The Mattock
by George MacDonald
Curdie and Lina's Big Escape
Curdie is in a dark, cold room. He is all alone. He wants to go home to his family. He thinks about his mom and dad. He feels a little sad. He does not know what will happen next. It is very dark. He waits. He hopes for help.
Outside, many people come. They want to see Curdie. They make much noise. Then, a very big noise starts. It scares everyone. They run away fast. The noise is gone. All the people run.
A big dog runs into Curdie's room. Her name is Lina. She has bright, yellow eyes. Guards quickly close the door. They lock it. Now Curdie and Lina are together. They are safe inside.
Lina starts to scratch the floor. She scratches very fast. Her paws move the dirt. She shows Curdie a hard rock. It is under the dirt. Lina is a good digger.
Curdie has his tool. It is a mattock. He hits the door lock. He makes the door safe. No one can open it now. He goes to Lina. They are a team. They will work together.
Curdie hits the rock with his mattock. He hits it again and again. The rock is very hard. He works a long time. Now there is a hole. He sees dark water below. He keeps working.
Curdie has a rope. He ties it. He goes down into the hole. Lina waits. Curdie looks around. He finds a small way. It leads to a secret path. This path is new.
Curdie walks along the secret path. It is dark. He feels his way. He finds a strong door. It has metal on it. He thinks he can open it. He will try.
Curdie goes back for Lina. He gets his mattock. He helps Lina go down. She is heavy. Lina goes into the secret path. She is a good helper. They are ready.
Curdie hides the hole in the floor. He uses a cover and some dirt. No one will see it. Then he goes down. He is in the secret path too. They are hidden.
Curdie and Lina walk together. They go to the strong door. They are free from the dark room. They are on their way! Curdie is happy. Lina is happy. They will find new adventures. They are brave.
Original Story
The Mattock
While The magistrate reinvigorated his selfishness with a greedy breakfast, Curdie found doing nothing in the dark rather tiresome work. It was useless attempting to think what he should do next, seeing the circumstances in which he was presently to find himself were altogether unknown to him. So he began to think about his father and mother in their little cottage home, high in the clear air of the open Mountainside, and the thought, instead of making his dungeon gloomier by the contrast, made a light in his soul that destroyed the power of darkness and captivity.
But he was at length startled from his waking dream by a swell in the noise outside. All the time there had been a few of the more idle of the inhabitants about the door, but they had been rather quiet. Now, however, the sounds of feet and voices began to grow, and grew so rapidly that it was plain a multitude was gathering. For the people of Gwyntystorm always gave themselves an hour of pleasure after their second breakfast, and what greater pleasure could they have than to see a stranger abused by the officers of justice?
The noise grew till it was like the roaring of the sea, and that roaring went on a long time, for the magistrate, being a great man, liked to know that he was waited for: it added to the enjoyment of his breakfast, and, indeed, enabled him to eat a little more after he had thought his powers exhausted.
But at length, in the waves of the human noises rose a bigger wave, and by the running and shouting and outcry, Curdie learned that the magistrate was approaching.
Presently came the sound of the great rusty key in the lock, which yielded with groaning reluctance; the door was thrown back, the light rushed in, and with it came the voice of the city marshal, calling upon Curdie, by many legal epithets opprobrious, to come forth and be tried for his life, inasmuch as he had raised a tumult in His Majesty's city of Gwyntystorm, troubled the hearts of the king's baker and barber, and slain the faithful dogs of His Majesty's well-beloved butchers.
