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and she turned her head eastward round the south of avra。
the next few days were delightful。 lucy thought she was the most fortunate girl in the world； as she woke each morning to see the reflections of the sunlit water dancing on the ceiling of her cabin and looked round on all the nice new things she had got in the lone islands … seaboots and buskins and cloaks and jerkins and scarves。 and then she would go on deck and take a look from the forecastle at a sea which was a brighter blue each morning and drink in an air that was a little warmer day by day。 after that came breakfast and such an appetite as one only has at sea。
she spent a good deal of time sitting on the little bench in the stern playing chess with reepicheep。 it was amusing to see him lifting the pieces； which were far too big for him； with both paws and standing on tiptoes if he made a move near the centre of the board。
he was a good player and when he remembered what he was doing he usually won。 but every now and then lucy won because the mouse did something quite ridiculous like sending a knight into the danger of a queen and castle bined。 this happened because he had momentarily forgotten it was a game of chess and was thinking of a real battle and making the knight do what he would certainly have done in its place。 for his mind was full of forlorn hopes； death…or…glory charges； and last stands。
but this pleasant time did not last。 there came an evening when lucy； gazing idly astern at the long furrow or wake they were leaving behind them； saw a great rack of clouds building itself up in the west with amazing speed。
then a gap was torn in it and a yellow sunset poured through the gap。 all the waves behind them seemed to take on unusual shapes and the sea was a drab or yellowish colour like dirty canvas。 the air grew cold。 the ship seemed to move uneasily as if she felt danger behind he the sail would be flat and limp one minute and wildly the next。 while she was noting these things and wondering at a sinister change which had e over the very noise the wind； drinian cried； 〃all hands on deck。〃 in a moment everyone became frantically busy。 the hatches wet battened down； the galley fire was put out； men went aloft to reef the sail。 before they had finished the storm struck them。 it seemed to lucy that a great valley in the sea opened just before their bows； and they rushed down in it； deeper down than she would have believed possible。 a great grey hill of water； far higher than the mast； rushed to meet them； it looked certain death but they were tossed to the top of it。 then the ship seemed to spin round。 a cataract of water poured over the deck； the poop and forecastle were like two islands with a fierce sea between them。 aloft the sailors were lying out along the yard desperate trying to get control of the sail。 a broken rope stood out sideways in the wind as straight and stiff as if it was poker。
〃get below； maam；〃 bawled drinian。 and lucy knowing that landsmen … and landswomen … are a nuisance to the crew； began to obey。 it was not easy。 the dawn treader was listing terribly to starboard and the deck sloped like the roof of a house。 she had to clamber round to the top of the ladder； holding on to the rail； and the stand by while two men climbed up it； and then get down as best she could。 it was well she was already holding tight for at the foot of the ladder another wave roar across the deck； up to her shoulders。 she was already almost wet through with spray and rain but this was colder。 then she made a dash for the cabin door and got in and shut out for a moment the appalling sight of the speed with which they were rushing into the dark； but not of course the horrible confusion of creakings； groanings； snappings； clatterings； roarings and boomings which only sounded more alarming below than they had done on the poop。
and all next day and all the next it went on。 it went on till one could hardly even remember a time before it had begun。 and there always had to be three men at the tiller and it was as much as three could do to keep any kind of a course。 and there always had to be men at the pump。 and there was hardly any rest for anyone； and nothing could be cooked and nothing could be dried； and one man was lost overboard； and they never saw the sun。
when it was over eustace made the following entry in his diary。
〃3 september。 the first day for ages when i have been able to write。 we had been driven before a hurricane for thirteen days and nights。 i know that because i kept a careful count； though the others all say it was only twelve。 pleasant to be embarked on a dangerous voyage with people who cant even count right！ i have had a ghastly time； up and down enormous waves hour after hour； usually wet to the skin； and not even an attempt at giving us proper meals。 needless to say theres no wireless or even a rocket； so no chance of signalling anyone for help。 it all proves what i keep on telling them； the madness of setting out in a rotten little tub like this。 it would be bad enough even if one was with
decent people instead of fiends in human form。 caspian and edmund are simply brutal to me。 the night we lost our mast （theres only a stump left now）； though i was not at all well； they forced me to e on deck and work like a slave。 lucy shoved her oar in by saying that reepicheep was longing to go only he was too small。 i wonder she doesnt see that everything that little beast does is all for the sake of showing off。 even at her age she ought to have that amount of sense。 today the beastly boat is level at last and the suns out and we have all been jawing about what to do。 we have food enough； pretty beastly stuff most of it； to last for sixteen days。 （the poultry were all washed overboard。 even if they hadnt been； the storm would have stopped them laying。） the real trouble is water。
two casks seem to have got a leak knocked in them and are empty。 （narnian efficiency again。） on short rations； half a pint a day each； weve got enough for twelve days。
（theres still lots of rum and wine but even they realize that would only make them thirstier。）
〃if we could； of course； the sensible thing would be to turn west at once and make for the lone islands。 but it took us eighteen days to get where we are； running like mad with a gale behind us。 even if we got an east wind it might take us far longer to get back。 and at present theres no sign of an east wind … in fact theres no wind at all。 as for rowing back； it would take far too long and caspian says the men couldnt row on half a pint of water a day。 im pretty sure this is wrong。 i tried to explain that perspiration really cools people down； so the men would need less water if they were working。 he didnt take any notice of this； which is always his way when he cant think of an answer。 the others all voted for going on in the hope of finding land。 i felt it my duty to point out that we didnt know there was any land ahead and tried to get them to see the dangers of wishful thinking。
instead of producing a better plan they had the cheek to ask me what i proposed。 so i just explained coolly and quietly that