beating　rapidly。
  Some　of　the　Mangaboos　discovered　them　as　soon　as　they　left　the　House
  of　the　Sorcerer；　but　when　they　started　toward　the　mountain　the
  vegetable　people　allowed　them　to　proceed　without　interference；　yet
  followed　in　a　crowd　behind　them　so　that　they　could　not　go　back　again。
  Before　long　they　neared　the　Black　Pit；　where　a　busy　swarm　of
  Mangaboos；　headed　by　their　Princess；　was　engaged　in　piling　up　glass
  rocks　before　the　entrance。
  〃Stop；　I　command　you！〃　cried　the　Wizard；　in　an　angry　tone；　and　at　once
  began　pulling　down　the　rocks　to　liberate　Jim　and　the　piglets。　　Instead
  of　opposing　him　in　this　they　stood　back　in　silence　until　he　had　made　a
  good…sized　hole　in　the　barrier；　when　by　order　of　the　Princess　they　all
  sprang　forward　and　thrust　out　their　sharp　thorns。
  Dorothy　hopped　inside　the　opening　to　escape　being　pricked；　and　Zeb　and
  the　Wizard；　after　enduring　a　few　stabs　from　the　thorns；　were　glad　to
  follow　her。　　At　once　the　Mangaboos　began　piling　up　the　rocks　of　glass
  again；　and　as　the　little　man　realized　that　they　were　all　about　to　be
  entombed　in　the　mountain　he　said　to　the　children：
  〃My　dears；　what　shall　we　do？　　Jump　out　and　fight？〃
  〃What's　the　use？〃　replied　Dorothy。　　〃I'd　as　soon　die　here　as　live　much
  longer　among　these　cruel　and　heartless　people。〃
  〃That's　the　way　I　feel　about　it；〃　remarked　Zeb；　rubbing　his　wounds。
  〃I've　had　enough　of　the　Mangaboos。〃
  〃All　right；〃　said　the　Wizard；　〃I'm　with　you；　whatever　you　decide。　　But
  we　can't　live　long　in　this　cavern；　that's　certain。〃
  Noticing　that　the　light　was　growing　dim　he　picked　up　his　nine　piglets；
  patted　each　one　lovingly　on　its　fat　little　head；　and　placed　them
  carefully　in　his　inside　pocket。
  Zeb　struck　a　match　and　lighted　one　of　the　lanterns。　　The　rays　of　the
  colored　suns　were　now　shut　out　from　them　forever；　for　the　last　chinks
  had　been　filled　up　in　the　wall　that　separated　their　prison　from　the
  Land　of　the　Mangaboos。
  〃How　big　is　this　hole？〃　asked　Dorothy。
  〃I'll　explore　it　and　see；〃　replied　the　boy。
  So　he　carried　the　lantern　back　for　quite　a　distance；　while　Dorothy　and
  the　Wizard　followed　at　his　side。　　The　cavern　did　not　come　to　an　end；
  as　they　had　expected　it　would；　but　slanted　upward　through　the　great
  glass　mountain；　running　in　a　direction　that　promised　to　lead　them　to
  the　side　opposite　the　Mangaboo　country。
  〃It　isn't　a　bad　road；〃　observed　the　Wizard；　〃and　if　we　followed　it　it
  might　lead　us　to　some　place　that　is　more　comfortable　than　this　black
  pocket　we　are　now　in。　　I　suppose　the　vegetable　folk　were　always
  afraid　to　enter　this　cavern　because　it　is　dark；　but　we　have　our
  lanterns　to　light　the　way；　so　I　propose　that　we　start　out　and　discover
  where　this　tunnel　in　the　mountain　leads　to。〃
  The　others　agreed　readily　to　this　sensible　suggestion；　and　at　once　the
  boy　began　to　harness　Jim　to　the　buggy。　　When　all　was　in　readiness　the
  three　took　their　seats　in　the　buggy　and　Jim　started　cautiously　along
