You might as well try to stop a Bandersnatch ! ' Alice had no more breath for talking , so they trotted on in silence , till they came in sight of a great crowd , in the middle of which the Lion and Unicorn were fighting . They were in such a cloud of dust , that at first Alice could not make out which was which : but she soon managed to distinguish the Unicorn by his horn . They placed themselves close to where Hatta , the other messenger , was standing watching the fight , with a cup of tea in one hand and a piece of bread-and-butter in the other . ` He 's only just out of prison , and he had n't finished his tea when he was sent in , ' Haigha whispered to Alice : ` and they only give them oyster-shells in there -- so you see he 's very hungry and thirsty . How are you , dear child ? ' he went on , putting his arm affectionately round Hatta 's neck . Hatta looked round and nodded , and went on with his bread and butter . ` Were you happy in prison , dear child ? ' said Haigha . Hatta looked round once more , and this time a tear or two trickled down his cheek : but not a word would he say . ` Speak , ca n't you ! ' Haigha cried impatiently . But Hatta only munched away , and drank some more tea . ` Speak , wo n't you ! ' cried the King . ` How are they getting on with the fight ? ' Hatta made a desperate effort , and swallowed a large piece of bread-and-butter . ` They 're getting on very well , ' he said in a choking voice : ` each of them has been down about eighty-seven times . ' ` Then I suppose they 'll soon bring the white bread and the brown ? '
XXXXX ventured to remark .
Alice Bandersnatch Haigha Hatta King Unicorn choking middle oyster-shells prison