CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  THEDISAPPEARANCEOFJILLTHEpatchoflightdidnotshowupanythingdowninthedarknesswheretheywerestanding.Theotherscouldonlyhear,notsee,JillseffortstogetontotheMarsh-wigglesback.Thatis,theyheardhimsaying,"Youputyerinmyeye,"and,"Noryourfootinmymoutheither,"and,"Thatsmorelikeit,"and,"Now,Illholdonts.Thatllleaveyourarmsfreetosteadyyourselfagainsttheearth.”

  ThentheylookedupandsoontheysawtheblackshapeofJillsheadagainstthepatchoflight.

  "Well?"theyallshoutedupanxiously.

  "Itsahole,"calledJillsvoice."IcouldgetthroughitifIwasalittlebithigher.”

  "Whatdoyouseethroughit?"askedEustace.

  "Nothingmuchyet,"saidJill."Isay,Puddleglum,letgomylegssothatIstandonyourshouldersinsteadofsittingonthem.Isteadymyselfallrightagainsttheedge.”

  Theycouldhearhermovingandthenmuchmoreofhercameintosightagainstthegreynessoftheopening;infactallofherdowntothewaist.

  "Isay-"beganJill,butsuddenlybrokeoffwithaotasharpcry.Itsoundedmoreasifhermouthhadbeenmuffleduporhadsomethingpushedintoit.Afterthatshefoundhervoidseemedtobeshoutingoutasloudasshecould,buttheycouldhewords.Twothingsthenhappehesamemoment.Thepatchoflightwaspletelyblockedupforasedorso;andtheyheardbothascuffling,strugglingsoundandthevoiceoftheMarsh-wigglegasping:"Quick!Help!Holdonts.

  Someonespullihere!oolate!”

  Theopening,andthecoldlightwhichfilledit,werenowperfectlyclearagain.Jillhadvanished.

  "Jill!Jill!"theyshoutedfrantically,buttherewasnoanswer.

  "Whythediscouldntyouhaveheldherfeet?"saidEustace.

  "Idontknow,Scrubb,"groanedPuddleglum."Borntobeamisfit,Ishouldntwonder.

  Fated.FatedtobePolesdeath,justasIwasfatedtoeatTalkingStagatHarfang.Notthatitisntmyownfaultaswell,ofcourse.”

  "Thisisthegreatestshameandsorrowthatcouldhavefallenonus,"saidthePrince."Wehavesentabraveladyintothehandsofenemiesandstayedbehindiy.”

  "Dontpaintittooblack,Sir,"saidPuddleglum."Werenotverysafeexceptfordeathbystarvationinthishole.”

  "IwonderamIsmallenoughtogetthroughwhereJilldid?"saidEustace.

  WhathadreallyhappeoJillwasthis.Assoonasshegotherheadoutoftheholeshefoundthatshewaslookingdownasiffromanupstairswindow,notupasifthroughatrap-door.Shehadbeensolonginthedarkthathereyescouldntatfirsttakeinwhattheywereseeing:exceptthatshewasnotlookingatthedaylit,sunnyworldwhichshesowaosee.Theairseemedtobedeadlycold,andthelightaleandblue.Therewasalsoagooddealofnoisegoingonandalotofwhiteobjectsflyingaboutintheair.ItwasatthatmomentthatshehadshouteddowntoPuddleglumtoletherstanduponhisshoulders.

  Whenshehaddohis,shecouldseeandhearagooddealbetter.Thenoisesshehadbeenhearingturtobeoftwokinds:therhythmicalthumpofseveralfeet,andthemusicoffourfiddles,threeflutes,andadrum.Shealsogotherownpositionclear.Shewaslookingoutofaholeinasteepbankwhichslopeddownandreachedthelevelaboutfourteebelowher.Everythingwasverywhite.Alotofpeopleweremovingabout.

  Thenshegasped!ThepeopleweretrimlittleFauns,andDryadswithleafedhairfloatingbehindthem.Forasedtheylookedasiftheyweremovinganyhow;thehattheywerereallydoingadance-adahsomanyplicatedstepsandfiguresthatittookyousometimetouandit.Thenitcameoverherlikeathunderclapthatthepale,bluelightwasreallymoonlight,aestuffonthegroundwasreallysnow.Andofcourse!Therewerethestarsstaringinablackfrostyskyoverhead.Aallblackthingsbehindthedancersweretrees.Theyhadnotonlygotoutintotheupperworldatlast,buthadeoutintheheartofNarnia.Jillfeltshecouldhavefaihdelight;andthemusic-thewildmusitenselysweetajusttheleastbiteerietoo,andfullofgoodmagicastheWitchsthrumminghadbeenfullofbadmagic-madeherfeelitallthemore.

