PRINCE CASPIAN- 第11部分

〃do　get　on　and　say　whatever　youre　going　to　say；〃　said　edmund。

〃well；　then　…　no　offence；〃　said　trumpkin。　〃but；　you　know；　the　king　and　　trufflehunter　and　doctor　cornelius　were　expecting　…　well；　if　you　see　what　i　mean；　help。　　to　put　it　in　another　way；　i　think　theyd　been　imagining　you　as　great　warriors。　as　it　is　　…　were　awfully　fond　of　children　and　all　that；　but　just　at　the　moment；　in　the　middle　of　a　　war　but　im　sure　you　understand。”

〃you　mean　you　think　were　no　good；〃　said　edmund；　getting　red　in　the　face。

〃now　pray　dont　be　offended；〃　interrupted　the　dwarf。　〃i　assure　you；　my　dear　　little　friends…”

〃little　from　you　is　really　a　bit　too　much；〃　said　edmund；　jumping　up。　〃i　　suppose　you　dont　believe　we　won　the　battle　of　beruna？　well；　you　can　say　what　you　like　about　　me　because　i　know　…”

〃theres　no　good　losing　our　tempers；〃　said　peter。　〃lets　fit　him　out　with　　fresh　armour　and　fit　ourselves　out　from　the　treasure　chamber；　and　have　a　talk　after　that。”

〃i　dont　quite　see　the　point　…〃　began　edmund；　but　lucy　whispered　in　his　　ear；　〃hadnt　we　better　do　what　peter　says？　he　is　the　high　king；　you　know。　and　i　think　he　　has　an　idea。”

so　edmund　agreed　and　by　the　aid　of　his　torch　they　all；　including　trumpkin；　　went　down　the　steps　again　into　the　dark　coldness　and　dusty　splendour　of　the　treasure　　house。

the　dwarfs　eyes　glistened　as　he　saw　the　wealth　that　lay　on　the　shelves　　（though　he　had　to　stand　on　tiptoes　to　do　so）　and　he　muttered　to　himself；　〃it　would　never　do　　to　let　nikabrik　see　this；　never。〃　they　found　easily　enough　a　mail　shirt　for　him；　a　sword；　a　　helmet；　a　shield；　a　bow　and　quiverful　of　arrows；　all　of　dwarfish　size。　the　helmet　was　　of　copper；　set　with　rubies；　and　there　was　gold　on　the　hilt　of　the　sword：　trumpkin　had　　never　seen；　much　less　carried；　so　much　wealth　in　all　his　life。　the　children　also　put　on　mail　　shirts　and　helmets；　a　sword　and　shield　were　found　for　edmund　and　a　bow　for　lucy　…　　peter　and　susan　were　of　course　already　carrying　their　gifts。　as　they　came　back　up　the　　stairway；　jingling　in　their　mail；　and　already　looking　and　feeling　more　like　narnians　　and　less　like　schoolchildren；　the　two　boys　were　behind；　apparently　making　some　plan。　lucy　　heard　edmund　say；　〃no；　let　me　do　it。　it　will　be　more　of　a　sucks　for　him　if　i　win；　　and　less　of　a　let…down　for　us　all　if　i　fail。”

〃all　right；　ed；〃　said　peter。

when　they　came　out　into　the　daylight　edmund　turned　to　the　dwarf　very　　politely　and　said；　〃ive　got　something　to　ask　you。　kids　like　us　dont　often　have　the　chance　of　　meeting　a　great　warrior　like　you。　would　you　have　a　little　fencing　match　with　me？　it　　would　be　frightfully　decent。”

〃but；　lad；〃　said　trumpkin；　〃these　swords　are　sharp。”

〃i　know；〃　said　edmund。　〃but　ill　never　get　anywhere　near　you　and　youll　be　　quite　clever　enough　to　disarm　me　without　doing　me　any　damage。”

