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〃no man of your majestys age；〃 said glozelle； 〃would be called coward by any wise soldier for refusing the bat with a great warrior in the flower of his youth。鈥�
〃so im to be a dotard with one foot in the grave； as well as a dastard；〃 roared miraz。 〃ill tell you what it is； my lords。 with your womanish counsels （ever shying from the true point； which is one of policy） you have done the very opposite of your intent。 i had meant to refuse it。 but ill accept it。 do you hear； accept it！ ill not be shamed because some witchcraft or treason has frozen both your bloods。鈥�
〃we beseech your majesty …〃 said glozelle； but miraz had flung out of the tent and they could hear him bawling out his acceptance to edmund。
the two lords looked at one another and chuckled quietly。
〃i knew hed do it if he were properly chafed；〃 said glozelle。 〃but ill not forget he called me coward。 it shall be paid for。鈥�
there was a great stirring at aslans how when the news came back and was municated to the various creatures。 edmund； with one of mirazs captains； had already marked out the place for the bat； and ropes and stakes had been put round it。
two telmarines were to stand at two of the corners； and one in the middle of one side； as marshals of the lists。 three marshals for the other two corners and the other side were to be furnished by the high king。 peter was just explaining to caspian that he could not be one； because his right to the throne was what they were fighting about； when suddenly a thick； sleepy voice said； 〃your majesty； please。〃 peter turned and there stood the eldest of the bulgy bears。
〃if you please； your majesty；〃 he said； 〃im a bear； i am。鈥�
〃to be sure； so you are； and a good bear too； i dont doubt；〃 said peter。
〃yes；〃 said the bear。 〃but it was always a right of the； bears to supply one marshal of the lists。鈥�
〃dont let him；〃 whispered trumpkin to peter。 〃hes a good creature； but hell shame us all。 hell go to sleep and he will suck his paws。 in front of the enemy too。鈥�
〃i cant help that；〃 said peter。 〃because hes quite right。 the bears had that privilege。 i cant imagine how it has been remembered all these years； when so many other things have been forgotten。鈥�
〃please； your majesty；〃 said the bear。
〃it is your right；〃 said peter。 〃and you shall be one of the marshals。 but you must remember not to suck your paws。鈥�
〃of course not；〃 said the bear in a very shocked voice。
〃why； youre doing it this minute！〃 bellowed trumpkin。
the bear whipped his paw out of his mouth and pretended he hadnt heard。
〃sire！〃 came a shrill voice from near the ground。
〃ah … reepicheep！〃 said peter after looking up and down and round as people usually did when addressed by the mouse。
〃sire；〃 said reepicheep。 〃my life is ever at your mand； but my honour is my own。
sire； i have among my people the only trumpeter in your majestys army。 i had thought；
perhaps； we might have been sent with the challenge。 sire； my people are grieved。
perhaps if it were your pleasure that i should be a marshal of the lists； it would content them。鈥�
a noise not unlike thunder broke out from somewhere overhead at this point； as giant wimbleweather burst into one of those not very intelligent laughs to which the nicer sorts of giant are so liable。 he checked himself at once and looked as grave as a turnip by the time reepicheep discovered where the noise came from。
〃i am afraid it would not do；〃 said peter very gravely。 〃some humans are afraid of mice …鈥�
〃i had observed it； sire；〃 said reepicheep。
〃and it would not be quite fair to miraz；〃 peter continued； 〃to have in sight anything that might abate the edge of his courage。鈥�
〃your majesty is the mirror of honour；〃 said the mouse with one of his admirable bows。
〃and on this matter we have but a single mind。。。 i thought i heard someone laughing just now。 if anyone present wishes to make me the subject of his wit； i am very much at his service … with my sword … whenever he has leisure。鈥�
an awful silence followed this remark； which was broken by peter saying； 〃giant wimbleweather and the bear and the centaur glenstorm shall be our marshals。 the bat will be at two hours after noon。 dinner at noon precisely。鈥�
〃i say；〃 said edmund as they walked away； 〃i suppose it is all right。 i mean； i suppose you can beat him？鈥�
