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ng 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。
。。
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 golg； and tell me you werent preparing for battle？”
〃of course we were； your honour；〃 said golg。 〃you see； we didnt know the witch was dead。 we thought shed be watching from the castle。 we were trying to slip away without being seen。 and then when you three came out with swords and horses； of course everyone says to himself； here it es： not knowing that his honour wasnt on the witchs side。 and we were determined to fight like anything rather than give up the hope of going back to bism。”
〃ill be sworn tis an honest gnome；〃 said the prince。 〃let go of it； friend puddleglum。 as for me； good golg； i have been enchanted like you and your fellows； and have but newly remembered myself。 and now； one question more。 do you know the way to those new diggings； by which the sorceress meant to lead out an army against overland？”
〃ee…ee…ee！〃 squeaked golg。 〃yes； i know that terrible road。 i will show you where it begins。 but it is no manner of use your honour asking me to go with you on it。 ill die rather。”
〃why？〃 asked eustace anxiously。 〃whats so dreadful about it？”
〃too near the top； the outside；〃 said golg； shuddering。 〃that was the worst thing the witch did to us。 we were going to be led out into the open … on to the outside of the world。 they say theres no roof at all there； only a horrible great emptiness called the sky。
and the diggings have gone so far that a few strokes of the pick would bring you out to it。
i wouldnt dare go near them。”
〃hurrah！ now youre talking！〃 cried eustace； and jill said； 〃but its not horrid at all up there。 we like it。 we live there。”
〃i know you overlanders live there；〃 said golg。 〃but i thought it was because you couldnt find your way down inside。 you cant really like it … crawling about like flies on the top of the world！”
〃what about showing us the road at once？〃 said puddleglum。
〃in a good hour；〃 cried the prince。 the whole party set out。 the prince remounted his charger； puddleglum climbed up behind jill； and golg led the way。 as he went； he kept shouting out the good news that the witch was dead and that the four overlanders were not dangerous。 and those who heard him shouted it on to others； so that in a few minutes the whole of underland was ringing with shouts and cheers； and gnomes by hundreds and thousands； leaping； turning cart…wheels； standing on their heads； playing leap…frog； and letting off huge crackers； came pressing round coalblack and snowflake。 and the prince had to tell the story of his own enchantment and deliverance at least ten times。
in this way they came to the edge of the chasm。 it was about a thousand feet long and perhaps two hundred wide。 they dismounted from their horses and came to the edge； and looked down into it。 a strong heat smote up into their faces； mixed with a smell which was quite unlike any they had ever smelled。 it was rich； sharp； exciting； and made you sneeze。 the depth of the chasm was so bright that at first it dazzled their eyes and they could see nothing。 when they got used