Oz 04: Dorthy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum
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may I eat just one_of_the fat little piglets ? you'd never miss one_of_them, I'm sure ! "

" what a horrid, savage beast ! " exclaimed a piglet; " and after we've been such good friends, too, and played with one another ! "

" when I'm not hungry, I love to play with_you all," said the kitten, demurely; " but when my stomach is empty it seems that nothing would fill it so nicely as a fat piglet ."

" and we trusted you so ! " said another of_the nine, reproachfully .

" and thought you were respectable ! " said another .

" it seems we were mistaken," declared a third, looking at_the kitten timorously, " no one with_such murderous desires should belong to our party, I'm sure ."

" you_see, eureka," remarked Dorothy, reprovingly, " you_are making yourself disliked . there_are certain things proper for a kitten to eat; but I never heard of a kitten eating a Pig, under any cir'stances ."

" did you ever see such little pigs before ? " asked the kitten ." they_are no bigger than mice, and I'm sure mice are proper for_me to eat ."

" it isn't the bigness, dear; its the variety," replied the girl ." these are Mr wizard's pets, just as_you_are my pet, and it wouldn't be any more proper for_you to eat them than it would_be for Jim to eat you ."

" and_that's just what I_shall do if_you don't let those little balls of pork alone," said Jim, glaring at_the kitten with_his round, big eyes ." if_you injure any_one_of_them I'll chew you up instantly ."

the kitten looked at_the horse thoughtfully, as_if trying to decide whether he meant it or not .

" in_that case," she said, "I'll leave them alone . you haven't many teeth left, Jim, but the few you_have are sharp enough to_make me shudder . so the piglets will_be perfectly safe, hereafter, as far as I_am concerned ."

" that_is right, eureka," remarked the wizard, earnestly ." let_us all be a happy family and love one another ."

eureka yawned and stretched herself .

"I've always loved the piglets," she said; " but they don't love me ."

" no one can love a person he's afraid of," asserted Dorothy ." if_you behave, and don't scare the little pigs, I'm sure they'll grow very fond of you ."

the wizard now put the nine tiny ones back into his pocket and_the journey was resumed .

" we_must_be pretty near the top, now," said the boy, as_they climbed wearily up the dark, winding stairway .

" the country of_the Gurgles can't be far from_the top of_the earth," remarked Dorothy ." it isn't very nice down here .I'd like to_get home again, I'm sure ."

no one replied to_this, because they found they needed all their breath for_the climb . the stairs had become narrower and Zeb and_the wizard often had to help Jim pull the buggy from one step to another, or keep it from jamming against the rocky walls .

at last, however, a dim light appeared ahead of_them, which grew clearer and stronger as_they advanced .

" thank goodness we're nearly there ! " panted the little wizard .

Jim, who was in advance, saw the last stair before him and stuck his head above the rocky sides of_the stairway . then he halted, ducked down and began to back up, so_that he nearly fell with_the buggy onto the others .

" let's go down again ! " he_said, in_his hoarse voice .

" nonsense ! " snapped the tired wizard ." what's the matter with_you, old man ? "

" everything," grumbled the horse ."I've taken a look at_this place, and it's no fit country for real creatures to_go to . everything's dead, up there-- no flesh or blood or growing thing anywhere ."

" never mind; we_can't turn back," said Dorothy; " and we don't intend to stay there, anyhow ."

" it's dangerous," growled Jim, in a stubborn tone .

" see here, my good steed," broke in_the wizard, " little Dorothy and I_have_been in many queer countries in_our travels, and always escaped without harm . we've even been to_the marvelous land of Oz-- haven't we, Dorothy ? -- so we don't much care what the country of_the Gargoyles is like . go ahead, Jim, and whatever happens we'll make_the best of it ."

" all right," answered the horse; " this_is your excursion, and not mine; so if_you get into trouble don't blame me ."

with_this speech he bent forward and dragged the buggy up the remaining steps . the others followed and soon they were all standing upon a broad platform and gazing at_the most curious and startling sight their eyes had ever beheld .

