《The Horse and His Boy》第6章

theyll　hang　me　for　horsestealing。〃　he　was　feeling　less　frightened　of　lions than　bree　because　he　had　never　met　a　lion；　bree　had。
bree　only　snorted　in　answer　but　he　did　sheer　away　to　his　right。　oddly enough　the　other　horse　seemed　also　to　be　sheering　away　to　the　left；　so　that　in　a　few　seconds the　space　between　them　had　widened　a　good　deal。　but　as　soon　as　it　did　so　there　came two　more　lions　roars；　immediately　after　one　another；　one　on　the　right　and　the　other on　the　left；　the　horses　began　drawing　nearer　together。　so；　apparently；　did　the　lions。　the roaring　of　the　brutes　on　each　side　was　horribly　close　and　they　seemed　to　be　keeping　up with　the　galloping　horses　quite　easily。　then　the　cloud　rolled　away。　the　moonlight； astonishingly　bright；　showed　up　everything　almost　as　if　it　were　broad　day。　the　two　horses and　two　riders　were　galloping　neck　to　neck　and　knee　to　knee　just　as　if　they　were　in a　race。　indeed　bree　said　（afterwards）　that　a　finer　race　had　never　been　seen　in　calormen。
shasta　now　gave　himself　up　for　lost　and　began　to　wonder　whether　lions killed　you　quickly　or　played　with　you　as　a　cat　plays　with　a　mouse　and　how　much　it would　hurt。　at　the　same　time　（one　sometimes　does　this　at　the　most　frightful　moments）　he noticed　everything。　he　saw　that　the　other　rider　was　a　very　small；　slender　person； mail…clad　（the　moon　shone　on　the　mail）　and　riding　magnificently。　he　had　no　beard。
something　flat　and　shining　was　spread　out　before　them。　before　shasta　had time　even　to　guess　what　it　was　there　was a　great　splash　and　he　found　his　mouth　half　full　of　salt　water。　the　shining thing　had　been　a　long　inlet　of　the　sea。　both　horses　were　swimming　and　the　water　was　up　to shastas　knees。
there　was　an　angry　roaring　behind　them　and　looking　back　shasta　saw　a　great； shaggy；　and　terrible　shape　crouched　on　the　waters　edge；　but　only　one。　〃we　must have　shaken　off　the　other　lion；〃　he　thought。
the　lion　apparently　did　not　think　its　prey　worth　a　wetting；　at　any　rate　it made　no　attempt　to　take　the　water　in　pursuit。　the　two　horses；　side　by　side；　were　now　well out　into　the　middle　of　the　creek　and　the　opposite　shore　could　be　clearly　seen。　the tarkaan　had　not　yet　spoken　a　word。　〃but　he　will；〃　thought　shasta。　〃as　soon　as　we　have　landed。 what　am　i　to　say？　i　must　begin　thinking　out　a　story。”
then；　suddenly；　two　voices　spoke　at　his　side。
〃oh；　i　am　so　tired；〃　said　the　one。　〃hold　your　tongue；　hwin；　and　dont　be　a fool；〃　said　the　other。
〃im　dreaming；〃　thought　shasta。　〃i　could　have　sworn　that　other　horse spoke。”
soon　the　horses　were　no　longer　swimming　but　walking　and　soon　with　a　great sound　of　water　running　off　their　sides　and　tails　and　with　a　great　crunching　of pebbles　under　eight　hoofs；　they　came　out　on　the　farther　beach　of　the　inlet。　the　tarkaan；　to shastas　surprise；　showed　no　wish　to　ask　questions。　he　did　not　even　look　at　shasta　but　seemed anxious　to　urge　his　horse　straight　on。　bree；　however；　at　once　shouldered　himself　in the　other　horses　way。
