“I know now that you were no traitor， boy，” said King Edmund， laying his hand on Shasta’s head. “But if you would not be taken for one， another time try not to hear what‘s meant for other ears. But all’s well.”
After that there was so much bustle and talk and coming and going that Shasta for a few minutes lost sight of Corin and Edmund and Lucy. But Corin was the sort of boy whom one is sure to hear of pretty soon and it wasn‘t very long before Shasta heard King Edmund saying in a loud voice：
“By the Lion’s Mane， prince， this is too much！ Will your Highness never be better？ You are more of a heart‘s-scald than our whole army together！ I’d as lief have a regiment of hornets in my command as you.”
Shasta wormed his way through the crowd and there saw Edmund， looking very angry indeed， Corin looking a little ashamed of himself，and a strange Dwarf sitting on the ground making faces. A couple of fauns had apparently just been helping it out of its armour.
“If I had but my cordial with me，” Queen Lucy was saying， “I could soon mend this. But the High King has so strictly charged me not to carry it commonly to the wars and to keep it only for great extremities！”
What had happened was this. As soon as Corin had spoken to Shasta， Corin‘s elbow had been plucked by a Dwarf in the army called Thornbut.
“What is it， Thornbut？” Corin had said.
“Your Royal Highness，” said Thornbut， drawing him aside， “our march today will bring us through the pass and right to your royal father’s castle. We may be in battle before night.”
“I know，” said Corin. “Isn‘t it splendid！”
“Splendid or not，” said Thornbut， “I have the strictest orders from King Edmund to see to it that your Highness is not in the fight. You will be allowed to see it， and that’s treat enough for your Highness‘s little years.”
“Oh what nonsense！” Corin burst out. “Of course I’m going to fight. Why， the Queen Lucy‘s going to be with the archers.”
“The Queen’s grace will do as she pleases，” said Thornbut. “But you are in my charge. Either I must have your solemn and princely word that you‘ll keep your pony beside mine-not half a neck ahead-till I give your Highness leave to depart： or else-it is his Majesty’s word- we must go with our wrists tied together like two prisoners.”
“I‘ll knock you down if you try to bind me，” said Corin. “I’d like to see your Highness do it，” said the Dwarf.
That was quite enough for a boy like Corin and in a second he and the Dwarf were at it hammer and tongs. It would have been an even match for， though Corin had longer arms and more height， the Dwarf was older and tougher. But it was never fought out （that‘s the worst of fights on a rough hillside） for by very bad luck Thornbut trod on a loose stone， came flat down on his nose， and found whenhe tried to get up that he had sprained his ankle： a real excruciating sprain which would keep him from walking or riding for at least a fortnight.
“See what your Highness has done，” said King Edmund. “Deprived us of a proved warrior on the very edge of battle.”
“I’ll take his place， Sire，” said Corin.
“Pshaw，” said Edmund. “No one doubts your courage. But a boy in battle is a danger only to his own side.”
At that moment the King was called away to attend to something else， and Corin， after apologizing handsomely to the Dwarf， rushed up to Shasta and whispered，“Quick. There‘s a spare pony now， and the Dwarf ’s armour. Put it on before anyone notices.”
“What for？” said Shasta.
“Why， so that you and I can fight in the battle of course！ Don‘t you want to？”
“Oh-ah， yes， of course，” said Shasta. But he hadn’t been thinking of doing so at all， and began to get a most uncomfortable prickly feeling in his spine.
“That‘s right，” said Corin. “Over your head. Now the sword-belt. But we must ride near the tail of the column and keep as quiet as mice. Once the battle begins everyone will be far too busy to notice us.”
中文阅读
“我是在做梦吗？”夏斯塔心中暗想。但这不可能是梦，在前面的草地上，他看到了狮子右前爪留下的深深大爪印。联想到能留下这样爪印的重量，使他不禁倒吸了一口凉气。但是还有比大爪印更加不寻常的事情。就在他观看时，从爪印里面冒出水来，很快就漫出边沿，汇成一条小溪，流过他身边的草地，顺着山坡流淌下去。
夏斯塔俯下身子喝水——喝了很久——还把脸浸在水里，又朝头上泼水。水像玻璃一样清澈，非常凉爽，使他的精神为之一振。他站起身来，控了控耳朵里的水，把前额上湿漉漉的头发向后一甩，开始仔细地打量起周围的环境。
显然天色还早，太阳刚刚从他右下方的森林上空冉冉升起。他所看到的原野是全新的景象。点缀着树木的绿色峡谷中，有一条河向西北蜿蜒流去，在阳光下一闪一闪的。峡谷的另一端矗立着高高的石山，比昨天看到的山稍矮一些。他开始猜测自己是在什么地方。他转身朝后面望去，发现他站立的山坡只是崇山峻岭的一部分。
“我明白了，”夏斯塔自言自语道，“这些是位于阿陳兰和纳尼亚之间的高山。我昨天在山的那一边。我一定是在夜里走过了关隘。我没有失足真是万幸！——其实，这并不是我的运气好，而应归功于他的引领与保守。现在我到纳尼亚了。”
他转身给马卸下鞍子，取下马勒——“尽管你是一匹糟糕透顶的马，”他说。那匹马对此评价毫不在意，立刻吃起草来。它对夏斯塔的评价也不怎么样。
“我希望自己也能吃草！”夏斯塔想，“返回安发德没有用处。那里正在遭受攻击。我最好下到山谷里，看能不能找到吃的东西。”
于是，他朝山下走去（他光着脚丫踏在浓重的露水上，感到异常寒冷），来到一座树林里。他沿着一条林中小径还没走出多远，就听到一个浑浊的声音呼哧呼哧地向他打招呼：“早上好，邻居。”
夏斯塔急忙向四周环顾，寻找说话的人。很快，他看到一个浑身是刺的、黑脸庞的小矮子从树丛中走了出来。至少作为一个人，它显得矮小，但作为一个刺猬，它的个头相当大。它正是一只刺猬。
“早上好，”夏斯塔回答道，“但我不是一个邻居。说实话，我在这里是个陌生人。”
