so while the master was writing lying is very wrong, and liars must be caned. it is all for their own good on the black-board for edmund to copy out seven hundred times, edmund sneaked out of school and ran for his life across the town to warn his granny, but she was not at home. so then he made off through the back door of the town, and raced up the hill to tell the cockatrice and ask for his help. it never occurred to him that the cockatrice might not believe him. you see, he had heard so many wonderful tales from him and had believed them all and when you believe all a person's stories they ought to believe yours. this is only fair.