‘Then you can be sure you can’t. The only thing seems to be for me to carry you down.’
But the Princess did not seem to relish the idea at all.
‘You might let me drop, you know; it’s rather steep.’ And it was pretty steep, too—about as steep as the wall of a house, and a good deal higher than a very high house. However, it seemed to be the only thing to do, so she let herself be carried down. The man took her on one arm, and yet seemed to climb down about as easily as if he were going downstairs. However, the Princess did not notice that, since she kept her eyes shut hard, for, to tell the truth, she was rather nervous.
But at last they were at the bottom, and he let her down on to the ground.
‘Now, what are you going to do?’ he said.
‘I don’t know at all. What can I do?’
‘You’d better go and see King Mumkie and ask him what to do.’
‘But he has got such a dreadful name; it sounds as if he was awfully ugly,’ she said.
‘But he’s not at all; he’s just like me, and I’m sure I’m handsome enough for any one.’