feet, these managed rather better than the foot soldiers; but even they stumbled now and then; and it seemed to be a regular rule that whenever a horse stumbled the rider fell off instantly. The confusion got worse every moment, and Alice was very glad to get out of the wood into an open place, where she found the White King seated on the ground, busily writing in his memorandum-book.
"I've sent them all!" the King cried, in a tone of delight, on seeing Alice. "Did you happen to meet any soldiers, my dear, as you came through the wood?"
"Yes, I did," said Alice; "several thousand, I should think."
"Four thousand two hundred and seven; that's the exact number," the King said, referring to his book. "I couldn't send all the horses, you know, because two of them are wanted in the game. And I haven't sent the two
