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river in the hope of crossing the bridge to the town of beruna and there defending themselves behind ramparts and closed gates。
they reached the river； but there was no bridge。 it had disappeared since yesterday。 then utter panic and horror fell upon them and they all surrendered。
but what had happened to the bridge？
early that morning； after a few hours sleep； the girls had waked； to see aslan standing over them and to hear his voice saying； 〃we will make holiday。〃 they rubbed their eyes and looked round them。 the trees had all gone but could still be seen moving away towards aslans how in a dark mass。 bacchus and the maenads … his fierce； madcap girls … and silenus were still with them。 lucy； fully rested； jumped up。 everyone was awake； everyone was laughing； flutes were playing； cymbals clashing。 animals； not talking animals； were crowding in upon them from every direction。
〃what is it； aslan？〃 said lucy； her eyes dancing and her feet wanting to dance。
〃e； children；〃 said he。 〃ride on my back again today。鈥�
〃oh； lovely！〃 cried lucy； and both girls climbed on to the warm golden back as they had done no one knew how many years before。 then the whole party moved off aslan
leading； bacchus and his maenads leaping； rushing； and turning somersaults； the beasts frisking round them； and silenus and his donkey bringing up the rear。
they turned a little to the right； raced down a steep hill； and found the long bridge of beruna in front of them。 before they had begun to cross it； however； up out of the water came a great wet； bearded head； larger than a mans； crowned with rushes。 it looked at aslan and out of its mouth a deep voice came。
〃hail； lord；〃 it said。 〃loose my chains。鈥�
〃who on earth is that？〃 whispered susan。
〃i think its the river…god； but hush；〃 said lucy。
〃bacchus；〃 said aslan。 〃deliver him from his chains。鈥�
〃that means the bridge； i expect；〃 thought lucy。 and so it did。 bacchus and his people splashed forward into the shallow water； and a minute later the most curious things began happening。 great； strong trunks of ivy came curling up all the piers of the bridge； growing as quickly as a fire grows； wrapping the stones round； splitting； breaking； separating them。 the walls of the bridge turned into hedges gay with hawthorn for a moment and then disappeared as the whole thing with a rush and a rumble collapsed into the swirling water。 with much splashing； screaming； and laughter the revellers waded or swam or danced across the ford （〃hurrah！ its the ford of beruna again now！〃 cried the girls） and up the bank on the far side and into the town。
everyone in the streets fled before their faces。 the first house they came to was a school： a girls school； where lot of narnian girls； with their hair done very tight and ugly tight collars round their necks and thick tickly stockings on their legs； were having a history lesson。 the sort of 〃history〃 that was taught in narnia under mirazs rule was duller than the truest history you ever read and less true than the most exciting adventure story。
〃if you dont attend； gwendolen；〃 said the mistress； and stop looking out of the window； i shall have to give you an order…mark。鈥�
〃but please； miss prizzle …〃 began gwendolen。
〃did you hear what i said； gwendolen？〃 asked miss prizzle。
〃but please； miss prizzle；〃 said gwendolen； 〃theres a lion！鈥�
〃take two order…marks for talking nonsense；〃 said miss prizzle。 〃and now …〃 a roar interrupted her。 ivy came curling in at the windows of the classroom。 the walls became a mass of shimmering green； and leafy branches arched overhead where the ceiling had been。 miss prizzle found she was standing on grass in a forest glade。 she clutched at her desk to steady herself； and found that the desk was a rose…bush。 wild people such as she
had never even imagined were crowding round her。 then she saw the lion； screamed and fled； and with her fled her class； who were mostly dumpy； prim little girls with fat legs。
gwendolen hesitated。
〃youll stay with us； sweetheart？〃 said aslan。
〃oh； may i？ thank you； thank you；〃 said gwendolen。 instantly she joined hands with two of the maenads； who whirled her round in a merry dance and helped her take off some of the unnecessary and unfortable clothes that she was wearing。
wherever they went in the little town of beruna it was the same。 most of the people fled； a few joined them。 when they left the town they were a larger and a merrier pany。
they swept on across the level fields on the north bank； or left bank； of the river。 at every farm animals came out to join them。 sad old donkeys who had never known joy grew suddenly young again； chained dogs broke their chains； horses kicked their carts to pieces and came trotting along with them … clop…clop … kicking up the mud and whinnying。
at a well in a yard they met a man who was beating a boy。 the stick burst into flower in the mans hand。 he tried to drop it； but it stuck to his hand。 his arm became a branch； his body the trunk of a tree； his feet took root。 the boy； who had been crying a moment before； burst out laughing and joined them。
at a little town half…way to beaversdam； where two rivers met； they came to another school； where a tiredlooking girl was teaching arithmetic to a number of boys who looked very like pigs。 she looked out of the window and saw the divine revellers singing up the street and a stab of joy went through her heart。 aslan stopped right under the window and looked up at her。
〃oh； dont； dont；〃 she said。 〃id love to。 but i mustnt。 i must stick to my work。 and the children would be frightened if they saw you。鈥�
〃frightened？〃 said the most pig…like of the boys。 〃whos she talking to out of the window？ lets tell the inspector she talks to people out of the window when she ought to be teaching us。鈥�
〃lets go and see who it is；〃 said another boy； and they all came crowding to the window。
but as soon as their mean little faces looked out； bacchus gave a great cry of euan； euoi…oi…oi…of and the boys all began howling with fright and trampling one another down to get out of the door and jumping out of the windows。 and it was said afterwards （whether truly or not） that those particular little boys were never seen again； but that there were a lot of very fine little pigs in that part of the country which had never been there before。
〃now； dear heart；〃 said aslan to the mistress； and she jumped down and joined them。
at beaversdam they re…crossed the river and came east again along the southern bank。
they came to a little cottage where a child stood in the doorway crying。 〃why are you crying； my love？〃 asked aslan。 the child； who had never seen a picture of a lion； was not afraid of him。 〃aunties very ill；〃 she said。 〃shes going to die。〃 then aslan went to go in at the door of the cottage； but it was too small for him。 so； when he had got his head through； he pushed with his shoulders （lucy and susan fell off when he did this） and lifted the whole house up and it fell backwards and apart。 and there； still in her bed； though the bed was now in the open air； lay a little old woman who looked a