THE SILVER CHAIR-第29章

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　offered！〃　but　all　this　died　away；　　all　in　one　moment；　into　dead　silence；　as　quickly　as　the　noise　dies　away　in　a　rowdy　　dormitory　if　the　headmaster　opens　the　door。　for　now　they　saw　the　prince。

no　one　doubted　for　a　moment　who　he　was。　there　were　plenty　of　beasts　and　　dryads　and　dwarfs　and　fauns　who　remembered　him　from　the　days　before　his　enchanting。　　there　were　some　old　ones　who　could　just　remember　how　his　father；　king　caspian；　had　　looked　when　he　was　a　young　man；　and　saw　the　likeness。　but　i　think　they　would　have　known　　him　anyway。　pale　though　he　was　from　long　imprisonment　in　the　deep　lands；　　dressed　in　black；　dusty；　dishevelled；　and　weary；　there　was　something　in　his　face　and　　air　which　no　one　could　mistake。　that　look　is　in　the　face　of　all　true　kings　of　narnia；　　who　rule　by　the　will　of　aslan　and　sit　at　cair　paravel　on　the　throne　of　peter　the　high　king。

instantly　every　head　was　bared　and　every　knee　was　bent；　a　moment　later　such　　cheering　and　shouting；　such　jumps　and　reels　of　joy；　such　hand…shakings　and　kissings　　and　embracings　of　everybody　by　everybody　else　broke　out　that　the　tears　came　　into　jills　eyes。

their　quest　had　been　worth　all　the　pains　it　cost。

〃please　it　your　highness；〃　said　the　oldest　of　the　dwarfs；　〃there　is　some　　attempt　at　a　supper　in　the　cave　yonder；　prepared　against　the　ending　of　the　snow…dance　…”

〃with　a　good　will；　father；〃　said　the　prince。　〃for　never　had　any　prince；　　knight；　gentleman；　or　bear　so　good　a　stomach　to　his　victuals　as　we　four　wanderers　　have　tonight。”

the　whole　crowd　began　to　move　away　through　the　trees　towards　the　cave。　jill　　heard　puddleglum　saying　to　those　who　pressed　round　him。　〃no；　no；　my　story　can　　wait。

nothing　worth　talking　about　has　happened　to　me。　i　want　to　hear　the　news。　　dont　try　breaking　it　to　me　gently；　for　id　rather　have　it　all　at　once。　has　the　king　　been　shipwrecked？　any　forest　fires？　no　wars　on　the　calormen　border？　or　a　few　　dragons；　i　shouldnt　wonder？〃　and　all　the　creatures　laughed　aloud　and　said；　〃isnt　　that　just　like　a　marshwiggle？”

the　two　children　were　nearly　dropping　with　tiredness　and　hunger；　but　the　　warmth　of　the　cave；　and　the　very　sight　of　it；　with　the　firelight　dancing　on　the　walls　and　　dressers　and　cups　and　saucers　and　plates　and　on　the　smooth　stone　floor；　just　as　it　does　　in　a　farmhouse　kitchen；　revived　them　a　little。　all　the　same　they　went　fast　asleep　while　　supper　was　being　got　ready。　and　while　they　slept　prince　rilian　was　talking　over　the　whole　　adventure　with　the　older　and　wiser　beasts　and　dwarfs。　and　now　they　all　saw　what　it　meant；　　how　a　wicked　witch　（doubtless　the　same　kind　as　that　white　witch　who　had　brought　　the　great　winter　on　narnia　long　ago）　had　contrived　the　whole　thing；　first　killing　　rilians　mother　and　enchanting　rilian　himself。　and　they　saw　how　she　had　dug　right　under　　narnia　and　was　going　to　break　out　and　rule　it　through　rilian：　and　how　he　had　never　　dreamed　that　the　country　of　which　she　would　make　him　king　（king　in　name；　but　really　her　　slave）　was　his　own　country。　and　from　the　childrens　part　of　the　story　they　saw　how　she　was　　in　league　and　friendship　with　the　dangerous　giants　of　harfang。　〃and　the　lesson　of　it　　all　is；　your　highness；〃　said　the　oldest　dwarf；　〃that　those　northern　witches　always　mean　　the　same　thing；　but　in　every　age　they　have　a　different　plan　for　getting　it。”

