When I fell, which was often, they gave me time to rise; when from fear of falling I slackened my pace, they flew afresh at my legs.
All that miserable night they kept me running--but they drove me by a comparatively smooth path, for I tumbled into no gully, and passing the Evil Wood without seeing it, left it behind in the dark.

When at length the morning appeared, I was beyond the channels, and on the verge of the orchard valley.

In my joy I would have made friends with my persecutors, but not a cat was to be seen.

I threw myself on the moss, and fell fast asleep.
I was waked by a kick, to find myself bound hand and foot, once more the thrall of the giants! "What fitter ?" I said to myself; "to whom else should I belong ?" and I laughed in the triumph of self-disgust.

A second kick stopped my false merriment; and thus recurrently assisted by my captors, I succeeded at length in rising to my feet.
Six of them were about me.