正文 CHAPTER SEVEN

MAINLY ABOUT DWARFS THE two ene soldiers at the head of the n, seeing what they took for a Tarkaan reat lord with two armed pages, came to a halt and raised their spears in salute.

"O My Master," said one of them, "we lead these manikins to en to work in the mines of The Tisroc, may-he-live-forever. 「

"By the great god Tash, they are very obedient," said Tirian. Then suddenly he turo the Dwarfs themselves. About one in six of them carried a tord by that flickering light he could see their bearded faces all looking at him with grim and dogged expressions. "Has The Tisroc fought a great battle, Dwarfs, and quered your land?" he asked, "that thus you go patiently to die in the salt-pits of Pugrahan?」

The two soldiers glared at him in surprise but the Dwarfs all answered, "Aslans orders, Aslans orders. Hes sold us. What we do against him?」

"Tisrodeed!" added one and spat. "Id like to see him try it!」

"Silence, dogs!" said the chief soldier.

"Look!" said Tirian, pulling Puzzle forward into the light. "It has all been a lie. Aslan has not e to Narnia at all. You have beeed by the Ape. This is the thing he brought out of the stable to show you. Look at it.」

What the Dwarfs saw, now that they could see it close, was certainly enough to make them wonder how they had ever been taken in. The lion-skin had got pretty untidy already during Puzzles impriso iable and it had been knocked crooked during his jourhrough the dark wood. Most of it was in a big lump on one shoulder.

The head, besides being pushed sideways, had somehow got very far back so that anyone could now see his silly, gentle, donkeyish face gazing out of it. Some grass stuck out of one er of his mouth, for hed been doing a little quiet nibbling as they brought him along. And he was muttering, "It wasnt my fault, Im not clever. I never said I was.」

For one sed all the Dwarfs were staring at Puzzle with wide open mouths and then one of the soldiers said sharply, "Are you mad, My Master? What are you doing to the slaves?" and the other said, "And who are you?" her of their spears was at the salute now - both were down and ready for a.

"Give the password," said the chief soldier.

"This is my password," said the King as he drew his sword. "The light is dawning, the lie broken. Now guard thee, mist, for I am Tirian of Narnia.」

He flew upon the chief soldier like lightniace, who had drawn his sword when he saw the King draw his, rushed at the other one: his face was deadly pale, but I wouldnt blame him for that. And he had the luck that beginners sometimes do have. He fot all that Tirian had tried to teach him that afternoon, slashed wildly (indeed Im not sure his eyes werent shut) and suddenly found, to his ow surprise, that the ene lay dead at his feet. And though that was a great relief, it was, at the moment, rather frightening. The Kings fight lasted a sed or two loheoo had killed his man and shouted to Eustace, "Ware the other two.」

But the Dwarfs had settled the two remaining ehere was no enemy left.

"Well struck, Eustace!" cried Tirian, clapping him on the back. "Now, Dwarfs, you are free. Tomorrow I will lead you to free all Narnia. Three cheers for Aslan!」

But the result which followed was simply wretched. There was a feeble attempt from a few Dwarfs (about five) which died away all at once: from several others there were sulky growls. Many said nothing

上一章目錄+書簽下一頁