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〃i say； son of adam；〃 said the faun； looking with a certain awe at eustaces mouthfuls。
〃theres no need to hurry quite so dreadfully as that。 i dont think the centaurs have quite finished their breakfasts yet。”
〃then they must have got up very late；〃 said eustace。 〃i bet its after ten oclock。”
〃oh no；〃 said orruns。 〃they got up before it was light。”
〃then they must have waited the dickens of a time for breakfast；〃 said eustace。
〃no； they didnt；〃 said orruns。 〃they began eating the minute they awoke。”
〃golly！〃 said eustace。 〃do they eat a very big breakfast？”
〃why； son of adam； dont you understand？ a centaur has a man…stomach and a horse…stomach。 and of course both want breakfast。 so first of all he has porridge and pavenders and kidneys and bacon and omelette and cold ham and toast and marmalade and coffee and beer。 and after that he attends to the horse part of himself by grazing for an hour or so and finishing up with a hot mash； some oats； and a bag of sugar。 thats why its such a serious thing to ask a centaur to stay for the week…end。 a very serious thing indeed。”
at that moment there was a sound of horse…hoofs tapping on rock from the mouth of the cave； and the children looked up。 the two centaurs； one with a black and one with a golden beard flowing over their magnificent bare chests； stood waiting for them； bending their heads a little so as to look into the cave。 then the children became very polite and finished their breakfast very quickly。 no one thinks a centaur funny when he sees it。
they are solemn； majestic people； full of ancient wisdom which they learn from the stars； not easily made either merry or angry； but their anger is terrible as a tidal wave when it es。
〃good…bye； dear puddleglum；〃 said jill； going over to the marsh…wiggles bed。 〃im sorry we called you a wet blanket。”
〃som i；〃 said eustace。 〃youve been the best friend in the world。”
〃and i do hope well meet again；〃 added jill。
〃not much chance of that； i should say；〃 replied puddleglum。 〃1 dont reckon im very likely to see my old wigwam again either。 and that prince … hes a nice chap … but do you
think hes very strong？ constitution ruined with living underground； i shouldnt wonder。
looks the sort that might go off any day。”
〃puddleglum！〃 said jill。 〃youre a regular old humbug。 you sound as doleful as a funeral and i believe youre perfectly happy。 and you talk as if you were afraid of everything； when youre really as brave as…as a lion。”
〃now； speaking of funerals；〃 began puddleglum； but jill； who heard the centaurs tapping with their hoofs behind her； surprised him very much by flinging her arms round his thin neck and kissing his muddy…looking face； while eustace wrung his hand。 then they both rushed away to the centaurs； and the marsh…wiggle； sinking back on his bed； remarked to himself； 〃well； i wouldnt have dreamt of her doing that。 even though i am a good…looking chap。”
to ride on a centaur is； no doubt； a great honour （and except jill and eustace there is probably no one alive in the world today who has had it） but it is very unfortable。 for no one who valued his life would suggest putting a saddle on a centaur； and riding bare…back is no fun； especially if； like eustace； you have never learned to ride at all。 the centaurs were very polite in a grave； gracious； grown…up kind of way； and as they cantered through the narnian woods they spoke； without turning their heads； telling the children about the properties of herbs and roots； the influences of the planets； the nine names of aslan with their meanings； and things of that sort。 but however sore and jolted the two humans were； they would now give anything to have that journey over again： to see those glades and slopes sparkling with last nights snow； to be met by rabbits and squirrels and birds that wished you good morning； to breathe again the air of narnia and hear the voices of the narnian trees。
they came down to the river； flowing bright and blue in winter sunshine； far below the last bridge （which is at the snug； red…roofed little town of beruna） and were ferried across in a flat barge by the ferryman； or rather； by the ferry…wiggle； for it is marsh…wiggles who do most of the watery and fishy kinds of work in narnia。 and when they had crossed they rode along the south bank of the river and presently came to cair paravel itself。 and at the very moment of their arrival they saw that same bright ship which they had seen when they first set foot in narnia； gliding up the river like a huge bird。 all the court were once more assembled on the green between the castle and the quay to wele king caspian home again。 rilian； who had changed his black clothes and was now dressed in a scarlet cloak over silver mail； stood close to the waters edge； bare…headed； to receive his father； and the dwarf trumpkin sat beside him in his little donkey…chair。 the children saw there would be no chance of reaching the prince through all that crowd； and； anyway； they now felt rather shy。 so they asked the centaurs if they might go on sitting on their backs a little longer and thus see everything over the heads of the courtiers。 and the centaurs said they might。
a flourish of silver trumpets came over the water from the ships deck： the sailors threw a rope； rats （talking rats； of course） and marsh…wiggles made it fast ashore； and the ship was warped in。 musicians； hidden somewhere in the crowd； began to play solemn；
triumphal music。 and soon the kings galleon was alongside and the rats ran the gangway on board her。
jill expected to see the old king e down it。 but there appeared to be some hitch。 a lord with a pale face came ashore and knelt to the prince and to trumpkin。 the three were talking with their heads close together for a few minutes； but no one could hear what they said。 the music played on； but you could feel that everyone was being uneasy。 then four knights； carrying something and going very slowly； appeared on deck。
when they started to e down the gangway you could see what they were carrying： it was the old king on a bed； very pale and still。 they set him down。 the prince knelt beside him and embraced him。 they could see king caspian raising his hand to bless his son。 and everyone cheered； but it was a half…hearted cheer； for they all felt that something was going wrong。 then suddenly the kings head fell back upon his pillows； the musicians stopped and there was a dead silence。 the prince； kneeling by the kings bed； laid down his head upon it and wept。
there were whisperings and goings to and fro。 then jill noticed that all who wore hats； bonnets； helmets； or hoods were taking them off … eustace included。 then she heard a rustling and flapping noise up above the castle； when she looked she saw that the great banner with the golden lion on it was being brought down to half…mast。 and after that； slowly； mercilessly； with wailing strings and disconsolate blowing of horns； the music began again： this time； a tune to break your heart。
they both slipped off their centaurs （who took no notice of them）。
〃i wish i was at home；〃 said jill。
eustace nodded