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〃oh； shut up；〃 said jill crossly。 〃we havent a moment to lose。 dont you remember what the lady said about their locking up so early？ we must get there in time； we must； we must。 well die if were shut out on a night like this。”
〃well； it isnt exactly a night； not yet；〃 began puddleglum； but the two children both said； 〃e on；〃 and began stumbling forward on the slippery tableland as quickly as their legs would carry them。 the marsh…wiggle followed them： still talking； but now that they were forcing their way into the wind again； they could not have heard him even if they had wanted to。 and they didnt want。 they were thinking of baths and beds and hot drinks； and the idea of ing to harfang too late and being shut out was almost unbearable。
in spite of their haste； it took them a long time to cross the flat top of that hill。 and even when they had crossed it； there were still several ledges to climb down on the far side。
but at last they reached the bottom and could see what harfang was like。
it stood on a high crag； and in spite of its many towers was more a huge house than a castle。 obviously； the gentle giants feared no attack。 there were windows in the outside wall quite close to the ground … a thing no one would have in a serious fortress。 there were even odd little doors here and there； so that it would be quite easy to get in and out of the castle without going through the courtyard。 this raised the spirits of jill and scrubb。 it made the whole place look more friendly and less forbidding。
at first the height and steepness of the crag frightened them； but presently they noticed that there was an easier way up on the left and that the road wound up towards it。 it was a terrible climb； after the journey they had already had； and jill nearly gave up。 scrubb and puddleglum had to help her for the last hundred yards。
but in the end they stood before the castle gate。 the portcullis was up and the gate open。
however tired you are； it takes some nerve to walk up to a giants front door。 in spite of all his previous warnings against harfang； it was puddleglum who showed most courage。
〃steady pace； now；〃 he said。 〃dont look frightened； whatever you do。 weve done the silliest thing in the world by ing at all： but now that we are here； wed best put a bold face on it。”
with these words he strode forward into the gateway； stood still under the arch where the echo would help his voice； and called out as loud as he could。
〃ho！ porter！ guests who seek lodging。”
and while he was waiting for something to happen； he took off his hat and knocked off the heavy mass of snow which had gathered on its wide brim。
〃i say；〃 whispered scrubb to jill。 〃he may be a wet blanket； but he has plenty of pluck … and cheek。”
a door opened； letting out a delicious glow of firelight； and the porter appeared。 jill bit her lips for fear she should scream。 he was not a perfectly enormous giant； that is to say； he was rather taller than an apple tree but nothing like so tall as a telegraph pole。 he had bristly red hair； a leather jerkin with metal plates fastened all over it so as to make a kind of mail shirt； bare knees （very hairy indeed） and things like puttees on his legs。 he stooped down and goggled at puddleglum。
〃and what sort of creature do you call yourself；〃 he said。
jill took her courage in both hands。 〃please；〃 she said； shouting up at the giant。 〃the lady of the green kirtle salutes the king of the gentle giants； and has sent us two southern children and this marsh…wiggle （his names puddleglum） to your autumn feast。
… if its quite convenient； of course；〃 she added。
〃oho！〃 said the porter。 〃thats quite a different story。 e in； little people； e in。
youd best e into the lodge while im sending word to his majesty。〃 he looked at the children with curiosity。 〃blue faces；〃 he said。 〃i didnt know they。 were that colour。 dont care about it myself。 but i dare say you look quite nice to one another。 beetles fancy other beetles； they do say。”
〃our faces are only blue with cold；〃 said jill。 〃were not this colour really。”
〃then e in and get warm。 e in； little shrimps；〃 said the porter。 they followed him into the lodge。 and though it was rather terrible to hear such a big door clang shut behind them； they forgot about it as soon as they saw the thing they had been longing for ever since supper time last night … afire。 and such a fire！ it looked as if four or five whole trees were blazing on it； and it was so hot they couldnt go within yards of it。 but they all flopped down on the brick floor； as near as they could bear the heat； and heaved great sighs of relief。
〃now； youngster；〃 said the porter to another giant who had been sitting in the back of the room； staring at the visitors till it looked as if his eyes would start out of his head； 〃run across with this message to the house。〃 and he repeated what jill had said to him。 the younger giant； after a final stare； and a great guffaw； left the room。
〃now； froggy；〃 said the porter to puddleglum； 〃you look as if you wanted some cheering up。〃 he produced a black bottle very like puddleglums own； but about twenty times larger。 〃let me see； let me see；〃 said the porter。 〃i cant give you a cup or youll drown yourself。 let me see。 this salt…cellar will be just the thing。 you neednt mention it over at the house。 the silver will keep on getting over here； and its not my fault。”
the salt…cellar was not very like one of ours； being narrower and more upright； and made quite a good cup for puddleglum； when the giant set it down on the floor beside him。 the children expected puddleglum to refuse it； distrusting the gentle giants as he did。 but he muttered； 〃its rather late to be thinking of precautions now that were inside and the door shut behind us。〃 then he sniffed at the liquor。 〃smells all right；〃 he said。 〃but thats nothing to go by。 better make sure；〃 and took a sip。 〃tastes all right； too；〃 he said。 〃but it might do that at the first sip。 how does it go on？〃 he took a larger sip。 〃ah！〃 he said。
〃but is it the same all the way down？〃 and took another。 〃therell be something nasty at the bottom； i shouldnt wonder；〃 he said； and finished the drink。 he licked his lips and remarked to the children； 〃thisll be a test； you see。 if i curl up； or burst； or turn into a lizard； or something； then youll know not to take anything they offer you。〃 but the giant； who was too far up to hear the things puddleglum had been saying under his breath； roared with laughter and said； 〃why； froggy； youre a man。 see him put it away！”
〃not a man 。 。 。 marsh…wiggle；〃 replied puddleglum in a somewhat indistinct voice。 〃not frog either： marshwiggle。”
at that moment the door opened behind them and the younger giant came in saying； 〃theyre to go to the throne…room at once。”
the children stood up but puddleglum remained sitting and said； 〃marsh… wiggle。 marsh…wiggle。 very respectable marsh…wiggle。 respectowiggle。”
〃show them the way； young un；〃 said the giant porter。 〃youd better carry froggy。 hes had a drop more thans good for him。”
〃nothing wrong with me；〃 said puddleglum。 〃not a frog。 nothing frog with me。 im a respectabiggle。”
but the young giant caught him up by the waist and signed to the children to follow。 in this undignified way they crossed the courtyard。 puddleglum； held in the giants fist； and vaguely kicking the air； did certainly look very like a frog。 but they had little time to notice this； for they soon entered the great doorway of the main castle … both their hearts beating faster than usual … and； after pattering along several corridors at a trot to keep up with the giants paces； found themselves blinking in the light of an enormous room； where lamps glowed and a fire roared on the hearth and both were reflected from the gilding of roof and cornice。 more giants than they could count stood on their left and right； all in magnificent robes； and on two thrones at the far end； sat two huge shapes that appeared to be the king and queen。
about twenty feet from the thrones； they stopped。 scrubb and jill made an awkward attempt at a bow （girls are not taught how to curtsey