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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 last of all。 mr beaver led them across the dam and on to the right bank of the river and then along a very rough sort of path among the trees right down by the river…bank。 the sides of the valley； shining in the moonlight； towered up far above them on either hand。
〃best keep down here as much as possible；〃 he said。 〃shell have to keep to the top； for you couldnt bring a sledge down here。”
it would have been a pretty enough scene to look at it through a window from a fortable armchair； and even as things were； lucy enjoyed it at first。 but as they went on walking and walking … and walking and as the sack she was carrying felt heavier and heavier； she began to wonder how she was going to keep up at all。 and she stopped looking at the dazzling brightness of the frozen river with all its waterfalls of ice and at the white masses of the tree…tops and the great glaring moon and the countless stars and could only watch the little short legs of mr beaver going pad…pad…pad…pad through the snow in front of her as if they were never going to stop。 then the moon disappeared and the snow began to fall once more。 and at last lucy was so tired that she was almost asleep and walking at the same time when suddenly she found that mr beaver had turned away from the river…bank to the right and was leading them steeply uphill into the very thickest bushes。 and then as she came fully awake she found that mr beaver was just vanishing into a little hole in the bank which had been almost hidden under the bushes until you were quite on top of it。 in fact； by the time she realized what was happening； only his short flat tail was showing。
lucy immediately stooped down and crawled in after him。 then she heard noises of scrambling and puffing and panting behind her and in a moment all five of them were inside。
〃wherever is this？〃 said peters voice； sounding tired and pale in the darkness。 （i hope you know what i mean by a voice sounding pale。） 〃its an old hiding…place for beavers in bad times；〃 said mr beaver； 〃and a great secret。
its not much of a place but we must get a few hours sleep。”
〃if you hadnt all been in such a plaguey fuss when we were starting； id have brought some pillows；〃 said mrs beaver。
it wasnt nearly such a nice cave as mr tumnuss； lucy thought … just a hole in the ground but dry and earthy。 it was very small so that when they all lay down they were all a bundle of clothes together； and what with that and being warmed up by their long walk they were really rather snug。 if only the floor of the cave had been a little smoother！ then mrs beaver handed round in the dark a little flask out of which everyone drank something … it made one cough and splutter a little and stung the throat； but it also made you feel deliciously warm after youd swallowed it and everyone went straight to sleep。
it seemed to lucy only the next minute （though really it was hours and hours later） when she woke up feeling a little cold and dreadfully stiff and thinking how she would like a hot bath。 then she felt a set of long whiskers tickling her cheek and saw the cold daylight ing in through the mouth of the cave。 but immediately after that she was very wide awake indeed； and so was everyone else。 in fact they were all sitting up with their mouths and eyes wide open listening to a sound which was the very sound theyd all been thinking of （and sometimes imagining they heard） during their walk last night。 it was a sound of jingling bells。
mr beaver was out of the cave like a flash the moment he heard it。 perhaps you think； as lucy thought for a moment； that this was a very silly thing to do？ but it was really a very sensible one。 he knew he could scramble to the top of the bank among bushes and brambles without being seen； and he wanted above all things to see which way the witchs sledge went。 the others all sat in the cave waiting and wondering。 they waited nearly five minutes。 then they heard something that frightened them very much。 they heard voices。 〃oh；〃 thought lucy； 〃hes been seen。 shes caught him！”
great was their surprise when a little later； they heard mr beavers voice calling to them from just outside the cave。
〃its all right；〃 he was shouting。 〃e out； mrs beaver。 e out； sons and daughters of adam。 its all right！ it isnt her！〃 this was bad grammar of course； but that is how beavers talk when they are excited； i mean； in narnia … in our world they usually dont talk at all。
so mrs beaver and the children came bundling out of the cave； all blinking in the daylight； and with earth all over them； and looking very frowsty and unbrushed and unbed and with the sleep in their eyes。
〃e on！〃 cried mr beaver； who was almost dancing with delight。 〃e and see！ this is a nasty knock for the witch！ it looks as if her power is already crumbling。”
〃what do you mean； mr beaver？〃 panted peter as they all scrambled up the steep bank of the valley together。
〃didnt i tell you；〃 answered mr beaver； 〃that shed made it always winter and never christmas？ didnt i tell you？ well； just e and see！”
and then they were all at the top and did see。
it was a sledge； and it was reindeer with bells on their harness。 but they were far bigger than the witchs reindeer； and they were not white but brown。 and on the sledge sat a person whom everyone knew the moment they set eyes on him。 he was a huge man。 in a bright red robe （bright as hollyberries） with a hood that had fur inside it and a great white beard； that fell like a foamy waterfall over his chest。
everyone knew him because； though you see people of his sort only in narnia； you see pictures of them and hear them talked about even in our world … the world on this side of the wardrobe door。 but when you really see them in narnia it is rather different。 some of the pictures of father christmas in our world make him look only funny and jolly。 but now that the children actually stood looking at him they didnt find it quite like that。 he was so big； and so