¡¶The Horse and His Boy¡·


 CHAPTER ONE

    A SEt OUt ON RAVELS  tory of an adventure t er ers were King and Queens under him.

    In ttle creek of ta. On most days Ars out in  to fisernoon o a cart and loaded  t  a mile or so souto to sell it. If it ely good temper and say noto Sa, but if it

    o find fault a y of o do, mending and tage in wh lived.

    Sa  at all interested in anyt lay souto t teresting t ot like  y robes, and  toe, and turbans  on talking to one anot t sounded  dull. But erested in everyt lay to t t ting out of doors  mending ts, and all alone, en look eagerly to t a grassy slope running up to a level ridge and beyond t t.

    Sometimes if Arsa ;O my Fat is  t ; And temper as ears and tell o attend to ;O my son, do not alloo be distracted by idle questions. For one of ts ion to business is t of prosperity, but tions t do not concern teering tohe rock of  indigence.¡±

    Sa t t beyond t be some delig   knoo tical mind.

    One day tranger   projected from turban and  of car, a round sudded

    t surprise Sa  because all t;  Arsrangers bare arm t arkaan or great lord, and ill ouco Sa to kneel  also.

    tranger demanded ality for t  t before tarkaan for supper (and  t) and Sa, as al of ttage. On t s little tcable. But it o go  to sleep yet, and Sa,  is o listen be  doo a crack in ttage to  talking about. And t he heard.

    quot;And no; said tarkaan, quot;I o buy t boy of  yours.¡±

    quot;O my master,quot; replied ta kneone  t o ), quot;, poor to sell into slavery  one of ts said, `Natural affection is stronger t;  quot;It is even so,quot; replied t dryly. quot;But anot ;tempts to deceive t; Do not load your aged moutly no son of  yours, for your c te like t beautiful barbarians e North.¡±

    quot; ; ans;t S  off  t, t because of my extreme poverty I  in t same year in  reign, on a nig  pleased  to deprive me of my sleep. t forto to refreser and tly I o me across ter  and t

    er, tide brougo ttle  boat in reme  s before (for ill y er- skin, and a cill living. quot;Doubtless,quot; said I, quot;tunates  s by tarved o keep t of land.quot; Accordingly,  remembering o reitute, and being  moved by compassion (for your servant is a man of tender ) -¡±

    quot;Leave out all t; interrupted tarkaan. quot;It is enougo kno you took ten times t of ell me at once  on y.¡±

    quot;You yourself ; ans to me of inestimable value. t be taken into account in fixing t undoubtedly eito do his work.¡±

    quot;Ill give you fifteen crescents for ; said tarkaan.

    quot;Fifteen!quot; cried Ars ween a whine and  a scream.

    quot;Fifteen! For t of my eyes! Do not  mock my grey beard, tarkaan ty.¡±

    At t Sa got up and tiptoed aain t Arseen crescents and mucy, but t arkaan  ake ting to an agreement.

    You must not imagine t Sa felt at all as you and I alking about selling us for slaves. For one ttle better tranger on  t  be kinder to ory about  ement and en been uneasy because, try as , o love t a boy ougo love ly, ion to Ars all. t took a great ; . quot;I migarkaan myself - or tisroc  (may he live for ever) or of a god!¡±

    anding out in ttage hings.

    t, but t could still be seen in t. Not far arangers ied to an iron ring in table, rolled  over to it and patted its neck. It  on tearing up took no notice of him.

    t came into Sas mind. quot;I  of a man  t tarkaan is,quot;  loud. quot;It o noto do. t  meat every day.

    Perake me to ttle and t me free and adopt me as  and a suit of  armour. But t be a  send me to  tell me.¡±

    ted its a stroked its smootin nose and  said, quot;I wisalk, old fellow.¡±

    And t e distinctly,  t;But I can.¡±

    Sa stared into its great eyes and  as big, onis.

    quot;o talk?quot; he asked.

    quot; so loud,quot; replied t;alk.¡±

    quot;?quot; asked Sa.

    quot;Narnia,quot; ans;tains and ts ringing  air of Narnia! An ter t; It ended  sounded very like a sigh.

    quot; ; said Sa.

    quot;Kidnapped,quot; said t;Or stolen, or captured . I  time. My mot to range to Arc I  o rue  nature and pretending to be dumb and less like their horses.¡±

    quot; you tell them who you were?¡±

    quot;Not sucs alk t fairs and guarded me more carefully t chance  of escape would have been gone.¡±

    quot;And  terrupted him.

    quot;No; it said, quot;nt e time on idle questions. You  to  kno my master tarkaan Anradin. ell,  too bad to me, for a oo muco be treated very badly. But youd better be lying dead tonigo be a omorrow.¡±

    quot;tter run a; said Sa, turning very pale.

    quot;Yes, you ; said t;But h me?¡±

    quot;Are you going to run aoo?quot; said Sa.

    quot;Yes, if youll come ; ans;th of us.

    You see if I run a a rider, everyone ray  ; and be after me as quick as o get ts  very far on taken. But on me you can outdistance any otry. ts wo ride?¡±

    quot;O; said Sa. quot;At least, Ive ridden the donkey.¡±

    quot;Ridden t?quot; retorted treme contempt. (At least,  t is ually it came out in a sort of neig;Ridden t; talking  whey are angry.)

    quot;In ot; it continued, quot;you cant ride. ts a draeac ride, can you fall?¡±

    quot;I suppose anyone can fall,quot; said Sa.

    quot;1 mean can you fall and get up again  crying and mount again and  fall again and yet not be afraid of falling?¡±

    quot;I - Ill try,quot; said Sa. quot;Poor little beast,quot; said tler tone. quot;I forget youre only a foal. ell make a fine rider of you in time. And nont start until t are asleep. Meantime arkaan  is on o t city, to tasself and t of tisroc  -¡±

    quot;I say,quot; put in Sa in rat;oug you to say `May  he live for ever?¡±

    quot;; asked t;Im a free Narnian. And alk? I dont  o live for ever, and I kno  going to  live for ever . And I can see youre from too.  No more of to our plans. As I  said, my o tashbaan.¡±

    quot;Does t mean ter go to th?¡±

    quot;I t,quot; said t;You see, less  like  I got loose Id go back o my  stable and paddock; back to s  village wo olen me.¡±

    quot;O; said Sa. quot;to go to  th all my life.¡±

    quot;Of course you ; said t;ts because of ts  in you. Im sure youre true Nortock. But not too loud. I sheyd be  asleep soon now.¡±

    quot;Id better creep back and see,quot; suggested Sa.

    quot;ts a good idea,quot; said t;But take care youre not caught.¡±

    It  except for ta iced because  day and  nigtage, as , s.  ened at t t round to ter a second or the old  fishermans squeaky snore.

    It o t if all  le bit sorry, but muca glided a to table, groped along to a place .  for;Im sorry  take you,quot; he said.

    quot;t last,quot; said t back to it. quot;I o wonder w had become of you.¡±

    quot;I ting your t of table,quot; replied Sa. quot;And noell me o put them on?¡±

    For t fees Sa  iously to avoid  jingling,  t girt tig; or quot;Youll find a  buckle lower down,¡±

    or quot;Youll need to sen tirrups a good bit.quot;  said:  quot;No to  you  be  using tie to t I can do  to touchem.¡±

    quot; are t; asked Sa.

    quot;Ordinarily ting me,quot; replied t;But as I intend  to do all ting on to yourself. And  t going to have you grabbing my mane.¡±

    quot;But I say,quot; pleaded Sa. quot;If Im not to  am I to hold on by?¡±

    quot;You ; said t;ts t of good  riding. Grip my body betraigraig did you do he spurs?¡±

    quot;Put t; said Sa. quot;I do kno much.¡±

    quot;take t to sell t to tas up.¡±

    quot;Oo,quot; gasped Sa after , and  unsuccessful, attempt.

    quot;Im a s all,quot; ;Anyone ack from trying to climb up me! ts better. No up and  remember old you about your knees. Funny to tato-sack like you in t; It  c unkindly.

    And it certainly began t journey  caution. First of all  it  just souttage to ttle river ook care to leave in ting Sout as soon as  t turned upstream and ill t a  tage. t selected a nice gravelly bit of  bank prints and came out on till at a

    Nortill ttage, tree, table, and t, t Sa  of sig darkness. t top  of t ridge  it  looked  endless: wild and lonely and free.

    quot;I say!quot; observed t; a place for a gallop, eh!¡±

    quot;O lets,quot; said Sa. quot;Not yet. I dont know o - please,   know your name.¡±

    quot;Bree; said the horse.

    quot;Ill never be able to say t,quot; said Sa. quot;Can I call you Bree?¡±

    quot;ell, if its t you can do, I suppose you must,quot; said t;And w shall I call you?¡±

    quot;Im called Sa.¡±

    quot;; said Bree. quot;ell, nos really o  pronounce. But no ts a good deal easier trotting if you only kne o rise and fall. Grip raig look at to fall just grip   up straigh.¡±

 CHAPTER TWO

    A AYSIDE ADVENtURE  It a  moving over aring  into ts nose and lips  toucing events of t and sat up. But as he did so he groaned.

    quot;O; ;Im so sore. All over. I can hardly move.¡±

    quot;Good morning, small one,quot; said Bree. quot;I iff. It cant be t   springy turf t must  a pleasure to fall on. And t  migy  gorse buss tself t comes   first.

    about breakfast? Ive had mine.¡±

    quot;O. Bot; said Sa. quot;I tell you I cant  move.quot; But t s nose and paill o get up.

    And t tle copse.

    Before turf, dotted e floo t t, lay ta  from suc and never seen so muc before,  nor dreamed   stretcer  ts you could see te foam running up t making no noise because it  s   t il at last  t. For of course, neittage nor among ts, had he ever  been away from

    t smell in   for a moment about ;I say, Bree, didnt you say somet breakfast?¡±

    quot;Yes, I did,quot; ans;I t tree w nigher.¡±

    tigated ts y, only sligale, a lump of dried figs and anottle flask of  forty crescents in all, wa  had ever seen.

    a sat doiously -  a  tree and started on ty, Bree o keep him company.

    quot;ont it be stealing to use t; asked Sa.

    quot;O; said ts mout;I never  t of t. A free alking nt steal, of course. But I ts  all rigives in enemy country. t money is booty, spoil.  Besides, o get any food for you  it? I suppose, like all  eat natural food like grass and oats.¡±

    quot;I cant.¡±

    quot;Ever tried?¡±

    quot;Yes, I  get it do all. You couldnt either if you were  me.¡±

    quot;Youre rum little creatures, you ; remarked Bree.

    a  (;I t on t saddle  again.quot; And o do so. quot;ts good. ts very good,quot; urf and ;You ougo oo, Sa,quot;  ed. quot;Its most refreshing.¡±

    But Sa burst out laug;You do look funny when youre on  your back!¡±

    quot;I look not,quot; said Bree. But t Sa, blotle.

    quot;Does it really look funny?quot; he asked in an anxious voice.

    quot;Yes, it does,quot; replied Sa. quot;But  matter?¡±

    quot;You dont t; said Bree, quot;t it migalking  rick Ive learned from t o find, o Narnia, t Ive picked up a lot of loa? ly, no spare my feelings. Salking kind - do roll?¡±

    quot; t it if I  to get t. Do you knohe way?¡±

    quot;I knoo taser t comes t. O some of tains t!

    to Narnia and top us t Id be glad to be  past tashbaan.

    You and I are safer aies.¡±

    quot;Cant ?¡±

    quot;Not  going along  ake us into cultivated  land and main roads; and I  kno o creep along  t. Up  not ss and gulls and a  fe starting?¡±

    Sas legs acerribly as o t to  at a soft pace all afternoon. racks into a valley and found a village. Before t  into it Sa dismounted and entered it on foot to buy a loaf and some onions and  radisrotted round by t Sa at t.

    t days for Sa, and every day better t as en. Even at training Bree still  said  like a bag of flour in t;And even if it ; But in spite of ient teaceaca learned to trot, to canter,  to jump, and to keep  even o  t or t -  any  moment in a battle. And ta begged to be told of ttles and ell of forced marc rivers, of cs betallions, trained to bite and  kick, and to rear at t moment so t t as  in troke of stleaxe. But Bree did not  to  talk about ten as Sa ed to  t;Dont speak of ter,quot; ;tisrocs  as a free alking about. Narnia and th! Bra- ha-ha! Broo hoo!¡±

    Sa soon learned, , to prepare for a  gallop.

    After travelled on for  more bays and  a could remember, t nigarted t evening,  during t t about .

    t tance on t. t an imes trotting and sometimes walking,  wopped.

    quot;s up?quot; said Sa.

    quot;S-s-ss; said Bree, craning c;Did  you en.¡±

    quot;It sounds like anot; said Sa after  ened for about a minute.

    quot;It is anot; said Bree. quot;And ts  like.¡±

    quot;Isnt it probably just a farmer riding e?quot; said Sa h a  yawn.

    quot;Dont tell me!quot; said Bree. quot;ts not a farmers riding. Nor a farmers   you tell by ts quality, t s being ridden  by a real ell you  is, Sa. tarkaan under t wood.

    Not on s too lig. On a fine blood mare, I  should say.¡±

    quot;ell, its stopped no is,quot; said Sa.

    quot;Youre rig; said Bree. quot;And   last.¡±

    quot; s; said Sa in a lohink he can see us as well as hear us?¡±

    quot;Not in t so long as ay quite still,quot; ans;But  look! t till t gets over t off  to our rigly as o t comes to t.¡±

    ted till t at a er a gentle trot, made for the shore.

    t  first and soon t gre as Sa o ;e must be nearly at those  sandhills by

    no;  leaped into  of tterly  savage. Instantly Bree s as he could  gallop.

    quot; is it?quot; gasped Sa.

    quot;Lions!quot; said Bree,  curning his head.

    After t t sime. At last  tream and Bree came to a stop on ta noticed t rembling and sing all over.

    quot;t er may e off our scent,quot; panted Bree  ;e can  now.¡±

    As t;Sa, Im as as  frig feel like a talking   all. I dont mind s I cant bear - tures.  I trot for a bit.¡±

    About a minute later, o a gallop again, and no  again, time on t from tion of t.

    quot;t; moaned Bree.

    es  any furta said, quot;I say! t otones throw away.¡±

    quot;All tter,quot; panted Bree. quot;tarkaan on it -  us all.¡±

    quot;But, Bree!quot; said Sa. quot;e mig as well be killed by lions as  caug.

    tealing.quot; ened of lions  t a lion; Bree had.

    Bree only snorted in ans o . Oddly  enougo be so t, so t in a fe as soon as it did so tely after one anot and t, togetly, did tes on eaco be keeping up  e easily. t,  astonis, s as if it o neck and knee to knee just as if ter a finer race had never been seen in Calormen.

    Sa noo

    time (one sometimes does t t frigs) iced everyt tly. he had no beard.

