THE SILVER CHAIR-第25章

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hey　rode　out　of　the　main　gateway　into　the　street。

〃not　much　danger　of　being　burnt。　thats　the　bright　side　of　it；〃　observed　　puddleglum；　pointing　to　their　right。　there；　hardly　a　hundred　yards　away；　lapping　　against　the　walls　of　the　houses；　was　water。

〃courage！〃　said　the　prince。　〃the　road　there　goes　down　steeply。　that　water　　has　climbed　only　half　up　the　greatest　hill　in　the　city。　it　might　e　so　near　in　the　　first　half…hour　and　e　no　nearer　in　the　next　two。　my　fear　is　more　of　that　…〃　and　he　pointed　　with　his　sword　to　a　great　tall　earthman　with　boars　tusks；　followed　by　six　others　of　　assorted　shapes　and　sizes　who　had　just　dashed　out　of　a　side　street　and　stepped　into　the　shadow　　of　the　houses　where　no　one　could　see　them。

the　prince　led　them；　aiming　always　in　the　direction　of　the　glowing　red　　light　but　a　little　to　the　left　of　it。　his　plan　was　to　get　round　the　fire　（if　it　was　a　fire）　on　to　　high　ground；　in　hope　that　they　might　find　their　way　to　the　new　diggings。　unlike　the　other　three；　　he　seemed　to　be　almost　enjoying　himself。　he　whistled　as　he　rode；　and　sang　snatches　of　an　　old　song　about　corin　thunder…fist　of　archenland。　the　truth　is；　he　was　so　glad　at　　being　free　from　his　long　enchantment　that　all　dangers　seemed　a　game　in　parison。　but　the　　rest　found　it　an　eerie　journey。

behind　them　was　the　sound　of　clashing　and　entangled　ships；　and　the　rumble　　of　collapsing　buildings。　overhead　was　the　great　patch　of　lurid　light　on　the　roof　of　the　　underworld。

ahead　was　the　mysterious　glow；　which　did　not　seem　to　grow　any　bigger。　from　　the　same　direction　came　a　continual　hubbub　of　shouts；　screams；　cat…calls；　laughter；　　squeals；　and　bellowings；　and　fireworks　of　all　sorts　rose　in　the　dark　air。　no　one　could　　guess　what　they　meant。　nearer　to　them；　the　city　was　partly　lit　up　by　the　red　glow；　and　　partly　by　the　very　different　light　of　the　dreary　gnome　lamps。　but　there　were　many　places　where　　neither　of　these　lights　fell；　and　those　places　were　jet…black。　and　in　and　out　of　those　　places　the　shapes　of　earthmen　were　darting　and　slipping　all　the　time；　always　with　　their　eyes　fixed　　

on　the　travellers；　always　trying　to　keep　out　of　sight　themselves。　there　　were　big　faces　and　little　faces；　huge　eyes　like　fishes　eyes　and　little　eyes　like　bears。　　there　were　feathers　and　bristles；　horns　and　tusks；　noses　like　whipcord；　and　chins　so　long　that　they　　looked　like　beards。　every　now　and　then　a　group　of　them　would　get　too　big　or　e　too　　near。　then　the　prince　would　brandish　his　sword　and　make　a　show　of　charging　them。　and　　the　creatures；　with　all　manner　of　hootings；　squeakings；　and　cluckings；　would　　dive　away　into　the　darkness。

but　when　they　had　climbed　many　steep　streets　and　were　far　away　from　the　　flood；　and　almost　out　of　the　town　on　the　inland　side；　it　began　to　be　more　serious。　　they　were　now　close　to　the　red　glow　and　nearly　on　a　level　with　it；　though　they　still　　could　not　see　what　it　really　was。　but　by　its　light　they　could　see　their　enemies　more　clearly。　　hundreds　…　perhaps　a　few　thousands　…　of　gnomes　were　all　moving　towards　it。　but　they　were　doing　　so　in　short　rushes；　and　whenever　they　stopped；　they　turned　and　faced　the　travellers。

