Even the Giant himself could hardly keep his legs against it ; then he tossed Jaqueline up , and the airy whirlpool seized her and carried her , as if on a tide of water , always round and round in narrowing circles , till she was sucked down into the hollow hill . Even as she went , she seemed to remember the hill , as if she had dreamed about it , and the shape and colour of the country . But presently she sank softly on to a couch , in a beautifully-lighted rocky hall . All around her the floor was of white and red marble , but on one side it seemed to end in black nothing . Jaqueline , after a few moments , recovered her senses fully , and changing herself into an eagle , tried to fly up and out . But as soon as she was in the funnel , the whirlpool of air always sucking down and down , was too strong for her wings . She was a prisoner in this great gleaming hall , ending in black nothingness . So she resumed her usual form , and walking to the edge of the darkness , found that it was not empty air , but something black , soft , and strong -- something living . It had no form or shape , or none that she could make out ; but it pulsed with a heart . Jaqueline placed her foot on this curious thing , when a voice came , like thunder heard through a feather-bed : `` Not near time to get up yet ! '' and then there was a snore , and the great hall rocked like a ship at sea . It was the Earthquaker ! The habits of this monstrous animal are very little known , as , of course , he never comes above ground , or at least very seldom , when he makes tracks like a dry river-bed across country . We are certain that there are Earthquakers , otherwise how can we account for earthquakes ? But how to tackle an Earthquaker , how to get at him , and what to do with him when you have got at him , are questions which might puzzle even King Prigio . It was not easy to have the better of an enchantress like Jaqueline and a prince like Ricardo . In no ordinary circumstances could they have been baffled and defeated ; but now it must be admitted that they were in a very trying and alarming situation , especially the princess . The worst of it was , that as Jaqueline sat and thought and thought , she began to remember that she was back in her own country . The hills were those she used to see from her father 's palace windows when she was a child . And she remembered with horror that once a year her people used to send a beautiful girl to the Earthquaker , by way of keeping him quiet , as you shall hear presently .
And now she XXXXX light footsteps and a sound of weeping , and lo !
came ending funnel get got heard narrowing puzzle sucked thought