the horse and his boy_c·s·刘易斯-第15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！


ous　smells。　and　out　of　the　darkest　　recess　among　the　trees　there　came　a　sound　shasta　had　never　heard　beforea　nightingale。

everyone　was　much　too　tired　to　speak　or　to　eat。　the　horses；　without　waiting　　to　be　unsaddled；　lay　down　at　once。　so　did　aravis　and　shasta。

about　ten　minutes　later　the　careful　hwin　said；　〃but　we　mustnt　go　to　sleep。　　weve　got　to　keep　ahead　of　that　rsh。鈥�

〃no；〃　said　bree　very　slowly。　〃mustnt　go　sleep。　just　a　little　rest。鈥�

shasta　knew　（for　a　moment）　that　they　would　all　go　to　sleep　if　he　didnt　get　　up　and　do　something　about　it；　and　felt　that　he　ought　to。　in　fact　he　decided　that　he　　would　get　up　and　persuade　them　to　go　on。　but　presently；　not　yet：　not　just　yet。。。

very　soon　the　moon　shone　and　the　nightingale　sang　over　two　horses　and　two　　human　children；　all　fast　asleep。

it　was　aravis　who　awoke　first。　the　sun　was　already　high　in　the　heavens　and　　the　cool　morning　hours　were　already　wasted。　〃its　my　fault；〃　she　said　to　herself　　furiously　as　she　jumped　up　and　began　rousing　the　others。　〃one　wouldnt　expect　horses　to　keep　　awake　after　a　days　work　like　that；　even　if　they　can　talk。　and　of　course　that　boy　　wouldnt；　hes　had　no　decent　training。　but　i　ought　to　have　known　better。鈥�

the　others　were　dazed　and　stupid　with　the　heaviness　of　their　sleep。

〃neigh…ho　…　broo…hoo；〃　said　bree。　〃been　sleeping　in　my　saddle；　eh？　ill　　never　do　that　again。　most　unfortable…鈥�

〃oh　e　on；　e　on；〃　said　aravis。　〃weve　lost　half　the　morning　already。　　there　isnt　a　moment　to　spare。鈥�

〃a　fellows　got　to　have　a　mouthful　of　grass；〃　said　bree。

im　afraid　we　cant　wait；〃　said　aravis。

〃whats　the　terrible　hurry？〃　said　bree。　〃weve　crossed　the　desert；　havent　　we？鈥�

〃but　were　not　in　archenland　yet；〃　said　aravis。　〃and　weve　got　to　get　there　　before　rsh。鈥�

〃oh；　we　must　be　miles　ahead　of　him；〃　said　bree。　〃havent　we　been　ing　a　　shorter　way？　didnt　that　raven　friend　of　yours　say　this　was　a　short　cut；　shasta？鈥�

〃he　didnt　say　anything　about　shorter；〃　answered　shasta。　〃he　only　said　　better；　because　you　got　to　a　river　this　way。　if　the　oasis　is　due　north　of　tashbaan；　then　　im　afraid　this　may　be　longer。鈥�

〃well　i　cant　go　on　without　a　snack；〃　said　bree。　〃take　my　bridle　off；　　shasta。鈥�

〃p…please；〃　said　hwin；　very　shyly；　〃i　feel　just　like　bree　that　i　cant　go　　on。　but　when　horses　have　humans　（with　spurs　and　things）　on　their　backs；　arent　they　　often　made　to　go　on　when　theyre　feeling　like　this？　and　then　they　find　they　can。　i　m…mean　…　　oughtnt　we　to　be　able　to　do　even　more；　now　that　were　free。　its　all　for　narnia。鈥�

〃i　think；　maam；〃　said　bree　very　crushingly；　〃that　i　know　a　little　more　　about　campaigns　and　forced　marches　and　what　a　horse　can　stand　than　you　do。鈥�

to　this　hwin　made　no　answer；　being；　like　most　highly　bred　mares；　a　very　　nervous　and　gentle　person　who　was　easily　put　down。　in　reality　she　was　quite　right；　and　　if　bree　had　had　a　tarkaan　on　his　back　at　that　moment　to　make　him　go　on；　he　would　have　found　　that　he　was　good　for　several　hours　hard　going。　but　one　of　the　worst　results　of　　being　a　slave　and　being　forced　to　do　things　is　that　when　there　is　no　one　to　force　you　any　　more　you　find　you　have　almost　lost　the　power　of　forcing　yourself。

so　they　had　to　wait　while　bree　had　a　snack　and　a　drink；　and　of　course　hwin　　and　the　children　had　a　snack　and　a　drink　too。　it　must　have　been　nearly　eleven　　oclock　in　the　morning　before　they　finally　got　going　again。　and　even　then　bree　took　things　　much　more　gently　than　yesterday。　it　was　really　hwin；　though　she　was　the　weaker　and　　more　tired　of　the　two；　who　set　the　pace。

the　valley　itself；　with　its　brown；　cool　river；　and　grass　and　moss　and　wild　　flowers　and　rhododendrons；　was　such　a　pleasant　place　that　it　made　you　want　to　ride　　slowly。

