Zeb　hitched　Jim　to　the　buggy　again；　and　the　horse　trotted　along　and
  drew　them　rapidly　over　the　smooth　water。　　The　kitten　was　at　first
  dreadfully　afraid　of　getting　wet；　but　Dorothy　let　her　down　and　soon
  Eureka　was　frisking　along　beside　the　buggy　without　being　scared　a　bit。
  Once　a　little　fish　swam　too　near　the　surface；　and　the　kitten　grabbed
  it　in　her　mouth　and　ate　it　up　as　quick　as　a　wink；　but　Dorothy
  cautioned　her　to　be　careful　what　she　ate　in　this　valley　of　enchantments；
  and　no　more　fishes　were　careless　enough　to　swim　within　reach。
  After　a　journey　of　several　hours　they　came　to　a　point　where　the　river
  curved；　and　they　found　they　must　cross　a　mile　or　so　of　the　Valley
  before　they　came　to　the　Pyramid　Mountain。　　There　were　few　houses　in
  this　part；　and　few　orchards　or　flowers；　so　our　friends　feared　they
  might　encounter　more　of　the　savage　bears；　which　they　had　learned　to
  dread　with　all　their　hearts。
  〃You'll　have　to　make　a　dash；　Jim；〃　said　the　Wizard；　〃and　run　as　fast
  as　you　can　go。〃
  〃All　right；〃　answered　the　horse；　〃I'll　do　my　best。　　But　you　must
  remember　I'm　old；　and　my　dashing　days　are　past　and　gone。〃
  All　three　got　into　the　buggy　and　Zeb　picked　up　the　reins；　though　Jim
  needed　no　guidance　of　any　sort。　　The　horse　was　still　smarting　from　the
  sharp　claws　of　the　invisible　bears；　and　as　soon　as　he　was　on　land　and
  headed　toward　the　mountain　the　thought　that　more　of　those　fearsome
  creatures　might　be　near　acted　as　a　spur　and　sent　him　galloping　along
  in　a　way　that　made　Dorothy　catch　her　breath。
  Then　Zeb；　in　a　spirit　of　mischief；　uttered　a　growl　like　that　of　the
  bears；　and　Jim　pricked　up　his　ears　and　fairly　flew。　　His　boney　legs
  moved　so　fast　they　could　scarcely　be　seen；　and　the　Wizard　clung　fast
  to　the　seat　and　yelled　〃Whoa！〃　at　the　top　of　his　voice。
  〃II'm　'fraid　he'she's　running　away！〃　gasped　Dorothy。
  〃I　KNOW　he　is；〃　said　Zeb；　〃but　no　bear　can　catch　him　if　he　keeps　up
  that　gaitand　the　harness　or　the　buggy　don't　break。〃
  Jim　did　not　make　a　mile　a　minute；　but　almost　before　they　were　aware　of
  it　he　drew　up　at　the　foot　of　the　mountain；　so　suddenly　that　the　Wizard
  and　Zeb　both　sailed　over　the　dashboard　and　landed　in　the　soft
  grasswhere　they　rolled　over　several　times　before　they　stopped。
  Dorothy　nearly　went　with　them；　but　she　was　holding　fast　to　the　iron
  rail　of　the　seat；　and　that　saved　her。　　She　squeezed　the　kitten；
  though；　until　it　screeched；　and　then　the　old　cab…horse　made　several
  curious　sounds　that　led　the　little　girl　to　suspect　he　was　laughing　at
  them　all。
  10。　　The　Braided　Man　of　Pyramid　Mountain
  The　mountain　before　them　was　shaped　like　a　cone　and　was　so　tall　that
  its　point　was　lost　in　the　clouds。　　Directly　facing　the　place　where　Jim
  had　stopped　was　an　arched　opening　leading　to　a　broad　stairway。　　The
  stairs　were　cut　in　the　rock　inside　the　mountain；　and　they　were　broad
  and　not　very　steep；　because　they　circled　around　like　a　cork…screw；　and
