Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз
12. A Wonderful Escape
Theboywasstrongforoneofhisyears,havingalwaysworkeduponafarm;sohewaslikelytoprovemoredangeroustotheenemythantheWizard.
WhenthenextcompanyofGargoylesadvanced,ouradventurersbeganyellingasiftheyhadgonemad.EventhekittengaveadreadfullyshrillscreamandatthesametimeJimthecab-horseneighedloudly.Thisdauntedtheenemyforatime,butthedefendersweresoonoutofbreath.Perceivingthis,aswellasthefactthattherewerenomoreoftheawful"bangs"tocomefromtherevolvers,theGargoylesadvancedinaswarmasthickasbees,sothattheairwasfilledwiththem.
Dorothysquatteduponthegroundandputupherparasol,whichnearlycoveredherandprovedagreatprotection.TheWizard’ssword-bladesnappedintoadozenpiecesatthefirstblowhestruckagainstthewoodenpeople.ZebpoundedawaywiththeGargoylehewasusingasaclubuntilhehadknockeddowndozensoffoes;butatthelasttheyclusteredsothicklyabouthimthathenolongerhadroominwhichtoswinghisarms.ThehorseperformedsomewonderfulkickingandevenEurekaassistedwhensheleapedbodilyupontheGargoylesandscratchedandbitatthemlikeawild-cat.
Butallthisbraveryamountedtonothingatall.ThewoodenthingswoundtheirlongarmsaroundZebandtheWizardandheldthemfast.Dorothywascapturedinthesameway,andnumbersoftheGargoylesclungtoJim’slegs,soweightinghimdownthatthepoorbeastwashelpless.
