11. They Meet the Wooden Gargoyles

           Anotherbreathlessclimbbroughtouradventurerstoathirdlandingwheretherewasariftinthemountain.Onpeeringoutalltheycouldseewasrollingbanksofclouds,sothickthattheyobscuredallelse.

           Butthetravellerswereobligedtorest,andwhiletheyweresittingontherockyfloortheWizardfeltinhispocketandbroughtouttheninetinypiglets.Tohisdelighttheywerenowplainlyvisible,whichprovedthattheyhadpassedbeyondtheinfluenceofthemagicalValleyofVoe.

           "Why,wecanseeeachotheragain!"criedone,joyfully.

           "Yes,"sighedEureka;"andIalsocanseeyouagain,andthesightmakesmedreadfullyhungry.Please,Mr.Wizard,mayIeatjustoneofthefatlittlepiglets?You’dnevermissONEofthem,I’msure!"

           "Whatahorrid,savagebeast!"exclaimedapiglet;"andafterwe’vebeensuchgoodfriends,too,andplayedwithoneanother!"

           "WhenI’mnothungry,Ilovetoplaywithyouall,"saidthekitten,demurely;"butwhenmystomachisemptyitseemsthatnothingwouldfillitsonicelyasafatpiglet."

           "Andwetrustedyouso!"saidanotherofthenine,reproachfully.

           "Andthoughtyouwererespectable!"saidanother.

           "Itseemsweweremistaken,"declaredathird,lookingatthekittentimorously,"noonewithsuchmurderousdesiresshouldbelongtoourparty,I’msure."

           "Yousee,Eureka,"remarkedDorothy,reprovingly,"youaremakingyourselfdisliked.Therearecertainthingsproperforakittentoeat;butIneverheardofakitteneatingapig,underANYcir’stances."

           "Didyoueverseesuchlittlepigsbefore?"askedthekitten.