“They always did，” said Jill.
“Ah，” said Puddleglum. “But they’re greener now.”
“You don‘t mean to say you think they’re going out？” cried Eustace. “Well， however they work， you can‘t expect them to last for ever，you know，” replied the Marsh-wiggle. “But don’t let your spirits down， Scrubb. I‘ve got my eye on the water too， and I don’t think it‘s rising so fast as it did.”
“Small comfort， friend，” said the Prince. “If we cannot find our way out. I cry you mercy， all. I am to blame for my pride and fantasy which delayed us by the mouth of the land of Bism. Now， let us ride on.”
During the hour or so that followed Jill sometimes thought that Puddleglum was right about the lamps， and sometimes thought it was only her imagination. Meanwhile the land was changing. The roof of Underland was so near that even by that dull light they could now see it quite distinctly. And the great， rugged walls of Underland could be seen drawing closer on each side. The road， in fact， was leading them up into a steep tunnel. They began to pass picks and shovels and barrows and other signs that the diggers had recently been at work. If only one could be sure of getting out， all this was very cheering.
But the thought of going on into a hole that would get narrower and narrower， and harder to turn back in， was very unpleasant.
At last the roof was so low that Puddleglum and the Prince knocked their heads against it. The party dismounted and led the horses. The road was uneven here and one had to pick one’s steps with some care. That was how Jill noticed the growing darkness. There was no doubt about it now. The faces of the others looked strange and ghastly in the green glow. Then all at once （she couldn‘t help it） Jill gave a little scream. One light， the next one ahead， went out altogether. The one behind them did the same. Then they were in absolute darkness.
“Courage， friends，” came Prince Rilian’s voice. “Whether we live or die Aslan will be our good lord.”
“That‘s right， Sir，” said Puddleglum’s voice. “And you must always remember there‘s one good thing about being trapped down here： it’ll save funeral expenses.”
Jill held her tongue. （If you don‘t want other people to know how frightened you are， this is always a wise thing to do； it’s your voice that gives you away.）
“We might as well go on as stand here，” said Eustace； and when she heard the tremble in his voice， Jill knew how wise she‘d been not to trust her own.
Puddleglum and Eustace went first with their arms stretched out in front of them， for fear of blundering into anything； Jill and the Prince followed， leading the horses.
“I say，” came Eustace’s voice much later， “are my eyes going wrong， or is there a patch of light up there？”
Before anyone could answer him， Puddleglum called out： “Stop. I‘m up against a dead end. And it’s earth， not rock. What were you saying， Scrubb？”
“By the Lion，” said the Prince， “Eustace is right. There is a sort of-” “But it‘s not daylight，” said Jill. “It’s only a cold blue sort of light.” “Better than nothing， though，” said Eustace. “Can we get up to it？” “It‘s not right overhead，” said Puddleglum. “It’s above us， but it‘s inthis wall that I’ve run into. How would it be， Pole， if you got on my shoulders and saw whether you could get up to it？”
中文阅读
“我的名字叫高尔格，”地精说道，“我将把自己所知道的一切都告诉阁下。大约一个小时前，我们都在忙于自己的工作--应该说，她的工作--沉默而悲伤，正像多年来其他的日子一样。这时传来了一个巨大的爆裂声。一听到这个声音，每个人都自言自语道，好久我都没有唱歌，没有跳舞，没有燃放鞭炮了，为什么会是这个样子呢？每个人都在心中暗想，哎呦，我一定是中了魔法。接着，每个人又自言自语道，如果我明白自己为什么背负着这个重担，我就有福了。我再也不干了。事情就是这样。于是，我们扔下背上的麻袋和包裹，丢下手中的工具，转过身来，看见那边漫天的红光。大家都自言自语道，那是什么？每个人又自问自答说，一定是裂开了一条缝隙或者断层，一股暖洋洋的热流从中喷薄而出，那热流出自我们脚下近两千米的深渊王国。”
“天哪，”尤斯塔斯惊叹道，“难道在下面还有其他的国家吗？”“噢是的，阁下，”高尔格说，“一个很可爱的地方，我们称之为比斯木。我们现在所在的这个国家，女巫的国家，我们称之为浅层国家。这里离地面太近，并不适合我们。啊！你们也许都生活在地面之上的外面世界。你瞧，我们可是来自比斯木的可怜地精，是女巫用魔法把我们召到这里，来给她干活的。我们忘却了一切，直到传来那声巨响，魔法被破除了。从前，我们不知道自己是谁，不知道自己属于什么地方。除了女巫灌输到我们头脑中的东西，我们别的什么也做不了，什么都不能思考。在过去那些年月里，她装在我们头脑里的都是一些忧郁、悲观的事情。我几乎都忘了如何开玩笑，或如何跳快步舞。但随着那一声巨响，底层开裂，海面上升，这一切我们都回想起来了。当然，我们尽快地赶路，想要通过那个裂缝返回自己的家园。你们可以看见他们在那边燃放烟花爆竹，兴奋地拿大顶a。如果你们快点儿放了我，让我去加入到他们中间，我将会非常感激阁下。”
“我想，这简直太奇妙了，”吉尔说，“我很高兴，当我们砍下女巫的a拿大顶是练功夫的一个术语，指的是头朝下倒立。--译者注脑袋时，不但解放了自己，也解放了地精。我很高兴，它们的样子看上去并不比王子以前更讨厌、更悲观--嗯，他原来的确是那副模样。”
“珀尔，那当然很好，”浦都格伦谨慎地说，“但在我看来，那些地精并不像逃跑的人。依我说，它们看上去更像是军队。你能否看着我的脸，高尔格先生，告诉我，你们不是在准备打仗？”
“当然是的，阁下，”高尔格说，“是这样的，我们不知道女巫已经死了。我们以为她会从城堡里往外观看。我们想要悄悄溜走，不让她发现。后来，你们四个骑马持剑出来了。由于不知道阁下并不站在女巫的一边，每个地精都在心里说道，麻烦来了。我们决心拼死一战，也决不放弃返回比斯木的希望。”
“我确信，这是一个诚实的地精。”王子说，“浦都格伦朋友，我们放了它吧。至于我，好高尔格，我也像你和你的同伴们一样中了魔法，刚刚才恢复记忆。好吧，我再问你一个问题。你知道不知道通往新挖掘工地的路？就是女巫想率军攻打地上世界的那个地方。”
“咦－咦－咦！”高尔格尖叫道，“是的，我知道那条可怕的路。让我把那条路的起点指给你们看。但阁下绝对不要让我跟你们一同前去，我死也不会去的。”
