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and it was filled to the brim with red-hot molten lava in which swam fire-

serpents and poisonous salamanders. The heat from this mass and its

poisonous smell were both so unbearable that even birds hesitated to fly

over the gully, but circled around it. All living things kept away from the

mountain.

Now Guph had heard, during his long lifetime, many tales of these

dreaded Phanfasms; so he had heard of this barrier of melted lava, and

also he had been told that there was a narrow bridge that spanned it in

one place. So he walked along the edge until he found the bridge. It was

a single arch of gray stone, and lying flat upon the bridge was a scarlet

alligator, seemingly fast asleep.

When Guph stumbled over the rocks in approaching the bridge the

creature opened its eyes, from which tiny flames shot in all directions,

and after looking at the intruder very wickedly the scarlet alligator closed

its eyelids again and lay still.

Guph saw there was no room for him to pass the alligator on the narrow

bridge, so he called out to it:

Good morning, friend. I don't wish to hurry you, but please tell me if

you are coming down, or going up?"

Neither," snapped the alligator, clicking its cruel jaws together.

The General hesitated.

Are you likely to stay there long?" he asked.

A few hundred years or so," said the alligator.

Guph softly rubbed the end of his nose and tried to think what to do.

Do you know whether the First and Foremost Phanfasm of Phantastico

is at home or not?" he presently inquired.

I expect he is, seeing he is always at home," replied the alligator.

Ah; who is that coming down the mountain?" asked the Nome, gazing

upward.

The alligator turned to look over its shoulder, and at once Guph ran to

the bridge and leaped over the sentinel's back before it could turn back

The Emerald City of Oz