They moved with great rapidity and there was
something about their glittering eyes and contrasting colors and
removable heads that inspired the poor prisoners with horror, and made
them long to escape.
But the creatures led their captives away from the rocks and the road,
down the hill by a side path until they came before a low mountain of
rock that looked like a huge bowl turned upside down. At the edge of
this mountain was a deep gulf--so deep that when you looked into it
there was nothing but blackness below. Across the gulf was a narrow
bridge of rock, and at the other end of the bridge was an arched
opening that led into the mountain.
Over this bridge the Scoodlers led their prisoners, through the
opening into the mountain, which they found to be an immense hollow
dome lighted by several holes in the roof. All around the circular
space were built rock houses, set close together, each with a door in
the front wall. None of these houses was more than six feet wide, but
the Scoodlers were thin people sidewise and did not need much room.
So vast was the dome that there was a large space in the middle of the
cave, in front of all these houses, where the creatures might congregate
as in a great hall.
It made Dorothy shudder to see a huge iron kettle suspended by a stout
chain in the middle of the place, and underneath the kettle a great
heap of kindling wood and shavings, ready to light.
Pages:
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85