  the　way；　Zeb　driving　while　the　Wizard　and　Dorothy　each　held　a　lighted
  lantern　so　the　horse　could　see　where　to　go。
  Sometimes　the　tunnel　was　so　narrow　that　the　wheels　of　the　buggy　grazed
  the　sides；　then　it　would　broaden　out　as　wide　as　a　street；　but　the
  floor　was　usually　smooth；　and　for　a　long　time　they　travelled　on
  without　any　accident。　　Jim　stopped　sometimes　to　rest；　for　the　climb
  was　rather　steep　and　tiresome。
  〃We　must　be　nearly　as　high　as　the　six　colored　suns；　by　this　time；〃
  said　Dorothy。　　〃I　didn't　know　this　mountain　was　so　tall。〃
  〃We　are　certainly　a　good　distance　away　from　the　Land　of　the　Mangaboos；〃
  added　Zeb；　〃for　we　have　slanted　away　from　it　ever　since　we　started。〃
  But　they　kept　steadily　moving；　and　just　as　Jim　was　about　tired　out　with
  his　long　journey　the　way　suddenly　grew　lighter；　and　Zeb　put　out　the
  lanterns　to　save　the　oil。
  To　their　joy　they　found　it　was　a　white　light　that　now　greeted　them；
  for　all　were　weary　of　the　colored　rainbow　lights　which；　after　a　time；
  had　made　their　eyes　ache　with　their　constantly　shifting　rays。　　The
  sides　of　the　tunnel　showed　before　them　like　the　inside　of　a　long
  spy…glass；　and　the　floor　became　more　level。　　Jim　hastened　his　lagging
  steps　at　this　assurance　of　a　quick　relief　from　the　dark　passage；　and
  in　a　few　moments　more　they　had　emerged　from　the　mountain　and　found
  themselves　face　to　face　with　a　new　and　charming　country。
  8。　　The　Valley　of　Voices
  By　journeying　through　the　glass　mountain　they　had　reached　a　delightful
  valley　that　was　shaped　like　the　hollow　of　a　great　cup；　with　another
  rugged　mountain　showing　on　the　other　side　of　it；　and　soft　and　pretty
  green　hills　at　the　ends。　　It　was　all　laid　out　into　lovely　lawns　and
  gardens；　with　pebble　paths　leading　through　them　and　groves　of
  beautiful　and　stately　trees　dotting　the　landscape　here　and　there。
  There　were　orchards；　too；　bearing　luscious　fruits　that　are　all　unknown
  in　our　world。　　Alluring　brooks　of　crystal　water　flowed　sparkling
  between　their　flower…strewn　banks；　while　scattered　over　the　valley　were
  dozens　of　the　quaintest　and　most　picturesque　cottages　our　travelers
  had　ever　beheld。　　None　of　them　were　in　clusters；　such　as　villages　or
  towns；　but　each　had　ample　grounds　of　its　own；　with　orchards　and
  gardens　surrounding　it。
  As　the　new　arrivals　gazed　upon　this　exquisite　scene　they　were
  enraptured　by　its　beauties　and　the　fragrance　that　permeated　the　soft
  air；　which　they　breathed　so　gratefully　after　the　confined　atmosphere
  of　the　tunnel。　　Several　minutes　were　consumed　in　silent　admiration
  before　they　noticed　two　very　singular　and　unusual　facts　about　this
  valley。　　One　was　that　it　was　lighted　from　some　unseen　source；　for　no
  sun　or　moon　was　in　the　arched　blue　sky；　although　every　object　was
  flooded　with　a　clear　and　perfect　light。　　The　second　and　even　more
  singular　fact　was　the　absence　of　any　inhabitant　of　this　splendid
  place。　　From　their　elevated　position　they　could　overlook　the　entire
