" tell us, sir or ma'am," said the Wizard, addressing the air because quite know where the unseen people stood, " get out of your beautiful Valley, and on top Earth again "

"Oh, one can leave the Valley easily enough," answered the man's voice; "but enter far less pleasant country As for reaching the top earth, never heard possible to , and succeeded in getting there probably fall off "

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

"The Valley of Voe is certainly charming place," resumed the Wizard; "but contented in land than our own, for long Even if come to unpleasant places way necessary, to reach the earth's surface, moving on toward it "

" case," said the man, " best to cross our Valley and mount the spiral staircase inside the Pyramid Mountain The top mountain is lost clouds, and reach it awful Land of Naught, where the Gargoyles live "

" Gargoyles ? " asked Zeb

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

The wanders were rather discouraged gloomy report, but Dorothy said with sigh:

" only way home is to meet the Gurgles, then we've got to meet 'em 't be worse Wicked Witch or the Nome King "

"But remember you had the Scarecrow Tin Woodman to conquer those enemies," suggested the Wizard "Just now, my dear, not 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 the jointed sword that you chopped the veg'table Sorcerer in two with," the girl said little man

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

"What the Gargoyles most dread is noise," said the man's voice "Our Champion told me that when he shouted his battle-cry the creatures shuddered and drew back, hesitating the combat But they were in great numbers, Champion shout much because he had to save his breath for fighting "

" ," said the Wizard; " all yell better than fight, so we ought to defeat the Gargoyles "

"But tell me," said Dorothy, "how did such brave Champion happen to let the bears eat him ? And if invis'ble, bears invis'ble, who knows really ate him up ? "

"The Champion had killed eleven bears time," returned the unseen man; "and true because when any creature is dead the invisible charm dama-fruit ceases active, slain one plainly seen by all eyes Champion killed bear everyone it; and bears killed the Champion we all saw several pieces of him scattered about, which disappeared again bears devoured them "

They now bade farewell kind but unseen people cottage, and man had called their attention to high, pyramid-shaped mountain opposite side Valley, and told them how to travel to reach it, they again started upon their journey

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

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

" bears near by Be careful "

The Wizard got out his sword at once, and Zeb grabbed the horse-whip Dorothy climbed buggy, although Jim unharnessed and was grazing some distance away

The owner unseen voice laughed lightly and said:

" escape the bears that way "

"How CAN we 'scape ? " asked Dorothy, nervously, for an unseen danger is always the hardest

" take river," reply "The bears will not venture water "

"But drowned ! " exclaimed the girl

"Oh, no need ," said the voice, which from its gentle tones seemed to belong to young girl " strangers Valley of Voe, and seem our ways; so try to save you "

The next moment broad-leaved plant was jerked ground where it grew and held suspended air Wizard

"Sir," said the voice, " rub these leaves soles of all your feet, and then to walk water without sinking below the surface secret the bears know, and we people of Voe usually walk water when we travel, and so escape our enemies "

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

"Quick ! water or lost ! " cried their unseen friend, and without hesitation the Wizard drew the buggy down the bank and out broad river, for Dorothy was still seated with Eureka in her arms sink at all, owing virtues strange plant they had used, and buggy was middle stream the Wizard returned bank to assist Zeb and Jim

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

"Run river ! " shouted the Wizard, and Jim quickly freed himself unseen tormenters by few vicious kicks and then obeyed he trotted out surface river himself safe from pursuit, and Zeb was already running across the water toward Dorothy

little Wizard turned them hot breath against his cheek and heard low, fierce growl At once he began stabbing air sword, and that he had struck some substance because when he drew back the blade dripping with blood The third time that he thrust out the weapon loud roar and fall, and suddenly at his feet appeared the form of great red bear, nearly as big horse and much stronger and fiercer The beast was quite dead sword thrusts, and after glance at its terrible claws and sharp teeth the little man turned in panic and rushed out water, for other menacing growls told him more bears were near

river, however, the adventurers seemed perfectly safe Dorothy buggy had floated slowly down stream current water, others made haste to join her The Wizard opened his satchel and got out some sticking-plaster he mended the cuts Jim had received claws bears

" we'd better stick river, ," said Dorothy "If our unknown friend hadn't warned us, and told us what , all be dead "

" true," agreed the Wizard, "and river flowing direction Pyramid Mountain the easiest way to travel "

Zeb hitched Jim buggy again, 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 bit Once little fish swam too near the surface, kitten grabbed it in her mouth and ate it up as quick as wink; but Dorothy cautioned her careful what she ate valley of enchantments, and no more fishes were careless enough to swim within reach

After journey of several hours they came to point where the river curved, found cross mile or so Valley came Pyramid Mountain There were few houses part, and few orchards or flowers; so our friends feared encounter more savage bears, which they had learned to dread with all their hearts

"You'll have dash, Jim," said the Wizard, "and run as fast go "

"All right," answered the horse; "I'll do my best But remember I'm old, and my dashing days are past and gone "