—thoughttheyhadstruckanoldpath; butifyouknowanythingaboutwoods, (andhopeitisnotanotherbutmoreofthesameone) anditalsodisappears, , however, wereusedtowoodsandwerenottakeninformorethanafewseconds.
Theyhadploddedonforabouthalfanhour (threeofthemverystifffromyesterday'srowing) whenTrumpkinsuddenlywhispered, “Stop.” Theyallstopped.“There'ssomethingfollowingus,” hesaidinalowvoice.“Orrather, somethingkeepingupwithus: overthereontheleft.” Theyallstoodstill, listeningandstaringtilltheirearsandeyesached.“YouandI'dbettereachhaveanarrowonthestring,” , andwhenbothbowswerereadyforactionthepartywentonagain.
Theywentafewdozenyardsthroughfairlyopenwoodland, , therecameasuddensomethingthatsnarledandflashed, , , shesawagreatgrim-lookinggraybearlyingdeadwithTrumpkin'sarrowinitsside.
“, Su,” saidPeter, .
“I—Ileftittoolate,” saidSusan, inanembarrassedvoice.“Iwassoafraiditmightbe, youknow—oneofourkindofbears, atalkingbear.”Shehatedkillingthings.
“That'sthetroubleofit,” saidTrumpkin, “whenmostofthebeastshavegoneenemyandgonedumb, , andyoudaren'twaittosee.”
“PooroldBruin,” saidSusan.“Youdon'tthinkhewas?”
“Nothe,” saidtheDwarf.“, Ididn'twanttodiscourageyourMajestieswhenyousaidyouhopedKingCaspianwouldgiveyouagoodone: butmeat'', anditwon'—Kings, Ishouldsay—knowhowtoskinabear?”
“Let'sgoandsitdownafairwayoff,” saidSusantoLucy.“Iknowwhatahorridmessybusinessthatwillbe.” :“Suchahorribleideahascomeintomyhead, Su.”
“What'sthat?”
