10. The Braided Man of Pyramid Mountain

           Themountainbeforethemwasshapedlikeaconeandwassotallthatitspointwaslostintheclouds.DirectlyfacingtheplacewhereJimhadstoppedwasanarchedopeningleadingtoabroadstairway.Thestairswerecutintherockinsidethemountain,andtheywerebroadandnotverysteep,becausetheycircledaroundlikeacork-screw,andatthearchedopeningwheretheflightbeganthecirclewasquitebig.Atthefootofthestairswasasignreading:

           WARNING.ThesestepsleadtotheLandoftheGargoyles.DANGER!KEEPOUT.

           "IwonderhowJimisevergoingtodrawthebuggyupsomanystairs,"saidDorothy,gravely.

           "Notroubleatall,"declaredthehorse,withacontemptuousneigh."Still,Idon’tcaretodraganypassengers.You’llallhavetowalk."

           "Supposethestairsgetsteeper?"suggestedZeb,doubtfully.

           "Thenyou’llhavetoboostthebuggy-wheels,that’sall,"answeredJim.

           "We’lltryit,anyway,"saidtheWizard."It’stheonlywaytogetoutoftheValleyofVoe."

           Sotheybegantoascendthestairs,DorothyandtheWizardfirst,Jimnext,drawingthebuggy,andthenZebtowatchthatnothinghappenedtotheharness.

           Thelightwasdim,andsoontheymountedintototaldarkness,sothattheWizardwasobligedtogetouthislanternstolighttheway.Butthisenabledthemtoproceedsteadilyuntiltheycametoalandingwheretherewasariftinthesideofthemountainthatletinbothlightandair.LookingthroughthisopeningtheycouldseetheValleyofVoelyingfarbelowthem,thecottagesseemingliketoyhousesfromthatdistance.