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〃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 d