east to have held your tongue.'

'I am sorry now,' answered Curdie.

'You ought to go and tell her so, then.'

'I don't see how I could manage that. They wouldn't let a miner boy
like me have a word with her alone; and I couldn't tell her before that
nurse of hers. She'd be asking ever so many questions, and I don't
know how many the little princess would like me to answer. She told me
that Lootie didn't know anything about her coming to get me out of the
mountain. I am certain she would have prevented her somehow if she had
known it. But I may have a chance before long, and meantime I must try
to do something for her. I think, father, I have got on the track at
last.'

'Have you, indeed, my boy?' said Peter. 'I am sure you deserve some
success; you have worked very hard for it. What have you found out?'

'It's difficult, you know, father, inside the mountain, especially in
the dark, and not knowing what turns you have taken, to tell the lie of
things outside.'

'Impossible, my boy, without a chart, or at least a compass,' returned
his father.

'Well, I think I have nearly discovered in what direction the cobs are
mining. If I am right, I know something else that I can put to it, and
then one and one will make three.'

'They very often do, Curdie, as we miners ought to be very well aware.
Now tell us, my boy, what the two things are, and see whether we can
guess at the same third as you.'

'I don't see what that has to do with the princess,' interposed his
mother.

'I will soon let you see that, mother. Perhaps you may think me
foolish, but until I am sure there, is nothing in my present fancy, I
am more determined than ever to go on with my observations. Just as we
came to the channel by which we got out, I heard the miners at work
somewhere near--I think down below us. Now since I began to watch
them, they have mined a good half-mile, in a straight line; and so far
as I am aware, they are working in no other part of the mountain. But
I never could tell in what direction they were going. When we came out
in the king's garden, however, I thought at once whether it was
possible they were working towards the king's house; and what I want to
do tonight is to make sure whether they are or not. I will take a
light with me--'

'Oh, Curdie,' cried his mother, 'then they will see you.'

'I'm no more afraid of them now than I was before,' rejoined Curdie,
'now that I've got this precious shoe. The