〃broo…hoo…hah！〃　he　snorted。　〃steady　there！　i　heard　you；　i　did。　theres　no good　pretending；　maam。　1　heard　you。　youre　a　talking　horse；　a　narnian　horse just　like　me。”
〃whats　it　got　to　do　with　you　if　she　is？〃　said　the　strange　rider　fiercely； laying　hand　on　sword…hilt。　but　the　voice　in　which　the　words　were　spoken　had　already　told shasta　something。
〃why；　its　only　a　girl！〃　he　exclaimed。
〃and　what　business　is　it　of　yours　if　i　am　only　a　girl？〃　snapped　the stranger。　〃youre　probably　only　a　boy：　a　rude；　mon　little　boy　…　a　slave　probably；　whos stolen　his　masters　horse。”
〃thats　all　you　know；〃　said　shasta。
〃hes　not　a　thief；　little　tarkheena；〃　said　bree。　〃at　least；　if　theres　been any　stealing；　you　might　just　as　well　say　i　stole　him。　and　as　for　its　not　being　my　business； you　wouldnt　expect　me　to　pass　a　lady　of　my　own　race　in　this　strange　country　without speaking　to　her？
its　only　natural　i　should。”
〃i　think　its　very　natural　too；〃　said　the　mare。
〃i　wish　youd　held　your　tongue；　hwin；〃　said　the　girl。　〃look　at　the　trouble youve　got　us　into。”
〃i　dont　know　about　trouble；〃　said　shasta。　〃you　can　clear　off　as　soon　as you　like。　we　shant　keep　you。”
〃no；　you　shant；〃　said　the　girl。
〃what　quarrelsome　creatures　these　humans　are；〃　said　bree　to　the　mare。 〃theyre　as　bad　as　mules。　lets　try　to　talk　a　little　sense。　i　take　it；　maam；　your　story　is the　same　as　mine？
captured　in　early　youth　…　years　of　slavery　among　the　calormenes？”
〃too　true；　sir；〃　said　the　mare　with　a　melancholy　whinny。
〃and　now；　perhaps　…　escape？”
〃tell　him　to　mind　his　own　business；　hwin；〃　said　the　girl。
〃no；　i　wont；　aravis；〃　said　the　mare　putting　her　ears　back。　〃this　is　my escape　just　as　much　as　yours。　and　im　sure　a　noble　war…horse　like　this　is　not　going　to betray　us。　we　are　trying　to　escape；　to　get　to　narnia。”
〃and　so；　of　course；　are　we；〃　said　bree。　〃of　course　you　guessed　that　at once。　a　little　boy　in　rags　riding　（or　trying　to　ride）　a　war…horse　at　dead　of　night　couldnt mean　anything　but　an　escape　of　some　sort。　and；　if　i　may　say　so；　a　highborn　tarkheena　riding alone　at　night　…　dressed　up　in　her　brothers　armour　…　and　very　anxious　for　everyone　to　mind their　own　business　and　ask　her　no　questions　…　well；　if　thats　not　fishy；　call　me　a cob！”
〃all　right　then；〃　said　aravis。　〃youve　guessed　it。　hwin　and　i　are　running away。　we　are　trying　to　get　to　narnia。　and　now；　what　about　it？”
〃why；　in　that　case；　what　is　to　prevent　us　all　going　together？〃　said　bree。 〃i　trust；　madam　hwin；　you　will　accept　such　assistance　and　protection　as　i　may　be　able　to give　you　on　the　journey？”
〃why　do　you　keep　talking　to　my　horse　instead　of　to　me？〃　asked　the　girl。
〃excuse　me；　tarkheena；〃　said　bree　（with　just　the　slightest　backward　tilt　of his　ears）；　〃but　thats　calormene　talk。　were　free　narnians；　hwin　and　i；　and　i　suppose；　if youre　running　away　to　narnia；　you　want　to　be　one　too。　in　that　case　hwin　isnt　your　horse any　longer。
one　might　just　as　well　say　youre　her　human。”
the　girl　opened　her　mouth　to　speak　and　then　stopped。　obviously　she　had　not quite　seen　it　in　that　light　before。
〃still；〃　she　said　after　a　moments　pause；　〃i　dont　know　that　theres　so much　point　in　all　going　together。　arent　we