He was still reading, and Curdie was still seated in the brown twilight of the vault, not listening, but pondering with himself how this king the city marshal talked of could be the same with the Majesty he had seen ride away on his grand white horse with the Princess Irene on a cushion before him, when a scream of agonized terror arose on the farthest skirt of the crowd, and, swifter than flood or flame, the horror spread shrieking. In a moment the air was filled with hideous howling, cries of unspeakable dismay, and the multitudinous noise of running feet. The next moment, in at the door of the vault bounded Lina, her two green eyes flaming yellow as sunflowers, and seeming to light up the dungeon. With one spring she threw herself at Curdie's feet, and laid her head upon them panting. Then came a rush of two or three soldiers darkening the doorway, but it was only to lay hold of the key, pull the door to, and lock it; so that once more Curdie and Lina were prisoners together.
For a few moments Lina lay panting hard: it is breathless work leaping and roaring both at once, and that in a way to scatter thousands of people. Then she jumped up, and began snuffing about all over the place; and Curdie saw what he had never seen before—two faint spots of light cast from her eyes upon the ground, one on each side of her snuffing nose. He got out his tinder box—a miner is never without one—and lighted a precious bit of candle he carried in a division of it just for a moment, for he must not waste it.
The light revealed a vault without any window or other opening than the door. It was very old and much neglected. The mortar had vanished from between the stones, and it was half filled with a heap of all sorts of rubbish, beaten down in the middle, but looser at the sides; it sloped from the door to the foot of the opposite wall: evidently for a long time the vault had been left open, and every sort of refuse thrown into it. A single minute served for the survey, so little was there to note.
Meantime, down in the angle between the back wall and the base of the heap Lina was scratching furiously with all the eighteen great strong claws of her mighty feet.
'Ah, ha!' said Curdie to himself, catching sight of her, 'if only they will leave us long enough to ourselves!'
With that he ran to the door, to see if there was any fastening on the inside. There was none: in all its long history it never had had one. But a few blows of the right sort, now from the one, now from the other end of his mattock, were as good as any bolt, for they so ruined the lock that no key could ever turn in it again. Those who heard them fancied he was trying to get out, and laughed spitefully. As soon as he had done, he extinguished his candle, and went down to Lina.
She had reached the hard rock which formed the floor of the dungeon, and was now clearing away the earth a little wider. Presently she looked up in his face and whined, as much as to say, 'My paws are not hard enough to get any farther.'
'Then get out of my way, Lina,' said Curdie, and mind you keep your eyes shining, for fear I should hit you.'
So saying, he heaved his mattock, and assailed with the hammer end of it the spot she had cleared.
The rock was very hard, but when it did break it broke in good-sized pieces. Now with hammer, now with pick, he worked till he was weary, then rested, and then set to again. He could not tell how the day went, as he had no light but the lamping of Lina's eyes. The darkness hampered him greatly, for he would not let Lina come close enough to give him all the light she could, lest he should strike her. So he had, every now and then, to feel with his hands to know how he was getting on, and to discover in what direction to strike: the exact spot was a mere imagination.
He was getting very tired and hungry, and beginning to lose heart a little, when out of the ground, as if he had struck a spring of it, burst a dull, gleamy, lead-coloured light, and the next moment he heard a hollow splash and echo. A piece of rock had fallen out of the floor, and dropped into water beneath. Already Lina, who had been lying a few yards off all the time he worked, was on her feet and peering through the hole. Curdie got down on his hands and knees, and looked. They were over what seemed a natural cave in the rock, to which apparently the river had access, for, at a great distance below, a faint light was gleaming upon water. If they could but reach it, they might get out; but even if it was deep enough, the height was very dangerous. The first thing, whatever might follow, was to make the hole larger. It was comparatively easy to break away the sides of it, and in the course of another hour he had it large enough to get through.
