'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 everything 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