  Allthistakesalongtimetotell,butofcourseittookaveryshorttimetosee.Jillturnedalmostatooshoutdowntotheothers,"Isay!Itsallright.Wereout,andwerehome."Butthereasonshefurtherthan"Isay"wasthis.CirgroundandroundthedancerswasaringofDwarfs,alldressedintheirficlothes;mostlyscarletwithfur-linedhoodsandgoldentasselsandbigfurrytop-boots.Astheycircledroundtheywerealldiligentlythrowingsnowballs.(ThosewerethewhitethingsthatJillhad

  seenflyingthroughtheair.)TheywerentthrowihedancersassillyboysmighthavebeendoinginEngland.Theywerethrowihroughthedansuchperfecttimewiththemusidwithsuchperfectaimthatifallthedancerswereilytherightplacesatexactlytherightmoments,noonewouldbehit.ThisiscalledtheGreatSnowDanditisdoneeveryyearinNarniaonthefirstmoonlitnightwhenthereissnowontheground.Ofcourseitisakindofgameaswellasadance,becauseeverynowandthensomedancerwillbetheleastlittlebitwrongaasnowballinthefadtheneveryonelaughs.Butagoodteamofdancers,Dwarfs,andmusiswillkeepitupforhourswithoutasi.Onfinenightswhenthecoldandthedrum-taps,aingoftheowls,andthemoonlight,havegotintotheirwild,woodlandbloodandmadeitevenwilder,theywilldailldaybreak.Iwishyoucouldseeitforyourselves.

  WhathadstoppedJillwheasfarasthesayof"Isay"wasofcoursesimplyafinebigsnowballthatcamesailingthroughthedanaDwarfonthefarsideandgotherfairandsquareih.Shedidntintheleastmind;twentysnowballswouldnothavedampedherspiritsatthatmoment.Buthoweverhappyyouarefeeling,youttalkwithyourmouthfullofsnow.Andwhen,aftersiderablespluttering,shecouldspeakagaiefotiementthattheothers,downinthedark,behiilldidntknowthegoodnews.Shesimplyleanedasfaroutoftheholeasshecould,andyelledtothedancers.

  "Help!Help!Wereburiedinthehill.eanddigusout.”

  TheNarnians,whohadnotevennoticedthelittleholeinthehillside,wereofcourseverysurprised,andlookedaboutinseveralwrongdiresbeforetheyfoundoutwherethevoicewasingfrom.ButwhentheycaughtsightofJilltheyallcamerunningtowardsher,andasmanyascouldscrambledupthebank,andadozenormoreharetcheduptohelpher.AndJillcaughtholdofthemandthusgotoutoftheholeandcameslitheringdownthebankheadfirst,andthenpickedherselfupandsaid:"Oh,dogoanddigtheothersout.Therearethreeothers,besidesthehorses.AhemisPrinceRilian.”

  Shewasalreadyinthemiddleofacrowdwhenshesaidthis,forbesidesthedancersallsortsofpeoplewhohadbeenwatgthedandwhomshehadfirst,camerunningup.Squirrelscameoutofthetreesinshowers,andsodidOwls.Hedgehogscamewaddlingasfastastheirshswouldcarrythem.BearsandBadgersfollowedataslowerpace.AgreatPawitgitstailiement,wasthelasttojoiy.

  ButassoonastheyuoodwhatJillwassaying,theyallbecameactive."Pidshovel,boys,pidshovel.Offforourtools!"saidtheDwarfs,anddashedawayintothewoodsattopspeed."someMoles,theyrethechapsfing.TheyrequiteasgoodasDwarfs,"saidavoice."WhatwasthatshesaidaboutPrinceRilian?"saidanother."Hush!"saidthePanther."Thepoorchildscrazed,andnowoerbeing

  lostihehill.Shedoesntknowwhatshessaying.""Thatsright,"saidanoldBear.

  "Why,shesaidPrinceRilianwasahorse!""No,shedidnt,"saidaSquirrel,verypert.

