The creatures themselves seemed to be puzzling where or how they were to go.

One after another of them came up, looked down through the hole, and drew back.

Curdie thought if he let Lina down, perhaps that would suggest something; possibly they did not see the opening on the other side.

He did so, and Lina stood lighting up the entrance of the passage with her gleaming eyes.
One by one the creatures looked down again, and one by one they drew back, each standing aside to glance at the next, as if to say, Now you have a look.

At last it came to the turn of the serpent with the long body, the four short legs behind, and the little wings before.