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！
were seeing what so many people have foolishly wanted to see … the great sea serpent。 the folds of its gigantic tail could be seen far away； rising at intervals from the surface。 and now its head was towering up higher than the mast。
every man rushed to his weapon； but there was nothing to be done； the monster was out of reach。 〃shoot！ shoot！〃 cried the master bowman； and several obeyed； but the arrows glanced off the sea serpents hide as if it was ironplated。 then； for a dreadful minute； everyone was still； staring up at its eyes and mouth and wondering where it would pounce。
but it didnt pounce。 it shot its head forward across the ship on a level with the yard of the mast。 now its head was just beside the fighting top。 still it stretched and stretched till its head was over the starboard bulwark。 then down it began to e … not on to the
crowded deck but into the water； so that the whole ship was under an arch of serpent。
and almost at once that arch began to get smaller： indeed on the starboard the sea serpent was now almost touching the dawn treaders side。
eustace （who had really been trying very hard to behave well； till the rain and the chess put him back） now did the first brave thing he had ever done。 he was wearing a sword that caspian had lent him。 as soon as the serpents body was near enough on the starboard side he jumped on to the bulwark and began hacking at it with all his might。 it is true that he acplished nothing beyond breaking caspians second…best sword into bits； but it was a fine thing for a beginner to have done。
others would have joined him if at that moment reepicheep had not called out； 〃dont fight！ push！〃 it was so unusual for the mouse to advise anyone not to fight that； even in that terrible moment； every eye turned to him。 and when he jumped up on to the bulwark； forward of the snake； and set his little furry back against its huge scaly； slimy back； and began pushing as hard as he could； quite a number of people saw what he meant and rushed to both sides of the ship to do the same。 and when； a moment later； the sea serpents head appeared again； this time on the port side； and this time with its back to them； then everyone understood。
the brute had made a loop of itself round the dawn treader and was beginning to draw the loop tight。 when it got quite tight … snap！ … there would be floating matchwood where the ship had been and it could pick them out of the water one by one。 their only chance was to push the loop backward till it slid over the stern； or else （to put the same thing another way） to push the ship forward out of the loop。
reepicheep alone had； of course； no more chance of doing this than of lifting up a cathedral； but he had nearly killed himself with trying before others shoved him aside。
very soon the whole ships pany except lucy and the mouse （which was fainting）
was in two long lines along the two bulwarks； each mans chest to the back of the man in front； so that the weight of the whole line was in the last man； pushing for their lives。 for a few sickening seconds （which seemed like hours） nothing appeared to happen。 joints cracked； sweat dropped； breath came in grunts and gasps。 then they felt that the ship was moving。 they saw that the snake…loop was further from the mast than it had been。 but they also saw that it was smaller。 and now the real danger was at hand。 could they get it over the poop； or was it already too tight？ yes。 it would just fit。 it was resting on the poop rails。 a dozen or more sprang up on the poop。 this was far better。 the sea serpents body was so low now that they could make a line across the poop and push side by side。
hope rose high till everyone remembered the high carved stern； the dragon tail； of the dawn treader。 it would be quite impossible to get the brute over that。
〃an axe；〃 cried caspian hoarsely； 〃and still shove。〃 lucy； who knew where everything was； heard him where she was standing on the main deck staring up at the poop。 in a few seconds she had been below； got the axe； and was rushing up the ladder to the poop。 but just as she reached the top there came a great crashing noise like a tree ing down and the ship rocked and darted forward。 for at that very moment； whether because the sea
serpent was being pushed so hard； or because it foolishly decided to draw the noose tight； the whole of the carved stern broke off and the ship was free。
the others were too exhausted to see what lucy saw。 there； a few yards behind them； the loop of sea serpents body got rapidly smaller and disappeared into a splash。 lucy always said （but of course she was very excited at the moment； and it may have been only imagination） that she saw a look of idiotic satisfaction on the creatures face。 what is certain is that it was a very stupid animal； for instead of pursuing the ship it turned its head round and began nosing all along its own body as if it expected to find the wreckage of the dawn treader there。 but the dawn treader was already well away； running before a fresh breeze； and the men lay and sat panting and groaning all about the deck； till presently they were able to talk about it； and then to laugh about it。 and when some rum had been served out they even raised a cheer； and everyone praised the valour of eustace （though it hadnt done any good） and of reepicheep。
after this they sailed for three days more and saw nothing but sea and sky。 on the fourth day the wind changed to the north and the seas began to rise； by the afternoon it had nearly bee a gale。 but at the same time they sighted land on their port bow。
〃by your leave； sire；〃 said drinian； 〃we will try to get under the lee of that country by rowing and lie in harbour； maybe till this is over。〃 caspian agreed； but a long row against the gale did not bring them to the land before evening。 by the last light of that day they steered into a natural harbour and anchored； but no one went ashore that night。 in the morning they found themselves in the green bay of a rugged； lonely…looking country which sloped up to a rocky summit。 from the windy north beyond that summit clouds came streaming ra