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l felt like crying when she looked at his face。 and jewel whispered in the kings ear； 〃by the lions mane； i almost love this young warrior； calormene though he be。 he is worthy of a better god than tash。”
〃i do wish we knew what is really inside there；〃 said eustace。
emeth opened the door and went in； into the black mouth of the stable。 he closed the door behind him。 only a few moments passed … but it seemed longer before the door opened again。 a figure in calormene armour reeled out； fell on its back； and lay still： the door closed behind it。 the captain leaped towards it and bent down to stare at its face。 he gave a start of surprise。 then he recovered himself and turned to the crowd； crying out： 〃the rash boy has had his will。 he has looked on tash and is dead。 take warning； all of you。”
〃we will； we will；〃 said the poor beasts。 but tirian and his friends stared at the dead calormene and then at one another。 for they； being so close； could see what the crowd； being further off and beyond the fire； could not see： this dead man was not emeth。 he was quite different： an older man； thicker and not so tall； with a big beard。
〃ho…ho…ho；〃 chuckled the ape。 〃any more？ anyone else want to go in？ well； as youre all shy； ill choose the next。 you； you boar！ on you e。 drive him up； calormenes。 he shall see tashlan face to face。”
〃o…o…mph；〃 grunted the boar； rising heavily to his feet。 〃e on； then。 try my tusks。”
when tirian saw that brave beast getting ready to fight for its life … and calormene soldiers beginning to close in on it with their drawn scimitars … and no one going to its help … something seemed to burst inside him。 he no longer cared if this was the best moment to interfere or not。
〃swords out；〃 he whispered to the others。 〃arrow on string。 follow。”
next moment the astonished narnians saw seven figures leap forth in front of the stable； four of them in shining mail。 the kings sword flashed in the firelight as he waved it above his head and cried in a great voice： 〃here stand i； tirian of narnia； in aslans name； to prove with my body that tash is a foul fiend； the ape a manifold traitor； and these calormenes worthy of death。 to my side； all true narnians。 would you wait till your new masters have killed you all one by one？”
。。
CHAPTER ELEVEN
小=＿说。网
the pace quickens quick as lightning； rishda tarkaan leaped back out of reach of the kings sword。 he was no coward； and would have fought single…handed against tirian and the dwarf if need were。 but he could not take on the eagle and the unicorn as well。 he knew how eagles can fly into your face and peck at your eyes and blind you with their wings。 and he had heard from his father （who had met narnians in battle） that no man； except with arrows； or a long spear； can match a unicorn； for it rears on its hind legs as it falls upon you and then you have its hoofs and its horn and its teeth to deal with all at once。 so he rushed into the crowd and stood calling out： 〃to me； to me； warriors of the tisroc； may…he…liveforever。 to me； all loyal narnians； lest the wrath of tashlan fall upon you！”
while this was happening two other things happened as well。 the ape had not realized his danger as quickly as the tarkaan。 for a second or so he remained squatting beside the fire staring at the newers。 then tirian rushed upon the wretched creature； picked it up by the scruff of the neck； and dashed back to the stable shouting； 〃open the door！”
poggin opened it。 〃go and drink your own medicine； shift！〃 said tirian and hurled the ape through into the darkness。 but as the dwarf banged the door shut again； a blinding greenish…blue light shone out from the inside of the stable； the earth shook； and there was a strange noise … a clucking and screaming as if it was the hoarse voice of some monstrous bird。 the beasts moaned and howled and called out 〃tashlan！ hide us from him！〃 and many fell down； and many hid their faces in their wings or paws。 no one except farsight the eagle； who has the best eyes of all living things； noticed the face of rishda tarkaan at that moment。 and from what farsight saw there he knew at once that rishda was just as surprised； and nearly frightened； as everyone else。 〃there goes one；”
thought farsight； 〃who has called on gods he does not believe in。 how will it be with him if they have really e？”
the third thing … which also happened at the same moment … was the only really beautiful thing that night。 every single talking dog in the whole meeting （there were fifteen of
them） came bounding and barking joyously to the kings side。 they were mostly great big dogs with thick shoulders and heavy jaws。 their ing was like the breaking of a great wave on the seabeach： it nearly knocked you down。 for though they were talking dogs they were just as doggy as they could be： and they all stood up and put their front paws on the shoulders of the humans and licked their faces； all saying at once： 〃wele！ wele！ well help； well help； help； help。 show us how to help； show us how； how。 how…how…how？”
it was so lovely that it made you want to cry。 this； at last； was the sort of thing they had been hoping for。 and when； a moment later； several little animals （mice and moles and a squirrel or so） came pattering up； squealing with joy； and saying 〃see； see。 were here；”
and when； after that； the bear and the boar came too； eustace began to feel that perhaps； after all； everything might be going to e right。 but tirian gazed round and saw how very few of the animals had moved。
〃to me！ to me！〃 he called。 〃have you all turned cowards since i was your king？”
〃we darent；〃 whimpered dozens of voices。 〃tashlan would be angry。 shield us from tashlan。”
〃where are all the talking horses？〃 said tirian to the boar。
〃weve seen； weve seen；〃 squealed the mice。 〃the ape has made them work。 theyre all tied … down at the bottom of the hill。”
〃then all you little ones；〃 said tirian； 〃you nibblers and gnawers and nutcrackers； away with you as fast as you can scamper and see if the horses are on our side。 and if they are； get your teeth into the ropes and gnaw