Oz 04: Dorthy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum
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at his feet appeared the form of a great red bear, which_was nearly as big as_the horse and much stronger and fiercer . the beast was quite dead from_the sword thrusts, and after a glance at its terrible claws and sharp teeth the little man turned in a panic and rushed out upon_the water, for other menacing growls told him more bears were near .

on_the river, however, the adventurers seemed to_be perfectly safe . Dorothy and_the buggy had floated slowly down stream with_the current of_the water, and_the others made haste to join her . the wizard opened his satchel and got out some sticking- plaster with_which he mended the cuts Jim had received from_the claws of_the bears .

" i_think we'd better stick to_the river, after_this," said Dorothy ." if our unknown friend hadn't warned us, and told us what to_do, we_would all be dead by_this_time ."

" that_is true," agreed the wizard, " and as_the river seems_to_be flowing in_the direction of_the pyramid mountain it_will_be the easiest way for_us to travel ."

Zeb hitched Jim to_the buggy again, and_the horse trotted along and drew them rapidly over the smooth water . the kitten was at first dreadfully afraid of getting wet, but Dorothy let her down and soon eureka was frisking along beside the buggy without being scared a bit . once a little fish swam too near the surface, and_the kitten grabbed it in her mouth and ate it up as quick as a wink; but Dorothy cautioned her to_be careful what she ate in_this valley of enchantments, and no more fishes were careless enough to swim within reach .

after a journey of several hours they came to a point where the river curved, and_they found they_must cross a mile or so of_the valley before_they came to_the pyramid mountain . there were few houses in_this part, and few orchards or flowers; so our friends feared they_might encounter more of_the savage bears, which they had learned to dread with all their hearts .

" you'll have to_make a dash, Jim," said the wizard, " and run as fast as_you_can go ."

" all right," answered the horse; "I'll do my best . but you_must remember I'm old, and my dashing days are past and gone ."

all three got into_the buggy and Zeb picked up the reins, though Jim needed no guidance of any sort . the horse was still smarting from_the sharp claws of_the invisible bears, and as_soon_as he_was on land and headed toward the mountain the thought that more of_those fearsome creatures might_be near acted as a spur and sent him galloping along in a way that made Dorothy catch her breath .

then Zeb, in a spirit of mischief, uttered a growl like that of_the bears, and Jim pricked up his ears and fairly flew . his boney legs moved so fast they_could scarcely be seen, and_the wizard clung fast to_the seat and yelled "Whoa ! " at_the top of_his voice .

"I--I'm 'fraid he's-- he's running away ! " gasped Dorothy .

" I_know he_is," said Zeb; " but no bear can catch him if he keeps up that gait-- and_the harness or the buggy don't break ."

Jim did_not make a mile a minute; but almost before_they were aware of it he drew up at_the foot of_the mountain, so suddenly that_the wizard and Zeb both sailed over the dashboard and landed in_the soft grass-- where they rolled over several_times before_they stopped . Dorothy nearly went with_them, but she was holding fast to_the iron rail of_the seat, and_that saved her . she squeezed the kitten, though, until it screeched; and then the old cab- horse made several curious sounds that led the little girl to suspect he_was laughing at them all .

10 . the braided man of pyramid mountain

the mountain before them was shaped like a cone and was so tall that its point was lost in_the clouds . directly facing the place where Jim had stopped was an arched opening leading to a broad stairway . the stairs were cut in_the rock inside the mountain, and_they were broad and not very steep, because they circled around like a Cork- screw, and at_the arched opening where the flight began the circle was quite big . at_the foot of_the stairs was a sign reading:

WARNING . these steps lead to_the land of_the Gargoyles . danger ! keep out .

"I wonder how Jim is ever going to draw the buggy up so_many stairs," said Dorothy, gravely .

" no trouble at all," declared the horse, with a contemptuous neigh ." still, I don't care to drag any passengers . you'll all have to walk ."

" suppose the stairs get steeper ? " suggested Zeb, doubtfully .

" then you'll have to boost the buggy-wheels, that's all," answered Jim .

" we'll try it, anyway," said the wizard ." it's the only way to_get out_of_the valley of Voe ."

so they began to ascend the stairs, Dorothy and_the wizard first, Jim next, drawing the buggy, and then Zeb to watch that nothing happened to_the harness .

the light was dim, and soon they mounted into total darkness, so that_the wizard was obliged to_get out his lanterns to light the way . but this enabled them to_proceed steadily until they came to alanding where there_was a rift in_the side of_the mountain that let in both light and air . looking through_this opening they_could see the valley of Voe lying far below them, the cottages seeming like toy houses from_that distance .

after resting a few_moments they resumed their climb, and still the stairs were broad and low enough for Jim to draw the buggy easily after him . the old horse panted a little, and had to stop often to_get his breath . at such times they were all glad to wait for him, for continually climbing up stairs is sure to_make one's legs ache .

they wound about, always going upward, for some_time . the lights from_the lanterns dimly showed the way, but it_was agloomy journey, and_they were pleased when a broad streak of light ahead assured them they were coming to a second landing .

here one side of_the mountain had a great hole in_it, like the mouth of a cavern, and_the stairs stopped at_the near edge of_the floor and commenced ascending again at_the opposite edge .

the opening in_the mountain was on_the side opposite to_the valley of Voe, and_our travellers looked out upon a strange scene . below them was a vast space, at_the bottom of which_was a black sea with rolling billows, through which little tongues of flame constantly shot up . just above them, and almost on a level with their platform, were banks of rolling clouds which constantly shifted position and changed color . the blues and greys were very beautiful, and Dorothy noticed that on_the cloud banks sat or reclined fleecy, shadowy forms of beautiful beings who must_have been the cloud Fairies .Mortals who stand upon_the earth and look up at_the sky cannot often distinguish these forms, but our friends were now so near to_the clouds that_they observed the dainty fairies very clearly .

