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kly the noise of conversation died away behind hiin and how very silent and warm and dark green the wood became。 soon he felt he could venture on a quicker and more determined stride。
this soon brought him out of the wood。 the ground began sloping steeply up in front of him。 the grass was dry and slippery but manageable if he used his hands as well as his feet； and though he panted and mopped his forehead a good deal； he plugged away steadily。 this showed； by the way； that his new life； little as he suspected it； had already done him some good； the old eustace； harold and albertas eustace； would have given up the climb after about ten minutes。
slowly； and with several rests； he reached the ridge。 here he had expected to have a view into the heart of the island； but the clouds had now e lower and nearer and a sea of fog was rolling to meet him。 he sat down and looked back。 he was now so high that the bay looked small beneath him and miles of sea were visible。 then the fog from the mountains closed in all round him； thick but not cold； and he lay down and turned this way and that to find the most fortable position to enjoy himself。
but he didnt enjoy himself； or not for very long。 he began； almost for the first time in his life； to feel lonely。 at first this feeling grew very gradually。 and then he began to worry about the time。 there was not the slightest sound。 suddenly it occurred to him that he might have been lying there for hours。 perhaps the others had gone！ perhaps they had let him wander away on purpose simply in order to leave him behind！ he leaped up in a panic and began the descent。
at first he tried to do it too quickly； slipped on the steep grass； and slid for several feet。
then he thought this had carried him too far to the left … and as he came up he had seen precipices on that side。 so he clambered up again； as near as he could guess to the place he had started from； and began the descent afresh； bearing to his right。 after that things seemed to be going better。 he went very cautiously； for he could not see more than a yard ahead； and there was still perfect silence all around him。 it is very unpleasant to have to go cautiously when there is a voice inside you saying all the time； 〃hurry； hurry； hurry。”
for every moment the terrible idea of being left behind grew stronger。 if he had understood caspian and the pevensies at all he would have known； of course； that there was not the least chance of their doing any such thing。 but he had persuaded himself that they were all fiends in human form。
〃at last！〃 said eustace as he came slithering down a slide of loose stones （scree； they call it） and found himself on the level。 〃and now； where are those trees？ there is something dark ahead。 why； i do believe the fog is clearing。”
it was。 the light increased every moment and made him blink。 the fog lifted。 he was in an utterly unknown valley and the sea was nowhere in sight。
％％。
CHAPTER SIX
小说
the adventures of eustace at that very moment the others were washing hands and faces in the river and generally getting ready for dinner and a rest。 the three best archers had gone up into the hills north of the bay and returned laden with a pair of wild goats which were now roasting over a fire。 caspian had ordered a cask of wine ashore； strong wine of archenland which had to be mixed with water before you drank it； so there would be plenty for all。 the work had
gone well so far and it was a merry meal。 only after the second helping of goat did edmund say； 〃wheres that blighter eustace？”
meanwhile eustace stared round the unknown valley。 it was so narrow and deep； and the precipices which surrounded it so sheer； that it was like a huge pit or trench。 the floor was grassy though strewn with rocks； and here and there eustace saw black burnt patches like those you see on the sides of a railway embankment in a dry summer。
about fifteen yards away from him was a pool of clear； smooth water。 there was； at first； nothing else at all in the valley； not an animal； not a bird； not an insect。 the sun beat down and grim peaks and horns of mountains peered over the valleys edge。
eustace realized of course that in the fog he had e down the wrong side of the ridge； so he turned at once to see about getting back。 but as soon as he had looked he shuddered。 apparently he had by amazing luck found the only possible way down … a long green spit of land； horribly steep and narrow； with precipices on either side。 there was no other possible way of getting back。 but could he do it； now that he saw what it was really like？ his head swam at the very thought of it。
he turned round again； thinking that at any rate hed better have a good drink from the pool first。 but as soon as he had turned and before he had taken a step forward into the valley he heard a noise behind him。 it was only a small noise but it sounded loud in that immense silence。 it froze him dead…still where he stood for a second。 then he slewed round his neck and looked。
at the bottom of the cliff a little on his left hand was a low； dark hole … the entrance to a cave perhaps。 and out of this two thin wisps of smoke were ing。 and the loose stones just beneath the dark hollow were moving （that was the noise he had heard） just as if something were crawling in the dark behind them。
something was crawling。 worse still； something was ing out。 edmund or lucy or you would have recognized it at once； but eustace had read none of the right books。 the thing that came out of the cave was something he had never even imagined … along lead…coloured snout； dull red eyes； no feathers or fur； a long lithe body that trailed on the ground； legs whose elbows went up higher than its back like a spiders cruel claws； bats wings that made a rasping noise on the stones； yards of tail。 and the lines of smoke were ing from its two nostrils。 he never said the word dragon to himself。 nor would it have made things any better if he had。
but perhaps if he had known something about dragons he would have been a little surprised at this dragons behaviour。 it did not sit up and clap its wings； nor did it shoot out a stream of flame from its mouth。 the smoke from its nostrils was like the smoke of a fire that will not last much longer。 nor did it seem to have noticed eustace。 it moved very slowly towards the pool … slowly and with many pauses。 even in his fear eustace felt that it was an old； sad creature。 he wondered if he dared make a dash for the ascent。 but it might look round if he made any noise。 it might e more to life。 perhaps it was only
shamming。 anyway； what was the use of trying to escape by climbing from a creature that could fly？
it reached the pool and slid its horrible scaly chin down over the gravel to drink： but before it had drunk there came from it a great croaking or clanging cry and after a few twitches and convulsions it rolled round on its side and lay perfectly still with one claw in the air。 a little dark blood gushed from its wide…opened mouth。 the smoke from its nostrils turned black for a moment and then floated away。 no more came。 this was the brutes t