“Whatonearth?” saidDoctorCornelius.“HasyourMajestygotgrasshoppers—ormosquitoes—inyourarmy?” Thenafterstoopingdownandpeeringcarefullythroughhisspectacles, hebrokeintoalaugh.“BytheLion,” heswore, “it', .”
“Myfriendshipyoushallhave, learnedMan,” pipedReepicheep.“AndanyDwarf—orGiant—inthearmywhodoesnotgiveyougoodlanguageshallhavemyswordtoreckonwith.”
“Istheretimeforthisfoolery?” askedNikabrik.“Whatareourplans? Battleorflight?”
“Battleifneedbe,” saidTrumpkin.“Butwearehardlyreadyforityet, andthisisnoverydefensibleplace.”
“Idon'tliketheideaofrunningaway,” saidCaspian.
“Hearhim! Hearhim!” saidtheBulgyBears.“Whateverwedo, don'tlet'; andnottoosoonafteritneither.”
“Thosewhorunfirstdonotalwaysrunlast,” saidtheCentaur.“Andwhyshouldwelettheenemychooseourpositioninsteadofchoosingitourselves? Letusfindastrongplace.”
“That'swise, yourMajesty, that'swise,” saidTrufflehunter.
“Butwherearewetogo?” askedseveralvoices.
“YourMajesty,” saidDoctorCornelius, “andallyouvarietyofcreatures, , 'sHow.”
“Aslan'sHow?” saidseveralvoices.“Wedonotknowwhatitis.”
“ItlieswithintheskirtsoftheGreatWoodsanditisahugemoundwhichNarniansraisedinveryancienttimesoveraverymagicalplace, wheretherestood—andperhapsstillstands—, , (exceptthisworthyGiant) couldretreatintotheMounditself, andthereweshouldbebeyondthereachofeverydangerexceptfamine.”