　



CHAPTER　TEN

銆�灏彙�/璇淬�倀xt澶╁爞
the　hermit　of　the　southern　march　　after　they　had　ridden　for　several　hours　down　the　valley；　it　widened　out　and　　they　could　see　what　was　ahead　of　them。　the　river　which　they　had　been　following　here　　joined　a　broader　river；　wide　and　turbulent；　which　flowed　from　their　left　to　their　　right；　towards　the　east。　beyond　this　new　river　a　delightful　country　rose　gently　in　low　hills；　　ridge　beyond　ridge；　to　the　northern　mountains　themselves。　to　the　right　there　were　rocky　　pinnacles；　one　or　two　of　them　with　snow　clinging　to　the　ledges。　to　the　left；　pine…clad　　slopes；　frowning　cliffs；　narrow　gorges；　and　blue　peaks　stretched　away　as　far　as　the　　eye　could　reach。　he　could　no　longer　make　out　mount　pire。　straight　ahead　the　mountain　　range　sank　to　a　wooded　saddle　which　of　course　must　be　the　pass　from　archenland　into　　narnia。

〃broo…hoo…hoo；　the　north；　the　green　north！〃　neighed　bree：　and　certainly　the　　lower　hills　looked　greener　and　fresher　than　anything　that　aravis　and　shasta；　with　their　　southern…bred　eyes；　had　ever　imagined。　spirits　rose　as　they　clattered　down　to　the　　waters…meet　of　the　two　rivers。

the　eastern…flowing　river；　which　was　pouring　from　the　higher　mountains　at　　the　western　end　of　the　range；　was　far　too　swift　and　too　broken　with　rapids　for　them　to　　think　of　swimming　it；　but　after　some　casting　about；　up　and　down　the　bank；　they　found　　a　place　shallow　enough　to　wade。　the　roar　and　clatter　of　water；　the　great　swirl　　against　the　horses　fetlocks；　the　cool；　stirring　air　and　the　darting　dragon…flies；　filled　　shasta　with　a　strange　excitement。

〃friends；　we　are　in　archenland！〃　said　bree　proudly　as　he　splashed　and　　churned　his　way　out　on　the　northern　bank。　〃i　think　that　river　weve　just　crossed　is　called　　the　winding　arrow。鈥�

〃i　hope　were　in　time；〃　murmured　hwin。

then　they　began　going　up；　slowly　and　zigzagging　a　good　deal；　for　the　hills　　were　steep。　it　was　all　open　park…like　country　with　no　roads　or　houses　in　sight。　scattered　　trees；　never　thick　enough　to　be　a　forest；　were　everywhere。　shasta；　who　had　lived　all　his　　life　in　an　almost　tree…less　grassland；　had　never　seen　so　many　or　so　many　kinds。　if　you　　had　been　there　you　would　probably　have　known　（he　didnt）　that　he　was　seeing　oaks；　　beeches；　silver　birches；　rowans；　and　sweet　chestnuts。　rabbits　scurried　away　in　every　　direction　as　they　advanced；　and　presently　they　saw　a　whole　herd　of　fallow　deer　making　off　　among　the　trees。

〃isnt　it　simply　glorious！〃　said　aravis。

at　the　first　ridge　shasta　turned　in　the　saddle　and　looked　back。　there　was　　no　sign　of　tashbaan；　the　desert；　unbroken　except　by　the　narrow　green　crack　which　they　　had　travelled　down；　spread　to　the　horizon。

〃hullo！〃　he　said　suddenly。　〃whats　that！鈥�

〃whats　what？〃　said　bree；　turning　round。　hwin　and　aravis　did　the　same。

〃that；〃　said　shasta；　pointing。　〃it　looks　like　smoke。　is　it　a　fire？鈥�

〃sand…storm；　i　should　say；〃　said　bree。

〃not　much　wind　to　raise　it；〃　said　aravis。

〃oh！〃　exclaimed　hwin。　〃look！　there　are　things　flashing　in　it。　look！　theyre　　helmets　…　and　armour。　and　its　moving：　moving　this　way。鈥�

〃by　tash！〃　said　aravis。　〃its　the　army。　its　rsh。鈥�

〃oh　course　it　is；〃　said　hwin。　〃just　what　i　was　afraid　of。　quick！　we　must　　get　to　anvard　before　it。〃　and　without　another　word　she　whisked　round　and　began　galloping　　north。　bree　tossed　his　head　and　did　the　same。

〃e　on；　bree；　e　on；〃　yelled　aravis　over　her　shoulder。

the　race　was　very　gruelling　for　the　horses。　as　they　topped　each　ridge　they　　found　another　valley　and　another　ridge　beyond　it；　and　though　they　knew　they　were　going　in　　more　or　less　the　right　direction；　no　one　knew　how　far　it　was　to　anvard。　from　the　top　of　　the　second　ridge　shasta　looked　back　again。　instead　of　a　dust…cloud　well　out　in　the　　desert　he　now　saw　a　black；　moving　mass；　rather　like　ants；　on　the　far　bank　of　the　winding　　arrow。　they　were　doubtless　looking　for　a　ford。

