He was drawing the wicked wine at the moment, and did not see him, else he would doubtless have run too.
When suppertime approached, Curdie took his place at the door into the servants' hall; but after a long hour's vain watch, he began to fear he should get nothing: there was so much idling about, as well as coming and going.

It was hard to bear--chiefly from the attractions of a splendid loaf, just fresh out of the oven, which he longed to secure for the king and princess.

At length his chance did arrive: he pounced upon the loaf and carried it away, and soon after got hold of a pie.
This time, however, both loaf and pie were missed.

The cook was called.

He declared he had provided both.