And now he must reconnoitre. He took the rope they had tied him with—for Curdie's hindrances were always his furtherance—and fastened one end of it by a slipknot round the handle of his pickaxes then dropped the other end through, and laid the pickaxe so that, when he was through himself, and hanging on the edge, he could place it across the hole to support him on the rope. This done, he took the rope in his hands, and, beginning to descend, found himself in a narrow cleft widening into a cave. His rope was not very long, and would not do much to lessen the force of his fall—he thought to himself—if he should have to drop into the water; but he was not more than a couple of yards below the dungeon when he spied an opening on the opposite side of the cleft: it might be but a shadow hole, or it might lead them out. He dropped himself a little below its level, gave the rope a swing by pushing his feet against the side of the cleft, and so penduled himself into it. Then he laid a stone on the end of the rope that it should not forsake him, called to Lina, whose yellow eyes were gleaming over the mattock grating above, to watch there till he returned, and went cautiously in. It proved a passage, level for some distance, then sloping gently up. He advanced carefully, feeling his way as he went. At length he was stopped by a door—a small door, studded with iron. But the wood was in places so much decayed that some of the bolts had dropped out, and he felt sure of being able to open it. He returned, therefore, to fetch Lina and his mattock. Arrived at the cleft, his strong miner arms bore him swiftly up along the rope and through the hole into the dungeon. There he undid the rope from his mattock, and making Lina take the end of it in her teeth, and get through the hole, he lowered her—it was all he could do, she was so heavy. When she came opposite the passage, with a slight push of her tail she shot herself into it, and let go the rope, which Curdie drew up.
Then he lighted his candle and searching in the rubbish found a bit of iron to take the place of his pickaxe across the hole. Then he searched again in the rubbish, and found half an old shutter. This he propped up leaning a little over the hole, with a bit of stick, and heaped against the back of it a quantity of the loosened earth. Next he tied his mattock to the end of the rope, dropped it, and let it hang. Last, he got through the hole himself, and pulled away the propping stick, so that the shutter fell over the hole with a quantity of earth on the top of it. A few motions of hand over hand, and he swung himself and his mattock into the passage beside Lina.
There he secured the end of the rope, and they went on together to the door.
Characters
Curdie ★ protagonist
Lean and strong, with the sturdy build of a miner accustomed to hard physical labor. His hands are calloused and powerful, capable of wielding heavy tools with precision. His height is average, but his posture suggests resilience and determination.
Attire: Simple, durable miner's clothing, likely consisting of sturdy trousers and a tunic made of rough, practical fabric like wool or thick linen, possibly in muted earth tones. He would wear strong, well-worn boots suitable for navigating mines and rough terrain.
Wants: To escape captivity and return to his family, and to understand the mysteries around him.
Flaw: Can become weary and lose heart when faced with prolonged, difficult tasks without progress, though he quickly regains his resolve.
He demonstrates his resourcefulness and courage by escaping a seemingly inescapable prison, reaffirming his inner strength and independence.
Resourceful, determined, patient, observant, and resilient. He doesn't panic under pressure and methodically works through problems.
Lina ◆ supporting
A powerful, large creature, possibly resembling a large dog or wolf, but with distinct magical properties. Her movements are swift and agile, capable of scattering thousands of people. She possesses eighteen great, strong claws on her mighty feet.
Attire: None, as she is an animal.
Wants: To protect and assist Curdie, her companion.
Flaw: Her paws are not hard enough to break through solid rock, requiring Curdie's intervention.
Serves as a catalyst for Curdie's escape and a vital helper, demonstrating her unwavering loyalty and unique abilities.
Loyal, protective, intelligent, and fiercely powerful. She is a devoted companion and an effective helper.
The Magistrate ⚔ antagonist
A man of significant girth, indicating a life of indulgence and comfort. His build is heavy, suggesting a sedentary lifestyle rather than physical activity.
Attire: Rich, heavy robes or formal attire befitting a high-ranking city official of the era, possibly in dark, opulent colors like deep burgundy or forest green, made of velvet or brocade. He would wear a powdered wig if appropriate for the period, and possibly a large, ornate signet ring.
Wants: To maintain his power and status, to indulge in his own pleasures, and to assert his authority over others.
Flaw: His arrogance and self-indulgence make him slow to react to unexpected events and blind to true threats.
