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stone。 there were lovely stone shapes that looked like women but who were really the spirits of trees。 there was the great shape of a centaur and a winged horse and a long lithe creature that edmund took to be a dragon。 they all looked so strange standing there perfectly life…like and also perfectly still； in the bright cold moonlight； that it was eerie work crossing the courtyard。 right in the very middle stood a huge shape like a man； but as tall as a tree； with a fierce face and a shaggy beard and a great club in its right hand。 even though he knew that it was only a stone giant and not a live one； edmund did not like going past it。
he now saw that there was a dim light showing from a doorway on the far side of the courtyard。 he went to it； there was a flight of stone steps going up to an open door。
edmund went up them。 across the threshold lay a great wolf。
〃its all right； its all right；〃 he kept saying to himself； 〃its only a stone wolf。 it cant hurt me〃； and he raised his leg to step over it。 instantly the huge creature rose； with all the hair bristling along its back； opened a great； red mouth and said in a growling voice： 〃whos there？ whos there？ stand still； stranger； and tell me who you are。”
〃if you please； sir；〃 said edmund； trembling so that he could hardly speak； 〃my name is edmund； and im the son of adam that her majesty met in the wood the other day and ive e to bring her the news that my brother and sisters are now in narnia … quite close； in the beavers house。 she … she wanted to see them。”
〃i will tell her majesty；〃 said the wolf。 〃meanwhile； stand still on the threshold； as you value your life。〃 then it vanished into the house。
edmund stood and waited； his fingers aching with cold and his heart pounding in his chest； and presently the grey wolf； maugrim； the chief of the witchs secret police； came bounding back and said； 〃e in！ e in！ fortunate favourite of the queen … or else not so fortunate。”
and edmund went in； taking great care not to tread on the wolfs paws。
he found himself in a long gloomy hall with many pillars； full； as the courtyard had been； of statues。 the one nearest the door was a little faun with a very sad expression on its face； and edmund couldnt help wondering if this might be lucys friend。 the only light came from a single lamp and close beside this sat the white witch。
〃im e； your majesty；〃 said edmund； rushing eagerly forward。
〃how dare you e alone？〃 said the witch in a terrible voice。 〃did i not tell you to bring the others with you？”
〃please； your majesty；〃 said edmund； 〃ive done the best i can。 ive brought them quite close。 theyre in the little house on top of the dam just up the riverwith mr and mrs beaver。”
a slow cruel smile came over the witchs face。
〃is this all your news？〃 she asked。
〃no； your majesty；〃 said edmund； and proceeded to tell her all he had heard before leaving the beavers house。
〃what！ aslan？〃 cried the queen； 〃aslan！ is this true？ if i find you have lied to me …”
〃please； im only repeating what they said；〃 stammered edmund。
but the queen； who was no longer attending to him； clapped her hands。 instantly the same dwarf whom edmund had seen with her before appeared。
〃make ready our sledge；〃 ordered the witch； 〃and use the harness without bells。”
CHAPTER TEN
the spell begins to break now we must go back to mr and mrs beaver and the three other children。 as soon as mr beaver said； 〃theres no time to lose；〃 everyone began bundling themselves into coats； except mrs beaver； who started picking up sacks and laying them on the table and said： 〃now； mr beaver； just reach down that ham。 and heres a packet of tea； and theres sugar； and some matches。 and if someone will get two or three loaves out of the crock over there in the corner。”
〃what are you doing； mrs beaver？〃 exclaimed susan。
〃packing a load for each of us； dearie；〃 said mrs beaver very coolly。 〃you didnt think wed set out on a journey with nothing to eat； did you？”
〃but we havent time！〃 said susan； buttoning the collar of her coat。 〃she may be here any minute。”
〃thats what i say；〃 chimed in mr beaver。
〃get along with you all；〃 said his wife。 〃think it over； mr beaver。 she cant be here for quarter of an hour at least。”
〃but dont we want as big a start as we can possibly get；〃 said peter； 〃if were to reach the stone table before her？”
〃youve got to remember that； mrs beaver；〃 said susan。 〃as soon as she has looked in here and finds were gone shell be off at top speed。”
〃that she will；〃 said mrs beaver。 〃but we cant get there before her whatever we do； for shell be on a sledge and well be walking。”
〃then … have we no hope？〃 said susan。
〃now dont you get fussing； theres a dear；〃 said mrs beaver； 〃but just get half a dozen clean handkerchiefs out of the drawer。 course weve got a hope。 we cant get there before her but we can keep under cover and go by ways she wont expect and perhaps well get through。”
〃thats true enough； mrs beaver；〃 said her husband。 〃but its time we were out of this。”
〃and dont you start fussing either； mr beaver；〃 said his wife。 〃there。 thats better。
theres five loads and the smallest for the smallest of us： thats you； my dear；〃 she added； looking at lucy。
〃oh； do please e on；〃 said lucy。
〃well； im nearly ready now；〃 answered mrs beaver at last； allowing her husband to help her into； her snow…boots。 〃i suppose the sewing machines took heavy to bring？”
〃yes。 it is；〃 said mr beaver。 〃a great deal too heavy。 and you dont think youll be able to use it while were on the run； i suppose？”
〃i cant abide the thought of that witch fiddling with it；〃 said mrs beaver； 〃and breaking it or stealing it； as likely as not。”
〃oh； please； please； please； do hurry！〃 said the three children。 and so at last they all got outside and mr beaver locked the door （〃itll delay her a bit；〃 he said） and they set off； all carrying their loads over their shoulders。
the snow had stopped and the moon had e out when they began their journey。 they went in single file … first mr beaver； then lucy； then peter； then susan； and mrs beaver l