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e him go on； he would have found that he was good for several hours hard going。 but one of the worst results of being a slave and being forced to do things is that when there is no one to force you any more you find you have almost lost the power of forcing yourself。
so they had to wait while bree had a snack and a drink； and of course hwin and the children had a snack and a drink too。 it must have been nearly eleven oclock in the morning before they finally got going again。 and even then bree took things much more gently than yesterday。 it was really hwin； though she was the weaker and more tired of the two； who set the pace。
the valley itself； with its brown； cool river； and grass and moss and wild flowers and rhododendrons； was such a pleasant place that it made you want to ride slowly。
。。
CHAPTER TEN
小说
the hermit of the southern march after they had ridden for several hours down the valley； it widened out and they could see what was ahead of them。 the river which they had been following here joined a broader river； wide and turbulent； which flowed from their left to their right； towards the east。 beyond this new river a delightful country rose gently in low hills； ridge beyond ridge； to the northern mountains themselves。 to the right there were rocky pinnacles； one or two of them with snow clinging to the ledges。 to the left； pine…clad slopes； frowning cliffs； narrow gorges； and blue peaks stretched away as far as the eye could reach。 he could no longer make out mount pire。 straight ahead the mountain range sank to a wooded saddle which of course must be the pass from archenland into narnia。
〃broo…hoo…hoo； the north； the green north！〃 neighed bree： and certainly the lower hills looked greener and fresher than anything that aravis and shasta； with their southern…bred eyes； had ever imagined。 spirits rose as they clattered down to the waters…meet of the two rivers。
the eastern…flowing river； which was pouring from the higher mountains at the western end of the range； was far too swift and too broken with rapids for them to think of swimming it； but after some casting about； up and down the bank； they found a place shallow enough to wade。 the roar and clatter of water； the great swirl against the horses fetlocks； the cool； stirring air and the darting dragon…flies； filled shasta with a strange excitement。
〃friends； we are in archenland！〃 said bree proudly as he splashed and churned his way out on the northern bank。 〃i think that river weve just crossed is called the winding arrow。”
〃i hope were in time；〃 murmured hwin。
then they began going up； slowly and zigzagging a good deal； for the hills were steep。 it was all open park…like country with no roads or houses in sight。 scattered trees； never thick enough to be a forest； were everywhere。 shasta； who had lived all his life in an almost tree…less grassland； had never seen so many or so many kinds。 if you had been there you would probably have known （he didnt） that he was seeing oaks； beeches； silver birches； rowans； and sweet chestnuts。 rabbits scurried away in every direction as they advanced； and presently they saw a whole herd of fallow deer making off among the trees。
〃isnt it simply glorious！〃 said aravis。
at the first ridge shasta turned in the saddle and looked back。 there was no sign of tashbaan； the desert； unbroken except by the narrow green crack which they had travelled down； spread to the horizon。
〃hullo！〃 he said suddenly。 〃whats that！”
〃whats what？〃 said bree； turning round。 hwin and aravis did the same。
〃that；〃 said shasta； pointing。 〃it looks like smoke。 is it a fire？”
〃sand…storm； i should say；〃 said bree。
〃not much wind to raise it；〃 said aravis。
〃oh！〃 exclaimed hwin。 〃look！ there are things flashing in it。 look！ theyre helmets … and armour。 and its moving： moving this way。”
〃by tash！〃 said aravis。 〃its the army。 its rabadash。”
〃oh course it is；〃 said hwin。 〃just what i was afraid of。 quick！ we must get to anvard before it。〃 and without another word she whisked round and began galloping north。 bree tossed his head and did the same。
〃e on； bree； e on；〃 yelled aravis over her shoulder。
the race was very gruelling for the horses。 as they topped each ridge they found another valley and another ridge beyond it； and though they knew they were going in more or less the right direction； no one knew how far it was to anvard。 from the top of the second ridge shasta looked back again。 instead of a dust…cloud well out in the desert he now saw a black； moving mass； rather like ants； on the far bank of the winding arrow。 they were doubtless looking for a ford。
〃theyre on the river！〃 he yelled wildly。
〃quick！ quick！〃 shouted aravis。 〃we might as well not have e at all if we dont reach anvard in time。 gallop； bree； gallop。 remember youre a war…horse。”
it was all shasta could do to prevent himself from shouting out similar instructions； but he thought； 〃the poor chaps doing all he can already；〃 and held his tongue。 and certainly both horses were doing； if not all they could； all they thought they could； which is not quite the same thing。 bree had caught up with hwin and they thundered side by side over the turf。 it didnt look as if hwin could possibly keep it up much longer。
at that moment everyones feelings were pletely altered by a sound from behind。 it was not the sound they had been expecting to hear … the noise of hoofs and jingling armour； mixed； perhaps； with calormene battle…cries。 yet shasta knew it at once。 it was the same snarling roar he had heard that moonlit night when they first met aravis and hwin。 bree knew it too。 his eyes gleamed red and his ears lay flat back on his skull。 and bree now discovered that he had not really been going as fast … not quite as fast … as he could。 shasta felt the change at once。 now they were really going all out。 in a few seconds they were well ahead of hwin。
〃its not fair；〃 thought shasta。 〃i did think wed be safe from lions here！”
he looked over his shoulder。 everything was only too clear。 a huge tawny creature； its body low to the ground； like a cat streaking across t