    Somet and s before ta ime even to guess   splas er. t of ter o  Sas knees.

    ta sa,  serrible sers edge; but only one. quot;e must  ; .

    tly did not ts prey ting; at any rate it  made no attempt to take ter in pursuit. to te sarkaan  yet spoken a ;But ; t Sa. quot;As soon as o say? I must begin t a story.¡±

    t his side.

    quot;Oired,quot; said t;ongue,  be a  fool,quot; said ther.

    quot;Im dreaming,quot; t Sa. quot;I could  other horse  spoke.¡±

    Soon t   sound of er running off tails and  crunc  on t. tarkaan, to  Sas surprise, so ask questions.  even look at Sa but seemed  anxious to urge raig once sher horses way.

    quot;Broo-; ed. quot;Steady tending, Maam. 1 alking  like me.¡±

    quot;s it got to do ; said trange rider fiercely,  laying . But told  Sa something.

    quot;s only a girl!quot; he exclaimed.

    quot;And  of yours if I am only a girl?quot; snapped tranger. quot;Youre probably only a boy: a rude, common little boy - a slave probably, wolen ers horse.¡±

    quot;ts all you kno; said Sa.

    quot; a ttle tark; said Bree. quot;At least, if tealing, you mig as ole s not being my business,  you  expect me to pass a lady of my orange country   speaking to her?

    Its only natural I should.¡±

    quot;I ts very natural too,quot; said the mare.

    quot;I ;Look at trouble  youve got us into.¡±

    quot;I dont kno trouble,quot; said Sa. quot;You can clear off as soon as  you like. e s keep you.¡±

    quot;No, you s,quot; said the girl.

    quot; quarrelsome creatures t; said Bree to t;ts try to talk a little sense. I take it, maam, your story is  the same as mine?

    Captured in early youthe Calormenes?¡±

    quot;too true, sir,quot; said th a melancholy whinny.

    quot;And now, perhaps - escape?¡±

    quot;tell o mind ; said the girl.

    quot;No, I , Aravis,quot; said tting ;t as muc going to  betray us. e are trying to escape, to get to Narnia.¡±

    quot;And so, of course, are ; said Bree. quot;Of course you guessed t at  once. A little boy in rags riding (or trying to ride) a  an escape of some sort. And, if I may say so, a ark nigo mind  tions - s not fishy, call me a  cob!¡±

    quot;All rig; said Aravis. quot;Youve guessed it. rying to get to Narnia. And no it?¡±

    quot; case, o prevent us all going toget; said Bree.  quot;I trust, Madam  sucance and protection as I may be able to  give you on the journey?¡±

    quot;alking to my ead of to me?quot; asked the girl.

    quot;Excuse me, tark; said Bree ( test backilt of  ;but ts Calormene talk. ere free Narnians, o Narnia, you  to be one too. In t case  your horse  any longer.

    One mig as well say youre her human.¡±

    to speak and topped. Obviously s  quite seen it in t light before.

    quot;Still,quot; ser a moments pause, quot;I dont kno t in all going toget o be noticed?¡±

    quot;Less,quot; said Bree; and t;Os. I sable.

    ere not even certain of t chan we do.¡±

    quot;O; said Sa, quot;and let t you  see t  us?¡±

    quot;e do,quot; said hwin.

    quot;Look ; said t;I dont mind going

    t a spy?¡±

    quot; you say at once t you t good enoug;  said Sa.

    quot;Be quiet, Sa,quot; said Bree. quot;tarkion is quite  reasonable. Ill voucarkrue to me and a good friend. And ainly either a Narnian or an Archenlander.¡±

    quot;All rigs go toget; But s say anyto Sa  and it  sed Bree, not him.

    quot;Splendid!quot; said Bree. quot;And no  ter bet about you two aking off our saddles and our all   and ories.¡±

    Bottle grass  and Aravis produced rato eat from  Sa sulked  and said No t  ried to put on iff manners, but as a fis is not usually a good place for  learning grand

    manners, t   a success  and ting on splendidly. t;t; and found t t of second cousins once  removed. table for til at last Bree  said, quot;And noarkell us your story. And dont  - Im feeling  comfortable now.¡±

    Aravis immediately began, sitting quite still and using a rat  tone and style from ory-telling (rue or made up) is a taug as Englisauging. t people  to ories, o read the essays.

 CHAPTER THREE

    At tES OF tAS;Mr name,quot; said t once, quot;is Aravis tarker of Kidrasarkaan, ti tarkaan, tarkaan, tisroc, tisroc as of standing on  in isroc himself (may he  live for ever).

    My mottle against t and t came to pass t my fatep- moted me, and to promise me in marriage to Aa tarkaan. Noa is of base birtter years isroc (may tery and evil counsels, and is noarkaan and ties and is likely to be c  Grand Vizier dies.

    Moreover  least sixty years old and  of an ape. Neverta, and being persuaded by  messengers offering me in marriage,  and ted and Aa sent   time of high summer.

    quot; to me t for a day. But on to be saddled and took ern  alone. And ain  ted my clot t o my  and I  prayed to all the

    gods t as soon as I  I s my eyes and my teeto drive to my . But  before I ers of men and said,  quot;O my mistress, do not by any means destroy yourself, for if you live you may yet  une but all the dead are dead alike.¡±

    quot;I didnt say it ,quot; muttered the mare.

    quot;; said Bree, ;Selling it in tory-teller in a tisrocs court could  do it better.

    Pray go on, tarkheena.¡±

    quot;tered by my mare,quot; continued Aravis, quot;I  said to myself, ted me to  delusions. And I became full of s to fear deating of a gnat. time to tabbing, but o me and put o me most  excellent reasons and rebuked me as a moter. And no t I forgot about killing myself and about Aa and said, `O my  mare, o speak like one of ters of men? And old  me o all t in Narnia ts t talk, and  olen from ttle foal. Sold me also of ters of Narnia and tles and t sill I said, `In tas, I

    country of Narnia. `O my mistress, ans land no maiden is forced to marry against ;And oget time urned to me and I  rejoiced t I  killed myself. Moreover it oget in turned to my fat on my gayest clotended to be deligo  of my eyes, give me your licence and  permission to go o to do secret  sacrifices to Zardeena and of Maidens, as is proper and customary for  damsels o ter and O t of my eyes, so  s be.  quot;But  immediately to  t of ary,  and begged  o e a certain letter for me. And  and implored me to cion but in to o obey, and did all my ter and  in my bosom.¡±

    quot;But ter?quot; asked Sa.

    quot;Be quiet, youngster,quot; said Bree. quot;Youre spoiling tory. Sell  us all about tter in t place. Go on, tarkheena.¡±

    quot;to go o tes of Zardeenaold o o drink; but I   I kneed to sleep I arose and put on an armour of my brot in my c into my girdle all tain cc. I directed my course not to t I  nort to tashbaan.

    quot;No my fat seek me, being  deceived by to  ty of Azim Balda. Noands at ting of many roads and from it ts of tisroc (may  o every part of t is one of ts and privileges of ter tarkaans to send messages by  t to ts in Azim  Balda and said, `O dispatcter from my uncle Aa  tarkaan to Kidrasarkaan lord of Calavar. take nos and cause it  to be sent to o o obey.  quot;tter o be ten by Aa and tion of ting: `Aa tarkaan to Kidrasarkaan, salutation and peace. In tasible, t knoo you t as I made my  journey toract of marriage betune and t I fell in  om of  maidens. And y and discretion,  I became inflamed  appeared to me t to me  if I did not marry  once. Accordingly I prepared ter t I met urned o my o c delay.

    And because t you  be  angered by te of my marriage er.

    And I commit you to t;As soon as I e from Azim Balda, fearing  no pursuit and expecting t my fatter, o Aa or go to  before tter ory until t  t er.¡±

    quot;And ; asked Sa.

    quot;Doubtless sen for sleeping late,quot; said Aravis coolly. quot;But sool and spy of my stepmot her.¡±

    quot;I say, t was ; said Sa.

    quot;I did not do any of t; said  Aravis.

    quot;And t understand about t story,quot; said  Sa. quot;Youre not gro believe youre any older t believe  youre as old. ting married at your age?¡±

    Aravis said not Bree at once said, quot;Sa, dont display your  ignorance. t t age in t tarkaan families.¡±

    Sa turned very red (t  snubbed. Aravis asked Bree for ory. Bree told it, and Sa  t t  in a great deal more t t it very funny, but Aravis did not laug to sleep.

    Next day all four of together.

    Sa t it er arkaans  many of t Aravis kne if you  t of Zulindre; and Bree ;Oain of ts, you kno quite s or ts. ts not real cavalry. But er taking of teebet; Or else Bree ;I   t summer,quot; and Aravis ;Oark a delig is. t; Bree  in t trying to leave Sa out of  ta sometimes nearly t  of talking about t youre out of it.

    le. And Aravis never spoke to Sa at all if s.

    Soon, ant to tting near tasravelling by nig the day. And

    at every  t o do ing off ty, but no could  be put off no longer. During ttle, a very little,  less unfriendly to Sa; one usually gets on better alking about noticular.

    Bree said t to do o fix a place  on tas  separated in passing ty.  place ombs of t Kings on t. quot;t stone bee-; ;you cant  possibly miss them.

    And t of it is t none of ted by g.quot; Aravis asked if it   really ed by g Bree said  believe in  tales. And ta said  a Calormene eit care a  stra tories of g quite true. But it rat t it annoyed oo) and of course s mind  any number of g tled t tombs sas tting on very ill ed out t t as o get t.

    quot;ell settle t tomorro; said Bree. quot;time for a little sleep  now.¡±

    But it  easy to settle. Araviss first suggestion  ty during t and not go into tas all. But  Bree  t t  oo long a s it oo long for oo, but  t). t it  certain to be inquisitive.

    Sa t tas   Bree explained t t tarkaans and tark ter parties on t it   likely place in ting someone who would recognize Aravis or  even himself.

    quot;ell o ; said Sa.

    looked to  to go rigy itself from gate to gate because one o be noticed in t  s;Boto dress  in rags and look like peasants or slaves And all Araviss armour and our saddles and t be made into bundles and put on our backs, and t pretend to drive  us and people hink were on pack-horses.¡±

    quot;My dear ; said Aravis rat;As anyone could mistake  Bree for anyt a war-hors however you disguised him!¡±

    quot;I s, indeed,quot; said Bree, snorting an letting tle back.

    quot;I knos not a very good plan,quot; said ;But I ts our only  c been groomed for ages and  looking quite ourselves (at  least, Im sure Im not). I do t ered ired and lazy -and dont lift our  all - iced.

    And our tails ougo be cut ser: not neatly, you kno all  ragged.¡±

    quot;My dear Madam,quot; said Bree. quot;ured to yourself  o arrive in Narnia in t condition?¡±

    quot;ell,quot; said ;to get there.¡±

    t, it ed in  t roublesome one and involved a certain amount of ealing, and Bree called quot;raidingquot;. One farm lost a fe evening and anot a coil of rope t: but some tattered old boys cloto urned riump  as evening ing for rees at t of  a loed because t  top tas;I do ,quot; muttered Sa to ;Oh  I do, I do,¡±

    said ly.

    t nigo tters track. And  top ts in ta ion of   city  frig some  sleep. But the morning.

    tars ill out and terribly cold and , but  daybreak  beginning, far to t across t a feeps ao tar and t of t into t ty and bedraggled as t remained to sen  tails. As tool for doing tar, one of to  be undone again in order to get it out. It he  horses.

    quot;My ; said Bree, quot;if I  a talking  a lovely kick in  t you o cut it, not pull it out. ts  feels like.¡±

    But in spite of semi-darkness and cold fingers all ers (he journey began.

    quot;Remember,quot; said Bree. quot;Keep toget, meet at  tombs of t Kings, and  must  for thers.¡±

    quot;And remember,quot; said Sa. quot;Dont you tart talking, wever happens.¡±

 CHAPTER FOUR

    SA FALLS IN It first Sa could see not a sea of mist  ; but as t increased and t  cleared ao treams and on  tood ty of tas ter lapped against tone, ran  rengto rying to count t of t o tisrocs palace and t temple of tas top, ely covered errace above terrace, street above street, zigzag roads or s of steps  bordered rees and lemon trees, roofgardens, balconies, deep arctlements, minarets, pinnacles. And  t of t silver-plated dome of temple flass lig dazzled.

    quot;Get on, Sa,quot; Bree kept saying.

    t  t first like forest, until you got closer and sae rees. Soon after t, Sa noticed a  delicious smell of flo. About fifteen minutes later te he walls.

    quot;I say,quot; said Sa in an a;this is a wonderful place!¡±

    quot;I daresay,quot; said Bree. quot;But I  at  ther side.

    Narnia and th!¡±

    At t moment a loill to be s. It  so strong and solemn as to be a little frightening.

    quot;ts ty gates to be open,quot; said Bree. quot;e  se. Noep ry  to look less like a princess. try to imagine youve been kicked and cuffed and called  names all your life.¡±

    quot;If it comes to t,quot; said Aravis, quot; you drooping your  more and arc less and trying to look less like a war-horse?¡±

    quot;; said Bree. quot;here we are.¡±

    And to ter danced brig; ao t nearer t a glimpse ss. Several otravellers ly peasants driving laden donkeys and mules  or carrying baskets on the crowd.

    quot;Is anyt; o Aravis, who had an odd look on her  face.

    quot;Os all very ;  tas I ougo be riding in on a litter o a feast in tisrocs palace (may  sneaking in like ts different for you.¡±

    Sa t all this very silly.

    At ty toood open in te o attention and salute me if ter I am.quot; But t t ask any questions. Fortunately t. But one  of t out of a peasants basket and t at Sa ;c if your master finds youve been using his  saddle-horse for pack work.¡±

    tened  s no one  a charger.

    quot;Its my masters orders, so t; said Sa. But it er if ongue for t  nearly knocked ;take t, you young filto teaco talk to  freemen.quot; But

    to ty  being stopped. Sa cried only a  very little; o hard knocks.

    Inside tes tas at first seem so splendid as it ance. t street  ly by ts (on to market) ersellers, smeat sellers, porters, soldiers, beggars, ragged cray  dogs, and bare-footed slaves.  you he piles of refuse which lay everywhere.

    Sa ending to lead but it le nudges urned to t and began  going up a steep  rees and t side; on t over  to round a o t and continued rising. to tre of taso finer streets. Great statues of tly impressive rato look at- rose  on sals. Palm trees and pillared arcades cast ss. And te must be nice inside, .

    At every turn Sa ting out of t to stop  altogeted out quot;ay, arkaanquot;, or quot;for tark;, or quot;for teent;, quot;or for t;, and everyone in t ta imes see t lord or lady for asraffic regulation,  o get out of tant;  unless you  a cut from a wt end of a spear.

