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.

“I—­I’m ’fraid he’s—­he’s running away!” gasped Dorothy.

“I know he is,” said Zeb; “but no bear can catch him if he keeps up that gait—­and 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 grass—­where 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.