THEBOTTOMOFTHEWORLD"MYnameisGolg,"saidthegnome."AndIlltellyourHonoursallIknow.Aboutanhowewereallgoingaboutourwork-herwork,Ishouldsay-sadandsilent,sameaswevedoneanyotherdayforyearsandyears.Thentherecameagreatcrashandbang.

    Assoonastheyheardit,everyonesaystohimself,Ihaventhadasongoradanceorletoffasquibforalongtime;whysthat?Andeveryohinkstohimself,Why,Imusthavebeenented.Andtheneveryonesaystohimself,ImblessedifIknowwhyImcarryingthisload,andImnotgoingtocarryitanyfarther:thatsthat.Anddowhrowoursadbundlesandtools.Theneveryournsahegreatredglowoveryonder.Andeveryonesaystohimself,Whatsthat?andeveryoneanswershimselfandsays,TheresacrackorchasmsplitopenandanicewarmglowingupthroughitfromtheReallyDeepLand,athousandfathomunderus.”

    "GreatScott,"exclaimedEustace,"arethereotherlandsstilllowerdown?”

    "Ohyes,yourHonour,"saidGolg."Lovelyplaces;whatwecalltheLandofBism.Thistrywherewearenow,theWitchstry,iswhatwecalltheShallowLands.Itsagooddealtoohesurfacetosuitus.Ugh!Youmightalmostaswellbelivingoutside,onthesurfaceitself.Yousee,nomesfromBismwhomtheWitchhascalledupherebymagictoworkforher.Butwedfottenallaboutittillthatcrashcameandthespellbroke.Wedidntknoereorwherewebelonged.Wecouldntdoanything,orthinkanything,exceptwhatsheputintoourheads.Anditwasglumandgloomythingssheputthereallthoseyears.Ivenearlyfottenhowtomakeajokeordanceajig.Butthemomentthebangcameandthechasmopenedandtheseabeganrising,itallcamebadofcourseweallsetoffasquickaswecould