《THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER》第45章

igate。　those　who　remained　on　the　dawn　treader　could　see that　the　boat　pushed　right　in　amidst　the　whiteness。　then　they　could　hear　the　voices　of the　party　in　the　boat　clear　across　the　still　water）　talking　in　a　shrill　and　surprised　way。 then　there　was　a　pause　while　rynelf　in　the　bows　of　the　boat　took　a　sounding；　and　when；　after that；　the　boat　came　rowing　back　there　seemed　to　be　plenty　of　the　white　stuff　inside　her。 everyone　crowded　to　the　side　to　hear　the　news。
〃lilies；　your　majesty！〃　shouted　rynelf；　standing　up　in　the　bows。
〃what　did　you　say？〃　asked　caspian。
〃blooming　lilies；　your　majesty；〃　said　rynelf。　〃same　as　in　a　pool　or　in　a garden　at　home。”
〃look！〃　said　lucy；　who　was　in　the　stern　of　the　boat。　she　held　up　her　wet arms　full　of　white　petals　and　broad　flat　leaves。
〃whats　the　depth；　rynelf？〃　asked　drinian。
〃thats　the　funny　thing；　captain；〃　said　rynelf。　〃its　still　deep。　three　and a　half　fathoms　clear。”
〃they　cant　be　real　lilies　…　not　what　we　call　lilies；〃　said　eustace。
probably　they　were　not；　but　they　were　very　like　them。　and　when；　after　some consultation；　the　dawn　treader　turned　back　into　the　current　and　began　to　glide　eastward through　the　lily　lake　or　the　silver　sea　（they　tried　both　these　names　but　it　was　the silver　sea　that　stuck　and　is　now　on　caspians　map）　the　strangest　part　of　their　travels began。　very　soon　the　open　sea　which　they　were　leaving　was　only　a　thin　rim　of　blue　on　the western　horizon。
whiteness；　shot　with　faintest　colour　of　gold；　spread　round　them　on　every side；　except　just　astern　where　their　passage　had　thrust　the　lilies　apart　and　left　an　open lane　of　water　that
shone　like　dark　green　glass。　to　look　at；　this　last　sea　was　very　like　the arctic；　and　if　their　eyes　had　not　by　now　grown　as　strong　as　eagles　the　sun　on　all　that whiteness　…　especially　at　early　morning　when　the　sun　was　hugest　would　have　been　unbearable。　and every　evening　the　same　whiteness　made　the　daylight　last　longer。　there　seemed　no end　to　the　lilies。　day　after　day　from　all　those　miles　and　leagues　of　flowers　there rose　a　smell　which　lucy　found　it　very　hard　to　describe；　sweet　…　yes；　but　not　at　all　sleepy　or overpowering；　a　fresh；　wild；　lonely　smell　that　seemed　to　get　into　your　brain　and　make　you feel　that　you　could　go　up　mountains　at　a　run　or　wrestle　with　an　elephant。　she　and　caspian said　to　one　another；　〃i　feel　that　i　cant　stand　much　more　of　this；　yet　i　dont　want　it to　stop。”
they　took　soundings　very　often　but　it　was　only　several　days　later　that　the water　became　shallower。　after　that　it　went　on　getting　shallower。　there　came　a　day　when they　had　to　row　out　of　the　current　and　feel　their　way　forward　at　a　snails　pace； rowing。　and　soon　it　was　clear　that　the　dawn　treader　could　sail　no　further　east。　indeed　it　was only　by　very　clever　handling　that　they　saved　her　from　grounding。
〃lower　the　boat；〃　cried　caspian；　〃and　then　call　the　men　aft。　i　must　speak to　them。”
〃whats　he　going　to　do？〃　whispered　eustace　to　edmund。　〃theres　a　queer　look in　his　eyes。”
〃i　think　we　probably　all　look　the　same；〃　said　edmund。