    It reet very near top of ty (tisrocs  palace ) t t disastrous of toppages occurred.

    quot;ay! ay! ay!quot; came t;ay for te Barbarian King, t of tisroc (may he Narnian lords.¡±

    Sa tried to get out of to make Bree go back. But no  even a talking  in  bea, pus  ;No; And tled   he  whole crowd

    beiffened and packed tig  move at  all. So entionally, in t roy t reet.

    It e unlike any oty t day. t before it sing quot;ay, ; . And tter;  everyone . t a  of t dressed like men of Calormen. Most of to tunics urbans teel or silver  caps, some of t tle raig curved like Calormene  scimitars. And instead of being grave and mysterious like most Calormenes, t tted and laugling. You could see t to be friends  give a fig for anyone  hing so  lovely in his life.

    But t time to enjoy it for at once a really dreadful ted at Sa, cried out, quot;t; and seized  moment a a  smack - not a cruel one to make you cry but a so let you knoruant for a w! here have you been?¡±

    Sa ried to make  c the fair-haired men were all  round him by now and he was held firm.

    Of course  impulse o say t  t aken   t ted to do in t croo start explaining ed on t,  o any cting  tas impulse o look at Bree for  Bree ention of letting all t alk, and stood looking just as  stupid as a a did not even dare to look at tention.

    And time to t  once:  quot;take one of tle lordsesy, and  Ill take ther.

    And noers mind ly eased when she sees  our young scapegrace safe in our lodging.¡±

    And so, before tas even a co say good-bye to ta found rangers and quite unable to guess a began to see by t spoke to   be a king - kept on asking ions; ,   quot;naug; instead of naughty.

    And Sa said not to  say t  be dangerous.

    quot;! All mum?quot; asked t;I must plainly tell you, prince, t  tself. to run  a. But t hang his head like a Calormene slave.¡±

    t, for Sa felt all time t t kind of grown-up and would o make a good impression on  him.

    trangers led igreet and  doo a all, dark cypress trees, one on eac. Once ta  found yard re  continually rippling by tain t fell into it. Orange trees gre out of smoote reets seemed  suddenly fad aside. After t took one floor felt beautifully cool to  feet, and up some stairs. A moment later  of a big, airy room  no sun came in. t on t sank doo it as if reading in to be full of people; very queer people some of t  Sa. But ime to t before t beautiful lady ;O so t t of  of mind. It was nauge, very naugo  use us so.¡±

    quot;Apparently,quot; t Sa to ;Im being mistaken for a prince  of Arc is. And t be t; But ts did not  loud.

    quot; been, Corin?quot; said till on Sas  shoulders.

    quot;I- I dont kno; stammered Sa.

    quot;t is, Susan,quot; said t;I could get no tale out of rue  or false.¡±

    quot;Your Majesties! Queen Susan! King Edmund!quot; said a voice: and urned to look at t of iced out of t came into t t as Sa  uped beard and ttle  a Faun,  tumnus by name,  day  ime  Peter and Susan and Edmund and Lucy had been Kings and Queens of Narnia for several years.

    quot;Your Majesties,quot; ;tle ouc  know where he is.¡±

    topped scolding Sa and asking ions  and  under  in a golden cup to drink and told to keep very quiet.

    Noto Sa in able as t sofa or drinking anyt s. ill o escape and meet t tombs, and  none of t able. And perer on, to eat!

    Meaneresting. Besides  ture he had never seen before) and a  very large Raven.

    t  Calormenes. And soon Sa found  aking an interest in tion. quot;No; to Queen  Susan (ta). quot; ty  fully t settled in your mind whis Prince Rabadash, or no?¡±

    t;No, brot; s;not for all tashbaan.¡±

    (quot;; t Sa. quot;Alter, not married to one anot;)

    quot;truly, sister,quot; said t;I saken ell you t at t coming of tisrocs ambassadors into Narnia  to treat of ter  Cair Paravel, it o me t ever you could find it in your  to show him so much favour.¡±

    quot;t ; said Queen Susan, quot;of asake you all to ness s  great tournament and ilude   y, her face.¡±

    quot;A; croaked t;It is an old saying: see tions.¡±

    quot;ts very true, Sallo; said one of t;And anoth me and youll know me.¡±

    quot;Yes,quot; said t;e   is, a most  proud, bloody, luxurious, cruel, and selfpleasing tryant.¡±

    quot;t; said Susan, quot;let us leave tashis very  day.¡±

    quot;ter,quot; said Edmund. quot;For no open to you all  t  tesy  look to t t be  secret.¡±

    Everyone o look very serious. Queen Susan jumped up and ran to  her.

    quot;O; s; is it? thing dreadful in your  face.¡±

 CHAPTER FIVE

    PRINCE CORIN  quot;MY dear sister and very good Lady,quot; said King Edmund, quot;you must now sell you plainly we are in no small danger.¡±

    quot; is it, Edmund asked the Queen.

    quot;It is t; said Edmund. quot;I do not t easy to leave  tas you ake s. But  by t as soon as  denial er  than prisoners.¡±

    One of tle.

    quot;I ies, I ; said Sallo;Easily  in but not easily out, as ter said in ter pot!¡±

    quot;I ; continued Edmund. quot;tle  used (mores ty) to  your long  delays and doubtful anso kno it aside-meaning at time to diminis common  jests about   o be cold.  of tening, till veiled under a  sesy, in every word he spoke.¡±

    quot;Yes,quot; said tumnus. quot;And as tell ed every stone of it and I  lie) told  nourned to t meant no good and said, `to tle goatfoot; always provided you leave us in exchange a bride for our prince.¡°

    quot;Do you mean ; exclaimed Susan.

    quot;ts my fear, Susan,quot; said Edmund: quot;ife: or slave which is worse.¡±

    quot;But isroc trage?¡±

    quot;Sire,quot; said Peridan to t;t be so mad. Do there are no swords and spears in Narnia?¡±

    quot;Alas,quot; said Edmund. quot;My guess is t tisroc tle land. And little lands on t empire o t empire. o blot t, gobble t o come to Cair Paravel as your lover, sister, it may  be t  us. Most likely o make one  mouth.¡±

    quot;Let ry,quot; said t;At sea o cross.¡±

    quot;true, friend,quot; said Edmund. quot;But is t a sure defence?  does  Sallowpad say?¡±

    quot;I kno desert ; said t;For I  far  and ; (you may be sure t Sa pricked up  t). quot;And tain; t if tisroc goes by t oasis  army across it into Arc days marc too little for t of all  ts. But ther way.¡±

    Sa listened more attentively still.

    quot;  ; said t;must start from tombs  of t Kings and ride nort so t t Pire is alraigtle more, o tony valley, imes and never kno it er nor anyt if  o a  river and can ride by ter all to Archenland.¡±

    quot;And do tern ; asked the Queen.

    quot;Friends, friends,quot; said Edmund, quot; asking o save t of ty.  For ter ted tisroc a dozen times over, yet  long before t day our ts  and this prince.¡±

    quot;e ; said t D;And this is a  reasonably defensible house.¡±

    quot;As to t,quot; said t;I do not doubt t every one of us e and t come at t over our dead  bodies. Yet we ss figrap when alls said.¡±

    quot;Very true,quot; croaked t;t stands in a ories, but noter t fe the house on fire.¡±

    quot;I am t; said Susan, bursting into tears. quot;O Cair Paravel. Our last hose ambassadors came from  Calormen.

    ting an orchard for us . . . oh . . . oh.¡±

    And she buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

    quot;Courage, Su, courage,quot; said Edmund. quot;Remember-but ter er tumnus?quot; For th his hands as  if he were

    trying to keep o and fro as if he had a  pain in his inside.

    quot;Dont speak to me, dont speak to me,quot; said tumnus. quot;Im t I can , , do .¡±

    ts puzzled silence and ts fore;ty is o get doo our sores, too-  being seen and stopped.¡±

    quot;Yes,quot; said a D;Just as ty about  riding is t he has no horse.¡±

    quot;ait, ,quot; said Mr tumnus impatiently. quot;All ext for  going doo our soday and taking stuff on board.¡±

    quot;Yes,quot; said King Edmund doubtfully.

    quot;ell, t; said t; be if your majesties bade to a great banquet to be omorro?

    And let trive   pledging o give t she is weakening.¡±

    quot;t; croaked the Raven.

    quot;And t; continued tumnus excitedly, quot;everyone  us to be  going doo tions for our guests. And let some of us go  to t terers and tmeat sellers  and ts, just as . And let us  order magicians and jugglers and dancing girls and flute players, all to be on board  tomorro.¡±

    quot;I see, I see,quot; said King Edmund, rubbing his hands.

    quot;And t; said tumnus, quot;onig  is quite dark-¡±

    quot;Up sails and out oars-!quot; said the King.

    quot;And so to sea,quot; cried tumnus, leaping up and beginning to dance.

    quot;And our nose Nort; said t Dwarf.

    quot;Running for ; said ther.

    quot;And t morning and finding ; said  Peridan, clapping his hands.

    quot;Oer tumnus, dear Master tumnus,quot; said tc;You have saved us all.¡±

    quot;t; said anota   heard.

    quot;ts t of my fears,quot; said Edmund. quot;I all s galley to send after aken at all.¡±

    quot;Sire,quot; said t;You ster plot t in council for seven days. And nos before eggs. o say, let us all take our food and t once be about our business.¡±

    Everyone arose at tures stood aside for to go out first. Sa o do, but Mr tumnus said, quot;Lie ttle  feast to yourself in a fes. to move until o embark.¡±

    Sa laid he  room.

    quot;tly dreadful,quot; t Sa. It never came into o tell trut up by  a ed man like Ars of never telling gro:  top rying to do. And  t even if t be friendly to ts of Narnia, e Aravis, because  so ;I simply dnt tell t Prince Corin no; t Sa. quot;Ive   one of t me out of  this house alive.

    tray to tisroc. turns up, itll all come out, and t; he had, you see, no idea of how  noble and free-born people behave.

    quot; am I to do?  am I to do?quot;  saying to ;- goaty little creature again.¡±

    trotted in, ray in its self. t on an inlaid table beside Sas sofa, and sat doy legs crossed.

    quot;No; ;Make a good dinner. It  meal  in tashbaan.¡±

    It er t kno, but Sa did. ters, and salad, and snipe  stuffed ruffles, and a complicated diss, and t can be made tle  flagon of t of  is called quot;; t is really yellow.

    a ing, ttle Faun, roke, kept talking to  times   tle  castle  forget,quot; said Mr  tumnus, quot;t you are promised your first suit of armour and your first o learn o tilt and joust. And in a feer   at Cair Paravel. And in time ty of comings  and goings betay ival, and t dances of Fauns and Dryads  in t of t see Aslan himself!¡±

    old Sa to stay quietly   do you any o tle sleep,quot; ;Ill call you  in plenty of time to get on board. And th!¡±

    Sa umnus elling   ook a different turn.  t turn up until it oo late and t aken ao Narnia by s t all of  beastle  Aravis  and Bree ing for  tombs. But to ;ell, ?quot; and, quot;Any Aravis too good to go about ; and at time   it oiling across t.

    all t I expect you ement and t except  whe wide open windows. he fell asleep.

    s and s - t   for several  ly porcelain vase o about ty pieces. But iced all t ice ting

    t later tas oting astride the room.

    Sa  not  t ordinary times) almost exactly like   t t particularly like anyone for   black eye you ever saoot  torn and dirty, and th blood and mud on his  face.

    quot;; said the boy in a whisper.

    quot;Are you Prince Corin?quot; said Sa.

    quot;Yes, of course,quot; said t;But who are you?¡±

    quot;Im nobody, nobody in particular, I mean,quot; said Sa. quot;King Edmund  caugreet and mistook me for you. I suppose  look like one anot out t in?¡±

    quot;Yes, if youre any good at climbing,quot; said Corin. quot;But o be able to get some fun out of taken for one  another.¡±

    quot;No, no,quot; said Sa. quot;e must c once. Itll be simply  frigumnus comes back and finds us boto pretend to be you.  And youre starting tonigly. And wime?¡±

    quot;A boy in treet made a beastly joke about Queen Susan,quot; said Prince  Corin, quot;so I knocked o a .  So I knocked til o  tc tchey  knocked me down.

    It ting dark by nocook me along to lock me up  some mind  if took to a  doill t it ime for me to be off so I came out quietly  and t boy - tarted all trouble - still . So I knocked er t I climbed up a pipe on to t till it began to get lig Ive been finding my  o drink?¡±

    quot;No, I drank it,quot; said Sa. quot;And no a minute to lose. Youd better lie doend-but I forgot. Itll be  no good  o tell truth, once  Im safely away.¡±

    quot; else did you telling t; asked ther angry look.

    quot;And who are you?¡±

    quot;time,quot; said Sa in a frantic  Ive been broug; alking  away?¡±

    quot;Look,quot; said Corin. quot;Drop from to t you must do it ligoes, or someone  and you can get up to top of t  all as a climber. to to tside, and there you  are.¡±

    quot;t; said Sa, o eac they were friends.

    quot;Good-bye,quot; said Corin. quot;And good luck. I do  safe away.¡±

    quot;Good-bye,quot; said Sa. quot;I say, you ures.¡±

    quot;Noto yours,quot; said t;No;I  in Arco my fatell  ! I hear someone coming.¡±

 CHAPTER SIX

    SA AMONG tOMBS  SA ran ligiptoes. It felt  to .   t to to a narroreet, and t tside of t as Corin old ook a rapid glance round o get ly as. Everyt roofs belo roofs, doo totlements of tys Nort  slope covered  beyond t again t  yelloretc  e tops. quot;t! tains!quot; t Sa.

    o trotting along doreet  a little ragged boy running along on  bare feet. Still, ill urned a corner and ty gate  in front of him.

    led a bit, for a good many ot; and on te te a slo ter on eac   and noise of tashbaan.

    a ing ao be going eito t or rig straig did not appear to be mucop of tood and stared. It o topped quite suddenly a fe before  a bit roug . tains, o  five  minutes  certainly be tombs, just as Bree  masses of mouldering stone sic bee- a little narroting righem.

    urned  and trotted toombs.   very ting sun s ;And any; , quot;of course t tomb, not t see ty.¡±

    t tombs, eac opened  into absolute blackness. tted about in no kind of order, so t it  took a long time, going round t one, before you could be  sure t you omb. t Sa o do.  there.

    It   on t; and no.

    Suddenly from some jump and o bite ongue to keep  moment  it ases.

    quot;Dont be a silly little co; said Sa to ;s only  t; But t difference beting you in  nigting you out.

    And no tes ;Eit up in tas,quot; t  Sa, quot;or else t me. Its just t of t Aravis  Bree . O. - now, would he?¡±

    In t Aravis Sa e eel and would never ed a  companion, w.

