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l almost forgot to be afraid of them。 she felt she would like to cheer them up。
〃well！〃 said puddleglum； rubbing his hands。 〃this is just what i needed。 if these chaps dont teach me to take a serious view of life； i dont know what will。 look at that fellow with the walrus moustache … or that one with the …”
〃get up；〃 said the leader of the earthmen。
there was nothing else to be done。 the three travellers scrambled to their feet and joined hands。 one wanted the touch of a friends hand at a moment like that。 and the earthmen came all round them； padding on large； soft feet； on which some had ten toes； some twelve； and others none。
〃march；〃 said the warden： and march they did。
the cold light came from a large ball on the top of a long pole； and the tallest of the gnomes carried this at the head of the procession。 by its cheerless rays they could see that they were in a natural cavern； the walls and roof were knobbed； twisted； and gashed into a thousand fantastic shapes； and the stony floor sloped downward as they proceeded。 it was worse for jill than for the others； because she hated dark； underground places。 and when； as they went on； the cave got lower and narrower； and when； at last； the light…bearer stood aside； and the gnomes； one by one； stooped down （all except the very smallest ones） and stepped into a little dark crack and disappeared； she felt she could bear it no longer。
〃i cant go in there； i cant！ i cant！ i wont；〃 she panted。 the earthmen said nothing but they all lowered their spears and pointed them at her。
〃steady； pole；〃 said puddleglum。 〃those big fellows wouldnt be crawling in there if it didnt get wider later on。 and theres one thing about this underground work； we shant get any rain。”
〃oh； you dont understand。 i cant；〃 wailed jill。
〃think how 1 felt on that cliff； pole；〃 said scrubb。 〃you go first； puddleglum； and ill e after her。”
〃thats right；〃 said the marsh…wiggle； getting down on his hands and knees。 〃you keep a grip of my heels； pole； and scrubb will hold on to yours。 then well all be fortable。”
〃fortable！〃 said jill。 but she got down and they crawled in on their elbows。 it was a nasty place。 you had to go flat on your face for what seemed like half an hour； though it may really have been only five minutes。 it was hot。 jill felt she was being smothered。 but at last a dim light showed ahead； the tunnel grew wider and higher； and they came out； hot； dirty； and shaken； into a cave so large that it scarcely seemed like a cave at all。
it was full of a dim； drowsy radiance； so that here they had no need of the earthmens strange lantern。 the floor was soft with some kind of moss and out of this grew many strange shapes； branched and tall like trees； but flabby like mushrooms。 they stood too far apart to make a forest； it was more like a park。 the light （a greenish grey） seemed to e both from them and from the moss； and it was not strong enough to reach the roof
of the cave； which must have been a long way overhead。 across the mild； soft； sleepy place they were now made to march。 it was very sad； but with a quiet sort of sadness like soft music。
here they passed dozens of strange animals lying on the turf； either dead or asleep； jill could not tell which。 these were mostly of a dragonish or bat…like sort； puddleglum did not know what any of them were。
〃do they grow here？〃 scrubb asked the warden。 he seemed very surprised at being spoken to； but replied； 〃no。 they are all beasts that have found their way down by chasms and caves； out of overland into the deep realm。 many e down； and few return to the sunlit lands。 it is said that they will all wake at the end of the world。”
his mouth shut like a box when he had said this； and in the great silence of that cave the children felt that they would not dare to speak again。 the bare feet of the gnomes； padding on the deep moss； made no sound。 there was no wind； there were no birds； there was no sound of water。 there was no sound of breathing from the strange beasts。
when they had walked for several miles； they came to a wall of rock； and in it a low archway leading into another cavern。 it was not； however； so bad as the last entrance and jill could go through it without bending her head。 it brought them into a smaller cave； long and narrow； about the shape and size of a cathedral。 and here； filling almost the whole length of it； lay an enormous man fast asleep。 he was far bigger than any of the giants； and his face was not like a giants； but noble and beautiful。 his breast rose and fell gently under the snowy beard which covered him to the waist。 a pure； silver light （no one saw where it came from） rested upon him。
〃whos that？〃 asked puddleglum。 and it was so long since anyone had spoken； that jill wondered how he had the nerve。
〃that is old father time； who once was a king in overland；〃 said the warden。 〃and now he has sunk down into the deep realm and lies dreaming of all the things that are done in the upper world。 many sink down； and few return to the sunlit lands。 they say he will wake at the end of the world。”
and out of that cave they passed into another； and then into another and another； and so on till jill lost count； but always they were going downhill and each cave was lower than the last； till the very thought of the weight and depth of earth above you was suffocating。
at last they came to a place where the warden manded his cheerless lantern to be lit again。 then they passed into a cave so wide and dark that they could see nothing of it except that right in front of them a strip of pale sand ran down into still water。 and there； beside a little jetty； lay a ship without mast or sail but with many oars。 they were made to go on board her and led forward to the bows where there was a clear space in front of the rowers benches and a seat running round inside the bulwarks。
〃one thing id like to know；〃 said puddleglum； 〃is whether anyone from our world … from up…a…top； i mean has ever done this trip before？”
〃many have taken ship at the pale beaches；〃 replied the warden； 〃and…”
〃yes； i know；〃 interrupted puddleglum。 〃an