〃its　a　dangerous　game；〃　said　trumpkin。　〃but　since　you　make　such　a　point　of　　it；　ill　try　a　pass　or　two。”

both　swords　were　out　in　a　moment　and　the　three　others　jumped　off　the　dais　　and　stood　watching。　it　was　well　worth　it。　it　was　not　like　the　silly　fighting　you　see　　with　broad　swords　on　the　stage。　it　was　not　even　like　the　rapier　fighting　which　you　sometimes　　see　rather　better　done。　this　was　real　broad…sword　fighting。　the　great　thing　is　to　　slash　at　your　enemys　legs　and　feet　because　they　are　the　part　that　have　no　armour。　and　　when　he　slashes　at　yours　you　jump　with　both　feet　off　the　ground　so　that　his　blow　goes　under　　them。　this　gave　the　dwarf　an　advantage　because　edmund；　being　much　taller；　had　to　be　　always　stooping。　i　dont　think　edmund　would　have　had　a　chance　if　he　had　fought　　trumpkin　twenty…four　hours　earlier。　but　the　air　of　narnia　had　been　working　upon　him　　ever　since　they　arrived　on　the　island；　and　all　his　old　battles　came　back　to　him；　and　　his　arms　and　fingers　remembered　their　old　skill。　he　was　king　edmund　once　more。　round　and　　round　the　two　batants　circled；　stroke　after　stroke　they　gave；　and　susan　（who　　never　could　learn　to　like　this　sort　of　thing）　shouted　out；　〃oh；　do　be　careful。〃　and　　then；　so　quickly　that　no　one　（unless　they　knew；　as　peter　did）　could　quite　see　how　it　happened；　　edmund　flashed　his　sword　round　with　a　peculiar　twist；　the　dwarfs　sword　flew　out　of　his　　grip；　and　trumpkin　was　wringing　his　empty　hand　as　you　do　after　a　〃sting〃　from　a　　cricket…bat。

〃not　hurt；　i　hope；　my　dear　little　friend？〃　said　edmund；　panting　a　little　　and　returning　his　own　sword　to　its　sheath。

〃i　see　the　point；〃　said　trumpkin　drily。　〃you　know　a　trick　i　never　learned。”

〃thats　quite　true；〃　put　in　peter。　〃the　best　swordsman　in　the　world　may　be　　disarmed　by　a　trick　thats　new　to　him。　i　think　its　only　fair　to　give　trumpkin　a　chance　　at　something　else。

will　you　have　a　shooting　match　with　my　sister？　there　are　no　tricks　in　　archery；　you　know。”

〃ah；　youre　jokers；　you　are；〃　said　the　dwarf。　〃i　begin　to　see。　as　if　i　　didnt　know　how　she　can　shoot；　after　what　happened　this　morning。　all　the　same；　ill　have　a　　try。〃　he　spoke　gruffly；　but　his　eyes　brightened；　for　he　was　a　famous　bowman　among　his　own　　people。

all　five　of　them　came　out　into　the　courtyard。

〃whats　to　be　the　target？〃　asked　peter。

〃i　think　that　apple　hanging　over　the　wall　on　the　branch　there　would　do；〃　　said　susan。

〃thatll　do　nicely；　lass；〃　said　trumpkin。　〃you　mean　the　yellow　one　near　the　　middle　of　the　arch？”

〃no；　not　that；〃　said　susan。　〃the　red　one　up　above　…　over　the　battlement。”

the　dwarfs　face　fell。　〃looks　more　like　a　cherry　than　an　apple；〃　he　　muttered；　but　he　said　nothing　out　loud。

they　tossed　up　for　first　shot　（greatly　to　the　interest　of　trumpkin；　who　had　　never　seen　a　coin　tossed　before）　and　susan　lost。　they　were　to　shoot　from　the　top　of　the　　steps　that　led　from　the　hall　into　the　courtyard。　everyone　could　see　from　the　way　the　dwarf　　took　his　position　and　handled　his　bow　that　he　knew　what　he　was　about。

twang　went　the　string。　it　was　an　excellent　shot。　the　tiny　apple　shook　as　　the　arrow　passed；　and　a　leaf　came　fluttering　down。　then　susan　went　to　the　top　of　the　　steps　and　strung　her　bow。　she　was　not　enjoying　her　match　half　so　much　as　edmund　had　　enjoyed　his；　not　because　she　had　any　doubt　about　hitting　the　apple　but　because　　susan　was　so　tenderhearted　that　she　almost　hated　to　beat　someone　who　had　been　beaten　　already。　the　dwarf　watched　her　keenly　as　she　drew　the　shaft　to　her　ear。　a　moment　later；　　with　a　little　soft　thump　which　they　could　all　hear　in　that　quiet　place；　the　apple　fell　to　　the　grass　with　susans　arrow　in　it。

