He
dropped his burden and rolled shrieking into the earth. Curdie
made one stab at him as he disappeared, caught hold of the
senseless Lootie, and having dragged her back to the corner, there
mounted guard over her, preparing once more to encounter the queen.
Her face streaming with blood, and her eyes flashing green
lightning through it, she came on with her mouth open and her teeth
grinning like a tiger's, followed by the king and her bodyguard of
the thickest goblins. But the same moment in rushed the captain
and his men, and ran at them stamping furiously. They dared not
encounter such an onset. Away they scurried, the queen foremost.
Of course, the right thing would have been to take the king and
queen prisoners, and hold them hostages for the princess, but they
were so anxious to find her that no one thought of detaining them
until it was too late.
Having thus rescued the servants, they set about searching the
house once more. None of them could give the least information
concerning the princess. Lootie was almost silly with terror, and,
although scarcely able to walk would not leave Curdie's side for a
single moment.
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