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〃haste；〃 cried the prince。 they galloped down the slope。 it would have been nasty enough at the bottom even five minutes later for the tide was running up the valley like a mill…race； and if it had e to swimming； the horses could hardly have won over。 but it was still only a foot or two deep； and though it swished terribly round the horses legs； they reached the far side in safety。
then began the slow； weary march uphill with nothing ahead to look at but the pale lamps which went up and up as far as the eye could reach。 when they looked back they could see the water spreading。 all the hills of underland were now islands； and it was only on those islands that the lamps remained。 every moment some distant light vanished。 soon there would be total darkness everywhere except on the road they were following； and even on the lower part of it behind them； though no lamps had yet gone out； the lamplight shone on water。
although they had good reason for hurrying； the horses could not go on for ever without a rest。 they halted： and in silence they could hear the lapping of water。
〃i wonder is whats his name … father time … flooded out now；〃 said jill。 〃and all those queer sleeping animals。”
〃i dont think were as high as that；〃 said eustace。 〃dont you remember how we had to go downhill to reach the sunless sea？ i shouldnt think the water has reached father times cave yet。”
〃thats as may be；〃 said puddleglum。 〃im more interested in the lamps on this road。
look a bit sickly； dont they？”
〃they always did；〃 said jill。
〃aye；〃 said puddleglum。 〃but theyre greener now。”
〃you dont mean to say you think theyre going out？〃 cried eustace。
〃well； however they work； you cant expect them to last for ever； you know；〃 replied the marsh…wiggle。 〃but dont let your spirits down； scrubb。 ive got my eye on the water too； and i dont think its rising so fast as it did。”
〃small fort； friend；〃 said the prince。 〃if we cannot find our way out。 i cry you mercy； all。 i am to blame for my pride and fantasy which delayed us by the mouth of the land of bism。 now； let us ride on。”
during the hour or so that followed jill sometimes thought that puddleglum was right about the lamps； and sometimes thought it was only her imagination。 meanwhile the land was changing。 the roof of underland was so near that even by that dull light they could now see it quite distinctly。 and the great； rugged walls of underland could be seen drawing closer on each side。 the road； in fact； was leading them up into a steep tunnel。
they began to pass picks and shovels and barrows and other signs that the diggers had recently been at work。 if only one could be sure of getting out； all this was very cheering。
but the thought of going on into a hole that would get narrower and narrower； and harder to turn back in； was very unpleasant。
at last the roof was so low that puddleglum and the prince knocked their heads against it。
the party dismounted and led the horses。 the road was uneven here and one had to pick ones steps with some care。 that was how jill noticed the growing darkness。 there was no doubt about it now。 the faces of the others looked strange and ghastly in the green glow。 then all at once （she couldnt help it） jill gave a little scream。 one light； the next one ahead； went out altogether。 the one behind them did the same。 then they were in absolute darkness。
〃courage； friends；〃 came prince rilians voice。 〃whether we live or die aslan will be our good lord。”
〃thats right； sir；〃 said puddleglums voice。 〃and you must always remember theres one good thing about being trapped down here： itll save funeral expenses。”
jill held her tongue。 （if you dont want other people to know how frightened you are； this is always a wise thing to do； its your voice that gives you away。）
〃we might as well go on as stand here；〃 said eustace； and when she heard the tremble in his voice； jill knew how wise shed been not to trust her own。
puddleglum and eustace went first with their arms stretched out in front of them； for fear of blundering into anything； jill and the prince followed； leading the horses。
〃i say；〃 came eustaces voice much later； 〃are my eyes going queer or is there a patch of light up there？”
before anyone could answer him； puddleglum called out： 〃stop。 im up against a dead end。 and its earth； not rock。 what were you saying； scrubb？”
〃by the lion；〃 said the prince； 〃eustace is right。 there is a sort of …”
〃but its not daylight；〃 said jill。 〃its only a cold blue sort of light。”
〃better than nothing； though；〃 said eustace。 〃can we get up to it？”
〃its not right overhead；〃 said puddleglum。 〃its above us； but its in this wall that ive run into。 how would it be； pole； if you got on my shoulders and saw whether you could get up to it？”
。。
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
。
the disappearance of jill the patch of light did not show up anything down in the darkness where they were standing。 the others could only hear； not see； jills efforts to get on to the marsh…wiggles back。 that is； they heard him saying； 〃you neednt put your finger in my eye；〃 and； 〃nor your foot in my mouth either；〃 and； 〃thats more like it；〃 and； 〃now； ill hold on to your legs。 thatll leave your arms free to steady yourself against the earth。”
then they looked up and soon they saw the black shape of jills head against the patch of light。
〃well？〃 they all shouted up anxiously。
〃its a hole；〃 called jills voice。 〃i could get through it if i was a little bit higher。”
〃what do you see through it？〃 asked eustace。
〃nothing much yet；〃 said jill。 〃i say； puddleglum； let go my legs so that i can stand on your shoulders instead of sitting on them。 i can steady myself all right against the edge。”
they could hear her moving and then much more of her came into sight against the greyness of the opening； in fact all of her down to the waist。
〃i say …〃 began jill； but suddenly broke off with a cry： not a sharp cry。 it sounded more as if her mouth had been muffled up or had something pushed into it。 after that she found her voice and seemed to be shouting out as loud as she could； b