CURDIE'S CLUE
CURDIE was as watchful as ever, but was almost getting tired of his
ill-success. Every other night or so he followed the goblins about, as
they went on digging and boring, and getting as near them as he could,
watched them from behind stones and rocks; but as yet he seemed no
nearer finding out what they had in view. As at first, he always kept
hold of the end of his string, while his pickaxe left just outside the
hole by which he entered the goblins' country from the mine,
continued
to serve as an anchor and hold fast the other end. The goblins hearing
no more noise in that quarter, had ceased to apprehend an immediate
invasion, and kept no watch.
One night, after dodging about and listening till he was nearly falling
asleep with weariness, he began to roll up his ball, for he had resolved
to go home to bed. It was not long, however, before he began to feel
bewildered. One after another he passed goblin-houses, caves that is,
occupied by goblin families, and at length was sure they were many
more
than he had passed as he came. He had to use great caution to pass
Madhuri Noah
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