The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-01-15
They Fight the Invisible Bears

what are these Gargoyles that live
In the awful Land OF Naught that you
tell us of" asked Zeb of the invisible
host.
swered, "Our greatest champion, Over
man-Anu, once climbed the spiral stair
way and fought nine days with the
Gargoyles before he could escape them
and come back; but he could never be
induced TO describe the dreadful crea-
lures, and o afterward a bear caught
him and ate him up"
The wanderers were rather discour-
aged by this gloomy report, but Dorothy
said with a sigh;
III the only way to get homo Is ia
meet the Gurgles, then we've got to
meet EN-. They can he worse than
the Wicked witch or the Nome King. -
But you must remember YOU had
the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman to
help you conquer those enemies sug-
gested tho Wizard, "Jusa now, my
dear, there Is not a single warrior In
"0h. i guess zeb could fight II he
had to, Couldn't you, Zeb?' asked the
little girl.
Perhaps; II had to-" answered
Zeb, doubtfully,
And you have the jointed sword that
you chopped the vegetable Sorcerer in
two WITH the girl said to the little
man,
True" he replied; "and in my satchel
are other useful things TO fight with"
What the Gargoyles most dread Ia
a noise" said the mans voice. Our
Champion told me that when he shout
ed his battle cry the creatures shud-
dered and drew back. hesitattng to con-
tinue the combat. But they were in
great numbers, and the Champion could
not shout much because he had to save
his breath for fighting"
Very good said the Wizard we
can all yell better than we can fight,
so we ought to defeat the Gargoyles.'
But tell me" said Dorothy, how
did such a brave Champion happen to
let the hears eat him? And II he was
invisible n the bears invisible, who
knows that they really ate him up2"
The Champion had killed II bears in
his time" returned the unseen man,
and we know this Is true because when
any Creature ts dead the dama-frutt
ceases TO be active, and the slain one
can be plainly seen by all eyes. When
the Champion killed a hear everyone
the Champion we all saw several pieces
Of him scattered about, which, Of course.
disappeared again when the bears de-
Voured them
They now bade farewell to the kind
but unseen people of the cottage, and
AFTER the man NdN Nds4Cb 1l'll hANNl'NiNA
to a high, pyramid-shared mountain on
the opposite side Of the Valley, n told
them how to travel In order to reach
II, they again started upon their jour
ney.
They followed the course OF a broad
stream and passed several more pretty
cottages, hut Of course they saw no
one. nor did anyone speak to them,
Fruits and flowers grew plentifully all
about. and there were many Of the de-
licious damas that the people Of Voc
were SO fond Of.
About noon they stopped to allow Jim
rest in the shade of L pretty orchard,
and while they plucked and ate some
OF the cherries and plums that grew
there a soft voice suddenly said to
them;
"'rhere are bears near by, BE care
full"
The Wizard got out his sword at once,
and Zeh grabbed the horse whip. Doro-
Inv climbed into the buggy. although
Jim had been embarrassed from II and
was grazing some distance away.
The owner Of the unseen voice laughed
lightly and said:
you can not escape the bears n a
way"
"How can we 'scape?" asked Dorothy
nervously. for an unseen danger is al
ways the hardest TO face.
You must take TO the river. was
the reply. The bears viii not venture
upon tho water ;
But We would be drowned e1-
claimed the girl