What are you about here ?' 'Going to have a little rough usage, apparently,' said Curdie, laughing, as the men shook him.
'Impertinence will do you no good.

You have no business here in the king's grounds, and if you don't give a true account of yourself, you shall fare as a thief.' 'Why, what else could he be ?' said one.
'He might have been after a lost kid, you know,' suggested another.
'I see no good in trying to excuse him.

He has no business here, anyhow.' 'Let me go away, then, if you please,' said Curdie.
'But we don't please--not except you give a good account of yourself.' 'I don't feel quite sure whether I can trust you,' said Curdie.
'We are the king's own men-at-arms,' said the captain courteously, for he was taken with Curdie's appearance and courage.
'Well, I will tell you all about it--if you will promise to listen to me and not do anything rash.' 'I call that cool!' said one of the party, laughing.

'He will tell us what mischief he was about, if we promise to do as pleases him.' 'I was about no mischief,' said Curdie.
But ere he could say more he turned faint, and fell senseless on the grass.

Then first they discovered that the bolt they had shot, taking him for one of the goblin creatures, had wounded him.
They carried him into the house and laid him down in the hall.