busy amongst her unfortunate subjects, she rushed at him once more
with
the rage of despair, and this time gave him a bad bruise on the foot.
Then a regular stamping fight got up between them, Curdie with the
point
of his hunting knife keeping her from clasping her mighty arms about
him, as he watched his opportunity of getting once more a good stamp
at
her skin-shod foot. But the queen was more wary as well as more agile
than hitherto.
The rest meantime, finding their adversary thus matched for the
moment,
paused in their headlong hurry, and turned to the shivering group of
women in the corner. As if determined to emulate his father and have a
sun-woman of some sort to share his future throne. Harelip rushed at
them, caught up Lootie and sped with her to the hole. She gave a great
shriek, and Curdie heard her, and saw the plight she was in. Gathering
all his strength, he gave the queen a sudden cut across the face with
his weapon, came down, as she started back, with all his weight on the
proper foot, and sprang to Lootie's rescue. The prince had two
defenceless feet, and on both of them Curdie stamped just as he
reached
the hole. He dropped his burden and rolled shrieking into the earth.
Madhuri Noah
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