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ve tasted the live ones of bism。”
〃my father went to the worlds end；〃 said rilian thoughtfully。 〃it would be a marvellous thing if his son went to the bottom of the world。”
〃if your highness wants to see your father while hes still alive； which i think hed prefer；〃 said puddleglum； 〃its about time we were getting on to that road to the diggings。”
〃and i wont go down that hole； whatever anyone says；〃 added jill。
〃why； if your honours are really set to go back to overworld；〃 said golg； 〃there is one bit of the road thats rather lower than this。 and perhaps； if that floods still rising …”
〃oh； do； do； do e on！〃 begged jill。
〃i fear it must be so；〃 said the prince with a deep sigh。 〃but i have left half of my heart in the land of bism。”
〃please！〃 begged jill。
〃where is the road？〃 asked puddleglum。
〃there are lamps all the way；〃 said golg。 〃your honour can see the beginning of the road on the far side of the chasm。”
〃how long will the lamps burn for？〃 asked puddleglum。
at that moment a hissing； scorching voice like the voice of fire itself （they wondered afterwards if it could have been a salamanders） came whistling up out of the very depths of bism。
〃quick！ quick！ quick！ to the cliffs； to the cliffs； to the cliffs！〃 it said。 〃the rift closes。 it closes。 it closes。 quick！ quick！〃 and at the same time； with ear…shattering cracks and creaks； the rocks moved。 already； while they looked； the chasm was narrower。 from every side belated gnomes were rushing into it。 they would not wait to climb down the rocks。 they flung themselves headlong and； either because so strong a blast of hot air was beating up from the bottom； or for some other reason； they could be seen floating downwards like leaves。 thicker and thicker they floated； till their blackness almost blotted out the fiery river and the groves of live gems。 〃good…bye to your honours。 im off；〃 shouted golg； and dived。 only a few were left to follow him。 the chasm was now no broader than a stream。 now it was narrow as the slit in a pillarbox。 now it was only an intensely bright thread。 then； with a shock like a thousand goods trains crashing into a thousand pairs of buffers； the lips of rock closed。 the hot； maddening smell vanished。
the travellers were alone in an underworld which now looked far blacker than before。
pale； dim； and dreary； the lamps marked the direction of the road。
〃now；〃 said puddleglum； 〃its ten to one weve already stayed too long； but we may as well make a try。 those lamps will give out in five minutes； i shouldnt wonder。”
they urged the horses to a canter and thundered along the dusky road in fine style。 but almost at once it began going downhill。 they would have thought golg had sent them the wrong way if they had not seen； on the other side of the valley； the lamps going on and upwards as far as the eye could reach。 but at the bottom of the valley the lamps shone on moving water。
〃haste；〃 cried the prince。 they galloped down the slope。 it would have been nasty enough at the bottom even five minutes later for the tide was running up the valley like a mill…race； and if it had e to swimming； the horses could hardly have won over。 but it was still only a foot or two deep； and though it swished terribly round the horses legs； they reached the far side in safety。
then began the slow； weary march uphill with nothing ahead to look at but the pale lamps which went up and up as far as the eye could reach。 when they looked back they could see the water spreading。 all the hills of underland were now islands； and it was only on those islands that the lamps remained。 every moment some distant light vanished。 soon there would be total darkness everywhere except on the road they were following； and even on the lower part of it behind them； though no lamps had yet gone out； the lamplight shone on water。
although they had good reason for hurrying； the horses could not go on for ever without a rest。 they halted： and in silence they could hear the lapping of water。
〃i wonder is whats his name … father time … flooded out now；〃 said jill。 〃and all those queer sleeping animals。”
〃i dont think were as high as that；〃 said eustace。 〃dont you remember how we had to go downhill to reach the sunless sea？ i shouldnt think the water has reached father times cave yet。”
〃thats as may be；〃 said puddleglum。 〃im more interested in the lamps on this road。
look a bit sickly； dont they？”
〃they always did；〃 said jill。
〃aye；〃 said puddleglum。 〃but theyre greener now。”
〃you dont mean to say you think theyre going out？〃 cried eustace。
〃well； however they work； you cant expect them to last for ever； you know；〃 replied the marsh…wiggle。 〃but dont let your spirits down； scrubb。 ive got my eye on the water too； and i dont think its rising so fast as it did。”
〃small fort； friend；〃 said the prince。 〃if we cannot find our way out。 i cry you mercy； all。 i am to blame for my pride and fantasy which delayed us by the mouth of the land of bism。 now； let us ride on。”
during the hour or so that followed jill sometimes thought that puddleglum was right about the lamps； and sometimes thought it was only her imagination。 meanwhile the land was changing。 the roof of underland was so near that even by that dull light they could now see it quite distinctly。 and the great； rugged walls of underland could be seen drawing closer on each side。 the road； in fact； was leading them up into a steep tunnel。
they began to pass picks and shovels and barrows and other signs that the diggers had recently been at work。 if only one could be sure of getting out； all this was very cheering。
but the thought of going on into a hole that would get narrower and narrower； and harder to turn back in； was very unpleasant。
at last the roof was so low that puddleglum and the prince knocked their heads against it。
the party dismounted and led the horses。 the road was uneven here and one had to pick ones steps with some care。 that was how jill noticed the growing darkness。 there was no doubt about it now。 the faces of the others looked strange and ghastly in the green glow。 then all at once （she couldnt help it） jill gave a little scream。 one light； the next one ahead； went out altogether。 the one behind them did the same。 then they were in absolute darkness。
〃courage； friends；〃 came prince rilians voice。 〃whether we live or die aslan will be our good lord。”
〃thats right； sir；〃 said puddleglums voice。 〃and you must always remember theres one good thing about being trapped down here： itll save funeral expenses。”
jill held her tongue。 （if you dont want other people to know how frightened you are； this is always a wise thing to do； its your voice that gives you away。）
〃we might as well go on as stand here；〃 said eustace； and when she heard the tremble in his voice； jill knew how wise shed been not to trust her own。
puddleglum and eustace went first with their arms stretched out in front of them； for fear of blundering into anything； jill and the prince followed； leading the horses。
〃i say；〃 came eustaces voice much later； 〃are my eyes going queer or is there a