〃thats what im fighting him to find out；〃 said peter。
。；
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
锛屽皬璇达伎t锛縳t澶╁爞
how all were very busy a little before two oclock trumpkin and the badger sat with the rest of the creatures at the woods edge looking across at the gleaming line of mirazs army which was about two arrow…shots away。 in between； a square space of level grass had been staked for the bat。 at the two far corners stood glozelle and sopespian with drawn swords。 at the near corners were giant wimbleweather and the bulgy bear； who in spite of all their warnings was sucking his paws and looking； to tell the truth； unmonly silly。 to make up for this； glenstorm on the right of the lists； stock…still except when he stamped a hind hoof occasionally on the turf； looked much more imposing than the telmarine baron who
faced him on the left。 peter had just shaken hands with edmund and the doctor； and was now walking down to the bat。 it was like the moment before the pistol goes at an important race； but very much worse。
〃i wish aslan had turned up before it came to this；〃 said trumpkin。
〃so do i；〃 said trufflehunter。 〃but look behind you。鈥�
〃crows and crockery！〃 muttered the dwarf as soon as he had done so。 〃what are they？
huge people … beautiful people … like gods and goddesses and giants。 hundreds and thousands of them； closing in behind us。 what are they？鈥�
〃its the dryads and hamadryads and silvans；〃 said trufflehunter。 〃aslan has waked them。鈥�
〃humph！〃 said the dwarf。 〃thatll be very useful if the enemy try any treachery。 but it wont help the high king very much if miraz proves handier with his sword。鈥�
the badger said nothing； for now peter and miraz were entering the lists from opposite ends； both on foot； both in chain shirts； with helmets and shields。 they advanced till they were close together。 both bowed and seemed to speak；； but it was impossible to hear what they said。 next moment； the two swords flashed in the sunlight。 for a second the clash could be heard but it was immediately drowned because both armies began shouting like crowds at a football match。
〃well done； peter； oh； well done！〃 shouted edmund as he saw miraz reel back a whole pace and a half。 〃follow it up； quick！〃 and peter did； and for a few seconds it looked as if the fight might be won。 but then miraz pulled himself together … began to make real use of his height and weight 〃miraz！ miraz！ the king！ the king！〃 came the roar of the telmarines。 caspian and edmund grew white with sickening anxiety。
〃peter is taking some dreadful knocks；〃 said edmund。
〃hullo！〃 said caspian。 〃whats happening now？鈥�
〃both falling apart；〃 said edmund。 〃a bit blown； expect。 watch。 ah； now theyre beginning again； more scientifically this time。 circling round and round； feeling each others defences。鈥�
〃im afraid this miraz knows his work；〃 muttered the doctor。 but hardly had he said this when there was such a clapping and baying and throwing up of hoods among the old narnians that it was nearly deafening。
〃what was it？ what was it？〃 asked the doctor。 〃my old eyes missed it。鈥�
〃the high king has pricked him in the arm…pit；〃 said caspian； still clapping。 〃just where the arm…hole of the hauberk let the point through。 first blood。 〃its looking ugly again now； though；〃 said edmund。 〃peters not using his shield properly。 he must be hurt in the left arm。鈥�
it was only too true。 everyone could see that peters shield hung limp。 the shouting of the telmarines redoubled。
〃youve seen more battles than i；〃 said caspian。 〃is there any chance now？鈥�
〃precious little；〃 said edmund。 〃i suppose he might just do it。 with luck。鈥�
〃oh； why did we let it happen at all？〃 said caspian。
suddenly all the shouting on both sides died down。 edmund was puzzled for a moment。
then he said； 〃oh； i see。 theyve both agreed to a rest。 e on； doctor。 you and i may be able to do something for the high king。 they ran down to the lists and peter came outside the ropes to meet them； his face red and sweaty； his chest heaving。
〃is your left arm wounded？〃 asked edmund。
〃its not exactly a wound；〃 peter said。 〃i got the weight of his shoulder on my shield … like a load of bricks and the rim of the shield drove into my wrist。 i dont think its broken； but it might be a sprain。 if you could tie it up very tight i think i could manage。鈥�
while they were doing this； edmund asked anxiously。 〃what do you think of him； peter？鈥�
