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〃We've got to come to the bottom some time；〃 remarked Zeb； with a deep
sigh。 〃We can't keep falling forever； you know。〃
〃Of course not；〃 said Dorothy。 〃We are somewhere in the middle of the
earth； and the chances are we'll reach the other side of it before
long。 But it's a big hollow； isn't it？〃
〃Awful big！〃 answered the boy。
〃We're coming to something now；〃 announced the horse。
At this they both put their heads over the side of the buggy and
looked down。 Yes； there was land below them； and not so very far
away； either。 But they were floating very； very slowlyso slowly
that it could no longer be called a falland the children had ample
time to take heart and look about them。
They saw a landscape with mountains and plains； lakes and rivers； very
like those upon the earth's surface； but all the scene was splendidly
colored by the variegated lights from the six suns。 Here and there
were groups of houses that seemed made of clear glass； because they
sparkled so brightly。
〃I'm sure we are in no danger；〃 said Dorothy； in a sober voice。 〃We
are falling so slowly that we can't be dashed to pieces when we land；
and this country that we are coming to seems quite pretty。〃
〃We'll never get home again； though！〃 declared Zeb； with a groan。
〃Oh； I'm not so sure of that；〃 replied the girl。 〃But don't let us
worry over such things； Zeb； we can't help ourselves just now； you
know； and I've always been told it's foolish to borrow trouble。〃
The boy became silent； having no reply to so sensible a speech； and
soon both were fully occupied in staring at the strange scenes spread
out below them。 They seemed to be falling right into the middle of a
big city which had many tall buildings with glass domes and
sharp…pointed spires。 These spires were like great spear…points；
and if they tumbled upon one of them they were likely to suffer
serious injury。
Jim the horse had seen these spires； also； and his ears stood straight
up with fear； while Dorothy and Zeb held their breaths in suspense。
But no； they floated gently down upon a broad； flat roof； and came to
a stop at last。
When Jim felt something firm under his feet the poor beast's legs
trembled so much that he could hardly stand； but Zeb at once leaped
out of the buggy to the roof； and he was so awkward and hasty that he
kicked over Dorothy's bird…cage； which rolled out upon the roof so
that the bottom came off。 At once a pink kitten crept out of the
upset cage； sat down upon the glass roof； and yawned and blinked its
round eyes。
〃Oh；〃 said Dorothy。 〃There's Eureka。〃
〃First time I ever saw a pink cat；〃 said Zeb。
〃Eureka isn't pink； she's white。 It's this queer light that gives her
that color。〃
〃Where's my milk？〃 asked the kitten； looking up into Dorothy's face。
〃I'm 'most starved to death。〃
〃Oh； Eureka！ Can you talk？〃
〃Talk！ Am I talking？ Good gracious； I believe I am。 Isn't it
funny？〃 asked the kitten。
〃It's all wrong。〃 said Zeb； gravely。 〃Animals ought not to talk。 But
even old Jim has been saying things since we had our accident。〃
〃I can't see that it's wrong；〃 remarked Jim； in his gruff tones。 〃At
least； it isn't as wrong as some other things。 What's going to become
of us now？〃
〃I don't know；〃 answered the boy； looking around him curiously。
The houses of the city were all made of glass； so clear and
transparent that one could look through the walls as easily as through
a window。 Dorothy saw； underneath the roof on which she stood；
several rooms used for rest chambers； and even thought she could make
out a number of queer forms huddled into the corners of these rooms。
The roof beside them had a great hole smashed through it； and pieces
of glass were lying scattered in every direction。 A nearby steeple
had been broken off short and the fragments lay heaped beside it。
Other buildings were cracked in places or had corners chipped off from
them； but they must have been very beautiful before these accidents
had happened to mar their perfection。 The rainbow tints from the
colored suns fell upon the glass city softly and gave to the buildings
many delicate； shifting hues which were very pretty to see。
But not a sound had broken the stillness since the strangers had arrived；
except that of their own voices。 They began to wonder if there were
no people to inhabit this magnificent city of the inner world。