Remains unchanged, representing the corrupt authority that Curdie must overcome.
Selfish, greedy, arrogant, sadistic (enjoys others' suffering), and self-important. He delights in making others wait and asserting his power.
The City Marshal ○ minor
Likely a man of average build, but with an air of officialdom. He would be well-groomed and presentable, reflecting his position as a law enforcer.
Attire: A uniform or official attire appropriate for a city marshal of the period, possibly a dark coat with brass buttons, a tricorn hat, and sturdy boots. He would carry a staff or a scroll as symbols of his office.
Wants: To carry out his duties as a law enforcer and serve the Magistrate and King.
Flaw: Bound by the letter of the law and the authority of his superiors, lacking independent thought or compassion.
Remains a static figure of authority, representing the system Curdie is escaping.
Strict, dutiful, and perhaps a bit officious. He adheres to legal procedures and takes his role seriously.
Locations
The Vault/Dungeon
An old, neglected stone vault without windows, half-filled with a heap of refuse and rubbish. The mortar has vanished between the stones, and the floor is hard rock. It is dark, illuminated only by Lina's glowing eyes or a brief candle.
Mood: Confining, oppressive, initially hopeless, then determined and industrious
Curdie is imprisoned here, then with Lina, he begins to dig his way out using his mattock, eventually breaking through the rock floor.
Narrow Cleft leading to Cave
A narrow, vertical rock cleft widening into a natural cave. It is dark and damp, with water gleaming far below, suggesting access to a river. The rock walls are uneven and provide handholds.
Mood: Treacherous, mysterious, a path to potential freedom or further danger
Curdie descends into this cleft after breaking through the dungeon floor, using a rope to navigate the dangerous drop and discover a new passage.
Secret Underground Passage
A level passage carved through rock, eventually sloping gently upwards. It is dark and enclosed, leading to a small, iron-studded wooden door with decayed wood and missing bolts.
Mood: Anticipatory, secretive, a hidden route
Curdie explores this passage, finding a door that he believes he can open, indicating a potential exit or further discovery.
Story DNA
Plot Summary
Curdie is unjustly imprisoned in a dark vault, awaiting trial. A sudden panic outside causes his magical companion, Lina, to burst into his cell, and they are locked in together. Lina's glowing eyes guide Curdie to a weak spot in the floor, which he breaks through with his mattock, revealing a hidden cave and a secret passage. Using his rope and tool, Curdie explores the passage, finds an exit door, and then orchestrates a clever escape for himself and Lina, concealing their tracks, as they make their way to freedom.
Themes
Emotional Arc
captivity to freedom
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
George MacDonald's works often blend Christian allegory with traditional fairy tale elements, emphasizing inner strength and spiritual journeys. This particular excerpt focuses on practical ingenuity and escape.
Plot Beats (11)
- Curdie is imprisoned in a dark vault, reflecting on his family and the unknown future.
- A large crowd gathers outside, eager to witness his trial, but their anticipation is cut short by a sudden, widespread panic.
- Lina, a creature with glowing eyes, bursts into Curdie's vault, and the soldiers lock the door, trapping them inside.
- Lina begins to frantically scratch at the floor of the vault, revealing a hard rock surface beneath the rubbish.
- Curdie secures the dungeon door by damaging its lock with his mattock, then joins Lina.
- Curdie uses his mattock to break through the hard rock floor, eventually creating a hole that reveals a deep, water-filled cave below.
- Curdie uses his rope and mattock to descend into the cave, discovering a narrow cleft that leads to a hidden passage.
- Curdie explores the passage, finding a small, iron-studded door at its end, which he believes he can open.
- Curdie returns to the dungeon, retrieves Lina and his mattock, and lowers Lina into the passage.
- Curdie cleverly conceals the hole in the dungeon floor with a shutter and earth, then descends into the passage himself.
- Curdie and Lina proceed together towards the door at the end of the passage, now free from their captivity.