    No Sa kne alone (it ting  darker every minute) o like table about t, silent sone. rying  for a long time not to t  keep it up  any longer.

    quot;O t very moment   sometouc ting if sometouc in suc sucime,  any rate oo frigo run. Anytter t Kings  look at beead,   sensible  t almost burst  ouc.

    t oo bad noo see muc except t it   looked as if it migombs, alone. Its eyes made you t knes it  tell.

    quot;Puss, puss,quot; said Sa. quot;I suppose youre not a talking cat.¡±

    t stared at  started . It led  tombs and out on t side  of t sat do uprigs tail curled round its feet and its face set  to and toill as if it ca lay do  t and oombs, because if one is nervous to your back. t able to you, but Sa iced it. Very soon  on  wondering w o Bree and Aravis and hwin.

    ;Per  o  t iced t t  . But e still  even  opening  sure ened if  up and  looked round at tombs and t as you or I migill  t of t. to open  up.

    tly. tombs - far bigger and nearer t t. In fact, t covered t at all nice to  alone in a strange place. But  te side, from t. Sa o turn ombs ( like t mucare out across t again.

    quot;I s not more lions,quot; t Sa. It  not very like  t  kno ed very muco meet a jackal.

    t again and again. quot;tever they are,¡±

    t Sa. quot;And theyre coming nearer.¡±

    I suppose t if irely sensible boy ombs nearer to ts  o come. But t to go back tombs  tombs;  and  may  Sa felt s. to change  his mind.

    going to run for it , it looked quite black, and  Sa did not kno  t it  on  four legs. It did not seem to iced Sa, for it suddenly stopped, turned its o and let out a roar o  sas feet. tures suddenly stoppd  and   scampering a beast turned to examine  Sa.

    quot;Its a lion, I knos a lion,quot; t Sa. quot;Im done. I   muc o people after theyre  dead. O-o-oh!

    comes!quot; And  eetight.

    But instead of teet somet  . And  nearly as big as I t!  Its only  isnt even quarter ts only t!! I must  about its being as big as a horse.¡±

    And  , and staring  of countenance s big, green, un; tainly one of t cats he had ever seen.

    quot;O; gasped Sa. quot;I am so glad to see you again. Ive been ; And  once lay doo back  as t t. t spread all over him.

    quot;Ill never do anyty to a cat again as long as I live,quot; said  Sa, o t and o ;I did once, you knoones at a arved mangy old stray. op t.quot; For t urned round and given c;None of t,quot; said Sa. quot;It isnt as if you could understand ;  then he dozed off.

    Next morning .

    Sa, very ty, sat up and rubbed  y be  everytly still. tle left and , so t t in ains on t, so s tones ticularly noticed one blue   t divided into t top and decided t it must be Mount Pire. quot;ts  our direction, judging by ; , quot;so Ill just make sure of it,  so as not to e any time ; So raig pointing exactly to Mount Pire.

    t job, clearly, o get someto eat and drink. Sa  trotted back tombs - te ordinary noivated land by t but not very many, for ty gates y in  doing a little quot;raidingquot; (as Bree called it). It involved a climb over a garden s e. After t,  doo t not too near ter  ook off , dirty clota, o s as soon as o   tasrengt. But t made  too.   t ombs  me, as likely as notquot;), so  and tore back  at suc  and ty whe was gone.

    Like most days  a y to t sitting  alone, just tty slo t Corin.   t plans  really Corin at all. It   to traitor.

    But as to top of to t, and no one came and not all  o get more and more anxious. And of course   for one anot tombs no one  how Long.

    of   like last nig plans   tc last  plan of all. o  till it o teal as many melons as   out for Mount Pire alone, trusting for ion to t morning in t s . But Sa   all.

    Before t someta ting in tombs  leap, for  t moment

    doo oes again. trange man, an armed man pretty  family. Bree and  up like pack- saddled  and bridled.

    And  all mean? quot;Its a trap,quot; t Sa. quot;Somebody  Aravis and perortured  me to jump out and run up and speak to Bree and t too! And yet  if I dont, I may be losing my only co meet t  ; And omb, looking out every fees,  and o do.

 CHAPTER SEVEN

    ARAVIS IN tAS a ood still,  ing as o s. As soon as tried to  move on again.

    But before sake a step, anot;Bot;  t Aravis)

    , quot;ay, ark;  and immediately, folloter ains and all a-jingle ed treet er tter,  female slaves in beautiful clot mistake.

    Se  as if t scogeten stayed in to ties. And  Aravis couldnt o see  s person indeed.

    It al. t. And immediately Lasaraleen sat  up in tter and burst out at top of her voice.

    quot;Aravis!  on earther-¡±

    t a moment to lose. it a seconds delay Aravis let go t tter, swung herself up beside Lasaraleen and  whispered furiously in her ear.

    quot;S up! Do you  up. You must ell your people-¡±

    quot;But darling-quot; began Lasaraleen in t in t mind making people stare; in fact s.)

    quot;Do ell you or Ill never speak to you again,quot; ;Please, please be quick, Las. Its frigant. tell your people to bring two  horses along.

    Pull all tains of tter and get away somew be  found. And do hurry.¡±

    quot;All rig; said Lasaraleen in ;ake tark; (to t;And noains drao say-¡±

    But Aravis ains, enclosing Lasaraleen and ed, but ratuffy, kind of tent.

    quot;I mustnt be seen,quot; quot;s;My fat know Im here. Im  running away.¡±

    quot;My dear, ly t; said Lasaraleen. quot;Im dying to  it.

    Darling, youre sitting on my dress. Do you mind? ts better. It is a  ne? I got it at-¡±

    quot;O; said Aravis. quot;her?¡±

    quot;Didnt you kno; said Lasaraleen. quot;o toerday and is asking about you everyoget kno it! Its t t;  And s off into giggles. Serrible giggler, as Aravis now  remembered.

    quot;It isnt funny at all,quot; s;Its dreadfully serious. here can you  hide me?¡±

    quot;No difficulty at all, my dear girl,quot; said Lasaraleen. quot;Ill take you s not mucains  dra to see people. t in o go about  s up like this.¡±

    quot;I ed out to me like t,quot; said  Aravis.

    quot;No, no, of course, darling,quot; said Lasaraleen absentmindedly. quot;But you   even told me yet he dress.¡±

    quot;Anot; said Aravis. quot;You must tell your people to treat ts part of t. talking horses from  Narnia.¡±

    quot;Fancy!quot; said Lasaraleen. quot;ing! And oaying in tas present. t ies and  s and t fortnig see t sty myself. But  some of taken out on a river party terday,  and I was wearing my-¡±

    quot; your people telling everyone t youve got a  visitor - dressed like a beggars brat - in your  mig round to my  father.¡±

    quot;No keep on fussing, t; said Lasaraleen. quot;ell get  you some proper clot. And here we are!¡±

    topped and tter  Sa aken into a fees earlier in anot of ty.  Lasaraleen  Aravis reminded ic o t not telling anyone of tresss strange visitor.

    quot;Sorry, darling, it  out of my ; said Lasareleen. quot;here.  All of you.

    And you, doorkeeper. No one is to be let out of today. And anyone  I catcalking about t beaten to deater t be kept on bread and er for six here.¡±

    Alto ory, sing to  at all. S, mucter at talking  t listening.

    Sed on Aravis hs  are famous)

    and t clot hing.

    t c Lasaraleen , interested in cloties and gossip. Aravis erested in bo  ted after a meal (it ) in a beautiful pillared room ( monkey  been climbing about it all time)  Lasaraleen at last asked her why she was running away from home.

    elling ory, Lasaraleen said, quot;But, darling,  arkaan? Everyones crazy about o be one of test men in Calormen.  been made Grand  Vizier no you know?¡±

    quot;I dont care. I cant stand t of ; said Aravis.

    quot;But, darling, only t beautiful  one do Ilkeen. Positively ropes of pearls, Im told. Bat of me.¡±

    quot;; said Aravis.

    quot;You al; said Lasaraleen. quot; more do you  ?¡±

    In to make  s and even to discuss plans. ty no getting  te and to tombs. No one op or  question a groom in fine cloto ty of grooms to send. It  so easy to decide o do about Aravis ed t s in tter  ains dra Lasaraleen told  litters y and  t of one going out te ain to lead to questions.

    alked for a long time - and it  o keep o t-at last Lasaraleen clapped ;Oting out of ty  using tes. tisrocs garden (may  doo ter and  ttle er-door. Only for t tittered a little)  are palace people. I say, it is lucky for you  t you came to me. tisroc (may o t every day and it is like a second ively adore Prince Rabadas run in and see any of t any .  I slip in er dark, and  let you out by ter-door? ts and tied up outside it.  And even if -¡±

    quot;All ,quot; said Aravis.

    quot;O get so excited,quot; said Lasaraleen. quot;I o say,  even if ting  quite en, dear, tfully  funny-¡±

    quot;I meant, all  for me,quot; said Aravis a little sharply.

    quot;O you mean, darling. ell, can you tter plan?¡±

    Aravis couldnt, and ans;No. ell o risk it. art?¡±

    quot;O tonig; said Lasaraleen. quot;Of course not tonig  feast on tonig start getting my  in a fees) and ts. And sucoo! It omorro.¡±

    t so make t of it. ternoon passed very slo  to t,  for Aravis ired of alk about dresses and parties, s and scandals. S to bed early and t part s o s again.

    But t day passed very sloed to go back on t and kept on telling Aravis t Narnia ry of  perpetual sno;And  boy, too!quot; said Lasaraleen. quot;Darling, t! Its not  Nice.quot; Aravis  of it a good deal, but sired of Lasaraleens silliness  by no, for t time, so t travelling a as;You forget t  Ill be nobody, just like  to Narnia. And anyway, I promised.¡±

    quot;And to t; said Lasaraleen, almost crying, quot;t if only you ; Aravis  ao e he horses.

    quot;You must go tle before sunset doo tombs,quot; s;No more of t to be food in er-skin beo let you bot the bridge.¡±

    quot;And t;   at tombs.¡±

    quot;ait for ; said Aravis. quot;I e  comfortable.¡±

    quot;Never better stabled in my life,quot; said Bree. quot;But if t  tittering tarko get t oats,  ting him.¡±

    Aravis and Lasaraleen he pillared room.

    About to start. Aravis o look  like a superior slave-girl in a great  if any questions end t Aravis  to one of the princesses.

    t out on foot. A very fees brougo tes.

    te tention and saluted. t once into tiers, slaves and otill moving  about  to to tatues and do  beatencopper

    doors of t  beyond description;  in t of the lamps.

    Presently t into t  to t  quite dark and t only by  occasional torcs to ted at a place  or right.

    quot;Go on, do go on,quot; ing terribly and   t  run into t any corner.

    quot;Im just ; said Lasaraleen. quot;Im not absolutely sure . Yes, Im almost sure its t.  fun  this is!¡±

    took t   all and weps.

    quot;Its all rig; said Lasaraleen. quot;Im sure ; But at t moment a moving liger tant corner, tall candles.

    And of course it is only before royalties t people  Lasaraleen grip  sort of sudden grip ened indeed. Aravis  t it odd t Lasaraleen sisroc if  time to go on to top of teps, on tiptoes, and groping he wall.

    quot;; s;Quick.¡±

    t in, drely bec serrified.

    quot;tas; w; shall we do if he comes in  here. Can we hide?¡±

    t carpet under t. to to a sofa.

    quot;Lets lie do; w;O  come.¡±

    t room betained  down.

    Lasaraleen managed to get tter position and ely covered.  t of Araviss face stuck out beyond t if anyone came  into t room  and o look in exactly t place t of course, because s t at once look like a  forehead and

    a pair of eyes. Aravis sely to try to make Lasaraleen give  tle more room. But Lasaraleen, noe selfis back and  pinc.

    t up and lay still, panting a little. t ther noise.

    quot;Is it safe?quot; said Aravis at last in tiniest possible whisper.

    quot;I - I - t; began Lasaraleen. quot;But my poor nerves -quot; and t terrible noise t t moment: t. And because Aravis couldnt get hing.

    First came t secret councils) ook up tand one at eac  of ed cap by  isroc. t of t toget  and sucs and  bobbles and buttons and tassels and talismans t Aravis couldnt  any rate for men) looked nicer. After all young man urban on ar at ed and eet. Last of  all came a little rota tarkaan himself.

    As soon as all tered t, tisroc  seated entment, took anding before  do.

 CHAPTER EIGHT

    IN tISROC  quot;O-of-my-eyes,quot; began ttering t at all as if tisroc  of his eyes.

    quot;May you live for ever, but you terly destroyed me. If you est of t sunrise  taken t you  persuaded me to send first and see if t merely moved round t into better  anchorage.

    And noed. And t of my  reach!

    t; and  many descriptions of Queen  Susan  all nice in print. For of course the false jade was Susan of Narnia.

    quot;Compose yourself, O my son,quot; said tisroc. quot;For ture of guests  makes a  is easily  of a judicious .¡±

    quot;But I  ; cried t;I must  get ed daug s sleep and my  food y. I must he  barbarian queen.¡±

    quot; ed poet,quot; observed t dusty condition) from t, quot;t deep draugain of reason are desirable in order to extinguishful love.¡±

    to exasperate t;Dog,quot; ed, directing a series  of  ters of t;do not dare to quote ts to  me. I  me all day and I can endure t; I am  afraid Aravis did not feel at all sorry for the Vizier.

    tisroc ly sunk in t, but ;My son, by all means desist from kicking tened  Vizier: for as a costly jeains its value even if ion are to be respected even in ts. Desist tell us w you desire and propose.¡±

    quot;I desire and propose, O my fat; said Rabadas;t you immediately  call out your invincible armies and invade te  it  to your illimitable empire, killing t t .¡±

    quot;Understand, O my son,quot; said tisroc, quot;t no o open  Narnia.¡±

    quot;If you  my fatisroc, quot; said teet;I s he word of a coward.¡±

    quot;And if you  my son, O most inflammable Rabadas; replied ;your life .quot; (these words made Araviss blood run cold.)

    quot;But ime in a mucful voice, quot; punis  o be made into dogsmeat? It is not t provinces. A t in five   is an unseemly blot on ts of your empire.¡±

    quot;Most undoubtedly,quot; said tisroc. quot;ttle barbarian countries t  call to say, idle, disordered, and unprofitable) are  eful to to all persons of discernment.¡±

    quot;to remain thus long  unsubdued?¡±

    quot;Kno;t until ted fatary and unending reign, t powerful encress.¡±

    quot;t; ans;But I  kno tress is dead. And t Narnia  is now wful, and delicious.¡±

    quot;And t learned Prince, less been brougo pass  by tations of themselves kings  and queens of Narnia.¡±

    quot;I am rat; said Rabadas;t it  by teration of tars and tion of natural causes.¡±

    quot;All t; said tisroc, quot;is a question for tations of learned  men. I  so great an alteration, and tress, ed  trong magic. And suco be expected in t  land, s t talk like men, and  monsters t are . It is commonly reported t tterly reject) is supported by a demon of  and  irresistible maleficence ful enterprise, and I am determined not to put my   fart back.¡±

    quot;; said t;on  oion! Yet as  table and sapient tisroc  is very grievous to be constrained to keep  our y dised  poet  at t Aa noticed an impatient movement of toe and became suddenly  silent.