" the country of_the Gargoyles is all wooden ! " exclaimed Zeb; and so it_was . the ground was sawdust and_the pebbles scattered around were hard knots from trees, worn smooth in course of_time . there were odd wooden houses, with carved wooden flowers in_the front yards . the tree-trunks were of coarse wood, but the leaves of_the trees were shavings . the patches of grass were splinters of wood, and where neither grass nor sawdust showed was a solid wooden flooring . wooden birds fluttered among_the trees and wooden cows were browsing upon_the wooden grass; but the most amazing things of all were the wooden people-- the creatures known as Gargoyles .

these were very numerous, for_the place was thickly inhabited, and a large group of_the queer people clustered near, gazing sharply upon_the strangers who had emerged from_the long spiral stairway .

the Gargoyles were very_small of stature, being less_than three feet in height . their bodies were round, their legs short and thick and their arms extraordinarily long and stout . their heads were too big for their bodies and their faces were decidedly ugly to look upon . some had long, curved noses and chins, small eyes and wide, grinning mouths .Others had flat noses, protruding eyes, and ears that were shaped like those of an elephant . there were many types, indeed, scarcely two being alike; but all were equally disagreeable in appearance . the tops of_their heads had no hair, but were carved into a variety of fantastic shapes, some having a row of points or balls around the top, others designs resembling flowers or vegetables, and still others having squares that looked like waffles cut criss- cross on their heads . they all wore short wooden wings which were fastened to_their wooden bodies by_means of wooden hinges with wooden screws, and with_these wings they flew swiftly and noiselessly here and there, their legs being of little use to_them .

this noiseless motion was one_of_the_most peculiar things about_the Gargoyles . they made no sounds at all, either in flying or trying to_speak, and_they conversed mainly by_means of quick signals made with their wooden fingers or lips . neither was there any sound to_be heard anywhere throughout_the wooden country . the birds did_not sing, nor did the cows moo; yet there_was more than ordinary activity everywhere .

the group of_these queer creatures which_was discovered clustered near the stairs at first remained staring and motionless, glaring with evil eyes at_the intruders who had so suddenly appeared in their land . in turn the wizard and_the children, the horse and_the kitten, examined the Gargoyles with_the same silent attention .

" there's going to_be trouble, I'm sure," remarked the horse ." unhitch those tugs, Zeb, and set me free from_the buggy, so I_can fight comfortably ."

"Jim's right," sighed the wizard ." there's going to_be trouble, and my sword isn't stout enough to cut up those wooden bodies-- so I_shall_have to_get out my revolvers ."

he got his satchel from_the buggy and, opening it, took out two deadly looking revolvers that made the children shrink back in alarm just to look at .

" what harm can the Gurgles do ? " asked Dorothy ." they_have no weapons to hurt us with ."

" each of_their arms is a wooden club," answered the little man, " and I'm sure the creatures mean mischief, by_the looks of_their eyes . even these revolvers can merely succeed in damaging a few of_their wooden bodies, and after_that we_will_be at their mercy ."

" but why fight at all, in_that case ? " asked the girl .

" so I_may die with a clear conscience," returned the wizard, gravely ." it's every man's duty to_do_the best he_knows how; and I'm going to_do_it ."

" wish I had an axe," said Zeb, who by now had unhitched the horse .

" if_we had known we were coming we_might_have brought along several_other useful things," responded the wizard ." but we dropped into_this adventure rather unexpectedly ."

the Gargoyles had backed away a distance when_they heard the sound of talking, for although our friends had spoken in low tones their words seemed loud in_the silence surrounding them . but as_soon_as_the conversation ceased, the grinning, ugly creatures arose in a flock and flew swiftly toward the strangers, their long arms stretched out before them like the bowsprits of a fleet of sail-boats . the horse had especially attracted their notice, because it was_the biggest and strangest creature they had ever seen; so it became the center of_their first attack .

but Jim was ready for_them, and when he_saw them coming he turned his heels toward them and began kicking out as hard as he_could . crack ! crash ! bang ! went his iron- shod hoofs against the wooden bodies of_the Gargoyles, and_they were battered right and left with_such force that_they scattered like straws in_the wind . but the noise and clatter seemed as dreadful to_them as Jim's heels, for all who were able swiftly turned and flew away to a great distance . the others picked themselves up from_the ground one by one and quickly rejoined their fellows, so for a moment the horse thought he had won the fight with ease .

but the wizard was not so confident .