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CHAPTER　SIXTEEN

～　
the　healing　of　harms　　　when　jill　woke　next　morning　and　found　herself　in　a　cave；　she　thought　for　　one　horrid　moment　that　she　was　back　in　the　underworld。　but　when　she　noticed　that　she　　was　lying　on　a　bed　of　heather　with　a　furry　mantle　over　her；　and　saw　a　cheery　fire　　crackling　（as　if　newly　lit）　on　a　stone　hearth　and；　farther　off；　morning　sunlight　ing　in　through　　the　caves　mouth；　she　remembered　all　the　happy　truth。　they　had　had　a　delightful　　supper；　all　crowded　into　that　cave；　in　spite　of　being　so　sleepy　before　it　was　properly　　over。　she　had　a　vague　impression　of　dwarfs　crowding　round　the　fire　with　frying…pans　rather　　bigger　than　themselves；　and　the　hissing；　and　delicious　smell　of　sausages；　and　more；　and　　more；　and　more　sausages。　and　not　wretched　sausages　half　full　of　bread　and　soya　bean　　either；　but　　

real　meaty；　spicy　ones；　fat　and　piping　hot　and　burst　and　just　the　tiniest　　bit　burnt。　and　great　mugs　of　frothy　chocolate；　and　roast　potatoes　and　roast　chestnuts；　and　　baked　apples　with　raisins　stuck　in　where　the　cores　had　been；　and　then　ices　just　to　　freshen　you　up　after　all　the　hot　things。

jill　sat　up　and　looked　around。　puddleglum　and　eustace　were　lying　not　far　　away；　both　fast　asleep。

〃hi；　you　two！〃　shouted　jill　in　a　loud　voice。　〃arent　you　ever　going　to　get　　up？”

〃shoo；　shoo！〃　said　a　sleepy　voice　somewhere　above　her。　〃time　to　be　settling　　down。　have　a　good　snooze；　do；　do。　dont　make　a　to…do。　tu…whoo！”

〃why；　i　do　believe；〃　said　jill；　glancing　up　at　a　white　bundle　of　fluffy　　feathers　which　was　perched　on　top　of　a　grandfather　clock　in　one　corner　of　the　cave；　〃i　do　　believe　its　glimfeather！”

〃true；　true；〃　whirred　the　owl；　lifting　its　head　out　from　under　its　wing　and　　opening　one　eye。　〃i　came　up　with　a　message　for　the　prince　at　about　two。　the　squirrels　　brought　us　the　good　news。　message　for　the　prince。　hes　gone。　youre　to　follow　too。　good…　day　…〃　and　the　head　disappeared　again。

as　there　seemed　no　further　hope　of　getting　any　information　from　the　owl；　　jill　got　up　and　began　looking　round　for　any　chance　of　a　wash　and　some　breakfast。　but　almost　　at　once　a　little　faun　came　trotting　into　the　cave　with　a　sharp　click…clack　of　his　　goaty　hoofs　on　the　stone　floor。

〃ah！　youve　woken　up　at　last；　daughter　of　eve；〃　he　said。　〃perhaps　youd　　better　wake　the　son　of　adam。　youve　got　to　be　off　in　a　few　minutes　and　two　centaurs　have　　very　kindly　offered　to　let　you　ride　on　their　backs　down　to　cair　paravel。〃　he　added　in　a　　lower　voice。

〃of　course；　you　realize　it　is　a　most　special　and　unheard…of　honour　to　be　　allowed　to　ride　a　centaur。　i　dont　know　that　i　ever　heard　of　anyone　doing　it　before。　it　　wouldnt　do　to　keep　them　waiting。”

〃wheres　the　prince？〃　was　the　first　question　of　eustace　and　puddleglum　as　　soon　as　they　had　been　wakened。

