`Very well,' the other said, rather sadly: `and she can watch us--only you'd better not come very close,' he added: `I generally hit every thing I can see--when I get really excited.'

`And I hit everything within reach,' cried Tweedledum, `whether I can see it or not!'

Alice laughed. `You must hit the trees pretty often, I should think,' she said.

Tweedledum looked round him with a satisfied smile. `I don't suppose,' he said, `there'll be a tree left standing, for ever so far round, by the time we've finished!'

`And all about a rattle!' said Alice, still hoping to make them a little ashamed of fighting for such a trifle.

`I shouldn't have minded it so much,' said Tweedledum, `if it hadn't been a new one.'

`I wish the monstrous crow would come!' thought Alice.

`There's only one sword, you know,' Tweedledum said to his brother: `but you can have the umbrella -- it's quite as sharp. Only we must begin quick. It's getting as dark as it can.'

`And darker,' said Tweedledee.

It was getting dark so suddenly that Alice thought there must be a thunderstorm coming on. `What a thick black cloud that is!' she said. `And how fast it comes! Why, I do believe it's got wings!'

`It's the crow!' Tweedledum cried out in a shrill voice of alarm; and the two brothers took to their heels and were out of sight in a moment.

Alice ran a little way into the wood, and stopped under a large tree. `It can never get at me here,' she thought: `it's far too large to squeeze itself in among the trees. But I wish it wouldn't flap its wings so -- it makes quite a hurricane in the wood -- here's somebody's shawl being blown away!'