wedthem:stilltalking,butnowthattheywereftheirwayintothewindagain,theycouldnothaveheardhimeveniftheyhadwao.Andtheydidntwant.Theywerethinkingofbathsandbedsandhotdrinks;andtheideaofingttoolateandbeingshutoutwasalmostunbearable.

    Inspiteoftheirhaste,ittookthemalongtimetocrosstheflattopofthathill.Andeveheyhadcrossedit,therewerestillseveralledgestoclimbdownonthefarside.

    ButatlasttheyreachedthebottomandcouldseewhatHarfangwaslike.

    Itstoodonahighcrag,andinspiteofitsmanytowerswasmoreahugehousethanacastle.Obviously,theGentleGiantsfearednoattack.Therewerewindowsisidewallquiteclosetotheground-athingnoonewouldhaveinaseriousfortress.Therewereevenoddlittledoorshereandthere,sothatitwouldbequiteeasytogetinandoutofthecastlewithoutgoingthroughthecourtyard.ThisraisedthespiritsofJillandScrubb.Itmadethewholeplaorefriendlyandlessforbidding.

    Atfirsttheheightandsteepnessofthecragfrightehem,butpresentlytheynoticedthattherewasaneasieroandthattheroadwounduptowardsit.Itwasaterribleclimb,afterthejourheyhadalreadyhad,andJillnearlygaveup.ScrubbandPuddleglumhadtohelpherforthelasthundredyards.

    Butiheystoodbeforethecastlegate.Theportcullisaeopen.

    Howevertiredyouare,ittakessomeotoagiantsfrontdoor.InspiteofallhispreviouswarningsagainstHarfang,ituddleglumwhoshowedmostce.

    "Steadypaow,"hesaid."Dontlhtened,whateveryoudo.Wevedohesilliestthingintheworldbyingatall:butnowthatwearehere,wedbestputaboldfait.”

    Withthesewordshestrodeforwardintothegateway,st