7. Into the Black Pit and Out Again

           Whentheycametothemountainitprovedtobearugged,toweringchunkofdeepgreenglass,andlookeddismalandforbiddingintheextreme.Halfwayupthesteepwasayawningcave,blackasnightbeyondthepointwheretherainbowraysofthecoloredsunsreachedintoit.

           TheMangaboosdrovethehorseandthekittenandthepigletsintothisdarkholeandthen,havingpushedthebuggyinafterthem—foritseemedsomeofthemhaddraggeditallthewayfromthedomedhall—theybegantopilebigglassrockswithintheentrance,sothattheprisonerscouldnotgetoutagain.

           "Thisisdreadful!"groanedJim."Itwillbeabouttheendofouradventures,Iguess."

           "IftheWizardwashere,"saidoneofthepiglets,sobbingbitterly,"hewouldnotseeussufferso."

           "WeoughttohavecalledhimandDorothywhenwewerefirstattacked,"addedEureka."Butnevermind;bebrave,myfriends,andIwillgoandtellourmasterswhereyouare,andgetthemtocometoyourrescue."

           Themouthoftheholewasnearlyfilledupnow,butthekittengavealeapthroughtheremainingopeningandatoncescamperedupintotheair.TheMangaboossawherescape,andseveralofthemcaughtuptheirthornsandgavechase,mountingthroughtheairafterher.Eureka,however,waslighterthantheMangaboos,andwhiletheycouldmountonlyaboutahundredfeetabovetheearththekittenfoundshecouldgonearlytwohundredfeet.SosheranalongovertheirheadsuntilshehadleftthemfarbehindandbelowandhadcometothecityandtheHouseoftheSorcerer.