Алиса в зазеркалье
It’s my own Invention
Alicelookedfromonetotheotherinsomebewilderment.
‘She’smyprisoner,youknow!’theRedKnightsaidatlast.
‘Yes,butthenIcameandrescuedher!’theWhiteKnightreplied.
‘Well,wemustfightforher,then,’saidtheRedKnight,ashetookuphishelmet(whichhungfromthesaddle,andwassomethingtheshapeofahorse’shead),andputiton.
‘YouwillobservetheRulesofBattle,ofcourse?’theWhiteKnightremarked,puttingonhishelmettoo.
‘Ialwaysdo,’saidtheRedKnight,andtheybeganbangingawayateachotherwithsuchfurythatAlicegotbehindatreetobeoutofthewayoftheblows.
‘Iwonder,now,whattheRulesofBattleare,’shesaidtoherself,asshewatchedthefight,timidlypeepingoutfromherhiding-place:‘oneRuleseemstobe,thatifoneKnighthitstheother,heknockshimoffhishorse,andifhemisses,hetumblesoffhimself—andanotherRuleseemstobethattheyholdtheirclubswiththeirarms,asiftheywerePunchandJudy—Whatanoisetheymakewhentheytumble!Justlikeawholesetoffire-ironsfallingintothefender!Andhowquietthehorsesare!Theyletthemgetonandoffthemjustasiftheyweretables!’
AnotherRuleofBattle,thatAlicehadnotnoticed,seemedtobethattheyalwaysfellontheirheads,andthebattleendedwiththeirbothfallingoffinthisway,sidebyside:whentheygotupagain,theyshookhands,andthentheRedKnightmountedandgallopedoff.
‘Itwasagloriousvictory,wasn’tit?’saidtheWhiteKnight,ashecameuppanting.
