their blankets by sleeping back to back。 （the backs keep each other warm and you can then have both blankets on top。） but it was chilly even so； and the ground was hard and lumpy。 the marsh…wiggle told them they would feel more fortable if only they thought how very much colder it would be later on and farther north； but this didnt cheer them up at all。
they travelled across ettinsmoor for many days； saving the bacon and living chiefly on the moor…fowl （they were not； of course； talking birds） which eustace and the wiggle shot。 jill rather envied eustace for being able to shoot； he had learned it on his voyage with king caspian。 as there were countless streams on the moor； they were never short of water。 jill thought that when； in books； people live on what they shoot； it never tells you what a long； smelly； messy job it is plucking and cleaning dead birds； and how cold it makes your fingers。 but the great thing was that they met hardly any giants。 one giant saw them； but he only roared with laughter and stumped away about his own business。
about the tenth day； they reached a place where the country changed。 they came to the northern edge of the moor and looked down a long； steep slope into a different； and grimmer； land。 at the bottom of the slope were cliffs： beyond these； a country of high mountains； dark precipices； stony valleys； ravines so deep and narrow that one could not see far into them； and rivers that poured out of echoing gorges to plunge sullenly into black depths。 needless to say； it was puddleglum who pointed out a sprinkling of snow on the more distant slopes。
〃but therell be more on the north side of them； i shouldnt wonder；〃 he added。
it took them some time to reach the foot of the slope and； when they did； they looked down from the top of the cliffs at a river running below them from west to east。 it was walled in by precipices on the far side as well as on their own； and it was green and sunless； full of rapids and waterfalls。 the roar of it shook the earth even where they stood。
〃the bright side of it is；〃 said puddleglum； 〃that if we break our necks getting down the cliff； then were safe from being drowned in the river。”
〃what about that？〃 said scrubb suddenly； pointing upstream to their left。 then they all looked and saw the last thing they were expecting … a bridge。 and what a bridge； too！ it was a huge； single arch that spanned the gorge from cliff…top to cliff…top； and the crown of that arch was as high above the cliff…tops as the dome of st pauls is above the street。
〃why； it must be a giants bridge！〃 said jill。
〃or a sorcerers； more likely；〃 said puddleglum。 〃weve got to look out for enchantments in a place like this。 i think its a trap。 i think itll turn into mist and melt away just when were out on the middle of it。”
〃oh； for goodness sake； dont be such a wet blanket；〃 said scrubb。 〃why on earth shouldnt it be a proper bridge？”
〃do you think any of the giants weve seen would have sense to build a thing like that？”
said puddleglum。
〃but mightnt it have been built by other giants？〃 said jill。 〃i mean； by giants who lived hundreds of years ago； and were far cleverer than the modern kind。 it might have been built by the same ones who built the giant city were looking for。 and that would mean we were on the right track … the old bridge leading to the old city！”
〃thats a real brain…wave； pole；〃 said scrubb。 〃it must be that。 e on。”
so they turned and went to the bridge。 and when they reached it； it certainly seemed solid enough。 the single stones were as big as those at stonehenge and must have been squared by good masons once； though now they were cracked and crumbled。 the balustrade had apparently been covered with rich carvings； of which some traces remained； mouldering faces and forms of giants； minotaurs； squids； centipedes； and dreadful gods。 puddleglum still didnt trust it； but he consented to cross it with the children。
the climb up to the crown of the arch was long and heavy。 in many places the great stones had dropped out； leaving horrible gaps through which you looked down on the river foaming thousands of feet below。 they saw an eagle fly through under their feet。
and the higher they went； the colder it grew； and the wind blew so that they could hardly keep their footing。 it seemed to shake the bridge。
when they reached the top and could look down the farther slope of the bridge； they saw what looked like the remains of an ancient giant road stretching away before them into the heart of the mountains。 many stones of its pavement were missing and there were wide patches of grass between those that remained。 and riding towards them on that ancient road were two people of normal grown…up human size。
