prince caspian_c·s·刘易斯-第4章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


met。　he　turned　and　　saw　that　she　was　very　pale　but　was　already　fitting　a　second　arrow　to　the　string。　but　it　　was　never　used。

as　soon　as　he　saw　his　panion　fall；　the　other　soldier；　with　a　loud　cry；　　jumped　out　of　the　boat　on　the　far　side；　and　lie　also　floundered　through　the　water　（which　　was　apparently　just　in　his　depth）　and　disappeared　into　the　woods　of　the　mainland。

〃quick！　before　she　drifts！〃　shouted　peter。　he　and　susan；　fully　dressed　as　　they　were；　plunged　in；　and　before　the　water　was　up　to　their　shoulders　their　hands　were　　on　the　side　of　the　boat。　in　a　few　seconds　they　had　hauled　her　to　the　bank　and　lifted　the　　dwarf　out；　and　edmund　was　busily　engaged　in　cutting　his　bonds　with　the　pocket　knife。　　（peters　sword　would　have　been　sharper；　but　a　sword　is　very　inconvenient　for　this　sort　of　　work　because　you　cant　hold　it　anywhere　lower　than　the　hilt。）　when　at　last　the　dwarf　was　　free；　he　sat　up；　rubbed　his　arms　and　legs；　and　exclaimed：　　〃well；　whatever　they　say；　you　dont　feel　like　ghosts。鈥�

like　most　dwarfs　he　was　very　stocky　and　deep…chested。　he　would　have　been　　about　three　feet　high　if　he　had　been　standing　up；　and　an　immense　beard　and　whiskers　of　　coarse　red　hair　left　little　of　his　face　to　be　seen　except　a　beak…like　nose　and　　twinkling　black　eyes。

〃anyway；〃　he　continued；　〃ghosts　or　not；　youve　saved　my　life　and　im　　extremely　obliged　to　you。鈥�

〃but　why　should　we　be　ghosts？〃　asked　lucy。

〃ive　been　told　all　my　life；〃　said　the　dwarf；　〃that　these　woods　along　the　　shore　were　as　full　of　ghosts　as　they　were　of　trees。　thats　what　the　story　is。　and　thats　why；　　when　they　want　to　get　rid　of　anyone；　they　usually　bring　him　down　here　（like　they　were　　doing　with　me）

and　say　theyll　leave　him　to　the　ghosts。　but　i　always　wondered　if　they　　didnt　really　drown　em　or　cut　their　throats。　i　never　quite　believed　in　the　ghosts。　but　those　　two　cowards　youve　just　shot　believed　all　right。　they　were　more　frightened　of　taking　me　　to　my　death　than　i　was　of　going！鈥�

〃oh；〃　said　susan。　〃so　thats　why　they　both　ran　away。鈥�

〃eh？　whats　that？〃　said　the　dwarf。

〃they　got　away；〃　said　edmund。　〃to　the　mainland。鈥�

〃i　wasnt　shooting　to　kill；　you　know；〃　said　susan。　she　would　not　have　liked　　anyone　to　think　she　could　miss　at　such　a　short　range。

〃hm；〃　said　the　dwarf。　〃thats　not　so　good。　that　may　mean　trouble　later　on。　　unless　they　hold　their　tongues　for　their　own　sake。鈥�

〃what　were　they　going　to　drown　you　for？〃　asked　peter。

〃oh；　im　a　dangerous　criminal；　i　am；〃　said　the　dwarf　cheerfully。　〃but　　thats　a　long　story。

meantime；　i　was　wondering　if　perhaps　you　were　going　to　ask　me　to　breakfast？　　youve　no　idea　what　an　appetite　it　gives　one；　being　executed。〃　　　〃theres　only　apples；〃　said　lucy　dolefully。

〃better　than　nothing；　but　not　so　good　as　fresh　fish；〃　said　the　dwarf。　〃it　　looks　as　if　ill　have　to　ask　you　to　breakfast　instead。　i　saw　some　fishing　tackle　in　that　　boat。　and　anyway；　we　must　take　her　round　to　the　other　side　of　the　island。　we　dont　want　　anyone　from　the　mainland　ing　down　and　seeing　her。鈥�

〃i　ought　to　have　thought　of　that　myself；〃　said　peter。

the　four　children　and　the　dwarf　went　down　to　the　waters　edge；　pushed　off　　the　boat　with　some　difficulty；　and　scrambled　aboard。　the　dwarf　at　once　took　charge。　the　　oars　were　of　course　too　big　for　him　to　use；　so　peter　rowed　and　the　dwarf　steered　them　　north　along　the　channel　and　presently　eastward　round　the　tip　of　the　island。　from　here　the　　children　could　see　right　up　the　river；　and　all　the　bays　and　headlands　of　the　coast　beyond　　it。　they　thought　they　could　recognize　bits　of　it；　but　the　woods；　which　had　grown　up　since　　their　time；　made　everything　look　very　different。

when　they　had　e　round　into　open　sea　on　the　east　of　the　island；　the　dwarf　　took　to　fishing。　they　had　an　excellent　catch　of　pavenders；　a　beautiful　rainbow…　coloured　fish　which　they　all　remembered　eating　in　cair　paravel　in　the　old　days。　when　they　　had　caught　enough　they　ran　the　boat　up　into　a　little　creek　and　moored　her　to　a　tree。　　the　dwarf；　who　was　a　most　capable　person　（and；　indeed；　though　one　meets　bad　dwarfs；　i　　never　heard　of　a　dwarf　who　was　a　fool）；　cut　the　fish　open；　cleaned　them；　and　said：　　〃now；　what　we　want　next　is　some　firewood。鈥�

