13. The Den of the Dragonettes

           Ourfriendshadagoodstartandwereabletomaintainit,forwiththeireightwingstheycouldgojustasfastascouldtheGargoyles.Allthewaytothegreatrockthewoodenpeoplefollowedthem,andwhenJimfinallyalightedatthemouthofthecavernthepursuerswerestillsomedistanceaway.

           "But,I’mafraidthey’llcatchusyet,"saidDorothy,greatlyexcited.

           "No;wemuststopthem,"declaredtheWizard."QuickZeb,helpmepulloffthesewoodenwings!"

           Theytoreoffthewings,forwhichtheyhadnofurtheruse,andtheWizardpiledtheminaheapjustoutsidetheentrancetothecavern.Thenhepouredoverthemallthekeroseneoilthatwasleftinhisoil-can,andlightingamatchsetfiretothepile.

           TheflamesleapedupatonceandthebonfirebegantosmokeandroarandcracklejustasthegreatarmyofwoodenGargoylesarrived.Thecreaturesdrewbackatonce,beingfilledwithfearandhorror;forsuchasdreadfulthingasafiretheyhadneverbeforeknowninallthehistoryoftheirwoodenland.

           Insidethearchwaywereseveraldoors,leadingtodifferentroomsbuiltintothemountain,andZebandtheWizardliftedthesewoodendoorsfromtheirhingesandtossedthemallontheflames.

           "Thatwillproveabarrierforsometimetocome,"saidthelittleman,smilingpleasantlyalloverhiswrinkledfaceatthesuccessoftheirstratagem."Perhapstheflameswillsetfiretoallthatmiserablewoodencountry,andifitdoesthelosswillbeverysmallandtheGargoylesneverwillbemissed.