what I say, you will
get on very well. Here, in the first place, is a pair of wall-climbers
to put on your feet."

He held out his claw, on the end of which hung, by a narrow ribbon, two
round little cushions about the size of a macaroon biscuit. Hugh took
them, and examined them curiously. They were soft and elastic, what Hugh
in his own words would have described as "blobby." They seemed to be
made of some stuff like indiarubber, and were just the colour of his
skin.

"What funny things!" said Hugh.

"They are made after the pattern of the fly's wall-climbers," remarked
the raven. "Put them on--tie them on, that is to say, so that they will
be just in the middle of your foot, underneath of course. That's right;
now jump out of bed and follow me," and before Hugh knew what he was
doing he found himself walking with the greatest ease straight up the
wall to where the long flight of steps to the tapestry castle began. On
the lowest steps the raven stopped a moment.

"Shall I take them off now?" asked Hugh. "I don't need them to walk up
steps with."

"Take them off?" said the raven; "oh dear no. When you don't need them
they won't incommode you, and they'll be all ready for the next time.
Besides, though it mayn't seem so to you, these steps are not so easy to
get up as you think. At least they wouldn't be without the
wall-climbers."

_With_ them, however, nothing could have been easier. Hugh found himself
in no time at the top of the flight of steps in front of the door from
which the raven had come out. The peacocks, now he was close to them,
seemed to him larger than ordinary peacocks, but the brilliant colours
of their feathers, which he had noticed in the bright moonlight, had
disappeared. It was light enough for him to distinguish their figures,
but that was all.

"I must leave you now," said the raven; "but you will get on very well.
Only remember these two things--don't be impatient, and don't take off
your wall-climbers; and if you are very much at a loss about anything,
call me."

"How shall I call you?" asked Hugh.

"Whistle softly three times. Now, I think it is time to light up.
Peacocks."

The peacocks, one on each side of the door, came forward solemnly,
saluting the raven with the greatest respect.

"Ring," said the raven, and to Hugh's surprise each peacock lifted up a
claw, and taking hold of a bell-rope, of which there were two, one on
each side of the door, pulled them vigorously. No s