It s waiting for em now, said Hatta: this is a bit of it as I m
eating.
There was a pause in the fight just then, and the Lion and the Unicorn
sat down, panting, while the King called out Ten minutes allowed for
refreshments! Haigha and Hatta set to work at once, carrying rough
trays of white and brown bread. Alice took a piece to taste, but it was
_very_ dry.
I don t think they ll fight any more to-day, the King said to Hatta:
go and order the drums to begin. And Hatta went bounding away like a
grasshopper.
For a minute or two Alice stood silent, watching him. Suddenly she
brightened up. Look, look! she cried, pointing eagerly. There s the
White Queen running across the country! She came flying out of the wood
over yonder How fast those Queens _can_ run!
There s some enemy after her, no doubt, the King said, without even
looking round. That wood s full of them.
But aren t you going to run and help her? Alice asked, very much
surprised at his taking it so quietly.
No use, no use! said the King. She runs so fearfully quick. You
might as well try to catch a Bandersnatch! But I ll make a memorandum
about her, if you like She s a dear good creature, he repeated softly
to himself, as he opened his memorandum-book. Do you spell creature
with a double e ?
At this moment the Unicorn sauntered by them, with his hands in his
pockets. I had the best of it this time? he said to the King, just
glancing at him as he passed.
A little a little, the King replied, rather nervously. You shouldn t
have run him through with your horn, you know.
It didn t hurt him, the Unicorn said carelessly, and he was going on,
when his eye happened to fall upon Alice: he turned round rather
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