ALLfeltthattheyhadearnedwhatScrubbcalleda “breather“.TheWitchhadlockedthedoorandtoldtheEarthmennottodisturbher, , ofcourse, Puddleglum''sbedroom, tornintostrips, andwellgreasedontheinsidewithbutterandsaladoiloffthesuppertable, , theyallsatdownandhadalittlerefreshment, anddiscussedplansforescapingfromtheUnderworld.
Rilianexplainedthattherewerequitealotofoutletsbywhichonecouldgettothesurface; , onlywiththeWitch; , andwithfourstrangers, andsimplyorderedaship, , theonefortheinvasionofOverworld, wasonthissideofthesea, ; , theycouldprobablydigthemselvesoutbythatrouteinafewhours—iftheycouldonlygettherewithoutbeingstopped, .
“Ifyouaskme—” beganPuddleglum, whenScrubbinterrupted.
“Isay, ” heasked, “what'sthatnoise? ”
“I'vebeenwonderingthatforsometime! ” saidJill.
Theyhadall, infact, , .
“BytheLion, ” saidPrinceRilian, “itseemsthissilentlandhasfoundatongueatlast.” Herose, walkedtothewindow, .
, , grimandgreat, -packed, , therewerefiguresdartingaboutbyones, ortwos, : lurkinginshadowbehindbuttressesorindoorways, , toanyonewhoknewthegnomes, , rumblingroarwhichgrewsteadilylouderandwasalreadyshakingthewholecity.
“What'shappenedtotheEarthmen? ” saidScrubb.“Isitthemshouting? ”
“'Tishardlypossible, ” saidthePrince.“, Idon'tdoubt.”
“Andwhatisthatredlightoverthere? ” askedJill.“Issomethingonfire? ”
“Ifyouaskme, ” saidPuddleglum, “'llbeinthemiddleofit, Ishouldn'twonder.”
“Lookatthatship! ” saidScrubb.“Why'sitcomingonsoquickly? Noone'srowingit.”