  "Yes,shedid,"saidanotherSquirrel,eveer.

  "Itsquitet-t-t-true.D-d-dontbesosilly,"saidJill.Shespokelikethatbecauseherteethwerenowchatteringwiththecold.

  ImmediatelyoheDryadsflungroundherafurrycloakwhieDwarfhaddroppedwhenherushedtofetchhisminingtools,andanobligingFauntrottedoffamoreestoaplacewhereJillcouldseefirelightihofacave,togetherahotdrink.Butbeforeitcame,alltheDwarfsreappearedwithspadesandpick-axesandchargedatthehillside.ThenJillheardcriesof"Hi!Whatareyoudoing?Putthatsworddown,"and"Now,youngun:hat,"and,"Hesaviciousone,now,isnthe?"JillhurriedtothespotanddidntknowwhethertolaughorcrywhenshesawEustacesface,verypaleanddirty,projegfromtheblaessofthehole,aacesrighthandbrandishingashichhemadeluanyonewhoearhim.

  ForofcourseEustacehadbeenhavingaverydifferenttimefromJilldurifewminutes.HehadheardJillcryoutandseenherdisappearintotheunknown.LikethePrindPuddleglum,hethoughtthatsomeenemieshadcaughther.Andfromdownbelowhedidthepale,blueishlightwasmoonlight.Hethoughttheholewouldleadonlyintosomeothercave,litbysomeghostlyphosphoresdfilledwithgoodness-knows-whatevilcreaturesoftheUnderworld.SothatwhenhehadpersuadedPuddleglumtogivehimabaddrawnhissword,andpokedouthishead,hehadreallybeendoingaverybravething.Theotherswouldhavedofirstiftheycould,buttheholewastoosmallforthemtoclimbthrough.Eustacewasalittlebigger,andalotclumsier,thanJill,sothatwhenhelookedouthebumpedhisheadagainstthetopoftheholeandbroughtasmallavalancheofsnowdownonhisfadso,whenhecouldseeagain,andsawdozensoffiguresingathimashardastheycouldrun,itisnotsurprisingthathetriedtowardthemoff.

  "Stop,Eustace,stop,"criedJill."Theyreallfriends.tyousee?WeveeupinNarnia.Everythingsallright.”

  Theacedidsee,andapologizedtotheDwarfs(andtheDwarfssaidnottomentionit),anddozensofthick,hairy,dwarfishhandshelpedhimoutjustastheyhadhelpedJilloutafewminutesbefore.ThenJillscrambledupthebankandputherheadinatthedarkopeningandshoutedthegoodnewsintotheprisoners.AssheturnedawaysheheardPuddleglummutter."Ah,poorPole.Itsbeentoomuchforher,thislastbit.Turnedherhead,Ishouldntwonder.Shesbeginningtoseethings.”

  Jillrejoiadtheyshookoherbybothhandsandtookideepbreathsofthefreemidnightair.AndawarmcloakwasbroughtforEustadhotdrinks,forboth.Whiletheyweresippingit,theDwarfshadalreadygotallthesnowandallthesodsoffalargestripofthehillsideroundtheinalhole,andthepickaxesandspadeswerenowgoingasmerrilyasthefeetofFaunsandDryadshadbeengoinginthe

  daenminutesbefore.Onlytenminutes!YetalreadyitfelttoJillaaceasifalltheirdangersinthedarkaandgeneralsmotherinessoftheearthmusthavebeenonlyadream.Outhere,inthecold,withthemoonandthehugestarsoverhead(Narnianstarsarehanstarsinourworld)andwithkind,merryfacesallroundthem,onecouldntquitebelieveinUnderland.

  Beforetheyhadfiheirhotdrinks,adozenorsoMoles,newlywakedandstillverysleepy,andnotwellpleased,hadarrived.Butassoonastheyuoodwhatitwasallabout,theyjoinedinwithawill.EventheFaunsmadethemselvesusefulbycartingawaytheearthinlittlebarrows,andtheSquirrelsdandleapedtoandfroiexcitement,thoughJillneverfoundoutexactlywhattheythoughttheyweredoing.

  TheBearsandOwlstehemselveswithgivingadvidkeptonaskingthechildreniftheywouldntliketoeintothecave(thatwaswhereJillhadseenthefirelight)awarmandhavesupper.Butthechildrencouldogowithoutseeingtheirfriefree.