〃if　your　highness　asked　me；〃　said　puddleglum；　〃id　say　those　fellows　were　　meaning　to　cut　us　off　in　front。”

〃that　was　my　thought　too；　puddleglum；〃　said　the　prince。　〃and　we　can　never　　fight　our　way　through　so　many。　hark　you！　let　us　ride　forth　close　by　the　edge　of　　yonder　house。

and　even　as　we　reach　it；　do　you　slip　off　into　its　shadow。　the　lady　and　i　　will　go　forward　a　few　paces。　some　of　these　devils　will　follow　us；　i　doubt　not；　they　are　　thick　behind　us。　do　you；　who　have　long　arms；　take　one　alive　if　you　may；　as　it　passes　your　　ambush。　we　may　get　a　true　tale　of　it　or　learn　what　is　their　quarrel　against　us。”

〃but　wont　the　others　all　e　rushing　at　us　to　rescue　the　one　we　catch；〃　　said　jill　in　a　voice　not　so　steady　as　she　tried　to　make　it。

〃then；　madam；〃　said　the　prince；　〃you　shall　see　us　die　fighting　around　you；　　and　you　must　mend　yourself　to　the　lion。　now；　good　puddleglum。”

the　marsh…wiggle　slipped　off　into　the　shadow　as　quickly　as　a　cat。　the　　others；　for　a　sickening　minute　or　so；　went　forward　at　a　walk。　then　suddenly　from　behind　　them　there　broke　out　a　series　of　blood…curdling　screams；　mixed　with　the　familiar　voice　　of　puddleglum；　saying；　〃now　then！　dont　cry　out　before　youre　hurt；　or　you　　will　be　hurt；　see？　anyone　would　think　it　was　a　pig　being　killed。”

〃that　was　good　hunting；〃　exclaimed　the　prince；　immediately　turning　　coalblack　and　ing　back　to　the　corner　of　the　house。　〃eustace；〃　he　said；　〃of　your　　courtesy；　take　coalblacks　head。〃　then　he　dismounted；　and　all　three　gazed　in　silence　while　　puddleglum　pulled　his　catch　out　into　the　light。　it　was　a　most　miserable　little　gnome；　　only　about　three　feet　long。　it　had　a　sort　of　ridge；　like　a　cocks　b　（only　hard）；　on　the　　top　of　its　head；　little　pink　eyes；　and　a　mouth　and　chin　so　large　and　round　that　its　face　　looked　like　that　of　a　pigmy　hippopotamus。　if　they　had　not　been　in　such　a　tight　place；　they　would　　have　burst　into　laughter　at　the　sight　of　it。

〃now；　earthman；〃　said　the　prince；　standing　over　it　and　holding　his　sword　　point　very　near　the　prisoners　neck；　〃speak；　up；　like　an　honest　gnome；　and　you　shall　go　　free。　play　the　knave　with　us；　and　you　are　but　a　dead　earthman。　good　puddleglum；　how　can　it　　speak　while　you　hold　its　mouth　tight　shut？”

〃no；　and　it　cant　bite　either；〃　said　puddleglum。　〃if　i　had　the　silly　soft　　hands　that　you　humans　have　（saving　your　highnesss　reverence）　id　have　been　all　over　blood　　by　now。

yet　even　a　marsh…wiggle　gets　tired　of　being　chewed。　　〃sirrah；〃　said　the　prince　to　the　gnome；　〃one　bite　and　you　die。　let　its　　mouth　open；　puddleglum。”

〃oo…ee…ee；〃　squealed　the　earthman；　〃let　me　go；　let　me　go。　it　isnt　me。　i　　didnt　do　it。”

〃didnt　do　what？〃　asked　puddleglum。

〃whatever　your　honours　say　i　did　do；〃　answered　the　creature。

〃tell　me　your　name；〃　said　the　prince；　〃and　what　you　earthmen　are　all　about　　today。”

〃oh　please；　your　honours；　please；　kind　gentlemen；〃　whimpered　the　gnome。　　〃promise　you　will　not　tell　the　queens　grace　anything　i　say。”