〃oh；　well　done；　su；　〃　shouted　the　other　children。

〃it　wasnt　really　any　better　than　yours；〃　said　susan　to　the　dwarf。　〃i　think　　there　was　a　tiny　breath　of　wind　as　you　shot。”

〃no；　there　wasnt；〃　said　trumpkin。　〃dont　tell　me。　i　know　when　i　am　fairly　　beaten。　i　wont　even　say　that　the　scar　of　my　last　wound　catches　me　a　bit　when　i　get　　my　arm　well　back　…”

〃oh；　are　you　wounded？〃　asked　lucy。　〃do　let　me　look。”

〃its　not　a　sight　for　little　girls；〃　began　trumpkin；　but　then　he　suddenly　　checked　himself。

〃there　i　go　talking　like　a　fool　again；〃　he　said　〃i　suppose　youre　as　likely　　to　be　a　great　surgeon　as　your　brother　was　to　be　a　great　swordsman　or　your　sister　to　be　a　　great　archer。”

he　sat　down　on　the　steps　and　took　off　his　hauberk　and　slipped　down　his　　little　shirt；　showing　an　arm　hairy　and　muscular　（in　proportion）　as　a　sailors　though　not　　much　bigger　than　a　childs。　there　was　a　clumsy　bandage　on　the　shoulder　which　lucy　　proceeded　to　unroll。　underneath；　the　cut　looked　very　nasty　and　there　was　a　good　deal　of　　swelling。　〃oh；　poor　trumpkin；〃　said　lucy。　〃how　horrid。〃　then　she　carefully　dripped　on　to　　it　one　single　drop　of　the　cordial　from　her　flask。

〃hullo。　eh？　what　have　you　done？〃　said　trumpkin。　but　however　he　turned　his　　head　and　squinted　and　whisked　his　beard　to　and　fro；　he　couldnt　quite　see　his　own　　shoulder。　then　he　felt　it　as　well　as　he　could；　getting　his　arms　and　fingers　into　very　　difficult　positions　as　you　do　when　youre　trying　to　scratch　a　place　that　is　just　out　of　reach。　　then　he　swung　his　arm　and　raised　it　and　tried　the　muscles；　and　finally　jumped　to　his　feet　　crying；　〃giants　and　junipers！　its　cured！　its　as　good　as　new。〃　after　that　he　burst　into　a　　great　laugh　and　said；　〃well；　ive　made　as　big　a　fool　of　myself　as　ever　a　dwarf　did。　no　offence；　i　　hope？　my　humble　duty　to　your　majesties　all　…humble　duty。　and　thanks　for　my　life；　my　　cure；　my　breakfast　…　and　my　lesson。”

the　children　all　said　it　was　quite　all　right　and　not　to　mention　it。

〃and　now；〃　said　peter；　〃if　youve　really　decided　to　believe　in　us…”

〃i　have；〃　said　the　dwarf。

〃its　quite　clear　what　we　have　to　do。　we　must　join　king　caspian　at　once。”

〃the　sooner　the　better；〃　said　trumpkin。　〃my　being　such　a　fool　has　already　　wasted　about　an　hour。”

〃its　about　two　days　journey；　the　way　you　came；〃　said　peter。　〃for　us；　i　　mean。　we　cant　walk　all　day　and　night　like　you　dwarfs。〃　then　he　turned　to　the　others。　　〃what　trumpkin　calls　aslans　how　is　obviously　the　stone　table　itself。　you　remember　it　was　　about　half　a　days　march；　or　a　little　less；　from　there　down　to　the　fords　of　beruna　…”

〃berunas　bridge；　we　call　it；〃　said　trumpkin。

〃there　was　no　bridge　in　our　time；〃　said　peter。　〃and　then　from　beruna　down　　to　here　was　another　day　and　a　bit。　we　used　to　get　home　about　teatime　on　the　se