" are they real ? " asked Zeb, in an awed voice .

" of_course," replied Dorothy, softly ." they_are the cloud Fairies ."

" they seem like open- work," remarked the boy, gazing intently ." if i_should squeeze one, there wouldn't be anything left of it ."

in_the open space between_the clouds and_the black, bubbling sea far beneath, could_be seen an occasional strange bird winging its way swiftly through_the air . these birds were of enormous size, and reminded Zeb of_the rocs he had read about in_the Arabian Nights . they had fierce eyes and sharp talons and beaks, and_the children hoped none_of_them would venture into_the cavern .

" well, I declare ! " suddenly exclaimed the little wizard ." what in_the_world is_this ? "

they turned around and found a man standing on_the floor in_the center of_the cave, who bowed very politely when he_saw he had attracted their attention . he_was a very old man, bent nearly double; but the queerest thing about him was his white hair and beard . these were so_long that_they reached to_his feet, and both the hair and_the beard were carefully plaited into many braids, and_the end of each braid fastened with a bow of colored ribbon .

" where did you come from ? " asked Dorothy, wonderingly .

" no place at all," answered the man with_the braids; " that_is, not recently . once I lived on top the earth, but for many years I_have_had my factory in_this spot-- half way up pyramid mountain ."

" are we only half way up ? " enquired the boy, in a discouraged tone .

"I believe so, my lad," replied the braided man ." but as I_have never been in either direction, down or up, since I arrived, I_cannot_be positive whether it_is exactly half way or not ."

" have_you a factory in_this place ? " asked the wizard, who had_been examining the strange personage carefully .

" to_be_sure," said the other ." I_am a great inventor, you_must know, and I manufacture my products in_this lonely spot ."

" what_are your products ? " enquired the wizard .

" well, I make assorted Flutters for flags and bunting, and a superior grade of Rustles for ladies' silk gowns ."

" i_thought so," said the wizard, with a sigh ." may we examine some_of_these articles ? "

" yes, indeed; come into my shop, please," and_the braided man turned and led the way into a smaller cave, where he evidently lived . here, on a broad shelf, were several card- board boxes of various sizes, each tied with cotton cord .

" this," said the man, taking up a box and handling it gently, "contains twelve dozen rustles-- enough to last any lady a year . will_you buy it, my dear ? " he asked, addressing Dorothy .

" my gown isn't silk," she said, smiling .

" never mind . when_you open the box the rustles will escape, whether you_are wearing a silk dress or not," said the man, seriously . then he picked up another box ." in_this," he continued, " are many assorted flutters . they_are invaluable to_make flags flutter on a still day, when there_is no wind . you, sir," turning to_the wizard, " ought_to_have this assortment . once you_have tried my goods I_am_sure you_will never be without them ."

" I_have no money with me," said the wizard, evasively .

" I_do_not want money," returned the braided man, " for I_could_not spend it in_this deserted place if I had it . but i_would like very_much a blue hair- ribbon . you_will notice my braids are tied with yellow, pink, brown, red, green, white and black; but I_have no blue ribbons ."

"I'll get you one ! " cried Dorothy, who was sorry for_the poor man; so she ran back to_the buggy and took from her suit- case a pretty blue ribbon . it did her good to_see how the braided man's eyes sparkled when he received this treasure .

" you have_made me very, very happy, my dear ! " he exclaimed; and then he insisted on_the wizard taking the box of flutters and_the little girl accepting the box of rustles .

" you_may need them, some_time," he_said, " and there_is really no use in my manufacturing these things unless somebody uses them ."

" why did you leave the surface of_the earth ? " enquired the wizard .

" I_could_not help it . it_is a sad story, but if_you_will try to restrain your tears i_will tell you about_it . on earth i_was a manufacturer of Imported Holes for American Swiss cheese, and_I_will acknowledge that I supplied a superior article, which_was in great demand . also I_made pores for porous plasters and high- grade holes for doughnuts and buttons . finally I invented a new adjustable post- hole, which i_thought would make my fortune .I manufactured a large quantity of_these post-holes, and having no room in_which to store them I set them all end to end and put the top one in_the ground . that made an extraordinary long hole, as_you_may imagine, and reached far down into_the earth; and, as I leaned over it to_try to_see to_the bottom, I lost my balance and tumbled in . unfortunately, the hole led directly into_the vast space you_see outside this mountain; but I managed to catch a point of rock that projected from_this cavern, and so saved myself from tumbling headlong into_the black waves beneath, where the tongues of flame that dart out would certainly have consumed me . here, then, I_made my home; and although it_is a lonely place I amuse myself making rustles and flutters, and so get along very nicely ."

when_the braided man had completed this strange tale Dorothy nearly laughed, because it_was all so absurd; but the wizard tapped his forehead significantly, to indicate that he thought the poor man was crazy . so they politely bade him good day, and went back to_the outer cavern to resume their journey .

11 . they meet the wooden Gargoyles

another breathless climb brought our adventurers to a third landing where there_was a rift in_the mountain . on peering out all they_could see was rolling banks of clouds, so thick that_they obscured all else .

but the travellers were obliged to rest, and while they were sitting on_the rocky floor the wizard felt in_his pocket and brought out the nine tiny piglets . to_his delight they were now plainly visible, which proved that_they had passed beyond the influence of_the magical valley of Voe .

" why, we_can_see each_other again ! " cried one, joyfully .

" yes," sighed eureka; " and I also can_see you again, and_the sight makes me dreadfully hungry . please, Mr wizard, may I

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