through in time to follow the goblins as they retreated! A few blows
would doubtless be sufficient--just where his ear now lay; but if he
attempted to strike there with his pickaxe, he would only hasten the
departure of the family, put them on their guard, and perhaps lose
their
involuntary guidance. He therefore began to feel the wall with his
hands, and soon found that some of the stones were loose enough to be
drawn out with little noise.
Laying hold of a large one with both his hands, he drew it gently out,
and let it down softly.
"What was that noise?" said the goblin father.
Curdie blew out his light, lest it should shine through.
"It must be that one miner that stayed behind the rest," said the
mother.
"No; he's been gone a good while. I haven't heard a blow for an hour.
Besides, it wasn't like that."
"Then I suppose it must have been a stone carried down the brook
Madhuri Noah
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