little man .

" true," he replied; " and in my satchel are other useful things to fight with ."

" what the Gargoyles most dread is a noise," said the man's voice ." our champion told me that when he shouted his battle- cry the creatures shuddered and drew back, hesitating to_continue the combat . but they were in great numbers, and_the champion could_not shout much because he had to save his breath for fighting ."

" very_good," said the wizard; " we_can all yell better than we_can fight, so we ought to defeat the Gargoyles ."

" but tell me," said Dorothy, " how did such a brave champion happen to let the bears eat him ? and if he_was invis'ble, and_the bears invis'ble, who knows that_they really ate him up ? "

" the champion had killed eleven bears in_his time," returned the unseen man; " and we_know this_is true because when any creature is dead the invisible charm of_the dama- fruit ceases to_be active, and_the slain one can_be plainly seen by all eyes . when_the champion killed a bear everyone could_see it; and when_the bears killed the champion we all saw several pieces of him scattered about, which of_course disappeared again when_the bears devoured them ."

they now bade farewell to_the kind but unseen people of_the cottage, and after_the man had called their attention to a high, pyramid- shaped mountain on_the opposite side of_the valley, and told them how to travel in_order to reach it, they again started upon their journey .

they followed the course of a broad stream and passed several more pretty cottages; but of_course they saw no one, nor did any_one speak to_them .Fruits and flowers grew plentifully all about, and there were many_of_the delicious damas that_the people of Voe were so fond of .

about noon they stopped to allow Jim to rest in_the shade of a pretty orchard, and while they plucked and ate some_of_the cherries and plums that grew there a soft voice suddenly said to_them:

" there_are bears near by . be careful ."

the wizard got out his sword at once, and Zeb grabbed the horse- whip . Dorothy climbed into_the buggy, although Jim had_been unharnessed from_it and was grazing some distance away .

the owner of_the unseen voice laughed lightly and said:

" you_cannot escape the bears that way ."

" how can we 'scape ? " asked Dorothy, nervously, for an unseen danger is always the hardest to_face .

" you_must take to_the river," was_the reply ." the bears will not venture upon_the water ."

" but we_would_be drowned ! " exclaimed the girl .

"Oh, there_is no need of_that," said the voice, which from its gentle tones seemed to belong to a young girl ." you_are strangers in_the valley of Voe, and do_not seem to_know our ways; so i_will try to save you ."

the next moment a broad-leaved plant was jerked from_the ground where it grew and held suspended in_the air before_the wizard .

" sir," said the voice, " you_must rub these leaves upon_the soles of all your feet, and then you_will_be_able to walk upon_the water without sinking below the surface . it_is a secret the bears do_not know, and we people of Voe usually walk upon_the water when we travel, and so escape our enemies ."

" thank_you ! " cried the wizard, joyfully, and at once rubbed a leaf upon_the soles of Dorothy's shoes and then upon his own . the girl took a leaf and rubbed it upon_the kitten's paws, and_the rest of_the plant was handed to Zeb, who, after applying it to_his own feet, carefully rubbed it upon all four of Jim's hoofs and then upon_the tires of_the buggy-wheels . he had nearly finished this last task when a low growling was suddenly heard and_the horse began to jump around and kick viciously with_his heels .

" quick ! to_the water or you_are lost ! " cried their unseen friend, and without hesitation the wizard drew the buggy down the bank and out upon_the broad river, for Dorothy was still seated in_it with eureka in her arms . they_did_not sink at all, owing to_the virtues of_the strange plant they had used, and when_the buggy was in_the middle of_the stream the wizard returned to_the bank to assist Zeb and Jim .

the horse was plunging madly about, and two_or_three deep gashes appeared upon its flanks, from_which the blood flowed freely .

" run for_the river ! " shouted the wizard, and Jim quickly freed himself from_his unseen tormenters by a few vicious kicks and then obeyed . as_soon_as he trotted out upon_the surface of_the river he_found himself safe from pursuit, and Zeb was already running across the water toward Dorothy .

as_the little wizard turned to_follow them he_felt a hot breath against his cheek and heard a low, fierce growl . at once he began stabbing at_the air with_his sword, and he_knew that he had struck some substance because when he drew back the blade it_was dripping with blood . the third time that he thrust out the weapon there_was a loud roar and a fall, and suddenly at

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