The Magic of Oz

was great fun."

"I hope they don't come here again to drink,--not while we're here,

anyhow," returned the girl, "for I'm not made of glass, nor is Cap'n Bill,

and if those bad beasts bit us, we'd get hurt."

Cap'n Bill was cutting from the trees some long stakes, making them

sharp at one end and leaving a crotch at the other end. These were to bind

the logs of his raft together. He had fashioned several and was just

finishing another when the Glass Cat cried: "Look out! There's a Kalidah

coming toward us."

Trot jumped up, greatly frightened, and looked at the terrible animal as

if fascinated by its fierce eyes, for the Kalidah was looking at her, too, and

its look wasn't at all friendly. But Cap'n Bill called to her: "Wade into the

river, Trot, up to your knees--an' stay there!" and she obeyed him at once.

The sailor-man hobbled forward, the stake in one hand and his axe in the

other, and got between the girl and the beast, which sprang upon him with

a growl of defiance.

Cap'n Bill moved pretty slowly, sometimes, but now he was quick as

could be. As the Kalidah sprang toward him he stuck out his wooden leg

and the point of it struck the beast between the eyes and sent it rolling

upon the ground. Before it could get upon its feet again the sailor pushed

the sharp stake right through its body and then with the flat side of the axe

he hammered the stake as far into the ground as it would go. By this

means he captured the great beast and made it harmless, for try as it would,

it could not get away from the stake that held it.

Cap'n Bill knew he could not kill the Kalidah, for no living thing in Oz

can be killed, so he stood back and watched the beast wriggle and growl

and paw the earth with its sharp claws, and then, satisfied it could not

escape, he told Trot to come out of the water again and dry her wet shoes

and stockings in the sun.

Are you sure he can't get away?" she asked.

I'd bet a cookie on it," said Cap'n Bill, so Trot came ashore and took

off her shoes and stockings and laid them on the log to dry, while the

sailor-man resumed his work on the raft.