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the head； besides being pushed sideways； had somehow got very far back so that anyone could now see his silly； gentle； donkeyish face gazing out of it。 some grass stuck out of one corner of his mouth； for hed been doing a little quiet nibbling as they brought him along。 and he was muttering； 〃it wasnt my fault； im not clever。 i never said i was。”
for one second all the dwarfs were staring at puzzle with wide open mouths and then one of the soldiers said sharply； 〃are you mad； my master？ what are you doing to the slaves？〃 and the other said； 〃and who are you？〃 neither of their spears was at the salute now … both were down and ready for action。
〃give the password；〃 said the chief soldier。
〃this is my password；〃 said the king as he drew his sword。 〃the light is dawning； the lie broken。 now guard thee； miscreant； for i am tirian of narnia。”
he flew upon the chief soldier like lightning。 eustace； who had drawn his sword when he saw the king draw his； rushed at the other one： his face was deadly pale； but i wouldnt blame him for that。 and he had the luck that beginners sometimes do have。 he forgot all that tirian had tried to teach him that afternoon； slashed wildly （indeed im not sure his eyes werent shut） and suddenly found； to his own great surprise； that the calormene lay dead at his feet。 and though that was a great relief； it was； at the moment； rather frightening。 the kings fight lasted a second or two longer： then he too had killed his man and shouted to eustace； 〃ware the other two。”
but the dwarfs had settled the two remaining calormenes。 there was no enemy left。
〃well struck； eustace！〃 cried tirian； clapping him on the back。 〃now； dwarfs； you are free。 tomorrow i will lead you to free all narnia。 three cheers for aslan！”
but the result which followed was simply wretched。 there was a feeble attempt from a few dwarfs （about five） which died away all at once： from several others there were sulky growls。 many said nothing at all。
〃dont they understand？〃 said jill impatiently。 〃whats wrong with all you dwarfs？ dont you hear what the king says？ its all over。 the ape isnt going to rule narnia any longer。
everyone can go back to ordinary life。 you can have fun again。 arent you glad？”
after a pause of nearly a minute a not…very…nice…looking dwarf with hair and beard as black as soot said： 〃and who might you be； missie？”
〃im jill；〃 she said。 〃the same jill who rescued king rilian from the enchantment and this is eustace who did it too … and weve e back from another world after hundreds of years。 aslan sent us。”
the dwarfs all looked at one another with grins； sneering grins； not merry ones。
〃well；〃 said the black dwarf （whose name was griffle）； 〃i dont know how all you chaps feel； but i feel ive heard as much about aslan as i want to for the rest of my life。”
〃thats right； thats right；〃 growled the other dwarfs。 〃its all a plant； all a blooming plant。”
〃what do you mean？〃 said tirian。 he had not been pale when he was fighting but he was pale now。 he had thought this was going to be a beautiful moment； but it was turning out more like a bad dream。
〃you must think were blooming soft in the head； that you must；〃 said griffle。 〃weve been taken in once and now you expect us to be taken in again the next minute。 weve no more use for stories about aslan； see！ look at him！ an old moke with long ears！”
〃by heaven； you make me mad；〃 said tirian。 〃which of us said that was aslan？ that is the apes imitation of the real aslan。 cant you understand？”
〃and youve got a better imitation； i suppose！〃 said griffle。 〃no thanks。 weve been fooled once and were not going to be fooled again。”
〃i have not；〃 said tirian angrily； 〃i serve the real aslan。”
〃wheres he？ whos he？ show him to us！〃 said several dwarfs。
〃do you think i keep him in my wallet； fools？〃 said tirian。 〃who am i that i could make aslan appear at my bidding？ hes not a tame lion。”
the moment those words were out of his mouth he realized that he had made a false move。 the dwarfs at once began repeating 〃not a tame lion； not a tame lion；〃 in a jeering sing…song。 〃thats what the other lot kept on telling us；〃 said one。
〃do you mean you dont believe in the real aslan？〃 said jill。 〃but ive seen him。 and he has sent us two here out of a different world。”
〃ah；〃 said griffle with a broad smile。 〃so you say。 theyve taught you your stuff all right。 saying your lessons； aint you？”
〃churl；〃 cried tirian； 〃will you give a lady the lie to her very face？”
〃you keep a civil tongue in your head； mister；〃 replied the dwarf。 〃i dont think we want any more kings … if you are tirian； which you dont look like him … no more than we want any aslans。 were going to look after ourselves from now on and touch our caps to nobody。 see？”
〃thats right；〃 said the other dwarfs。 〃were on our own now。 no more aslan； no more kings； no more silly stories about other worlds。 the dwarfs are for the dwarfs。〃 and they began to fall into their places and to get ready for marching back to wherever they had e from。
〃little beasts！〃 said eustace。 〃arent you even going to say thank you for being saved from the salt…mines？”
〃oh； we know all about that；〃 said griffle over his shoulder。 〃you wanted to make use of us； thats why you rescued us。 youre playing some game of your own。 e on you chaps。”
and the dwarfs struck up the queer little marching song which goes with the drum…beat； and off they tramped into the darkness。
tirian and his friends stared after them。 then he said the single word 〃e；〃 and they continued their journey。
they were a silent party。 puzzle felt himself to be still in disgrace； and also he didnt really quite understand what had happened。 jill； besides being disgusted with the dwarfs； was very impressed with eustaces victory over the calormene and felt almost shy。 as for eustace； his heart was still beating rather quickly。 tirian and jewel walked sadly together in the rear。 the king had his arm on the unicorns shoulder and sometimes the unicorn nuzzled the kings cheek with his soft nose。 they did not try to fort one another with words。 it wasnt very