〃keep on。 move towards them；〃 said puddleglum。 〃anyone you meet in a place like this is as likely as not to be an enemy； but we mustnt let them think were afraid。”
by the time they had stepped off the end of the bridge on to the grass； the two strangers were quite close。 one was a knight in plete armour with his visor down。 his armour and his horse were black； there was no device on his shield and no banneret on his spear。
the other was a lady on a white horse； a horse so lovely that you wanted to kiss its nose and give it a lump of sugar at once。 but the lady； who rode side…saddle and wore a long； fluttering dress of dazzling green； was lovelier still。
〃good day； t…r…r…avellers；〃 she cried out in a voice as sweet as the sweetest birds song； trilling her rs delightfully。 〃some of you are young pilgrims to walk this rough waste。”
〃thats as may be； maam；〃 said puddleglum very stiffly and on his guard。
〃were looking for the ruined city of the giants；〃 said jill。
〃the r…r…ruined city？〃 said the lady。 〃that is a strange place to be seeking。 what will you do if you find it？”
〃weve got to …〃 began jill； but puddleglum interrupted。
〃begging your pardon； maam。 but we dont know you or your friend … a silent chap； isnt he？ … and you dont know us。 and wed as soon not talk to strangers about our business； if you dont mind。 shall we have a little rain soon； do you think？”
the lady laughed： the richest； most musical laugh you can imagine。 〃well； children；〃 she said； 〃you have a wise； solemn old guide with you。 i think none the worse of him for keeping his own counsel； but ill be free with mine。 i have often heard the name of the giantish city ruinous； but never met any who would tell me the way thither。 this road leads to the burgh and castle of harfang； where dwell the gentle giants。 they are as mild； civil； prudent； and courteous as those of ettinsmoor are foolish； fierce； savage； and given to all beastliness。 and in harfang you may or may not hear tidings of the city ruinous； but certainly you shall find good lodgings and merry hosts。 you would be wise to winter there； or； at the least； to tarry certain days for your ease and refreshment。 there you shall have steaming baths； soft beds； and bright hearths； and the roast and the baked and the sweet and the strong will be on the table four times in a day。”
〃i say！〃 exclaimed scrubb。 〃thats something like！ think of sleeping in a bed again。”
〃yes； and having a hot bath；〃 said jill。 〃do you think theyll ask us to stay？ we dont know them； you see。”
〃only tell them；〃 answered the lady； 〃that she of the green kirtle salutes them by you； and has sent them two fair southern children for the autumn feast。”
〃oh； thank you； thank you ever so much；〃 said jill and scrubb。
〃but have a care；〃 said the lady。 〃on whatever day you reach harfang； that you e not to the door too late。 for they shut their gates a few hours after noon； and it is the custom of the castle that they open to none when once they have drawn bolt； how hard so ever he knock。”
the children thanked her again； with shining eyes； and the lady waved to them。 the marsh…wiggle took off his steeple…hat and bowed very stiffly。 then the silent knight and the lady started walking their horses up the slope of the bridge with a great clatter of hoofs。
〃well！〃 said puddleglum。 〃id give a good deal to know where shes ing from and where shes going。 not the sort you expect to meet in the wilds of giantland； is she？ up to no good； ill be bound。”
〃oh rot！〃 said scrubb。 〃i thought she was simply super。 and think of hot meals and warm rooms。 i do hope harfang isnt a long way off。”
〃same here；〃 said jill。 〃and hadnt she a scrumptious dress。 and the horse！”
〃all the same；〃 said puddleglum； 〃i wish we knew a bit more about her。”
〃i was going to ask her all about herself；〃 said jill。 〃but how could i when you wouldnt tell her anything about us？”
〃yes；〃 said scrubb。 〃and why were you so stiff and unpleasant。 didnt you like them？”
〃them？〃 said the wiggle。 〃whos them？ i only saw one。”
〃didnt you see the knight？〃 asked jill。
〃i saw a suit of armour；〃 said puddleglum。 〃why didnt he speak？”
〃i expect he was shy；〃 said jill。 〃or perhaps he just wants to look at her and listen to her lovely voice。 im sure i would if i was him。”
〃i was wondering；〃 remarked puddleglum； 〃what youd really see if you lifted up the visor