THEDISAPPEARANCEOFJILLTHEpatchoflightdidnotshowupanythingdowninthedarknesswheretheywerestanding.Theotherscouldonlyhear,notsee,JillseffortstogetontotheMarsh-wigglesback.Thatis,theyheardhimsaying,"Youputyerinmyeye,"and,"Noryourfootinmymoutheither,"and,"Thatsmorelikeit,"and,"Now,Illholdonts.Thatllleaveyourarmsfreetosteadyyourselfagainsttheearth.”

    ThentheylookedupandsoontheysawtheblackshapeofJillsheadagainstthepatchoflight.

    "Well?"theyallshoutedupanxiously.

    "Itsahole,"calledJillsvoice."IcouldgetthroughitifIwasalittlebithigher.”

    "Whatdoyouseethroughit?"askedEustace.

    "Nothingmuchyet,"saidJill."Isay,Puddleglum,letgomylegssothatIstandonyourshouldersinsteadofsittingonthem.Isteadymyselfallrightagainsttheedge.”

    Theycouldhearhermovingandthenmuchmoreofhercameintosightagainstthegreynessoftheopening;infactallofherdowntothewaist.

    "Isay-"beganJill,butsuddenlybrokeoffwithaotasharpcry.Itsoundedmoreasifhermouthhadbeenmuffleduporhadsomethingpushedintoit.Afterthatshefoundhervoidseemedtobeshoutingoutasloudasshecould,buttheycouldhewords.Twothingsthenhappehesamemoment.Thepatchoflightwaspletelyblockedupforasedorso;andtheyheardbothascuffling,strugglingsoundandthevoiceoftheMarsh-wigglegasping:"Quick!Help!Holdonts.

    Someonespullihere!oolate!”

    Theopening,andthecoldlightwhichfilledit,werenowperfectlyclearagain.Jillhadvanished.

    "Jil