    quot;It is very grievous,quot; said tisroc in  voice. quot;Every  morning t my sleep is t Narnia is still free.¡±

    quot;O my fat; said Rabadas;retc your arm to take Narnia and yet dra back untempt prove  unfortunate?¡±

    quot;If you can s, O Rabadas; said tisroc, quot;you  of sons.¡±

    quot; and in take but t so all men t you kno tes of King Lunes castle  of Anvard in Arc peace ake  Anvard before tirred to Cair Paravel. t be t t ts on  likely es, and ride in. I sesy and spill as little Narnian blood as I can. And  to  sit till ts in, crayed bird  as ss foot aso to  Anvard?¡±

    quot;But is it not probable, O my son,quot; said tisroc, quot;t at taking of  ther King Edmund or you will lose his life?¡±

    quot;t; said Rabadas;and I en of my  men to disarm and bind raining my ve desire for   the high King.¡±

    quot;And  Cair Paravel before you?¡±

    quot;I do not look for t her.¡±

    quot;And lastly, O my resourceful son,quot; said tisroc, quot;you  give you t not  o throwing of Narnia.¡±

    quot;O my fat  t e of Narnia, and your garrison in  Anvard can be increased by little and little till it is a great .¡±

    quot;It is spoken anding and foresig his miscarries?¡±

    quot;You s I, did it  your kno your  your blessing, being constrained by tuosity of youth.¡±

    quot;And  er?¡±

    quot;O my fat . For ted ter is a man of prudence and understanding  age of being allied to our  hrone of Calormen.¡±

    quot; see t if I live for ever as is no doubt your isroc in an even drier voice than usual.

    quot;And also, O my fat of my eyes,quot; said ter a moment of a;ters as if from to say t  so return to Narnia. For it is  ers, t dare to come to taso fetch her.¡±

    quot;O enlig; said tisroc, quot;bestorange proposal.¡±

    quot;O eternal tisroc,quot; ans;trengternal affection is  not unknoo me and I en  sons are in to unfold to you my mind in a  matter wed Prince?¡±

    quot;Undoubtedly you ; replied tisroc.

    quot;Because you  t doing so are at least  equally great.¡±

    quot;to o obey,quot; moaned tc;Kno  reasonable tisroc, in t place, t t altoget as might appear.

    For t of discretion, as  t try is not, like ours, full of c is all  of love and o terprise as t; For t t;madquot;, had kicked  him again.

    quot;Desist, O my son,quot; said tisroc. quot;And you, estimable Vizier, , by no means alloo be interrupted. For  notable to persons of gravity and decorum to endure minor  inconveniences ancy.¡±

    quot;to o obey,quot; said ttle so  as to get s furtoe. quot;Not estimable, in ttempt,  especially because it is undertaken for tune  fell into t kill  may even be, t to

    carry off t t of  valour and of tremity  of  incline  to him.¡±

    quot;t is a good point, old babbler,quot; said Rabadas;Very good,   came into your ugly head.¡±

    quot;ters is t of my eyes,quot; said Aa. quot;And  secondly, O tisroc,   is very likely t Anvard o t.¡±

    t t t last tisroc spoke.

    quot;Go, my son,quot; ;And do as you  expect no enance from me. I  avenge you if you are killed and I  deliver you  if t you into prison. And if, eit, my favour  s brot, secret, and fortunate. May trengtasible be in your sword and lance.¡±

    quot;to o obey,quot; cried Rabadaser kneeling for a moment to  kiss ly to tment of Aravis, wisroc and Vizier remained.

    quot;O Vizier,quot; said tisroc, quot;is it certain t no living soul knoonight?¡±

    quot;O my master,quot; said Aa, quot;it is not possible t any s very reason I proposed, and you in your  we s o come.¡±

    quot;It is ; said tisroc. quot;If any man kneo it t  Vizier, forget it. I sponge  a my kno, I kno ion of youtoniso  Anvard is in his hands.¡±

    quot;to o obey,quot; said Aa.

    quot;t is  I am t ed of fat-born son on an errand so likely to be  must be to you o ttom  of your mind.¡±

    quot;O impeccable tisroc,quot; said t;In comparison er nor t of the sun.¡±

    quot;Your sentiments,quot; said tisroc, quot;are elevated and correct. I also love  none of trengter Narnia. If een oter t sons of kings, o be dangerous. More tisrocs in tasime  because t sons, enligired of ing for tter cool  in inaction   Vizier, ternal anxiety inclines me to sleep. Command to my  c before you lie doe for t prognostics of indigestion.¡±

    quot;to o obey,quot; said to t out. Even tisroc remained seated in  silence on till Aravis almost began to be afraid t   at last  creaking and sigo to precede s, and  out. totally dark, and the freely again.

 CHAPTER NINE

    ACROSS t  quot;ly dreadful!quot; w;Oened. Im shaking all over. Feel me.¡±

    quot;Come on,quot; said Aravis, o  t of t its ed a  terrible time. Get me doo t er-gate as quick as you can.¡±

    quot;Darling, ; squeaked Lasaraleen. quot;I cant do anyt  no just lie still a bit and then go back.¡±

    quot;; asked Aravis.

    quot;O understand. Youre so unsympatic,quot; said Lasaraleen,  beginning to cry.

    Aravis decided it was no occasion for mercy.

    quot;Look ; sc;If  you say anot going back, and if you dont start taking me to t  er-gate at once

    - do you knoo t passage and scream.  t.¡±

    quot;But ;Didnt you   tisroc (may he live for ever) said?¡±

    quot;Yes, and Id sooner be killed to Aa. So come on.¡±

    quot;O; said Lasaraleen. quot;And I in sucate!¡±

    But in to give in to Aravis. Seps  t into terraces to ty  ly. One of t adventures is t  beautiful places you are often too anxious and o appreciate t Aravis (ter) ly bubbling fountains, and trees.

    ;actom and t s unbolt te. Aravis did it. t  last, ed moonligtle landing stage and a fes.

    quot;Good-bye,quot; said Aravis, quot;and t  t Im flying from!¡±

    quot;O; said Lasaraleen. quot;ont you c  youve seen  man Aa is!¡±

    quot;Great man!quot; said Aravis. quot;A ters reasures it all up and o get   isroc to plot ure like t.¡±

    quot;O tisroc (may oo. It must be rigo do it!¡±

    quot;Good-bye,quot; said Aravis, quot;and I t your dresses lovely. And I too. Im sure youll   suit  me. Close tly behind me.¡±

    Sore ionate embraces, stepped into  a punt, cast off, and a moment later  in midstream ed moon doing of an o;As better!quot;  t Aravis. Sry and ed every minute of  ime in tashbaan.

    epped asrees, cut off t. But so find t  Sa  as o to  and saombs. And  no last, brave girl t quailed. Supposing t  there!

    Supposing t suck out tle bit of  ongue too)

    and  straigohem.

    But before she groom.

    quot;You can go back to your mistress no; said Aravis (quite forgetting t  , until ty gates opened next morning). quot;here is money for your pains.¡±

    quot;to o obey,quot; said t once set off at a remarkable  speed in tion of ty. to tell o make e:  ghouls.

    For t feting t as if te ordinary horses.

    quot;And a! to t; said Bree.

    Aravis looked round, and t enouga w  of  he groom going away.

    quot;And no; said Aravis. quot;t a moment to lose.quot; And in y  Rabadasion.

    quot;treac; said Bree, samping ;An attack in time of peace,  defiance sent! But well grease s  for here before he is.¡±

    quot;Can ; said Aravis, s.

    quot;Broo; snorted Bree. quot;Up you get, Sa. Can art too!¡±

    quot;o start at once,quot; said Aravis.

    quot;ts alk,quot; said Bree. quot;But you dont get a company of tualled and armed and saddled and started all  in a minute.

    Noion? Due North?

    quot;No,quot; said Sa. quot;I kno t. Ive draer. Bear a bit to our left, bot is!¡±

    quot;No; said Bree. quot;All t about galloping for a day and a nigories, cant really be done. It must be rot: but brisk trots and s walks.  And wwo oo. Now. Are you ready, h!¡±

    At first it  finis it  tion and as far as t er or a great silver  tray. Except for t a sound to be a  and hen.

    to last for ime er t t iced t  of tle more clearly to  notice t grey flatness on every side. It looked absolutely dead, like someta felt quite terribly tired and noticed t ting cold  and t ime ts, and t Propputtypropputty as it he dry sand.

    At last, after  treak of paler grey, loreak of red. It   last, but  a single bird to sing about it. s  now, for han ever.

    t. turned yello re ta and  Pire, far a and Sa satle out of t;A bit left, a bit left,quot; . Best of all, ombs e invisible:  s single, jagged-edged y of tisroc.  Everyone felt better.

    But not for long. tas sa, it refused to look any furt on. Sa gave up looking back at  it, for it only gave  t moving at all. t  became a nuisance.

    t nt s t scre Mount Pire and sing out  directions.

    t. iced it for t time  and  from it struck up into  time it  time, as  touc one foot back in tirrup and ther half over Brees back before you could have said knife.

    quot;Sorry, Bree,quot; ;I cant  burns my feet.quot; quot;Of course!quot;  panted Bree.

    quot;S of t myself. Stay on. Cant be helped.¡±

    quot;Its all rig; said Sa to Aravis  shoes on.¡±

    Aravis said nots  mean to, but she  did.

    On again, trot and rot, jingle-jingle-jingle, squeak-squeak- squeak, smell of   self, blinding glare,  all  different for mile after mile. tasains  t  self.

    Of course one tried all sorts of games o try to make time  pass: and of course tried very  to t in a palace in taser tinkling  creamy enoug too creamy - and tried not to t.

    At last t - a mass of rock sticking up out of  t fifty yards long and ty feet  did not cast muc it cast a little. Into t se some food and drank a little er. It is not easy giving a  of a skin  bottle, but Bree and he children  were pale.

    After a very s rest t on again. Same noises, same smells, same  glare, till at last to fall on t, and t longer and  longer till to stretc to tern end of to tern  last  coming up from till as bad as  ever. Four pairs of eyes  eagerly for any sign of t  Sallo. But, mile after mile, t level  sand. And noe definitely done, and most of tars , and  still t and  till ta - in trange, barking  voice of someone :  quot;t is!¡±

    taking it nole to t, t last a slope: a slope doired to speak but to and in a minute or tering t first it   in t, for tuffiness bet. tinued

    steeply doo t of  cliffs. to meet vegetation - prickly cactus-like plants and coarse grass of  t ones instead of sand. Round every bend of t er. t trengtumbling and panting;  last to a little muddiness and a tiny trickle of er ter and better grass. And trickle became a brook, and tream ream became a river and ter more  disappointments t le cataract of er poured into a broad pool: and bot;O-o-o; said  Sa and plunged in - it  up to ooped  into  taract. It  in his life.

    It  ten minutes later wwo c  nearly all over)

    came out and began to notice to peep doo t grass on botrees and buso t   s and most delicious smells. And out of t  recess among trees ta ingale.

    Everyone ired to speak or to eat. t ing  to be unsaddled, lay do once. So did Aravis and Sa.

    About ten minutes later t;But nt go to sleep.  eve got to keep a Rabadash.¡±

    quot;No,quot; said Bree very slo;Mustnt go sleep. Just a little rest.¡±

    Sa kne) t to sleep if  get  up and do somet it, and felt t  to. In fact   up and persuade to go on. But presently; not yet: not just yet...

    Very soon tingale sang over two wo   asleep.

    It ed. quot;Its my fault,quot; so ;One  expect o keep  aer a days , even if talk. And of course t Boy  ;  training. But I ougo ter.¡±

    tupid heir sleep.

    quot;Neig; said Bree. quot;Been sleeping in my saddle, e again. Most uncomfortable-¡±

    quot;O; said Aravis. quot;eve lost  a moment to spare.¡±

    quot;A fello to ; said Bree.

    Im afraid  ,quot; said Aravis.

    quot;s terrible ; said Bree. quot;eve crossed t,   we?¡±

    quot;But  in Arc,quot; said Aravis. quot;And  to get there  before Rabadash.¡±

    quot;O be miles a; said Bree. quot;  t Raven friend of yours say t cut, Sa?¡±

    quot; say anyt ser,quot; ans;ter, because you got to a river tashis may be longer.¡±

    quot;ell I cant go on  a snack,quot; said Bree. quot;take my bridle off,  Sa.¡±

    quot;P-please,quot; said ;I feel just like Bree t I cant go  on. But en made to go on  o be able to do even more, no s all for Narnia.¡±

    quot;I t; said Bree very crus;t I knotle more  about campaigns and forced marc a and than you do.¡±

    to t le person y se rigarkaan on  t moment to make   one of t results of  being a slave and being forced to do t  the power of forcing yourself.

    So to   must  going again. And even took tly terday. It he pace.

    tself, s bro it made you  to ride  slowly.

 CHAPTER TEN

    t OF tER t  and  t , o t, to. Beyond tful country rose gently in loains to t to to t, pine-clad  slopes, froretc Mount Pire. Straigain  range sank to a o  Narnia.

    quot;Broo-; neigainly t Aravis and Sa, s rose as ttered doo ters-meet of two rivers.

    tern-flo  tern end of too s and too broken o  t; but after some casting about, up and doo ter of er, t s tlocks, tirring air and ting dragon-flies, filled  Sa range excitement.

    quot;Friends, ;I t river  crossed is called  the inding Arrow.¡±

    quot;I ime,quot; murmured hwin.

    teep. It ry . Scattered  trees, never to be a forest, ree-less grassland, ) t  cnuts. Rabbits scurried aion as tly trees.

    quot;Isnt it simply glorious!quot; said Aravis.

    At t ridge Sa turned in tas, unbroken except by travelled doo the horizon.

    quot;; ;s t!¡±

    quot;s ; said Bree, turning round. he same.

    quot;t,quot; said Sa, pointing. quot;It looks like smoke. Is it a fire?¡±

    quot;Sand-storm, I s; said Bree.

    quot;Not muco raise it,quot; said Aravis.

    quot;O; exclaimed ;Look! t. Look! ts - and armour. And its moving: moving this way.¡±

    quot;By tas; said Aravis. quot;Its ts Rabadash.¡±

    quot;O is,quot; said ;Just   get to Anvard before it.quot; And  anotossed he same.

    quot;Come on, Bree, come on,quot; yelled Aravis over her shoulder.

    topped eac; and t direction, no one kneo Anvard. From top of  ta looked back again. Instead of a dust-cloud  in t s, on tless looking for a ford.

    quot;t; he yelled wildly.

    quot;Quick! Quick!quot; sed Aravis. quot;e mig  all if   reacime. Gallop, Bree, gallop. Remember youre a war-horse.¡±

    It o prevent ing out similar  instructions; but , quot;t; and ongue. And certainly bot all t t quite t up urf. It didnt look as if  up much longer.

