Turns on his bed now and then , and things upstairs get upset , more or less ; but , as a rule , a child could play with him . Come on ! '' Then , taking Jaqueline up on one hand , on which she sat as if on a chair , he crossed a few ranges of mountains in as many strides . In front was one tall blue hill , with a flattened peak , and as they drew near the princess felt a curious kind of wind coming round her and round her . You have heard of whirlpools in water ; well , this was just like a whirlpool of air . Even the Giant himself could hardly keep his legs against it ; then he tossed Jaqueline up , and the airy whirlpool seized her and carried her , as if on a tide of water , always round and round in narrowing circles , till she was sucked down into the hollow hill . Even as she went , she seemed to remember the hill , as if she had dreamed about it , and the shape and colour of the country . But presently she sank softly on to a couch , in a beautifully-lighted rocky hall . All around her the floor was of white and red marble , but on one side it seemed to end in black nothing . Jaqueline , after a few moments , recovered her senses fully , and changing herself into an eagle , tried to fly up and out . But as soon as she was in the funnel , the whirlpool of air always sucking down and down , was too strong for her wings . She was a prisoner in this great gleaming hall , ending in black nothingness . So she resumed her usual form , and walking to the edge of the darkness , found that it was not empty air , but something black , soft , and strong -- something living . It had no form or shape , or none that she could make out ; but it pulsed with a heart . Jaqueline placed her foot on this curious thing , when a voice came , like thunder heard through a feather-bed : `` Not near time to get up yet ! '' and then there was a snore , and the great hall rocked like a ship at sea . It was the Earthquaker ! The habits of this monstrous animal are very little known , as , of course , he never comes above ground , or at least very seldom , when he makes tracks like a dry river-bed across country . We are certain that there are Earthquakers , otherwise how can we account for earthquakes ? But how to tackle an Earthquaker , how to get at him , and what to do with him when you have got at him , are questions which might puzzle even King Prigio .
It was not easy to have the better of an enchantress like Jaqueline and a prince XXXXX Ricardo .
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