〃the　queens　grace；　as　you　call　her；〃　said　the　prince　sternly；　〃is　dead。　i　　killed　her　myself。”

〃what！〃　cried　the　gnome；　opening　its　ridiculous　mouth　wider　and　wider　in　　astonishment。

〃dead？　the　witch　dead？　and　by　your　honours　hand？〃　it　gave　a　huge　sigh　of　　relief　and　added；　〃why　then　your　honour　is　a　friend！”

the　prince　withdrew　his　sword　an　inch　or　so。　puddleglum　let　the　creature　　sit　up。　it　looked　round　on　the　four　travellers　with　its　twinkling；　red　eyes；　chuckled　once　or　　twice；　and　began。

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CHAPTER　FOURTEEN

　　
the　bottom　of　the　world　　　〃my　name　is　golg；〃　said　the　gnome。　〃and　ill　tell　your　honours　all　i　know。　　about　an　hour　ago　we　were　all　going　about　our　work　…　her　work；　i　should　say　…　sad　　and　silent；　same　as　weve　done　any　other　day　for　years　and　years。　then　there　came　a　great　　crash　and　bang。

as　soon　as　they　heard　it；　everyone　says　to　himself；　i　havent　had　a　song　or　　a　dance　or　let　off　a　squib　for　a　long　time；　whys　that？　and　everyone　thinks　to　himself；　　why；　i　must　have　been　enchanted。　and　then　everyone　says　to　himself；　im　blessed　if　i　know　　why　im　carrying　this　load；　and　im　not　going　to　carry　it　any　farther：　thats　that。　　and　down　we　all　throw　our　sacks　and　bundles　and　tools。　then　everyone　turns　and　sees　the　　great　red　glow　over　yonder。　and　everyone　says　to　himself；　whats　that？　and　everyone　　answers　himself　and　says；　theres　a　crack　or　chasm　split　open　and　a　nice　warm　glow　ing　　up　through　it　from　the　really　deep　land；　a　thousand　fathom　under　us。”

〃great　scott；〃　exclaimed　eustace；　〃are　there　other　lands　still　lower　down？”

〃oh　yes；　your　honour；〃　said　golg。　〃lovely　places；　what　we　call　the　land　of　　bism。　this　country　where　we　are　now；　the　witchs　country；　is　what　we　call　the　shallow　　lands。　its　a　good　deal　too　near　the　surface　to　suit　us。　ugh！　you　might　almost　as　well　be　　living　outside；　on　the　surface　itself。　you　see；　were　all　poor　gnomes　from　bism　　whom　the　witch　has　called　up　here　by　magic　to　work　for　her。　but　wed　forgotten　all　about　　it　till　that　crash　came　and　the　spell　broke。　we　didnt　know　who　we　were　or　where　we　belonged。　　we　couldnt　do　anything；　or　think　anything；　except　what　she　put　into　our　　heads。　and　it　was　glum　and　gloomy　things　she　put　there　all　those　years。　ive　nearly　forgotten　　how　to　make　a　joke　or　dance　a　jig。　but　the　moment　the　bang　came　and　the　chasm　opened　and　　the　sea　began　rising；　it　all　came　back。　and　of　course　we　all　set　off　as　quick　as　we　　could　to　get　down　the　crack　and　home　to　our　own　place。　and　you　can　see　them　over　there　　all　letting　off　rockets　and　standing　on　their　heads　for　joy。　and　ill　be　very　obliged　　to　your　honours　if　youll　soon　let　me　go　and　join　in。”

〃i　think　this　is　simply　splendid；〃　said　jill。　〃im　so　glad　we　freed　the　　gnomes　as　well　as　ourselves　when　we　cut　off　the　witchs　head！　and　im　so　glad　they　arent　　really　horrid　and　gloomy　any　more　than　the　prince　really　was　well；　what　he　seemed　like。”

〃thats　all　very　well；　pole；〃　said　puddleglum　cautiously。　〃but　those　gnomes　　didnt　look　to　me　like　chaps　who　were　just　running　away。　it　looked　more　like　military　　formations；　if　you　ask　me。　do　you　look　me　in　the　face；　mr　gol