A DAY WITH THE BEAVERS
WHILE the two boys were whispering behind, both the girls suddenly cried "Oh!" and stopped.
"The robin!" cried Lucy, "the robin. Its flown away." And so it had - right out of sight.
"And now what are we to do?" said Edmund, givier a look which was as much as to say "What did I tell you?」
"Sh! Look!" said Susan.
"What?" said Peter.
"Theres something moving among the trees over there to the left.」
They all stared as hard as they could, and no o very fortable.
"There it goes again," said Susaly.
"I saw it that time too," said Peter. "Its still there. Its just gone behind that big tree.」
"What is it?" asked Lucy, trying very hard not to sound nervous.
"Whatever it is," said Peter, "its dodging us. Its something that doesnt want to be seen.」
"Lets go home," said Susan. And then, though nobody said it out loud, everyone suddenly realized the same fact that Edmund had whispered to Peter at the end of the last chapter. They were lost.
"Whats it like?" said Lucy.
"Its - its a kind of animal," said Susan; and then, "Look! Look! Quick! There it is.」
They all saw it this time, a whiskered furry face which had looked out at them from behind a tree. But this time it didnt immediately draw back. Instead, the animal put its paw against its mouth just as humans put their finger on their lips when they are signalling to you to be quiet. Then it disappeared again. The children, all stood holding their breath.
A moment later the stranger came out from behind the tree, glanced all round as if it were afraid someone was watg, said "Hush", made signs to them to join it in the thicker bit of wood where it was standing, and then once more disappeared.
"I know what it is," said Peter; "its a beaver. I saw the tail.」
"It wants us to go to it," said Susan, "and it is warning us not to make a noise.」
"I know," said Peter. "The question is, are we to go to it or not? What do you think, Lu?」
"I think its a nice beaver," said Lucy.
"Yes, but how do we know?" said Edmund.
"Shant we have to risk it?" said Susan. "I mean, its no good just standing here and I feel I want some dinner.」
At this moment the Beaver again popped its head out from behind the tree and beed early to them.
"e on," said Peter,"lets give it a try. All keep close together. We ought to be a match for one beaver if it turns out to be an enemy.」
So the children all got close together and walked up to the tree and in behind it, and there, sure enough, they found the Beaver; but it still drew back, saying to them in a hoarse throaty whisper, "Further in, e further in. Right in here. Were not safe in the open!」
Only when it had led them into a dark spot where four trees grew so close together that their boughs met and the browh and pine needles could be seen underfoot because no snow had been able to fall there, did it begin to talk to them.
"Are you the Sons of Adam and the Daughters of Eve?" it said.
"Were some of them," said Peter.
"S-s-s-sh!" said the Beaver, "not so loud please. Were not safe even here.」
"Why, who are you afraid of?" said Peter. "Theres no one here but ourselves.」
"There are the trees," said the Beaver. "Theyre always listening. Most of them are on our side, but there are trees that would betray us to her; you know who I mean," and it s head se