wtheywouldbeaeroffeveniftheyreachedthetop.

    Butshedidntthinkaboutthat.Shewaslikeahuntedanimalnow;aslongasthepackwasafterher,shemustruntillshedropped.

    TheMarsh-wigglewasahead.Ashecametotheloweststephestopped,lookedalittletht,andallofasuddendartedintoalittleholeorcreviceatthebottomofit.Hislonglegs,disappearingintoit,lookedverylikethoseofaspider.Scrubbhesitatedandthenvaerhim.Jill,breathlessandreeling,cametotheplaier.Itwasanunattractivehole-acrackbetweehaoneaboutthreefeetlongandhardlymorethanafoothigh.Youhadtoflingyourselfflatonyourfadcrawlin.Youcouldntdoitsoveryquicklyeither.Shefeltsurethatadogsteethwouldcloseonherheelbeforeshehadgotinside.

    "Quick,quick.Stones.Filluptheopening,"camePuddleglumsvoithedarknessbesideher.Ititchblathere,exceptfreylightintheopeningbywhichtheyhadcrawlediherthard.ShecouldseeScrubbssmallhandsandtheMarshwigglesbig,frog-likehandsblackagainstthelight,wdesperatelytopileupstohensherealizedhowimportantthiswasandbegangropingfestonesherself,andhandiheothers.Beforethedogswerebayingandyelpingatthecavemouth,theyhaditprettywellfilled;andnow,ofcourse,therewasnolightatall.

    "Fartherin,quick,"saidPuddleglumsvoice.

    "Letsallholdhands,"saidJill.

    "Goodidea,"saidScrubb.Butittookthemquitealongtimetofihershandsinthedarkhedogsweresniffingattheothersideofthebarriernow.

    "Tryifwestandup,"suggestedScrubb.Theydidandfoundthattheycould.Then,PuddleglumholdingoutahandbehindhimtoScrubb,andScr