“DidshegofromyouwhileIwasaway? ” askedTirian.
“Ididn'tseeorhearhergo, ” saidEustace.“; you'veseenforyourself.”
.“Dwarfs, ” hesaid.
“AndtreacherousDwarfs, enemies, aslikelyasnot, ” mutteredTirian.
“Andherecomessomethingonhoofs, muchnearer, ” saidJewel.
', quiteclosetothem, avoicewhispered: “Hallo! Areyouallthere? ”
Thankheaven, itwasJill's.
“Wherethedevilhaveyoubeento? ” saidEustaceinafuriouswhisper, forhehadbeenveryfrightened.
“Inthestable, ” gaspedJill, butitwasthesortofgaspyougivewhenyou'restrugglingwithsuppressedlaughter.
“Oh, ” growledEustace, “youthinkitfunny, doyou? WellallIcansayis—”
“HaveyougotJewel, Sire? ” askedJill.
“? ”
“That'shim, ” saidJill.“Butlet'sbeoffhomebeforeanyonewakesup.” Andagaintherecamelittleexplosionsoflaughter.
: “Gothim? Whatdoyoumean? ”
“ThefalseAslan, ” saidJill.
“What? ” saidTirian.“Wherehaveyoubeen? Whathaveyoudone? ”
“Well, Sire, ” saidJill.“AssoonasIsawthatyou'dgotthesentryoutofthewayIthoughthadn'tIbetterhavealookinsidethestableandseewhatreallyisthere? —wouldyoubelieveit? —''—weren'tyou, Puzzledear? ”
“GreatScott! ” saidEustace.“WellI'm—, andIstillthinkitwasmeanofyoutosneakoffwithouttherestofus: butImustadmit—well, Imeantosay—'dhavetobeknighted, wouldn'tshe, Sire? ”
“Ifshewasaboy, ” saidTirian, “she'dbewhippedfordisobeyingorders.” .
“Whatareyoudoing, Sire? ” askedJewelsharply.
“DrawingmyswordtosmiteofftheheadoftheaccursedAss, ”saidTirianinaterriblevoice.“Standclear, girl.”
“Ohdon't, pleasedon't, ” saidJill.“Really, youmustn'''''''vegotmyarmsroundhisneck.”
“Jill, ” saidTirian, “youarethebravestandmostwoodwiseofallmysubjects, : , Ass? ”
“Me, Sire? ” cametheDonkey'svoice.“I'msureI'mverysorryifI''dknow.I'''tevenknowwhat'.”
“Sire, ” saidJewel.“? ”
, notthistimeinawhisper.“BytheLion, ” hesaid, “Iamgrowingslowwitted! Meetthem? '''? Wehavegoodnewsforthem.”
: evenPuzzlelifteduphisheadandgaveagrandHaw-hee-haw-hee-hee; athingtheApehadn' (weshouldhardlycallthemroadsatallinEngland) , marchingsturdilyalong, wereaboutthirtyDwarfs, .
“Stay! ” thunderedTirianashesteppedoutontheroad.“Stay, ? ”
