The Giant Horse of Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson

It had taken the golden wings nearly nine hours to carry Akbad to the / Emerald City. It took scarcely five to bring him back, so that it was / a little after noon when the Soothsayer and his prisoners reached the / sparkling shores of the Ozure Isles. Not a word had been spoken by / anyone during the entire flight. Trot had started to scream, but the / wind rushing down her throat about a mile a minute had almost choked / her. When she managed to get her mouth shut again she was glad to keep / it that way, her eyes too, for that matter. Benny was too startled to / say anything and the Scarecrow had all he could do to keep himself from / blowing apart. But as Akbad, folding his wings, began to descend, Trot / with a long sigh opened her eyes.

The five lovely islands of Cheeriobed lay glittering just below and / Trot gave a little gasp of relief and pleasure, as they hovered over / the gorgeous Sapphire City. Frightened though she was, Trot's heart / began to beat with excitement and curiosity. Surely nothing so very / dreadful could happen in a place like this! But Akbad did not stop, / and flying over the beautiful city carried them to the extreme end of / the last island. Here the waters of Orizon were pounding and roaring / between two jeweled cliffs. Between the two cliffs and at the very / mouth of a great cave, Akbad closed his wings. With a suddenness that / took what little breath Trot had left, they came tumbling down on the / narrow beach. Benny got such a thump, he let go the Soothsayer's heels / and almost fell into the lake. Trot and the Scarecrow rolled over / twice and, clutching each other wildly, sat up, simply speechless with / indignation.