THE SILVER CHAIR-第11章

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their　blankets　by　sleeping　back　to　back。　（the　backs　　keep　each　other　warm　and　you　can　then　have　both　blankets　on　top。）　but　it　was　chilly　even　　so；　and　the　ground　was　hard　and　lumpy。　the　marsh…wiggle　told　them　they　would　feel　more　fortable　if　only　they　thought　how　very　much　colder　it　would　be　later　on　　and　farther　north；　but　this　didnt　cheer　them　up　at　all。

they　travelled　across　ettinsmoor　for　many　days；　saving　the　bacon　and　living　　chiefly　on　the　moor…fowl　（they　were　not；　of　course；　talking　birds）　which　eustace　and　　the　wiggle　shot。　jill　rather　envied　eustace　for　being　able　to　shoot；　he　had　learned　it　　on　his　voyage　with　king　caspian。　as　there　were　countless　streams　on　the　moor；　they　were　　never　short　of　water。　jill　thought　that　when；　in　books；　people　live　on　what　they　shoot；　　it　never　tells　you　what　a　long；　smelly；　messy　job　it　is　plucking　and　cleaning　dead　birds；　　and　how　cold　it　makes　your　fingers。　but　the　great　thing　was　that　they　met　hardly　any　　giants。　one　giant　saw　them；　but　he　only　roared　with　laughter　and　stumped　away　about　his　own　　business。

about　the　tenth　day；　they　reached　a　place　where　the　country　changed。　they　　came　to　the　northern　edge　of　the　moor　and　looked　down　a　long；　steep　slope　into　a　　different；　and　grimmer；　land。　at　the　bottom　of　the　slope　were　cliffs：　beyond　these；　a　　country　of　high　mountains；　dark　precipices；　stony　valleys；　ravines　so　deep　and　narrow　that　　one　could　not　see　far　into　them；　and　rivers　that　poured　out　of　echoing　gorges　to　plunge　　sullenly　into　black　depths。　needless　to　say；　it　was　puddleglum　who　pointed　out　a　　sprinkling　of　snow　on　the　more　distant　slopes。

〃but　therell　be　more　on　the　north　side　of　them；　i　shouldnt　wonder；〃　he　　added。

it　took　them　some　time　to　reach　the　foot　of　the　slope　and；　when　they　did；　　they　looked　down　from　the　top　of　the　cliffs　at　a　river　running　below　them　from　west　to　　east。　it　was　walled　in　by　precipices　on　the　far　side　as　well　as　on　their　own；　and　it　was　　green　and　sunless；　full　of　rapids　and　waterfalls。　the　roar　of　it　shook　the　earth　even　　where　they　stood。

〃the　bright　side　of　it　is；〃　said　puddleglum；　〃that　if　we　break　our　necks　　getting　down　the　cliff；　then　were　safe　from　being　drowned　in　the　river。”

〃what　about　that？〃　said　scrubb　suddenly；　pointing　upstream　to　their　left。　　then　they　all　looked　and　saw　the　last　thing　they　were　expecting　…　a　bridge。　and　what　a　　bridge；　too！　it　was　a　huge；　single　arch　that　spanned　the　gorge　from　cliff…top　to　cliff…top；　　and　the　crown　of　that　arch　was　as　high　above　the　cliff…tops　as　the　dome　of　st　pauls　is　　above　the　street。

〃why；　it　must　be　a　giants　bridge！〃　said　jill。

〃or　a　sorcerers；　more　likely；〃　said　puddleglum。　〃weve　got　to　look　out　for　　enchantments　in　a　place　like　this。　i　think　its　a　trap。　i　think　itll　turn　into　mist　and　　melt　away　just　when　were　out　on　the　middle　of　it。”

〃oh；　for　goodness　sake；　dont　be　such　a　wet　blanket；〃　said　scrubb。　〃why　on　　earth　shouldnt　it　be　a　proper　bridge？”

