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.
The Kalidah, realizing after many struggles that it could not
escape, now became quiet, but it said in a harsh, snarling voice:
"I suppose you think you're clever, to pin me to the ground in this
manner.
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