THE BOTTOM OF THE WORLD "MY name is Golg," said the gnome. "And Ill tell your Honours all I know. About an ho we were all going about our work - her work, I should say - sad and silent, same as weve done any other day for years and years. Then there came a great crash and bang.
As soon as they heard it, everyone says to himself, I havent had a song or a dance or let off a squib for a long time; whys that? And everyohinks to himself, Why, I must have been ented. And then everyone says to himself, Im blessed if I know why Im carrying this load, and Im not going to carry it any farther: thats that. And down we all throw our sacks and bundles and tools. Then everyourns ahe great red glow over yonder. And everyone says to himself, Whats that? and everyone answers himself and says, Theres a crack or chasm split open and a nice warm glow ing up through it from the Really Deep Land, a thousand fathom under us.」
"Great Scott," exclaimed Eustace, "are there other lands still lower down?」
"Oh yes, your Honour," said Golg. "Lovely places; what we call the Land of Bism. This try where we are now, the Witchs try, is what we call the Shallow Lands. Its a good deal too he surface to suit us. Ugh! You might almost as well be living outside, on the surface itself. You see, were all pnomes from Bism whom the Witch has called up here by magic to work for her. But wed fotten all about it till that crash came and the spell broke. We didnt knoe were or where we belonged. We couldnt do anything, or think anything, except what she put into our heads. And it was glum and gloomy things she put there all those years. Ive nearly fotten how to make a joke or dance a jig. But the moment the bang came and the chasm opened and the sea began rising, it all came back. And of course we all set off as quick as we could to get down the crad home to our own place. And you see them over there all letting off rockets and standing on their heads for joy. And Ill be very obliged to your Honours if youll soo me go and join in.」
"I think this is simply splendid," said Jill. "Im so glad we freed the gnomes as well as ourselves whe off the Witchs head! And Im so glad they arent really horrid and gloomy any more than the Prince really was well, what he seemed like.」
"Thats all very well, Pole," said Puddleglum cautiously. "But those gnomes didnt look to me like chaps who were just running away. It looked more like military formations, if you ask me. Do you look me in the face, Mr Golg, and tell me you werent preparing for battle?」
"Of course we were, your Honour," said Golg. "You see, we didnt know the Witch was dead. We thought shed be watg from the castle. We were trying to slip away without being seen. And then when you three came out with swords and horses, of course everyone says to himself, Here it es: not knowing that his Honour wasnt ochs side. And we were determio fight like anything rather than give up the hope of going back to Bism.」
"Ill be sworn tis an ho gnome," said the Prince. "Let go of it, friend Puddleglum. As for me, good Golg, I have been ented like you and your fellows, and have but newly remembered myself. And now, one question more. Do you know the way to those new diggings, by which the sorceress meant to lead out an army against Overland?」
"Ee-ee-ee!" squeaked Golg. "Yes, I know that terrible road. I will show you where it begins. But it is no manner of use your Honou