    At t moment everyones feelings ely altered by a sound from  be  ting to tle-cries. Yet Sa kne at  once. It  moonlit nig met  Aravis and  too.  back on

    really been going as fast - not quite  as fast - as a felt t once. No.  In a fehey were well ahead of hwin.

    quot;Its not fair,quot; t Sa. quot;I did think wed be safe from lions  here!¡±

    oo clear. A aure, its body loo t streaking across to a tree o t was nearer every second  and half second.

    take in, or even  t. t ten feet  e, open. In teood a tall  man dressed, doo , in a robe coloured like autumn leaves, leaning on a  straigaff.

    to his knees.

    Sa sa  got hwin now.

    It  here was no hope now in her  foamflecked, wide-eyed face.

    quot;Stop,quot; bello;Must go back. Must help!¡±

    Bree aler ood trut accept his word.

    Sa slipped  out of tirrups, slid bot side, ated for one

    before   aggering back to  now.

    One of t terrible noises in the world, a horses scream, broke from  hwins lips.

    Aravis ooping lorying to draw  her sword.

    And no on top of  Sa. Before ts  Aravis s riga could see all terrible claended. Aravis screamed and reeled in tearing  her shoulders.

    Sa, o lurcoe.  even a stick or a stone. ed out, idiotically, at t a dog. quot;Go ; For a fraction of a second aring rigo its  wideopened,

    raging mouto ter astonis, till on its self suddenly, turned self up, and rushed away.

    Sa did not for a moment suppose it urned and  raced for te in t time, umbling and nearly fainting,  entering te: Aravis still  kept  but h blood.

    quot;Come in, my daug; t;Come in, my sonquot; as Sa panted up to e closed  beranger was already helping Aravis off her horse.

    tly circular enclosure, protected by a urf. A pool of perfectly still er, so full t ter   exactly level  one end of tely  overs s branc and most beautiful tree t Sa tle lo  tcing and over at ts. tely covered  grass.

    quot;Are - are - are you,quot; panted Sa. quot;Are you King Lune of Archenland?¡±

    t;No,quot;  voice, quot;I am t of te no time on questions, but obey. t. Rabadas t finding a ford  over t a moments rest, you ill be  in time to warn King Lune.¡±

    Sas  fainted at t rengt.  And  y and unfairness of t  yet learned t if you do one good deed your reo be set to do anotter one. But all  loud ;he King?¡±

    t turned and pointed aff. quot;Look,quot; ;te, rige to tered by. Open it and go straigraigeep, over smoot. I kno t you raig run, run: always run.¡±

    Sa nodded o te and disappeared beyond it.  t took Aravis, ing   arm, and o ter a long time  again.

    quot;No; o t;It is your turn.¡±

    it ing for an ansoo exed to speak  - ook t a groom in a Kings stable could not  better.

    quot;t; ;dismiss it all from your minds and be  comforted. er and t mass.¡±

    quot;Sir,quot; said  last, quot;arkhe lion killed her?¡±

    quot;I ,quot; replied t ; little knoure. t knos tonig be of  good hope.

    to live as long as any of her age.¡±

    o  sraordinary softness in a cool, bare room one.  S understand o turn  and felt t, burning pains all over  understand   was made of  bedding) and hing she had never  seen or heard of.

    t entered, carrying a large ting to t;er?¡±

    quot;My back is very sore, fat; said Aravis, quot;but th me.¡±

    beside  her pulse.

    quot;t; ;You  get up tomorro nohis.¡±

    c to  asted it, for goats milk is rat used  to it. But sy and managed to drink it all and felt better when she had  finished.

    quot;No. quot;For your  s of a  range lion; for  instead-of catc of tting eeto you, en scratc not deep or dangerous.¡±

    quot;I say!quot; said Aravis. quot;I have had luck.¡±

    quot;Daug; said t, quot;I ers  in t met any suc all  t I do not understand: but if ever o kno, you may be sure t we  shall.¡±

    quot;And  Rabadaswo ; asked Aravis.

    quot;t pass t; said t. quot;t o t of us. From try to ride straigo  Anvard.¡±

    quot;Poor Sa!quot; said Aravis. quot;o go? ill  t?¡±

    quot;t,quot; said the old man.

    Aravis lay do;ime? It seems to be getting dark.¡±

    t  of t;t t,quot; ly. quot;tormness head.

    Our foul s. tonight.¡±

    Next day, except for  so  after  breakfast ( out to speak to t green  enclosure  green cup, . It .

    once trotted across to Aravis and gave her a horse-kiss.

    quot;But h and sleep.

    quot;Over t; said ing o t;And I o  get a   of him.¡±

    trolled across and found Bree lying o urned his head or spoke a word.

    quot;Good morning, Bree,quot; said Aravis. quot;his morning?¡±

    Bree muttered somet no one could hear.

    quot;t says t Sa probably got to King Lune in time,quot; continued  Aravis, quot;so it looks as if all our troubles are over. Narnia, at last, Bree!¡±

    quot;I s; said Bree in a low voice.

    quot;Arent you ; said Aravis.

    Bree turned round at last, his face mournful as only a horses can be.

    quot;I so Calormen,quot; he said.

    quot;?quot; said Aravis. quot;Back to slavery!¡±

    quot;Yes,quot; said Bree. quot;Slavery is all Im fit for.  a mare and a girl and a boy to be eaten by  lions ched skin!¡±

    quot;e all ran as ; said hwin.

    quot;Sa didnt!quot; snorted Bree. quot;At least  direction: ran  back. And t is o be beaten by a little ure or example in his life!¡±

    quot;I kno; said Aravis. quot;I felt just ta  as bad as you, Bree. Ive been snubbing  us  and no to be t of us all. But I t ter to  stay and say o go back to Calormen.¡±

    quot;Its all very ; said Bree. quot;You  disgraced yourself.  But Ive lost everything.¡±

    quot;My good ; said t, tle noise on t s, de;My good  not your self-conceit. No, no, cousin. Dont put back your ears and s me. If you are really so e ago, you must  learn to listen to sense. Youre not quite t o t. It doesnt follo youll be anyone very special in Narnia.  But as long as you kno sort of aking one ted  cousin o tc t  mash.¡±

 CHAPTER ELEVEN

    tRAVELLER

    a  te tle  o some trees. o t noo make: o run, and t e enougerrible stitc t kept dropping into . eady on  too, and more turned one.

    trees  been and in t making it any cooler. It , grey days  even try to soo muco do.

    Suddenly  a great tas a merry call, ti-ro-to-to- moment  into a wide glade and  found himself in a crowd of people.

    At least, it looked a croo y t fifteen or  ty of tlemen in green ingdress, anding by tre someone o mount. And t for , fat,  applecwinkling eyed King you could imagine.

    As soon as Sa came in sig all about mounting  o Sa,  up, and  in a great, deep  voice t seemed to come from ttom of :  quot;Corin! My son! And on foot, and in rags! -¡±

    quot;No,quot; panted Sa, s;Not Prince Corin. I - I - know Im  like as ings.¡±

    taring at Sa raordinary expression on his  face.

    quot;Are you K-King Lune?quot; gasped Sa. And t ing for an  ans;Lord King - fly - Anvard s tes - enemies upon you - Rabadaswo  hundred horse.¡±

    quot;; asked one of tlemen.

    quot;My o; said Sa. quot;Ive seen tashbaan.¡±

    quot;On foot?quot; said tleman, raising tle.

    ,quot; said Sa.

    quot;Question ; said King Lune. quot;I see trut ride for it, gentlemen. A spare ,  friend?¡±

    For ans  in tirrup of toer  a imes   fe no  first nig ack.

    o o t;true  , Sire. Ill  theres noble blood in him.¡±

    quot;,quot; said tared   Sa again  curious expression, almost a eady, grey  eyes.

    But by noy  a brisk canter. Sas seat   but  to do ouc  of to see  parties e sure o use) and tried to get . But  dare to try really directing trusted it . t a talking  it e s enougo realize t trange boy on its back  really master of tuation. t ail  end of the procession.

    Even so, ty fast. t oo. And  time since t tas seemed!) o enjoy himself.

    o see ain tops o ment  see t all: only a vague greyness, rolling  dooain country before and ;Its  a cloud,quot; o ;a cloud coming down. I see. Up he sky.

    I s t fun! Ive often  ; Far atle beting ready to set.

    to a roug Sas ill t of t. Once or t on eac)  sigwo.

    to the world  became grey.

    Sa  realized  the inside of a cloud would be;  nor how dark.

    turned to black h alarming speed.

    Someone at time ttle fart see any of t of course o as soon as  round t bend. But  see t  all. his horse was  walking now.

    quot;Get on,  on,quot; said Sa. t. Bree  old   keep urned out, and Sa   t someterrible . quot;Look ; ;if  you dont buck up, do you kno;  took no notice of t. So Sa settled eeth his heels as hard as he could.

    t  to a kind of pretence of a trot  for five or six paces and to a  e dark and  to  eady drip-drip from  trees.

    quot;ell, I suppose even a  us some; said Sa  to ;I only  run into Rabadash and his people.¡±

    on for ime, al a  o feel very hungry.

    Presently o a place led by a noise from be rotting ;Rabadas; t Sa. ake. quot;But if I take one,quot; said Sa to ;ake tay at to be caug; ed and  led -hand road.

    te or t t ting to see wake.

    t;!quot; t of rils bloed. then a voice  spoke.

    quot;Attend, all of you,quot; it said. quot;e are nole.  Remember your orders. Once tle as possible. On ture you are to regard every drop of Narnian blood as  more precious ture, I say. t leave notern  aste. But  yet in Narnia.  is anot on tle of King Lunes, notters but speed. Stle. It must  be mine

    is, I give it all to you. I reserve no booty for  myself. Kill me every barbarian male s o t erday, and everyto divide as you please - t I see o tes sasible, the inexorable  forward!¡±

    it cloppitty-clop to move, and Sa breataken ther road.

    Sa t took a long time going past, for talking and t quot;t last trees.

    o Anvard but of course  no  o troopers. quot; on earto do?quot; said Sa to  ed inued along t tage o Aravis and Bree and  tage, but  because by no idea of tion.

    quot;After all,quot; said Sa, quot;to get to somewhere.¡±

    But t all depends on ting to some got to more and more trees, all dark and  dripping, and to colder and colder air. And strange, icy  blo past   aain country  t  at top of t Sa kne mountains.

    quot;I do t; said Sa, quot;t I must be t unfortunate boy t  ever lived in t for everyone except me. t safe aas be old : of course I  on. King Lune and   safely into tle and s tes  long before Rabadas I get left out.¡±

    And being very tired and  so sorry for   tears rolled down his cheeks.

    put a stop to all t. Sa discovered t  someone or somebody cly t falls.  o breata got t it ure. And  o

    notice t

    was a horrible shock.

    It darted into   ts  in tries.  error. But no o cry about, opped crying.

    t  on beside ly t  Sa began to . But just as e sure of  it, t of t  couldnt be imagination! Any breat sig hand.

    If to get any good out  of t  make t  on at a  last  no  longer.

    quot;; he said, scarcely above a whisper.

    quot;One o speak,quot; said ts voice  loud, but very large and deep.

    quot;Are you- are you a giant?quot; asked Sa.

    quot;You mig,quot; said t;But I am not like tures you call giants.¡±

    quot;I cant see you at all,quot; said Sa, after staring very errible idea o  in a scream, quot;Youre  not - not somet  person in the whole world!¡±

    Once more  t;t; it said, quot;t is not t. tell me your sorrows.¡±

    Sa tle reassured by told  up sternly by told tory of o sas  among tombs  and s   of t. And old about t and  t of t journey and  at t .

    quot;I do not call you unfortunate,quot; said the Large Voice.

    quot;Dont you t o meet so many lions?quot; said Sa.

    quot;t; said the Voice.

    quot; on eart told you t least t night, and-¡±

    quot;t  of foot.¡±

    quot;how do you know?¡±

    quot;I ; And as Sa gaped inued. quot;I o join  . I rengt mile so t you sime. And I  remember  came to s,  midnigo receive you.¡±

    quot;t was you who wounded Aravis?¡±

    quot;It was I¡±

    quot;But w for?¡±

    quot;C; said t;I am telling you your story, not ell no  one any story but his own.¡±

    quot;; asked Sa.

    quot;Myself,quot; said t t;Myselfquot;, loud and clear and gay: and time quot;Myselfquot;,  it seemed to come from all round you as if tled .

    Sa  to somet   it . But a ne sort of trembling  came over him.

    Yet  glad too.

    t urning from black to grey and from grey to   o ime ago, but o t  been noticing anyteness around eness; o blink. Some last. e easily now.

    A golden lig.  it he sun.

    urned and sa seem to be afraid of it or else could not see it. It   t came.

    No one ever saerrible or beautiful.

    Luckily Sa oo far souto ales t  appeared in  true stories about Aslan, t Lion, t  after one glance at t of t its  feet.  say anyt t  to say anyt  say anything.

    tooped torange and solemn perfume t  t toucs tongue. ed . tantly tness of t and tness of togeto a shere were birds singing.

 CHAPTER TWELVE

    SA IN NARNIA  quot;AS it all a dream?quot;  it couldnt  of t rig took ones breato t t could make a footprint like  t. But t it. As  it,  er tom of it. Soon it o ttle stream was running down he grass.

    Sa stooped and drank - a very long drink - and t remely cold, and clear as glass, and refreser t ood up, ser out of   o take stock of his surroundings.

    Apparently it ill very early morning. t risen,  and it  of ts ry j ely neo   a green valley-land  dotted rees t t . On t tains erday. to guess  where he was.

    urned and looked be tanding belonged to a range of far ains.

    quot;I see,quot; said Sa to ;tains bet .  luck t I  it! - at least it  luck at all  really, it was him. And now Im in Narnia.¡±

    urned and unsaddled ook off its bridle - quot;tly ;  took no notice of tely  began eating grass. t a.

    quot;I ; t Sa. quot;Its no good going back to  Anvard, itll all be besieged. Id better get loo t  anyto eat.¡±

    So  on doill o a rack running t and   folloes wo him.

    quot;Good morning, neighbour.¡±

    Sa looked round eagerly to find tly sa come out from among trees. At least, it   very big indeed for a  it was.

    quot;Good morning,quot; said Sa. quot;But Im not a neig Im a  stranger in ts.¡±

    quot;A; said the hedgehog inquiringly.

    quot;Ive come over tains - from Archenland, you know.¡±

    quot;; said t;ts a terrible long here myself.¡±

    quot;And I t; said Sa, quot;someone ougo be told t ttacking Anvard at t.¡±

    quot;You dont say so!quot; ans;ell, t. And t Calormen is  at t sea of sand.¡±

    quot;Its not nearly as far as you t; said Sa. quot;And oug someto be done about ttack on Anvard? Oug your o be told?¡±

    quot;Certain sure, somet to be done about it,quot; said t;But you see Im just on my o bed for a good days sleep. hullo, neighbour!¡±

    t o an immense biscuitcoloured rabbit old t   learned from Sa. t agreed t t somebody ougo tell someone about it o doing  something.

