hemwasthesoundofclashingaangledships,andtherumbleofcollapsingbuildings.OverheadwasthegreatpatchofluridlightontheroofoftheUnderworld.

    Aheadwasthemysteriousglow,whichdidogrowanybigger.Fromthesamedireeatinualhubbubofshouts,screams,cat-calls,laughter,squeals,andbellowings;andfireworksofallsortsroseinthedarkair.Noonecouldguesswhattheymeant.hem,thecityartlylitupbytheredgloartlybytheverydifferentlightofthedrearyGnomelamps.Butthereweremanyplaceswhereheroftheselightsfell,andthoseplaceswerejet-bladinandoutofthoseplacestheshapesofEarthmeingandslippingallthetime,alwayswiththeireyesfixed

    oravellers,alwaystryingtokeepoutofsightthemselves.Therewerebigfadlittlefaces,hugeeyeslikefisheseyesandlittleeyeslikebears.Therewerefeathersandbristles,hornsandtusks,noseslikewhipcord,andssolongthattheylookedlikebeards.EverynowandthenagroupofthemwouldgettoobigoretoohenthePrincewouldbrandishhisswordandmakeashowofchargingthem.Andthecreatures,withallmannerofhootings,squeakings,andclugs,woulddiveawayintothedarkness.

    Butwhentheyhadclimbedmareetsandwerefarawayfromtheflood,andalmostoutofthetownontheinlandside,itbegantobemoreserious.Theywerenowclosetlowandnearlyonalevelwithit,thoughtheystillcouldnotseewhatitreallywas.Butbyitslighttheycouldseetheirenemiesmoreclearly.Hundreds-perhapsafewthousands-ofgnomeswereallmovingtowardsit.Buttheyweredoingsoinshortrushes,andwheheystopped,theyturnedandfacedthetravellers.

    "Ifyhnessaskedme,"saidPuddleglum,"Idsaythosefellowsweremeaningtocut