〃do　you　think　any　of　the　giants　weve　seen　would　have　sense　to　build　a　　thing　like　that？”

said　puddleglum。

〃but　mightnt　it　have　been　built　by　other　giants？〃　said　jill。　〃i　mean；　by　　giants　who　lived　hundreds　of　years　ago；　and　were　far　cleverer　than　the　modern　kind。　it　might　　have　been　built　by　the　same　ones　who　built　the　giant　city　were　looking　for。　and　that　　would　mean　we　were　on　the　right　track　…　the　old　bridge　leading　to　the　old　city！”

〃thats　a　real　brain…wave；　pole；〃　said　scrubb。　〃it　must　be　that。　e　on。”

so　they　turned　and　went　to　the　bridge。　and　when　they　reached　it；　it　　certainly　seemed　solid　enough。　the　single　stones　were　as　big　as　those　at　stonehenge　and　must　　have　been　squared　by　good　masons　once；　though　now　they　were　cracked　and　crumbled。　the　balustrade　had　apparently　been　covered　with　rich　carvings；　of　which　some　　traces　remained；　mouldering　faces　and　forms　of　giants；　minotaurs；　squids；　　centipedes；　and　dreadful　gods。　puddleglum　still　didnt　trust　it；　but　he　consented　to　cross　　it　with　the　children。

the　climb　up　to　the　crown　of　the　arch　was　long　and　heavy。　in　many　places　　the　great　stones　had　dropped　out；　leaving　horrible　gaps　through　which　you　looked　down　　on　the　river　foaming　thousands　of　feet　below。　they　saw　an　eagle　fly　through　under　　their　feet。

and　the　higher　they　went；　the　colder　it　grew；　and　the　wind　blew　so　that　　they　could　hardly　keep　their　footing。　it　seemed　to　shake　the　bridge。

when　they　reached　the　top　and　could　look　down　the　farther　slope　of　the　　bridge；　they　saw　what　looked　like　the　remains　of　an　ancient　giant　road　stretching　away　　before　them　into　the　heart　of　the　mountains。　many　stones　of　its　pavement　were　missing　and　　there　were　wide　patches　of　grass　between　those　that　remained。　and　riding　towards　them　　on　that　ancient　road　were　two　people　of　normal　grown…up　human　size。

〃keep　on。　move　towards　them；〃　said　puddleglum。　〃anyone　you　meet　in　a　place　　like　this　is　as　likely　as　not　to　be　an　enemy；　but　we　mustnt　let　them　think　were　　afraid。”

by　the　time　they　had　stepped　off　the　end　of　the　bridge　on　to　the　grass；　the　　two　strangers　were　quite　close。　one　was　a　knight　in　plete　armour　with　his　visor　down。　　his　armour　and　his　horse　were　black；　there　was　no　device　on　his　shield　and　no　banneret　　on　his　spear。

the　other　was　a　lady　on　a　white　horse；　a　horse　so　lovely　that　you　wanted　to　　kiss　its　nose　and　give　it　a　lump　of　sugar　at　once。　but　the　lady；　who　rode　side…saddle　and　　wore　a　long；　fluttering　dress　of　dazzling　green；　was　lovelier　still。

〃good　day；　t…r…r…avellers；〃　she　cried　out　in　a　voice　as　sweet　as　the　　sweetest　birds　song；　trilling　her　rs　delightfully。　〃some　of　you　are　young　pilgrims　to　walk　this　　rough　waste。”

〃thats　as　may　be；　maam；〃　said　puddleglum　very　stiffly　and　on　his　guard。

〃were　looking　for　the　ruined　city　of　the　giants；〃　said　jill。

〃the　r…r…ruined　city？〃　said　the　lady。　〃that　is　a　strange　place　to　be　　seeking。　what　will　you　do　if　you　find　it？”