    And so it  on. Every fees tures,  some from ttle underground  t,  till ty consisted of five rabbits, a squirrel, t-foot faun, and a  mouse,  time and all agreed rut in t golden age  Cair Paravel, t tting a little careless.

    Presently, ical people arrived in ttle ag, a beautiful  lordly creature  two fingers.

    quot;Lion alive!quot; roared t;And if  ts so, ill, ctering? Enemies at Anvard! Ne be sent  to Cair Paravel at once. t be called out. Narnia must go to the aid of  King Lune.¡±

    quot;A; said t;But you  find t to trouncing ts. And talking of giants, neig puts  me in mind -¡±

    quot;ake our message?quot; interrupted t;Anyone  more  speed than me?¡±

    quot;Ive got speed,quot; said tag. quot;s my message? how many Calormenes?¡±

    quot;t tag  once, and in a moment its ern er trees.

    quot;onder . quot; find t  Cair Paravel, you know.¡±

    quot;; said Duffle. quot;And ts  looks pretty green. s quite faint. Pers mortal   er?¡±

    quot;Yesterday morning,quot; said Sa weakly.

    quot;Come on, t; said t once ttle  arms round Sas  to support ; all to be as! Better talking.¡±

    it deal of bustle, muttering reproaco itself, ted Sa at a great speed furto ttle  doa ed at t moment and o  feel very s from trees on to bare tle o t,  quot;or for breakfast.¡±

    And immediately, mixed o Sa a simply  delig , the smell of bacon and eggs and mushrooms all frying in a pan.

    quot;Mind your ; said Duffle a moment too late, for Sa  tel of t;No; continued t;sit you down.

    tables a bit lo tools looo. ts right.  And heres porridge - and heres a jug of cream - and heres a spoon.¡±

    By time Sa ting t and t milk, and toast, on table.

    It o Sa for Calormene food is quite  different.  even knouff   before.  kno toast  oil instead of butter. And tself  e different from ty, fis of Arsed ase cable-clottle curtains on t roublesome o use des and knives and  forks. t t  t many  Sas plate or cup , and every moment t;Butter pleasequot;, or quot;Anot; or quot;Id like a  fe; about frying anot; And  ten as mucs for side to a benc ttage retc t sigentment and t t been a lig would oo .

    quot;Noranger,quot; said Duffle, quot;Ill s a,

    beyond t see tern Mountains. And t  round  is called tone table. Just beyond -¡±

    But at t moment errupted by a snore from Sa s journey and  breakfast,  asleep. ticed to eac to ing up and -tiptoeing a tainly would ired.

    pretty  ime for supper. t oo small for  tirred nor dreamed all nig morning t finis side.

    quot;trumpets!quot; said all ta all came running out.

    trumpets sounded again: a neo Sa, not asing  clear and  s. to t, and soon t. A moment later to  sight.

    First came t banner of  Narnia - a red lion on a green ground. Sa kne, t c and a mail  s and carried a bo; er t  came talking   mind being ridden on proper occasions, as o aurs,  stern, ten bears, great talking Dogs, and last of all six giants. For ts in Narnia. But t side Sa at first  could o look at t take a lot of getting used to.

    Just as ttage and to t,  quot;Noime for a  and a morsel!quot; and at once t  bustle of people dismounting and ion beginning  ;! You  t? I am glad. Now we s.

    And isnt it luck! e only got into  Cair Paravel yesterday  morning and t person tack on Anvard. Dont you think -¡±

    quot;; said King Edmund  off his  horse.

    quot;Dont you see, Sire?quot; said Corin. quot;Its my double: took me  for at tashbaan.¡±

    quot;; exclaimed Queen Lucy. quot;As like as thing.¡±

    quot;Please, your Majesty,quot; said Sa to King Edmund, quot;I raitor,  really I .

    And I couldnt  Id never elling to your enemies.¡±

    quot;I kno you raitor, boy,quot; said King Edmund, laying as ;But if you  be taken for one, anotime try not  to s meant for ot alls well.¡±

    After t tle and talk and coming and going t  Sa for a fees lost sig Corin  of  boy y soon and it  very long before Sa  ;By too mucter? You are more of a s-scald toget of s in my command as you.¡±

    Sa le asrange Dting on tly just been   out of its armour.

    quot;If I  my cordial ; Queen Lucy ;I could soon  mend t trictly c to carry it commonly to to keep it only for great extremities!¡±

    o Sa, Corins  elbow .

    quot; is it, t?quot; Corin had said.

    quot;Your Royal ; said t, dra to your royal fatle. e may be in  battle before night.¡±

    quot;I kno; said Corin. quot;Isnt it splendid!¡±

    quot;Splendid or not,quot; said t, quot;I rictest orders from King  Edmund to see to it t your  in t. You o see it,  and ts treat enougtle years.¡±

    quot;O nonsense!quot; Corin burst out. quot;Of course Im going to figo be he archers.¡±

    quot;t; said t. quot;But you are in  my charge.

    Eit  youll keep your pony  beside mine - not ill I give your o depart: or  else - it is ys  go s tied togetwo  prisoners.¡±

    quot;Ill knock you dory to bind me,quot; said Corm.

    quot;Id like to see your ,quot; said the Dwarf.

    t e enoug it ongs. It oug it s t of fig trod on  a loose stone, came flat doo get up t ing sprain  a fortnight.

    quot;See ;Deprived us of a  proved tle.¡±

    quot;Ill take ; said Corin.

    quot;Ps; said Edmund. quot;No one doubts your courage. But a boy in battle is a  danger only to his own side.¡±

    At t moment to attend to someter apologizing o to Sa and  it on before  anyone notices.¡±

    quot; for?quot; said Sa.

    quot; you and I can figtle of course! Dont you   to?¡±

    quot;O; said Sa. But  been t all, and began to get a most uncomfortable prickly feeling in his spine.

    quot;ts rig; said Corin. quot;Over your . But  ride near tail of t as mice. Once ttle begins  everyone oo busy to notice us.¡±

 CHAPTER THIRTEEN

    t At ANVARD  By about eleven oclock tains on t. Corin and Sa rode rig  ts immediately in front of ttle and t;But where is his goosecap  highness?¡±

    Edmund only replied, quot;Not in t, and ts good news enough. Leave  well alone.¡±

    Sa told Corin most of ures and explained t  really knoructed  elling  t sailing from tashbaan.

    quot;And whe Queen Susan?¡±

    quot;At Cair Paravel,quot; said Corin. quot;S like Lucy, you knoe as good as a boy. Queen Susan is more like an ordinary groo t archer.¡±

    time  and t eeper. At last ta so t   nig kno. quot;But of course,quot; , quot;I e safe. t is . ime.¡±

    t left and sout and t steeply up and up into top if it  among all trees  you could see notree-tops, and an eagle or two whe blue air.

    quot;ttle,quot; said Corin, pointing at t;them.¡±

    Sa didnt like t all.

    a could see all Archenland, blue and  hazy, spread

    out belo beyond it. But t set,  distinctly.

    ed and spread out in a line, and t deal  of rearranging. A alking Beasts iced before and  kind (leopards, panthe like)

    padding and groo take up tions on t. ts o t, and before going took off somet do. ta sa ting on s: s o ttle position. to t see tested trings. And ing on s, drao talking no ;Im in for it no no; t Sa. ting and a steady t;Battering ram,quot; tering te.¡±

    Even Corin looked quite serious now.

    quot; King Edmund get on?quot; ;I can stand ting  about. Coo.¡±

    Sa nodded:  look as frig.

    trumpet at last! On trotting treaming  out in topped lo; a little, many-tole s gate to,  unfortunately, but of course te s and tcullis dotle s, t fifty of ted, eadily s tree trunk against te. But  at once t ready to  assault te. But norained. It seemed to Sa only a second  before a   tohem.

    And no.  Faster, faster. All s noeeth clenched.

    Sa  suddenly came into ;If  you funk ttle all your life. Now or never.¡±

    But  t tler idea of y soon. And  tangled someraig o avoid it  off  knuckles terribly against someone elses armour,  and t it is no use trying to describe ttle from Sas point of vieoo little of t in general and even of  in it. t ell you ake you some miles ao  gazing into tree, h Bree  and hwin and Aravis beside him.

    For it  t looked o knoside tage. t certain times, reets of cities far  fartas sting into Rede Seven  Isles, or s stirred in t estern forests betern  aste and telmar. And all t o eat or drink,  for  great events  in Arco  it too. t ead of reflecting tree and t revealed cloudy and coloured ss dept t could and from time to time old t tle o  battle, t ;I see one - tormness  of all t be out unless battle  o and fro, peering doimes at Anvard and sometimes to t, beormness. A Rabadas all day. t tree and t of t as a ram.

    t nig.  o making ladders: but it takes too long and ient.

    Fool t  to o tas attack failed, for o position. King Lunes men are sing  not many  trusted lords, fierce tarkaans  from tern provinces. I can see tle  tormunt, and Azrooed lip, and a tall tarkaan h a  crimson beard -¡±

    quot;By ter Anradin!quot; said Bree.

    quot;S-s-slyquot; said Aravis.

    quot;Noarted. If I could  a noise t  would make!

    Stroke after stroke: and no gate can stand it for ever. But ! Sometormness  in masses. And   again . . . I cant see yet . . . a, is black h  horsemen. If

    only tc standard and spread it out. ts the  red lion.

    the archers. Oh! -¡±

    quot; is it?quot; asked hlessly.

    quot;All s are das from t of the line.¡±

    quot;Cats?quot; said Aravis.

    quot;Great cats, leopards and suc; said t impatiently. quot;I see, I  see. ts are coming round in a circle to get at ted men. A good  stroke. terror already. Nos are in among  t Rabadaso meet ty. I can see King Edmund, I can see t to let to battle? Only ten  yards - t. ts on t are doing   ones down . . .

    s tres all in a muddle. I can see  more on t.

    ts your little Sa. Corm is fig of tre no t ted them -¡±

    quot; about Sa?quot; said Aravis.

    quot;O; groaned t. quot;Poor, brave little fool.  t all of  test idea o do  no . . . nearly cut  if  careful. Its been knocked out of s mere murder sending a  co ttle;  live five minutes. Duck you fool - oh, hes down.¡±

    quot;Killed?quot; asked thlessly.

    quot;ell?quot; said t. quot;ts reat for ts are turning back into ttle. tes are opening from to be a  sortie. t t. Its King Lune in tran and Sen - ty - nearly ty of t by norokes.  slashed  Corradins head off.

    Lots of Calormenes  remain are s are closing in on t - Cats  on t -

    King Lune from ttle knot now, figo back.

    Your tarkaans do it ing in te of tle. Several Calormenes  see le  I dont knotle is over everyterly defeated.¡±

    a fell off . But tle, tread on er a very  en minutes or so Sa realized suddenly t tamping about in te neig till a good many noises going on)  of a battle.  up and stared  about him.

    Even tle as tles, could soon see t tle  gates ering ram. From ted, but obviously cion. And t  all united and so a great roar of laughter.

    Sa. picked iff, and ran too see  met unate  Rabadaso be suspended from tle   from t  c of getting into a stiff s  t is a little too small for  afterory alked over for many a day) le one of ts amp at Rabadas: unsuccessful because it didnt crus t ended, but not quite useless because one of tore t as you or I migear an ordinary s. So Rabadasime ered  Edmund at te, o ting block and stood t t tion, by  raising o jump doo look and sound - no doubt for a  moment ;t of tas; But o jump side of   direction. And test  on a  for tying o.) And to dry,  him.

    quot;Let me do; ;Let me do a coo do t, kill me at once.¡±

    quot;Certainly,quot; began King Edmund, but King Lune interrupted.

    quot;By your Majestys good leave,quot; said King Lune to Edmund. quot;Not so.quot; turning to Rabadas;Your royal  c to t talking Mouse,  by attacking our  castle of Anvard in time of peace  defiance sent, you , but a traitor, and one rato be o  cross sake ill our pleasure is further known.¡±

    Strong o tle, sing, tening, cursing, and even crying. For torture  bear being made ridiculous. In tasaken him seriously.

    At t moment Corin ran up to Sa, seized arted dragging  o;; cried Corin.

    quot;Aye, and , at last,quot; said t;And bast been in ttle, clean contrary to your obedience. A boy to break a fat!  At your age a rod to your breecter t, ; But everyone,  including Corin, could see t the King was very proud of him.

    quot;C please you,quot; said Lord Darrin. quot; be your son if  in your conditions. It y more if o be reproved for te fault.¡±

    quot;ell, ; grumbled t;ell pass it over for time. And no;

    came next surprised Sa as muc o  ;Stand oget all t see you. lemen, look on  th.

    s?¡±

    And still Sa could not understand

    Corin nor .

 CHAPTER FOURTEEN

    nourn to Aravis and t, co tell t Sa  killed or even seriously ely ed by King Lune. But as   knoing opped and talking   he pool any longer.

    Next morning,  t.

    quot;Ive ; said ;t o us  and Im very muco  Im getting as fat as a pet pony, eating  all day and getting no exercise. Lets go on to Narnia.¡±

    quot;O today, Maam,quot; said Bree. quot;I   you think?¡±

    quot;e must see Sa first and say good-bye to ;  said Aravis.

    quot;Exactly!quot; said Bree  ent;Just o say.¡±

    quot;O; said ;I expect urally s on our art at once?  After all, I t it ed to get to?¡±

    quot;I suppose so,quot; said Aravis. So ly s ttle lonely.

    quot;Of course, of course,quot; said Bree ily. quot;But to rus I mean.¡±

    quot;No, I dont kno; said ; you  to go?¡±

    quot;M-m-m, broo-; muttered Bree. quot;ell, dont you see, Maam - its an  important occasion - returning to ones country - entering society - t society  - it is so essential to make a good impression - not pere ourselves, yet, eh?¡±

    into a ;Its your tail, Bree! I see it all no to  till your tails gro even knoails are worn long  in Narnia.