〃hes　gone　down　to　meet　the　king；　his　father；　at　cair　paravel；〃　answered　　the　faun；　whose　name　was　orruns。　〃his　majestys　ship　is　expected　in　harbour　any　moment。　it　　seems　that　the　king　met　aslan　…　i　dont　know　whether　it　was　in　a　vision　or　face　to　　face　…　before　he　had　sailed　far；　and　aslan　turned　him　back　and　told　him　he　would　find　his　　long…lost　son　awaiting　him　when　he　reached　narnia。”

eustace　was　now　up　and　he　and　jill　set　about　helping　orruns　to　get　the　　breakfast。

puddleglum　was　told　to　stay　in　bed。　a　centaur　called　cloudbirth；　a　famous　　healer；　or　（as　orruns　called　it）　a　leech；　was　ing　to　see　to　his　burnt　foot。

〃ah！〃　said　puddleglum　in　a　tone　almost　of　contentment；　〃hell　want　to　have　　the　leg　off　at　the　knee；　i　shouldnt　wonder。　you　see　if　he　doesnt。〃　but　he　was　quite　glad　　to　stay　in　bed。

breakfast　was　scrambled　eggs　and　toast　and　eustace　tackled　it　just　as　if　he　　had　not　had　a　very　large　supper　in　the　middle　of　the　night。

〃i　say；　son　of　adam；〃　said　the　faun；　looking　with　a　certain　awe　at　　eustaces　mouthfuls。

〃theres　no　need　to　hurry　quite　so　dreadfully　as　that。　i　dont　think　the　　centaurs　have　quite　finished　their　breakfasts　yet。”

〃then　they　must　have　got　up　very　late；〃　said　eustace。　〃i　bet　its　after　ten　　oclock。”

〃oh　no；〃　said　orruns。　〃they　got　up　before　it　was　light。”

〃then　they　must　have　waited　the　dickens　of　a　time　for　breakfast；〃　said　　eustace。

〃no；　they　didnt；〃　said　orruns。　〃they　began　eating　the　minute　they　awoke。”

〃golly！〃　said　eustace。　〃do　they　eat　a　very　big　breakfast？”

〃why；　son　of　adam；　dont　you　understand？　a　centaur　has　a　man…stomach　and　a　　horse…stomach。　and　of　course　both　want　breakfast。　so　first　of　all　he　has　porridge　　and　pavenders　and　kidneys　and　bacon　and　omelette　and　cold　ham　and　toast　and　marmalade　and　　coffee　and　beer。　and　after　that　he　attends　to　the　horse　part　of　himself　by　grazing　　for　an　hour　or　so　and　finishing　up　with　a　hot　mash；　some　oats；　and　a　bag　of　sugar。　thats　　why　its　such　a　serious　thing　to　ask　a　centaur　to　stay　for　the　week…end。　a　very　serious　　thing　indeed。”

at　that　moment　there　was　a　sound　of　horse…hoofs　tapping　on　rock　from　the　　mouth　of　the　cave；　and　the　children　looked　up。　the　two　centaurs；　one　with　a　black　and　　one　with　a　golden　beard　flowing　over　their　magnificent　bare　chests；　stood　waiting　for　　them；　bending　their　heads　a　little　so　as　to　look　into　the　cave。　then　the　children　became　　very　polite　and　finished　their　breakfast　very　quickly。　no　one　thinks　a　centaur　funny　when　　he　sees　it。

they　are　solemn；　majestic　people；　full　of　ancient　wisdom　which　they　learn　　from　the　stars；　not　easily　made　either　merry　or　angry；　but　their　anger　is　terrible　as　a　　tidal　wave　when　it　es。

〃good…bye；　dear　puddleglum；〃　said　jill；　going　over　to　the　marsh…wiggles　　bed。　〃im　sorry　we　called　you　a　wet　blanket。”

〃som　i；〃　said　eustace。　〃youve　been　the　best　friend　in　the　world。”

〃and　i　do　hope　well　meet　again；〃　added　jill。

〃not　much　chance　of　that；　i　should　say；〃　replied　puddleglum。　〃1　dont　　reckon　im　very　likely　to　see　my　old　wigwam　again　either。　and　that　prince　…　hes　a　nice　　chap　…　but　do　you　　

think　hes　very　strong？　c