〃weve　got　to　…〃　began　jill；　but　puddleglum　interrupted。

〃begging　your　pardon；　maam。　but　we　dont　know　you　or　your　friend　…　a　　silent　chap；　isnt　he？　…　and　you　dont　know　us。　and　wed　as　soon　not　talk　to　strangers　about　　our　business；　if　you　dont　mind。　shall　we　have　a　little　rain　soon；　do　you　think？”

the　lady　laughed：　the　richest；　most　musical　laugh　you　can　imagine。　〃well；　　children；〃　she　said；　〃you　have　a　wise；　solemn　old　guide　with　you。　i　think　none　the　worse　　of　him　for　keeping　his　own　counsel；　but　ill　be　free　with　mine。　i　have　often　heard　the　　name　of　the　giantish　city　ruinous；　but　never　met　any　who　would　tell　me　the　way　thither。　　this　road　leads　to　the　burgh　and　castle　of　harfang；　where　dwell　the　gentle　giants。　　they　are　as　mild；　civil；　prudent；　and　courteous　as　those　of　ettinsmoor　are　foolish；　fierce；　　savage；　and　given　to　all　beastliness。　and　in　harfang　you　may　or　may　not　hear　tidings　of　the　　city　ruinous；　but　certainly　you　shall　find　good　lodgings　and　merry　hosts。　you　would　be　　wise　to　winter　there；　or；　at　the　least；　to　tarry　certain　days　for　your　ease　and　　refreshment。　there　you　shall　have　steaming　baths；　soft　beds；　and　bright　hearths；　and　the　roast　and　the　　baked　and　the　sweet　and　the　strong　will　be　on　the　table　four　times　in　a　day。”

〃i　say！〃　exclaimed　scrubb。　〃thats　something　like！　think　of　sleeping　in　a　　bed　again。”

〃yes；　and　having　a　hot　bath；〃　said　jill。　〃do　you　think　theyll　ask　us　to　　stay？　we　dont　know　them；　you　see。”

〃only　tell　them；〃　answered　the　lady；　〃that　she　of　the　green　kirtle　salutes　　them　by　you；　and　has　sent　them　two　fair　southern　children　for　the　autumn　feast。”

〃oh；　thank　you；　thank　you　ever　so　much；〃　said　jill　and　scrubb。

〃but　have　a　care；〃　said　the　lady。　〃on　whatever　day　you　reach　harfang；　that　　you　e　not　to　the　door　too　late。　for　they　shut　their　gates　a　few　hours　after　noon；　　and　it　is　the　custom　of　the　castle　that　they　open　to　none　when　once　they　have　drawn　bolt；　　how　hard　so　ever　he　knock。”

the　children　thanked　her　again；　with　shining　eyes；　and　the　lady　waved　to　　them。　the　marsh…wiggle　took　off　his　steeple…hat　and　bowed　very　stiffly。　then　the　　silent　knight　and　the　lady　started　walking　their　horses　up　the　slope　of　the　bridge　with　a　　great　clatter　of　hoofs。

〃well！〃　said　puddleglum。　〃id　give　a　good　deal　to　know　where　shes　ing　　from　and　where　shes　going。　not　the　sort　you　expect　to　meet　in　the　wilds　of　　giantland；　is　she？　up　to　no　good；　ill　be　bound。”

〃oh　rot！〃　said　scrubb。　〃i　thought　she　was　simply　super。　and　think　of　hot　　meals　and　warm　rooms。　i　do　hope　harfang　isnt　a　long　way　off。”

〃same　here；〃　said　jill。　〃and　hadnt　she　a　scrumptious　dress。　and　the　　horse！”

〃all　the　same；〃　said　puddleglum；　〃i　wish　we　knew　a　bit　more　about　her。”

〃i　was　going　to　ask　her　all　about　herself；〃　said　jill。　〃but　how　could　i　　when　you　wouldnt　tell　her　anything　about　us？”

〃yes；〃　said　scrubb。　〃and　why　were　you　so　stiff　and　unpleasant。　didnt　you　　like　them？”

〃them？〃　said　the　wiggle。　〃whos　them？　i　only　saw　one。”

〃didnt　you　see　the　knight？〃　asked　jill。

〃i　saw　a　suit　of　armour；〃　said　puddleglum。　〃why　didnt　he　speak？”

〃i　expect　he　was　shy；〃　said　jill。　〃or　perhaps　he　just　wants　to　look　at　her　　and　listen　to　her　lovely　voice。　im　sure　i　would　if　i　was　him。”

〃i　was　wondering；〃　remarked　puddleglum；　〃what　youd　really　see　if　you　　lifted　up　the　visor