Дороти и Волшебник в стране Оз

           "Anyhow,"saidDorothy,"we’ve’scapedthoseawfulGurgles,andthat’sONEcomfort!"

           "ProbablytheGargoylesarestillbusytryingtoputoutthefire,"returnedtheWizard."Buteveniftheysucceededindoingthatitwouldbeverydifficultforthemtoflyamongsttheserocks;soIamsureweneedfearthemnolonger."

           Onceinawhiletheywouldcometoadeepcrackinthefloor,whichmadethewayquitedangerous;buttherewasstillenoughoilinthelanternstogivethemlight,andthecrackswerenotsowidebutthattheywereabletojumpoverthem.Sometimestheyhadtoclimboverheapsoflooserock,whereJimcouldscarcelydragthebuggy.AtsuchtimesDorothy,ZebandtheWizardallpushedbehind,andliftedthewheelsovertheroughestplaces;sotheymanaged,bydintofhardwork,tokeepgoing.Butthelittlepartywasbothwearyanddiscouragedwhenatlast,onturningasharpcorner,thewanderersfoundthemselvesinavastcavearchinghighovertheirheadsandhavingasmooth,levelfloor.

           Thecavewascircularinshape,andallarounditsedge,neartotheground,appearedgroupsofdullyellowlights,twoofthembeingalwayssidebyside.Theseweremotionlessatfirst,butsoonbegantoflickermorebrightlyandtoswayslowlyfromsidetosideandthenupanddown.

           "Whatsortofplaceisthis?"askedtheboy,tryingtoseemoreclearlythroughthegloom.

           "Icannotimagine,I’msure,"answeredtheWizard,alsopeeringabout.