But the strangest part of it was the household animals which crowded amongst the feet of the goblins.

It was true they had no wild animals down there--at least they did not know of any; but they had a wonderful number of tame ones.

I must, however, reserve any contributions towards the natural history of these for a later position in my story.
At length, turning a corner too abruptly, he had almost rushed into the middle of the goblin family; for there they had already set down all their burdens on the floor of a cave considerably larger than that which they had left.

They were as yet too breathless to speak, else he would have had warning of their arrest.

He started back, however, before anyone saw him, and retreating a good way, stood watching till the father should come out to go to the palace.
Before very long, both he and his son Helfer appeared and kept on in the same direction as before, while Curdie followed them again with renewed precaution.