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ettins。 in fact here were all those who were on the witchs side and whom the wolf had summoned at her mand。 and right in the middle； standing by the table； was the witch herself。
a howl and a gibber of dismay went up from the creatures when they first saw the great lion pacing towards them； and for a moment even the witch seemed to be struck with fear。 then she recovered herself and gave a wild fierce laugh。
〃the fool！〃 she cried。 〃the fool has e。 bind him fast。”
lucy and susan held their breaths waiting for aslans roar and his spring upon his enemies。 but it never came。 four hags； grinning and leering； yet also （at first） hanging back and half afraid of what they had to do； had approached him。 〃bind him； i say！”
repeated the white witch。 the hags made a dart at him and shrieked with triumph when they found that he made no resistance at all。 then others … evil dwarfs and apes … rushed in to help them； and between them they rolled the huge lion over on his back and tied all his four paws together； shouting and cheering as if they had done something brave； though； had the lion chosen； one of those paws could have been the death of them all。
but he made no noise； even when the enemies； straining and tugging； pulled the cords so tight that they cut into his flesh。 then they began to drag him towards the stone table。
〃stop！〃 said the witch。 〃let him first be shaved。”
another roar of mean laughter went up from her followers as an ogre with a pair of shears came forward and squatted down by aslans head。 snip…snip…snip went the shears and masses of curling gold began to fall to the ground。 then the ogre stood back and the children； watching from their hiding…place； could see the face of aslan looking all small and different without its mane。 the enemies also saw the difference。
〃why； hes only a great cat after all！〃 cried one。
〃is that what we were afraid of？〃 said another。
and they surged round aslan； jeering at him； saying things like 〃puss； puss！ poor pussy；”
and 〃how many mice have you caught today； cat？〃 and 〃would you like a saucer of milk； pussums？”
〃oh； how can they？〃 said lucy； tears streaming down her cheeks。 〃the brutes； the brutes！〃 for now that the first shock was over the shorn face of aslan looked to her braver； and more beautiful； and more patient than ever。
〃muzzle him！〃 said the witch。 and even now； as they worked about his face putting on the muzzle； one bite from his jaws would have cost two or three of them their hands。 but he never moved。 and this seemed to enrage all that rabble。 everyone was at him now。
those who had been afraid to e near him even after he was bound began to find their courage； and for a few minutes the two girls could not even see him … so thickly was he surrounded by the whole crowd of creatures kicking him； hitting him； spitting on him； jeering at him。
at last the rabble had had enough of this。 they began to drag the bound and muzzled lion to the stone table； some pulling and some pushing。 he was so huge that even when they got him there it took all their efforts to hoist him on to the surface of it。 then there was more tying and tightening of cords。
〃the cowards！ the cowards！〃 sobbed susan。 〃are they still afraid of him； even now？”
when once aslan had been tied （and tied so that he was really a mass of cords） on the flat stone； a hush fell on the crowd。 four hags； holding four torches； stood at the corners of the table。 the witch bared her arms as she had bared them the previous night when it had been edmund instead of aslan。 then she began to whet her knife。 it looked to the children； when the gleam of the torchlight fell on it； as if the knife were made of stone； not of steel； and it was of a strange and evil shape。
as last she drew near。 she stood by aslans head。 her face was working and twitching with passion； but his looked up at the sky； still quiet； neither angry nor afraid； but a little sad。 then； just before she gave the blow； she stooped down and said in a quivering voice； 〃and now； who has won？ fool； did you think that by all this you would save the human traitor？ now i will kill you instead of him as our pact was and so the deep magic will be appeased。 but when you are dead what will prevent me from killing him as well？ and who will take him out of my hand then？ understand that you have given me narnia forever； you have lost your own life and you have not saved his。 in that knowledge； despair and die。”
the children did not see the actual moment of the killing。 they couldnt bear to look and had covered their eyes。
。。
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
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deeper magic from before the dawn of time while the two girls still crouched in the bushes with their hands over their faces； they heard the voice of the witch calling out； 〃now！ follow me all and we will set about what remains of this war！ it will not take us long to crush the human vermin and the traitors now that the great fool； the great cat； lies dead。”
at this moment the children were for a few seconds in very great danger。 for with wild cries and a noise of skirling pipes and shrill horns blowing； the whole of that vile rabble came sweeping off the hill…top and down the slope right past their hiding… place。 they felt the spectres go by them like a cold wind and they felt the ground shake beneath them under the galloping feet of the minotaurs； and overhead there went a flurry of foul wings and a blackness of vultures and giant bats。 at any other time they would have trembled with fear； but now the sadness and shame and horror of aslans death so filled their minds that they hardly thought of it。
as soon as the wood was silent again susan and lucy crept out onto the open hill…top。
the moon was getting low and thin clouds were passing across her； but still they could see the shape of the lion lying dead in his bonds。 and down they both knelt in the wet grass and kissed his cold face and stroked his beautiful fur … what was left of it … and cried till they could cry no more。 and then they looked at each other and held each others hands for mere loneliness and cried again； and then again were s