ATthesightofAslanthecheeksoftheTelmarinesoldiersbecamethecolorofcoldgravy, theirkneesknockedtogether, , whoknewthathecameasafriend, , whohadbeenofNikabrik'sparty, , withpurrsandgruntsandsqueaksandwhinneysofdelight, fawningonhimwiththeirtails, rubbingagainsthim, , , leadingCaspian, forcedhiswaythroughthecrowdofanimals.“ThisisCaspian, Sir,” 'spaw.
“Welcome, Prince,” saidAslan.“DoyoufeelyourselfsufficienttotakeuptheKingshipofNarnia?”
“I—Idon'tthinkIdo, Sir,” saidCaspian.“I'monlyakid.”
“Good,” saidAslan.“Ifyouhadfeltyourselfsufficient, , underusandundertheHighKing, youshallbeKingofNarnia, LordofCairParavel, —butwhathavewehere?” Foratthatmomentacuriouslittleprocessionwasapproaching—elevenMice, sixofwhomcarriedbetweenthemsomethingonalittermadeofbranches, —andtheirearsweredownandtheirwhiskersdroopedandtheirtailsdraggedinthegrass, ; , butmoredeadthanalive, gashedwithinnumerablewounds, onepawcrushed, and, wherehistailhadbeen, abandagedstump.
“Now, Lucy,” saidAslan.
'swounds, , .
“Hail, Aslan!” camehisshrillvoice.“Ihavethehonour—” Butthenhesuddenlystopped.
Thefactwasthathestillhadnotail—whetherthatLucyhadforgottenitorthathercordial, thoughitcouldhealwounds, ; , , .
“Iamconfounded,” saidReepicheeptoAslan.“.”
“Itbecomesyouverywell, SmallOne,” saidAslan.
“Allthesame,” repliedReepicheep, “ifanythingcouldbedone...PerhapsherMajesty?” andherehebowedtoLucy.
“Butwhatdoyouwantwithatail?” askedAslan.
“Sir,” saidtheMouse, “.”
