CHAPTER TWO ON BOARD THE DAWN TREADER(第2/5页)

“And got a few nasty falls myself,Drinian.Some of the bruises are there still,”put in Caspian.

“—And unhorsed many knights,”repeated Drinian with a grin. “We thought the Duke would have been pleased if the King’s Majesty would have married his daughter,but nothing came of that—”

“Squints,and has freckles,”said Caspian.

“Oh,poor girl,”said Lucy.

“And we sailed from Galma,”continued Drinian,“and ran into a calm for the best part of two days and had to row,and then had wind again and did not make Terebinthia till the fourth day from Galma.And there their King sent out a warning not to land for there was sickness in Terebinthia,but we doubled the cape and put in at a little creek far from the city and watered.Then we had to lie off for three days before we got a south east wind and stood out for Seven Isles.The third day out a pirate(Terebinthian by her rig)overhauled us,but when she saw us well armed she stood off after some shooting of arrows on either part—”

“And we ought to have given her chase and boarded her and hanged every mother’s son of them,”said Reepicheep.

“—And in five days more we were insight of Muil,which, as you know,is the westernmost of the Seven Isles.Then we rowed through the straits and came about sundown into Redhaven on the isle of Brenn,where we were very lovingly feasted and had victuals and water at will.We left Redhaven six days ago and have made marvellously good speed,so that I hope to see the Lone Islands the day after tomorrow.The sum is,we are now nearly thirty days at sea and have sailed more than four hundred leagues from Narnia.”

“And after the Lone Islands ?”said Lucy.

“No one knows,your Majesty,”answered Drinian.“Unless the Lone Islanders themselves can tell us.”

“They couldn’t in our days,”said Edmund.

“Then,”said Reepicheep,“it is after the Lone Islands that the adventure really begins.”

Caspian now suggested that they might like to be shown over the ship before supper,but Lucy’s conscience smote her and she said,“I think I really must go and see Eustace.Seasickness is horrid,you know.If I had my old cordial with me I could cure him.”

“But you have,”said Caspian.“I’d quite forgotten about it.As you left it behind I thought it might be regarded as one of the royal treasures and so I brought it—if you think it ought to be wasted on a thing like seasickness.”

“It’ll only take a drop,”said Lucy.

Caspian opened one of the lockers beneath the bench and brought out the beautiful little diamond flask which Lucy remembered so well.“Take back your own,Queen,”he said.They then left the cabin and went out into the sunshine.

In the deck there were two large,long hatches,fore and aft of the mast,and both open,as they always were in fair weather,to let light and air into the belly of the ship.Caspian led them down a ladder into the after hatch.Here they found themselves in a place where benches for rowing ran from side to side and the light came in through the oarholes and danced on the roof.Of course Caspian’s ship was not that horrible thing,a galley rowed by slaves.Oars were used only when wind failed or for getting in and out of harbour and everyone(except Reepicheep whose legs were too short)had often taken a turn.At each side of the ship the space under the benches was left clear for the rowers’ feet,but all down the center there was a kind of pit which went down to the very keel and this was filled with all kinds of things—sacks of flour,casks of water and beer,barrels of pork,jars of honey,skin bottles of wine, apples,nuts,cheeses,biscuits,turnips,sides of bacon.From the roof—that is,from the under side of the deck—hung hams and strings of onions,and also the men of the watch off—duty in their hammocks.Caspian led them aft,stepping from bench to bench; at least,it was stepping for him,and something between a step and a jump for Lucy,and a real long jump for Reepicheep.In this way they came to a partition with a door in it.Caspian opened the door and led them into a cabin which filled the stern underneath the deck cabins in the poop.It was of course not so nice.It was very low and the sides sloped together as they went down so that there was hardly any floor;and though it had windows of thick glass, they were not made to open because they were under water.In fact at this very moment,as the ship pitched they were alternately golden with sunlight and dim green with the sea.