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y this time。 circling round and round； feeling each others defences。鈥�
〃im afraid this miraz knows his work；〃 muttered the doctor。 but hardly had he said this when there was such a clapping and baying and throwing up of hoods among the old narnians that it was nearly deafening。
〃what was it？ what was it？〃 asked the doctor。 〃my old eyes missed it。鈥�
〃the high king has pricked him in the arm…pit；〃 said caspian； still clapping。 〃just where the arm…hole of the hauberk let the point through。 first blood。 〃its looking ugly again now； though；〃 said edmund。 〃peters not using his shield properly。 he must be hurt in the left arm。鈥�
it was only too true。 everyone could see that peters shield hung limp。 the shouting of the telmarines redoubled。
〃youve seen more battles than i；〃 said caspian。 〃is there any chance now？鈥�
〃precious little；〃 said edmund。 〃i suppose he might just do it。 with luck。鈥�
〃oh； why did we let it happen at all？〃 said caspian。
suddenly all the shouting on both sides died down。 edmund was puzzled for a moment。
then he said； 〃oh； i see。 theyve both agreed to a rest。 e on； doctor。 you and i may be able to do something for the high king。 they ran down to the lists and peter came outside the ropes to meet them； his face red and sweaty； his chest heaving。
〃is your left arm wounded？〃 asked edmund。
〃its not exactly a wound；〃 peter said。 〃i got the weight of his shoulder on my shield … like a load of bricks and the rim of the shield drove into my wrist。 i dont think its broken； but it might be a sprain。 if you could tie it up very tight i think i could manage。鈥�
while they were doing this； edmund asked anxiously。 〃what do you think of him； peter？鈥�
〃tough；〃 said peter。 〃very tough。 i have a chance if can keep him on the hop till his weight and short wind e against him … in this hot sun too。 to tell the truth； i havent much chance else。 give my love to … to everyone at home； ed； if he gets me。 here he es into the lists again so long； old chap。 good…bye； doctor。 and i say； ed； say something specially nice to trumpkin。 hes been a brick。鈥�
edmund couldnt speak。 he walked back with the doctor to his own lines with a sick feeling in his stomach。
but the new bout went well。 peter now seemed to be able to make some use of his shield； and he certainly made good use of his feet。 he was almost playing tig with miraz now； keeping out of range； shifting his ground； making the enemy work。
〃coward！〃 booed the telmarines。 〃why dont you stand up to him？ dont you like it； eh？
thought youd e to fight； not dance。 yah！鈥�
〃oh； i do hope he wont listen to them；〃 said caspian。
〃not he；〃 said edmund。 〃you dont know him … oh！〃 for miraz had got in a blow at last； on peters helmet。 peter staggered； slipped sideways； and fell on one knee。 the roar of the telmarines rose like the noise of the sea。 〃now； miraz；〃 they yelled。 〃now。 quick！
quick！ kill him。〃 but indeed there was no need to egg the usurper on。 he was on top of peter already。 edmund bit his lips till the blood came； as the sword flashed down on peter。 it looked as if it would slash off his head。 thank heavens！ it had glanced down his right shoulder。 the dwarf…wrought mail was sound and did not break。
〃great scott！〃 cried edmund。 〃hes up again。 peter； go it； peter。鈥�
〃i couldnt see what happened；〃 said the doctor。 〃how did he do it？鈥�
〃grabbed mirazs arm as it came down；〃 said trumpkin； dancing with delight。 〃theres a man for you！ uses his enemys arm as a ladder。 the high king！ the high king！ up； old narnia！鈥�
〃look；〃 said trufflehunter。 〃miraz is angry。 it is good。〃 they were certainly at it hammer and tongs now： such a flurry of blows that it seemed impossible for either not to be killed。
as the excitement grew； the shouting almost died away。 the spectators were holding their breath。 it was most horrible and most magnificent。
a great shout arose from the old narnians。 miraz was a down … not struck by peter； but face downwards； having tripped on a tussock。 peter stepped back； waiting for him to rise。
〃oh bother； bother； bother；〃 said edmund to himself。 〃need he be as gentlemanly as all that？ i suppose he must。 es of being a knight and a high king。 i suppose it is what aslan would like。 but that brute will be up again in a minute and then …鈥�
but 〃that brute〃 never rose。 the lords glozelle and sopespian had their own plans ready。
as soon as they saw their king down they leaped into the lists crying； 〃treachery！
treachery！ the narnian traitor has stabbed him in the back while he lay helpless。 to arms！ to arms； telmar！鈥�
peter hardly understood what was happening。 he saw two big men running towards him with drawn swords。 then the third telmarine had leaped over the ropes on his； left。 〃to arms； narnia！ treachery！〃 peter shouted。 if all three had set upon him at once he would never have spoken again。 but glozelle stopped to stab his own king dead where he lay： 〃thats for your insult； this morning；〃 he whispered as the blade went home。 peter swung to face sopespian； slashed his legs from under him and； with the back…cut of the same stroke； walloped off his head edmund was now at his side crying； 〃narnia； narnia！ the lion！〃 the whole telmarine army was rushing toward them。 but now the giant was stamping forward； stooping low and swinging his club。 the centaurs charged。 twang；
twang behind and hiss； hiss overhead came the archery of dwarfs。 trumpkin was fighting at his left。 full battle was joined。
〃e back； reepicheep； you little ass！〃 shouted peter。 〃youll only be killed。 this is no place for mice。〃 but the ridiculous little creatures were dancing in and out among the feet of both armies； jabbing with their swords。 many a telmarine warrior that day felt his foot suddenly pierced as if by a dozen skewers； hopped on one leg cursing the pain； and fell as often as not。 if he fell； the mice finished him off； if he did not； someone else did。
but almost before the old narnians were really warmed to their work they found the enemy giving way。 toughlooking warriors turned white； gazed in terror not on the old narnians but on something behind them； and then flung down their weapons； shrieking； 〃the wood！ the wood！ the end of the world！鈥�
but soon neither their cries nor the sound of weapons could be heard any more； for both were drowned in the ocean…like roar of the awakened trees as they plunged through the ranks of peters army； and then on； in pursuit of the telmarines。 have you ever stood at the edge of a great wood on a high ridge when a wild south…wester broke over it in full fury on an autumn evening？ imagine that sound。 and then imagine that the wood； instead of being fixed to one place； was rushing at you； and was no longer trees but huge people； yet still like trees because their long arms waved like branches and their heads tossed and leaves fell round them in showers。 it was like that for the telmarines。 it was a little alarming even for the narnians。 in a few minutes all mirazs followers were running down to the great river in the hope of crossing the bridge to the town of beruna and there defending themselves behi