  valley；　but　not　a　single　moving　object　could　they　see。　　All　appeared
  mysteriously　deserted。
  The　mountain　on　this　side　was　not　glass；　but　made　of　a　stone　similar
  to　granite。　　With　some　difficulty　and　danger　Jim　drew　the　buggy　over
  the　loose　rocks　until　he　reached　the　green　lawns　below；　where　the
  paths　and　orchards　and　gardens　began。　　The　nearest　cottage　was　still
  some　distance　away。
  〃Isn't　it　fine？〃　cried　Dorothy；　in　a　joyous　voice；　as　she　sprang　out
  of　the　buggy　and　let　Eureka　run　frolicking　over　the　velvety　grass。
  〃Yes；　indeed！〃　answered　Zeb。　　〃We　were　lucky　to　get　away　from　those
  dreadful　vegetable　people。〃
  〃It　wouldn't　be　so　bad；〃　remarked　the　Wizard；　gazing　around　him；　〃if
  we　were　obliged　to　live　here　always。　　We　couldn't　find　a　prettier
  place；　I'm　sure。〃
  He　took　the　piglets　from　his　pocket　and　let　them　run　on　the　grass；　and
  Jim　tasted　a　mouthful　of　the　green　blades　and　declared　he　was　very
  contented　in　his　new　surroundings。
  〃We　can't　walk　in　the　air　here；　though；〃　called　Eureka；　who　had　tried
  it　and　failed；　but　the　others　were　satisfied　to　walk　on　the　ground；
  and　the　Wizard　said　they　must　be　nearer　the　surface　of　the　earth　then
  they　had　been　in　the　Mangaboo　country；　for　everything　was　more　homelike
  and　natural。
  〃But　where　are　the　people？〃　asked　Dorothy。
  The　little　man　shook　his　bald　head。
  〃Can't　imagine；　my　dear；〃　he　replied。
  They　heard　the　sudden　twittering　of　a　bird；　but　could　not　find　the
  creature　anywhere。　　Slowly　they　walked　along　the　path　toward　the
  nearest　cottage；　the　piglets　racing　and　gambolling　beside　them　and　Jim
  pausing　at　every　step　for　another　mouthful　of　grass。
  Presently　they　came　to　a　low　plant　which　had　broad；　spreading　leaves；
  in　the　center　of　which　grew　a　single　fruit　about　as　large　as　a　peach。
  The　fruit　was　so　daintily　colored　and　so　fragrant；　and　looked　so
  appetizing　and　delicious　that　Dorothy　stopped　and　exclaimed：
  〃What　is　it；　do　you　s'pose？〃
  The　piglets　had　smelled　the　fruit　quickly；　and　before　the　girl　could
  reach　out　her　hand　to　pluck　it　every　one　of　the　nine　tiny　ones　had
  rushed　in　and　commenced　to　devour　it　with　great　eagerness。
  〃It's　good；　anyway；〃　said　Zeb；　〃or　those　little　rascals　wouldn't　have
  gobbled　it　up　so　greedily。〃
  〃Where　are　they？〃　asked　Dorothy；　in　astonishment。
  They　all　looked　around；　but　the　piglets　had　disappeared。
  〃Dear　me！〃　cried　the　Wizard；　〃they　must　have　run　away。　　But　I　didn't
  see　them　go；　did　you？〃
  〃No！〃　replied　the　boy　and　the　girl；　together。
  〃Here；piggy；　piggy；　piggy！〃　called　their　master；　anxiously。
  Several　squeals　and　grunts　were　instantly　heard　at　his　feet；　but　the
  Wizard　could　not　discover　a　single　piglet。
  〃Where　are　you？〃　he　asked。
  〃Why；　right　beside　you；〃　spoke　a　tiny　voice。　　〃Can't　you　see　us？〃
  〃No；〃　answered　the　little　man；　in　a　puzzled　tone。
  〃We　can　see　you；〃　said　another　of　the　piglets。
  The　Wizard　stooped　down　and　put　out　his　hand；　and　at　once　felt　the