  at　the　arched　opening　where　the　flight　began　the　circle　was　quite　big。
  At　the　foot　of　the　stairs　was　a　sign　reading：
  WARNING。
  These　steps　lead　to　the
  Land　of　the　Gargoyles。
  DANGER！　　KEEP　OUT。
  〃I　wonder　how　Jim　is　ever　going　to　draw　the　buggy　up　so　many　stairs；〃
  said　Dorothy；　gravely。
  〃No　trouble　at　all；〃　declared　the　horse；　with　a　contemptuous　neigh。
  〃Still；　I　don't　care　to　drag　any　passengers。　　You'll　all　have　to　walk。〃
  〃Suppose　the　stairs　get　steeper？〃　suggested　Zeb；　doubtfully。
  〃Then　you'll　have　to　boost　the　buggy…wheels；　that's　all；〃　answered　Jim。
  〃We'll　try　it；　anyway；〃　said　the　Wizard。　　〃It's　the　only　way　to　get
  out　of　the　Valley　of　Voe。〃
  So　they　began　to　ascend　the　stairs；　Dorothy　and　the　Wizard　first；　Jim
  next；　drawing　the　buggy；　and　then　Zeb　to　watch　that　nothing　happened
  to　the　harness。
  The　light　was　dim；　and　soon　they　mounted　into　total　darkness；　so　that
  the　Wizard　was　obliged　to　get　out　his　lanterns　to　light　the　way。　　But
  this　enabled　them　to　proceed　steadily　until　they　came　to　a　landing
  where　there　was　a　rift　in　the　side　of　the　mountain　that　let　in　both
  light　and　air。　　Looking　through　this　opening　they　could　see　the　Valley
  of　Voe　lying　far　below　them；　the　cottages　seeming　like　toy　houses　from
  that　distance。
  After　resting　a　few　moments　they　resumed　their　climb；　and　still　the
  stairs　were　broad　and　low　enough　for　Jim　to　draw　the　buggy　easily
  after　him。　　The　old　horse　panted　a　little；　and　had　to　stop　often　to
  get　his　breath。　　At　such　times　they　were　all　glad　to　wait　for　him；　for
  continually　climbing　up　stairs　is　sure　to　make　one's　legs　ache。
  They　wound　about；　always　going　upward；　for　some　time。　　The　lights　from
  the　lanterns　dimly　showed　the　way；　but　it　was　a　gloomy　journey；　and
  they　were　pleased　when　a　broad　streak　of　light　ahead　assured　them　they
  were　coming　to　a　second　landing。
  Here　one　side　of　the　mountain　had　a　great　hole　in　it；　like　the　mouth
  of　a　cavern；　and　the　stairs　stopped　at　the　near　edge　of　the　floor　and
  commenced　ascending　again　at　the　opposite　edge。
  The　opening　in　the　mountain　was　on　the　side　opposite　to　the　Valley　of
  Voe；　and　our　travellers　looked　out　upon　a　strange　scene。　　Below　them
  was　a　vast　space；　at　the　bottom　of　which　was　a　black　sea　with　rolling
  billows；　through　which　little　tongues　of　flame　constantly　shot　up。
  Just　above　them；　and　almost　on　a　level　with　their　platform；　were　banks
  of　rolling　clouds　which　constantly　shifted　position　and　changed　color。
  The　blues　and　greys　were　very　beautiful；　and　Dorothy　noticed　that　on
  the　cloud　banks　sat　or　reclined　fleecy；　shadowy　forms　of　beautiful
  beings　who　must　have　been　the　Cloud　Fairies。　　Mortals　who　stand　upon
  the　earth　and　look　up　at　the　sky　cannot　often　distinguish　these　forms；
  but　our　friends　were　now　so　near　to　the　clouds　that　they　observed　the
  dainty　fairies　very　clearly。
  〃Are　they　real？〃　asked　Zeb；　in　an　awed　voice。
  〃Of　course；〃　replied　Dorothy；　softly。　　〃They　are　the　Cloud　Fairies。〃