" those wooden things are impossible to hurt," he_said, " and all the damage Jim has_done to_them is to knock a few splinters from their noses and ears . that cannot make them look any uglier, I'm sure, and it_is my opinion they_will soon renew the attack ."

" what made them fly away ? " asked Dorothy .

" the noise, of_course .Don't you remember how the champion escaped them by shouting his battle- cry ? "

" suppose we escape down the stairs, too," suggested the boy ." we_have time, just now, and I'd rather face the invis'ble bears than those wooden imps ."

" no," returned Dorothy, stoutly, " it won't do to_go back, for then we_would never get home . let's fight it out ."

" that_is what I advise," said the wizard ." they haven't defeated us yet, and Jim is worth a whole army ."

but the Gargoyles were clever enough not to attack the horse the next_time . they advanced in a great swarm, having been joined by many more of_their kind, and_they flew straight over Jim's head to where the others were standing .

the wizard raised one of_his revolvers and fired into_the throng of_his enemies, and_the shot resounded like a clap of thunder in_that silent place .

some_of_the wooden beings fell flat upon_the ground, where they quivered and trembled in every limb; but most of_them managed to wheel and escape again to a distance .

Zeb ran and picked up one_of_the Gargoyles that lay nearest to him . the top of_its head was carved into a crown and_the wizard's bullet had struck it exactly in_the left eye, which_was a hard wooden knot . half of_the bullet stuck in_the wood and half stuck out, so it had_been the jar and_the sudden noise that had knocked the creature down, more than_the fact that_it_was really hurt . before this crowned gargoyle had recovered himself Zeb had wound a strap several_times around its body, confining its wings and arms so_that it could_not move . then, having tied the wooden creature securely, the boy buckled the strap and tossed his prisoner into_the buggy . by_that_time the others had all retired .

12 .a wonderful escape

for a while the enemy hesitated to renew the attack . then a few of_them advanced until another shot from_the wizard's revolver made them retreat .

" that's fine," said Zeb ." we've got 'em on_the run now, sure enough ."

" but only for a time," replied the wizard, shaking his head gloomily ." these revolvers are good for six shots each, but when_those are gone we_shall_be helpless ."

the Gargoyles seemed to realize this, for they sent a few of_their band time after time to attack the strangers and draw the fire from_the little man's revolvers . in_this_way none_of_them was shocked by_the dreadful report more than once, for_the main band kept far away and each_time a new company was sent into_the battle . when_the wizard had fired all of_his twelve bullets he had caused no damage to_the enemy except to stun a few by_the noise, and so he as no nearer to victory than in_the beginning of_the fray .

" what shall we_do now ? " asked Dorothy, anxiously .

" let's yell-- all together," said Zeb .

" and fight at_the same time," added the wizard ." we_will get near Jim, so_that he_can help_us, and each_one must take some weapon and do_the best he_can .I'll use my sword, although it isn't much account in_this affair . Dorothy must take her parasol and open it suddenly when_the wooden folks attack her .I haven't anything for_you, Zeb ."

"I'll use the king," said the boy, and pulled his prisoner out_of_the buggy . the bound gargoyle's arms extended far out beyond its head, so by grasping its wrists Zeb found the king made a very_good club . the boy was strong for_one of_his years, having always worked upon a farm; so he_was likely to_prove more dangerous to_the enemy than_the wizard .

when_the next company of Gargoyles advanced, our adventurers began yelling as if_they had gone

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