all!” “Do as I tell you, you coward!” and at last she spread

out her hand again, and made another snatch in the air. This time there were

two little shrieks, and more sounds of broken glass. “What a

number of cucumber-frames there must be!” thought Alice. “I wonder

what they’ll do next! As for pulling me out of the window, I only wish

they could! I’m sure I don’t want to stay in here any

longer!”


She waited for some time without hearing anything more: at last came a rumbling

of little cartwheels, and the sound of a good many voices all talking together:

she made out the words: “Where’s the other ladder?—Why, I

hadn’t to bring but one; Bill’s got the other—Bill! fetch it

here, lad!—Here, put ’em up at this corner—No, tie ’em

together first—they don’t reach half high enough yet—Oh!

they’ll do well enough; don’t be particular—Here, Bill! catch

hold of this rope—Will the roof bear?—Mind that loose

slate—Oh, it’s coming down! Heads below!” (a loud

crash)—“Now, who did that?—It was Bill, I

fancy—Who’s to go down the chimney?—Nay, I

shan’t! You do it!—That I won’t,

then!—Bill’s to go down—Here, Bill! the master says

you’re to go down the chimney!”


“Oh! So Bill’s got to come down the chimney, has he?” said

Alice to herself. “Shy, they seem to put everything upon Bill! I

wouldn’t be in Bill’s place for a good deal: this fireplace is

narrow, to be sure; but I think I can kick a little!”


She drew her foot as far down the chimney as she could, and waited till she

heard a little animal (she couldn’t guess of what sort it was) scratching

and scrambling about in the chimney close above her: then, saying to herself

“This is Bill,” she gave one sharp kick, and waited to see what

would happen next.


The first thing she heard was a general chorus of “There goes

Bill!” then the Rabbit’s voice along—“Catch him, you by

the hedge!” then silence, and then another confusion of

voices—“Hold up his head—Brandy now—Don’t choke