CHAPTER TWELVE THE QUEEN OF UNDERLAND（第4/4页）

The Prince caught the creature’s neck in his left hand，trying to squeeze it till it choked. This held its face（if you could call it a face）about five inches from his own. The forked tongue flickered horribly in and out，but could not reach him. With his right hand he drew back his sword for the strongest blow he could give. Meanwhile Scrubb and Puddleglum had drawn their weapons and rushed to his aid. All three blows fell at once：Scrubb’s（which did not even pierce the scales and did no good）on the body of the snake below the Prince’s hand，but the Prince’s own blow and Puddleglum’s both on its neck. Even that did not quite kill it， though it began to loosen its hold on Rilian’s legs and chest. With repeated blows they hacked off its head. The horrible thing went on coiling and moving like a bit of wire long after it had died；and the floor，as you may imagine，was a nasty mess.

The Prince，when he had breath，said，“Gentlemen，I thank you.”Then the three conquerors stood staring at one another and panting，without another word，for a long time. Jill had very wisely sat down and was keeping quiet；she was saying to herself，“I do hope I don’t faint—or blub—or do anything idiotic.”

“My royal mother is avenged,”said Rilian presently. “This is undoubtedly the same worm that I pursued in vain by the fountain in the forest of Narnia，so many years ago. All these years I have been the slave of my mother’s slayer. Yet I am glad，gentlemen， that the foul Witch took to her serpent form at the last. It would not have suited well either with my heart or with my honour to have slain a woman. But look to the lady.”He meant Jill.

“I’m all right，thanks,”said she.

“Damsel,”said the Prince，bowing to her. “You are of a high courage，and therefore，I doubt not，you come of a noble blood in your own world. But come，friends. Here is some wine left. Let us refresh ourselves and each pledge his fellows. After that，to our plans.”

“A jolly good idea，Sir,”said Scrubb.