Page:The land of enchantment (1907, Cassell).djvu/28



grim death. Half way across, so fearful a gust assailed them that they were all but hurled into the depths below.

Suddenly above the thunder resounded a mighty crash! The port-cullis was raised, and the black omnibus with its ghastly freight, and the Kofer in yellow tights and lavender tie lashing the griffins, issued from the gloomy portal and galloped across the causeway.

The two friends seizing their opportunity hurried forward, and entered beneath the portcullis belore it fell. Immediately the turret clock boomed ! The maker of ghosts at once opened his bottle and sprinkled the door, whilst his friend sprinkled the courtyard floor.

As they did so, the earth suddenly yawned beneath them, and from it rose a dense cloud of cayenne pepper, the dust of chillies, and the most powerful snuff. Fortunate it was that they had bandaged their upper lips, otherwise they must inevitably have sneezed!