"What, the hinges ? "

"No; the wings "

"That," said Zeb, "explains why this house is used for prison If any Gargoyles act badly, put in jail, brought here and their wings unhooked and taken away until they promise good "

The Wizard had listened intently to what Eureka had said

" we had loose wings,"

"Could we fly ? " asked Dorothy

" so Gargoyles can unhook the wings then the power to fly lies wings themselves, and not wooden bodies people who wear them So, had the wings, probably fly do--as least while in their country and under the spell magic "

"But how would it to fly ? " questioned the girl

"Come here," said the little man, and took her to corners building "Do that big rock standing hillside yonder ? " he continued, pointing finger

"Yes; it's good way off, but it," she replied

"Well, inside that rock, which reaches up clouds, is an archway like the one we entered when we climbed the spiral stairway Valley of Voe I'll get my spy-glass, and then you it more plainly "

He fetched small but powerful telescope, which satchel, and by its aid the little girl clearly saw the opening

"Where does it lead to ? " she asked

"That tell," said the Wizard; "but now be far below the earth's surface, entrance may lead to another stairway bring us on top world again, where we belong So, had the wings, and could escape the Gargoyles, fly rock and be saved "

"I'll get you the wings," said Zeb, who had thoughtfully listened to all this " , kitten will show me where "

"But how get down ? " enquired the girl, wonderingly

For answer Zeb began to unfasten Jim's harness, strap by strap, and to buckle one piece to another until he had made long leather strip reach ground

" climb down that, all right,"

"No 't," remarked Jim, with twinkle round eyes " GO down, but only CLIMB up "

"Well, I'll climb up when I get back, then," said the boy, with laugh "Now, Eureka, you'll have to show me the way wings "

" very quiet," warned the kitten; "for least noise the Gargoyles will wake up hear pin drop "

"I'm not going to drop pin," said Zeb

He had fastened one end strap to wheel buggy, and now he let the line dangle over the side house

"Be careful," cautioned Dorothy, earnestly

" ," said the boy, and let himself slide over the edge

The girl Wizard leaned over and watched Zeb work his way carefully downward, hand over hand, until he stood ground below Eureka clung with her claws wooden side house and let herself down easily Then together they crept away to enter the low doorway of neighboring dwelling

The watchers waited in breathless suspense until the boy again appeared, his arms now full wooden wings

When to where the strap was hanging he tied the wings all in bunch end line, Wizard drew them up Then the line was let down again for Zeb to climb up by Eureka quickly followed him, and soon they were all standing together platform, with eight much prized wooden wings beside them

The boy was no longer sleepy, but full of energy and excitement He put the harness together again and hitched Jim buggy Then, Wizard's help, he tried to fasten wings old cab-horse

no easy task, because half of each hinges wings was missing, it being still fastened body Gargoyle who had used it However, the Wizard went once more satchel-- which seemed to contain surprising variety of odds and ends--and brought out spool of strong wire, they managed to fasten four wings to Jim's harness, two near his head and two near his tail They were bit wiggley, but secure enough if only the harness held together

The other four wings were then fastened buggy, two on each side, buggy must bear the weight children Wizard as it flew air

These preparations consumed great deal , but the sleeping Gargoyles were beginning to wake up and move around, and soon hunting for their missing wings So the prisoners resolved to leave their prison at once

They mounted buggy, Dorothy holding Eureka safe in her lap The girl sat middle seat, with Zeb Wizard on each side of her When all was ready the boy shook the reins and said:

"Fly away, Jim ! "

"Which wings must I flop first ? " asked the cab-horse, undecidedly

"Flop them all together," suggested the Wizard

" are crooked," objected the horse

"Never mind; steer wings buggy," said Zeb "Just you light out and make rock, Jim; and don't waste , either "

So the horse gave groan, flopped its four wings all together, and flew away platform Dorothy was little anxious success trip, way Jim arched his long neck and spread out his bony legs as he fluttered and floundered air was enough anybody nervous He groaned, too, frightened, wings creaked dreadfully because the Wizard had forgotten to oil them; but they kept fairly wings buggy, so made excellent progress start that anyone could complain of with justice fact wobbled first up and then down, as road were rocky instead of being as smooth air could make it

The main point, however, was flew, and flew swiftly, if bit unevenly, toward the rock they had headed

Gargoyles saw them, presently, and lost no time in collecting band to pursue the escaping prisoners; when Dorothy happened to look back she saw them coming in great cloud that almost darkened the sky

13 The Den Dragonettes

Our friends had good start and were able to maintain it, for with their eight wings go just as fast as could the Gargoyles All the way great rock the wooden people followed them, and when Jim finally alighted mouth cavern the pursuers were still some distance away

"But, I'm afraid they'll catch us yet," said Dorothy, greatly excited

"No; stop them," declared the Wizard "Quick Zeb, help me pull off these wooden wings ! "

They tore off the wings, they had no further use, Wizard piled them in heap just outside the entrance cavern Then he poured over them all the kerosene oil that was left oil-can, and lighting match set fire pile

The flames leaped up at once bonfire began to smoke and roar and crackle just great army of wooden Gargoyles arrived The creatures drew back at once, being filled with fear and horror; for such as dreadful thing as fire they had never before known in all the history wooden land

Inside the archway were several doors, leading to different rooms built mountain, and Zeb Wizard lifted these wooden doors from their hinges and tossed them all flames

" prove barrier for ," said the little man, smiling pleasantly all over his wrinkled face success stratagem "Perhaps the flames will set fire to all that miserable wooden country, and does the loss Gargoyles never missed But come, my children; explore the mountain and discover go to escape cavern, getting almost as hot as bake-oven "