The Magic City Read online

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  THE MAGIC CITY

  BYE. NESBIT

  AUTHOR OF'THE WOULD-BE-GOODS,' 'THE AMULET,' ETC. ETC.

  WITH ILLUSTRATIONS BY H. R. MILLAR

  MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED ST. MARTIN'S STREET, LONDON 1910

  _Page 328_ _Frontispiece_

  Three days later Mr. Noah arrived by elephant.]

  TO

  BARBARA, MAURICE,

  AND

  STEPHEN CHANT

  THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED

  BY

  E. NESBIT

  WELL HALL, ELTHAM, KENT, 1910.

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER I PAGE THE BEGINNING 1

  CHAPTER II DELIVERER OR DESTROYER 30

  CHAPTER III LOST 65

  CHAPTER IV THE DRAGON-SLAYER 94

  CHAPTER V ON THE CARPET 131

  CHAPTER VI THE LIONS IN THE DESERT 160

  CHAPTER VII THE DWELLERS BY THE SEA 187

  CHAPTER VIII UPS AND DOWNS 218

  CHAPTER IX ON THE 'LIGHTNING LOOSE' 245

  CHAPTER X THE GREAT SLOTH 272

  CHAPTER XI THE NIGHT ATTACK 302

  CHAPTER XII THE END 318

  ILLUSTRATIONS

  PAGE

  Three days later Mr. Noah arrived by elephant _Frontispiece_

  'Lor', ain't it pretty!' said the parlour-maid 17

  Beyond it he could see dim piles that looked like churches and houses 27

  'Here--I say, wake up, can't you?' 33

  'Top floor, if you please,' said the gaoler politely 49

  And behind him the clatter of hot pursuit 61

  He heard quite a loud, strong, big voice say, 'That's better' 85

  The gigantic porch lowered frowningly above him 91

  He walked on and on and on 97

  'Silence, trespasser,' said Mr. Noah, with cold dignity 115

  Then something hard and heavy knocked him over 127

  Mr. Noah whispered ardently, 'Don't!' 139

  So, all down the wide clear floor, Lucy danced 157

  On the top of a very large and wobbly camel 169

  It was heavy work turning the lions over 179

  Slowly they came to the great gate of the castle 193

  'If your camel's not quite fresh I can mount you both' 199

  They loved looking on 211

  A long procession toiled slowly up it of animals in pairs 223

  Walked straight into the arms of Helen 243

  He induced them to build him a temple of solid gold 261

  Plunged headlong over the edge 269

  The bucket began to go up 281

  Lucy threw herself across the well parapet 287

  And all the while it had to go on turning that handle 299

  Philip felt that it was best to stop the car among the suburban groves of southernwood 307

  They leapt in and disappeared 321