TheDwarfstaredroundatallfourofthemwithaverycuriousexpressiononhisface.“Andwhoonearth—?” hebegan, butthenbrokeoffandsaid, “'mreallyalive? AreyousureIwasn'tdrownedandwe'renotallghoststogether?”
Whentheyhadallreassuredhim, '.
, “H', too.” , andonepocket-knifebetweenfivepeople, isamessybusinessandtherewereseveralburntfingersbeforethemealwasended; but, asitwasnownineo'clockandtheyhadbeenupsincefive, , theDwarfproducedapipeaboutthesizeofhisownarm, filledit, litit, blewagreatcloudoffragrantsmoke, andsaid, “Now.”
“Youtellusyourstoryfirst,” saidPeter.“Andthenwe'lltellyouours.”
“Well,” saidtheDwarf, “asyou''mamessengerofKingCaspian's.”
“Who'she?” askedfourvoicesallatonce.
“CaspiantheTenth, KingofNarnia, andlongmayhereign!” answeredtheDwarf.“Thatistosay, —”
“WhatdoyoumeanbyoldNarnians, please?” askedLucy.
“Why, that'sus,” saidtheDwarf.“We'reakindofrebellion, Isuppose.”
“Isee,” saidPeter.“AndCaspianisthechiefOldNarnian.”
“Well, inamannerofspeaking,” saidtheDwarf, scratchinghishead.“Buthe'sreallyaNewNarnianhimself, aTelmarine, ifyoufollowme.”
“Idon't,” saidEdmund.
“It'sworsethantheWarsoftheRoses,” saidLucy.
“Ohdear,” saidtheDwarf.“I':IthinkI'llhavetogorightbacktothebeginningandtellyouhowCaspiangrewupinhisuncle''llbealongstory.”
“Allthebetter,” saidLucy.“Welovestories.”
, puttinginallthechildren'squestionsandinterruptions, becauseitwouldtaketoolongandbeconfusing, and, evenso, , astheyknewitintheend, wasasfollows.