they　joined　caspian　on　the　poop　and　soon　all　the　men　were　crowded　together at　the　foot　of　the　ladder　to　hear　the　kings　speech。　〃friends；〃　said　caspian；　〃we　have now　fulfilled　the　quest　on　which　you　embarked。　the　seven　lords　are　all　accounted　for　and as　sir　reepicheep　has　sworn　never　to　return；　when　you　reach　ramandus　land　you will　doubtless　find　the　lords　revilian　and　argoz　and　mavramorn　awake。　to　you；　my lord　drinian；　i　entrust　this　ship；　bidding　you　sail　to　narnia　with　all　the　speed you　may；　and　above　all　not　to　land　on　the　island　of　deathwater。　and　instruct　my　regent； the　dwarf　trumpkin；　to　give　to　all　these；　my　shipmates；　the　rewards　i　promised　them。 they　have　been　earned　well。　and　if　i　e　not　again　it　is　my　will　that　the　regent； and　master　cornelius；　and　trufflehunter　the　badger；　and　the　lord　drinian　choose　a　king of　narnia　with　the　consent…”
〃but；　sire；〃　interrupted　drinian；　〃are　you　abdicating？”
〃i　am　going　with　reepicheep　to　see　the　worlds　end；〃　said　caspian。
a　low　murmur　of　dismay　ran　through　the　sailors。
〃we　will　take　the　boat；〃　said　caspian。　〃you　will　have　no　need　of　it　in these　gentle　seas　and　you　must　build　a　new　one　in　ramandus　island。　and　now…”
〃caspian；〃　said　edmund　suddenly　and　sternly；　〃you　cant　do　this。”
〃most　certainly；〃　said　reepicheep；　〃his　majesty　cannot。”
〃no　indeed；〃　said　drinian。
〃cant？〃　said　caspian　sharply；　looking　for　a　moment　not　unlike　his　uncle miraz。
〃begging　your　majestys　pardon；〃　said　rynelf　from　the　deck　below；　〃but　if one　of　us　did　the　same　it　would　be　called　deserting。”
〃you　presume　too　much　on　your　long　service；　rynelf；〃　said　caspian。
〃no；　sire！　hes　perfectly　right；〃　said　drinian。
〃by　the　mane　of　aslan；〃　said　caspian；　〃i　had　thought　you　were　all　my subjects　here；　not　my　schoolmasters。”
〃im　not；〃　said　edmund；　〃and　i　say　you　can　not　do　this。”
〃cant　again；〃　said　caspian。　〃what　do　you　mean？”
〃if　it　please　your　majesty；　we　mean　shall　not；〃　said　reepicheep　with　a　very low　bow。
〃you　are　the　king　of　narnia。　you　break　faith　with　all　your　subjects；　and especially　with　trumpkin；　if　you　do　not　return。　you　shall　not　please　yourself　with adventures　as　if　you　were　a　private　person。　and　if　your　majesty　will　not　hear　reason　it　will　be the　truest　loyalty　of　every　man　on　board　to　follow　me　in　disarming　and　binding　you till　you　e　to　your　senses。”
〃quite　right；〃　said　edmund。　〃like　they　did　with　ulysses　when　he　wanted　to go　near　the　sirens。”
caspians　hand　had　gone　to　his　sword　hilt；　when　lucy　said；　〃and　youve almost　promised　ramandus　daughter　to　go　back。”
caspian　paused。　〃well；　yes。　there　is　that；〃　he　said。　he　stood　irresolute for　a　moment　and　then　shouted　out　to　the　ship　in　general。
〃well；　have　your　way。　the　quest　is　ended。　we　all　return。　get　the　boat　up again。”
〃sire；〃　said　reepicheep；　〃we　do　not　all　return。　i；　as　i　explained　before　…”
〃silence！〃　thundered　caspian。　〃ive　been　lessoned　but　ill　not　be　baited。 will　no　one　silence　that　mouse？”
〃your　majesty　promised；〃　said　reepicheep；　〃to　be　good　lord　to　the　talking beasts　of　narnia。”
〃talking　beasts；　yes；〃　said　c