Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures Under Ground - Pages 42 and 43

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• Audio

She waited for some time without hearing anything more: at last came a rumbling of little cart-wheels, 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 - here, put 'em up at this corner - no, tie 'em together first - they don't reach 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 got to go down - here, Bill! the master says you've to go down the chimney!"

"Oh, so Bill's got to come down the chimney, has he?" said Alice to herself, "why, they seem to put everything upon Bill! I wouldn't be in Bill's place for a good deal: the fireplace is a pretty tight one, 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 what sort it was) scratching and scrambling in the chimney close above her: then, saying to herself "this is Bill", she gave one sharp kick, and waited again to see what would happen next.

The first thing was a general chorus of "there goes Bill!" then the rabbit's voice alone "catch him, you by the hedge!" then silence, and then another confusion of voices, "how was it, old fellow? what happened to you? tell us all about it."

Last came a little feeble squeaking voice, ("that's Bill" thought Alice,) which said "well, I hardly know - I'm all of a fluster myself - something comes at me like a Jack - in - the - box, and the next minute up I goes like a rocket!" "And so you did, old fellow!" said the other voices.