Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз
12. A Wonderful Escape
Eurekamadeadesperatedashtoescapeandscamperedalongthegroundlikeastreak;butagrinningGargoyleflewafterherandgrabbedherbeforeshehadgoneveryfar.
Allofthemexpectednothinglessthaninstantdeath;buttotheirsurprisethewoodencreaturesflewintotheairwiththemandborethemfaraway,overmilesandmilesofwoodencountry,untiltheycametoawoodencity.Thehousesofthiscityhadmanycorners,beingsquareandsix-sidedandeight-sided.Theyweretower-likeinshapeandthebestofthemseemedoldandweather-worn;yetallwerestrongandsubstantial.
Tooneofthesehouseswhichhadneitherdoorsnorwindows,butonlyonebroadopeningfarupunderneaththeroof,theprisonerswerebroughtbytheircaptors.TheGargoylesroughlypushedthemintotheopening,wheretherewasaplatform,andthenflewawayandleftthem.Astheyhadnowingsthestrangerscouldnotflyaway,andiftheyjumpeddownfromsuchaheighttheywouldsurelybekilled.Thecreatureshadsenseenoughtoreasonthatway,andtheonlymistaketheymadewasinsupposingtheearthpeoplewereunabletoovercomesuchordinarydifficulties.
Jimwasbroughtwiththeothers,althoughittookagoodmanyGargoylestocarrythebigbeastthroughtheairandlandhimonthehighplatform,andthebuggywasthrustinafterhimbecauseitbelongedtothepartyandthewoodenfolkshadnoideawhatitwasusedfororwhetheritwasaliveornot.WhenEureka’scaptorhadthrownthekittenaftertheothersthelastGargoylesilentlydisappeared,leavingourfriendstobreathefreelyoncemore.