“I think this is simply splendid，” said Jill. “I’m so glad we eed the gnomes as well as ourselves when we cut off the itch‘s head！ And I’m so glad they aren‘t really horrid and loomy any more than the Prince really was.well， what he eemed like.”
“That’s all very well， Pole，” said Puddleglum cautiously. But those gnomes didn‘t look to me like chaps who were st running away. It looked more like military formations， you ask me. Do you look me in the face， Mr Golg， andll me you weren’t preparing for battle？““Of course we were， your Honour，” said Golg. “You see， e didn‘t know the Witch was dead. We thought she’d e watching from the castle. We were trying to slip away ithout being seen. And then when you three came out ith swords and horses， of course everyone says to himself， ere it comes； not knowing that his Honour wasn‘t on the itch’s side. And we were determined to fight like anything ther than give up the hope of going back to Bism.”