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
inside."
"Perhaps. It will have more room by and by."
Curdie kept quite still. After a little while, hearing nothing but the
Madhuri Noah
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