They lost no time in rushing out past her and climbing own the first staircase they came to. The noise of hounds nd horns and giant voices guided them, so that in a few inutes they reached the courtyard. The giants were all on oot, for there are no giant horses in that part of the world, nd the giants‘ hunting is done on foot; like beagling in ngland. The hounds were also of normal size.
When Jill saw that there were no horses she was at first readfully disappointed, for she felt sure that the great fat ueen would never go after hounds on foot; and it would ever do to have her about the house all day. But then she aw the Queen in a kind of litter supported on the shouldersof six young giants. The silly old creature was all got up in green and had a horn at her side. Twenty or thirty giants, including the King, were assembled, ready for the sport, all talking and laughing fit to deafen you: and down below, nearer Jill’s level, there were wagging tails, and barking, and loose, slobbery mouths and noses of dogs thrust into your hand.