Suddenly a man appeared through a hole in the roof next to the one
they were on and stepped into plain view。 He was not a very large man；
but was well formed and had a beautiful facecalm and serene as the face
of a fine portrait。 His clothing fitted his form snugly and was gorgeously
colored in brilliant shades of green； which varied as the sunbeams
touched them but was not wholly influenced by the solar rays。
The man had taken a step or two across the glass roof before he
noticed the presence of the strangers； but then he stopped abruptly。
There was no expression of either fear or surprise upon his tranquil
face； yet he must have been both astonished and afraid； for after his
eyes had rested upon the ungainly form of the horse for a moment he
walked rapidly to the furthest edge of the roof； his head turned back
over his shoulder to gaze at the strange animal。
〃Look out！〃 cried Dorothy； who noticed that the beautiful man did not
look where he was going； 〃be careful； or you'll fall off！〃
But he paid no attention to her warning。 He reached the edge of the
tall roof； stepped one foot out into the air； and walked into space as
calmly as if he were on firm ground。
The girl； greatly astonished； ran to lean over the edge of the roof；
and saw the man walking rapidly through the air toward the ground。
Soon he reached the street and disappeared through a glass doorway
into one of the glass buildings。
〃How strange！〃 she exclaimed； drawing a long breath。
〃Yes； but it's lots of fun； if it IS strange；〃 remarked the small
voice of the kitten； and Dorothy turned to find her pet walking in the
air a foot or so away from the edge of the roof。
〃Come back； Eureka！〃 she called； in distress； 〃you'll certainly be killed。〃
〃I have nine lives；〃 said the kitten； purring softly as it walked
around in a circle and then came back to the roof； 〃but I can't lose
even one of them by falling in this country； because I really couldn't
manage to fall if I wanted to。〃
〃Does the air bear up your weight？〃 asked the girl。
〃Of course； can't you see？〃 and again the kitten wandered into the air
and back to the edge of the roof。
〃It's wonderful！〃 said Dorothy。
〃Suppose we let Eureka go down to the street and get some one to help
us；〃 suggested Zeb； who had been even more amazed than Dorothy at
these strange happenings。
〃Perhaps we can walk on the air ourselves；〃 replied the girl。
Zeb drew back with a shiver。
〃I wouldn't dare try；〃 he said。
〃Maybe Jim will go；〃 continued Dorothy； looking at the horse。
〃And maybe he won't！〃 answered Jim。 〃I've tumbled through the air
long enough to make me contented on this roof。〃
〃But we didn't tumble to the roof；〃 said the girl； 〃by the time we
reached here we were floating very slowly； and I'm almost sure we
could float down to the street without getting hurt。 Eureka walks on
the air all right。〃
〃Eureka weights only about half a pound；〃 replied the horse； in a
scornful tone； 〃while I weigh about half a ton。〃
〃You don't weigh as much as you ought to； Jim；〃 remarked the girl；
shaking her head as she looked at the animal。 〃You're dreadfully skinny。〃
〃Oh； well； I'm old；〃 said the horse； hanging his head despondently；
〃and I've had lots of trouble in my day； little one。 For a good many years
I drew a public cab in Chicago； and that's enough to make anyone skinny。〃
〃He eats enough to get fat； I'm sure；〃 said the boy； gravely。
〃Do I？ Can you remember any breakfast that I've had today？〃 growled
Jim； as if he resented Zeb's speech。
〃None of us has had breakfast；〃 said the boy； 〃and in a time of danger
like this it's foolish to talk about eating。〃
〃Nothing is more dangerous than being without food；〃 declared the
horse； with a sniff at the rebuke of his young master； 〃and just at
present no one can tell whether there are any oats in this queer
country or not。 If there are； they are liable to be glass oats！〃
〃Oh； no！〃 exclaimed Dorothy。 〃I can see plenty of nice gardens and
fields down below us； at the edge of this city。 But I wish we could
find a way to get to the ground。〃
〃Why don't you walk down？〃 asked Eureka。 〃I'm as hungry as the horse
is； and I want my milk。〃
〃Will you try it； Zeb〃 asked the girl； turning to her companion。
Zeb hesitated。 He was still pale and frightened； for this dreadful
adventure had upset him and made him nervous and worried。 But he did