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〃oh；〃 said susan。 〃so thats why they both ran away。鈥�
〃eh？ whats that？〃 said the dwarf。
〃they got away；〃 said edmund。 〃to the mainland。鈥�
〃i wasnt shooting to kill； you know；〃 said susan。 she would not have liked anyone to think she could miss at such a short range。
〃hm；〃 said the dwarf。 〃thats not so good。 that may mean trouble later on。 unless they hold their tongues for their own sake。鈥�
〃what were they going to drown you for？〃 asked peter。
〃oh； im a dangerous criminal； i am；〃 said the dwarf cheerfully。 〃but thats a long story。
meantime； i was wondering if perhaps you were going to ask me to breakfast？ youve no idea what an appetite it gives one； being executed。〃 〃theres only apples；〃 said lucy dolefully。
〃better than nothing； but not so good as fresh fish；〃 said the dwarf。 〃it looks as if ill have to ask you to breakfast instead。 i saw some fishing tackle in that boat。 and anyway； we must take her round to the other side of the island。 we dont want anyone from the mainland ing down and seeing her。鈥�
〃i ought to have thought of that myself；〃 said peter。
the four children and the dwarf went down to the waters edge； pushed off the boat with some difficulty； and scrambled aboard。 the dwarf at once took charge。 the oars were of course too big for him to use； so peter rowed and the dwarf steered them north along the channel and presently eastward round the tip of the island。 from here the children could see right up the river； and all the bays and headlands of the coast beyond it。 they thought they could recognize bits of it； but the woods； which had grown up since their time； made everything look very different。
when they had e round into open sea on the east of the island； the dwarf took to fishing。 they had an excellent catch of pavenders； a beautiful rainbow… coloured fish which they all remembered eating in cair paravel in the old days。 when they had caught enough they ran the boat up into a little creek and moored her to a tree。 the dwarf； who was a most capable person （and； indeed； though one meets bad dwarfs； i never heard of a dwarf who was a fool）； cut the fish open； cleaned them； and said： 〃now； what we want next is some firewood。鈥�
〃weve got some up at the castle；〃 said edmund。
the dwarf gave a low whistle。 〃beards and bedsteads！〃 he said。 〃so there really is a castle； after all？鈥�
〃its only a ruin；〃 said lucy。
the dwarf stared round at all four of them with a very curious expression on his face。
〃and who on earth … ？〃 he began； but then broke off and said； 〃no matter。 breakfast first。
but one thing before we go on。 can you lay your hand on your hearts and tell me im really alive？ are you sure i wasnt drowned and were not all ghosts together？鈥�
when they had all reassured him； the next question was how to carry the fish。 they had nothing to string them on and no basket。 they had to use edmunds hat in the end because no one else had a hat。 he would have made much more fuss about this if he had not by now been so ravenously hungry。
at first the dwarf did not seem very fortable in the castle。 he kept looking round and sniffing and saying； 〃hm。 looks a bit spooky after all。 smells like ghosts； too。〃 but he cheered up when it came to lighting the fire and showing them how to roast the fresh pavenders in the embers。 eating hot fish with no forks； and one pocket knife between five people； is a messy business and there were several burnt fingers before the meal was ended； but； as it was now nine oclock and they had been up since five； nobody minded the burns so much as you might have expected。 when everyone had finished off with a drink from the well and an apple or so； the dwarf produced a pipe about the size of his own arm； filled it； lit it； blew a great cloud of fragrant smoke； and said； 〃now。鈥�
〃you tell us your story first；〃 said peter。 〃and then well tell you ours。鈥�
〃well；〃 said the dwarf； 〃as youve saved my life it is only fair you should have your own way。 but i hardly know where to begin。 first of all im a messenger of king caspians。鈥�
〃whos he？〃 asked four voices all at once。
〃caspian the tenth； king of narnia； and long may he reign！〃 answered the dwarf。 〃that is to say； he ought to be king of narnia and we hope he will be。 at present he is only king of us old narnians … 鈥�
〃what do you mean by old narnians； please？〃 asked lucy。
〃why； thats us；〃 said the dwarf。 〃were a kind of rebellion； i suppose。鈥�
〃i see；〃 said peter。 〃and caspian is the chief old narnian。鈥�
〃well； in a manner of speaking；〃 said the dwarf； scratching his head。 〃but hes really a new narnian himself； a telmarine； if you follow me。鈥�
〃i dont；〃 said edmund。
〃its worse than the wars of the roses；〃 said lucy。
〃oh dear；〃 said the dwarf。 〃im doing this very badly。 look here： i think ill have to go right back to the beginning and tell you how caspian grew up in his uncles court and how he es to be on our side at all。 but itll be a long story。鈥�
〃all the better；〃 said lucy。 〃we love stories。鈥�
so the dwarf settled down and told his tale。 i shall not give it to you in his words； putting in all the childrens questions and interruptions； because it would take too long and be confusing； and； even so； it would leave out some points that the children only heard later。
but the gist of the story； as they knew it in the end； was as follows。
xiaoshuot锛竧锛宑o锛�
CHAPTER FOUR
锝炲皬 璇磘 xt 澶诲爞
the dwarf tells of prince caspian prince caspian lived in a great castle in the centre of narnia with his uncle； miraz； the king of narnia； and his aunt； who had red hair and was called queen prunaprismia。
his father and mother were dead and the person whom caspian loved best was his nurse； and though （being a prince） he had wonderful toys which would do almost anything but talk； he liked best the last hour of the day when the toys had all been put back in their cupboards and nurse would tell him stories。
he did not care much for his uncle and aunt； but about twice a week his uncle would send for him and they would walk up and down together for half an hour on the terrace at the south side of the castle。 one day； while they were doing this； the king said to him； 〃well； boy； we must soon teach you to ride and use a sword。 you know that your aunt and i have no children； so it looks as if you might have to be king when im gone。 how shall you like that； eh？鈥�
〃i dont know； uncle；〃 said caspian。
〃dont know； eh？〃 said miraz。 〃why； i should like to know what more anyone could wish for！鈥�
〃all the same； i do wish；〃 said caspian。
〃what do you wish？〃 asked the king。
〃i wish … i wish … i wish i could have lived in the old days；〃 said caspian。 （he was only a very little boy at the time。）
up till now king miraz had been talking in the tiresome way that some grown…ups have； which makes it quite clear that they are not really interested in what you are saying； but now he suddenly gave caspian a very sharp look。
〃eh？ whats that？〃 he said。 〃what old days do you mean？鈥�
〃oh； dont you know； uncle？〃 said caspian。 〃when everything was quite different。 when all the ani