12. A Wonderful Escape

           Forawhiletheenemyhesitatedtorenewtheattack.ThenafewofthemadvanceduntilanothershotfromtheWizard’srevolvermadethemretreat.

           "That’sfine,"saidZeb."We’vegot’emontherunnow,sureenough."

           "Butonlyforatime,"repliedtheWizard,shakinghisheadgloomily."Theserevolversaregoodforsixshotseach,butwhenthosearegoneweshallbehelpless."

           TheGargoylesseemedtorealizethis,fortheysentafewoftheirbandtimeaftertimetoattackthestrangersanddrawthefirefromthelittleman’srevolvers.Inthiswaynoneofthemwasshockedbythedreadfulreportmorethanonce,forthemainbandkeptfarawayandeachtimeanewcompanywassentintothebattle.WhentheWizardhadfiredallofhistwelvebulletshehadcausednodamagetotheenemyexcepttostunafewbythenoise,andsobeasnonearertovictorythaninthebeginningofthefray.

           "Whatshallwedonow?"askedDorothy,anxiously.

           "Let’syell—alltogether,"saidZeb.

           "Andfightatthesametime,"addedtheWizard."WewillgetnearJim,sothathecanhelpus,andeachonemusttakesomeweaponanddothebesthecan.I’llusemysword,althoughitisn’tmuchaccountinthisaffair.Dorothymusttakeherparasolandopenitsuddenlywhenthewoodenfolksattackher.Ihaven’tanythingforyou,Zeb."

           "I’llusetheking,"saidtheboy,andpulledhisprisoneroutofthebuggy.TheboundGargoyle’sarmsextendedfaroutbeyonditshead,sobygraspingitswristsZebfoundthekingmadeaverygoodclub.