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ooked you could see people tightening girths； putting on helmets； drawing swords； and throwing cloaks to the ground。 there was hardly any talking now。 it was very solemn and very dreadful。 〃im in for it now … i really am in for it now；〃 thought shasta。 then there came noises far ahead： the sound of many men shouting and a steady thud…thud…thud 〃battering ram；〃 whispered corin。 〃theyre battering the gate。”
even corin looked quite serious now。
〃why doesnt king edmund get on？〃 he said。 〃i can stand this waiting about。 chilly too。”
shasta nodded： hoping he didnt look as frightened as felt。
the trumpet at last！ on the move now … now trotting the banner streaming out in the wind。 they had topped low ridge now； and below them the whole scene sudden opened out； a little； many…towered castle with its gate towards them。 no moat； unfortunately； but of course the gate shut and the portcullis down。 on the walls they could see； like little white dots； the faces of the defenders。 down below； about fifty of the calormenes； dismounted； were steadily swinging a great tree trunk against the gate。 but at once the scene changed。 the main bulk of rabadashs men had been on foot ready to assault the gate。 but now he had seen the narnians sweeping down from the ridge。 there is no doubt those calormenes are wonderfully trained。 it seemed to shasta only a second before a whole line of the enemy were on horseback again； wheeling round to meet them； swinging towards them。
and now a gallop。 the ground between the two armies grew less every moment。 faster； faster。 all swords out now； all shields up to the nose； all prayers said； all teeth clenched。
shasta was dreadfully frightened。 but it suddenly came into his head； 〃if you funk this； youll funk every battle all your life。 now or never。”
but when at last the two lines met he had really very littler idea of what happened。 there was a frightful confusion‘； and an appalling noise。 his sword was knocked clean out of his hand pretty soon。 and hed got the reins tangled somehow。 then he found himself slipping。 then a spear came straight at him and as he ducked to avoid it he rolled right off his horse； bashed his left knuckles terribly against someone elses armour； and then … but it is no use trying to describe the battle from shastas point of view； he understood too little of the fight in general and even of his own part in it。 the best way i can tell you what really happened is to take you some miles away to where the hermit of the southern march sat gazing into the smooth pool beneath the spreading tree； with bree and hwin and aravis beside him。
for it was in this pool that the hermit looked when he wanted to know what was going on in the world outside the green walls of his hermitage。 there； as in a mirror； he could see； at certain times； what was going on in the streets of cities far farther south than tashbaan； or what ships were putting into redhaven in the remote seven isles； or what robbers or wild beasts stirred in the great western forests between lantern waste and telmar。 and all this day he had hardly left his pool； even to eat or drink； for he knew that great events were on foot in archenland。 aravis and the horses gazed into it too。 they could see it was a magic pool： instead of reflecting the tree and the sky it revealed cloudy and coloured shapes moving； always moving； in its depths。 but they could see nothing clearly。 the hermit could and from time to time he told them what he saw。 a little while before shasta rode into his first battle； the hermit had begun speaking like this： 〃i see one … two … three eagles wheeling in the gap by stormness head。 one is the oldest of all the eagles。 he would not be out unless battle was at hand。 i see him wheel to and fro； peering down sometimes at anvard and sometimes to the east； behind stormness。 ah … i see now what rabadash and his men have been so busy at all day。 they have felled and lopped a great tree and they are now ing out of the woods carrying it as a ram。
they have learned something from the failure of last nights assult。 he would have been wiser if he had set his men to making ladders： but it takes too long and he is impatient。
fool that he is！ he ought to have ridden back to tashbaan as soon as the first attack failed； for his whole plan depended on speed and surprise。 now they are bringing their ram into position。 king lunes men are shooting hard from the walls。 five calormenes have fallen： but not many will。 they have their shields above their heads。 rabadash is giving his orders now。 with him are his most trusted lords； fierce tarkaans from the eastern provinces。 i can see their faces。 there is corradin of castle tormunt； and azrooh； and chlamash； and ilgamuth of the twisted lip； and a tall tarkaan with a crimson beard …”
〃by the mane； my old master anradin！〃 said bree。
〃s…s…sly〃 said aravis。
〃now the ram has started。 if i could hear as well as see； what a noise that would make！
stroke after stroke： and no gate can stand it for ever。 but wait！ something up by stormness has scared the birds。 theyre ing out in masses。 and wait again 。 。 。 i cant see yet 。 。 。 ah！ now i can。 the whole ridge； up on the east； is black with horsemen。 if
only the wind would catch that standard and spread it out。 theyre over the ridge now； whoever they are。 aha！ ive seen the banner now。 narnia； narnia！ its the red lion。
theyre in full career down the hill now。 i can see king edmund。 theres a woman behind among the archers。 oh！ …”
〃what is it？〃 asked hwin breathlessly。
〃all his cats are dashing out from the left of the line。”
〃cats？〃 said aravis。
〃great cats； leopards and such；〃 said the hermit impatiently。 〃i see； i see。 the cats are ing round in a circle to get at the horses of the dismounted men。 a good stroke。 the calormene horses are mad with terror already。 now the cats are in among them。 but rabadash has reformed his line and has a hundred men in the saddle。 theyre riding to meet the narnians。 theres only a hundred yards between the two lines now。 only fifty。 i can see king edmund； i can see the lord peridan。 there are two mere c