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〃what happens farther on？”
〃half a sec。 ill go and see；〃 said jill。 she got up and walked along the trench； but before she had gone far； it turned sharply to the right。 she shouted this information back to the others。
〃whats round the corner？〃 asked scrubb。
now it happened that jill had the same feeling about twisty passages and dark places underground； or even nearly underground； that scrubb had about the edges of cliffs。 she had no intention of going round that corner alone； especially when she heard puddleglum bawling out from behind her： 〃be careful； pole。 its just the sort of place that might lead to a dragons cave。 and in a giant country； there might be giant earth…worms or giant beetles。”
〃i dont think it goes anywhere much；〃 said jill； ing hastily back。
〃im jolly well going to have a look；〃 said scrubb。 〃what do you mean by anywhere much； i should like to know？〃 so he sat down on the edge of the trench （everyone was too wet by now to bother about being a bit wetter） and then dropped in。 he pushed past jill and； though he didnt say anything； she felt sure that he knew she had funked it。 so she followed him close； but took care not to get in front of him。
it proved； however； a disappointing exploration。 they went round the right …hand turn and straight on for a few paces。 here there was a choice of ways： straight on again； or sharp to the right。 〃thats no good；〃 said scrubb； glancing down the right…hand turn； 〃that would be taking us back … south。〃 he went straight on； but once more； in a few steps； they found a second turn to the right。 but this time there was no choice of ways； for the trench they had been following here came to a dead end。
〃no good；〃 grunted scrubb。 jill lost no time in turning and leading the way back。 when they returned to the place where jill had first fallen in； the marsh…wiggle with his long arms had no difficulty in pulling them out。
but it was dreadful to be out on top again。 down in those narrow slits of trenches； their ears had almost begun to thaw。 they had been able to see clearly and breathe easily and hear each other speak without shouting。 it was absolute misery to e back into the withering coldness。 and it did seem hard when puddleglum chose that moment for saying： 〃are you still sure of those signs； pole？ whats the one we ought to be after； now？”
〃oh； e on！ bother the signs；〃 said pole。 〃something about someone mentioning aslans name； i think。 but im jolly well not going to give a recitation here。”
as you see； she had got the order wrong。 that was because she had given up saying the signs over every night。 she still really knew them； if she troubled to think： but she was no longer so 〃pat〃 in her lesson as to be sure of reeling them off in the right order at a moments notice and without thinking。 puddleglums question annoyed her because； deep down inside her； she was already annoyed with herself for not knowing the lions lesson
quite so well as she felt she ought to have known it。 this annoyance； added to the misery of being very cold and tired； made her say； 〃bother the signs。〃 she didnt perhaps quite mean it。
〃oh； that was next； was it？〃 said puddleglum。 〃now i wonder； are you right？ got em mixed； i shouldnt wonder。 it seems to me； this hill； this flat place were on； is worth stopping to have a look at。 have you noticed …”
〃oh lor！〃 said scrubb； 〃is this a time for stopping to admire the view？ for goodness sake lets get on。”
〃oh； look； look； look；〃 cried jill and pointed。 everyone turned； and everyone saw。 some way off to the north； and a good deal higher up than the tableland on which they stood； a line of lights had appeared。 this time； even more obviously than when the travellers had seen them the night before； they were windows： smaller windows that made one think deliciously of bedrooms； and larger windows that made one think of great halls with fires roaring on the hearth and hot soup or juicy sirloins smoking on the table。
〃harfang！〃 exclaimed scrubb。
〃thats all very well；〃 said puddleglum。 〃but what i was saying was …”
〃oh； shut up；〃 said jill crossly。 〃we havent a moment to lose。 dont you remember what the lady said about their locking up so early？ we must get there in time； we must； we must。 well die if were shut out on a night like this。”
〃well； it isnt exactly a night； not yet；〃 began puddleglum； but the two children both said； 〃e on；〃 and began stumbling forward on the slippery tableland as quickly as their legs would carry them。 the marsh…wiggle followed them： still talking； but now that they were forcing their way into the wind again； they could not have heard him even if they had wanted to。 and they didnt want。 they were thinking of baths and beds and hot drinks； and the idea of ing to harfang too late and being shut out was almost unbearable。
in spite of their haste； it took them a long time to cross the flat top of that hill。 and even when they had crossed it； there were still several ledges to climb down on the far side。
but at last they reached the bottom and could see what harfang was like。
it stood on a high crag； and in spite of its many towers was more a huge house than a castle。 obviously； the gentle giants feared no attack。 there were windows in the outside wall quite close to the ground … a thing no one would have in a serious fortress。 there were even odd little doors here and there； so that it would be quite easy to get in and out of the castle without going through the courtyard。 this raised the spirits of jill and scrubb。 it made the whole place look more friendly and less forbidding。
at first the height and steepness of the crag frightened them； but presently they noticed that there was an easier way up on the left and that the road wound up towards it。 it was a terrible climb； after the journey they had already had； and jill nearly gave up。 scrubb and puddleglum had to help her for the last hundred yards。
but in the end they stood before the castle gate。 the portcullis was up and the gate open。
however tired you are； it takes some nerve to walk up to a giants front door。 in spite of all his previous warnings a