    Really, Bree, youre as vain as t tarkashbaan!¡±

    quot;You are silly, Bree,quot; said Aravis.

    quot;By tark,quot; said Bree  indignantly. quot;I  for myself and for my fellow s all.¡±

    quot;Bree,quot; said Aravis, erested in t of ail,  quot;Ive been ing to ask you sometime.  you ed lions.¡±

    quot;So I do,quot; ans;But w deliverer of Narnia wcer. All  Narnians swear by him.¡±

    quot;But is he a lion?¡±

    quot;No, no, of course not,quot; said Bree in a rather shocked voice.

    quot;All tories about as; replied Aravis. quot;And if   a lion why do you call him a lion?¡±

    quot;ell, youd and t at your age,quot; said Bree. quot;And I tle foal  quite fully understand it myself.¡±

    (Bree anding o tone ; t o aring eyes; because self on top of t iful and more  alarming t once it jumped do made no noise at all. And  make any noise they were frozen.)

    quot;No doubt,quot; continued Bree, quot;o our enemies, of course) as fierce as a lion. Or  somet kind. Even a little girl like you, Aravis, must see t it e  absurd to suppose  ful. If o be a Beast just like t of us. ; (and o laug;If ail, and hiskers! . . . Aie, ooh, hoo-hoo! help!¡±

    For just as ually tickled   ao turned; too o jump and arted back.

    t a second of intense silence.

    trange little neigrotted across to the Lion.

    quot;Please,quot; s;youre so beautiful. You may eat me if you like. Id  sooner be eaten by you than fed by anyone else.¡±

    quot;Dearest daug; said Aslan, planting a lions kiss on c nose, quot;I kne be long in coming to me. Joy shall be yours.¡±

    ted his head and spoke in a louder voice.

    quot;No; ;you poor, proud frigill, my son.

    Do not dare not to dare. toucail, true Beast.¡±

    quot;Aslan,quot; said Bree in a s;Im afraid I must be rather a fool.¡±

    quot; er. See! My paed. You  be torn  time.¡±

    quot;time, sir?quot; said Aravis.

    quot;It ;I am t in all  your journeyings. Do you know wore you?¡±

    quot;No, sir.¡±

    quot;tcear for tear, to tripes laid on tepmot upon o kno felt like.¡±

    quot;Yes, sir. Please-¡±

    quot;Ask on, my dear,quot; said Aslan.

    quot;ill any more o  I did?¡±

    quot;C; said t;I am telling you your story, not old any story but t; ter voice.

    quot;Be merry, little ones,quot; ;e s soon again. But before  t you ; top of t.

    Strange to say, t no inclination to talk to one anot er he had gone.

    to different parts of t grass and to and fro, eachinking.

    About er to eat somet t  ready for till  artled by trumpet outside te.

    quot;; asked Aravis.

    quot;; said a voice from outside.

    Aravis undid t, dratle o let trangers in.

    t and took tand at eacry. trumpeter.

    quot;he  Lady Aravis,¡±

    said trumpeter dreed and ttendants e behem.

    t sied in tyle ( all like ours) and did it very  of person this  Prince was.

    Sunic  red tunic beneat s ed on , was bandaged.

    Aravis looked t ;s  Sa!¡±

    Sa all at once turned very red and began speaking very quickly. quot;Look  here, Aravis,¡±

    ;I do  t up like trumpeter  and all) to try to impress you or make out t Im different or any rot of t sort.  Because Id far rat t noher said -¡±

    quot;Your fat; said Aravis.

    quot;Apparently King Lune is my fat; said Sa. quot;I mig. Corin being so like me. e s Cor.¡±

    quot;Cor is a nicer name ta,quot; said Aravis.

    quot;Brot in Arc; said Sa (or Prince Cor  as  now call ;Like Dar and Darrin, Cole and Colin and so on.¡±

    quot;Sa - I mean Cor,quot; said Aravis. quot;No, s up. t to say at once. Im sorry Ive been suc I did cly I did: he Lion.¡±

    quot;It  really going to kill you at all, t Lion,quot; said Cor.

    quot;I kno; said Aravis, nodding. Botill and solemn for a moment as  eac t Aslan.

    Suddenly Aravis remembered Cors bandaged ;I say!quot; s;I  forgot! Youve been in a battle. Is t a wound?¡±

    quot;A mere scratc; said Cor, using for t time a ratone.  But a moment later  out laug;If you  to knorut  isnt a proper  all. I only took t as any clumsy fool  mig going near a battle.¡±

    quot;Still you tle,quot; said Aravis. quot;It must have been wonderful.¡±

    quot;It  at all like ,quot; said Cor.

    quot;But S told me anyt about King Lune  and  who you were.¡±

    quot;ell, lets sit do; said Cor. quot;For its ratory. And by te brick. Id be just as pleased - or very nearly - at finding  a king. Even tion and all sorts of o o me. But you  tory. ell, Corin and I  a  er ly, took us to a aur in Narnia to  be blessed or sometaur aurs are.  Per seen any Centaurs yet? ttle yesterday.  Most remarkable people, but I cant say I feel quite at . I say, Aravis,  to be a lot of to get used to in tries.¡±

    quot;Yes, t; said Aravis. quot;But get on ory.¡±

    quot;ell, as soon as  seems taur looked at me  and said, A day  ly  - I didnt understand t part very o  dismiss  noto o go on living in  Arc   came out after of secret information to taso save Arc danger  be put  out of the

    ly kno.  out to sea   Fat , t quite in time, and er   sea  not out of sigy  minutes.

    quot;It must  o battle on t  sea-fig about it yesterday evening) from ten oclock in till sunset. Our people  took t I  ttle. But one of , early t morning, as soon as ain  to be overo one of s and sent us bot. And t boat  of course t  t Aslan (o be at tories) pus t  place for Arso pick me up. I arved o do it.¡±

    quot;I suppose Aslan   of someone elses story,quot; said  Aravis.

    quot;I ting t,quot; said Cor.

    quot;And I ; said Aravis, quot;and  danger is t youre to save Archenland from.¡±

    quot;ell,quot; said Cor rat;to t  already.¡±

    Aravis clapped ;; s;upid I am. And  er danger t  got  t you feel proud?¡±

    quot;I t scared,quot; said Cor.

    quot;And youll be living at Anvard no; said Aravis ratfully.

    quot;O; said Cor, quot;Id nearly forgotten . Fats you  to come and live  (t t, I dont kno up. You neednt be afraid t -¡±

    quot;Oop it,quot; said Aravis, quot;or well . Of course Ill  come.¡±

    quot;Nos go and see t; said Cor.

    t and joyous meeting beto set out for Anvard at once: o Narnia on tionate  fareo t and promised t t  ted t Aravis and Cor   Cor explained t except in alking horse.

    ttle  Narnian customs  and akes  make. So ep ook.

    quot;Buck up, Bree,quot; said Cor. quot;Its far   going to be educated. I sing and ory and music ent.¡±

    quot;But ts just t,quot; groaned Bree. quot;Do talking ?

    I cant bear to give it up.  do you think, hwin?¡±

    quot;Im going to roll any; said ;I dont suppose any of two lumps of sugar w.¡±

    quot;Are  castle?quot; said Bree to Cor.

    quot;Round t bend,quot; said the Prince.

    quot;ell,quot; said Bree, quot;Im going to  may be t.  ait for me a minute.¡±

    It es before s of bracken.

    quot;No; ;Lead on, Prince  Cor, Narnia and th.¡±

    But o a funeral t captive  returning to home and freedom.

 CHAPTER FIFTEEN

    RABADAShE RIDICULOUS

    t turn of t t from among trees and tered from t its  back, tle of Anvard. It  of a warm, reddisone.

    Before te King Lune came out to meet t  looking at all like Araviss idea of a king and  of old clot come from making a round of tsman and opped  for a moment to ed Aravis as  ook ately enough for an Emperor.

    quot;Little lady,quot; ;ill alive ter c could not do it ter  you unes and been driven from your fat but be a grief to you. My son Cor old me about your adventures together and  all your valour.¡±

    quot;It ; said Aravis. quot; a lion  to save me.¡±

    quot;Es t?quot; said King Lune, ening. quot;I   part of tory.¡±

    told it. And Cor, ory to be  kno  tell it  enjoy it so muced, and indeed felt rat  very muc feold it to so many people t Cor wis had never  happened.

    turned to  as polite to to  Aravis, and asked t of questions about tured. tongue-tied for t yet used to being talked to as equals by  is. t mind Aravis and Cor.

    Presently Queen Lucy came out from tle and joined to Aravis, quot;My dear,  your apartments are put to rigter t.¡±

    quot;Youd like to come and see t you?quot; said Lucy, kissing Aravis.  t once and soon  aogeto talk about Araviss  bedroom and Araviss boudoir and about getting clot of  talk about on such an occasion.

    After luncerrace (it  sorry creature Rabadas needs resolve o do h him.¡±

    Lucy ting on t and Aravis on . King Edmund  sat at one end of table and t the King.

    quot;Your Majesty rike off ; said  Peridan. quot;Suc as s h assassins.¡±

    quot;It is very true,quot; said Edmund. quot;But even a traitor may mend. I  did.¡±

    And ful.

    quot;to kill to raising isroc,quot; said  Darrin.

    quot;A fig for tisroc,quot; said King Lune. quot;rengt. But I omacraitors) in cold blood. to   in ttle  thing.¡±

    quot;By my counsel,quot; said Lucy, quot;your Majesty srial. Let  rait promise of fair dealing in ture. It may be t he will  keep his word.¡±

    quot;Maybe Apes er,quot; said Edmund. quot;But, by t again, may it be in sucime and place t any of us could sle.¡±

    quot;It sried,quot; said to one of ttendants,  quot;Send for the prisoner, friend.¡±

    Rabadas before to look at   in a noisome dungeon  food or  er; but in reality  up in quite a comfortable room and provided  supper. But as oo furiously to touc t stamping and roaring and cursing, urally did not now look  .

    quot;Your royal  to be told,quot; said King Lune, quot;t by tions as  policy, o your  al man  anotion of your  youture, devoid of all gentilesse and courtesy, s, o set you free, unions: first, t-¡±

    quot;Curse you for a barbarian dog!quot; spluttered Rabadas;Do you tions? Faugalk very largely of nurture and I kno  s easy, to a man in cake off t  any of you h me.¡±

    Nearly all to t, and Corin sed:

    quot;Father! Can I box him? Please.¡±

    quot;Peace! Your Majesties! My Lords!quot; said King Lune. quot;y  among us to be so caunt of a pajock? Sit doable.

    I ask your o ions.¡±

    quot;I ions from barbarians and sorcerers,quot; said Rabadas;Not  one of you dare touc you errible sisroc be: even no kill me, and torturings in tale to frighousand years hence. Beware! Beware!  Beware!

    t of tash falls from above!¡±

    quot;Does it ever get caug; asked Corin.

    quot;S; said t;Never taunt a man save hen, as you please.¡±

    quot;O; sighed Lucy.

    Next moment Cor able anding perfectly still. Of course arted as tly in between him and his accusers.

    quot;Rabadas; said Aslan. quot;take  you may  still avoid it.

    Forget your pride (hese good kings.¡±

    t o a o  do take trouble). ive in  Calormen. t rembled ive people en fainted. But  it is very easy to frig  you give t look at all alarming in Arc Rabadaso be sick.

    quot;Demon! Demon! Demon!quot; s;I knoasm. I  am descended from tasible. tash is  upon you.

    Ligains  of Narnia so dust. the-¡±

    quot;; said Aslan quietly. quot;t is  at t ed tch.¡±

    quot;Let t; s;Let t blood and  fire obliterate t be sure I  till I o my palace  by er of dogs, the -¡±

    quot;truck,quot; said Aslan: and Rabadaso  everyone o laugh.

    t . Rabadasime and  as soon as Aslan said, quot;truck!quot; to ced and soon  before, Rabadaso coo.  It gre top and larger eyed, and to t and became all nose) and t. And   of ill ing on t anding on all fours, and

    ) for noerrible t ed just a moment longer t ;O a Donkey! Mercy! If it were even a horse - een - a hor - eeh -  auh, eeh-auh.¡±

    And so to a donkeys bray.

    quot;No;Justice s always be an Ass.¡±

    At tcs ears for also  everybody laugried not to, but tried in vain.

    quot;You o tas; said Aslan. quot;And in temple of tash you  shall be healed.

    You must stand before tar of tasas t Autumn  Feast t of all tas as long as you live, if ever you go  more ten miles a temple in tasantly become  again as you no second curn.¡±

    t silence and tirred and looked at one  anot tness in ts, hem.

    King Lune -ed of men and on seeing table condition  all his anger.

    quot;Your royal ; ;I am most truly sorry t to tremity. Your ness t it o provide your o  tasreatment ion allo of ttleboats - t  carrots and tles -¡±

    But a deafening bray from t one of t clear t tefully received.

    And o get  of tter finisory of  Rabadas)

    back by boat to tas into temple of tas t Autumn Festival, and t of course four or five  transformation and t possibly be  er tisrocs deatisroc in urned out t peaceable tisroc Calormen  daring  to go more ten miles from tas  arkaans to   is tisrocs get overt t made table for all tries round Calormen.   t o  after ory of Calormen (try t name. And to tupid, you are very likely to be called quot;a second Rabadas;.

    Mean   evening on tle, erns to . And tales old and jokes  epped out into to be bored, for try t  t  at t scrape of t seemed to go up  inside t sang t old lay of Fair Olvin and  t Pire and turned o stone (and t is t Pire - it wo -)

    and

    o begin again. And t sing old tory of t  at Zalindreh.

    And Lucy told again (t Aravis and Cor,  many  times but ted it again) tale of ter t come into Narnia.

    And presently, as ain to er, King Lune said if  ime for young people to be in bed. quot;And tomorro; ;s come over  all tle res and mark all its strengt o guard when Im gone.¡±

    quot;But Corin ; said Cor.

    quot;Nay, lad,quot; said King Lune, quot;t my o thee.¡±

    quot;But I dont  it,quot; said Cor. quot;Id far rather-¡±

    quot;tis no question est, Cor, nor I eitis in the course  of law.¡±

    quot;But if  be the same age.¡±

    quot;Nay,quot; said t;One must come first. Art Corins elder  by full ty minutes. And ter too, lets s no great mastery.quot;  And  Corin winkle in his eyes.

    quot;But, Fat you make  King?¡±

    quot;No. ts t no  more poo start ary from .¡±

    quot;O; said Cor. quot;I dont  to at all. And Corin - I am most  dreadfully sorry. I never dreamed my turning up o c of your kingdom.¡±

    quot;; said Corin. quot;I s o be King. I s o  be King. Ill als princes he fun.¡±

    quot;And ts truer t; said King Lune. quot;For t it means to be a king: to be first in every desperate attack and last in every  desperate retreat, and o  ier meal than any man in your land.¡±

    airs to bed Cor again asked Corin if  not it. And Corin said:  quot;If you say anot it, Ill - Ill knock you down.¡±

    It o end tory by saying t after t t anyt I am afraid it  be true. In reality t just about as often as any ots ended (if t begin) ting knocked dotle, neitries could ever equal Corin as a boxer. t

    against tormness,  o ild Bear s. Corm climbed up to its lair on tormness  one er day  a time-keeper for  ty-t t couldnt see out of its eyes and became a  reformed cer.

    Aravis also s)   t up again: so t years later,  up again t t married so as to go on  doing it more conveniently. And after King Lunes deat, t famous of all to a great age in Narnia and bot  married but not to one anot many mont come trotting over to visit t Anvard.