"Where ? " he asked

"Why, right beside you," spoke tiny voice "Can't us ? "

"No," answered the little man, in puzzled tone

" you," said another piglets

The Wizard stooped down and put out his hand, and at once felt the small fat body of one pets He picked it up, but what he held

" 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 peach, Eureka," said Dorothy "I only hope it wasn't poison "

" fine, Dorothy," called piglets

"We'll eat all find ," said another

"But WE mus'n't eat them," the Wizard warned the children, "or we too may become invisible, and lose come across another strange fruit avoid it "

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

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

"How funny ! " exclaimed Dorothy, who with Zeb Wizard now stood doorway

peal of merry laughter answered her, knives and forks fell plates with clatter chairs pushed back table, and 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 , my dear," answered another voice, soft and womanly

"What ? " demanded third voice, in stern, gruff accent

"Well, well ! " said the Wizard; "are there really people room ? "

" ," replied the man's voice

"And--pardon me foolish question--but, all invisible ? "

"Surely," the woman answered, repeating her low, rippling laughter " surprised that unable the people of Voe ? "

"Why, yes," stammered the Wizard "All the people ever met before were very plain "

"Where come from, then ? " asked the woman, in curious tone

"We belong face earth," explained the Wizard, "but recently, during an earthquake, we fell down crack and landed Country Mangaboos "

"Dreadful creatures ! " exclaimed the woman's voice "I've heard "

"They walled us up in mountain," continued the Wizard; "but tunnel through side, so we came here beautiful place What call it ? "

" Valley of Voe "

" seen no people since we arrived, so we came house to enquire our way "

" hungry ? " asked the woman's voice

" eat something," said Dorothy

"So could I," added Zeb

"But wish to intrude, I assure you," the Wizard hastened

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

As he spoke the voice came so near to Zeb that he jumped back in alarm Two childish voices laughed merrily 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 eating the grass on my lawn ? " enquired the man's voice

"That's Jim," said the girl "He's horse "

" he good for ? " next question

"He draws the buggy fastened to him, and we ride buggy instead of walking," she explained

"Can he fight ? " asked the man's voice

"No ! kick pretty hard heels, and bite little; but Jim can't 'zactly fight," she replied

"Then the bears will get him," said children's voices

"Bears ! " exclaimed Dorothy "Are these bears here ? "

" one evil country," answered the invisible man "Many large and fierce bears roam Valley of Voe, and can catch any of us they eat us up; but see us, we seldom get caught "

"Are the bears invis'ble, too ? " asked the girl

"Yes; for they eat dama-fruit, all do, keeps them from being seen by any eye, whether human or animal "

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

"Yes," reply

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

"For two reasons, my dear," the woman's voice answered "The dama-fruit 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 table, so please sit down and eat like "

9 They Fight the Invisible Bears

The strangers took their seats table willingly enough, for they were all hungry platters were now heaped with good things to eat In front of each place was plate bearing delicious dama-fruit, perfume that rose was so enticing and sweet were sorely tempted to eat and become invisible

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

"Why not eat the damas ? " asked the woman's voice

"We don't want invis'ble," answered the girl

"But remain visible the bears will see you and devour you," said girlish young voice, that belonged to children "We who live here much prefer invisible; for still hug and kiss one another, quite safe bears "

"And we 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 of it," said the mother; " stands to reason your face is dirty, Ianu, whether 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 girl of about her own age other 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 well and delicately formed

"If I you beautiful," she declared

The girl laughed, and her mother said:

" vain Valley of Voe, because not display our beauty, and good actions and pleasant ways are what make us lovely to our companions Yet and appreciate the beauties of nature, the dainty flowers and trees, the green fields clear blue sky "

"How birds and beasts and fishes ? " asked Zeb

"The birds we , because they love to eat damas 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 brooks , and often we catch them to eat "

"It occurs great deal you happy, even while invisible," remarked the Wizard "Nevertheless, we prefer to remain visible while in your valley "

Just then Eureka came in, for she until now wandering outside with Jim; and kitten saw the table set with food she cried out:

"Now feed me, Dorothy, for I'm half starved "

The children were inclined frightened sight small animal, which reminded them bears; but Dorothy reassured them by explaining that Eureka was pet and could do no harm even if she wished to Then, others had moved away table, the kitten sprang chair and put her paws cloth what to eat To her surprise an unseen hand clutched her and held her suspended air Eureka was frantic with terror, and tried to scratch and bite, so the next moment she was dropped floor,

"Did that, Dorothy ? " she gasped

"Yes, dear," her mistress replied; " people living house, although we them And better manners, Eureka, or something worse will happen "

She placed plate of food floor kitten ate greedily

" that nice-smelling fruit table," she begged, when she had cleaned the plate

"Those are damas," said Dorothy, "and never even taste them, Eureka, or you'll get invis'ble, and then 't see you at all "

The kitten gazed wistfully forbidden fruit

"Does it hurt invis'ble ? " she asked

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