It was
the noise the goblin-miners made at their work, and they seemed to
be at no great distance now. Irene heard it the moment she
stopped.
'What is that noise?' she asked. 'Do you know, Curdie?'
'Yes. It is the goblins digging and burrowing,' he answered.
'And you don't know what they do it for?'
'No; I haven't the least idea. Would you like to see them?' he
asked, wishing to have another try after their secret.
'If my thread took me there, I shouldn't much mind; but I don't
want to see them, and I can't leave my thread. It leads me down
into the hole, and we had better go at once.'
'Very well. Shall I go in first?' said Curdie.
'No; better not. You can't feel the thread,' she answered,
stepping down through a narrow break in the floor of the cavern.
'Oh!' she cried, 'I am in the water. It is running strong - but it
is not deep, and there is just room to walk. Make haste, Curdie.'
He tried, but the hole was too small for him to get in.
'Go on a little bit he said, shouldering his pickaxe. In a few
moments he had cleared a larger opening and followed her.
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