" what I advise," said the Wizard "They haven't defeated us yet, and Jim is worth whole army "

But the Gargoyles were clever enough not to attack the horse the They advanced in great swarm, having been joined by many more kind, flew straight over Jim's head to where the others were standing

The Wizard raised one revolvers and fired throng enemies, shot resounded like clap of thunder silent place

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

Zeb ran and picked up Gargoyles that lay nearest to him The top head was carved into crown Wizard's bullet had struck it exactly left eye, hard wooden knot Half bullet stuck wood and half stuck out, so it the jar sudden noise that had knocked the creature down, more fact really hurt Before this crowned Gargoyle had recovered himself Zeb had wound strap around its body, confining its wings and arms so move Then, having tied the wooden creature securely, the boy buckled the strap and tossed his prisoner buggy the others had all retired

12 Wonderful Escape

For while the enemy hesitated to renew the attack Then few advanced until another shot Wizard's revolver made them retreat

"That's fine," said Zeb "We've got 'em run now, sure enough "

"But only for time," replied the Wizard, shaking his head gloomily "These revolvers are good for six shots each, but are gone helpless "

The Gargoyles seemed to realize this, for they sent few band time after time to attack the strangers and draw the fire little man's revolvers was shocked dreadful report more than once, main band kept far away and new company was sent battle Wizard had fired all twelve bullets he had caused no damage enemy except to stun few noise, and so he as no nearer to victory than beginning fray

"What shall now ? " asked Dorothy, anxiously

"Let's yell--all together," said Zeb

"And fight same time," added the Wizard " get near Jim, , and must take some weapon and best I'll use my sword, although it isn't much account affair Dorothy must take her parasol and open it suddenly wooden folks attack her I haven't anything , Zeb "

"I'll use the king," said the boy, and pulled his prisoner buggy The bound Gargoyle's arms extended far out beyond its head, so by grasping its wrists Zeb found the king made club The boy was strong years, having always worked upon farm; so likely more dangerous enemy Wizard

next company of Gargoyles advanced, our adventurers began yelling as had gone mad Even the kitten gave dreadfully shrill scream and same time Jim the cab-horse neighed loudly This daunted the enemy for time, but the defenders were soon out of breath Perceiving this, fact that there were no more awful "bangs" revolvers, the Gargoyles advanced in swarm as thick as bees, so air was filled

Dorothy squatted ground and put up her parasol, which nearly covered her and proved great protection The Wizard's sword-blade snapped into dozen pieces first blow he struck against the wooden people Zeb pounded away Gargoyle using as club until he had knocked down dozens of foes; but last they clustered so thickly about him that he no longer had room to swing his arms The horse performed some wonderful kicking and even Eureka assisted when she leaped bodily Gargoyles and scratched and bit at them like wild-cat

But all this bravery amounted to nothing at all The wooden things wound their long arms around Zeb Wizard and held them fast Dorothy was captured same way, and numbers Gargoyles clung to Jim's legs, so weighting him down poor beast was helpless Eureka made desperate dash to escape and scampered along the ground like streak; but grinning Gargoyle flew after her and grabbed her before she had gone very far

All expected nothing instant death; but surprise the wooden creatures flew air and bore them far away, over miles and miles of wooden country, until they came to wooden city The houses city had many corners, being square and six-sided and eight-sided They were tower-like in shape best seemed old and weather-worn; yet all were strong and substantial

To houses which had neither doors nor windows, but broad opening far up underneath the roof, the prisoners were brought by their captors The Gargoyles roughly pushed them opening, where platform, and then flew away and left them had no wings the strangers fly away, and jumped down from such height surely be killed The creatures had sense enough to reason that way, only mistake they made was in supposing the earth people were unable to overcome such ordinary difficulties

Jim was brought others, although it took Gargoyles to carry the big beast air and land him high platform, buggy was thrust in after him because it belonged party wooden folks had no idea what used for or whether alive or not When Eureka's captor had thrown the kitten others the last Gargoyle silently disappeared, leaving our friends to breathe freely once more

"What an awful fight ! " said Dorothy, catching her breath in little gasps

"Oh, I don't know," purred Eureka, smoothing her ruffled fur with her paw; "we didn't manage to hurt anybody, and nobody managed to hurt us "

"Thank goodness together again, even prisoners," sighed the little girl

"I wonder why they didn't kill us spot," remarked Zeb, who had lost his king struggle

" probably keeping us for some ceremony," the Wizard answered, reflectively; "but they intend to kill us as dead as possible in short time "

"As dead as poss'ble pretty dead, wouldn't it ? " asked Dorothy

"Yes, my dear But no need to worry just now examine our prison what like "

The space underneath the roof, where they stood, permitted them on all sides tall building, looked with much curiosity city spread out beneath them Everything visible of wood, scene seemed stiff and extremely unnatural

From their platform stair descended house, children Wizard explored it after lighting lantern to show them the way Several stories of empty rooms rewarded their search, but nothing more; so after time they came back platform again Had there been any doors or windows lower rooms, or the boards house been so thick and stout, escape easy; but to remain down below was like being in cellar or the hold of ship, and like the darkness or the damp smell

country, as in all others they had visited underneath the earth's surface, no night, constant and strong light coming from some unknown source Looking out, see into houses near them, where there were open windows in abundance, and were able to mark the forms wooden Gargoyles moving about in their dwellings

"This their time of rest," observed the Wizard "All people need rest, even made of wood, and as no night here they select certain time day to sleep or doze "

" sleepy myself," remarked Zeb, yawning

"Why, where's Eureka ? " cried Dorothy, suddenly

They all looked around, but the kitten was no place seen

"She's gone out for walk," said Jim, gruffly

"Where ? roof ? " asked the girl

"No; she just dug her claws wood and climbed down the sides house ground "

"She couldn't climb DOWN, Jim," said Dorothy "To climb means up "

"Who said so ? " demanded the horse

"My school-teacher said so; and she knows lot, Jim "

"To 'climb down' is sometimes used as figure of speech," remarked the Wizard

"Well, figure of cat," said Jim, "and she WENT down, anyhow, whether she climbed or crept "

"Dear me ! how careless Eureka is," exclaimed the girl, much distressed "The Gurgles will get her, sure ! "

"Ha, ha ! " chuckled the old cab-horse; "they're not 'Gurgles,' little maid; they're Gargoyles "

"Never mind; they'll get Eureka, whatever they're called "

"No they won't," said the voice kitten, and Eureka herself crawled over the edge platform and sat down quietly floor

"Wherever been, Eureka ? " asked Dorothy, sternly