` I 'll tell you how I came to think of it , ' said the Knight . ` You see , I said to myself , `` The only difficulty is with the feet : the HEAD is high enough already . '' Now , first I put my head on the top of the gate -- then I stand on my head -- then the feet are high enough , you see -- then I 'm over , you see . ' ` Yes , I suppose you 'd be over when that was done , ' Alice said thoughtfully : ` but do n't you think it would be rather hard ? ' ' I have n't tried it yet , ' the Knight said , gravely : ` so I ca n't tell for certain -- but I 'm afraid it WOULD be a little hard . ' He looked so vexed at the idea , that Alice changed the subject hastily . ` What a curious helmet you 've got ! ' she said cheerfully . ` Is that your invention too ? ' The Knight looked down proudly at his helmet , which hung from the saddle . ` Yes , ' he said , ` but I 've invented a better one than that -- like a sugar loaf . When I used to wear it , if I fell off the horse , it always touched the ground directly . So I had a VERY little way to fall , you see -- But there WAS the danger of falling INTO it , to be sure . That happened to me once -- and the worst of it was , before I could get out again , the other White Knight came and put it on . He thought it was his own helmet . ' The knight looked so solemn about it that Alice did not dare to laugh . ` I 'm afraid you must have hurt him , ' she said in a trembling voice , ` being on the top of his head . ' ' I had to kick him , of course , ' the Knight said , very seriously . ` And then he took the helmet off again -- but it took hours and hours to get me out . I was as fast as -- as lightning , you know . '
` But that 's a different kind of fastness , ' XXXXX objected .
Alice Knight danger fall first hours idea laugh lightning voice