〃weve　got　some　up　at　the　castle；〃　said　edmund。

the　dwarf　gave　a　low　whistle。　〃beards　and　bedsteads！〃　he　said。　〃so　there　　really　is　a　castle；　after　all？鈥�

〃its　only　a　ruin；〃　said　lucy。

the　dwarf　stared　round　at　all　four　of　them　with　a　very　curious　expression　　on　his　face。

〃and　who　on　earth　…　？〃　he　began；　but　then　broke　off　and　said；　〃no　matter。　　breakfast　first。

but　one　thing　before　we　go　on。　can　you　lay　your　hand　on　your　hearts　and　　tell　me　im　really　alive？　are　you　sure　i　wasnt　drowned　and　were　not　all　ghosts　　together？鈥�

when　they　had　all　reassured　him；　the　next　question　was　how　to　carry　the　　fish。　they　had　nothing　to　string　them　on　and　no　basket。　they　had　to　use　edmunds　hat　in　　the　end　because　no　one　else　had　a　hat。　he　would　have　made　much　more　fuss　about　this　　if　he　had　not　by　now　been　so　ravenously　hungry。

at　first　the　dwarf　did　not　seem　very　fortable　in　the　castle。　he　kept　　looking　round　and　sniffing　and　saying；　〃hm。　looks　a　bit　spooky　after　all。　smells　like　　ghosts；　too。〃　but　he　cheered　up　when　it　came　to　lighting　the　fire　and　showing　them　how　to　roast　　the　fresh　pavenders　in　the　embers。　eating　hot　fish　with　no　forks；　and　one　pocket　　knife　between　five　people；　is　a　messy　business　and　there　were　several　burnt　fingers　before　the　　meal　was　ended；　but；　as　it　was　now　nine　oclock　and　they　had　been　up　since　five；　　nobody　minded　the　burns　so　much　as　you　might　have　expected。　when　everyone　had　finished　　off　with　a　drink　from　the　well　and　an　apple　or　so；　the　dwarf　produced　a　pipe　about　the　　size　of　his　own　arm；　filled　it；　lit　it；　blew　a　great　cloud　of　fragrant　smoke；　and　said；　　〃now。鈥�

〃you　tell　us　your　story　first；〃　said　peter。　〃and　then　well　tell　you　ours。鈥�

〃well；〃　said　the　dwarf；　〃as　youve　saved　my　life　it　is　only　fair　you　should　　have　your　own　way。　but　i　hardly　know　where　to　begin。　first　of　all　im　a　messenger　of　king　　caspians。鈥�

〃whos　he？〃　asked　four　voices　all　at　once。

〃caspian　the　tenth；　king　of　narnia；　and　long　may　he　reign！〃　answered　the　　dwarf。　〃that　is　to　say；　he　ought　to　be　king　of　narnia　and　we　hope　he　will　be。　at　present　　he　is　only　king　of　us　old　narnians　…　鈥�

〃what　do　you　mean　by　old　narnians；　please？〃　asked　lucy。

〃why；　thats　us；〃　said　the　dwarf。　〃were　a　kind　of　rebellion；　i　suppose。鈥�

〃i　see；〃　said　peter。　〃and　caspian　is　the　chief　old　narnian。鈥�

〃well；　in　a　manner　of　speaking；〃　said　the　dwarf；　scratching　his　head。　〃but　　hes　really　a　new　narnian　himself；　a　telmarine；　if　you　follow　me。鈥�

〃i　dont；〃　said　edmund。

〃its　worse　than　the　wars　of　the　roses；〃　said　lucy。

〃oh　dear；〃　said　the　dwarf。　〃im　doing　this　very　badly。　look　here：　i　think　　ill　have　to　go　right　back　to　the　beginning　and　tell　you　how　caspian　grew　up　in　his　uncles　　court　and　how　he　es　to　be　on　our　side　at　all。　but　itll　be　a　long　story。鈥�

〃all　the　better；〃　said　lucy。　〃we　love　stories。鈥�

so　the　dwarf　settled　down　and　told　his　tale。　i　shall　not　give　it　to　you　in　　his　words；　putting　in　all　the　childrens　questions　and　interruptions；　because　it　would　take　　too　long　and　be　confusing；　and；　even　so；　it　would　leave　out　some　points　that　the　children　　only　heard　later。

but　the　gist　of　the　story；　as　they　knew　it　in　the　end；　was　as　follows。

xiaoshuot锛竧锛宑o锛�



CHAPTER　FOUR

锝炲皬　　璇磘　　xt　澶�；鍫�
the　dwarf　tells　of　prince　caspian　　prince　caspian　lived　in　a　great　castle　in　the　centre　of　narnia　with　his　　uncle；　miraz；　the　king　of　narnia；　and　his　aunt；　who　had　red　hair　and　was　called　queen　　prunaprismia。

his　father　and　mother　were　dead　and　the　person　whom　caspian　loved　best　was　　his　nurse；　and　though　（being　a　prince）　he　had　wonderful　toys　which　would　do　almost　　anything　but　talk；　he　liked　best　the　last　hour　of　the　day　when　the　toys　had　all　been　put　　back　in　their　cupboards　and　nurse　would　tell　him　stories。

he　did　not　care　much　for　his　uncle　and　aunt；　but　about　twice　a　week　his　　uncle　would　send　for　him　and　they　would　walk　up　and　down　together　for　half　an　hour　on　the　　terrace　at　the　south　side　of　the　castle。　one　day；　while　they　were　doing　this；　the　king　　said　to　him；　　〃well；　boy；　we　must　soon　teach　you　to　ride　and　use　a　sword。　you　know　that　　your　aunt　and　i　have　no　children；　so　it　looks　as　if　you　might　have　to　be　king　when　　im　gone。　how　shall　you　like　that；　eh？鈥�

〃i　dont　know；　uncle；〃　said　caspian。

〃dont　know；　eh？〃　said　miraz。　〃why；　i　should　like　to　know　what　more　anyone　　could　wish　for！鈥�

〃all　the　same；　i　do　wish；〃　said　caspian。

〃what　do　you　wish？〃　asked　the　king。

〃i　wish　…　i　wish　…　i　wish　i　could　have　lived　in　the　old　days；〃　said　　caspian。　（he　was　only　a　very　little　boy　at　the　time。）

up　till　now　king　miraz　had　been　talking　in　the　tiresome　way　that　some　　grown…ups　have；　which　makes　it　quite　clear　that　they　are　not　really　interested　in　what　you　　are　saying；　but　now　he　suddenly　gave　caspian　a　very　sharp　look。

〃eh？　whats　that？〃　he　said。　〃what　old　days　do　you　mean？鈥�

〃oh；　dont　you　know；　uncle？〃　said　caspian。　〃when　everything　was　quite　　different。　when　all　the　animals　could　talk；　and　there　were　nice　people　who　lived　in　the　　streams　and　the　trees。　naiads　and　dryads　they　were　called。　and　there　were　dwarfs。　and　there　　were　lovely　little　fauns　in　all　the　woods。　they　had　feet　like　goats。　and　…鈥�

〃thats　all　nonsense；　for　babies；〃　said　the　king　sternly。　〃only　fit　for　　babies；　do　you　hear？

youre　getting　too　old　for　that　sort　of　stuff。　at　your　age　you　ought　to　be　　thinking　of　battles　and　adventures；　not　fairy　tales。鈥�

〃oh；　but　there　were　battles　and　adventures　in　those　days；〃　said　caspian。　　〃wonderful　adventures。　once　there　was　a　white　witch　and　she　made　herself　queen　of　the　　whole　country。　and　she　made　it　so　that　it　was　always　winter。　and　then　two　boys　　and　two　girls　came　from　somewhere　and　so　they　killed　the　witch　and　they　were　made　kings　　and　queens　of　narnia；　and　their　names　were　peter　and　susan　and　edmund　and　lucy。　　and　so　they　reigned　for　ever　so　long　and　everyone　had　a　lovely　time；　and　it　was　　all　because　of　aslan　…鈥�

〃whos　he？〃　said　miraz。　and　if　caspian　had　been　a　very　little　older；　the　　tone　of　his　uncles　voice　would　have　warned　him　that　it　would　be　wiser　to　shut　up。　but　　he　babbled　on；　　〃oh；　dont　you　know？〃　he　said。　〃aslan　is　the　great　lion　who　es　from　over　　the　sea。鈥�

〃who　has　been　telling　you　all　this　nonsense？〃　said　the　king　in　a　voice　of　　thunder。

caspian　was　frightened　and　said　nothing。

〃your　royal　highness；〃　said　king　miraz；　letting　go　of　caspians　hand；　which　　he　had　been　holding　till　now；　〃i　insist　upon　being　answered。　look　me　in　the　face。　　who　has　been　telling　you　this　pack　of　lies？鈥�

〃n　…　nurse；〃　faltered　caspian；　and　burst　into　tears。

〃stop　that　noise；〃　said　his　uncle；　taking　caspian　by　the　shoulders　and　　giving　ham　a　shake。

〃stop　it。　and　never　let　me　catch　you　talking　…　or　thinking　either　…　about　　all　those　silly　stories　again。　there　never　were　those　kings　and　queens。　how　could　there　be　　two　kings　at　the　same　time？　and　theres　no　such　person　as　aslan。　and　there　are　no　　such　things　as　lions。　and　there　never　was　a　time　when　animals　could　talk。　do　you　hear？鈥�

〃yes；　uncle；〃　sobbed　caspia