〃tough；〃 said peter。 〃very tough。 i have a chance if can keep him on the hop till his weight and short wind e against him … in this hot sun too。 to tell the truth； i havent much chance else。 give my love to … to everyone at home； ed； if he gets me。 here he es into the lists again so long； old chap。 good…bye； doctor。 and i say； ed； say something specially nice to trumpkin。 hes been a brick。鈥�
edmund couldnt speak。 he walked back with the doctor to his own lines with a sick feeling in his stomach。
but the new bout went well。 peter now seemed to be able to make some use of his shield； and he certainly made good use of his feet。 he was almost playing tig with miraz now； keeping out of range； shifting his ground； making the enemy work。
〃coward！〃 booed the telmarines。 〃why dont you stand up to him？ dont you like it； eh？
thought youd e to fight； not dance。 yah！鈥�
〃oh； i do hope he wont listen to them；〃 said caspian。
〃not he；〃 said edmund。 〃you dont know him … oh！〃 for miraz had got in a blow at last； on peters helmet。 peter staggered； slipped sideways； and fell on one knee。 the roar of the telmarines rose like the noise of the sea。 〃now； miraz；〃 they yelled。 〃now。 quick！
quick！ kill him。〃 but indeed there was no need to egg the usurper on。 he was on top of peter already。 edmund bit his lips till the blood came； as the sword flashed down on peter。 it looked as if it would slash off his head。 thank heavens！ it had glanced down his right shoulder。 the dwarf…wrought mail was sound and did not break。
〃great scott！〃 cried edmund。 〃hes up again。 peter； go it； peter。鈥�
〃i couldnt see what happened；〃 said the doctor。 〃how did he do it？鈥�
〃grabbed mirazs arm as it came down；〃 said trumpkin； dancing with delight。 〃theres a man for you！ uses his enemys arm as a ladder。 the high king！ the high king！ up； old narnia！鈥�
〃look；〃 said trufflehunter。 〃miraz is angry。 it is good。〃 they were certainly at it hammer and tongs now： such a flurry of blows that it seemed impossible for either not to be killed。
as the excitement grew； the shouting almost died away。 the spectators were holding their breath。 it was most horrible and most magnificent。
a great shout arose from the old narnians。 miraz was a down … not struck by peter； but face downwards； having tripped on a tussock。 peter stepped back； waiting for him to rise。
〃oh bother； bother； bother；〃 said edmund to himself。 〃need he be as gentlemanly as all that？ i suppose he must。 es of being a knight and a high king。 i suppose it is what aslan would like。 but that brute will be up again in a minute and then …鈥�
but 〃that brute〃 never rose。 the lords glozelle and sopespian had their own plans ready。
as soon as they saw their king down they leaped into the lists crying； 〃treachery！
treachery！ the narnian traitor has stabbed him in the back while he lay helpless。 to arms！ to arms； telmar！鈥�
peter hardly understood what was happening。 he saw two big men running towards him with drawn swords。 then the third telmarine had leaped over the ropes on his； left。 〃to arms； narnia！ treachery！〃 peter shouted。 if all three had set upon him at once he would never have spoken again。 but glozelle stopped to stab his own king dead where he lay： 〃thats for your insult； this morning；〃 he whispered as the blade went home。 peter swung to face sopespian； slashed his legs from under him and； with the back…cut of the same stroke； walloped off his head edmund was now at his side crying； 〃narnia； narnia！ the lion！〃 the whole telmarine army was rushing toward them。 but now the giant was stamping forward； stooping low and swinging his club。 the centaurs charged。 twang；
twang behind and hiss； hiss overhead came the archery of dwarfs。 trumpkin was fighting at his left。 full battle was joined。
〃e back； reepicheep； you little ass！〃 shouted peter。 〃youll only be killed。 this is no place for mice。〃 but the ridiculous little creatures were dancing in and out among the feet of both armies； jabbing with their swords。 many a telmarine warrior that day felt his foot suddenly pierced as if by a dozen skewers； hopped on one leg cursing the pain； and fell as often as not。 if he fell； the mice finished him off； if he did not； someone else did。
but almost before the old narnians were really warmed to their work they found the enemy giving way。 toughlooking warriors turned white；