〃theyre　on　the　river！〃　he　yelled　wildly。

〃quick！　quick！〃　shouted　aravis。　〃we　might　as　well　not　have　e　at　all　if　　we　dont　reach　anvard　in　time。　gallop；　bree；　gallop。　remember　youre　a　war…horse。鈥�

it　was　all　shasta　could　do　to　prevent　himself　from　shouting　out　similar　　instructions；　but　he　thought；　〃the　poor　chaps　doing　all　he　can　already；〃　and　held　his　　tongue。　and　certainly　both　horses　were　doing；　if　not　all　they　could；　all　they　thought　they　could；　　which　is　not　quite　the　same　thing。　bree　had　caught　up　with　hwin　and　they　thundered　side　　by　side　over　the　turf。　it　didnt　look　as　if　hwin　could　possibly　keep　it　up　much　longer。

at　that　moment　everyones　feelings　were　pletely　altered　by　a　sound　from　　behind。　it　was　not　the　sound　they　had　been　expecting　to　hear　…　the　noise　of　hoofs　and　　jingling　armour；　mixed；　perhaps；　with　calormene　battle…cries。　yet　shasta　knew　it　at　　once。　it　was　the　same　snarling　roar　he　had　heard　that　moonlit　night　when　they　first　met　　aravis　and　hwin。　bree　knew　it　too。　his　eyes　gleamed　red　and　his　ears　lay　flat　back　on　　his　skull。　and　bree　now　discovered　that　he　had　not　really　been　going　as　fast　…　not　quite　　as　fast　…　as　he　could。　shasta　felt　the　change　at　once。　now　they　were　really　going　all　out。　　in　a　few　seconds　they　were　well　ahead　of　hwin。

〃its　not　fair；〃　thought　shasta。　〃i　did　think　wed　be　safe　from　lions　　here！鈥�

he　looked　over　his　shoulder。　everything　was　only　too　clear。　a　huge　tawny　　creature；　its　body　low　to　the　ground；　like　a　cat　streaking　across　the　lawn　to　a　tree　when　　a　strange　dog　has　got　into　the　garden；　was　behind　them。　and　it　was　nearer　every　second　　and　half　second。

he　looked　forward　again　and　saw　something　which　he　did　not　take　in；　or　even　　think　about。　their　way　was　barred　by　a　smooth　green　wall　about　ten　feet　high。　in　　the　middle　of　that　wall　there　was　a　gate；　open。　in　the　middle　of　the　gateway　stood　a　tall　　man　dressed；　down　to　his　bare　feet；　in　a　robe　coloured　like　autumn　leaves；　leaning　on　a　　straight　staff。

his　beard　fell　almost　to　his　knees。

shasta　saw　all　this　in　a　glance　and　looked　back　again。　the　lion　had　almost　　got　hwin　now。

it　was　making　snaps　at　her　hind　legs；　and　there　was　no　hope　now　in　her　　foamflecked；　wide…eyed　face。

〃stop；〃　bellowed　shasta　in　brees　ear。　〃must　go　back。　must　help！鈥�

bree　always　said　afterwards　that　he　never　heard；　or　never　understood　this；　　and　as　he　was　in　general　a　very　truthful　horse　we　must　accept　his　word。

shasta　slipped　his　feet　out　of　the　stirrups；　slid　both　his　legs　over　the　　left　side；　hesitated　for　one　hideous　hundredth　of　a　second；　and　jumped。　it　hurt　horribly　and　nearly　　winded　him；　but　before　he　knew　how　it　hurt　him　he　was　staggering　back　to　help　aravis。　　he　had　never　done　anything　like　this　in　his　life　before　and　hardly　knew　why　he　was　doing　　it　now。

one　of　the　most　terrible　noises　in　the　world；　a　horses　scream；　broke　from　　hwins　lips。

aravis　was　stooping　low　over　hwins　neck　and　seemed　to　be　trying　to　draw　　her　sword。

and　now　all　three　…　aravis；　hwin；　and　the　lion　were　almost　on　top　of　　shasta。　before　they　reached　him　the　lion　rose　on　its　hind　legs；　larger　than　you　would　have　　believed　a　lion　could　be；　and　jabbed　at　aravis　with　its　right　paw。　shasta　could　see　all　the　　terrible　claws　extended。　aravis　screamed　and　reeled　in　the　saddle。　the　lion　was　tearing　　her　shoulders。

shasta；　half　mad　with　horror；　managed　to　lurch　towards　the　brute。　he　had　no　　weapon；　not　even　a　stick　or　a　stone。　he　shouted　out；　idiotically；　at　the　lion　as　one　　would　at　a　dog。　〃go　home！　go　home！〃　for　a　fraction　of　a　second　he　was　staring　right　into　its　　wideopened；　　

raging　mouth。　then；　to　his　utter　astonishment