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！
〃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 name was orruns。 〃his majestys ship is expected in harbour any moment。 it seems that the king met aslan … i dont know whether it was in a vision or face to face … before he had sailed far； and aslan turned him back and told him he would find his long…lost son awaiting him when he reached narnia。”
eustace was now up and he and jill set about helping orruns to get the breakfast。
puddleglum was told to stay in bed。 a centaur called cloudbirth； a famous healer； or （as orruns called it） a leech； was ing to see to his burnt foot。
〃ah！〃 said puddleglum in a tone almost of contentment； 〃hell want to have the leg off at the knee； i shouldnt wonder。 you see if he doesnt。〃 but he was quite glad to stay in bed。
breakfast was scrambled eggs and toast and eustace tackled it just as if he had not had a very large supper in the middle of the night。
〃i say； son of adam；〃 said the faun； looking with a certain awe at eustaces mouthfuls。
〃theres no need to hurry quite so dreadfully as that。 i dont think the centaurs have quite finished their breakfasts yet。”
〃then they must have got up very late；〃 said eustace。 〃i bet its after ten oclock。”
〃oh no；〃 said orruns。 〃they got up before it was light。”
〃then they must have waited the dickens of a time for breakfast；〃 said eustace。
〃no； they didnt；〃 said orruns。 〃they began eating the minute they awoke。”
〃golly！〃 said eustace。 〃do they eat a very big breakfast？”
〃why； son of adam； dont you understand？ a centaur has a man…stomach and a horse…stomach。 and of course both want breakfast。 so first of all he has porridge and pavenders and kidneys and bacon and omelette and cold ham and toast and marmalade and coffee and beer。 and after that he attends to the horse part of himself by grazing for an hour or so and finishing up with a hot mash； some oats； and a bag of sugar。 thats why its such a serious thing to ask a centaur to stay for the week…end。 a very serious thing indeed。”
at that moment there was a sound of horse…hoofs tapping on rock from the mouth of the cave； and the children looked up。 the two centaurs； one with a black and one with a golden beard flowing over their magnificent bare chests； stood waiting for them； bending their heads a little so as to look into the cave。 then the children became very polite and finished their breakfast very quickly。 no one thinks a centaur funny when he sees it。
they are solemn； majestic people； full of ancient wisdom which they learn from the stars； not easily made either merry or angry； but their anger is terrible as a tidal wave when it es。
〃good…bye； dear puddleglum；〃 said jill； going over to the marsh…wiggles bed。 〃im sorry we called you a wet blanket。”
〃som i；〃 said eustace。 〃youve been the best friend in the world。”
〃and i do hope well meet again；〃 added jill。
〃not much chance of that； i should say；〃 replied puddleglum。 〃1 dont reckon im very likely to see my old wigwam again either。 and that prince … hes a nice chap … but do you
think hes very strong？ constitution ruined with living underground； i shouldnt wonder。
looks the sort that might go off any day。”
〃puddleglum！〃 said jill。 〃youre a regular old humbug。 you sound as doleful as a funeral and i believe youre perfectly happy。 and you talk as if you were afraid of everything； when youre really as brave as…as a lion。”
〃now； speaking of funerals；〃 began puddleglum； but jill； who heard the centaurs tapping with their hoofs behind her； surprised him very much by flinging her arms round his thin neck and kissing his muddy…looking face； while eustace wrung his hand。 then they both rushed away to the centaurs； and the marsh…wiggle； sinking back on his bed； remarked to himself； 〃well； i wouldnt have dreamt of her doing that。 even though i am a good…looking chap。”
to ride on a centaur is； no doubt； a great honour （and except jill and eustace there is probably no one alive in the world today who has had it） but it is very unfortable。 for no one who valued his life would suggest putting a saddle on a centaur； and riding bare…back is no fun； especially if； like eustace； you have never learned to ride at all。 the centaurs were very polite in a grave； gracious； grown…up kind of way； and as they cantered through the narnian woods they spoke； without turning their heads； telling the children about the properties of herbs and roots； the influences of the planets； the nine names of aslan with their meanings； and things of that sort。 but however sore and jolted the two humans were； they would now give anything to have that journey over again： to see those glades and slopes sparkling with last nights snow； to be met by rabbits and squirrels and birds that wished you good morning； to breathe again the air of narnia and hear the voices of the narnian trees。
they came down to the river； flowing bright and blue in winter sunshine； far below the last bridge （which is at the snug； red…roofed little town of beruna） and were ferried across in a flat barge by the ferryman； or rather； by the ferry…wiggle； for it is marsh…wiggles who do most of the watery and fishy kinds of work in narnia。 and when they had crossed they rode along the south bank of the river and presently came to cair paravel itself。 and at the very moment of their arrival they saw that same bright ship which they had seen when they first set foot in narnia； gliding up the river like a huge bird。 all the court were once more assembled on the green between the castle and the quay to wele king caspian home again。 rilian； who had changed his black clothes and was now dressed in a scarlet cloak over silver mail； stood close to the waters edge； bare…headed； to receive his father； and the dwarf trumpkin sat beside him in his little donkey…chair。 the children saw there would be no chance of reaching the prince through all that crowd； and； anyway； they now felt rather shy。 so they asked the centaurs if they might go on sitting on their bac