Дороті та Чарівник у країні Оз
13. The Den of the Dragonettes
"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.