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though nobody much liked it； it was hwins plan which had to be adopted in the end。 it was a troublesome one and involved a certain amount of what shasta called stealing； and bree called 〃raiding〃。 one farm lost a few sacks that evening and another lost a coil of rope the next： but some tattered old boys clothes for aravis to wear had to be fairly bought and paid for in a village。 shasta returned with them in triumph just as evening was closing in。 the others were waiting for him among the trees at the foot of a low range of wooded hills which lay right across their path。 everyone was feeling excited because this was the last hill； when they reached the ridge at the top they would be looking down on tashbaan。 〃i do wish we were safely past it；〃 muttered shasta to hwin。 〃oh i do； i do；”
said hwin fervently。
that night they wound their way through the woods up to the ridge by a wood…cutters track。 and when they came out of the woods at the top they could see thousands of lights in the valley down below them。 shasta had had no notion of what a great city would be like and it frightened him。 they had their supper and the children got some sleep。 but the horses woke them very early in the morning。
the stars were still out and the grass was terribly cold and wet； but daybreak was just beginning； far to their right across the sea。 aravis went a few steps away into the wood and came back looking odd in her new； ragged clothes and carrying her real ones in a bundle。 these； and her armour and shield and scimitar and the two saddles and the rest of the horses fine furnishings were put into the sacks。 bree and hwin had already got themselves as dirty and bedraggled as they could and it remained to shorten their tails。 as the only tool for doing this was araviss scimitar； one of the packs had to be undone again in order to get it out。 it was a longish job and rather hurt the horses。
〃my word！〃 said bree； 〃if i wasnt a talking horse what a lovely kick in the face i could give you！ i thought you were going to cut it； not pull it out。 thats what it feels like。”
but in spite of semi…darkness and cold fingers all was done in the end； the big packs bound on the horses； the rope halters （which they were now wearing instead of bridles and reins） in the childrens hands； and the journey began。
〃remember；〃 said bree。 〃keep together if we possibly can。 if not； meet at the tombs of the ancient kings； and whoever gets there first must wait for the others。”
〃and remember；〃 said shasta。 〃dont you two horses forget yourselves and start talking； whatever happens。”
/d/
CHAPTER FOUR
（小//说；网/
shasta falls in with the narnians at first shasta could see nothing in the valley below him but a sea of mist with a few domes and pinnacles rising from it； but as the light increased and the mist cleared away he saw more and more。 a broad river divided itself into two streams and on the island between them stood the city of tashbaan； one of the wonders of the world。 round the very edge of the island； so that the water lapped against the stone； ran high walls strengthened with so many towers that he soon gave up trying to count them。 inside the walls the island rose in a hill and every bit of that hill； up to the tisrocs palace and the great temple of tash at the top； was pletely covered with buildings … terrace above terrace； street above street； zigzag roads or huge flights of steps bordered with orange trees and lemon trees； roofgardens； balconies； deep archways； pillared colonnades； spires； battlements； minarets； pinnacles。 and when at last the sun rose out of the sea and the great silver…plated dome of the temple flashed back its light； he was almost dazzled。
〃get on； shasta；〃 bree kept saying。
the river banks on each side of the valley were such a mass of gardens that they looked at first like forest； until you got closer and saw the white walls of innumerable houses peeping out from beneath the trees。 soon after that； shasta noticed a delicious smell of flowers and fruit。 about fifteen minutes later they were down among them； plodding on a level road with white walls on each side and trees bending over the walls。
〃i say；〃 said shasta in an awed voice。 〃this is a wonderful place！”
〃i daresay；〃 said bree。 〃but i wish we were safely through it and out at the other side。
narnia and the north！”
at that moment a low； throbbing noise began which gradually swelled louder and louder till the whole valley seemed to be swaying with it。 it was a musical noise； but so strong and solemn as to be a little frightening。
〃thats the horns blowing for the city gates to be open；〃 said bree。 〃we shall be there in a minute。 now； aravis； do droop your shoulders a bit and step heavier and try to look less like a princess。 try to imagine youve been kicked and cuffed and called names all your life。”
〃if it es to that；〃 said aravis； 〃what about you drooping your head a bit more and arching your neck a bit less and trying to look less like a war…horse？”
〃hush；〃 said bree。 〃here we are。”
and they were。 they had e to the rivers edge and the road ahead of them ran along a many…arched bridge。 the water danced brightly in the early sunlight； away to the right nearer the rivers mouth； they caught a glimpse ships masts。 several other travellers were before them on the bridge； mostly peasants driving laden donkeys and mules or carrying baskets on their heads。 the children and horses joined the crowd。
〃is anything wrong？〃 whispered shasta to aravis； who had an odd look on her face。
〃oh its all very well for you；〃 whispered aravis rather savagely。 〃what would you care about tashbaan？ but i ought to be riding in on a litter with soldiers before me and slaves behind； and perhaps going to a feast in the tisrocs palace （may he live for ever） … not sneaking in like this。 its different for you。”
shasta thought all this very silly。
at the far end of the bridge the walls of the city towered high above them and the brazen gates stood open in the gateway which was really wide but looked narrow because it was so very high。 half a dozen soldiers； leaning on their sp