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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