ubbholdingahandoutbehindhimtoJill(whowishedverymuchthatshewasthemiddleohepartyandnotthelast),theybegangropingwiththeirfeetandstumblingforwardsintotheblaess.Itwasallloosestonesunderfoot.ThenPuddleglumcameuptoawallofrock.

    Theyturnedalittletotheirrightaon.Therewereagoodmanymoretwistsand

    turns.Jillhadnownosenseofdireatall,andnoideawherethemouthofthecavelay.

    "Thequestionis,"camePuddleglumsvoiceoutofthedarknessahead,"whether,takihingwithawouldertogoback(ifwe)andgivethegiantsatreatatthatfeastoftheirs,insteadoflosingourwayisofahillwhere,tentooheresdragonsanddeepholesandgasesandwaterand-Ow!Letgo!Saveyourselves.

    Im-”

    Afterthatallhappenedquickly.Therewasawildcry,aswishing,dusty,gravellynoise,arattleofstones,andJillfoundherselfsliding,sliding,hopelesslysliding,andslidingquickereverymomentdoethatgrewsteepereverymoment.Itwasnotasmooth,firmslope,butaslopeofsmallstonesandrubbish.Evenifyoucouldhavestoodup,itwouldhavebeennouse.Anybitofthatslopeyouhadputyourfootonwouldhaveslidawayfromunderyouandcarriedyoudownwithit.ButJillwasmorelyingthanstanding.Ahertheyallslid,themoretheydisturbedallthestonesah,sothatthegeneraldownwardrushofeverything(includingthemselves)gotfasterandlouderanddustieranddirtier.Fromthesharpcriesandswearingoftheothertwo,JillgottheideathatmanyofthestoneswhichshewasdislodgingwerehittingScrubbandPuddleglumprettyhard.Andnowshewasgoingatafuriousrateasureshewouldbebrokentobitsatthebottom.

    Yetsomehowtheywerent.Theywereamassofbrui