  〃They　seem　like　open…work；〃　remarked　the　boy；　gazing　intently。　　〃If　I
  should　squeeze　one；　there　wouldn't　be　anything　left　of　it。〃
  In　the　open　space　between　the　clouds　and　the　black；　bubbling　sea　far
  beneath；　could　be　seen　an　occasional　strange　bird　winging　its　way
  swiftly　through　the　air。　　These　birds　were　of　enormous　size；　and
  reminded　Zeb　of　the　rocs　he　had　read　about　in　the　Arabian　Nights。　　They
  had　fierce　eyes　and　sharp　talons　and　beaks；　and　the　children　hoped
  none　of　them　would　venture　into　the　cavern。
  〃Well；　I　declare！〃　suddenly　exclaimed　the　little　Wizard。　　〃What　in　the
  world　is　this？〃
  They　turned　around　and　found　a　man　standing　on　the　floor　in　the　center
  of　the　cave；　who　bowed　very　politely　when　he　saw　he　had　attracted
  their　attention。　　He　was　a　very　old　man；　bent　nearly　double；　but　the
  queerest　thing　about　him　was　his　white　hair　and　beard。　　These　were　so
  long　that　they　reached　to　his　feet；　and　both　the　hair　and　the　beard
  were　carefully　plaited　into　many　braids；　and　the　end　of　each　braid
  fastened　with　a　bow　of　colored　ribbon。
  〃Where　did　you　come　from？〃　asked　Dorothy；　wonderingly。
  〃No　place　at　all；〃　answered　the　man　with　the　braids；　〃that　is；　not
  recently。　　Once　I　lived　on　top　the　earth；　but　for　many　years　I　have
  had　my　factory　in　this　spothalf　way　up　Pyramid　Mountain。〃
  〃Are　we　only　half　way　up？〃　enquired　the　boy；　in　a　discouraged　tone。
  〃I　believe　so；　my　lad；〃　replied　the　braided　man。　　〃But　as　I　have　never
  been　in　either　direction；　down　or　up；　since　I　arrived；　I　cannot　be
  positive　whether　it　is　exactly　half　way　or　not。〃
  〃Have　you　a　factory　in　this　place？〃　asked　the　Wizard；　who　had　been
  examining　the　strange　personage　carefully。
  〃To　be　sure；〃　said　the　other。　　〃I　am　a　great　inventor；　you　must　know；
  and　I　manufacture　my　products　in　this　lonely　spot。〃
  〃What　are　your　products？〃　enquired　the　Wizard。
  〃Well；　I　make　Assorted　Flutters　for　flags　and　bunting；　and　a　superior
  grade　of　Rustles　for　ladies'　silk　gowns。〃
  〃I　thought　so；〃　said　the　Wizard；　with　a　sigh。　　〃May　we　examine　some　of
  these　articles？〃
  〃Yes；　indeed；　come　into　my　shop；　please；〃　and　the　braided　man　turned
  and　led　the　way　into　a　smaller　cave；　where　he　evidently　lived。　　Here；
  on　a　broad　shelf；　were　several　card…board　boxes　of　various　sizes；
  each　tied　with　cotton　cord。
  〃This；〃　said　the　man；　taking　up　a　box　and　handling　it　gently；
  〃contains　twelve　dozen　rustlesenough　to　last　any　lady　a　year。　　　Will
  you　buy　it；　my　dear？〃　he　asked；　addressing　Dorothy。
  〃My　gown　isn't　silk；〃　she　said；　smiling。
  〃Never　mind。　　When　you　open　the　box　the　rustles　will　escape；　whether
  you　are　wearing　a　silk　dress　or　not；〃　said　the　man；　seriously。　　Then
  he　picked　up　another　box。　　〃In　this；〃　he　continued；　〃are　many
  assorted　flutters。　　They　are　invaluable　to　make　flags　flutter　on　a
  still　day；　when　there　is　no　wind。　　You；　sir；〃　turning　to　the　Wizard；
  〃ought　to　have　this　assortment。　　Once　you　have　tried　my　goods　I　am
  sure　you　wi