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d empty as if it were an uninhabited land； but before them there were level lawns in which the grass was as smooth and short as it used to be in the grounds of a great english house where ten gardeners were kept。 the trees； of which there were many； all stood well apart from one another； and there were no broken branches and no leaves lying on the ground。 pigeons sometimes cooed but there was no other noise。
presently they came to a long； straight； sanded path with not a weed growing on it and trees on either hand。 far off at the other end of this avenue they now caught sight of a house … very long and grey and quiet…looking in the afternoon sun。
almost as soon as they entered this path lucy noticed that she had a little stone in her shoe。 in that unknown place it might have been wiser for her to ask the others to wait while she took it out。 but she didnt； she just dropped quietly behind and sat down to take off her shoe。 her lace had got into a knot。
before she had undone the knot the others were a fair distance ahead。 by the time she had got the stone out and was putting the shoe on again she could no longer hear them。 but almost at once she heard something else。 it was not ing from the direction of the house。
what she heard was a thumping。 it sounded as if dozens of strong workmen were hitting the ground as hard as they could with great wooden mallets。 and it was very quickly ing nearer。 she was already sitting with her back to a tree； and as the tree was not one she could climb； there was really nothing to do but to sit dead still and press herself against the tree and hope she wouldnt be seen。
thump； thump； thump 。 。 。 and whatever it was must be very close now for she could feel the ground shaking。 but she could see nothing。 she thought the thing … or things must be just behind her。 but then there came a thump on the path right in front of her。 she knew it was on the path not only by the sound but because she saw the sand scatter as if it had been struck a heavy blow。 but she could see nothing that had struck it。 then all the thumping noises drew together about twenty feet away from her and suddenly ceased。
then came the voice。
it was really very dreadful because she could still see nobody at all。 the whole of that park…like country still looked as quiet and empty as it had looked when they first landed。
nevertheless； only a few feet away from her； a voice spoke。 and what it said was： 〃mates； nows our chance。”
instantly a whole chorus of other voices replied； 〃hear him。 hear him。 ‘now s our chance； he said。 well done； chief。 you never said a truer word。”
〃what i say；〃 continued the first voice； 〃is； get down to the shore between them and their boat； and let every mothers son look to his weapons。 catch em when they try to put to sea。”
〃eh； thats the way；〃 shouted all the other voices。 〃you never made a better plan； chief。
keep it up； chief。 you couldnt have a better plan than that。”
〃lively； then； mates； lively；〃 said the first voice。 〃off we go。
〃right again； chief；〃 said the others。 〃couldnt have a better order。 just what we were going to say ourselves。 off we go。”
immediately the thumping began again … very loud at first but soon fainter and fainter； till it died out in the direction of the sea。
lucy knew there was no time to sit puzzling as to what these invisible creatures might be。
as soon as the thumping noise had died away she got up and ran along the path after the others as quickly as her legs would carry her。 they must at all costs be warned。
while this had been happening the others had reached the house。 it was a low building … only two stories high made of a beautiful mellow stone； many…windowed； and partially covered with ivy。 everything was so still that eustace said； 〃i think its empty；〃 but caspian silently pointed to the column of smoke which rose from one chimney。
they found a wide gateway open and passed through it into a paved courtyard。 and it was here that they had their first indication that there was something odd about this island。 in the middle of the courtyard stood a pump； and beneath the pump a bucket。
there was nothing odd about that。 but the pump handle was moving up and down； though there seemed to be no one moving it。
〃theres some magic at work here；〃 said caspian。
〃machinery！〃 said eustace。 〃i do believe weve e to a civilized country at last。”
at that moment lucy； hot and breathless； rushed into the courtyard behind them。 in a low voice she tried to make them understand what she had overheard。 and when they had partly understood it even the bravest of them did not look very happy。
〃invisible enemies；〃 muttered caspian。 〃and cutting us off from the boat。 this is an ugly furrow to plough。”
〃youve no idea what sort of creatures they are； lu？〃 asked edmund。
〃how can i； ed； when i couldnt see them？”
〃did they sound like humans from their footsteps？”
〃i didnt hear any noise of feet … only voices and this frightful thudding and thumping … like a mallet。”
〃i wonder；〃 said reepicheep； 〃do they bee visible when you drive a sword into them？”
〃it looks as if we shall find out；〃 said caspian。 〃but lets get out of this gateway。 theres one of these gentry at that pump listening to all we say。”
they came out and went back on to the path where the trees might possibly make them less conspicuous。 〃not that its any good really；〃 said eustace； 〃trying to hide from people you cant see。 they may be all round us。”
〃now； drinian；〃 said caspian。 〃how would it be if we gave up the boat for lost； went down to another part of the bay； and signalled to the dawn treader to stand in and take us aboard？”
〃not depth for her； sire；〃 said drinian。
〃we could swim；〃 said lucy。
〃your majesties all；〃 said reepicheep； 〃hear me。 it is folly to think of avoiding an invisible enemy by any amount of creeping and skulking。 if these creatures mean to bring us to battle； be sure they will succeed。 and whatever es of it id sooner meet them face to face than be caught by the tail。”
〃i really think reep is in the right this time；〃 said edmund。
〃surely；〃 sa