`No use, no use!' said the King. `She runs so fearfully quick. You might as well try to catch a Bandersnatch! But I'll make a memorandum about her, if you like -- She's a dear good creature,' he repeated softly to himself, as he opened his memorandum-book. `Do you spell "creature" with a double "e"?'

At this moment the Unicorn sauntered by them, with his hands in his pockets. `I had the best of it this time!' he said to the King, just glancing at him as he passed.

`A little -- a little,' the King replied, rather nervously. `You shouldn't have run him through with your horn, you know.'

`It didn't hurt him,' the Unicorn said carelessly, and he was going on, when his eye happened to fall upon Alice: he turned round instantly, and stood for some time looking at her with an air of the deepest disgust.

`What -- is -- this?' he said at last.

`This is a child!' Haigha replied eagerly, coming in front of Alice to introduce her, and spreading out both his hands towards her in an Anglo-Saxon attitude. `We only found it to-day. It's as large as life, and twice as natural!'

`I always thought they were fabulous monsters!' said the Unicorn. `Is it alive?'

`It can talk,' said Haigha solemnly.

The Unicorn looked dreamily at Alice, and said `Talk, child.'

Alice could not help her lips curling up into a smile as she began: `Do you know, I always thought Unicorns were fabulous monsters, too? I never saw one alive before!'

`Well, now that we have seen each other,' said the Unicorn, `if you'll believe in me, I'll believe in you. Is that a bargain?'

`Yes, if you like,' said Alice.

`Come, fetch out the plum-cake, old man!' the Unicorn went on, turning from her to the King. `None of your brown bread for me!'

`Certainly -- certainly!' the King muttered, and beckoned to Haigha. `Open the bag!' he whispered. `Quick! Not that one -- that's full of hay!'

Haigha took a large cake out of the bag, and gave it to Alice to hold, while he got out a dish and carving- knife. How they all came out of it Alice couldn't guess. It was just like a conjuring trick, she thought.

The Lion had joined them while this was going on: he looked very tired and sleepy, and his eyes were half shut. `What's this!' he said, blinking lazily at Alice, and speaking in a deep hollow tone that sounded like the tolling of a great bell.

`Ah, what is it, now?' the Unicorn cried eagerly. `You'll never guess! I couldn't.'

The Lion looked at Alice wearily. `Are you animal -- or vegetable -- or mineral?' he said, yawning at every other word.

`It's a fabulous monster!' the Unicorn cried out, before Alice could reply.

`Then hand round the plum-cake, Monster,' the Lion said, lying down and putting his chin on his paws. `And sit down, both of you,' (to the King and the Unicorn): `fair play with the cake, you know!'