traditional remnant of the old state of things; while the stockings of
all ages, no regard being paid in them to the toes, pointed in the same
direction. But what was of importance was the fact concerning the
softness of the goblin-feet, which he foresaw might be useful to all
miners. What he had to do in the mean time, however, was to discover,
if
possible, the special evil design the goblins had now in their heads.
Although he knew all the gangs and all the natural galleries with which
they communicated in the mined part of the mountain, he had not the
least idea where the palace of the king of the gnomes was; otherwise he
would have set out at once on the enterprise of discovering what the
said design was. He judged, and rightly, that it must lie in a farther
part of the mountain, between which and the mine there was as yet no
communication. There must be one nearly completed, however; for it
could
be but a thin partition which now separated them. If only he could get
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
Madhuri Noah
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