Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз
9. They Fight the Invisible Bears
"True,"hereplied;"andinmysatchelareotherusefulthingstofightwith."
"WhattheGargoylesmostdreadisanoise,"saidtheman’svoice."OurChampiontoldmethatwhenheshoutedhisbattle-crythecreaturesshudderedanddrewback,hesitatingtocontinuethecombat.Buttheywereingreatnumbers,andtheChampioncouldnotshoutmuchbecausehehadtosavehisbreathforfighting."
"Verygood,"saidtheWizard;"wecanallyellbetterthanwecanfight,soweoughttodefeattheGargoyles."
"Buttellme,"saidDorothy,"howdidsuchabraveChampionhappentoletthebearseathim?Andifhewasinvis’ble,andthebearsinvis’ble,whoknowsthattheyreallyatehimup?"
"TheChampionhadkilledelevenbearsinhistime,"returnedtheunseenman;"andweknowthisistruebecausewhenanycreatureisdeadtheinvisiblecharmofthedama-fruitceasestobeactive,andtheslainonecanbeplainlyseenbyalleyes.WhentheChampionkilledabeareveryonecouldseeit;andwhenthebearskilledtheChampionweallsawseveralpiecesofhimscatteredabout,whichofcoursedisappearedagainwhenthebearsdevouredthem."
Theynowbadefarewelltothekindbutunseenpeopleofthecottage,andafterthemanhadcalledtheirattentiontoahigh,pyramid-shapedmountainontheoppositesideoftheValley,andtoldthemhowtotravelinordertoreachit,theyagainstartedupontheirjourney.
Theyfollowedthecourseofabroadstreamandpassedseveralmoreprettycottages;butofcoursetheysawnoone,nordidanyonespeaktothem.
