Evening star., 1920-01-25

TUCK ihstuo inc mountain, ana they
were broad and not very steep. be-
cause 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 Quit"
II wonder how Jim is ever going
to draw the buggy up so many
stairs" said Dorothy, gravely.
mo trouble at ALL" declared the
horse with a contemptuous neigh.
still, l don't care to draw any pas
sengers. You'll all have to walk"
Suppose the stairs get steeper?"
suggested Zeb, doubtfully.
Then youll have to boost the
buggy wheels. that's ALL" answered
Jim.
We'll try it. anyway" said the
Wizard. ITS 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 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 Voc ly-
ing far below them, the cottages
Seeming like toy houses from that
distance.
After resting few moments they re-
sumed their climb. and still the stairs
were broad and low enough for Jim to
draw the buggy easily after him. The
o,d horse painted a little. and had to
sop often to get his breath. At such
times they we're all glad to wait for him.
for continually climbing up stairs is sure
TO make ones legs ache.
They wound about, always going up
ward, 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 second landing.
Here one side of the mountain had
a great hole in 1t 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 Voc,
AID our travellers looked out upon a
strange scene. Below them was a vast
space. at the bottom Of which was
hack sea with rolling pillows, through
which little tongues of flame constantly
shot UP. Just above them, and almost
banks of rolling clouds which constant
ly shifted position and changed color.
Ihe: blues and grays were very beauti-
ful,s and Dorothy noticed that on the
cloud banks sat or reclined fieecy,
s.iadowy forms of beautiful beings who
must have been the Cloud Fairies. Nor
tails who stand upon the earth and look
up at the sky cannot often distinguish
these forms, but our friends were now
50 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" re-
marked the boy. gazing intently. "If
j 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 occa-
sional 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, l declare," suddenly exclaim-
ed the little Wizard. What in the
world is this?'