threatened to cast us," replied the kitten. "If I were as big as you
are, Jim, I'd fight these miserable turnip-roots!"

"What would you do?" enquired Jim.

"I'd kick out with those long legs and iron-shod hoofs."

"All right," said the horse; "I'll do it."

An instant later he suddenly backed toward the crowd of Mangaboos and
kicked out his hind legs as hard as he could. A dozen of them smashed
together and tumbled to the ground, and seeing his success Jim kicked
again and again, charging into the vegetable crowd, knocking them in
all directions and sending the others scattering to escape his iron
heels. Eureka helped him by flying into the faces of the enemy and
scratching and biting furiously, and the kitten ruined so many
vegetable complexions that the Mangaboos feared her as much as they
did the horse.

But the foes were too many to be repulsed for long. They tired Jim
and Eureka out, and although the field of battle was thickly covered
with mashed and disabled Mangaboos, our animal friends had to give up
at last and allow themselves to be driven to the mountain.



7. Into the Black Pit and Out Again


When they came to the mountain it proved to be a rugged, towering