“No,” returned Dorothy, stoutly, “it won’t do to go back, for then we would never get home.  Let’s fight it out.”

“That is what I advise,” said the Wizard.  “They haven’t defeated us yet, and Jim is worth a whole army.”

But the Gargoyles were clever enough not to attack the horse the next time.  They advanced in a great swarm, having been joined by many more of their kind, and they flew straight over Jim’s head to where the others were standing.

The Wizard raised one of his revolvers and fired into the throng of his enemies, and the shot resounded like a clap of thunder in that silent place.

Some of the wooden beings fell flat upon the ground, where they quivered and trembled in every limb; but most of them managed to wheel and escape again to a distance.

Zeb ran and picked up one of the Gargoyles that lay nearest to him.  The top of its head was carved into a crown and the Wizard’s bullet had struck it exactly in the left eye, which was a hard wooden knot.  Half of the bullet stuck in the wood and half stuck out, so it had been the jar and the sudden noise that had knocked the creature down, more than the fact that it was really hurt.  Before this crowned Gargoyle had recovered himself Zeb had wound a strap several times around its body, confining its wings and arms so that it could not move.  Then, having tied the wooden creature securely, the boy buckled the strap and tossed his prisoner into the buggy.  By that time the others had all retired.

12.  A Wonderful Escape

For a while the enemy hesitated to renew the attack.  Then a few of them advanced until another shot from the Wizard’s revolver made them retreat.

“That’s fine,” said Zeb.  “We’ve got ’em on the run now, sure enough.”

“But only for a time,” replied the Wizard, shaking his head gloomily.  “These revolvers are good for six shots each, but when those are gone we shall be helpless.”

The Gargoyles seemed to realize this, for they sent a few of their band time after time to attack the strangers and draw the fire from the little man’s revolvers.  In this way none of them was shocked by the dreadful report more than once, for the main band kept far away and each time a new company was sent into the battle.  When the Wizard had fired all of his twelve bullets he had caused no damage to the enemy except to stun a few by the noise, and so he as no nearer to victory than in the beginning of the fray.

“What shall we do now?” asked Dorothy, anxiously.

“Let’s yell—­all together,” said Zeb.

“And fight at the same time,” added the Wizard.  “We will get near Jim, so that he can help us, and each one must take some weapon and do the best he can.  I’ll use my sword, although it isn’t much account in this affair.  Dorothy must take her parasol and open it suddenly when the wooden folks attack her.  I haven’t anything for you, Zeb.”