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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。”
。。
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