Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno Concluded.djvu/429

XXIV] "Blankets now!" cried the Professor. "This is a most interesting Experiment!" There happened to be a pile of blankets close by: and the Professor had hardly said the word, when they were all unfolded and held up like curtains all around. The Professor rapidly arranged them in two rows, so as to make a dark passage, leading straight from the door to the mouth of the cage. "Now fling the door open!" This did not need to be done: the three men had only to leap out of the way, and the fearful monster flung the door open for itself, and, with a yell like the whistle of a steam-engine, rushed into the cage. "Down with the portcullis!" No sooner said than done: and all breathed freely once more, on seeing the Porcupine safely caged. The Professor rubbed his hands in childish delight. "The Experiment has succeeded!" he proclaimed. "All that is needed now is to feed it three times a day, on chopped carrots and" "Never mind about its food, just now!" the Emperor interrupted. "Let us return to