  NooneinourworldworkatajobofthatsortasDwarfsandTalkingMolesworkinNarnia;butthen,ofcourse,MolesandDwarfsdontlookonitaswork.Theylikedigging.Itwasthereforenotreallylongbeforetheyhadopenedagreatblackchasminthehillside.Andoutfromtheblaessintothemoonlight-thiswouldhavebeenratherdreadfulifonehadntknownwhotheywerecame,first,thelong,leggy,steeple-hattedfigureoftheMarsh-wiggle,andthen,leadingtwogreathorses,RilianthePrincehimself.

  AsPuddleglumappearedshoutsbrokeoutoneveryside:"Why,itsaWiggle-why,itsoldPuddleglum-oldPuddleglumfromtheEasternMarshes-whateverhaveyoubeendoing,Puddleglum?-therevebeensearch-partiesoutforyou-theLordTrumpkinhasbeenputtingupnoticestheresarewardoffered!"Butallthisdiedaway,allinonemoment,intodeadsilence,asquicklyasthenoisediesawayinarowdydormitoryiftheHeadmasteropensthedoor.FornowtheysawthePrince.

  Noonedoubtedforamomentwhohewas.TherewereplentyofBeastsandDryadsandDwarfsandFaunswhorememberedhimfromthedaysbeforehisenting.Thereweresomeoldoneswhocouldjustrememberhowhisfather,KingCaspian,hadlookedwhenhewasayoungman,andsawthelikeness.ButIthinktheywouldhaveknownhimanyalethoughhewasfromlongimprisointheDeepLands,dressedinblack,dusty,dishevelled,andweary,therewassomethinginhisfadairwhiooneistake.ThatlookisinthefaceofalltruekingsofNarnia,whorulebythewillofAslanandsitatCairParavelohroneofPetertheHighKing.

  Instantlyeveryheadwasbaredandeverykneewasbent;amomentlatersuchcheeringandshouting,suchjumpsandreelsofjoy,sud-shakingsandkissingsandembragsofeverybodybyeverybodyelsebrokeoutthatthetearscameintoJillseyes.

  Theirquesthadbeenworthallthepainsitcost.

  "Pleaseityhness,"saidtheoldestoftheDwarfs,"thereissomeattemptatasupperinthecaveyonder,preparedagainsttheendingofthesnow-dance-”

  "Withagoodwill,Father,"saidthePrince."ForneverhadanyPrinight,Gentleman,orBearsogoodastomachtohisvictualsaswefourwanderershavetonight.”

  Thewholecrowdbegantomoveawaythroughthetreestowardsthecave.JillheardPuddleglumsayingtothosewhopressedroundhim."No,no,mystorywait.

  Nothingworthtalkingabouthashappeome.Iwanttohearthenews.Donttrybreakingittomegently,forIdratherhaveitallatonce.HastheKingbeenshipwrecked?Anyforestfires?Nowarsontheenborder?Orafewdragons,Ishouldntwonder?"Andallthecreatureslaughedaloudandsaid,"IsntthatjustlikeaMarshwiggle?”

  Thetwochildrenwerenearlydroppingwithtirednessandhunger,butthewarmthofthecave,andtheverysightofit,withthefirelightdangonthewallsanddressersandcupsandsaucersandplatesandonthesmoothstonefloor,justasitdoesinafarmhousekit,revivedthemalittle.Allthesametheywentfastasleepwhilesupperwasbeinggotready.AndwhiletheysleptPrinceRilianwastalkihewholeadvehtheolderandwiserBeastsandDwarfs.Andnowtheyallsawwhatitmeant;howawickedWitch(doubtlessthesamekindasthatWhiteWitchwhohadbroughttheGreatWinteronNarnialongago)hadtrivedthewholething,firstkillingRiliansmotherandentingRilianhimself.AndtheysawhowshehaddugrightunderNarniaandwasgoingtobreakoutandruleitthroughRilian:andhowhehadneverdreamedthatthetryofwhichshewouldmakehimking(kingireallyherslave)washisowntry.Andfromthechildrenspartofthestorytheysaasinleagueandfriendshipwiththedangerousgiants."Andthelessonofitallis,yhness,"saidtheoldestDwarf,"thatthoseNorthernWitchesalwaysmeanthesamething,butineveryagetheyhaveadifferentplanfettingit.”松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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